Page 34 of Hybrid Heroics

Novak grimaced. “So, I’m going out on a limb here to say I doubt he gave a fuck.”

“Probably not,” I agreed.

“And what about the druids’ realm being a trap?” York inquired.

“Right.” I snapped my fingers, bringing myself back on track. “While we were in the fae realm, Alric was already preparing his next move. That’s where that mental virus comes into play. He couldn’t get through the portal, but he could get his magic through.

“I’ve been thinking about what Sterling was saying... And I think the first orc that was infected might have met with Alric—willingly or not doesn’t matter at this moment, though it’s something to look at later.”

I shook my head. “Anyway, Alric gave the virus to him, and he brought it home. It spreads through contact, so every hand he shook or person he touched caught it. That’s how Talia got it. She hugged the lady at the market, and then she came home… where she shares a bed with her mate, which is likely how Latharian caught it.

“And who the fuck knows how deep it goes? My one question is, does the virus-curse thing end with Alric’s death? Or are we going to have to kick it out of the entire realm? Because if it’s the latter, we’re going to need Sloane to do that.”

“Meanwhile, she’s trapped in her head with him…” Briggs trailed off, glaring at our unresponsive mate like that would make her wake up.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Or maybe she figured something out that she couldn’t explain while he was listening.”

Briggs rolled his hand. “Elaborate. Go ahead and get it all out.”

I sighed. “I think he was in her head because he was trying to see what she’s capable of. Outside of rumors, he has no idea. And, in a way, I think she’s doing the same thing that he is... Only she’s being sneakier about it.”

“How so?” Stone asked, intrigued. Possibly exasperated. Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.

“Well... Because they’re in her head. She can manipulate it to show him things that aren’t true, right?” I glanced at Novak.

“Yeah.” He wobbled his head. “In theory, he shouldn’t be able to read her thoughts while they’re both trapped there. But I’ve never been stuck in anyone’s mind, so I don’t know. What I do know is she should be able to twist her mind to be whatever she wants to present him…”

“I doubt she’s hidden anything,” York muttered.

Novak raised a brow. “Why do you say that?”

“Outwardly, she’s pretty decent at controlling the crazy... But inwardly?” The druid shook his head. “It’s a literal madhouse.”

“I’ve never seen anything other than white space and sporadic memories,” the vampire informed him.

“Illusion,” York curtly replied.

“She—Why—What?” Novak stuttered.

The druid frowned. “It’s hard to explain, like anything, when it comes to Sloane. What you’ve seen inside her mind is the first layer. It’s what anyone would see if they breached her security.”

“How do you know?” Vaughn challenged.

“Because she showed me,” York defended. “And then I told her I didn’t want to go back. It’s... unsettling. Though she thinks it’s fun. Did you know she’s got people literally trapped inside her head?”

“What the fuck?” Stone grinned. “I mean, it’s not surprising. But that’s got to be the strangest thing I’ve heard about her.”

York quickly nodded. “I’m not lying. There’s probably about a dozen of them. She uses it as punishment.”

Novak squinted at him. “Punishment for what?”

“I think the better question is, punishment for whom?” I corrected.

“I don’t think the who of it matters,” the vampire said with a chuckle.

Briggs scoffed. “What if they’re serial killers, trying to—”

“Sloane is a serial killer,” Novak cut in. “Really? Do you think any of those lucky bastards from the 70s scare her? She would roll Ted what’s-his-face into a ball and laugh while he screamed.”