The Knight's growl deepens right on cue, as if backing me up. I have to bite back a smile at how perfectly he's playing along.
I'm definitely keeping him.
Azarel owes me that much, at least.
After everything I've been through? He can deal with sharing me with a giant mutated alpha. And maybe the Knight will even eat Monty, assuming that bastard's still alive.
Win-win.
"Well, kid, ya tried," Geo says, clapping Raven on the shoulder. He turns to me with a resigned shrug. "You're welcometo make a pit stop in the bathroom down the hall. You can even use the nice hand towels I save for my most esteemed guests."
I scoff. "How generous."
"Wait!" Raven steps forward, those big blue eyes practically sparkling with desperation. "There must besomethingyou want. Something that can convince you to stay."
I open my mouth to tell him exactly where he can shove his offers, but then I pause. These men are clearly well-connected in the criminal underworld. They probably know things. Have access to information networks I could never tap into on my own.
"There is something," I say slowly.
Raven perks up immediately. "Name it."
"I'm looking for someone." I watch their faces carefully. "His name is Azarel, but he could be going by any number of aliases. He's a Surhiiran commander in Reinmich's army. Ring any bells?"
I can tell by their blank expressions it doesn't.
"Not off the top of my head," Raven says carefully, "but I can find out. I can find anyone."
There's no mistaking the confidence in his voice, but he could be full of shit. I'm pretty sure he'd say anything to get me to stay here.
And I sure as fuck don't trust Nikolai.
I hesitate, glancing at Geo. "Is that true?"
His expression sours slightly, like he's tasting something bitter. "Yeah," he says with a grudging scowl.
Well. Considering he's clearly about as happy about us being here as I am, that reluctant admission carries more weight than any of Raven's eager promises.
"Alright," I say, drawing myself up to my full height. Which isn't particularly impressive next to these towering alphas, but the Knight's hulking presence at my back more than makes upfor it. "Here's the deal. I'll stay for forty-eight hours. If you don't have something for me by then, I'm leaving. And if any of you fuckers tries to stop me…"
I trail off, hoping the Knight and I are on the same frequency. He growls loud enough that I can feel the vibrations in the floorboards at the perfect moment.
Someone's getting a handjob tonight.
And I'm getting a shower.
Talk about another win-win.
"I accept your terms," Raven says, so worked up I'm pretty sure he's about to turn into a fine mist. His golden hair catches the light as he shifts like he's trying to resist pouncing on me in his excitement. Which would be a deadly mistake long before the Knight's claws could even sink into him. "I'll have my contacts searching within the hour.No oneknows the Outer Reaches like I do."
I catch Nikolai's slight sneer from the corner of my eye. His mismatched gaze is calculating, and I make a mental note to watch him closely.
He's planning something.
Probably how to use this situation to his advantage so whatever the Ghosts paid him doesn't go to waste. Typical alpha behavior.
Then again, Raven thinks I'm his mate.
Which makes him even more dangerous.