Page 33 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

Max waited until the women were inside the elevator before heading to the cargo area of the bus. Part of him wanted to follow, to stay close to Kyra, but he had a job to do.

The Doomer wasn't going to process himself.

The cargo bay door opened with a hydraulic hiss, revealing the black body bag containing the self-proclaimed doctor. Max wrinkled his nose—the idea of what lay inside repulsed him.

"Want a hand with that?" Yamanu asked, peeking from the bus window.

He and Mey and the Kra-ell were returning to the village, and Syssi would go home with Kian. Max was staying, even though he didn't know what Onegus was planning for him yet. The chief might want him to resume his duties in the dungeon and relieve Alfie, who had taken over from him, or he might have something else in mind.

Max was planning on staying, and not just because he wasn't leaving the Doomer's interrogation to anyone else.

He wanted to stay close to Kyra.

Not that he had any plans of turning on the charm and seducing her right away. Even he wasn't that obtuse. For now, he would only offer her friendship while letting her know he was available for more if she was interested.

"I've got it," he told Yamanu. "Go back to your mate. I'm staying in the keep anyway."

Yamanu pursed his lips. "Did Onegus say anything about wanting you back in charge?"

Max shrugged. "Haven't heard anything yet. I'm going to request to stay here for now." He reached for the body bag. "I want to interrogate this scumbag personally."

"As you wish." Yamanu grinned before his head disappeared from the window.

Max reached for the bag, intending to sling the body over his shoulder, but the Doomer was stiff as a board and impossible to maneuver. Maybe he should have accepted Yamanu's help after all.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered.

"Let me give you a hand." A deep, heavily accented voice spoke from behind him.

Anton motioned at the bus. "Okidu will wait until I'm back. I'll help you carry this piece of shit to the dungeon."

"Thanks." Max gestured to the opposite end of the bag. "Grab that side."

Together, they lifted the awkward burden and carried it through the parking garage toward the elevator. The weight wasn't an issue, but the rigid body made maneuvering difficult.

"I didn't know that bodies in stasis got this stiff," Anton said.

"Me neither," Max admitted as they exited on the dungeon level. "Haven't dealt with many of them."

Anton arched a brow. "Really? How did all those Doomers get into your catacombs, then? Walk in by themselves?"

Max chuckled. "Good question. I just didn't get lucky enough to get a body in."

"First time for everything," Anton said. "Right?"

"I guess. And as firsts go, I want you to know that it was a pleasure fighting by your side."

The hybrid grinned. "Same here. I'll fight by your side anytime."

"Oh, wow." Alfie walked toward them. "All that bro love makes me emotional." He looked at the body bag. "Fresh meat?"

"One Doomer, not so fresh and in stasis," Max said. "Do you have a cell ready for him?"

Alfie nodded. "Follow me."

They trudged down the corridor lined with heavy metal doors. Each one concealed a prisoner—some human, some immortal, all dangerous in their own way. The keep had become the clan's de facto prison since they'd discovered the pedophilia ring run by the Brotherhood. Kian had insisted on keeping those monsters secure until they'd extracted every bit of useful intelligence out of them, and then they would be used for Ell-rom to test his powers on.

The sooner he killed all of them, the better. The Guardians manning the dungeon should be going on rescue missions instead of keeping an eye on these soulless creatures.

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