“As long as you don’t drop me from a great height, we’ll be fine.”
Nori glanced between them in confusion. “Drop him?”
Conrad shrugged as Kylo blushed. “Let’s get on with this. Nori, Mao, and Felix wait for my signal, then get your backsides inside.”
Taking Kylo’s embarrassment into account, Conrad didn’t wait, and shifted into his rhino form, and put the large horn between his mate’s legs, being careful of his crown jewels.Ready?
As I’ll ever be.
With that confirmation, Conrad tossed him up and over the wall with enough force he could have brought the wall down if he’d touched it.
What the fuck! I said no flying or dropping,Kylo cried in his head.
Sorry.Conrad tried to sound contrite.I needed to get you high enough to get over the wall and through the wards.
When all there was but the faintest of thuds on the other side, Conrad’s rhino grinned at those around him, making them step back. Conrad didn’t let his rhino get offended and shifted into a monkey to clamber quickly up the wall and over the overside to see his mate already heading through the tree line towards the house.
Another swift change and Conrad chased after Kylo in cheetah form. At the house, Conrad looked back at Kylo, his cat smirking, before once more shifting, this time into his spider form. Kylo stared at him.
Whatever you do, don’t step on me!
There was a growling sound coming through their bond.Never. Now get in there and don’t get hurt.The next words warmed his soul.I’ll never forgive you if you leave me.
Conrad scurried over the concrete and up the first drainpipe he came to. He followed the sounds vibrating through the pipes that were voices, and female.
See, that was why no one could trust an assassin. There were three presences in the house. Two females. One had to be Selina. Conrad just knew it. His thoughts on the subject and what he knew about the assassin program all slotted together to make one very nasty surprise for his mates’ parents.
Anger registered as it buzzed against the hairs on his body. He picked up his pace when he felt Kylo’s concern.
Don’t do anything until I’m near. You hear me?Conrad warned his mate.
Chapter Fourteen
Kylo
In the distance, Kylo could hear his brothers arguing—a mass of words and hisses—but he didn’t have time to be worried about their concerns. They couldn’t get through the wards, and there wasn’t anything Kylo could do about it. He knew they were just as much concerned about him as they were about their parents. Kylo had his mate, and his parents in a house with a madwoman, and that just had to take precedence.
He crept as close as he dared, focused on the window where the sounds of talking from the people inside were the loudest. His heart beat faster as he heard the calm and measured tones of his mom. Raising five sons, she had a wealth of experience with stressful situations and always kept her cool.
Kylo’s eyes widened when he heard a female response.Selina can speak!In all the time he’d known her, the woman had never ever said a word out loud, so that was one hell of a shock.What else has she lied about?
Kylo had to hear what was being said. He knew his mate was slowly making his way into the room his parents were being held in. He’d felt Conrad’s brief measure of despair earlier and wondered what had triggered such a response. Then he wanted to hit himself—he was asking his mate to save his parents when Conrad didn’t have any of his own.It’ll be fine,Kylo decided. He had full confidence his mom would make up for Conrad’s lack in a very short time, much as she had with Teilo and Nico when they’d been introduced.
They had to work to get his mom and dad free first. Kylo strained to listen. The wards Selina had around the house played havoc with his senses and made his skin crawl. He could just hear his mom.
“Selina, sweet child, I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You look so stressed. Surely you know I’d do anything to help you if I can.”
“They took my family.” The words were sharp, but the tone was almost melodic, beautiful, enticing the listener to pay attention.
Another part of her training? Maybe she’s part siren?
“Who took your family, Selina dear? I have to confess, I didn’t think you had anyone but Roiu. You have to remember, my husband and I have been traveling. Clearly, there are things that have happened which caused your distress. Did you go to Kylo about this?
“Kylo!” Outside, Kylo winced at the explosive sound. “He’s part of the problem, don’t you see? Bringing in the others…” Tilting his head, Kylo got the impression from the way the sound waves were moving that Selina was pacing.
“He brought in the abominations. They killed my brothers. They took my father, and now your Kylo keeps him from me.”
“That is so very sad.” Kylo’s mom was still so calm, and Kylo loved her for it, even through his worry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a family, child, and to lose them is a terrible thing to go through. I’m so sorry for your loss. But you’re not being very clear. How is my son keeping your father away from you? Is your father in jail for some reason? Only I’m sure Kylo could…”
