Page 20 of Flirting with Death

It was strange to see how Brook's guys and my guys interrogated each other. Lex and Alastor seemed to have no issue getting into the thick of it with Auberon, Lumi, and Caspian. While Raiden and Bellamy held themselves away from the group, Kellan did his strong, silent mountain imitation as he watched Brook with hungry eyes. Raiden and Kellan might get along eventually with them both being able to shift to dragons, not that Kellan was an actual shifter.

"Got it!" Lumi cheered as Caspian pinned down a spot on the map. Bellamy pushed away from the wall to see the location.

"What is he doing at the mall?" I asked, lifting my attention from the area they marked.

"Buying clothes?" Alastor asked.

"He hasn't been in the mortal world in years," Bellamy said. "How accurate is this spell?"

A tendon jumped in his jawline, and his eyes blazed bright red. I wanted to soothe him, but I was sure he wouldn't be himself until after his dad knew he was alive and was no longer trying to kill me.

"He could go after Sam's family to use as bait," Alastor said. When all eyes turned to him, he shrugged. "It's what I'd do."

"Well, he won't find them at the mall," I replied.

"Isn't it your parents' anniversary soon? What if your dad is doing some shopping?" Raiden asked. My stomach dropped, and chills ran down my spine. I stood as still as a statue as I held back the dread that he might be right. Glancing at a clock, I realized it was mid-morning already. How had the time gone so fast? If we left now, we could intercept Bellamy's dad, and then none of it would matter.

"It is."

CHAPTER 13

Raiden

Samantha swiped a message out on her cell. Her focus was completely on the small piece of technology she gripped like a lifeline. I knew the moment that her dad replied. Her shoulders tensed ever so slightly, the smallest crease of stress ran above her nose and between her eyes. When she lifted her eyes, I was ready for her confirmation. The need to protect her from any more hurt thrummed through my veins as my heart beat so hard it felt like it rattled the cage that held it.

"He is at the mall. Brook, can you use the tablets to get there?" She eyed the stone tablets that were laying on the table as if they weren't powerful Fae magic.

Brook shared a look with Auberon before she shook her head no. "I can't use them during the day where anyone could see," she said, sadness laced each word.

Samantha's shoulders sagged, and she nodded her acceptance, even though I could see she didn't want to. Lifting my arm, I ran my fingers over her upper back. She leaned against me, her warmth seeping into my side for a moment, before she straightened and typed out a quick text to her dad again. Telling him he needed to leave, before the message even sent completely, she had snagged up her jacket and headed for the exit.

"Where are you going?" Lex asked. He was as focused on her as I had been and, like me, he already knew the answer to that question.

Cerberus trotted along beside her like he was her pet now and not the God's. She paused with her hand on the knob and tossed a look over her shoulder.

"The mall," she said and disappeared out the door. The room was a flurry of motion as everyone moved after her.

"Sam," Brook called after her. "Wait."

"Brook, it's fine. I understand the rules, but I still need to get to my dad. He's not like us. He can't defend himself against the King of Demons."

Bellamy caught up to her and said something too low for me to catch. The bright sun blinded us as we piled out into the empty industrial street in front of the club.

"We have a portal room close to here. It can get us most of the way across town," Caspian said. "If the mall is the one over by the museum, that is."

"Why didn't you say something?" Sam asked, throwing him a look.

A slow grin slid across Lumi's face as he watched the exchange. Cerberus growled in Caspian's direction. Alastor watched with an impassive look on his face. I knew the guy had feelings for Samantha, but I couldn't read him, which meant I didn't fully trust him. How could I trust the son of Hades?

"We're wasting time," Bellamy barked. "I know my father, and he might capture her dad as bait, but that doesn't mean torture won't be involved. He only needs him still breathing."

The color drained from Sam's face at his words. They might be true, but they were harsh. Auberon led the way to the portal room, which wasn't far from the club. We entered a large room with three white pillars standing in the middle of them. Nothing else was in the cavernous area. Kellan stepped up to the stones and ran his hand along the side of the first, repeating the step with each of them, before a swirling cloud appeared in the middle. It wasn't like the ones I've been through in the past, this one you couldn't see the other side, you had to step through blind.

Before anyone could stop her, Samantha was gone.

"Shit," I cursed. I'd seen this side of her in the past, determined and single-minded focus. I basically launched myself through the surface, tumbling to the ground on the other side. My head spun for a few seconds before I could focus on the room.

Empty.

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