Fear was a new feeling for Athan, one he couldn’t quitegrasp as he tunneled through the streets of Buffalo in the SUV, careeningaround other cars and pushing the vehicle to its limit. “I can’t believe it,”he muttered.
His grandfather looked out the window, his gun at the ready,his body tense. “Agreed.”
Athan took a sharp left as the storm increased in force, andhe had to flip on the windshield wipers. “There was one exit. It was anelevator on the parking level.”
“I’m aware,” his grandfather said, glancing at his phone.“Take the next right.”
“We had guards stationed at the elevator,” Athan muttered.“Good ones. Protective ones. They should have been safe.”
“They were safe. Next left.”
Athan jerked the wheel sharply to the left. “I can’t believethey knocked out the guards.”
His grandfather sighed. “Me, either. I have to admit, Ithought we left them secure. Next right.”
Athan yanked the wheel to the right and then glanced at hisgrandfather. “Aren’t you angry?”
“Sure. Next left.”
Athan shook his head. It was one thing for Ivy and Leah togo off into danger, but to involve his grandmother? It was just too much. “I’msorry about this, Gramps.”
His grandfather looked over, surprise in his blue eyes.“What do you mean? It was your grandmother who knocked out the guards.” Hewatched the screen. “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting her to do somethinglike that now that we’re back at war. Last year, sure. But I don’t think sherealizes the danger she’s in.”
Athan shook his head and punched the gas even harder. “Idon’t think either of them realizes the danger they’re in.”
“You haven’t even met Baston,” Cathal murmured. “I really doneed to kill that asshole.”
While Athan hadn’t met Baston, he had been trained since thetime he could walk to know that the Kurjan was their enemy and he’d come afterthem someday. The day had come. “Apparently, I haven’t explained things wellenough to Ivy.”
“We’ll get them back, and you can explain things later.” Hisgrandfather rubbed the whiskers along his hard jaw. “You know they went to meetLeah. Maybe it’s time we brought her back into the fold. I know Jasper wouldappreciate it.”
“Oh, that’s definitely the plan.” Athan shook his head. “Ihonestly thought that after last night, Ivy would be more...” He had to turnthe windshield wipers up higher.
His grandfather threw back his head and laughed. “More what?Agreeable? Pliable? Submissive?”
“Well, yeah,” Athan muttered.
His grandfather laughed harder. “I’ve been mated for thirtyyears shy of three thousand years. They don’t get more pliable through themillennia, son. Believe me.”
“That’s probably why you have a tracker on Grams,” Athanmuttered, taking the next left.
His grandfather snorted. “That’s exactly why I have a trackeron her. Funny thing is, she has no idea.”
“She’s about to,” Athan said. A wave of electricity hit him,and he eased up on the gas, his senses flaring. “Did you get that?”
“Yeah. Pull over.”
Athan rolled to a stop beneath several worn and tired-lookingtrees, all missing their leaves. What a depressing place. “How far are we?”
“We’re less than a mile.”
Panic tried to take hold, and Athan shoved it down, goingstone-cold. “I sense at least three Kurjans.”
“Me, too.” Cathal lost the lazy indulgence in his eyes nowthat he’d also scented the Kurjans. “This was funny when we were just dealingwith humans. Now, it’s serious. Those two never should’ve left safety.”
“Are the Kurjans on us, or have we come upon them?” Athanasked.
His grandfather paused and shut his eyes as if reaching out.“I can’t tell.”
