His lids lowered in a curiously dangerous way. “Because I’m going in alone first. To negotiate.”
The breath caught in her throat. “For what?” she murmured, already knowing the answer.
“For your release.”
Chapter 10
When the King of the Realm was pissed, the world darkened. Literally. Outside the Oregonian lodge serving as Realm headquarters, black clouds rolled above while thunder bellowed. Hail the size of golf balls assaulted the earth, pummeling buildings and vehicles.
Dage must be seriously angry.
The storm suited Talen Kayrs and his current mood. A desperation only a father could feel hollowed him out until he could barely breathe. A demon had taken his baby girl. On his watch. He sat at the round conference table, facing the most dangerous warriors in existence. Family. His brothers. “Any news?”
“No.” Frustration glittered a molten silver in Dage’s eyes. “No demands, and none of our sources have reported in with sightings of Janie.”
Garrett Kayrs sat to Talen’s left, anger vibrating off the young vampire. “You’re sure Zane took my sister?”
“Yes. After Dage shot him,” Talen ground out.
Dage nodded, steepling his fingers under his chin. “He’ll be weakened but should’ve been able to transport to his destination. Wherever that may be.”
Talen forced down bile. He was the strategic leader of the fucking Realm, and he needed to think. “Who the hell would’ve thought the bastard could teleport?”
Nobody answered him. Really, there was no answer.
He cleared his throat, falling back on training to keep from going insane. “The demons attacked the helicopters, and the second we fought back, the war escalated around the world. Even between the demons and the Kurjans.”
His younger brother, Conn, leaned forward. “About three hours after a multitude of skirmishes, all fire ceased between Kurjans and demons.”
Talen growled. “Which might mean Zane turned Janie over to the Kurjans in exchange for an alliance.”
Jase, the youngest Kayrs brother, rubbed his chin. “Yeah, but the demons want Janie dead. They’ve always called for her death, so if Zane is working with Suri, he wouldn’t have turned her over to Kalin. He would’ve, ah, killed her, which I don’t think happened. It couldn’t have happened.”
“Right. If the demons had killed her,” Kane, the brilliant brother, said quietly, “then the Kurjans wouldn’t have stopped attacking the demons. They stopped fighting for some reason. She has to be alive and being held as a bargaining chip. Either between them or against us—probably both. Hopefully Zane will make contact soon.”
“So where the hell is she?” Max, Janie’s bodyguard and honorary uncle, hissed. He shoved away from the table—a massive vampire alight with fury. “I need something to charge.”
They all needed a target.
Garrett drummed his fingers on the table. “There’s always a possibility Zane took her to safety. Out of the way of whatever the demons and Kurjans were planning.”
Talen concealed a wince at the hope in his son’s statement. “True.”
“Besides, Janie can fight. She’s excellent,” Garrett said.
Max turned and punched a wall. Sheetrock exploded around the room. “Zane is a demon-vampire hybrid. That kind of power is unparalleled.” Max flexed his fingers, eyeing his dust-covered knuckles. “Janie is . . . human.”
He might as well have saidbreakable. Talen exhaled slowly to keep from exploding. “Jane is smart, she’s psychic, and she’s determined. Be ready for her to get word to us.”
“We’re ready to move on demand,” Conn said quietly. He stood. “I’ll go make sure the forces are suited up.” He, Kane, Jase, and Max left the room.
Dage eyed Talen. “You okay?”
“No. You?” Talen ground out.
“No.” Dage flattened his palms on the onyx table, his hands vibrating. “How’s your mate holding up?”
Rage poured through Talen. “Not well. Cara and your mate are meditating, trying to find Janie in a dream world.” It was a long shot, considering only Janie, Zane, and Kalin had ever been able to enter the dream world. But his mate had to do something to get her daughter back.
