Page 79 of Enticing Monsters

“I can’t protect you forever,” she warns. “You’ve upset someone, and you need to find out who. You have the full backing of the FIB.”

She pauses there, considering me, and I know exactly what she isn’t saying.

I have the backing for the moment, but she can’t guarantee when that backing will shift. She may not play politics, but there are others she answers to who do.

And if I’m right, and someone close to the royal family is involved…

She presses a button on her desk, and a door pops open in the wall.

Gage steps out, his face pale, sweat sticking his hair to his skin, though his face remains stoic as he watches us.

“I am officially transferring custody of this prisoner over to you, Mr. Grayson,” she tells me, steepling her fingers together. “I know you will do your duty and ensure he is looked after. I feel he is too much of a threat to others in the population to house him here.”

Gage opens his mouth—likely to tell her he’s not a threat to anyone—but I shoot him a look.

I can hear his teeth grind from here, but he manages to stay silent as I incline my head to my boss. “Understood.”

“Dismissed!” she barks, and I open the door, ushering Gage out.

Xander is resting against my bike when we step outside, the midday sun nearly blinding where it glints off of my bike.

“You’re with me,” Xander tells him, indicating the car waiting behind my bike, and Gage gets in without another word. “Any problems?” Xander asks me, his shoulders stiff underneath his suit jacket.

Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder what it would take to ruffle him… Even on my best day, I can pull off scary motherfucker but not well put together. I’d rather shoot myself than wear a suit every day. Yet he thrives in it, taking to the role, to the power it provides, as easily as he breathes.

Some days it makes me just want to stab him.

Not like it’d be the first time…

Honestly, if we weren’t all so worried about Sera and the others, I’d be inclined to fuck with him. It really has been too long. But for right now, it’s only my duty keeping me glued here rather than chasing our mate to another realm.

“He’s getting worse.” I don’t need to say who the “he” is.

Xander’s expression barely changes, but I can see the minute tightening of his jaw. If Sera doesn’t return with answers soon, she may have one less mate to return to. Xander nods sharply, heading for the car, and I’m quick to follow.

When we arrive at Xander’s, Gage is clearly exhausted, but he doesn’t let it stop him as he jogs up the stairs beside us, with Xander quietly filling him in on the way. Avril is by the door when Xander unlocks it, strain digging deep lines into her face.

Our mate’s name is a harsh, broken echo on the air. It seems to be the only word he’s been able to say.

“He’s coughing up blood,” Avril tells us, holding up the bowl full of dirty cloths she was clearly changing out when we interrupted her. “I don’t…”

She pauses, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment as she collects herself.

Gage doesn’t wait for an invitation, pushing past her and heading for the other room. His eyes begin to glow as he settles into the chair next to the prince, his hands pressing firmly against his skin as his magic tracks over him.

“Avril, we need you to find out what you can about your sister.” Xander’s voice is firm as he drags Avril’s attention to him. “Your mother cannot know we have Gage out. Or about V. Do you understand?”

Avril snorts and shoves her hair back from her face. “We’re not in class now, Mr. Grayson. I’m well aware of what my mother would do if she found out and who would be happy to sell her the information. I may not care about politics, but I do care about Sera and my brother.”

Her eyes stray to the bed, as if she’s unable to look away. Under Gage’s ministrations, V’s breathing seems to be coming a little easier, and Avril lets out a soft sigh.

“Just…fix him?”

I didn’t think the siblings were close, but maybe there is more history there than we realized. There certainly is between me and Xander, not to mention Kian and Tristan.

Does anyone ever truly know what is going on behind closed doors?

As if he’s reading my mind, Xander leans against the wall, waiting until he hears the front door click shut behind Avril’s exit.

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