Phoebe nodded, then turned back to Cassandra. “I’m asking you to trust me, Cassie. I swear you won’t regret it.”
Cassandra exchanged frowns with the Dark-Hunter and Kat. “I think we can trust her.”
Sasquatch glanced to Urian, then to Kat. “You said they were sadistic. Any chance they’re playing with our heads?”
Urian gave a low, bitter laugh at that. “You have no idea.”
Phoebe smacked her husband in the stomach. “Behave, Uri. You’re not making this any easier.”
Scowling at her, he rubbed his stomach where she’d hit him but didn’t say anything else.
“Go for it,” Kat said. “If he’s lying, I now know how to hurt him.” Her gaze went meaningfully to Phoebe.
Urian went ramrod stiff. “Destroyer or no, youevertouch her and I will kill you, Katra.”
Sasquatch made some kind of Wookiee noise. She half-expected him to raise a rifle over his Bantha andgrrat her. Okay, that was a Tusken Raider, but still … “Then we understand each other. Because if anything happens to Cassandra, Kat is the least of your problems.”
And of course his being so macho and overbearing only notched her own alpha’s testosterone levels into overdrive. So naturally Urian stepped forward intending to beat the utter crap out of him. Which was the last thing they needed. With a grimace, Phoebe caught her teddy bear and forced him back. “You said we have to hurry,” she reminded him. She made sure to swipe her finger over his nipple several times to get his attention on something other than murder and mayhem.
Lucky for the Sasquatch, it worked.
Urian’s rigid features softened as he looked down at her and nodded. Without another word, he led them toward a black airboat that was already on the ice, waiting for them.
The human male climbed on board first, followed by Kat.
Cassandra followed suit. “Is this the same boat the Canadian Mounties use for search and rescue?”
The Dark-Hunter stiffened as if the question offended him. “Same company makes both, but I’d like to think mine is a bit nicer.”
Phoebe passed a look to Urian and rolled her eyes.
He laughed silently at her.
Though to be honest as she climbed on board the boat, she had to admit that he wasn’t really lying. That boat was exceptional. Plush to the extreme, right down to the padded chairs.
“Yeah,” Chris said as he took a seat and strapped himself in. “Dudley Do-Right is us.”
Phoebe scowled as it dawned on her that Urian was still on the dock and didn’t appear to have any plans to join them. Surely, he wasn’t going to stay. Not afterthis… “Come with us, Uri,” she begged, reaching up to take his hand into hers. “They’ll slaughter you if they find out about this.”
The pain on Urian’s face as he stared longingly at her made her want to cry. His grip trembled as he held her hand. “I can’t, baby, you know I can’t. I have to stay and cover your tracks, but I promise I’ll be in touch as soon as I’m able.” He kissed Phoebe passionately, then kissed her hand and let her go. “Be safe.”
“You, too.”
He nodded, then removed the last bit of harness rigging. “Take care of my wife, Dark-Hunter.”
Wulf glanced at Phoebe and nodded. “Thanks, Daimon.”
Urian snorted. “Bet you never thought you’d utter those words.”
Urian raised the doors to the dock at the same time a group of Daimons broke into the boathouse.
Phoebe gasped and ran toward him. She couldn’t leave while he was in danger. Oh God no! But the weaselly little human pulled her back as the Dark-Hunter gunned the engine and flew north over the ice. Luckily, the wind was with them and they accelerated quickly.
“No. No!” Phoebe shrieked as they sped across the lake. Her heart hammered in denial as terror shredded her. “We can’t leave him.”
Though his face was sympathetic, she wasn’t fooled for a minute. Like a human or a Dark-Hunter would ever care what happened to their kind.
“We have no choice,” the human said. “I’m sorry.”
