Calder held her tight, sobbing into her neck. “It’s Bayne who did this to himself.” His voice wavered. “It was what he deserved, but…”
“He was still your brother.”
Deep emotions raced through her as his sadness draped over her body. Every ounce of his pain was shared in his embrace, and it wrenched her guts. She’d been here before. She had lived the pain he experienced, more than once.
When she leaned away, she caught Valor’s gaze, and deciphering his look was impossible. Apparently, he was like Kyden, unreadable if he wanted to be. But for a short moment his expression softened. It appeared that he liked that she had comforted one of his wolves.
“Where do we start?” Finn called.
Another hand tightened around her arm, and Talon pulled her away from Calder. “There’s no reason to believe they have left Salt Lake City, but we’ll search in New York, too.” To Zia, he asked, “Will you assign areas?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
Talon looked down to Nexi, tugging her forward. “Come with me.”
On their way through the Council’s Hall, Haven ran toward Nexi, obviously sensing the emotions rushing through her. Nexi yanked herself out of Talon’s grip, then collided with Haven and hugged her.
Calder’s pain reminded Nexi of her own heartbreak, both past and present. She wouldn’t end up like Calder, mourning the loss of Kyden. She’d lost enough. She wouldn’t stand by and allow it to happen again. If that meant she had to face Lazarus, then so be it. And she had no doubt he’d find her if she was free from the Otherworld, just as he had before—with the blood connection.
Her chances of defeating Lazarus were not favorable, but the truth was, no one else would die around her. She’d not sit around waiting for everyone else to deal with him. The time to take a stand had come and she intended to show Kyden she cared for him as much as he did her.
“What are you going to do?” Haven whispered.
Nexi stepped back and watched Haven’s face pale with worry. “I know it’s only been a short time since I came here and met you, but my life is better because you’re in it.” She kissed Haven’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “I love you. So, so much.”
“You’re scaring me.” Tears welled in Haven’s eyes. “Why are you saying goodbye?”
Nexi didn’t have the heart to tell her and luckily, Talon broke the silence as he snatched up her hand and led her away. Haven’s cries followed her, and she heard Finn consoling her. As she matched Talon’s stride, a pull from behind her had her glancing over her shoulder.
Zia’s expression mirrored Haven’s with palpable concern. She mouthed the words, “Be safe.” No doubt, from her mind reading abilities, Zia would know of Nexi’s plan. It surprised her that Zia didn’t intend to stop her. Maybe she understood. Zia had lost loved ones, too.
Once they arrived in the Council’s Foyer, Talon turned her into him, and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This blood connection between you and Lazarus puts you at too great a risk to leave the Otherworld. Kyden would want you safe. I’ll honor his wishes by ordering you to stay behind.”
Nexi nodded, having nothing to say. He had a valid point. She sympathized with why he gave that order, because it made him feel like he did right by his son. However, what Kyden wanted had long past. Her decision held strong. “Is that all?”
“Return to your residence.” Dropping his hand, he strode toward the Council’s Hall. “I’ll come to you with any news.”
Nexi focused on each step he took, held her breath, and waited for an opening so she could make her escape. Talon should’ve known by now, she did not intend to stay behind, and he seemed to forget she had a habit of not listening to orders.
Hadn’t she already proven that, a few times over?
The second after Talon vanished into the Council’s Hall door, Nexi darted toward the portal. She’d wrapped her fingers around the wrought-iron handle when Drake’s voice echoed around her. “Stop right there, Nexi Jones.”
Chapter Eighteen
Nexi cursed, facing stern hazel eyes and a harsh frown. Her mind raced to think up a good excuse—fast—for why she had her hand on the portal’s door. “I…” She had nothing and simply shut her mouth.
Drake’s eyebrows rose, his head tilted. “You didn’t think I would allow you to go alone, did you?”
Of all the things she had expected him to say, that wasn’t it, and her shut mouth fell open. “You’re not trying to stop me?”
He shook his head, closing the distance between them. “I had a feeling that you’d probably run off.” Settling in front of her, he sighed. “We all know that’s a habit of yours.” He studied her, then his features softened, as did his voice. “Do you care for Kyden, Nexi?”
Her throat tightened. “I do.”
Drake’s eyes saddened before he gathered her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, accepting the warmth from the embrace. She didn’t have a fatherly-type relationship with Drake, but they were close, and getting even closer all the time. For only meeting him a couple months ago, things between them were good—solid.
In his arms, a safety net wrapped around her. Part of her wanted to stay there forever. The other part wanted to leave right now. Drake squeezed his arms and whispered into her ear, “We cannot both lose those closest to us. Life wouldn’t be that cruel. Trust in that.”
Did she believe him?
Life hadn’t been overly kind to her so far, taking not only her birth mother, but both her adoptive parents away from her, too. Now Kyden was in grave danger because of some malicious vampire wanting magic that she didn’t have to give to him. Life seemed cruel and unfair. She’d never let that stop her before.
Drake finally shifted away to look down at her, but he didn’t let go. “Word has come to us that a Texas pack member is at a club in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Let’s start there and we’ll see where it takes us.”
The strength that poured off him comforted her. However, a problem rose. “Talon told me to stay here. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
He snorted a laugh. “Where do you think you get your lack of discipline and fiery attitude? Talon will understand.” He lowered his arms, taking her hand. “Come on. Let’s go and bring Kyden home.”
Nexi smiled, relieved to her bones. Alone, she doubted she’d get through this. With Drake along, success seemed reachable. She reached for the door handle of the portal, but she froze when a deep voice said, “We’ll join you.”.
Glancing over her shoulder, Nexi discovered Valor and Briggs approaching, and she blinked in surprise. “You’re coming with us?”
Briggs grinned. “I think coming along with you will prove to be an adventure.” He winked. “Wolves enjoy a good fight.”
Valor shook his head at Briggs, then said to Nexi, “We’ll be able to assist you to do things that you wouldn’t be able to on your own.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant. How hard was it to beat the snot out of someone to gather information? But she kept her thoughts to herself as Valor added, “I believe that if we don’t find Lazarus, he’ll find you. Talon might be inclined to protect you, but you are the key to finding Kyden.”
“Thank you for helping me,” she whispered.
“You can thank us once Kyden’s safe.” Valor gestured to the portal’s door. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t waste a second, and opened the door. Stepping into the bright light, with the men right on heels, she kept her mind blank, and let Drake’s thoughts carry them to the location he’d been assigned.
Once her feet hit solid ground, and city smells filled her nose, she glanced up at the neon sign glowing in front of her. Flashdancers. This didn’t look good at all. She turned to Drake next to her. “Please tell me we’re not going where I think we’re going.”
Drake groaned as he eyed the stucco building. “Let’s just get in, find what we need to, and get out.”
He strode forward and Nexi followed him aroun
d the side of the building. Behind her, Briggs and Valor chuckled, which she suspected came from her colorful, endless curses. Sure, she’d do anything to find out the location of Kyden, but honestly, visiting a strip club? Werewolves weren’t only dangerous; they were officially perverts, too.
At the front door of the club, a mortal bouncer held the door open, and masculine hoots and hollers came from inside. The bouncer studied Drake first, then looked at Nexi. She had to wonder what type of clothing he saw on her, and she questioned if the glamour hiding her guardian gear put her in what he wanted to see on her. She speculated it was best she didn’t know, or she might gouge out his eyeballs.
The bouncer gave Briggs and Valor a once-over, then he finally shrugged. “Whatever tickles your fancy, I suppose.”
Nexi rolled her eyes. By all appearances, she attended a strip club with three incredibly handsome thirty-year-olds. Even if she suspected Valor was centuries old, and Briggs was closer to Kyden’s age of twenty-eight.
Not caring what the bouncer thought of her, she brushed passed him and entered the club. The dark room, only lit by twinkling lights along the stage, reeked of alcohol, sweat and sex, nearly making her gag.
On the stage, men were lying down in line, while a gorgeous Asian woman straddled their faces and took money from their mouths in a completely absurd manner. “What in the world?” Nexi exclaimed.
Drake’s lips curved. “That’s…interesting.”
“Have you ever seen such nonsense?” Valor growled at Briggs behind her, and when Nexi turned to him, his features were twisted. “Who would allow their women to expose themselves like this?”
Briggs grinned. “Well, as long as they do it, might as well enjoy it.”
Valor frowned at him, folding his arms. “Mortals need a lesson to respect the gloriousness a woman provides. The beauty their bodies offer. These are the beings that bear their children, and they put them on display like animals.”
Nexi couldn’t have agreed with him more, and she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why men would enjoy this. They couldn’t even touch the woman for heaven’s sakes, where was the thrill in that?
“I don’t see any wolves,” Drake stated, clearly ready to move along.
Valor lifted his nose, sniffed the air, then he gestured toward the V.I.P. area. “There’s one through there. Texas pack.”
“Having you around is handy,” Nexi muttered.
If anything, Valor would save them time and at this point that was necessary.
She approached the roped off area, pushed the velvet curtain aside, then her steps faltered. “Jesus.” Now this made sense. Apparently, the hands-off rule didn’t apply in this room because these women were groped, feverously.
Briggs had clearly stepped in close to get a good view, since his voice sounded amused close behind her. “And I thought out there was good.”
“Disgusting,” Valor muttered before he pushed Briggs aside and pointed to his right. “There.”
Nexi followed his direction, discovering a woman dancing on top of a man whose face was buried in her breasts. Not hesitating, Nexi charged forward, pushed the woman off him, and grabbed him right between his legs.
“What the…” The man looked up, blinked, then his features filled with terror.
He grimaced from her tight grip as she squeezed his junk as hard as she could and drawled, “You’ve been a very bad doggy.”
Briggs chuckled. “That’s one way to do it.”
Nexi became all too aware that the crowd in the room had gone quiet as everyone focused on her. This couldn’t happen in here. He’d been the only wolf in the room and she had no wish to draw additional trouble their way.
Releasing her hand from his goods, she took his arm, then proceeded to drag him from the club. “You’re coming with me.”
“You weren’t supposed to know,” he shouted. “He said you wouldn’t know.”
She snorted, beyond annoyed at his stupidity. “Lazarus lied to you, idiot.” At the door, the bouncer blocked her way, and she sneered, “You don’t want any part of this. Move aside and shut the door.”
His eyebrows rose. Surprising her, though, he did as she asked. Nexi wondered what he saw in her expression to make him take such an order without pause. Right down to it, she was only glad he did. She didn’t want any interruptions, especially from mortals who didn’t understand the danger looming over them.
Once out in the parking lot—and clear of an audience—she threw the man to the ground. “You better get your lips moving and tell me what you know.”
The man glared up at her with fury. “I’m bound to tell you nothing.”
Before she could happily change his mind, he shifted into his wolf form and snarled at her. Black fur coated his large wolf form, but this wolf, compared to Valor, looked small. Nexi watched as he lifted his head and sniffed the air, and she wondered if he recognized Valor’s scent.
However, that hint of hesitation didn’t last long. The wolf pounced, and her anger did wicked things to her body as she kicked him in the chest, sending him back. “I’m going to break your silence or you face—one of the two.”
From behind her, Valor asked, cool and collected, “Do you want help with this?”
“Nope,” she bit off.
The wolf lunged again.
She twirled, kicking the back of his head, sending him snout first to the ground. He flipped over, let out a piercing howl and rushed her. Shifting in mid-air, his expression caused a bit of amusement to bubble up in her chest. Apparently, he thought he could win a hand-to-hand fight with her.
She planned to prove him wrong.
The werewolf, now in human form, came punching, kicking, and striking out with a need to kill. A pitiful display, as his moves were childlike, and at any point she didn’t doubt she could kill him. He possessed no skill, only the determination to stay alive.
Nexi had him beat.
As much as she wanted to tear into him, she couldn’t. Right now, this pervert happened to be her best shot at finding Kyden so she allowed him to think he had the advantage over her. A couple of his punches hurt, but most didn’t. Even so, she played along as if he truly challenged her.
He delivered a hard punch, jerking her head back, and he cackled. “You’re pathetic.”
The sound of his laughter, accompanied by the smug look on his face, sent a plentiful amount of rage seething inside her. When he dove forward, she slammed a fist straight to his jaw. He slowly raised his head and shock widened his eyes.
“That’s right,” she muttered. “Who’s pathetic now?”
His eyes narrowed. “You’ll die for that, bitch.”
Of all the things to call her, apparently that had been the wrong thing, because she snapped. This perverted werewolf, who had sided with an evil vampire called her a bitch… “Big mistake, wolf.”
Smashing her palm into his nose, and with a loud crack followed by a heavy thud, he fell to the ground, knocked out cold. Her anger left her in a rush of breath as she realized what she’d done. “Shit.” She glanced over her shoulder to Drake. “I didn’t mean to do that. He just had to go and get lippy.”
Valor chuckled. “Not only strong willed, but she’s got a temper, too.”
“I believe that might be an understatement,” Drake stated drily.
Nexi snorted. “A temper that it seems came from my father.”
The men laughed around her, and she drew her sword, stuck it to the wolf’s throat, waiting for him to come around. It took a few moments, but eventually the man stirred. Groaning, he went to stand, clearly forgetting what happened and why he lay in a heap on the ground.
Nexi applied pressure to the sword. “Yoo-hoo, remember me?” His focus snapped to hers, and she added, “Where’s Kyden?”
He gulped. “Kyden?”
Gripping the handle tighter, she jabbed the sword deeper into his neck and the tip buried under his skin. “The guardian Lazarus has taken?”
The werewolf swallowed
again, as blood poured from the wound to run along his neck and onto the pavement. “I have no idea where he took him.”
Not the answer she wanted, but she had another card to play. “If you don’t know where Kyden is located, then tell me where I can find Efren.”
His eyes widened. “How do you know Efren?”
Hot frustration laced her veins and she said through gritted teeth, “Listen ass-wipe, I don’t have time to answer your questions. If you haven’t noticed I have a sword at your throat.” She pushed harder against her sword to prove her point, sending more blood oozing from the wound.
“Tell her,” Valor demanded.
The man looked at Valor as he stepped in beside her, and his face became sheet white. “I thought I s-scented y-you…” The fear—sheer panic—washing across his features made Nexi realize why Talon had been grateful for Valor’s help. It became clear now that the wolves would be more willing to comply, considering the authority Valor had over the packs.
Blood continued to gush from the wound to pool along the pavement, and the metallic scent filled the air. “Promise you’ll take my mate and cub into your protection.”
Valor knelt down beside the man, staring at him in a way that would have made Nexi run and hide. “You don’t deserve my mercy, but since we need to find the location of the guardian, I’ll grant your request. Your family will be kept safe.”
The terror in the wolf’s eyes lessened, and he managed, “Go to Eighth Avenue and Forty-ninth Street and you’ll find a tailor shop. Efren will be there, along with others that have joined Lazarus. But go quickly; they move often to keep their trail hidden.”
Valor stood, his presence powerful as he peered down at the wolf. “You’ve caused your own demise and as your Patriarch, death is your punishment for your betrayal.” To Nexi he said, “He’s yours to kill. Take your revenge.”
“It isn’t my revenge.” She swung her sword up, locking in her target. “It’s for all the pain you’ve caused. All the pain felt by others who are suffering from the deaths of their loved ones, including my own.”
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