Page 55 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“Don’t forget. Radio silence once you’re inside, until you get the door open.”

“Copy that. We’re going in.”

Horvan gazed across the courtyard to where Brick’s men had positioned themselves by the door to the barracks. One of the team was already on the tiled roof, poised by the chimney pot. Some of the team were armed with tranquilizer guns, and all of them carried darts to prevent shifting.

It was poetic justice, using the Gerans’ own tech against them.

Be safe, okay?

Horvan could hear the love in Rael’s voice.I will. And I’ll be back there before you know it.He focused, his muscles tensed, straining to catch any noises. No sounds carried on the night air, apart from the soft hoot of an owl—

Oh shit.

Horvan raised his head and sniffed.Don’t let it be a shifter. Maybe Theron had them out on patrol. That could screw up everything. Fortunately, a moment later he saw it sail down into the forest and come back up with something in its talons, then alight on a tree and begin enjoying its midnight snack.

Paying them no attention whatsoever.

Thank fuck for that.

Then there was the creak of a door opening.

Horvan gestured to the rest of the team, and they crept inside. Horvan was thankful whoever owned the castle had kept the original stone flags rather than covering them with floorboards. He gave Saul and Crank the thumbs-up, and they peeled off, heading for the basement.

Horvan pointed to the ceiling, then led his team toward the staircase, its stone treads worn down by centuries of use. On the second floor, Horvan pointed to the room Aric had indicated. He and Aelryn stopped, tranq guns at the ready, the rest of the team lined up along the hallway, weapons raised.

The door was ajar.

Horvan pushed it slowly, before coming to a dead stop inside.

There was no one in the room.

BRICK CROUCHEDbehind the door to the barracks, waiting for Horvan’s signal. His men formed a semicircle, ready to tranq the guards once they tried to escape from the gas.

Horvan’s voice filled his ear. “Brick. The word is go.”

“Copy that,” he whispered. He signaled to Dex on the roof, and a moment later there was the muffled noise of an exploding gas bomb, followed by several roars.

The roars of animals.

Brick yelled, “Shift!”

The door went crashing onto the cobbled courtyard, torn off its hinges, and a lion bounded out, its jaws wide in a ferocious growl, followed by another lion and a cheetah.

They were met by two pumas and a panther who slammed into the guards, going for their throats. It was over in a matter of less than a minute. Roadkill and the others took aim, and those guards who tried to make a run for it were swiftly brought down.

When a brown bear burst out of the barracks, Brick didn’t hesitate. He shucked off his clothing and gave chase, his heavy paws thudding on the hard cobbles.

You think you’re gonna get away? Think again.

The bear didn’t make it as far as the gate.

The final wave of shifted guards were the heaviest hitters of them all, five gorillas, as loud as they were fierce, and it took all Brick’s team to subdue them. But at last the courtyard was silent.

Brick stood over the bloodied heap of brown fur and bellowed. He shifted back as Roadkill strode toward him. Brick pointed to the still forms lying on the ground.

“That’s all of them, right?”

Roadkill nodded. “I thought it was gonna be a walk in the park until the gorillas joined in the fun.” He handed Brick a pile of clothing. “Here.”

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