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“Tom Hiddleston,” Cain said. “I’ve never seen the show, but I met him once in London.”
“Oh. Well, anyway, that’s who he looked like. He wasn’t British, though.” Eden’s gaze turned inward. “He had faint European accent, even though I’m pretty sure he was North American—maybe even from Canada.”
“Sounds like Smythe,” Brien said. “He told me he’d been a PA in Paris for five years or so. But why attack Twilight?”
“And what about the guard who was supposed to be on duty?” asked Cain.
“And MinJi Park?” I added.
“I don’t know about the guard, but Twilight sent Mrs. Park to bed,” Eden volunteered. “That’s why she was here.”
Cain had his phone out. “James says Smythe sent a message to the guard,” he said, his eyes on the screen, “telling him Brien wanted him in the war room. It seems to be legit. The man showed James the message.”
I frowned. I’d told the guard not to leave his position until I returned. “Have James confine him to his quarters until I’ve had a chance to talk to him.”
Twilight stirred. “Smythe told me straight out that he was Stygian. I never met him in person, but I know he was with SI. He was my alpha’s PA, in fact.”
“Ah,” said Brien. “But why—?”
“Because he knew,” she responded with a sideways look at the rest of us. “When he grabbed me, he said, ‘This is for Crow, you bitch.’”
“So this was about revenge?” I asked. I didn’t know the whole story, but I knew Twilight had had a falling out with her former alpha, and then her alpha had disappeared. Permanently.
Twilight’s eyes closed. She looked better, if feverish, her face lined with pain. “Yeah,” she said, resting her head against Brien’s shoulder.
“And somehow, he hooked up with Lemaire,” said Cain. “Who was also out for revenge.”
“And Nazaire, too,” I added. “I still think he’s in this somewhere.”
“I may be able to find out more about Nazaire.” Cain cleared his throat. “That…contact I have in the QCS.”
Brien’s eyes blazed blue. “Do it. I want whoever is behind this stopped, damn it. If this had worked, it would’ve been a win-win for those SOBs. Take out my mate and it’s as good as staking me. Because—”
He halted, shaking his head, but I heard what he didn’t say.
It would’ve broken him.
I understood. Losing Eden would’ve left me not just broken but shattered into jagged pieces.
Brien rose, Twilight in his arms. “If you two have this handled, I’m taking Twilight back to my apartment.”
“Go,” I told him.
Brien paused next to us. Eden had stopped shaking, but at his scrutiny, she tensed up, until he said, “Consider your debt to us repaid in full.”
Her jaw dropped. “Yeah? Wow. Thank you.”
“No,” he said. “I’m thanking you. And I’ll make sure the syndicate knows you saved the prima’s life.”
Twilight lifted her head from against Brien’s chest. “She saved us both. She could’ve barricaded herself in Talon’s bedroom. I told her to do that, actually. But she didn’t.”
Eden moved a shoulder like she hadn’t done all that much, but she was smiling.
I kissed her temple. “Mine,” I mouthed at Brien—and I didn’t mean she was my blood thrall.
He understood. He dipped his chin in acknowledgment and left.
“I can talk to the guard,” Cain told me. “You stay with Eden.” His gaze shifted to Eden, his ice-blue eyes warming. “You did good,” he told her. “That kid’s lucky to have you as a mom.”
