Page 206 of Filthy Royal

“We set a trap.” Damien didn’t hesitate.

“Finally.” Maddox’s fist shot into the air. “I like what I’m hearing.”

“Good. We’re going on the offense. We’ll bring Andor and Darvish to us.”

“How?” Anya asked.

Damien focused on Kadon. “You up for it?”

“Whatever it takes.”

“I expected no less.” Respect lit up Damien’s gaze, and Scarlett experienced another happy twinge as another piece of the life she’d always wanted slotted into place: all the Alphas in her life were figuring out how to get along.

Damien’s confidence and certainty sizzled through her. He really was right.Forever and always.This was all going to work out.

“Kadon, you’ll reach out through your comms.” Damien’s calmly issued instructions pulled Scarlett from her thoughts. “Andor has no idea we know he’s working with Darvish. Sure, we know the house was raided, but the guards could’ve easily traced us to that location some other way. If Luc hadn’t recognized the background in that vid recording, we’d likely still be assuming that Kadon’s sire wasn’t a betraying bastard but someone blameless who got caught up in our troubles. And that’s exactly what we want him to believe we think. So it won’t seem odd when you reach out to him for help in this moment of crisis.”

“It will have to be handled carefully,” Maddox warned. “Kadon can’t give up too much information or suddenly appear to trust the guy. They weren’t close before. Andor will know something’s up if Kadon starts acting too friendly now.”

“True,” Damien said. “But the beauty of this plan is Kadon doesn’t have to do much beyond making a seemingly panicked I-don’t-know-where-else-to-turn request for transport through his comms for him and a few others.”

“Because,” Anya chimed in, “all Andor will have to do is trace the comms signal to know where to find Kadon.”

“Exactly.” Damien’s smile was ominous. “We wait for Kadon to reach out once we’re inthe location of our choosing. We set the trap. Andor comes straight to us, thinking he’s the one getting the jump on us. We prove him wrong.”

Scarlett thought it was a brilliant plan, except for one concern. “How can we be sure it won’t just be guards like the last raid?”

“Another good question.” Damien hugged her tighter. “We can’t be certain, but I’d put good money on Andor coming. He won’t want to risk another failure like the one at his vacation residence, so if he can show his face, appear concerned and helpful, and in the process, get his son, Scarlett, and the rest of us onto his ship and under his control without a fight, all the better. Andor probably would have preferred this tactic from the start, but since Kadon never asked for his help, he couldn’t show his hand by offering his assistance. Now Kadon’s about to give Andor the chance to get his son back in his clutches, capture Scarlett for his ally, and make it easy to tie up any loose ends by getting rid of the rest of us. I suspect that enticement will prove irresistible.”

“Brilliant.” Now Scarlett had no concerns. She was convinced Damien was right.

“And Darvish?” Luc asked.

Damien’s grin faded. “We may get lucky, and he’ll come too. He wants Scarlett bad. But if not, Andor will lead us to him. We’re closing in on Darvish. I feel it.”

She did too.

As did the others.

Excitement and a thirst for vengeance thickened the air. After so much powerlessness and so much time being twisted and hurt by Darvish and Andor’s games, the tide was finally turning.

A high-pitched siren blared.

“Intruder alert.” A robotic voice vibrated through the shuttle. “Interior breach.”

“Shit.” Damien shoved her behind him. “Prepare.” He gestured for Maddox to throw him the laser.

“How could they get through the perimeter alarms without tripping them?” Maddox reached Damien’s side and tossed himthe weapon.

“They can’t!” Anya looked furious, and insulted.

Maddox shoved her behind him and raised his taser.

Kadon and Luc circled close, fangs and claws flashing.

Scarlett, too, tried to prepare. But the moment that siren sounded, her dormant gift woke, shrieking for release. It clamored to destroy, uncaring it would likely tear apart Damien’s shuttle and take down those within.Stupid, stupid gift.The effort of trapping it inside was so great that it took all her concentration just to remain on her feet.

The door slid open with a crash.

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