Page 49 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“And that’s going to cost them, big-time.” Horvan glanced at Aric. “Tell them what you told me.”

Aric finished his mouthful of food. “I was able to go all over the castle. I counted about ten guards, and Eve nailed it—they’re lax.” He placed a roll of paper in the center of the table and unfurled it. “This is the layout of the castle, or as much as I can remember. The bits you need to know about?” He pointed to the sketch. “This small building in the courtyard is their barracks. And they’re pretty comfortable in there. Couches, fridges, TV, showers…. There’s even a fireplace, and where there’s one of those, there’s a chimney. Good for dropping gas bombs down, right?”

Brick’s face glowed. “Nice one.”

“Did you see where Theron sleeps?” Saul asked.

Aric nodded. “This room here, on the second floor. I went inside.”

“How do you know it was his room?” Roadkill asked.

Aric wrinkled his nose. “Trust me, it was his. And talk about fancy. Four-poster bed, silk sheets…. Man, I camethisclose to shitting in his slippers. But I didn’t,” he added quickly. “One whiff of that and Theron would know there’d been a shifter in his room.” He pursed his lips. “Butgods, I wanted to pee on his sheets.”

Everyone laughed.

“What about Vic? Where do you think they’re keeping him?” Crank stared at Aric. “Did you see him? Hear him?”

Aric shook his head. “No, but there are a lot of rooms in the basement. He could be in one of those. I couldn’t get into any of them.” His face fell.

Seth kissed his cheek. “You’re an awesome, brave kitty, and don’t you forget it.”

Aric flushed.

“Guys?” Horvan cleared his throat. “We’re going in tonight.” Heads jerked in his direction, and he saw in an instant he’d said the right thing. “Aelryn’s team is standing by, and if Aric’s right, we’ll outnumber the guards.”

Seth’s eyebrows went up. “If?”

Horvan smiled. “Sorry. Since we’re certain Aric’s information is correct…. Better?”

Aric snuggled into Seth’s side, sighing when Seth slid an arm around him. “Much.”

“What time do we attack?” Hashtag asked.

“Oh two hundred. Everyone should be asleep by then, all tucked up in their nice comfortable beds having sweet, pleasant dreams.” Horvan grinned. “And we’re going to be their worst nightmare.”

The murmurs of appreciation told him he’d read the room. His team was more than ready to kick ass.

“So here are the objectives. One, we find Alec and Vic. Two, we search for Valmer Cooper—ifhe’s still being kept there. Jake saw him with Theron, but that was then. Three, we capture Theron. And four—”

“We remove the caskets Theron is hiding, and take them to a secure location,” Orsini declared.

“Can’t we just open them and see what’s inside?” Hashtag frowned. “Those things are made of stone, Jake said. That’s some weight to be carrying out of there.”

Orsini shook his head. “We cannot open them in the castle. It must be done under controlled conditions.”

“Which means the archive,” Jake concluded. He glanced at Horvan. “Can you organize a plane to take me, Seth, and Signor Orsini to Rome? We’d need to crate up the caskets and get them to the airstrip where we landed. A cargo plane would do. Something that’ll take the weight.”

“I’ve already got Duke on it.” Horvan reached for his phone to confirm the transport.

“I’d go with you, but….” Doc’s voice faltered.

Jake took his hand. “I know, but you’ll have a really important job to do. You have to take care of my grandson and see what can be done for him.” His face tightened. “If indeed anythingcanbe done.”

Horvan’s heart ached at the pain that surged through Dellan. He had to know this might not end well.

Wherever they take Alec, I want to go there.

Horvan sighed.And you won’t be going there alone. Me and Rael, we’ll be with you.

---