Page 30

Vero ran into Silas after he headed into the building that housed the below-ground cells. The scent of fresh pastries greeted him as Silas leaned against the wall, casually m unching on one.

“What are you doing here?” Vero asked, his tone sharper than intended.

“I’m on guard duty,” Silas replied through a mouthful of pastry, then gestured to the flaky treat. “That new chef who arrived last week ? Really good.”

Vero shook his head. If nothing else, Silas didn’t hold grudges. “Hey, about your time in the cell below—s orry for that.”

Silas waved a hand, brushing the apology aside. “Don’t worry about it. I know you had to check every suspect, and I was the only one who’d left camp. Still, you know me. I’d never kill anyone, especially not a human female.”

“I know,” Vero sa id, meaning it.

Silas studied him, his reddish eyes narrowing before widening in surprise. “You look different. Smell different.” His jaw dropped. “Wait a second. Did you mate? With Lyrica? Congrats, Prince. She’s a doll.” He grinned and smacked Vero hard on the arm, almost ma king him growl.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Vero’s voice stayed even, but his gaze probably warned Silas to tread carefully. “I’m keeping it quiet for now. She’s human—she’s not used to our ways.” The words sounded la me even to him.

Silas nodded with a knowing smile. “Yeah, females can be tough. Takes a while to get them used to how we do things. Don’t worry—I won’t say a word. But, uh, you should know, she’s all over you. I could smell her as soon as you walked in. It’s not exactly going to stay a secret.”

“Good to know,” Vero muttered, eyeing the other male. Silas didn’t seem bothered in the slightest, cheerfully finishing his pastry. If there had been anything unusual about the mating bond, Si las would’ve mentioned it. He would’ve asked questions. The fact that he hadn’t eased some of the weight o n Vero’s chest.

Good. For now, no one knew about the demon blood. The mark on his hand had faded slightly, but he still wondered if there was a way to cover it completely. Maybe even remove it. He’d have to look into possibilities.

“Can I help you with anything ?” Silas asked.

“No. I’m here to talk to the pr isoner. Geoff.”

Silas’s expression darkened slightly. “Right. I took him breakfast earlier. He bitched about it the whole time, called me a traitor for following Paxton. Guy’s got a real problem with the whole hal f-demon issue.”

“Yeah, a lot of people do,” Vero said grimly. “Did he say anything useful? We need to figure out what that circle with the slashes means.”

“Nah. I tried to buddy up to him, ask a couple of questions, but he didn’t fall for it. The guy ’s not stupid.”

“Didn’t think so.” Vero clapped Silas on the shoulder. “Thanks. You can head ou t if you want.”

Silas hesitated. “You don’t want me to keep an eye on him w hen you leave?”

“No,” Vero said flatly. “There wo n’t be a need.”

Silas’s humor faded, his tone turning sober. “Got it. Well, I’ll see you later. Need help with anything else? Lyrica?”

“Jonathan and Lukas are watching Lyrica anytime she leaves the lodge. I’m covered. You can get back to the helicopters or help unload the new ones we brought in today. Headquarters is setting up the new computer hub.”

“Sounds good.” Silas nodded, his cheer returning. He wore a green flannel shirt with dark jeans and snow boots, an unusually casua l look for him.

“Where’d you get the flannel?” Vero asked as he appro ached the door.

Silas tugged on the shirt. “A shipment came in with the computers and some snowmobiles. I was up early and snagged this before anyone el se. It’s warm.”

“It looks good,” Vero said, a bit awkwardly.

“Thanks.” Silas brushed off his shoulder, grinning. “I might even hit up the next speed dating event Lyrica organizes. I mean, it worked out for you.” He whistled as he opened the door and strolled into the snowy day.

Vero shook his head. It had worked out, though not in the way he’d expected. He’d never planned on taking a mate, and when he’d allowed himself to consider it, he hadn’t pictured someone as independent—or as madde ning—as Lyrica.

But damn it, he liked that about her. He admired her feistiness, her drive. Hell, the mother of his children would need that fire. The idea nearly dropped him to his knees. Kids. A family. It was a dream he’d never le t himself have.

Shoving the thought aside, he focused on the task at hand. He unlocked the door and descended the cold, damp stairs to the cells. The farthest door swung open with a creak as he stepped inside. Geoff sat on the cot, his face bruised from the last interrogation.

“Morning,” Vero said, and without waiting, punched him square in the nose. The satisfying crack of cartilage echo ed in the room.

“Asshole!” Geoff stumbled back, clutching his face as blood dripped onto his shirt.

Blood burned Vero’s hand. It was common knowledge that Kurjan blood burned others, though sometimes not mates, and he wondered if this burned him because he was only half Kurjan. Something to think about once again. He could create experiments once Paxton returned, using both of their blood. “Start talking. What does the sym bol stand for?”

Geoff’s nose cracked back into place as his healing cells kicked in. “It’s our symbol,” he muttered. “It represe nts our group.”

Vero’s eyes narrowed . “What group?”

Geoff hesitated, his shoulders tense. Vero pulled a blade from his pocket, its triple edges glinting in the dim light. Geoff’s eyes widened. “That’s a banned blade,” he stammered. “You’re not supposed to have that.”

“I’ve never cared much for rules.” Vero took a step closer, his voice dropping. “If I shove this in your neck and deploy the spring, you’ll lose your head. So tell me—what does th e symbol mean?”

Geoff backed against the stone wall, his breathing shallow. “It’s the symbol for our faction. We call ourselves the Defenders. We’re independent cells working mostly autonomously.”

“Doing what?” Vero let the killer i nside him show.

Geoff swallowed. “Usually working against the Realm. But now? With a half-demon running the Kurjan nation…” He let the words h ang in the air.

Vero’s fist clenched around the blade. The threat wasn’t just growing—it was already here. “How many of you are there?” His voice sounded gritty. Hoa rse. Demon low.

Geoff shrugged, though sweat beaded on his forehead. “No clue. In my group, there were only the three of us. For the other cells, thousands? I truly don’t know because we all branched off into our own organizat ions eons ago.”

“Well,” Vero said softly, his eyes narrowing, “I know you’re lying, Geoff. Someone’s killing females—human females—in my territory. The other two in your little party are dead, and you’ve been locked in this cell. That means someone else is o ut there. Who?”

Geoff shook his head, his jaw tightening. “There’s no one else. Someone must be copying us. Or maybe there are more Defenders, but they’re not part of my cell. I don’t know who they are.”

“You’re lying again,” Vero said, his voice turning colder. “You told me that symbol—the one carved into the bod ies—was yours.”

Geoff’s shoulders slumped slightly. “A lot of us use it. It’s been passed through centuries and different organizations, shared across groups. There could be another cell right here in the Kurjan nation, and I wouldn’t even know it. Some are connected to others, and some are not . Ours is not.”

“If you’re lyi ng, I’ll know.”

“I’m not,” Geoff said, though the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him. He cocked his head, a smirk curling his lips. He sniffed the air. “You mated her. The human. She’s a hot one. I don’t blame you. I’d have—”

Rage surged through Vero like a tidal wave, but his expression remained calm, cold. “You have something to s ay about that?”

Geoff shrugged. “I just did. Gave you a compliment, didn’t I? She’s gorgeous. And hey, Vero—you’re the rightful heir to the crown. You should be king. You’re a pureblood Ku rjan. Join us.”

The blade felt heavy and ready in his hand. Alive. “Your pitc h is pathetic.”

“I’m serious,” Geoff said, his tone sharpening. “Your brother won’t live through the next month, no matter what you do. Even if you kill me and wipe out my cell, we’re not alone. There are more of us than you think—and some of us are already inside your precious headquarters. Join us, Vero. We’ll make sure you get the thron e you deserve.”

“Well, gee, Geoff,” Vero said dryly, lifting his right hand to reveal the demon mark. “Can’t r eally do that.”

Geoff’s smirk faltered. “You’re part demon? You’ re kidding me.”

“Now, tell me the truth. You were a scientist, weren’t y ou? A lab rat.”

Geoff’s jaw slackened for a moment, but then hatred filled his eyes. “You’re a half-demon, aren’t you? You’r e one of them.”

Vero’s voice turned mocking. “Apparently. It was a shock to me too. But you—you were in the labs, weren’t you? Back when they were experimenting on demons. Or maybe you don’t remember all the lovely little projects involving Kurja ns and demons?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Geoff spat. “Finding out about Paxton was bad enough, but this?” He threw back his head and laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “You’re dead. Just like your brother. And that bitch you mated? She’s as goo d as dead too.”

Vero’s rage darkened, but his voice stayed calm and c old. “Careful.”

Geoff leaned forward, his grin vicious. “She’s human. Mortal. Not even an immortal female, like Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood, who could handle mating a Kurjan-demon hybrid such as your brother, Paxton. Lyrica needs to be studied—cut apart, put back together, stud ied some more.”

Vero struck, slamming the knife into Geoff’s throat and pinning him against the wall. Blood spattered his hand, the fa miliar burn scorching his skin, but he didn’t flinch. Geoff’s eyes widened, his hands clawin g at the blade.

“Wait,” Vero said, his tone conversational. “Tell me now—who else is in your cell? How many ce lls are there?”

Geoff choked, blood dribbling from his mouth as his gaze darted wildly. “I don’t know! Hundreds, maybe. We’re separate for a reason—so we can’t betray each other. We all have different goals. Mine is to put the nation back together. To make it strong again.”

“Who else is with you?” Vero pressed. His thumb hovered over the button on the hil t of the knife.

Geoff’s eyes flashed with defiance, though panic flickered beneath. “Fu ck you, demon.”

Vero hit the button. The blade split into three, slicing through Geoff’s neck with brutal precision. His head hit the floor with a sickening thud, his body crumpling seconds later.

Vero stepped back, his chest heaving as he fought to steady himself. Geoff’s words echoed in his mind, twisted and vile. Of enemies who’d want to study Lyrica—by harming her. The thought of anyone touching Lyrica like that, treating her like a thing instead of the incredible female she was, made his blood boil.

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe. He needed to run—hard and fast—to work off the searing rage threatening to consume him. But first, he had to see her.

She was in more danger than he’d ever imagined, and she had to know. Whatever it took, he’d protect her. No one would touch her. No one would tak e her from him.

Vero turned and strode out of the cell, leaving Geoff’s lifeless body behind as he headed toward the only person who could ease th is rage in him.

His mate.