Page 83 of Sergi
Carlos continued to speak as he and Remus helped Cadfael move faster. “Sergi and one of the shifters escaped earlier.”
Carlos glanced at Remus, who, against Cadfael’s protest, lifted the Alpha, and they all ran. By Devon’s watch, they had time, but he sensed the team members’ growing urgency.
Bella waited at the blown-out doorway he and Remus had come through, though most of the shifters were being moved through the garage, which had a wider exit route.
Once they were out, they continued across the parking lot and stopped by a Range Rover parked on the side of the road, close to the cargo van that housed the guards.
Devon surveyed the operation. Dozens of vampires, and he sensed a few humans, in lab coats or plain clothing were being led down the road, all restrained with their hands in front of them.
“Where did you get all the restraints?” Devon asked. “We didn’t bring that many.”
“Rafael found a box of them in one of the supply closets.” Bella looked around and, spotting Carlos, lifted her brows. “Where’s Sergi?” Her tone told him she wouldn’t be happy with bad news.
“You were right. Carlos said Sergi and another shifter escaped out the back.”
“Alex.”
Devon turned when Remus joined them. “Who?”
“Alex.” He wiped at his eyes. “I’m sorry to be so emotional. She’s one of mine. She was part of the first group I sent in search of the lab a year ago.” He grinned and released a pent-up breath. “Ah, I never gave up hope. She’s my niece.”
When he hung his head, Devon squeezed his shoulder. “She sounds like a fighter.”
Remus turned so the other shifters wouldn’t see his emotional state. Devon understood. He’d found himself in a similar situation when he’d learned of his parents’ deaths and came home to find Lyra in a poor mental state. Then again, when Cressa had been kidnapped, and he’d thought she might have been killed. Family did that to a shifter as much as a vampire.
Remus took another moment before straightening and running a hand through this hair, his emotions tucked away. “How do we get everyone out of here?”
“I sent a team to repair the road.” Bella waved at someone, and they nodded before running down the hill. “We found shovels in the garage and expect the road to be passable in two hours.”
“Have you called anyone?” Devon asked.
“I contacted Aramburu to advise of the situation. He’s sending a plane to Brasov.”
“We should contact the Sentinels and Eliminators,” Devon suggested. He wanted Remus’s opinion.
“Can you trust them?” Remus asked.
“I trust they’ll find enough information to begin an inquiry. I don’t trust the Council to do anything with it on its own merit.” Devon wasn’t fooled by what the Council would do. They would most likely see what happened here as Trelane’s widening vengeance on Venizi with an unprovoked attack on House Larkin, a strong ally of Venizi’s. And in retaliation, Venizi had the voice to sway the Council in his favor.
“If this is Larkin’s lab, the Council won’t be happy that it was destroyed.” Bella tapped her hand in a quick staccato against her leg. “This was where the fertility testing was underway.”
Devon grunted. “For a problem the Council created in the first place. But I understand your point. That’s the avenue Venizi will likely take. He’ll want them to believe this is one more example of House Trelane attacking him with no cause. One vialof Magic Poppy won’t do anything to sway the Council today, not without showing our hand. And we’re not ready for that.” He glanced at Remus, who was listening, but The Wolf’s expression hardened as he glanced at the battered shifters moving away from the building. “Sorry, Remus. While the success today lies at the feet of the shifters, I can’t let you take all the heat. At some point, we’ll have to contact the Sentinels.”
Carlos, with Cadfael in tow, interrupted before Remus could respond. “Cadfael has critical information to report. I think it might be timely.”
They turned to the old Alpha, who stood tall, his gaze bright with inner strength. Devon guessed there was great wisdom behind those soulful eyes.
“For the last six years, I’ve only been known as shifter 272. I’ve witnessed many horrific experiments during my time here, but I’ll wait for a more proper time to provide a full report. I heard the guards destroyed the labs and that the building is next.” He dropped his gaze and gave them a reluctant smile. “Sergi and Alex both told me how important it was to find evidence of our mistreatment. The truth of what happened here.” He looked Devon in the eye. “I need you to know Sergi and Alex didn’t leave empty-handed. They had evidence with them.”
Devon perked up. “What kind of evidence?”
The old shifter shrugged. “All I know is that Alex had several vials and a USB drive. She and Sergi were convinced it would reflect part of what the vampires had been working on.”
“Get me a map of the backside of this facility.” Devon needed to get to Sergi. He had to protect whatever they found.
A loud explosion shook the ground, and everyone fought to keep their footing. Devon glanced up, worried the entire mountain might collapse, but soon everything went quiet. All eyes turned toward the lab, and he wasn’t the only one looking up.
A minute passed, then another.
