Jen txt: Where are you? Are you safe?
Zara txt: I’m around the corner to the left of the basement door. The male and woman went right.
Jen txt: No one else was with them?
Zara txt: Nope.
Jen txt: Is Wadim with you?
Zara txt: Nope.
Jen txt: Stay put. We’re on our way to you.
Zara txt: Yep.
Jen txt: Are you in shock?
Zara txt: Nope.
Jen txt: You sound like my mate when he texts. It’s creepy. Stop it.
Zara couldn’t help but smile. Jen and Decebel’s texts were probably hilarious.
A couple minutes later, Zara saw Jen and Decebel, with Thia in his arms, coming down the hall. They weren’t running, but they were definitely walking with purpose.
Jen started talking the minute she reached Zara. “We’re going to check on Stelian and Marko. Dec said that’s who was guarding the door tonight. Then, Dec is going to take you and mini-me to the archives. Vasile has been made aware, and I’m sure he is putting guards at every entry point. Sally and Titus will join you and history boy, along with Slate and Rachel. Any questions?”
“No but you might want to know that the female who was with Skender is all for going on a killing spree,” Zara said, remembering what initially had made her scared.
Jen growled. “Let’s see how good she is at killing when her teeth have been ripped from her skull.”
“There will be no teeth ripping,” Decebel said in a voice that seemed much too calm a reaction to his bloodthirsty mate. He was walking toward the basement door still holding his daughter and not appearing nearly as worried as Zara felt the situation warranted.
“Fine, I’ll just rip her arms off and beat her with the bloody appendages.”
“Wow, you’re kind of scary,” Zara said as she followed the pair down the stairwell. “Remind me never to tick you off.”
“She thinks I’m scary,” Jen said, directing her comment to her mate.
Decebel glanced over his shoulder at her just before he pushed the bottom door open. “You’re utterly terrifying, and your enemies shake in their boots at the mere thought of you.”
Jen glanced at Zara. “Why do I feel like he isn’t taking me seriously?”
Zara held her hands up. “I’m not getting in the middle of that one. It’s bad enough that I’m going to have to explain to Wadim why I was out wandering the mansion at night while he was asleep.”
Jen grinned. “Yeah, have fun with that.”
“Zara,”Wadim’s voice sounded sleepy in her mind.
“Speak of the devil,” Zara muttered.
This time Jen laughed. “Woke up, did he?”
Zara nodded.“Wadim,”she said using the same curious voice he had.
“Why am I here and you are not?”
“Well, I couldn’t sleep, and you needed sleep and were sleeping so soundly. I didn’t want to disturb you, and I just needed to get some fresh air. But it turned out to be a good thing I was out and about because I caught Skender and his mate escaping from the basement.”
