“You sound awake to me,” he quipped back, knowing full well his friend did not sound like he’d just woken up.
“You know you’re a pain in my ass!” There was a chuckle. “What do you want?”
“Some solid ideas on how to capture a magic user so I can get my hands on her to kill her.” When Conrad answered, he kept his eyes on Kylo, wanting him to see how seriously he was taking this. The sex they’d had was to give Kylo a way to vent his anger, which could eat at a person’s soul if left to fester. Kylo’s frustration had been growing inside him for a long time, and it wasn’t healthy.
“At least you’re specific. You need to trap her by luring her to you.” There was the sound of rubbing on the speaker as if he was shifting position. “Is this the woman that is the daughter of Devil?”
“Yep, I take it Duron updated you?”
“He did. I’m at his house. Beaumont invited me to come and stay for a day or two and check out their new pad. Place is awesome.”
Ekon said the latter with a little less enthusiasm. Conrad got it. Things had changed when Ajani mated with Marvin. It shifted the balance between them all. Now, they were no longer the tight-knit group they’d once been. “It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride for sure, everyone moving out. Just think, you get the house to yourself. You hated how much of a mess I left lying around anyway.”
“It’ll be lonely.”
Those three words cut at Conrad’s hidden, soft heart. “Not if you get your butt out of the council’s sling, and go searching for your mate.”
“You think I’ll be lucky, too?”
Hope slayed him. “I do. You’ll need to come to Paraguay, too. Check out the place Kylo and I chose… ohhhh, maybe one of his brothers is your mate.”
“Let’s hope not, you wouldn’t want to be tied to their miserable asses,” Kylo chipped in, laughing at his own joke.
Ekon’s low, melodic laughter joined Kylo’s. “I might just do that.”
“Be warned, they’re a little OTT.” Kylo play punched his arm. “What? It’s the truth, they are. Anyway, let’s get back on track. How do I go about luring Selina? Any tips?”
~/~/~/~
Conrad listened as Kylo, the following morning, ran through the conversation with James and then Ekon’s suggestions.
“So basically, you’re telling us we need to turn ourselves into targets?” Mao rubbed at his jaw, his eyes all cat.
“No, what I said was that I would go about my normal life digging into everything that is connected to Selina’s world, while not going after Devil. From what we’ve experienced already, that will make her come after me. Y’all will stay put and protect Mom and Dad.”
“Do we have any say in this?” Kylo’s mom wore a look that didn’t require any words. She was mightily pissed.
Conrad reached out and took hold of one of her hands, bringing her attention to him. “We can’t do this, Kylo and me, if we’re worrying about her coming for you.”
The sincerity he offered was real. Kylo’s parents were accepting, and his mom was loving. Conrad now understood better than ever the importance to not only Kylo’s life but his. He’d do anything to protect that.
“Your home right now is completely safe. She can’t get to you here, making this house the best place for you. With your sons here defending your home, it gives Kylo the headroom to act like he’s not worried about what Selina is up to. That she’s nothing more than a minor inconvenience. From what we’ve seen so far, as Kylo explained, that is her Achilles heel—she hates the thought of being ignored. And right now, she has no one to hide behind, to allow her to pretend, and that makes her vulnerable.
“Ekon was clear. Magic users, if you know their vulnerability, then you attack that. We know Selina’s, and it’s Devil. She’s used him for so long, she doesn’t know how to act now, and she’s unraveling and needs for us to find him.”
“That makes her more dangerous.”
Conrad squeezed the hand he held gently, the fear coming from Kylo’s mom almost tangible. “It does. I won’t lie. I’ve felt her magic. I know I can survive an attack. Kylo… he needs me to take her down and end this, so I swear on my life, I will be there to protect him from her. I couldn’t imagine a world without Kylo in it. I won’t let her take that from me.”
Oh, fuck, Conrad!
His attention remained on Kylo’s mom as a tear rolled down her cheek. She pulled back, forcing Conrad to let go of her hand.
Shit!
She got up and came to him, cupping his cheeks gently, staring deep into his eyes. Aware everyone was watching them, Conrad kept his eyes from straying. “You are a precious boy. And the world would be a much worse place without you in it.”
She glanced at Kylo. “The Fates blessed you. I expect both of you, when this is over to be sitting at my table, to discuss where you plan on living.” She turned and kissed both of Conrad’s hot cheeks and then returned to her seat. “Boys, you’re looking after me and your father,” her hand lifted as Nori opened his mouth, “There will be no arguing over this. Kylo and Conrad need to concentrate on Selina. End of discussion.”
