Page 56 of Forever Mates

I have to be careful. I can’t really believe that Walker really has no idea who Aleks is—I’m banking on him being totally aware but trying to see if I’ll confess first—but on the odd chance that he does think it’s one big coincidence, I can’t let him learn about my ties to Aleks otherwise he’ll never survive the next bout of “training”.

I work hard to keep my expression neutral. For a second, I look away from Walker, using the excuse that I’m checking on Elizabeth—only she’s gone. Sometime after the challenge ended, she must’ve stepped down the backside of the platform, slipping away.

Lucky.

Walker is still waiting for my to say something else.

So I do.

“How long will the silver keep him weak?”

Walker raises his eyebrows at my question. “It took him a few hours to expel the bullets after we caught him. So at least that long. Why?”

Okay. Here goes nothing. “I’m curious. He might know some of the vamps I met in Muncie. I’d like to go talk to him if I can.”

I wait for him to call me out on my blatant bullshit—but he doesn’t.

His shifter’s eyes flash. “And you’re asking me?”

If that’s what he wants to think… I nod.

His expression turns thoughtful. “You know you probably could’ve convinced Theodore to sneak you in. Of course, I would have had to bloody that handsome face of his again, but he should consider himself lucky that that’s all he got for being foolish enough to betray me.”

Well, that answers my question from before, doesn’t it? I wondered how Theo ended up with those vicious grooves in his cheek. Now I know.

Of course it was Walker.

“But,” he adds, “since you did ask me, I think a meeting could be arranged.” Raising his hand, he gestures for his Beta. “Christian?”

Christian is still holding the gun when he marches over to the bottom step of the platform. “Yes, Alpha?”

“My daughter wants to see the parasite. Take her.”

I let the ‘my daughter’ slide. What if I snap at him again and he changes his mind? No, thanks. Getting to talk to Aleks is more important than how icky I feel whenever Walker reminds anyone that his blood runs in my veins.

“Oh, and Christian?” Walker’s heavy gaze lands on me even as he tells his Beta, “Don’t forget to bring more silver bullets. You never know when one of the bloodsuckers will go rogue and need to be put down for good. And you know how much I’d hate to have to do that to your roommate, my daughter.”

I gulp and say nothing.

Yeah. I understand, and in more ways than one.

* * *

How many cellsare in this place?

That’s the first thought I have when Christian leads me to the south side of the Wolf District. He calls the separate structure a jailhouse—because of course this place has a freaking jailhouse—and leads me to the entrance. Inside, I see at least four different cells that stretch the length of the room in a single line.

And when I say cell, I mean it.

The room I find Aleks in is about the size of my old bedroom back in his apartment. It has three solid walls, no windows, and a row of gleaming silver bars that make up the cell door. A massive lock is built into the center. It doesn’t take a genius to know it’s turned shut.

Just like when me, Duke, and Jace went to see Trish, I refuse to let Christian follow me inside. I expect him to pull the Beta card, but he doesn’t. He just flashes the gun, a silent reminder that he’s armed, before telling me he’ll be within earshot in case I need him.

Translation: I can hear everything you say, and be sure that I’ll be reporting back to my Alpha.

I might’ve been more worried if Walker hadn’t already made it clear that he knows exactly who Aleks is. Because of that, there’s no reason to be cagey or to find a way to hide how I know him.

Good thing, too, because the best of my acting days are behind me. When I see Aleks sitting on the floor, his back up against the thin, blanket-loss cot, nothing can stop me from rushing forward.

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