Niko approached her and dropped to one knee. His face was the same, but something was different about him. Not his strong bone structure nor the Mage light that sparkled in the depths of his almond-shaped eyes. Gem didn’t know this man, and that revelation was staring her right in the face.
“Why did your light change when I asked if they hurt you?”
She blinked rapidly and gathered up the blanket. “It’s nothing. He put a cuff on my ankle that suppresses my gifts. It’s like I’m mortal again.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He leaned forward like a knight kneeling before a queen. “Don’t lie to me, Gem. I can read the deception in your light.”
She tugged the blanket onto her lap. “He drowned me in the pool.”
“Cyrus?”
“No. The other one. The one who came in with you.”
Niko glowered. “Arcadius.”
“I guess it was the only way to keep me from flashing away or screaming for help. He lets me go where I want, but if I leave, he’ll hurt Hunter. I can’t, Niko. I just can’t have that on my conscience. Not unless they’re all dead, and I think he’s got more friends on the outside.”
“Indeed. Kallisto is unaccounted for. But if he plans to storm Keystone, he’ll have wolves to contend with.”
“What wolves?”
The door was kicked open, and Lykos appeared. “Cyrus demands your presence, Nikodemos.Now.”
When Lykos walked off, Niko spoke quietly. “Comply with his wishes, Gem. Stay out of sight, and do not meddle in his conversations or business. Cyrus is unpredictable and merciless when provoked.”
“What’s your plan?”
“I have none.”
She shot to her feet and gave an exasperated sigh. “If you won’t give him the book, then why did you come? Why did you give yourself over to him as a slave, knowing he wouldn’t release me?”
Niko stood up and bowed before turning away to leave the room. “To protect you.”
Chapter 17
Christian bristled when he thought about Raven in that jail cell. Not only was Keystone a man down, but they’d left her behind. Fifteen days was a blink of an eye, and they would probably be done with this mission long before that. But it still vexed him.
Viktor had banished the twins to the bedroom in the back, but Christian heard their ears rubbing against the door. He tuned out all the childish whispering to give this shitebag kidnapper his undivided attention.
Carol and her so-called boyfriend were sitting on the sofa behind the driver’s seat, her hand clutching his. Shepherd focused on the road, but Blue was watching them with a hawkish stare from the passenger seat.
Christian nudged Viktor, who was staring at the wee lass like a disappointed father put in charge of punishment. “If I can’t scrub the eejit, at least let me charm him for information.”
“I said I’ll talk,” the boy grumbled. Boy. Nowtherewas a word that didn’t seem to fit. Shifters often matured quickly after their first change, so the ones capable of shifting were easy to spot. “I have nothing to hide.”
“No, you just have something to steal,” Claude said from the seating area adjacent to him. He sat on the side facing the kids, his arms folded and feet resting on the opposite bench. Christian didn’t usually see Claude with such a baneful disposition. Shortly after recovering the pair on the side of the road, Claude had pinned the lad to the floor and threatened to disembowel him. Once he found out the kid was only sixteen, he backed off.
Reluctantly.
The plastic cover on the broken window rattled from the rushing wind outside. Blue had secured it with duct tape and shut the broken blinds to keep the vehicle warm. Apparently Viktor hadn’t secured one with good heating.
Viktor glanced at his watch. He looked like a Russian agent in his black turtleneck and cargo pants, which he’d changed into shortly after leaving the jail. Christian had never seen the man in pants like that, not to mention the hiking shoes, so he had a feeling they would be ditching the RV soon.
“What is your name?” Viktor asked.
“Joshua Salsbury.”
“Like the steak?” Shepherd asked, an unlit cigarette wedged between his lips.
