Page 28 of Frost and Fate
Darren answered. “He’s a member of our pack, and a genius with any kind of tech.”
Lance added, “Peyton has a certain skill set that makes it easier for him to find online information and footage.”
“So he’s a hacker?” Nova guessed.
“Ulric Industries does not employ hackers. We employ technology specialists,” Gideon called back with a wink.
Nova laughed. “Well if he’s a lycan, why doesn’t he live in the complex?”
This time, Lance answered. “Living in the complex isn’t mandatory. There are hundreds of lycans all over the city. And Peyton—well he likes to keep to himself. He’s a very interesting guy.” The emphasis Lance put on the word ‘interesting’ made Nova think Lance really meant total freaking weirdo.
They pulled up to a ritzy shopping center and parked outside a luxurious-looking apartment complex. The streets around the building were full of restaurants and shopping.
“Not what you were expecting?” Darren asked as Nova took in the area.
“Definitely not where I thought a tech-savvy hacker—” Gideon shot her a look. Nova put up air quotes. “Technology specialist, would set up shop.”
Letting out a laugh, Darren added, “Peyton is full of surprises.”
They made their way up to the eighth floor and knocked on a unit at the end of the hall. The door opened to reveal a tall, dark-haired man with more piercings and tattoos than anyone Nova had ever seen. His hair was cut in a shaggy, un-styled Mohawk that hung down in front of one silvery eye, and trailed off in the back. He wore black skinny jeans and a torn-up black hoodie. He ushered the group inside and stopped when he saw Nova.
“Well look who we have here. I’m guessing you’re the new ice babe everyone’s been yapping about.” He looked her up and down. “I can’t say I blame them. You are certainly unique.” He reached a tattooed hand out toward Nova’s silver locks. Darren was in between them before he even got close. Peyton took a quick step backward.
“Woah, easy, Ridgewell.” He looked past Darren at Nova. “Didn’t take you long to be off the market.” Peyton’s unique eyes were nearly the same shade of silver as Nova’s hair. He gave her a wink and headed over to a desk surrounded by computer screens. The whole apartment looked like a techie hacker’s paradise. Technical equipment, computers, TVs, and gadgets littered the space. Any surfaces not covered in electronics were piled high with pizza boxes and cans of energy drinks.
“Interesting place to live,” Nova mused. Peyton smiled at her, his lip ring and snake bites catching her attention.
“Ulric Industries pays well, and you can’t beat the pizza joint under the complex.”
Nova read one of the boxes. “Full Moon Pizza?” The irony of the name was not lost on her.
Peyton’s eyes lit up. “Best pizza in Georgia. Not to mention their wings, cheese sticks—”
“While we are all fascinated by your choice of food,” Lance interrupted, an annoyed look on his face, “we have more pressing issues at hand.”
Peyton swallowed and turned back to his computer. “Sorry, Beta.” As Peyton typed vigorously at the keyboard, Nova took the opportunity to get a good look at the lycan. Even with gaged ears, piercings covering his face, and tattoos that crept up his neck and made their way around his cheekbones and forehead, he was still one of the most attractive people Nova had ever seen. Peyton looked like he belonged in some heavy metal or emo rock band as the sexy lead singer. She was starting to think it was impossible to be a lycan and not be ridiculously good-looking. A low growl and glare from Darren put a quick end to her gawking. She couldn’t help it if every new person she met was more distracting than the one before!
“Elsie Cannelin, twenty-three, from West Virginia. She was part of a very private coven there. They kept her disappearance out of the media which is why it took me a while to track her down.” Peyton scrolled to a picture of the woman called Elsie. Sparkling green eyes, curly red hair, and a huge smile stared back from the screen. She had been beautiful, and seemingly happy. That girl was nothing like the corpse they had found on the complex stairs. The tightness in Nova’s chest returned. Darren took her hand in his.
“What else did you find out?” Gideon pressed. Peyton took a swig of his energy drink before continuing.
“I found one of her coven members on social media and convinced her to talk to me.” He gave another mischievous wink. “Apparently Elsie was known for her gifts with telepathy. Her friend said she went on a date with some new guy right before she disappeared. They thought she ran away with him. I don’t think it will be easy when they find out she died.”
Gideon let out a regretful sigh. “I’ll have Laurie reach out to the family and give them the news. We will arrange for the body to get back to her home in West Virginia.” Leah acknowledged him and typed out a quick message on her phone. “Thank you, Peyton.” Gideon patted the man on the shoulder. “We should head back to—”
“That’s not all I found, Alpha.” All eyes whipped back to Peyton. “While I was researching Elsie’s case, I came across a startling number of similar murders.” He pulled up a file with pictures in it. “Young women all over the country have been reported missing and then found in a similar manner as Elsie. They’ve been beaten, broken, and left almost unrecognizable.” Peyton scrolled through several before and after pictures of young women and their crime scene photos. Nova felt sick to her stomach.
“How many have you found like this?” Leah asked.
“Twenty-two so far. All with similar stories. I was able to confirm most of the girls were Chosen as well.”
Nova gasped. “Twenty-two other girls? Dead?”
Peyton hesitated. “That we know of.”
Nova felt rage in her veins. The temperature in the room began to plummet. Everyone’s breath began to come out in visible clouds.
“Nova…” There was a warm hand on her lower back as Darren turned to face her. “Take a deep breath. We are going to find the monsters responsible for this.” Ice began to creep up the walls of the apartment.
