Page 161 of Wicked Heirs

“I need to corruptExemplar’sinvestigation or they’ll put the pieces together and figure out what he was really up to. And thenfinding himwill flip right tohunting him.”

“You intend to find him yourself?”

“It’s the only way.”

“I’ve run a tracking spell already and it slammed up against a wall, meaning his kidnapper is keeping him cloaked, so other means will be needed.”

“I can trace his steps from the moment he left the DFR, using my blood link to him.”

“Ingenuous.” He grasped my chin with his thumb and index finger, guiding my gaze to his. “I shouldn’t have expected anything less, pretty prince.”

“Hmm, you think I’m on edge, that I need your special brand of soothing therapy.”

“No, I can feel you’re in control, despite the circumstances. Yet, why relegate our sessions to mere therapeutic need?”

I started.

He wanted more?

I really hadn’t seen that coming.

Then again, we both played things close to the vest.

He leaned in to brush his lips over mine, but I turned my head away, making him release my jaw in the process. “I need to see Alena. She doesn’t know what’s going on, she’ll be worried. And then I need to figure out covert passage out of here so I can get out there and find my father, covering up what he was up to in the meantime beforeExemplarsets upon the scene and all hell breaks loose.”

Disappointment marred his features, but he stepped back so his hard body was no longer pushing against mine, and he shrugged off the sentiment and told me, “I’ll facilitate your passage. In fact, I’ll come with you.”

“The hell, you will,” a familiar voice came from just outside the alcove, and I swung my head to see none other than Talon stepping from the shadows and coming into view.

“Baby bird, what are you—”

“Professor, yourpretty princedoesn’t need any more of your help. We’ve got it. As a team. Like we always do and always have.” He basically spat. “And always will.”

Fuck.He knew. Talon knew about Cornwell and I.

“I know his huge cock is beyond addictive, but you never should’ve set eyes—or hands—on it in the first place. You’re a professor, tens of years his senior. You should fucking well know better. Now get the fuck out of his vicinity before I report you and this whole fucked-up bullshit situation.”

“Talon,” I growled in warning.

“No! No standing down from me this time just because you demand it.” He glared at Cornwell. “Not on this.”

“Callum, it’s okay, I—”

He held up his hand to me. “It’s fine. The phoenix is worked up as usual. Par for the course with their kind.”

Talon started toward him, but I threw out my arm, blocking his path.

Cornwell reached out and brushed his fingers through my hair. “You need me, I’m around. Understood?”

I nodded, and then he exchanged fierce, uncompromising glares with Talon, before teleporting out.

“Piece of shit,” Tal seethed. “We’ll get into that shit-fest later. But for now, Alena mentioned something is up, so I’m here. What’s the deal?”

“My father. He’s been taken.”

I’d never seen him so shocked in all the time that I’d known him.

Circling the wagons.

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