Page 24 of Forfeit

The woman must have known how lost Devin felt because she spoke up for the fifth time in the last hour.

“Mr. Kahler, are you certain I—”

“Yes, Meghan, I am certain. Now go wait in the car,” Kahler commanded in a low tone that didn’t need to be loud to be as dangerous as it was. It seemed to be a trait of his, or perhaps all Alphas who ruled expansive territories controlled such power. His presence grew, crowding the suddenly too small space of the spare bedroom where two cribs and their drowsing occupants bore witness.

“She could stay,” Rey said in a quiet voice once a guard escorted Meghan back outside. “We have the room.”

Instead of answering, Kahler went to the door. Opening it just a crack, he murmured an order to someone outside before closing them all in again. He turned to Rey, chest rising as he filled his lungs before letting it out in a gusty sigh.

“If you fail me in this, Daniel, and you too, Elijah, I won’t just kill you. I will hurt you in ways you can only imagine before I let you find solace in death. Do you understand me?” Kahler cocked his head, dark brows raised high as if he expected some answer.

Rey nodded, and Devin assumed Beau did as well, because Kahler went to lean against the wall between the two cribs once more, his fingers stroking the backs of their small occupants.

He wasn’t quite finished with his threats though.

“I will personally see to the destruction of your mate, Daniel. Do you hear me?”

“There’s no need to—”

“There is every need,” Kahler snarled, pushing off the wall to stalk towards Rey.

Whatever he intended to do, it was interrupted by a quiet whine from one of the cribs, a sleepy whimper that already sounded wet and snuffling. Turning towards the sound, his expression smoothed from its vicious mask, though Devin would never dare to call it soft. He resumed his place between the cribs, comforting them once again.

“I’ve never taken care of kids this small,” Devin whispered into the darkness, giving an awkward pat to the back of the little girl, Elise, as she fussed.

“Omegas live for children. I am sure you will figure it out,” Kahler said as he stalked further into the room, blocking Devin’s escape. Settling a firm hand on her shoulder, he gave a brutal squeeze. “I’m entrusting you with mine, Omega. If anything should happen to them, whether by your fault or not, you will pay dearly.”

“No pressure.” Devin let the barest breath of a whimper slide over her lips, which it seemed Kahler waited for. As soon as it slipped through the dark room, he released her and eased back. Two fingers commanded, dismissing her for the moment.

She didn’t need to be told twice. Scurrying from the room, Devin couldn’t take a steadying breath for the oppressive weight of Alpha pheromones invading every square inch of space. In addition to the men Rey left with her, Kahler brought his own small army. She could stack them like cordwood to the ceiling and still have bodies to spare.

Darting into the sitting room, she stopped cold at the sight of a tight knot of Alphas huddled around a small screen. A glimpse of a fuzzy black and white image showing her the back door was all she needed to see before she turned on her heel and went the opposite direction.

With plans to escape to the bedroom where no one else should be, Devin almost collapsed when Rey’s soft voice called her back into the spare room turned nursery. She didn’t want to go back in there. Didn’t want to breathe in the spiced violence of Kahler anymore.

Somehow she made her feet turn towards the doorway once more, taking her back into the shadowy stillness interrupted only by the soft snores of the sleeping children. Moving close to Rey, she let his shadow swallow her up, hiding behind his bulk as Kahler loomed too close.

“If anything should happen, my men will get you and the children to a safehouse,” Kahler said in a gentle murmur that belied the seriousness of his words. Standing between the two cribs, he stroked the soft hair of two heads. Lavishing attention on his children in front of strangers.

Devin hated him a little less just then. To see him humanized with the simple act of smoothing back a stray lock of hair.

“They eat nothing you haven’t opened yourself. No fresh foods you didn’t personally witness the purchase of,” Kahler continued, lowering over Elise to brush a soft kiss against her cheek. “You do not let anyone near them. Not even the guards.”

“They’re practically crawling up the walls, how am I supposed to keep them away,” Devin asked with a snort before remembering who she spoke to. In a whispered hiss, she hurried to add on, “I just mean there’s so many people in here that keeping them isolated would be—”

“The guards will remain outside. There are cameras being installed for Daniel and Elijah to keep watch from. You, Omega, your only concern is these two. You’re going to keep them safe.” Kahler turned, and it wasn’t Rey he pinned with his cold green gaze. Eyes boring into Devin’s, he took a single step towards her that felt like he invaded her every cell from feet away. “Protect them as if they were your own. You will lay your life down for them if need be.”

“Okay. All right.” Devin nodded, as if she had any choice.

Rey, having stood by in silence all this time, wrapped his arm around Devin’s hip and brought her tight against his side as Kahler drew nearer. He rumbled a low growl, quieting it at once as Adam stirred and sighed.

Kahler took Devin’s chin in his hand, turning her face left then right. Viewing her like something only a little disgusting.

“Pity you’re tied to him,” Kahler murmured, the brush of his thumb at Devin’s jaw skittering down her spine in an icy floe. “I imagine you could have been entertaining.”

Though Devin saw the flatness of his gaze, the utter lack of interest in his entire demeanor, the parting shot wasn’t meant for her. Rey jerked Devin back, but Kahler’s steady stride was already carrying him away.

Releasing her breath on a shaky sigh, she pried Rey’s hands from her to stumble in an exhausted stupor towards the bedroom. Weaving her way through bodies marching their way towards their ordered posts, she just wanted the quiet sanctuary of the one place no one else dared to go.

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