Derrick snarled, “I will KILL this mother fucker! Sally is MINE! He fucked up his chance! She’s mine now!” I winced, “Getting another chance with her doesn’t seem to be his goal.” Derrick roared. I heard Sally speaking to him, “It’s ok, wolf man. I wasn’t there. I was with you. I’m here, and I’m perfectly fine.”
Derrick told me, “I want her additional guards at work and any event until he’s caught. Opal will NOT leave her side. Actually, both Opal AND Willow won’t leave her side. Not for a second.” I was glad he was on board. I told him, “Agreed. I want Sally and Ted in training in the mornings. We can set up a special routine for them, but they need to know how to fight.”
Derrick blew out a breath, “I’ll have Opal, Willow, Mark, and Joanie come up with something. The warriors are NOT training my sweetie pie.” I questioned, “Sweetie pie? Oh Christ, Derrick.” Bolt snorted, “She calls him wolf man, and you’re giving him shit about sweetie pie? I worry about you sometimes.” He had a point. We should get the pack to call Derrick wolf man.
Sally asked, “Is Lexi ok? Did Ted find Susanna or….?” I answered, “Lexi did. I have to go. We just got here. Derrick, warriors are coming to guard the area around Sally’s fairy enchanted house. You can stay at her place or your house on pack lands. Noah has tried to get into Lexi’s, so he somehow knows where their homes are. He can’t get in, and it will sound like a bomb has gone off if he tries again. Do NOT let him out of our territory if he does.” Derrick glowered, “He won’t get out if he comes.” I hung up.
I told Matt as we got out of the car, “Get me a witch. A good one that we trust.” Matt asked, “For…?” I explained, “To check the damn area for holoports. We can have guards on them if we know where they are.” Matt nodded. I ran inside.
I didn’t pay anyone any attention as I ran back to the kitchen. Heath had Lexi. He gave me a nod that spoke volumes. We were going to talk. Our anger united us, and nothing else mattered to us mattered but Lexi. I pulled Lexi to me from Heath’s arms. As soon as she was in my arms, she choked out a strangled sob. I met Heath’s eyes over her head that was now buried into my chest. His knuckles were white he was clenching his fists so hard.
I linked Matt, “Noah is dead. I will pulverize him beyond recognition.” Matt replied, “Literally no one doubts that, Chase. Not even Alpha Eric who is busy NOT confirming you’ve met Lexi. I bet even he knows the Troll is a dead man. I just know he’s taking bets on who gets Noah first. You or his wife. He probably hopes it’s you too.”
Heath actually looked shocked for a second when Ted detailed his plans for Noah. Then he looked as if he was evaluating Ted again. Matt linked me, “No! NO. NO. NO. Ted is NOT going on missions. Heath can just wipe that look right OFF his damn face. Right now.”
I agreed, “No, Ted isn’t going anywhere. I can’t stop Lexi, but I CAN and WILL stop Heath from sending Ted. As for his plans, he can go ahead and do that. AFTER I’ve mostly killed and tortured him. Noah does NOT get a quick death.” Matt agreed.
I shared a glance with Heath, and I knew we agreed. Noah was going to die slowly and painfully. I was GOING to find out what Noah was afraid of. Given his former best friend is Heath, I didn’t think finding out would be hard. Then I was going to scare him almost to fucking death. Via a Fairy Princess ‘House of Horrors’ before I tortured him within an INCH of his damn life. THEN if Ted wanted to shoot him, he could.
Lexi smoothed out her outfit and put on a fake smile. Bolt growled, “Take mate out of here. That smile needs to be real.” I replied, “She needs to do this. Then we will bring out her real smile.” Bolt huffed but agreed.
Matt linked me, “Ted can handle the event. I’ll stay with him. He’s holding it together. He needs to work. Keeping busy is good for him.” I replied, “The three of them are holding it together.” Matt agreed, “Hood members are tough.” I nodded. I was so proud of Lexi.
I linked Kincade, “Get yourself and your brother back out there. She is NEVER alone.” Kincade nodded, “Yes, Alpha.” Susanna admitted the Vampire was her mate. Damn. My dad was right. Matt linked me, “How the hell did Heath know the vampire is important to her?” I replied, “The same way we knew there was something with it. My dad nailed it on the head. Vampires don’t just LET pets carry around their blood. That’s sacred to them. It had to be more.”
My head snapped up when Susanna called her mate Robert. Matt linked me, “Robert, as in the second of the King? That Robert?” I replied, “I’m sure if we are still here come nightfall we will find out. She didn’t give his last name.” Bolt snorted, “It’s definitely the second in command.” More than likely. Matt said, “The kid conversation explains why they are bonded, and she doesn’t have fangs yet.” It did.
Once they left Heath said, “I will destroy him. If you get him first, I want a damn turn.” I replied, “I have plans to use a fairy for his own personal house of horrors. Which I need you to tell me all about.” Heath smirked, “That’s not a bad idea. Haley would love it too.”
I raised an eyebrow, “I hear you have a death wish. You kissed her.” Matt commented, “Serious death wish.” Heath rolled his eyes, “I kissed her on the top of her head, and I warned her when I called to get her here I would. Her Alpha won’t kill me for that. I’m important to Lexi, who is important to Haley.”
I warned, “I wouldn’t bank on that. He’s not rational when it comes to her.” Heath said, “I’m not easy to kill, and I have known Haley for a long time. I’ll be fine.”
I huffed, “He’s not easy to shake once you’re in his sights. He can be a patient man.” Heath shrugged, “Like I said, he won’t kill me for that. It didn’t upset Haley.” I changed the subject, “Would Susanna have died from her injuries?” Heath answered, “No, Haley was here and Noah didn’t stab anything vital. There are always risks though. Susanna could’ve bled out because those damn warlocks weren’t calling for help. I called Haley though and she wouldn’t have let Susanna die.”
I questioned, “What do you have on the warlocks?” Heath sighed, “They didn’t have a location, but before Alpha Jackson disposed of the body, I saw the mark on his neck for his coven. Isaiah is looking through our records. I will question them once I have that answer. Do not let my sister out of your sight, Alpha Chase.”
I gave him a look, “If not for my warriors this would’ve been much worse, and you know it. Haley might have been too late, and Lexi would’ve been forced to leave with them.” Heath grimaced, “I know that.” I stated, “We have to find him.” Heath said, “I know that too.”
I asked, “Have you made any progress on the keys you and Lexi found?” Heath eyed Matt. I vouched for my friend, “He’s my Beta he won’t say anything about it. He’s an excellent secret keeper. Even for my brother.” Matt smirked at the slight jab. Heath answered, “No, I have a few places I need to check out personally. It’s going to take some time balancing it all.”
Matt and I both took a deep breath then hissed, “VAMPIRE!” Heath commented, “That will be Susanna’s string, but clearly you are going to go all wolf about it. I have to go.” Matt and I barely acknowledged him as we ran to Lexi and Ted.
We saw the man wrapped around Susanna evaluating the room for risks. Matt linked, “That is in fact Robert Calgaery, the Vampire King’s second.” I replied, “I don’t care if he’s the Moon Goddesses right hand, he will NOT hiss at my mate.” Matt replied, “He’s not mad at them.” I growled, “Irrelevant. He will NOT hiss at my Luna.”
I let Robert know that with my stance. He looked amused. I linked Matt, “Why the FUCK does he look amused?” Matt replied, “Vampires. What can you do?” Bolt grumbled, “Kill them.” I told him, “He’s the King’s second. We can’t kill him because that would start a war.” Bolt growled.
I noticed Robert seemed to share Haley’s hatred for warlocks. It definitely seemed like a hot button for him. I linked Matt, “Does Robert not like warlocks?” Matt replied, “Negative. He was almost drained in his youth as a vampire and held hostage by a coven. His maker had to go rescue him. It took him almost a decade to recover from what they did to him.”
I asked, “Who’s his maker?” Matt smirked, “King Arthur.” I should’ve known that. Who else would be the second? A child is the most trusted vampire to their maker. Lexi gave Susanna permission to explain everything in detail to Robert.
Matt linked me, “Anyone? Why doesn’t she just say if my brother gives you shit, let me know?” I laughed, “Who knows?” Lexi and Susanna hugged. Matt said, “Weirdest hug ever. You and Robert could’ve let them go.” I replied, “Could’ve. Didn’t.” Matt rolled his eyes, “I see your replies have become monosyllabic. That bodes well.” It did not.
Matt linked me, “There is no way he doesn’t know she met King Matias’ mate. They met at the damn party held by his maker and King.” Robert was practically puddy in Susanna’s hands. Matt said, “He means that he would do anything for her. Son of bitch. Robert the butcher has a heart.”
I was trying not to laugh. Robert was a well-known Knight in Europe for quite some time. He made a name for himself being what was basically an assassin to Vampire Kings for a price. Yet Susanna called him sweet. I raised my eyebrows, and Matt couldn’t keep his snort in. Robert glared at him.
I linked, “Good going.” Matt replied, “His nickname is Robert the BUTCHER. She called him sweet. Anyone else would have their heart ripped out for calling him that.” I reminded him, “She’s not anyone else. She’s his bonded and mate.”