Page 15

“They needed to know, Sev. It’s been decades too long. They’re not children.” Uriel spun his own glass between his palms.

“Next time, I won’t be gentle when I decide to punish you. For now, we have more problems, deartháir. In that warehouse, we missed a group of women in a cargo container. I’m not blaming any of us for not seeing or hearing them.” He explained what he’d witnessed and the lingering spell around the metal he’d recognized.

“So those old crypts you spent ages going through came to good use?” Uriel raised his glass in a mock toast.

Severin slapped his best friend on the back of the head. “Quit being a dick. How did you know the wolf was following you and had been at the warehouse as well?”

Uriel tapped his nose. “I spent a long time serving monsters before you found me. You know nothing will stop animals bent on destruction except destruction itself. The male I met with is part of the Fallen Pack. He and his kind are looking for the Moonborn females. They all supposedly carry a crescent-moon mark on their necks. Did the ones you saw have one of those?”

“Fuck. You’re telling me these shifters are taking human women who might carry a special mark?”

“Yep. And they don’t give a damn about morals or deaths in their search for these special beings. Wolves are predatory animals. If they’re told their other half is out there and easy to find by a mark, many who’ve searched for years will give their left arm for a sliver of hope. If that means they have to do something some might consider on the wrong side of morality, they consider it collateral damage.”

“When my parents were wed, they spoke of their bonding as this great love. They’d had a handfasting ceremony. My mother hoped my brother and I would find something similar. I'd never thought to steal a female who wasn’t mine. Even my brother, after he realized his wife was my Fated, moved aside for the two of us.” He wasn’t sure if he could have been as upright as Scepter.

“You’re thinking about the rift between you and your twin?” Uriel tapped one finger on the bar.

Severin waved the male away. “You reading my mind now?”

Uriel grunted.

“Did you get invited to join their pack?” Severin knew the male couldn’t get into his mind as he had with the others, but he still didn’t like the smug smirk on Uriel’s face.

Uriel lifted his middle finger on his left hand. “I’ll send a message to Savage if you want about the marks. His club is a hotspot for supernatural beings, and from what we’ve learned, they have shifters as companions.”

“I got it. I’ll just take food and killing tools with me.” Severin flashed to his feet.

“You are a killing tool.” Uriel gulped down the last of his drink.

“At least you didn’t call me a tool.” He flicked his hand, sending the thread back into Uriel. The male gasped, clutching his chest. “Don’t ever try to force my hand again, Uriel. You won’t like me if I truly have to put you in time out,” Severin warned.

“I’m aware, and I promise never to call you words like tool. I’ve grown accustomed to having my head attached to my shoulders.” Uriel twisted his head left and right. A loud crack accompanied each action.

“See that you don’t.” Severin snapped his fingers, freezing everyone inside the bar, and then he flashed to Savage Rossi’s Club. A line of humans and many other beings ringed the building at least seventy-five deep, mingling together as if it were a normal evening. The humans clearly didn’t realize they stood close to something that could break their necks or devour them without breaking a sweat. Severin bypassed them all until he reached the front. He snapped his fingers, unsurprised to find everyone, even the vampire guard behind the velvet rope, frozen in place. Of course, he knew Savage would feel his use of power and be waiting. He expected it and wanted to wrap up their meeting quickly.

The interior smelled faintly of spiced fruit. He’d forgotten that detail from his last visit. It likely calmed the beasts’ killing instincts while lowering every human’s instant fright—a win-win for all. Severin skirted the prone figures, tempted to swipe a bottle of beer just to have something to hold. He didn’t.

“Such a dramatic entrance, Shaw. Why didn’t you call first?” Savage called out from above, his voice booming loudly.

“Ah, but what would be the fun in that? Besides, look around us. Now we get a moment of uninterrupted time. How many people can say that?” Severin spun in a circle.

“What the fuck do you want, boy? I could be getting my dick kissed by my female. Instead, I’m out here wanting to rip your head off and play catch the idiot with my Family.” Savage launched himself over the rail and landed a few feet from Severin.

“Nice landing, boy. You should try out for the Olympics. I hear they need a new jumper.” Severin raised a hand, stalling Savage. “I know you like these word games, but I find myself weary of them. I came to talk to you about the females in the container.”

His words snapped Savage’s head up. He didn’t miss the others who thought they were being stealthy. Silly kids. Didn’t they know he was much smarter and more powerful than their puny vamp selves?

Severin kept his power dialed back to a level on par with Scepter—no need to show all his cards.

“Explain,” Savage barked.

“The females weren’t selected at random. Did you look at their necks?” Severin ran his finger along the section behind his ear, then along the back.

“Ah, I didn’t really pay close attention. Why?” Savage’s gaze flickered.

“Fuck. Okay. Are they still in New York, or have you already organized their transportation back to their homes?” Severin sent feelers around the cavernous space, locating each of the others’ hiding spots.

Savage seemed to think or speak to the others before glancing at Severin again.