Page 174 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

Instead of heading toward them, Griffin took a hard right, keeping to the outskirts near the walls where buildings were only on our left side.

“Where are we heading?” I hadn’t asked him many questions before now—he’d felt determined but on edge, communicating internally with his pack, and I hadn’t wanted to pester him. But now that we were here, I needed a little bit of background.

“To the barrier protection building.” Griffin’s jaw twitched. “Something bad happened, and they need our assistance.”

“Are you going to expand on that, man?” Killian asked, clearly annoyed. “I’ve followed Sterlyn’s lead by not asking you stuff on the way, but now that we’re close, why don’t you tell us what you know?”

“That’s the problem,” Griffin said sharply. “I don’t know much. All Dick said is there’s a problem and he needed to see me immediately.”

“Wait. Then why am I here?” Killian sat back, not distracted by the sights any longer. “I thought they wanted me here, too.”

“Like I said, there was a protection issue. That’s all I know.” Griffin licked his lips as he pulled over into a small section of the road that was open and out of potential traffic against the wall. “I figured the two of you should be here because you know security measures better than most everyone else.”

Great. That wasn’t going to sit well, especially not with the angels.

“Follow me.” Griffin climbed out of the car just as Dick ran out of a small building across the street.

“He’s here,” Dick yelled toward the building he’d left and glared at Griffin. “And this whole thing is his fault.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Griffin pausedmid-step at the venomous accusation Dick had thrown at him. Alarm and anger poured off him as he stared the man down. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Dick spat. “It’s time to come in here and face the music.” The soulless man glanced at me and then Killian as a cruel smirk spread.

We’d walked into a trap, and there was no getting out of it. Dick had something up his sleeve, and unfortunately, we were about to find out what it was.

The buildings reminded me of Shadow Ridge’s downtown. Hell, most likely, Shadow Ridge was a replica to make Killian’s discarded pack feel more at home. In this section, they were smaller, two-story buildings made of brick.

I looked around the street, surprised by the quietness. We hadn’t seen or passed one car besides our own. Even in the main part of the city, people had milled around on foot, and for that matter, there was no traffic or even stoplights that I had noticed.

We need to leave.He linked.Something isn’t right.

Oh, I agreed, but unfortunately, that wasn’t in our cards.He obviously has an audience inside, which means if you leave, it’ll work out even less in your favor.We were in a “damned if youdo, and even more damned if you don’t” situation.We have to see what he’s done and address it head-on.

Killian stood next to me, his Adam's apple bobbing. A muscle in his shoulder twitched like he was preparing to fight or flee.

Why do you have to be so logical?Griffin teased dryly, still radiating discomfort.

Needing to be there for him, I held his hand and squeezed gently.Everything will work out.It had to.

I hope you’re right,he replied, and the two of us walked side by side toward Dick. Killian jogged to catch up and flanked me on the left.

We approached Dick, who stood under the small metal awning, watching with apparent delight. He rubbed his hands together as his irises deepened to the color of coal. Even the pretty pinks, blues, and purples that danced around us from the top of the dome couldn’t hide the darkness that oozed off him.

For him to be so gleeful, we had to be walking into something even worse than I’d expected.

Dick opened the door and said loudly, “I’m surprised you didn’t run like the coward you truly are.” He waved us in, and Griffin straightened his shoulders.

I stepped inside and felt like I’d traveled back in time. The walls and ceilings were dark cherry wood. Matching crown molding covered the corners where they connected with the intricate Shadow City emblem chiseled into the design over and over again. The floor was made of white marble, and in the center of the room, under a large, diamond chandelier, the Shadow City emblem had been incorporated into the design in golden stone.

“He did show.” The dark, manly hiss echoed off the walls.

By the center of the far wall, seven people stood in front of a marble fireplace.

The man who had just spoken scowled, his sinister appearance matching his hissing voice. His light brown hair fell over his forehead, emphasizing his fair skin and teak-colored eyes. He stood regally, making him somehow seem taller than his perhaps six-foot frame. His scent, which reminded me of apples, made my mouth water. I remembered that vampires smelled sweet. Handy information I’d picked up from my mate.

“Matthew…” Alex, the vampire prince I’d met at Shadow Ridge Coffee only a few weeks ago,tsked. “Calm yourself.” He pulled on the collar of his navy button-down shirt, which contrasted with his pale skin and soft blue eyes. He lifted his head, and the chandelier’s light reflected off his sun-kissed brown hair as he moved to stand beside Matthew. They were the same height, but Alex had a more syrupy sweet scent mixed with apples.

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