“Do you have a problem with that?” he retorts, an all too familiar tick tightening his jaw as he glowers at me.
My hands curl into fists at my sides, frustration getting the better of me, but despite my desire to tell him to go fuck himself so I can get the stench of blood off me, I nod.
“I haven’t needed help before, Jude,” Walker grunts, folding his arms over his chest, revulsionflaring in his eyes as he cuts his gaze between the two of us.
Anger boils across my brother’s face, reddening his cheeks before he parts his lips, words exploding from his mouth. “Am I not the one in charge here?” he rages, nostrils flaring as he snaps and snarls. The energy dips in the room, the taste of death already flickering across my brother’s tongue.
“Of course, Jude. We’ll go now,” I murmur, pressing my hands against my t-shirt to wipe them off, only to come up bloodier than before.
“Don’t ever question me again,” he warns Walker, a vein pulsing at his temple, but I don’t hang around long enough to find out what else might come.
I only make it two steps before I realize I have no idea where we’re going. Tilting my attention to Walker, I find him in the same spot, but his eyes are tracking me. Wordlessly, he follows after me, but quickly takes the lead.
Remaining a step behind him, I try to pretend that I can’t hear the squelch of my bloody shoes as we head to the right.
Subordinates.
He means captives.
He means Elodie’sparents.
This is a good thing.
Taking the stairs at the end of the hall, I find a steel, bolted door standing alone at the bottom, but before I reach it, Walker turns, slamming a clipboard against my chest with more force than necessary.
I don’t care to ask where the hell it appeared from; I’m too pissed at his continuous attempt to show dominance. I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind until I tilt the clipboard around to see the sheet of paper awaiting my attention.
It’s a list of the subordinates.
My gaze wildly dances across the sheet, soaking in the information on display. Each line comes with a set of initials, a number that’s been assigned to them, their powers, and the abilities they offer.
Truth teller.
Earth shifter.
Portal master.
With one sweep of my eyes over the list, it’s clear he’s only imprisoning those with great power, those who offer more than the already extraordinary powers that come with being a vampire or a wolf. Of course he would want Elodie among the mix, but if what Thorne said is true, if her mother was a scythe, why need another?
My mind swirls with questions, but before I can fall down the rabbit hole of mystery that surrounds Jude, I try to recall the names of Elodie’s parents.
Odie and Elle, or was it Ellie?
Regardless, it might be possible to find them by their abilities or supernatural naming.
The hiss of the door unlocking clicks through the air, distracting me from the list, only to widen enough to reveal the subordinates on the other side.
My heart hammers in my chest. My brother has never allowed me to see this.
Ever.
He must be close to thinking he’s got it all figured out if he’s willing to reveal his captives to me. Either that or he trusts me.
Regardless, the door continues to creak open, revealing a confined space.
There are far too many people stuffed into such a tight area, but none of them seem mad about it. It’s as if they’ve grown used to their situation.
My gut clenches. Is this where he put Elodie when she was here?
