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“This was the assassin, aye. But who hired him, I don’t know. He was on a mission to kill theabomination.”
“That’s a Council term,” Noah said, looking ashen. “They must have found out she was pregnant and sent someone to dispatch her. But how were they able to get inside?”
“Yes, that is the question, isn’t it?” I asked.
“I found a guard dead by the tunnels as I returned from the hunt.” Cashel pulled Olivia tight against him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
“Convenient.” The word was soft, but I knew everyone heard it.
“If you’re implyingIhad anything to do with my son’s mate being attacked, I assure you, you’re wrong.”
Noah’s eyes flicked to his father, but before he could say anything, Kingston reached for Sunday.
Possessive anger took hold as his fingers brushed her arm, and I snapped, “Don’t touch her. I’ve got her.”
Kingston assessed me and then stepped back with his hands raised. “All right, Padre. That’s fine, but can we get her out of here? She’s shaking and clearly in shock. She doesn’t need to see the aftermath right now.”
I flinched, rising immediately and baring my fangs at the bodies standing between me and the door. “Out of my way.”
In the blink of an eye, I had her on the bed, a heavy blanket covering us both as I clung to her. I couldn’t let her go. Not yet. I needed to hear her heart beating strong and steady, see the color returning to her cheeks. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips to her forehead, homing in on the rapid thrum of the baby’s pulse as well.
They were safe. I hadn’t lost them. Thanks to the Seer’s warning, I’d reached her in time. But what if I hadn’t? What if I was too late next time? Because surely there’d be a next time. The Vampire Council wouldn’t give up that easily.
“Um, is this guy okay?” Roslyn’s wary voice rang out as she slowly backed away from Alek, whose eyes had bled black. Even from my place on the bed I could see the lightning flashing in the inky depths.
“No. Rosie, get away from him right now. He’s a berserker, and his mate was just threatened.” Noah put himself between his sister and Alek. “Nordson, she’s all right. Look there. Sunday is breathing and safe.”
Alek let out a menacing snarl and grasped Noah by his throat, shoving him up against the wall. “You brought us toyourhouse, underyourroof, guarded byyourfamily. Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you right now.”
“Because I would never forgive you if you did, Alek,” Sunday said, her words raspy but strong all the same.
“You almost died on his watch. He left you. How is that acceptable behavior for a mate? You have three others. You don’t need this one.”
Sunday removed herself from my hold, slipped his shirt over her head, and then carefully walked across the room to put herself right in front of him. Without hesitation, she took the hand Alek had around Noah’s throat and brought it to hers instead.
“I’m here. Do you feel my heartbeat?”
Some of the rage seeped from his eyes, their color returning slowly to his normal icy blue. Then she slid his palm down to her chest, right over her heart, before pressing her hand against his.
“This isn’t Noah’s fault. Killing him isn’t the answer.”
Alek closed his eyes and took a long breath, a visible tremor racing down his enormous frame. When he came back to himself, he trained his focus on Cashel. “Someone needs to pay. Who needs to die?”
