“Panaal is not the devil. He’s the balance, the equal and opposite of Hecate. The goddess has abused her position for far too long, intervened on behalf of the witches, fae, and shifters who do her bidding. But demons, dragons, and vampires are gathering in numbers, coming together to advance the cause of their forgotten cultures and traditions. They will avenge their ancestors. They will take back this world for their progeny.”
“This again? When are you going to drop this idea that you can unite the supernatural communities under common rulership? It can’t be done.”
“Look at me, wolf. Do I look like I’m in any condition to unite supernaturals? Oh, no. You should wish it were still my goal to do so. Our friend Alex has found an advocate in Panaal and the forces he is engaging are far more powerful than I ever was.”
“But still focused on the subjugation of humans?”
She jutted her chin toward him. “The suppression of supernatural power is a trend whose heyday is over. Panaal knows this and is ready to turn the tides.”
“And Alex is his tool for making it happen?”
The corners of her mouth curled in smug satisfaction.
“But how? I can’t imagine Hecate would be keen on this idea.”
She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes.
“Now is not the time to clam up.” He reached into his backpack and squeezed the heart inside. Every machine in the room went haywire as Nickelova’s body bucked off the bed, her eyes rolling back in her head. He released the heart, and she flopped onto the sheets, fragile limbs splayed like a fallen bird.
Although her eyes were closed, she laughed softly. “Go ahead and kill me. Get it over with.”
Staring at her, lying there like a heap of skin and bones, he was tempted to do as she asked. She’d hurt his pack, almost killed his family, and helped Alex, his mortal enemy. It would feel good to watch her die. But she was useless to him dead.
There was more she was keeping from him. A key piece of information. Namely how Alex planned to raise the underworld, why he brainwashed a vampire into committing suicide, and most importantly, why he was waiting to attack. Alex must have healed by now. He obviously had help and power. So why hadn’t the other shoe dropped?
Silas examined the dragon heart in his hands. The ancient tomes Selene had found on the subject of using it were hazy and lacking. But his gut told him that Nickelova had more to fear than death from the thing in his hands. For her to beg for death, it must be more powerful than she was letting on.
“Sit up, Nickelova.” The sharp command emanated from deep within him, deeper than his lungs or his voice.
There was a moment of hesitation, and then her body shook violently. She jackknifed off the mattress. “Fuck you,” she said through her teeth.
Silas squinted at her. “Interesting. You were hoping to die. Hoping I wouldn’t figure this out. It’s not pain you respond to; it’s intent. It takes more than a simple request. You have to know what you want before you ask. I’m an alpha werewolf. I have loads of experience with intent. Every alpha command requires it. Now, pick up your fork and eat everything on that tray.”
Her hand slapped the bedside table as if she was a marionette and someone else was pulling her strings. She awkwardly fisted her fork and brought a trembling bite to her lips. Sheer horror flitted through her expression, her throat swallowing as if the motion was involuntary.
Silas grinned. “You will take care of yourself, Nickelova. You will remain safe and eat and drink your fill. And you will grow healthier. You’re no good to me dead.”
“You bastard,” she said between bites. A piece of meat tumbled from her lips onto her lap.
“Careful. You wouldn’t want to have to eat that off the floor.” He backed toward the door. “I’ll see you in a few days. I bet by then you’ll be feeling much better.” He slipped into the corridor, her screams of anguish following him.
Chapter Sixteen
Any serious endeavor at investigation started with an effective crime map. Fortunately for Silas, Meredith had set up a corkboard along half his office wall and covered it with every contact Silas, Jason, or Laina had had with Alex or one of his cronies. The apartment building in the vampire district, the crime scene outside of Carlton City, Copper Herald Health & Wellness, and ZeroHour.
“Don’t forget the Four Paws parking lot.” Laina rubbed her stomach as if she was already guarding the baby inside. Her hand circled the small mound of her lower abdomen. Was it only his imagination or did she already look pregnant? Kyle rubbed her shoulders, hovering protectively.
“Whoever stabbed Laina could change his or her appearance to look like Nickelova,” Kyle said. “That’s a clue, isn’t it?”
“Did Nickelova actually say Alex was going to raise Panaal?” Selene asked.
“More or less. She said Alex was his tool. That his goal is to overthrow Hecate as the master of this world and turn the tables, unleashing the underworld.”
“Who else thinks it would be a bad idea to allow that to happen?” Jason raised one hand.
“Bad is the understatement of the year. It would be chaos,” Selene said. “War. Violent, bloody carnage until there was nothing left to eat or be eaten.”
“So… bad,” Jason said.
