Page 68 of Furever Loyal
Haley thought about it. “Yeah. Actually, there is one more thing.”
“What? What is it?” Haley could all but imagine Dani leaning in closer as she spoke.
“What the hell do I do now?”
32
Kincaid was prepared for a hot reception as he arrived back at Ursidae Manor. The drive had been mostly uneventful. Twice he’d had to stop and hit Krawll again to ensure he stayed unconscious, but that wasn’t really an inconvenience at all. He’d relished the pain he was inflicting on the other shifter.
To his surprise though, nobody intercepted him at the gate or during the drive up. He’d expected the guards to materialize, yank him from the car and throw him under arrest, but nothing happened. He wondered if Kirell had chosen his side and was making it clear to any who saw that he was aligned with Kincaid and the Queen. That was a risky play for a newfound Title Holder, but if that’s what was happening, he owed the man a drink.
The closer he could get to the Throne Room without being intercepted, the better his chances of presenting his case in front of someone who would listen. The only gauntlet he would have to run now would be Kvoss and his men once they received word of his arrival. If he could just get near the Throne Room, the Queen’s Guard would hear his arrival and hopefully intervene.
“Shit,” he muttered as the trees gave way to the manicured lawns out front of the House, revealing the main entryway.
The road came to a fork and he went left toward it. The road looped around itself in a circle, both the road and the gardens in the center covered in a massive awning, stone pillars combining with wooden beams and slightly tinted glass roof to create a welcoming environment.
And all of it was ruined by the six men standing out front, lining the stairs, waiting for him. They were Kvoss’ men and they all seemed ready for action. Kincaid slowed the SUV, contemplating his actions. He couldn’t take all six of them, nor could he outrun them. Not if he was trying to carry Krawll as well.
Fortunately, he had a backup plan.
The SUV came to a half in front of the giant stone staircase that led up into the manor, and the men came down toward him. One stood in front of the vehicle and one behind, while the other four blocked entry into the building itself.
“Wake up,” Kincaid snarled, reaching into the back seat and punching Krawll in the kidneys.
The badly-beaten shifter groaned and came around. “What?”
Kincaid shoved the barrel of the semi-automatic pistol into his face. “Wake up, or you’re going to get a face full of uranium dust.”
“I’m awake!” Krawll mumbled around the cold metal pressed into his mouth. “I’m awake!”
“Good. Get out the driver’s side. Slowly.”
They exited the car.
“Stay back!” Kincaid shouted, putting the barrel to the back of Krawll’s head.
He kept a few inches between the gun and skull, so that his quarry would never know precisely where the weapon was. This was his ace in the hole. Only the Queen’s Guard carried the special uranium-bullet firing pistols on a regular basis. Kincaid was banking on none of Kvoss’ men having one.
If they did, he was screwed and this was over now, but judging by the way they were acting, none of them had come armed. He thanked his lucky stars that the Queen was on his side. She’d had one of her guard stash it in the SUV, just in case. Kincaid had hoped not to need it, but now it was going to save his life, it seemed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kvoss roared as he came out the front doors.
“Clearing my name. Now get out of my way or I’ll drop you right where you stand,” Kincaid threatened coldly, pushing Krawll forward and up the first stairs.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Kvoss sneered.
Kincaid gave Krawll a hard shove, whipped the pistol around and fired a shot that whizzed past Kvoss’ left ear, then quickly shoved the muzzle into Krawll’s back and forced him up the stairs before anyone else could react.
“Try me,” he snarled as the Assassin and his six men backed away, preceding him down the Grand Hallway as he made his way toward the Throne Room.
“If I must,” Kvoss snapped. “All of you together. We shall take him at once.”
Now that’s just not fair!
There was no point in complaining. It was the best strategy they had. Kincaid couldn’t take down seven of them before they reached him. But he could try.
Krawll flew forward with a shout, struck from behind by Kincaid with all his might. The flailing shifter collided with two of the guards. The pistol came around with abuzz sawnoise as it spewed rounds. Two more shifters went down howling in agony as their skin literally dissolved from the uranium dust, the hollow-point bullets exploding on impact.
