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At first, she couldn’t comprehend the words that her brother had spoken. Cell phone pressed to her ear, she had asked him to clarify.
TheCitizenshad abducted Lucius.
And all at once, Blair’s rationality had failed her. The civilized mask she wore crumbled under the onslaught of the feral emotion that raged under her skin.
It’d only gotten worse when she’d seen the surveillance video and realized he’d been with his captors for four days.
From the moment she’d heard of his abduction, Blair knew she’d do anything she could to take revenge on the people who’d harmed Lucius. To see her fledgling tortured and beaten, a prisoner, had brought back bitter memories that were nearly more than she could take.
While Blair wore a mask to cover her wounds, Torrin wore a mask to cover his psychosis.
The fact that Torrin had the photo of her and Lucius together in his possession meant he’d known Blair was a vampire before she’d even begun her employment and everything she’d done while she was here was for naught.
It’d been why he’d taken such an interest in a new manager, and why he’d pulled a gun on her when she’d given him no reason to suspect her supernatural nature.
Blair’s mission had been doomed before it even started.
“Torrin has years’ worth of records on the vampires on the council.” Remmus’ lips curled momentarily before he continued. “But he’s fixated on Lucius—and that Los Angeles location in particular.”
A steadying breath as he continued. “There are also records here of large purchases of liquid sunlight and communications alluding to an impending attack. Based upon messages sealed within his hard drive and his connected cell phone, the timetable had been moved up because Blair infiltrated the newspaper. I deem the location in Los Angeles to be critically compromised as of now and would strongly recommend an immediate evacuation of the site.”
Blair’s pulse went into a frenzy, and she pivoted toward Kaien with terror written across her features. “We need to warn Luc—we have to get them to safety!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Blair’sanxietybledthroughthe thin mating bond between them, hammering Kaien with the potency of her soaring emotions. The need to protect her and those she loved ignited a frenzy in him, but diving in headfirst wouldn’t accomplish anything.
Taking her shoulders, Kaien dragged her against his frame in a shielding embrace. “We have no way of knowing when this attack might happen. If we go back to clan territory, we can regroup with the others and arrange the evacuation.”
At Blair’s pained expression, he continued explaining his course of action. “Without additional Raeths capable of mass-teleportation, we’d do no good. If they travel to their new location by plane, Torrin will be able to follow their movements. That alone could uncover and lead theCitizensto another House and compromise additional locations.”
Remmus nodded in agreement, his hand disengaging from the monitor that flickered to black. “It’s the best course of action, Blair.”
“Did you get Torrin’s home address?”
Kaien’s eyes shot to his best friend, removing any trace of sentiment from his features. His mind, sharpened under the enervating stress of his mate, was already formulating an answer to the question that’d presented itself.
“I have it, along with several others.”
“Good,” Kaien said, grateful for Remmus’ gift like never before. Remmus, trusting as he was, would never expect what he’d do next.
“We can confront him, then.”
The look in Blair’s eyes promised pain, retribution. Through their mating bond, her determination was palpable, potent with the need to deliver justice and avenge her fledgling’s suffering.
And he agreed with the sentiment—exceptthat he’d never allow Blair in the line of fire again. Even as he offered her a stiff nod, he was formulating a way that they’d never have to worry about Torrin again—and Blair would never again fear for Luc’s life.
When he’d seen the photo of her and Lucius holding hands, her head tucked into the nook of his shoulder companionably, Kaien had had an epiphany.
Blair cared about Lucius in a way that he’d never understand and could never match. He’d never measure up to the man who’d been her first fledgling and had saved her life when he’d been only human. And if Lucius’ safety meant peace for Blair, then he’d give his everything to ensure it—even if it meant his life.
“Back to clan territory.” Remmus jerked a nod, then grasped Kaien’s shoulder.
Armed with the knowledge of the impending attack, Blair’s panic level rose, and her hand was steel as she gripped his. All he felt was calm, a righteous tranquility about what he was about to do.
To protect Blair, he truly had no other choice.
Instead of teleporting directly to Nina’s house in Solaris, he teleported them to the vast armory in the basement of his home. As the colors and surroundings were still solidifying around them, Kaien’s hand shot out to grip tightly around Remmus’ neck.
