“We’ve given Command the evidence of more Vampires being held at the compound where my brother died,” Daniel snapped. “The prisoners had hidden things in the fucking wall. Andsomeoneknew Zeke had a mate, considering they came after Charlesmore than once.”
“We’ve been a step behind,” Uncle Dalton replied apologetically.
Daniel stood silently next to me, practically thrumming with anger.
They were having a staring contest. On Uncle Dalton’s side, he seemed to be observing how my mate would react, his body tight in preparation. From Daniel, all I could see was frustrated rage in his eyes. The longer the silence dragged on, the tighter I was wound, until I felt my body preparing to spring into action. Something was going to happen, and I had a very strong feeling that it wouldn’t be good.
“I’m cold,” I announced abruptly, adding a dramatic shiver for good measure.
Daniel turned toward me and immediately put his arm around my shoulders, like I’d known he would.
These mates were so predictable.
“Let’s get you back inside,” he said as Uncle Dalton shot me a give-me-a-break look.
He disappeared inside the house as Daniel led me toward the front door.
“We’ve been doing what we can to get to the bottom of it,” I told him softly.
“You shouldn’t be connected to this at all.”
“But I am,” I reminded him, making his arm tighten. “So we just need to figure out where we go from here.”
“You’re going nowhere. I’ll take care of it.”
I froze, my feet digging into the boards of the porch as he tried to urge me inside.
“Try again,” I ordered flatly.
“You have no idea what these?—”
“You’re joking, right?” I asked, glaring. “Was it someone else who followed you through the woods tonight? Because I’m pretty sure it was me.”
“That couldn’t be helped.”
“You could’ve told me to stay in the car with Charles.”
“Idid,” he barked. “You didn’t fucking listen.”
“But you expect me tonow?”
“We can discuss this later.”
“Right, you don’t want the rest of them to hear me tell you to shove it,” I said with a huff.
“No,” he argued, his voice rising. “I’d like to fucking enjoy the fact that Ifoundmy mate—which is a godsdamned miracle—for half a second before I have to obsess over the fact that she has no sense of self-preservation.”
My dad’s bark of laughter filtered through the open doorway.
I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut and sailed back into the house.
Everyone was back in the same places we’d left them. I dropped onto the couch and leaned against the arm, and let my dad’s slippers fall off my feet so I could tuck them in beside me. When Daniel sat down, he was so close that my feet were wedged between his back and the couch.
I wiggled my toes, just to be annoying. He ignored it.
“If Arthur wouldn’t have lied, we could’ve been working together for months,” he announced flatly.
“This is off-book,” Uncle Dalton replied, leaning back in his seat. “He came to me personally. If there’s someone in Command that’s leaking secrets, he can’t use anyone connected.”
