“Scrub his memories,” I suggested. “And make him believe he’s a sheep Shifter.”
“That was my idea. The erasing, not the sheep. But I like where you’re going with that.”
Viktor shook his head. “We will do no such thing. He is a child, and we will turn him over to his family or Council.”
I leaned back, still gripping the bars. “So you’re taking him where we’re going? Isn’t that a security breach?”
Viktor sighed and tugged on his turtleneck collar. “I have not planned that far ahead. I cannot release him since he knows too much, and we have not completed our mission. It would also be remiss of me to set free someone who could follow and bring even greater danger. I have no choice. Perhaps the compound will take him in.”
“Against his will? If he escapes, he’ll know too much.”
“We must tread carefully when it comes to children,” Viktor cautioned me. “Breed laws protect all children under the age of eighteen. If he were just a few years older, we could take any action necessary.”
I lowered my head, frustrated that I couldn’t go with them.
“Do not blame yourself, Raven. Your sacrifice saved a child. One must prepare for the unexpected, and this is why I included so many on this mission.”
“For feck’s sake, Viktor. We can’t just leave her here to rot.”
“I have no choice,” he said matter-of-factly. “The children come first. It is only for fifteen days. I know you two are in relations now, but we had an understanding. If you cannot perform your duties because of separation, I have no place for you on my team.”
I let go of the bars. “Viktor’s right. I’ll stake you myself if you stay. And who knows? Maybe I’ll get on his good side and Barnes will let me out on good behavior.”
Christian tipped his head to the side. “And maybe unicorns will fly out of my arse.”
Viktor reached through the bars and gripped my shoulder. “I will call my contact and see what I can do to release you. But we are going to an area where our phones may not work. I have a satellite phone to keep in touch with Wyatt, so if you are released early, call him. He might be able to give you directions if I think you are close enough to rejoin us. But be prepared to go home.” Viktor withdrew his arm.
“It’s fine. I don’t want to hold you guys up. Just keep an eye on Joshua. If they tried running off once, they’ll do it again.”
“Claude put fear into the boy. No one wants an angry Chitah tracking them. I will try once more to speak with the officer.” Viktor shook his head, looking conflicted. “I have no choice.”
“I understand,” I said convincingly, even though deep down, I wanted them to break me out of here. But that would bring a hell of a lot more trouble, not to mention jeopardizing the mission. “Fifteen days isn’t that bad. I’ve got a roof over my head and all the privacy a woman could want. I’m just glad we got Carol back.”
Viktor nodded and disappeared out the door.
Christian gripped the bars and rested his forehead against them. “I could break these into a million pieces.”
I sidled over and put my hands on his. “Don’t even try it. That cop will stake you and put you in the next cell. Look, I’ll be fine. Probably a lot safer than you guys. Viktor needs to know we’re serious about this job, so you have to stay focused.”
“I’ll have you know this ruins my plans to flatten you on top of the trailer while going sixty down the highway.”
I stood on my tiptoes and wanted to touch noses with him like I’d seen Carol and Joshua do, but all I could do was rest my head against the bars. What was fifteen days? Eventually Viktor would send one of us on a three-month assignment. We couldn’t let separation divide us, no matter the length of time.
But damn if it didn’t feel like an amputation of my heart. I wanted to be with him, protect him and help the team.
“I can scrub his memories,” Christian offered on a breath, his eyes closed. “He’ll never feel a thing.”
“Stay out of trouble. I’ll figure something out.”
“That’s enough,” Officer Barnes snapped from the doorway. “Get a move on. I’ve got work to do.”
Christian’s eyes locked with mine, and he kept holding the bars as he stepped back. I knew how devoted this man was to me. He’d tattooed a raven on his body, for crying out loud. But the look on his face—it reached deep down into my chest and seized my heart.
It was that feeling that he was mine, and I was his.
When he left the room, I heard him say, “If you mistreat her, I’ll hunt you down and remove your spine.”
That’s my Poe.
