Everything inside Athan chilled. Stone-cold, pure ice. “Arewe sure?”
“We’re sure. There was a fight outside of Butte, Montana theother day. He’s back.”
Athan settled into battle mode, plans forming in his head.“That means they’re on the move, but it doesn’t truly affect us. Who was in thefight?”
“It looks like the Realm, but they didn’t kill him, and itdoesaffect us. Rumor has it the leader of the Kurjans was killed.”
Athan jerked, the battle plans instantly changing. “Dayne isdead?” Apparently, the time of their truce was over.
“Affirmative,” Klyde said grimly. “That means Baston is offhis leash.”
Damn it. Sure, Athan knew the time would come, but he’d beenhoping for another century or two before the Maxwell clan went back to war.
Klyde cleared his throat. “Since Ulric is back, the physicsof this plane should return to normal. I mean, it should be harder and not soeasy to morph shifters into werewolves, right?”
“Maybe,” Athan muttered. “Who knows?” It’d be nice to stophunting the weres all the time, especially since they now needed to hunt downBaston and his nephews if they wouldn’t adhere to any treaty—which theywouldn’t.
“Who’s the Realm?” Ivy asked. “And who was Dayne and who isBaston?”
Klyde looked at her, nodded at Athan, and then shut the dooras he left.
Well, this changed everything.
“The Realm is a coalition of immortal species including vampires,demons, and shifters. While we don’t align with them, we are allies,” he said, wishinghe could protect her from this. Perhaps he should have told her all of thisearlier, but he wanted her to at least have one or two good lifetimes beforewar came knocking on their door. “Dayne was the leader of the Kurjans, andBaston is one of his top soldiers. Kurjans are the worst species on theplanet—I think they live for war.”
She paled. “I’ve never met a Kurjan.”
“You’d know it if you had,” he said. “They’re taller than uswith black hair tipped with red, purple or red eyes, and very pale skin. Thesun used to kill them, but their scientists have worked hard to change that.”Yeah, he definitely should have explained all this to her earlier, but he’dwanted to protect her for as long as he could. “You have to know that thischanges everything.” He wanted to be gentle with her, but she had to realizethat life was different now.
She grimaced. “Why?”
“Because Dayne is dead, and any treaty we had with him isnow void. We had an agreement that while he was alive, Baston’s family and theMaxwells would stay out of each other’s way, mostly because we didn’t want todeal in a war, and Dayne had his hands full with handling problems with theRealm. Baston doesn’t care about the Realm and no doubt already has battleplans in place. Hunting season on the Maxwells has begun, and I’ll have to takehim out now.” He probably should’ve done it earlier, but Grams had insistedthey adhere to the treaty.
“Why? Why does this Baston want you dead?” she murmured.
“Same story as most wars—it’s about a woman. My grams, to beexact.” When she chose Athan’s grandfather over Baston, war and death hadensued. Athan stared at his woman. He had to keep her safe. “I hate to do it,sweetheart, but I’m going to have to lock you down.”
Chapter Seven
Ivy couldn’t believe it. She one hundred percent and withthe fury of a thousand suns could not believe that she was sitting in the backof a limo being forced to go to the airport—a private airport, no doubt. WhenAthan had said he was locking her down, he hadn’t meant in Los Angeles.Apparently, she was about to fly to his family’s safehold, wherever that mightbe.
Not that it mattered because she had most certainly notagreed to go dark.
Two vampire soldiers took positions in the front seat whileshe sat in the back, sipping a bottle of water. Athan had said he had businessto take care of and would meet her at his holdings within the day, and eventhen, he wouldn’t say where she was going.
Nor would he share details about his business, but surely ithad something to do with the killing of this mysterious Dayne of the Kurjans.The second Athan had heard the news, something had changed in him. She’d seenit—perhaps felt it.
But he was different. Although his calm strength would probablyalways be present, there was a razor-sharp intensity that all but cascaded offhim now. Apparently, hunting werewolves for him hadn’t required this muchstress.
He hadn’t stopped to listen to what she wanted...or neededfor even a second.
So now she sat in the back of a limo, trying to figure a wayout. She had a job to do, and she was running out of time.
He hadn’t even given her time to explain what she was goingto do and what her new job was, as it seemed he hadn’t figured that out yet.Score one for Leah. When she created a super-secret organization, she did itright. Ivy had been smart to go into business with her at this time. Now, shejust had to figure out a way to get there before their mark disappeared. They’dbeen hunting this guy for too long to let him get away now.
The driver turned down a private road that probably led toan airport used only by people in Athan’s world. She stared at the forestblanketing the sides behind tall metal fencing with barbed wire at the top. Nodoubt there were cameras everywhere. She could run once they reached theairplane hangar, but it was doubtful she’d get far.
A motorcycle roared somewhere in the distance, and sheperked up, her heart hammering. Was it the same attackers as before? Thesoldier in the passenger seat turned and craned his neck to see through theback window.
