Page 98 of Reign of the Beast

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I may know a way to locate the dagger.”

“How?” I asked, incredulous.

He rose from his perched position and scrubbed his hand over his face, cursing under his breath.

“Lucian?” Ryker pressed gently. “What is it?”

Staring into space, Lucian revealed, “When Vincenzo came to me, he said that with Cornelius incapacitated by Draco, he finally had the opportunity to facilitate his freedom forevermore. I thought he was just posturing, ashe has been known to do.” He shot me and Ryker a glare. “But that was because I had no idea about the existence of such a formidable weapon. It’s clear now that he meant that Cornelius was weakened enough for him to go for the kill without fearing for his own life in the process.”

“With the dagger,” Jaxon cut in. “You think he has it?”

“It’s a strong possibility, yes. He’s been on the run from Cornelius for years. He would have spent those years researching and unearthing everything he could about his enemy to shift the balance and get his life back.”

“All right. He’s the first lead we’ll run down once the Covenant is solidified.”

“I will go to him,” Lucian countered. “He won’t respond well to a show of force and he is immune to all forms of torture, so forcing it out of him won’t work either.”

“So, what’s your plan then?” Ryker sniped. “Fuck it out of him?”

Before anyone could get out a word, Ryker shot from the couch and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him for good measure.

“Curses,” Lucian muttered.

He sucked in a breath, then strode out after him.

“Trouble in paradise?” Jaxon mused.

“It would seem so.”

And it was the worst time for it.

21

~Ryker~

I heard his footsteps, followed by a sudden rush of cool air whipping around me.

And then, there he was, standing right before me.

“I need a fucking moment, Lucian,” I groused.

“Unfortunately, we are all out of moments.”

“What?”

“The sorceress is ready to join with us.”

“I know.”

“Then let’s make haste.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

What was going on? Why was he pushing it all of a sudden? He’d been all about things needing to take their natural course, our bonds to Mia growing without undue pressure or interference, in order to ensure that they were genuine and strong enough. It was why he’d held off going to her for so long. And when he finally had, it had been right, she’d been ready for him.

Before I could get into it, he went on, “Thisissuebetween us needs to be tabled, Ryker.”

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