Page 101 of Those That Defy the Realm

“You’ve read that treaty as much as I have and you damn well know that it clearly states that you break the treaty the second you leave the boundary of your island. Not by stepping into another territory.”

“Come on! Agent Morris isn’t going to care about this little jaunt. Aren’t we all about to do something completely illegal? Last I checked, saving a bunch of vampires from an execution facility wasn’t exactly a noble venture in the eyes of the law.”

Mitch laughs. “Fair point. I am going to have to tell Morris, though.”

I huff in pretend annoyance. If the Froan authorities have spent the last few years pursuing a route to hoodwink the central government so that vampires can live on their island, then Morris isn’t going to report me to them and get my entire pack executed.

Looking back over my shoulder, I see my tiny vessel still bobbing along behind the much larger boat I’m now on. Running into Mitch and his team, plus Rory and Atlas, was the kind of luck I’d needed. Shortly after they’d pulled me on board and secured my boat to theirs the waves had gotten dangerous. Even this yacht, which was three times the size or more, had struggled with the howling winds causing ten feet swells. We’d had to sit as stationary as was possible to do until the waters calmed.

I’d most likely be swimming or drowned if they hadn’t found me when they had. My little boat had gone under a couple of times, but luckily it hadn’t sunk completely. I’m sure I’d have been washed overboard had I stayed on board it.

Shuddering at that thought, I turn instead to the horizon.

The weather had made our progress incredibly slow and despite the fact the sun was now fully in the sky, we still hadn’t caught a glimpse of the mainlands.

And the news that our mates had been captured by the authorities made our rescue mission all the more urgent.

I move across the deck to Rory as she leans on the railings, eyes looking to the horizon but not seeing it.

“Have you heard any more from him?” I ask.

Her connection to Ty has been the only thing keeping both of us from completely losing it. His updates on their well-being and location have allowed us to plan and prepare for our mission.

Henry has been separated from Claire, but Ty had reassured us that the authorities were treating her as human, that she was still human, even if her time as a mortal was ticking down.

The fact that Henry had been accused of being the one to inflict the savage injuries on her had made me furious. He’d never do that. He’d rather slit his own wrists open than do something so brutal to our female.

I was keeping that rage locked away for the fight I knew was coming. For when we got along the coast, our plan was simple. Dock the boats, raid the execution camp, kill as necessary, and get our family back.

Four steps, a simple plan.

By midnight tomorrow, we’d be back on Froan soil.

Or at least somewhere safe if Morris still wouldn’t let me step foot on her territory.

“Not much. They’re working on getting access to their magic back,” Rory eventually answers.

She’s keeping her connection to her mate so open it’s like she’s only here in a corporeal sense. I don’t blame her, if I had that type of bond to my mates, I’d be the same right now. The only comfort I can take is that they’re not experiencing any severe pain right now.

“Land ahead,” Mitch calls over. I look up from the red-headed female and squint into the distance. Indeed, the first sliver of the rocky shores of the continent are cresting over the horizon.

Hold tight, I mentally tell my mates even though I know they can’t hear me. I’m coming for you, and this time I’m never letting you go.

CHAPTER 37

HENRY

“How’s it going?” I ask from my look out at the barred gateway to our cell. It’s been a few hours according to my wristwatch, but it feels like days.

“I think I have enough power to do this now.” Antares stands, coming away from the hole in the grout they’ve both been breathing from and dramatically parts the air, slowly spreading first his fingers, then hands, then sweeping both his arms in a weird motion resembling a breaststroke.

He repeats the gesture, this time palms up. “There, that should do it. At least for a while. Just don’t start breathing too heavily or we’ll run out of oxygen quicker than I can replace it.”

“Have you really just cleansed this entire room?” Ty asks, visibly taking an experimental breath.

“You say that like it’s hard.” Antares fires a scowl over his shoulder at our leader.

“Your power really is something,” Ty begrudgingly admits. He, however, wastes no time in showing off his own. Pulling shadows free from the corners, the thick black strands dance around the room like excited puppies before they go to their master and curl around his limbs. “Gods, that feels good.”