“You’ve got your work ahead of you with convincing Ronan he’s a dragon. Is he still planning to return to work?” Ionus asked.
“Nope,” I popped the ‘p’. “He notified Mable and she was in complete agreement. Said she would’ve called me right away to come and get him if he showed up. She’s got cameras going up around the diner today, inside and out.”
“Good call. Make sure she ties them in with Larson’s program.”
“Already happening. She used his team to install them.” Ionus nodded, clearly pleased with that decision.
“Brothers, the Gorynych have become far too brazen in their quest to take us out. They were too close to our homes.”And the stones, brothers.They cannot reach our life sources,he mentally sent to the four of us. “Raven is increasing the wards. I’m just thankful one of the existing spells was strong enough to block the entrance to our tunnels from the mountainside.”
“Ionus, how did they even locate the area near our compound?” Quint asked, but I already knew the answer before Ionus said it.
“Marge.”
“Shit,” Caro growled. “I know exact coordinates weren’t in the area of the database she utilized, but I’m sure she figured out the general vicinity of our compound and pointed them in that direction.”
“We’ll resume regular surveillance shifts immediately. Larkin has his team working around the clock too.” It was rare that Ionus missed even the smallest of details, so there was no way this near hit wasn’t eating him alive.
“Include us as well in your patrol schedule, Ionus,” Baird offered his team up. “I’m only sorry we weren’t here when all ofthis went down. From now on, when we’re following leads we’ll leave at least two men behind.”
“Thank you, Baird, we appreciate that. Let’s do half your team in town with Larkin’s and the others here with us. My brothers and I will rotate between both as well. Raven’s coven is strengthening the wards in town as we speak. The only problem with doing so is that we really lose the ability to follow one of them out.”
“We’ve dead-ended on every lead. It’s like they get so far then poof, they’re gone,” Angus added in his heavy Scottish brogue. “If they have mages as strong as ours, then they, too, are well protected.”
“Aye,” Baird agreed. “We need one of the prisoners to crack.”
“On it,” I rose, ready to play the ‘how much pain can they take before they snap’ game.
“Sit,” Ionus demanded. “You are the last one we’ll send there, I’ll handle this. Baird, would you care to join me?”
He cracked his knuckles. “Been a while since I got to play.”
“I like your style,” I winked at Baird.
Ionus shook his head, clearly done with me, but I was in too good of a mood to care. “Mattias, can you touch base with Clan Tempest?”
“Aye.”
“Take Caro with you. We need to travel in pairs at minimum, understood?”
That was one order from Ionus I agreed with. Well, I mostly agreed with everything, but where was the fun in letting him know that?
Odem, that woman is here again in my home.
Our home and what woman?
That one who wants to poke and prod me and my eggs.
Our eggs. Raven?
Yes, that one.
On the way.
“Gentlemen, I must excuse myself. It appears our High Priestess has paid my mate a visit.” And it might include a curse if Ronan didn’t learn to respect her.
“Good morning, or is it afternoon?” I glanced at my watch. “Good afternoon, Raven. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“I wanted to examine Ronan and the eggs again. He didn’t allow much time during our last visit for me to provide you with a general timeframe for their delivery.” Raven was clearly exasperated with Ronan, who stood in full attitude drag. Arms across his chest, bitchy scowl on his face. Goddess, this man was hot.
