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An hour after leaving Lyrica sleeping peacefully in what he now considered their bed, Vero leaned against the wall in the medical building, banishing thoughts about her so he could do his job. He made a mental note to expand the facility as soon as possible. He had positioned himself near the door. “You still have the second v ictim in here?”

Dr. Fizzlewick nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been taking more samples of the ink in the wound to send to a colleague, but I think it’s jus t regular ink.”

Vero’s eyebrows rose. “W hat colleague?”

Fizzlewick rubbed his square jaw. “Human one. I made friends during my time away. They don’t know anything about our world, s o don’t worry.”

Fair enough. Forcing himself to look at the dead female on the slab, covered by a white sheet, Vero pushed down anger. “Your plan with her now?”

“I’ll keep her frozen as we try to identify her. We can send Tekii, the first victim, to a remote location in Alaska to be found. I can make it appear as if she was in a car crash and then froze. There’s no need for her family to know of her brutal death,” F izzlewick said.

Vero exhaled slowly. “What about the circle with slashes?”

“I’ll remove the skin and make it appear as damage from the crash. We’ll leave Tekii’s identification right next to her so her family can be notified. In her personal effects, I found a wallet she must’ve been carrying when the former regime kidnapped her.” Dr. Fizzlewick pushed his new spectacles up his nose. As a Kurjan, he had perfect eyesight, but he’d worn the gold-rimmed glasses since he’d arrived in the territory. One of the younger soldiers had asked him why he wore the glasses, and Fizzlewick had smiled, noting he liked looking like a doctor. Since he was their doctor, Vero figured he already lo oked like one.

Jonathan shook his head. “I don’t understand the significance of the circl e and slashes.”

“Neither do I.” The doctor gently grasped the female’s shoulder and partially turned her to show the side of her neck. A rough outline of a circle with three slashes through it had been cut i nto her flesh.

Fury glowed in Jonathan’s eyes. The soldier had quickly become Vero’s second-in-command, and they both trusted the guards left on Lyrica. “Th at’s so wrong.”

Vero couldn’t agree more. A Kurjan chasing down human females to attack was like an angry grizzly bear destroying a butterfly. “We need to iden tify her. Now.”

“Agreed.” The doctor reached for a stack of photographs placed neatly on the counter. “Here are some pictures of her face as well as the symbol cut into her flesh. She wasn’t mated, obviously, and she’s not one of the newest rescued females, so I’m at a loss.”

“As am I.” Vero accepted the stack. “I’ll have soldiers go cabin to cabin throughout the entire territory to find answers, even as we’re investigating the bombing and most recent attack.”

Jonathan scrubbed both hands down his face. “She’ s human, Vero.”

“I know.” It was unthinkable a human just wandered into camp. “Our computers should be updated by now, and I’ll conduct searches for missing females in the human world.” That did beg the question—how did she end up in the middle of nowhere? “I’ll also go talk to Silas. I’ve kept him waiting and worrying long enough.” Vero’s stomach ached. The thought that the old soldier had brought in the human cracked something inside him. But if it wasn’t Silas, then how did she arrive in the territory? The nearest town was hours away —by helicopter.

He had rotating guards around the entire property, so anybody coming in on snowmobile or UTV would’ ve left traces.

Fizzlewick tugged on his new white lab coat. He’d ordered it the previous week, saying he wanted to appear more like the Queen of the Realm, considering the world believed her to be the best and most famous doctor. “There’s s omething else.”

“Of course there is ,” Vero sighed.

Fizzlewick turned and strode on new white tennis shoes—also a trademark of the queen—toward the two bodies in the rear of the building, both tossed sideways over the one remaining bed. “The attackers you killed from last night.” Their legs and headless torsos hung down on either side of the bed, covered by a sheet. He pulled the sheet down to reveal the ir bare chests.

“Shit,” Jon athan breathed.

Vero’s chin went up. Awareness and irritation clocked through him. The circle with three slashes through it adorned both corpses over their hearts. Deliberate brandings. “They didn’t heal those, so they must’ve wanted them to stay.”

“What does that symbol stand for?” Jo nathan snarled.

“I have enough of a reach to conduct an internet search,” Vero said. He’d have to delegate that job, and he hated delegating. In fact, it had been too long since he’d worked in the lab. They needed to make the Sunshine Cure permanent so his people didn’t require injections every month. As he turned and gazed at the victim, frustration heated his skin. His most important duty right now was running the entire nation, but the lab called to him.

Fizzlewick tossed the sheet back over the dead attackers, not nearly as gentle as he’d been with the female. “Bu rn the bodies?”

“Affirmative,” Vero said. “Go forward with your plan for Tekii and the Alaska car crash. For now, keep this female on ice. In case we find her family. Humans like to bu ry their dead.”

“So do we,” Jonathan noted.

Vero nodded. “I’ve heard that demons and vampires burn their dead and then bury the ashes. Seems re dundant to me.”

“Some folks like their ashes scattered. I’d like to be scattered over a mountain in Alaska,” Jonathan sai d thoughtfully.

Vero moved toward the door. “I want to inte rrogate Silas.”

Jonathan followed him out into a brutal wind. “Who’s been guarding him?”

“Lukas. The kid is a genius with technology and helped me to hide the cameras.” Plus, keeping the kid busy kept him away from Genevieve. All Vero needed was two kids to get mated before they even knew themselves, much less each other. “We need to get everything settled before P axton returns.”

Jonathan coughed. “Are you sure the king is safe in Realm territory? I know Paxton grew up w ith them, but…”

Vero rolled his neck. “If anything happens to Paxton, I’ll blow up the Realm. I sent that message to King Kayrs earlier today.” He could be a devious son of a bitch if needed. “I also hinted that I can get to Hope in a dreamworld.” Which had pissed off Dage Kayrs to no end. Even so, it was imperative they understood each other. Vero paused at seeing a pale Maeve standing off to the side, obviously waiting for them. “Hi, Maeve.” He’d met the female at the cocktail party.

She gave a quick cu rtsy. “Prince.”

Jonathon nodded at her. “Miss. Vero, I’ll go give some pictures of the latest victim to Lyrica—after I fetch more coffee.” He headed toward the lodge and disa ppeared inside.

Vero stared at the female and squared his shoulders. “What can I do for you?”

Huddled in a green wool jacket that brought out the stunning color of her eyes, Maeve clutched her mitten-covered hands together. “Ya took Ralstad last night, and he hasn’t come back. That’s not like him, it isn’t. Beggin’ yer pardon if I’m bein’ too bold, but…where might he be?” Her brogue came out strong in the crisp morning air, her breath leaving a sma ll puffy cloud.

“Let’s go to the main lodge and discuss it.” Vero motioned for Maeve to precede him. His skin felt stretched too tight, and his body ached. Oddly. Even his hands hurt. If he had more time, he’d discuss the matter wi th the doctor.

Maeve hovered hesitantly at Vero’s side, the harsh wind forcing tendrils of her red hair free of her braid. “I dinna mean to bother you.”

“You’re not.” Vero gestured her ahead of him. “Let’s go talk wh ere it’s warm.”

She paled and turned, her head down as she began foll owing the path.

Vero followed her, noting the sounds of construction all around them. They had to erase any signs of weakness before the Cyst soldiers arrived. Time was working against him. Plus, he wanted enough cabins built to house at least three hundred families. All unmated males currently occupied several barracks, but he wanted to build them all their own houses. The territory needed to feel like a home so Paxton could foster loyalty and a sense of safety the Kurjan nation hadn’t fel t in centuries.

They reached the main lodge, and Vero paused to admire the speedy craftsmanship.

Maeve turned away from the door. “There’s no need to spend yer valuable time with me, Prince. I’m worried for Ralstad and just want to know h e’s all right.”

“He’s fine, Maeve. I need to ask him a few questions, then I’ll send him home to you.” Vero didn’t want to force the female inside if she didn’t want to go. He pulled a picture of the newest human victim from his pocket. “Do you recogniz e this female?”

Maeve ducked her head and studied the picture carefully. “I’m sorry. I do not know her.”

He slipped the picture back into his pocket and drew out the one of the circle-and-slash symbol. “What abou t this symbol?”

Her expression remained open and curious. “No, I’ve never seen that before. Wha t is it, then?”

“I don’t know.” The wind whipped up, and he pivoted, placing his body between the wind and the female. “Does Ralstad have anything like thi s on his body?”

Her eyebrows rose, and she glanced up at him. “Of course not. He heals every injury he gets during battle. Ralstad would never allow a mark to stay on his body , he wouldn’t.”

Vero couldn’t discern any falsehood. Maeve seemed reluctant to enter the lodge, so he remained in place. “Three of the males who arrived with you attacked me last night.” Surprise altered her facial expression, and she took a step back from him. “I have Geoff in custody. The other two were named Shelton and Rogerie. How well did you know them?”

“ Did know them?” she whispered, her nose turning red from the cold.

“Yes. Those two are dead.” Vero didn’t know how to soften the truth so he didn’t try. “Anybody who attacks us dies.” A warning for the entire camp. Plus, Lyrica could’ ve been killed.

Maeve gulped. “Over the last two decades, we’ve had members come and go from our clan. There are ten couples who’ve been together for centuries.” She pushed a wayward curl off her face. “We currently have five unmated members. Geoff, Shelton, and Rogerie arrived together about s ix months ago.”

“Just the three of them?”

“Aye. In fact, it had been Geoff’s idea for us to rejoin the Kurjan nation.”

Interesting. “What about the other two unmated males?”

She squinted her eyes as if trying to remember. “They arrived separately in different seasons over the las t few decades.”

“Would you like to come inside for sparkling water? We just replenished the kitchen.” If Lyrica saw Maeve inside, maybe she wouldn’t figure out he already drank three of the sto ckpiled crates.

“No. My worry wa s for my mate.”

Vero tried to read her expression and saw only concern. “Ralstad is fine. I need to interview him about these men, then I’ll let him know you as ked about him.”

“No.” She held up both green mittens. “Don’t tell hi m I’m worried.”

Vero frowned and studied the fem ale. “Why not?”

She backed away. “Ralstad is very, ah, protective? Please don’t tell him I s ought you out.”

Perhaps Lyrica had a point about Maeve and Ralstad. “All right, but I do want you to meet with Lyrica sometime this afternoon.” He’d kept her up all morning, so hopefully she was managing to catch up on sleep. “That’s nonnegotiable.”

“Of course, Prince.” Maeve curtsied and hurried away toward a snowmobile waiting on the side of the main trail. She and Ralstad had requisitioned one since they lived on the outskirts o f the property.

He watched her go. Hopefully Lyrica would know h ow to help her.

His chest feeling hot, he opened the lodge door, noting the coolness of the doorknob on his aching palm. What was wrong with him? He looked down at his hand and stilled. Shaking his head, he willed his eyes to clear. He had to be seeing things. There, on his right palm, was a clear marking of the letter C with barbed vines all around it.

The entire world tunneled in loudly, abusing his eardrums and narrowing his eyesight. He was a Kurjan. Full blooded. What w as on his hand?

A fuck ing demon mark?

Impossible.

Another thought had him nearly swaying and then turning away from the lodge right now. If that was a mating mark, had he transferred it to Lyric a that morning?

Was he mated?