“Then,” Cara jumped in, clapping for my attention, “he sees us! Watches us bathe. And the urges take over, making him a ravenous beast.” Their eyes fluttered shut like they could already feel him. “He ties us up, shoves our heads in the water, and fucks us so hard we almost pass out.”
The sigh they released was more befitting a fairytale ending than what they’d described, but that was Cara and Fashi for you.
“Interesting,” I said, holding back a laugh. “Love the detail. Does Mr. Langston know about this plan?” Better to check since the last thing I needed was another Mr. Hirsh incident.
“Yes, of course! He said he wanted a jungle vibe, and we ran with it.” They nodded, practically vibrating with anticipation.
If I let them keep talking, they’d monologue the whole damn scene for me, and I didn’t have the time or patience for that. Glancing at my watch, I knew if I wanted to catch most of the security team, I needed to go now before shift change.
“Girls, I need to check in with security, but you’re doing amazing. Keep up the good work.”
Van gave me a little bow when I winked his way, and my heart thumped as my pussy clenched with need.Later, I told myself. I had a lifetime with him now.
“It’s hardly work for us, boss,” Cara said, waving her hand.
“If rent wasn’t a thing, we’d do this for free!” Fashi called after me.
I shook my head with a laugh. “Girls,” I said, walking backward, “never do anything for free, even if you love it. It cheapens the product.”
They nodded like I’d just dropped sacred wisdom. Van chuckled behind me, leaning against the wall with a smirk. I shrugged. Nothing was free in this world—just ask my mates. They had to work hard for me, and we were fated.
I turned and went down the hallway to the security room, taking a breath before I stepped inside.
The hum of typing and low voices filled the space. Screens lined the walls, shifting views from camera to camera, and in the center, a large holographic map flickered with colored dots and miniature people in motion.
My father, Falcon, had created these mobile maps, combining wind magic and technology. They gave the layout of any building and tracked its inhabitants by species with color-coded blips.
When we came into power, Calix had upgraded it. Now, it displayed a mini version of the being and even let you know which direction they were looking. After this incident, he upgraded it again, taking it even further.
It had been turned into a bloodhound system using the magical samples I’d collected on every employee’s first day. Want to know where someone was? The air magic embedded in the map could read a person’s aura and match it to the samples on file. It was impressive.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?”
The room went still, and heads whipped toward me. Eyes widened. Bodies tensed. I didn’t visit often, as this was usually Alic’s domain, so when I did, they knew it was serious.
“I’m not one to beat around the bush,” I said clearly. “We found Glen, but he’s dead.”
Murmurs broke out instantly.
“Do you think he did it?”
“He’s a traitor. Hope he got a traitor’s death.”
“What’s she gonna do to his mom?”
“Who’s gonna tell Natalie?”
That last one gave me pause. My brows pinched until I remembered Natalie had come into my office once, asking to file dating paperwork for her and Glen. Van didn't mention it, and I hadn’t seen it in his file when I combed through his information. Was it removed? Usually, Van filed those things, so he wouldn’t have missed it.
Pulling out my phone, I texted Van, asking if he remembered her filing that paperwork with him, then I walked over to Ryan, Alic’s second-in-command.
The vampire was clean, composed to the bone. He showed little to no personality, making him perfect for the job. “I want to let Natalie know myself. Can you show me where she is right now?”
He gave a sharp nod, black hair unmoving as he typed the command.
The holographic map spun, scanning floor after floor with soft breezes of air magic, but nothing popped up.
Frowning, Ryan tried again—still nothing.
