Page 161 of Eclipse Sector

So what are you trying to tell me, Ashlyn?I wondered, studying her text.Are you in one of those old holes?That seemed impossible, given how many centuries had passed since they’d been in use. But maybe she was left near my father’s favorite torture location.

Or near the place he died.

I send my blessing from the grave.

All right, little psychic,I thought.I’ll entertain your riddle.

“She might be hiding underground, perhaps near the old hills,” I told Kieran. “Where Abbán used to deliver his messages.”

“And what hills would those be?” Grey demanded.

I blew out a breath and palmed the back of my neck. “It’s near the Giants Causeway, but not.” Fuck, I couldn’t just draw a map for him. If he hadn’t visited the specific area of Eclipse Sector, he wouldn’t know where to shadow to.

Show him,Ivana told me.

What?

Take him there,she reiterated, causing me to glance down at her.

I’m not leaving your side, Vana.I’d just claimed her. Hell, all I should be doing right now was fucking her in her nest.Ournest.

Shit. This whole thing was a bloody nightmare.

My palm fell from my nape to cup her face.You’re my priority, I reminded her.I’m not leaving you.

She placed her hand on top of mine.You’re not leaving me,she agreed.But this is who we are together, Cillian. You’re going to go with Grey, Cael, and Kieran or Lorcan, and find Ashlyn.

“You’re telling me what to do again,” I said aloud.

“You’re mine now, Alpha. You’d better get used to it,” she returned.Now go,she added with her mind.We’re a team, Cillian. And Ashlyn is your—our—priority at the moment. So go find her.

I leaned down to brush my lips over hers.Just so we’re clear, Omega, I will be knotting you for days when I return.Because her insistence that we do this together, her continued lessons in what it meant to be a mated pair, was making me burn that much hotter for her.

I’m holding you to that promise, Alpha,she whispered as she returned my kiss.Hurry back.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I held her for a long moment, then looked at Kieran and Lorcan. They were standing beside each other, their gazes focused on me. “Who wants to go on a field trip?”

“Me,” Lorcan replied instantly.

Kieran glanced at him. “You do realize I can handle myself, yes?”

“I do,” his cousin drawled. “But I’m in a zombie-killing mood.”

“And I’m not?”

“No, you’re not. You’re in a torture mood,” Lorcan informed him. “So take it out on Granger while we’re gone.” He stepped forward. “To the burial ground first?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Keep him alive,” Cael interjected, his focus on Kieran. “We need answers from him.”

Kieran shrugged. “I’ll try.”

“Do better than try,” Cael growled. “You have no idea what he’s done.”

“Perhaps you should enlighten me upon your return,” Kieran suggested.

“Perhaps I will,” Cael bit back, his anger very unlike the charismatic, easygoing Alpha Prince persona he so often put on.