AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s a trap,” Lucien declared as soon as he dropped into one of the empty seats at the breakfast table.
“Well, duh,” Baer replied, sitting across from him. Wiley immediately grabbed a seat next to his mate. Clay and Dane also sat at the table while Calder drifted into the kitchen and started grabbing coffee mugs.
Oddly, Cort chose a seat at the island rather than the table, putting him in the middle. Not quite with the group, but not with Grey either. Did he not feel as though he were part of their family? Was it the threat of violence that had him pulling away?
Grey wanted to wrap his arms around his man and cuddle him, but now wasn’t the time. He would steal Cort later and snuggle the truth out of him if necessary.
“So, if it’s obviously a trap, why the hell did you agree to the meeting?” Lucien grumbled.
“Yes, Grey. Why did you agree?” Clay’s voice was a hard rumble of thunder.
Placing his hands on the counter, Grey paused long enough to glare at the leader of their little group, though inwardly there was a piece of him glad that he could even glare at Clay at all.
“A few reasons, actually. There is a slim chance it’s not a trap and the more we can learn about John and the pestilents’ plans, the better our chances of taking them out.” He held up a hand when it looked like several people were about to argue. “But assuming it’s not, I think this could be our best chance to kill John, because he thinks I’m still blind.”
“What’s the plan?” Calder asked. He crossed to the fridge and started pulling out the half-and-half and flavored creamers. It was all Grey could do not to smirk at the man. The Water Weaver was almost always so calm and collected. After all the strange things that had been thrown at him, the man didn’t seem to be surprised by any of it.
“That…I don’t know.”
“We need a layout of the mall,” Dane murmured.
“I’m sure there’s a map online so shoppers can see what stores there are.” Wiley started to push to his feet, but Baer got up first. He brushed a kiss to the top of his head.
“I’ll grab your tablet while letting Ruby and Queenie out of our room.”
“Oh, shit! Good idea!” his mate said on a gasp.
Baer darted over to the rear stairs and disappeared up them with a thunder of footsteps.
“But this isn’t just about dealing with John and pestilents. There are going to be a ton of innocent people wandering around that mall on a Saturday. It’ll be the second to last weekend before Christmas,” Dane pointed out. “Enough humans have been hurt in this war. We need to get them out of there safely.”
“We will,” Grey said firmly.
“Our Soul Weaver thinks he can remove the enthrallment.” Clay reached over and covered one of Dane’s fists with his hand. “That will help.”
“Can we move them out sooner? Before John even arrives?”
Grey frowned and met Clay’s dark gaze.
“We can’t,” Calder interjected. “If people aren’t in the mall when John arrives, he will suspect something. He may choose to leave, and we miss our chance.”
“True,” Grey agreed.
“But we could get them out using a fire alarm after Grey meets with John. We just need him to give us a signal.” Wiley smiled and accepted the tablet from Baer when he reappeared in the kitchen followed closely by Ruby with a briskly wagging tail. The sweet dog stopped by each person in the kitchen and breakfast area for a sniff and attention; then she stretched out in her normal spot under the table.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Lucien murmured. “It might give us a chance to get the drop on old John in the chaos.” He rubbed his knuckles against his chest and when he lifted his hand, a teardrop of fire danced on the tip of each finger. “We don’t even have to make it a fake alarm.”
“Sounds like we’ve got some options. Do you think John will be able to sense us if we’re in the mall with you? You know, like how you and Clay can sense the pestilents,” Baer asked.
Grey folded his arms over his chest and shifted from one foot to the other. “I think there’s a good chance of it. Unless Wiley has some nifty cloaking spell, I’d say that the rest of the Circle will need to keep some distance. At least until John is close.” Lifting his gaze, his eyes snagged once again on his silent lover. “Cort? You’re being very quiet.”
The man frowned at the floor and managed a small shrug of one shoulder. “This isn’t exactly my expertise.”
“It’s not exactly the expertise of any of us. We’ve been learning as we go. I would still very much like to know your thoughts.”
