Page 64 of These Deadly Dreams

Connor whistles through his teeth. “I’m guessing that’s why the contest was canceled?”

“Yes,” she continues. “And in the process of us getting the proof of my parentage, we found something really awful. Noah and Sam Morris are working together to do some kind of testing or experiments on magicals and non-magicals. And there have been a lot of deaths in the process.” She takes a breath and rubs her eyes. “My name is on the list of subjects they want to experiment on. My sister’s name is, too.”

Allie gasps and clasps her hand over her mouth, eyes wide and full of shock. Connor sits forward in his chair and rests his forearms on the desk. “I’m assuming this is being done illegally?”

“As far as we can tell,” I say. “I’m sure they have some authorities in their pockets to keep the place funded and up and running smoothly.”

“So what do you need from me?” Connor asks.

“When we discovered all of this,” Ellis says, “Sterling decided to go check things out. He got caught in some kind of ward and they captured him.” Her voice trembles as she tells this part of the story. Kai places a hand on her shoulder.

I take over to let Ellis breathe. “I was able to get through the wards to check the place out. We have a crow shifter who's been helping us, and he got in to scope the inside. But, getting past the wards two times took all of my magic.”

“So you want my help to get through the wards.” Connor says, staring at me with an expression I can’t decipher.

“Yes. We need to get Sterling out. And we need to find a way to end these experiments.”

“What exactly are they doing? What’s their goal?” Connor asks.

I shake my head. “Not positive. But we know he mentioned weapons, and reinforcing a room for testing. It all sounds appalling, and from what I’ve read so far, at least twenty non-magicals, and seven magicals have been killed in the process.”

Ellis turns around in the seat to look at me with a question burning in her eyes. I didn’t tell her I spent a night reading through those files Sterling sent me. Even the ones that depicted all the horrendous things Sam did to my soul-bonded. It was fuel for my fire before we went to scout the warehouse. Those details will be forever burned into my mind. And I can’t wait until I can get my hands on that bastard, if only so I can hold him down while Ellis ends his life in the most painful way possible.

I give her a reassuring smile, before turning my attention back to Connor. “Ellis mentioned you don’t agree with the way non-magicals are treated. Is that true?”

Connor sighs, and sits back in his chair, his gaze trained on Allie. “I don’t agree. Anyone with a conscience wouldn’t agree. It’s why I trained these two and gave them free access to my gym.” His eyes slide to me, hard and unyielding. “But I don’t see how we can make any difference.”

“Maybe not in the grand scheme of things,” Ellis says quietly. “But we can help a little, by stopping this experimentation. Since this contest started, well before actually, I have been attacked multiple times. Sam is trying his hardest to get his hands on me, and I just want it to stop.” She shudders, and Kai’s hand on her shoulder tightens.

“Why does Sam want you so bad?” Connor asks.

She looks down at her hands in her lap. “I don’t know.”

His eyes narrow, like he knows she’s lying, but he doesn’t question it. “What all would this entail?”

“Well, it will obviously be dangerous,” I say. “The first phase of our plan is to get Sterling out. Once he’s safe, we’ll regroup and make a plan for destroying this warehouse and taking Sam and Noah out of the picture. Hopefully, killing the leaders will quell the followers. If it doesn’t, we’ll have to deal with it.”

“You said you have the layout and guard rotations of this warehouse?”

“We do.” I nod. “Any extra bit will help us. I can get us through the wards, but I wouldn’t have anything left to defend Ellis. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take. If we can’t find another mage we trust, there is no way we can get Sterling out.”

Ellis stifles as gasp, but it’s loud enough to draw Connor’s attention. I don’t know what kind of emotions Ellis is putting off, but Kai kneels next to her and turns her head to face him.

“Breathe, Ellis,” he says quietly. “You know we’re not going to leave him in there. We will find a way to save him.”

Her lower lip wobbles as she looks at him. “Promise?” she whispers.

“I promise, baby girl.” He kisses her forehead and stands back up.

“I feel like there are some details I’m missing,” Connor says, staring at us. “But as long as I get all the necessary information, I’m in.”

“Really?” Ellis scoots to the edge of her chair, hands clasped tightly together. “You’ll really help us?”

His eyes soften as he looks at her, and my hackles raise on instinct. No one else looks at my soul-bonded like that except Kai and Sterling. Kai stiffens and takes a step forward.

“Of course I’ll help you,” Connor says, oblivious to mine and Kai’s sudden focus on him. “I’ve been trying to help you girls for a long time now. If someone is trying to hurt you, I’ll do what I can to help keep you safe.”

Fuck. We’re not enough for her. I grind my teeth as the thought floats through my mind. Kai and I aren’t enough to keep her safe. We had to ask someone else to help us. Someone else who makes me want to punch him when he looks at her like that.

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