Kerak smiled. “Did you miss me?” Before Reid could think of a suitable answer, Kerak continued. “My brother was in a gaming mood so we spent most of the evening at the gambling hall.”
A chill ran up Reid’s spine. He’d only met Kerak’s brother the one time. It had been enough. He’d been grateful every night Kerak was in the saloon that the brotherdidn’tshow up.
“Did you win?”
“Some.”
Reid could feel Kerak’s gaze on the side of his face but kept his eyes forward.
“Although I admit, I’m not much for gambling.” Kerak cleared his throat. “How was your evening?”
“Oh, fine. A little boring to be honest.”
When Kerak chuckled, Reid found himself smiling, too.
Chapter
Two
SOLSTON, PRESENT DAY
Wylder
Kerak appeared in the empty doorway of Derek’s office at the Hellhound Compound. “What’s going on, Wylder, is that you’re going to help me open the door to the Fae realm and stop your mother from killing my mate.”
Wylder’s ears started to ring.
His mother was alive?
As Kerak spoke, telling them his side of the story of sealing the door, Wylder could barely hear his words.
His mother was alive.
It was an endless mantra in his head.
“You’re sure?” he said suddenly, uncaring that he interrupted Kerak’s story.
Kerak fixed his dark gaze on Wylder, and for a moment, all Wylder could see was how awful Kerak looked. The demon kingdidn’t age and wouldn’t die a human death, but right now, he looked…pale. Fraught. Like a man balanced on a knife’s edge.
“I’m sure.” Kerak let out a breath. “Your mother is the only witch with the power to reach across realms like this. That’s why she was able to close the door.”
“But…” Wylder huffed, running a hand through his hair. “If she could do that, why hasn’t she? Why wouldn’t she have contacted us?”
Silva redoubled his grip on Wylder’s hand.
Wylder was grateful for the anchoring touch.
“I don’t know,” Kerak said. “Let’s open the door and find out.”
Kerak
“Are you out of your mind?” Silva stepped in front of Wylder again, squaring up with Kerak. “After everything we went through to keep the Hunt out of this realm, you’re willing to just invite them in?”
Kerak gritted his teeth. “You would be wise,Fae,to never question what I’m willing to do for Reid. I’d burn this world to ash myself if it’d save him!” He took a deep breath, attempting to pull the rage back under his control. He lowered his voice and did his best to keep it even. “I held the Hunt back once. I can do it again. Long enough to stop Maren’s spell.”
“Why would my mother do this to your mate?”
Kerak shook his head. “I don’t know. There was never any bad blood between your mother and I. Nor was she the kind of person to hurt another without provocation. It stands to reason someone is forcing her hand.”
