Page 31 of Exiled Mate

“There are no packs here,” the bouncer responds.

“Let me into this fucking place, or I’ll rip your face off and feed it to your kids,” Thorne growls.

Okay. That gave me chills.

It’s just enough to remind me that Thorne is actually not to be fucked with. For a split second, I doubt this whole plan. Then I follow him into the mass of people that are currently seething to get into the warehouse.

I’ve never seen so many supernaturals in one place. There’s so much magic in the air, it makes my nose itch. I don’t notice a ton of other shifters, which probably isn’t a good sign.

“Stay close,” Thorne mutters.

“The ransom note said she’d be on the main stage,” I whisper.

Thorne nods, then heads forward with a suspiciously confident stride. It seems like he certainly knows exactly where he’s going.

As we push through, I can see that there’s a central area that’s full of more people than anywhere else. The crowd is thronged around a rusty chain link fence. Inside the fence, there’s a sand arena that’s about the size of a fifteen-foot square, and it’s set lower than the seats by about ten feet. The chain links extend up, but if you stand at the edge, you’d look down into the pit.

I get closer.

Ember’s on one side. On the other is an unfamiliar shape. I know that it’s Rylan, but it still seems odd that he’s sitting on some kind of a bench or chair with a cloak on.

I look for the bookie. That’s who we need to see. The bookie, and Chet placing the bet, is the evidence we need.

I see Chet’s smarmy face.

Great. I have to get over there.

My brain stutters as I try to process a way that I’m going to get over to Chet, but then I realize something. We don’t need anything more than this.

Rylan is going to get Ember out of here. This isn’t a fight to the death, but it’s a fight that I don’t want her in.

Despite the fact that she’s oddly interested in proving herself.

So, instead of subtly trying to point Thorne in the direction of Chet and the bookie, I just point.

“Alpha. That’s Chet!” I gasp.

Thorne’s head whips around. Chet’s whispering in the bookie’s ear, and he holds out his hand…

Which contains a huge wad of cash.

Got you, asshole.

The noise that comes out of Thorne is pure rage. “Wait here,” he snarls.

He stomps for Chet.

The look on Chet’s face when Thorne catches him… there’s nothing like it. He’s so done.

Thorne and Chet start to argue, and I drift over to the cage.

We did it. It’s done.

Time to fake a fight between Rylan and Ember and?—

“Terra.”

I spin. Rylan’s right behind me, his hand on my shoulder.

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