by Deanna Chase
“Damn,” I muttered.
“At least they’re all right,” Dax said, his angry tone belying his words of comfort.
“And we now know vampires took them,” I said. “Probably not Allcot or else Willow would’ve said so.”
“I agree. Not Allcot. At least not him personally or any of his regular crew. She did give us a lead.” Dax jerked his head toward the Trooper parked a few feet away. “Ready to get to work?”
I glanced at my watch. It was just before eight. Good. The Void research staff would be arriving shortly. “Ready. Let’s see if we can find any intel on Red while we’re searching the records for Asier.”
Security at the Void building had been beefed up recently, and when Dax and I walked in with Link, the guard I knew only as Arlo shook his head. “Nope. No shifters.” He pointed at Link. “Whoever he is, he can’t come through security.”
“Dax is a shifter,” I said reasonably. “You still let his shaggy ass in the building.”
“Thanks, Phoebs,” Dax said dryly.
“Ms. Kilsen, please don’t try my patience,” the older man said. “Mr. Marrok has security clearance. I’ve never seen this wolf before.”
“Sure you have.” I glanced down at Link. “Shift, boy.”
The wolf stared up at me, his eyes narrowed.
“If they let you in here, it’s just going to happen the minute you go through security anyway.”
Link, who actually had been to this building more times than any of us could count, let out a huff. But a spark of light flashed over him, and a second later, a gold-and-white shih tzu was sitting at my feet, leaning into my leg.
I smiled at Arlo. “See? Hardly a security threat.”
“Willow Rhoswen’s pup?” he asked curiously.
“Yes. He’s working with me for the time being.” I pulled my dagger out of its holder and proceeded to unload the rest of my weapons and magic-infused jewelry into one of the baskets. Then Link and I walked through the scanner.
Arlo placed my basket into one of the lockers and handed me the key. If they went through the scanner, all my spells would be neutralized and rendered completely useless. Dax did the same, and together the three of us headed upstairs.
I was just about to round the corner to head into the research office when a young witch I recognized as the director’s assistant ran up to me, clearly winded, and said, “Agent Kilsen, the director is waiting for you.”
“She is?” I glanced back at Dax. “Did you get a directive?”
He shook his head.
“Director Halston wants you to report to her immediately,” the young witch said, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s urgent.”
“Fuck me,” I muttered. What else kind of shit had gone down last night? Whatever it was, the Void was just going to have to get some other agent, because I had two fae to find.
Dax immediately turned and started to make his way toward the director’s office. Link stayed at my feet, waiting for my order. How come all shifters couldn’t be as loyal as the shih tzu? I jerked my head, indicating we should follow Dax, and led Link into the west wing of the building.
“She’s in there,” the assistant said, her hand shaking as she pointed at Halston’s office.
“Carla, right?” I asked, hoping I was remembering her name correctly.
“It’s Marla.” She gave me just a hint of a smile before she glanced nervously at the director’s office again.
“Right. Marla. Um, is there something we should know before we walk in there?”
She nodded, but when she opened her mouth to speak, no sound came out. Her face turned ashen, and shaking her head, she ran back down the hall.
I met Dax’s gaze and cursed the Void and their goddamned stupid security rules. There was something seriously wrong in Halston’s office, and not only did I not have any weapons, but neither Dax or Link could shift into wolf form while in the building. The neutralizing scanner had seen to that. It’d be a few hours before they got their abilities back.
Walking with a calm that didn’t actually exist, I moved to Marla’s desk and pulled the top drawer open. I stifled a groan when all I found were extra pens and notebooks. “Come on, Marla,” I said under my breath. She had to have something I could use as a weapon. A stapler, a letter opener—hell, a paperweight would be welcome at this point.
Dax, who’d obviously caught on to what I was doing, opened the drawers on the left while I took the right. Both of us quickly rummaged around. I scowled in annoyance at the drawer full of every snack under the sun. Pushing aside what had to be two dozen individually wrapped Kiss Me Chocolates, I shoved my hand into the back of the drawer. My fingers closed around a cool metal handle.
Yes! Jackpot!
I tugged the knife free and almost laughed at the bright pink handle. Good for Marla. I tucked it into the small of my back and turned to Dax. He held up a stun gun, indicating he’d been just as successful.
“How the hell do you think she got these past security?” I asked in a hushed tone.
“Halston. No doubt she gave them to her assistant just in case.”
“Well, it’s a good thing she did, even though Marla is probably off vomiting somewhere.”
Dax stuffed the stun gun into his pocket and pressed his back to the wall on one side of Halston’s door. I wrapped my hand around the hilt of the knife and did the same. Link, my new sidekick, stayed at my feet, obedient but on alert. Even in shih tzu form, his presence felt slightly ominous, and I started to seriously regret not taking one of his littermates… even if I would’ve had to sacrifice my entire shoe collection to a gnawing puppy.
Link and I hadn’t gotten off to a great start. It’s hard to love the creature who eats your favorite boots for dinner and your favorite red pumps for dessert. But now I was thinking it was a sacrifice worth making.
Dax slowly reached over to grab the doorknob. He looked up at me and I nodded, indicating I was ready. He nodded back and in the next second, he threw the door open and spun, the stun gun out as he scanned the room for danger. “Son of a bitch!” he yelled and flung himself into the room.
Without hesitation, I whipped the knife out and followed. The moment I stepped through the threshold, I froze, taking a moment to process the scene.
“Holy shit! Allcot, what the fuck are you doing?” I cried.
The blond vampire, who looked like he couldn’t be a day over seventeen years old, had Halston hauled up against the wall and was holding her by the neck with one hand. Her face had turned almost purple, and she was clawing at his hand, indistinguishable sounds coming from her. He whipped his head around, his bloodshot eyes wild as he growled at me.
Dax shot forward, the stun gun sparking to life.
Allcot dropped Halston, just as I knew he would, and flew at Dax. The old vampire was so fast I barely saw him move. But then he was on Dax, his hand wrapped around the shifter’s wrist, and he squeezed, the bones crushing under his vise-like grip.
Dax roared and clocked Allcot in the temple with his free hand. More bones crunched, making me wince, but I wasn’t sure if it was Allcot’s face or Dax’s fist. The vampire barely rocked back from Dax’s powerful blow.
I rushed to Halston’s side, dropping to my knees as Link ran back and forth barking, clearly frustrated he wasn’t part of the action. “Director,” I said, pressing two fingers to her neck right over her thready pulse. Good. She was still alive at least.
She let out a gargled choke. Then her eyes flew open and she sat straight up, her light blue wings fluttering in clear agitation. “What are you doing?” she rasped out as she pointed to Dax. “Are you just going to let Allcot kill him?”
“I was— Never mind.” Grateful Allcot hadn’t killed her, I shot to my feet. The old vampire had quickly overpowered Dax. The shifter was on his knees, and Allcot had grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back so far it was a wonder the vampire hadn’t broken Dax’s neck.
“Where. Did. They. Take. Her?” Allcot
ground out. “You have one shot, shifter.”
“That’s exactly what we’d like to know,” I said, my tone full of ice and fury. “Why the hell would Dax abduct Willow?”
“Willow?” Allcot let out a short humorless laugh. “Do you think I’d go through all the trouble to get to the director if I were here for Willow Rhoswen?”
“You have in the past,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest, not believing him for a second. “I remember when you and your crew blew a hole in the wall to help her escape.”
“That was business,” Allcot said and yanked harder on Dax’s hair. The shifter let out a high-pitched whine that I knew had to be involuntary. Dax would never willingly show weakness in front of Allcot. Allcot cast him a disgusted glance then added, “This is personal.”
“Damn right it’s personal. This is my best friend we’re talking about. The fairy you swore you would protect from the other supernaturals in this city.” Allcot and Willow were related. Sort of. His consort Pandora had family connections to Willow’s nephew and the woman who would’ve been Willow’s sister-in-law had her brother not perished in an untimely death. At Pandora’s request, Allcot had agreed to keep them all safe. “Did you forget you made that promise to Pandora? What would she say about this?”
Allcot threw Dax against the wall. The shifter crashed into it, causing the plaster to shatter and fall around him. Link let out a howl and shot forward, running to Dax’s side.
“Dax—” I started, but Allcot cut me off, backing me up until the backs of my legs hit Halston’s desk.
Allcot’s fangs extended as his ice-blue eyes pierced me. “This is not about Rhoswen, witch. I’m here for Pandora.”
My mind whirled as I tried to parse exactly what he was telling me. “Pandora sent you?” That made no sense. Why would she think someone from the Void had taken Willow?
“She didn’t send me, you fool!” Allcot roared as he picked me up by the shoulders and shook me as if I were a rag doll. I tightened my hand on the knife and tried to remain patient, waiting for my opening. “I’m here because— Oomph!”
Dax had come out of nowhere and smashed a metal chair over Allcot’s head. Link was right beside him, barking his little shih tzu head off. The vampire stumbled, and I slipped from his grip, landing easily on my feet. The vampire turned his back to me and let out a roar so loud my ears started to ring. And I knew in that moment that Allcot had lost all sense of control. If I didn’t do something, Dax was going to die. Allcot would end him and not even blink an eye.
Without hesitation, I lifted my knife and lunged forward, jamming the knife into the left side of Allcot’s back.
The vampire instantly froze, and I knew I’d hit my mark. “Move one muscle, Allcot,” I whispered, “and I’ll end you once and for all.”
7
“Jesus,” I heard Dax say from the other side of the room.
“You’re going to regret this, Kilsen,” Allcot said in a voice so low and controlled I barely heard him.
“Probably,” I said, forcing myself to act unconcerned. “But in the meantime, this is keeping you from doing anything stupid.” Like killing my partner.
Allcot snarled, and even though he was holding himself perfectly still, I could almost feel his rage vibrating inside him. And the fact that the vampire had frozen in place meant the knife was perilously close to nicking his heart.
I knew the blade had come within striking distance, but I hadn’t actually been aiming to kill him. Christ, the shit storm that would rain down on me if I actually killed Allcot—whether he deserved it or not—would be colossal. Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it if he went after Dax again.
Halston had gotten to her feet, and she walked up to Allcot, her dark eyes blazing as she glared at him. She looked over his shoulder at me and nodded, her frizzy gray hair bobbing with the motion. “Good work, Kilsen.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling the warmth of Link’s body as he leaned against my leg, showing his support.
“Impressive really,” she said to Allcot this time. “The shifter and the witch took you down with the most basic of weapons and no powers. Isn’t that interesting?”
A low rumble reverberated from Allcot’s chest. If the situation hadn’t been so serious, if Willow hadn’t still been missing, I might’ve laughed at the absurdity of holding Allcot’s life in my hands while my boss taunted him. In no scenario had I ever imagined a scene like this. And to be honest, I really didn’t want any part of it. But there was no turning back now.
“What did you really come here for, Eadric?” Halston asked, her tone curious now.
“To kill you,” he spat out.
Dax’s gaze met mine, and confusion rolled between us. Why would Allcot want to kill Halston?
“No, you didn’t.” The director walked over to the window and stared out over the Irish Channel neighborhood. “You came here for answers, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” he spit out. “Then I’m going to kill you.”
“Going to? Now that’s funny.” She let out a low laugh and a chill rolled over me, settling in my bones. Allcot wasn’t lying. I sensed it with everything I had. She had to know that. Which meant this cat and mouse game she was playing with him was going to end up in a bloodbath. If all five of us made it out of this room alive, it would be a goddamned miracle.
“Tell me where they are,” Allcot demanded.
Halston let out an exaggerated sigh. “How many times do I have to tell you? I have no idea.”
“Who are ‘they?’” I asked. “Pandora and the other vampire hive?”
Halston’s brow furrowed. “What hive?”
“The one that took Willow and Tal,” I explained, trying to catch up. “One of them led me away from the gala. The redheaded vamp I’ve been tracking the past week. He’s a part of the hive. I’m sure of it.”
“Kilsen, stop talking now,” Halston ordered.
“But—” I started, and stopped when the director’s glare nearly burned a hole in my head. “What am I missing?”
“You’re a fucking idiot, Kilsen,” Allcot said, disgust in his tone. “A rival hive didn’t take Pandora. The shifters did.”
“Which shifters?” Dax asked, stepping forward, alarm claiming his handsome features.
“Like you don’t know. Fucking traitor.” The muscles in Allcot’s back rippled with tension, and he started to move forward.
“One more step, Allcot, and I’ll twist this knife so hard your heart will be in ribbons,” I said, my voice as hard as steel. Link let out a growl of support, and I smiled down at him.
“He’s playing you, Kilsen. Go ahead and ask your partner all about the Crimson Valley wolf pack.”
“He’s not playing me,” I said. “I know all about—”
“Kilsen!” Halston shouted. “Do not open your mouth again. Understood?”
I did, in fact, open my mouth but promptly closed it. Dax’s undercover work with the Crimson Valley pack wasn’t exactly classified, as Dax made no secret of the fact that he ran with them. But talking about Void business was off-limits, especially with Allcot present.
Except Willow and Tal were still missing. I couldn’t just sit back and not ask questions if Allcot had some of the missing pieces. There was no choice. I had to do what I had to do. “Why do you think the shifters took Pandora?”
Halston let out a heavy sigh but didn’t chastise me further. No doubt she wanted to know the answer just as much as I did, but she wanted to be the one asking the questions.
“I fucking saw them carrying her off. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Shifters got the better of my wife. The same fucking shifters your boy toy over there has been helping for months.”
Without warning, Allcot lurched forward and flew, actually flew through the office, and once again grabbed Dax by the throat. “If anything happens to her, I’ll rip your limbs off one by one and just stand there while I watch you bleed out. Do you hear me?”
Dax wouldn’t have been able
to answer even if he tried. Allcot had cut off his ability to even breathe, much less talk. Instead, my partner kicked out, fiercely aiming for Allcot’s crotch. He missed and Allcot let out a low, sinister laugh. “You can keep— Fuck!”
The vampire dropped Dax, then reached up and pulled the dart out of his neck. He glared at Halston, who was still holding the tranq gun, and then his eyes rolled into the back of his head just before he collapsed to the floor.
Dax climbed to his feet, rubbing at his neck. “You couldn’t have done that a little sooner?”
“Why?” Halston asked. “Kilsen had a knife practically in his heart. I had no idea he was crazy enough to risk death just to strangle you.”
I stared at Allcot’s limp body and tried to process what he’d been saying. But none of it made sense. How had the shifters gotten to Pandora in the middle of all those vampires? I glanced back up at Halston. “What happened while I was out tracking that vampire?”
Her eyebrows shot up and disappeared under her frizzy gray hair. “Didn’t Marrok fill you in?”
“Not really. He was engaged in his own altercation. He didn’t see anything.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, that is unfortunate, isn’t it?”
Dax and I shared another confused glance as the director picked up the phone and ordered security to take Allcot to a holding cell.
Not five seconds later, two large security guards rushed in and dragged Allcot out.
I turned to Dax. “Do you have any idea what he was talking about? Do you think the Crimson Valley wolves have anything to do with this?”
“I don’t…” He grimaced as he shook his head. “They might when it comes to Pandora. The truce between them and the Cryrique vampires is perilous at best. I’m not aware of any plan that was in the works, but if she pissed one of them off, they might’ve gone rogue and taken her.”
They’d abducted Allcot himself only a few months ago. Not long after, Dax had negotiated a truce. The shifters would stop their attacks on the Cryrique as long as the Cryrique stayed away from their pack.