Page 44 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

Then he gestured to one of the couches. “Sit.”

Eve did as instructed. She’d been correct—the couch was as solid as a piece of marble and as uncomfortable.

“So you were in Maine. How did you come to be there?”

Her heart pounded. “I went in with a Fridan team on a mission to liberate the camp.”

He froze. “And why would you do such a thing?”

“It took me six months to infiltrate the Fridans, but I did it. They believe me to be one of them.”

“How did you manage that?”

She locked gazes with him. “Because I’mthatgood, that’s how.”

Theron arched his thinning brows. Then he leaned forward, his old eyes still bright. “Tell me of Fielding.”

“I tried to help him escape. I got him past the gates of the camp, but he was shot. Then one of the soldiers shifted and tore him apart.”

He winced. “All of which ties in with what was reported to me. Why didn’t Fielding shift?”

“He couldn’t, sir. He was drugged.” She swallowed. “I managed to speak to him before… before the end. He spoke of you.”

“What did he say?”

“That I was to come here and offer my services.”

Lying had never been one of her strong suits, and she prayed Theron’s ability to detect deceit wasn’t working that day.

Theron pursed his thin lips. “You say you infiltrated the Fridans. Who was the leader of this group?”

“Aelryn, sir.”

His face clouded. “A name I am familiar with.”

“Fielding said I was to tell you… the Fridans know the location of all the Geran camps.”

Theron’s face tightened. “Allof them? How?Howcould they know such a thing?”

“I wasn’t taken into their confidence.”

“Then it might not be true.” His voice was tinged with hope.

Eve shook her head. “I saw the list, sir. Whoever aided them was very thorough.”

And now safely out of your reach, reunited with his mate, and protected by Aelryn.

“But Iwillbe involved in future missions,” she confirmed. “I can still be useful.” Eve still wasn’t sure why Horvan wanted Theron to know about the camps, but she reasoned it was part of his plan.

He narrowed his gaze. “Where do they think you are at this moment?”

“Visiting relatives here in Lancashire.” She bowed her head. “My grandfather has just passed.”

Theron didn’t bother to offer condolences, but then again she would have been surprised if he had.

“Tell me more of this team. Are they all shifters?”

“No, sir. Humans too.”

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