Page 83 of The Secret Mate Society

"We will just destroy the evidence," Ageratum said, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world."Burn it all.Problem solved."

I shook my head."It wouldn't work.He's been collecting this stuff for fourteen years.It's his life's work.If it disappeared, he'd know exactly who took it."

"No he won’t," the demon stated simply."Because I’ll take it.”

“He’ll still suspect?—”

“Then make him believe otherwise!”Ageratum shouted back, clearly growing tired of arguing with me.“He’s a human and they’re stupid!Tell him a lie, make him believe it, or dispose of him yourself like you should’ve done to begin with.”

I couldn’t help the snarl that escaped my lips.Trevor stepped in front of me before I could rush Ageratum.Nobody was going to threaten my mate like that.

“Calder,” Trevor said, his eyes fixed on mine.“Calm down.We’re not going to kill your mate.”

I forced myself to take a deep breath and a step backward.But I never took my gaze off the demon in front of me.And he wouldn’t take his off me either.

“Ageratum,” Trevor said, turning to the demon.“Go get the box.”

“You can’t?—”

“Shutup Calder,” Trevor barked back.I stopped, surprised by the ferocity in my Beta’s voice.“Do you want your mate to die?”he continued.“Do you want the Elder Council to find evidence of knowledge in the same house as him?With his fucking scent all over it?”

“Nobody is gonna touch Ethan,” I growled back.

“Then let him take the fucking box.”His voice was powerful, but his eyes were pleading with me.“I’m trying to help you, Calder.Give the Elder Council one less reason to tear you two apart.”

I felt my jaw clench as I realized Trevor was right.As much as I hated to admit it, this was the only way to protect Ethan.The evidence needed to disappear, and it needed to look like it had nothing to do with me.

"Fine," I said finally, the word tasting bitter in my mouth."But I want your word, Ageratum.The Council never finds out about Ethan's research.This stays between us."

The demon's thin lips curved into what might have been a smile on a human face."I make no promises, Alpha Thorne.But I will say that it serves no purpose to inform the Council of something that no longer exists."

I nodded, knowing that was the best I could hope for."He'll be devastated when he discovers it's gone."

"Then comfort him," Ageratum replied coldly."Isn't that what mates do?"

I wanted to rip his throat out for the mocking tone, but I restrained myself."My house key is in my jacket pocket.The box is on the dining room table.Ethan's asleep in the bedroom.If you wake him up?—"

"I am not some clumsy newborn," Ageratum interrupted, offended."I have been collecting evidence of our kind for centuries.Your human will never know I was there."

Trevor put a hand on my shoulder."This is the right call, Calder.We're protecting him."

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.I was betraying Ethan's trust to save his life, and he would never know it.The irony was crushing.

Ageratum gave me a stiff nod before walking toward the deep shadows of the trees.The moment he entered the shadow, I lost track of him.He seemed to have just disappeared.

“I’m sorry, Calder,” Trevor said, taking a step back from me.“I know it’s not my place to challenge you like that.”

“It’s fine.”My voice was gruff, but not because of my Beta.“I’m just… I’m really worried about Ethan.”

“You really do love him, don’t you?”

The question caught me off guard.But the way my heart leapt in my chest surprised me more.

“Yeah,” I nodded.“Seems stupid to feel that way so fast, but we’re bonded.I… I don’t know if I could live without him now.”

“You won’t have to,” Trevor said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.“We’ll find a way for you two to be together.”

I was surprised by his words and equally touched.But before I could thank him, Ageratum appeared from the shadows once more.And this time he was holding the banker’s box in his hands, the one that held Ethan’s entire obsession within it.