AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What?” she mouthed at him.
Gabriel shook his head at her and turned back to the window. Everything looked still. Too still. Like the quiet before a storm. Or battle.
“I have Lucas, you empty-headed monster,” Malcolm seethed. “He is hanging by a thread out here with Ava. She's got an arrow pointed at his skull as we speak…”
“Don’t touch him!”
Lily rushed to him and grabbed hold of his elbows, trying to calm him down. He twitched and tried to pull away from her, but his mate was far more tenacious than he gave her credit for.
“Stop! Listen to him!” she whispered.
Gabriel huffed, then took heed of her advice. It wouldn't help the situation to become unreasonably enraged. Not when so much was at stake.
He lowered his voice, trying to stay even and practical. Lily stood with him, her hand on his back for support.
“Tell me what you want, Malcolm. Tell me what it is, and we can negotiate."
“Ah, yes. Now the beast wants to talk,” Malcolm said. “I think you know what I want. What I have searched for, and my father searched for, for over three decades. What was at my fingertips before you idiots decided to arrive and shit all over it.”
Lily clicked the bedside table lamp on, and it flooded the room with its soft light. When she came back to him, she tapped her palm and mouthed for him to put it on speakerphone.
She seemed adamant about it, but Gabriel hesitated. She was already way too deep into his plight to be tossed aside. So he did as she asked but put a finger over his lips once he laid the phone on the window sill.
She obliged his request, crossing her arms thoughtfully.
“You want the relics then,” Gabriel said in a near murmur.
“Bingo.”
“What makes you think I even have them?” Gabriel said, testing the waters.
Malcolm let out a cackle that garbled the sound coming through the phone. It was immensely obnoxious, but Gabriel rocked his body back and forth, soothing himself to keep from exploding on the asshole.
“You must really think us humans are as thick as your kind,” Malcolm said, far too confident and jubilant for Gabriel’s liking. “Ava is my hire, in case you forgot. And you killed my men in the conservation area. I won’t forget that.”
Gabriel darted his eyes up to Lily, knowing she was primed to take the blame for those murders. He cut the air in front of his throat before she even had the chance to open her mouth.
When she saw his gesture and how aggressive he appeared, she closed her mouth, looking sullen.
“How do I know you haven't already killed my man?” Gabriel asked.
"You are just going to have to trust me on that one,” Malcolm said, sounding exasperated. “Give me the relics. I know you have all of them. Then your man will live.”
Gabriel didn’t see any other option than to agree. He, of course, had no intention of giving them anything. The power that the Lantern’s Eye wielded was far too strong and, in the wrong hands, could easily be abused.
“It’s a deal,” Gabriel said. “Give me a location, and I will be there immediately.”
Malcolm named a place only a few miles outside the pride. It was in the same forest area where Lucas had been taken. They really hadn't gone that far at all.
“Pleasant travels,” Malcolm said, laughing, then hung up hastily.
“We have to go now,” Lily said.
Gabriel watched as Lily threw off her robe, moving around frantically to strap on her bra and underwear, then rifled through her dresser to pull on some clothing. Meanwhile, Gabriel stood there nude, avoiding telling his mate what was really going to happen.
“Lily …”
“We still have that gun. I can help you,” she said, getting dressed. “I can climb a tree and wait, in case there's an ambush or something…”
