Page 20 of Hybrid Heroics

“Not everything…” Novak traveled off, squinting as he recalled the last few weeks.

Stone rolled his eyes. “Yes. Everything.”

“The vampires—”

“Alric.”

Novak huffed. “That was Kadence.”

“She was one of Alric’s kids,” the demon argued in exasperation. “It’s like you don’t pay attention to anything.”

“The camp?” Briggs guessed, attempting to shrug before he stopped.

He was still carrying Sloane and hadn’t complained once. Not that I expected him to. His wolf was riding just on the edges of his eyes, unwilling to give up his mate while she was vulnerable. Shifters were protective like that, and it would extend beyond her, covering us as well. Though I was doubting he would cradle any of us so gently.

No.

Briggs would throw any of us over his shoulder like a bag of dog food. But he would carry us, so I guess it was the thought that counted.

“That was Kelvin,” Novak added, nodding like they were on to something.

“Alric’s son,” Palmer acknowledged, shaking his head at the vampire.

“The mage guild?” Vaughn challenged, though I could tell he already knew the answer.

“Alric,” Palmer repeated. “And before you ask, Annette—or Anahein—was Alric’s plan, too. She was his oldest child. These are things we’ve talked about before today. Why don’t you know this?”

“Alania?” Novak pressed, raising a ringless brow.

When had he taken the piercing out? I couldn’t keep up with all the little shit he did.

Stone gave the vampire a blank look. “Are you fucking kidding? Alania was Alric’s mate.”

“Satan and the rebellion.” Now Novak was just trying to piss the demon off.

Which would get us nowhere. It wasn’t that they didn’t butt heads… But now wasn’t the time for unrest or for the vampire to poke at the demon when they both liked instigating.

“Alric,” Palmer answered, moving to stand between them.

It would make my fucking day to watch the mage knock them both out with that sleep spell he had hit Novak with last week. It would suck to carry them, but I would laugh while I complained.

“And Hannibal?” Vaughn asked, though he was more curious than anything else.

Of course, he might not remember because he was hallucinating after chugging way too much Cappa root beer. If the humorous smirk lifting the side of Stone’s lips indicated anything, it was that he seemed to remember that particular nightmare.

“Satan and Hannibal were being manipulated by Alric,” he explained. “And they led the rebellion, which in turn was led by Al—”

“We get it,” Novak interrupted. “Fuck. Can we just kill this guy already?”

“Sure. Can you fight him?” Stone popped back. “Because I can’t win on my own. But if you can, then by all means, put us out of our misery, won’t you?”

Sterling blew out a heavy breath. “Do they always argue this much?”

“No,” Murphy answered before I could say anything. “I’ve seen them butt heads, but this is more tension than usual. They weren’t like this two weeks ago.”

That was the understatement of the fucking century.

“Things weren’t this tense between them on Sunday either,” Thatcher added.