Page 61 of The Death God
Yeah. How many deaths had he seen?
“So you’re gonna bond with him? You and Rufus creating a happy little family with your blood mates.”
This could turn out to be dangerous territory. Jaki and Thanatos, if Gregory had been bonded to him, were a lot easier to kill than Rufus and he was. By taking their mates out, they’d kill them. It was an easy way to get rid of them. “Why did you invite us to the mating ceremony?”
Amell grimaced. “It was Alaric. I think he was hoping for closer contact. He and Iris never got along. She wanted to be worshiped, and Alaric didn’t want to worship. He’s not a fan of Silas either. He’s a tricky bastard.”
Gregory snorted. “You didn’t stage this shit simply to get us to work together, right?”
Amell whirled around and glared at him. “I don’t think you understand the hell I’ve been through the last couple of weeks. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, and I sure as hell wouldn’t live through it simply to have something to bond with you over.”
His snarls made Gregory feel better. “Good.” He was about to continue when Amell froze.
“Car.”
Gregory strained to listen. He couldn’t hear anything yet, but shifters had better hearing.
“You’re good to run after it?”
Gregory gave a single nod. “As long as they don’t drive too far.”
Amell nodded. “If it’s them and not some lost tourists, you run, and I’ll call Alaric. If you’re able, text or call when you have the address, if not, we’ll be able to track your phone.”
Gregory nodded. They’d linked their phones to some app. He’d have to get it for everyone in the castle once this was over. It could be of use if someone was kidnapped or got lost in the woods. Minerva had taken to wandering off from the castle. He didn’t blame her. She’d been locked up her entire life. He could see how walks in the forest held some appeal, but he was afraid she’d lose track of where she was.
The sound of the car drew closer and closer, and both Gregory and Amell melted into the woods.
Before long, a black car with tinted windows came creeping up the gravel road. It stopped right by the clearing, and Gregory heard a car door being closed, then another. So at least two people.
He moved toward the car as soundlessly as he could, wanting to be in a good position to follow once it started rolling.
A vicious snarl flew over the sky, and Gregory froze. Nothing else happened. He stood rooted to the ground. Should he run back, or should he wait?
He kept still as three people walked out of the clearing. One was dressed in combat gear with a rifle in his hands, scanning the surroundings. The other two wore black scrubs, the same kind as Himeros had. One was a tiny woman with pale, almost white hair, and the other was a huge man with dark hair. The big guy carried an unconscious Amell in a fireman’s carry but walked as if he didn’t weigh a thing. Fuck. Amell was one of the biggest men Gregory had ever met.
Gregory crouched lower behind a bush and didn’t so much as breathe. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
The man tossed Amell in the trunk, and Gregory noted a blue dart lodged in his thigh. Sedated. The guy in combat gear patted him down, found his phone and placed it right next to the car tire. No way of tracking him through it then. Gregory would have to follow. There was no other choice.
As they got into the car, he got ready to run. He could outrun a car, but not forever. Hopefully, they weren’t going too far.
Chapter 20
Thanatos pulled a baking sheet with butter cookies from the oven only to push in another. As he moved the round cookies to the cooling rack, Rufus stormed into the kitchen with a frantic look in his eyes. He was dressed in nothing but underwear, which was an unusual sight. Gregory might parade around without a shirt, but Rufus never did. His back was a jumble of scars he seldom let anyone see.
“They’ve taken Amell.”
“What?” Thanatos dropped the sheet on the counter as the heat of it seeped through the kitchen towel he’d used to hold it.
“Gregory called. He followed the car they sent to get Himeros, and he’s hiding outside a small cabin in the woods. He’s afraid someone will come here. They arrived at where Himeros’ tracker was, armed, and they took Amell without effort. Carried him as if he didn’t weigh anything.”
Thanatos frowned, too many things swirling around in his head. “None of the ones Himeros mentioned had super strength.”
Rufus only stared at him.
“Right. Either Himeros lied or this is another group, or they’ve called in backup.”
“I need everyone in the kitchen in five minutes. I’ll go get dressed.”
