“I just told him a few home truths after you left the club the other night.”
I wanted to know what they’d talked about, but it could wait. We had more pressing matters, and honestly, I just wanted to see Rys. Needed to feel his arms around me, because I’d been in danger of falling apart ever since I’d connected the dots. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
GABRIEL
Talis answeredthe door when we knocked. He frowned, confusion evident, and I rubbed my chest. Something wasn’t right.
I felt it as clear as day.
“What?” I snapped, panic rising. “Where’s Rys?”
“With you,” Talis answered, even though he could fucking see he wasn’t. “I mean, that’s where he said he was going,” he corrected, gripping the door with enough force to crack the wood. “What the fuck is going on?”
Max cursed under his breath. “Did he say where he was meeting Mase? And how long ago did he leave?”
“At Midnight. He said something about meeting Nick there to go through some footage.”
I glanced at Max. “Call Zane. See if he turned up.”
Max already had his phone out. “When did he leave?” he asked again, making the call to Zane.
“About half an hour ago.” Talis’s gaze landed on me. “Can’t you feel him?” His tone was far too accusatory for my liking, and I wondered how Rys’s pack had taken the news that we’d bonded.
“It aches, but it’s been like that all morning.” It pissed me off even more that I didn’t have a good answer for him. I rubbed my chest again, willing something to happen to give us a clue as to what was going on with Rys, but apart from the dull throb that’d been there since we separated that morning, nothing had changed.
“Probably because you’re not a shifter.” I didn’t care for his tone this time either, and apparently neither did Nick.
“Knock it off, Talis.” Talis was tall, six foot two or three, but Nick was almost the same height and he moved closer to me. I didn’t need his protection, but I appreciated it. “It’s not Mase’s fault, so don’t take it out on him just because you’re pissed off he and Rys are bonded now.”
“I’m not pissed off about that.” He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them, he looked a lot less like he wanted to eat me. “Sorry. It’s just he thought something was off about that text, but he was worried about you. Had been feeling all sorts of things through your bond throughout the pack meeting. It clouded his judgement. I wanted to go with him, but apparently you’d told him to bring Axel instead.”
Max’s call connected and he put it on speaker for mine and Nick’s benefit.
“Hey, Zane, are you at Midnight right now?” Max asked, barely keeping his voice calm.
“Yeah, just got here, why?” Zane’s voice was a little muffled, doors closing as though he was making his way inside. “Problem with the footage I sent over?”
“No, that was all good.” Max pinched the bridge of his nose. “Did you see Rys when you got there by any chance?”
“No. Should I have done?”
“Was there any sign of forced entry to the club?”
“No. What’s going on, Max?”
“Nothing I can share at the moment, But I’d suggest you go home, Zane, if you can. Just until we get this sorted.”
“Okay.” Zane sounded wary and I didn’t blame him.
“Thanks, I’ll be in touch soon.” Max ended the call.
“Now what?” I asked, looking from Max to Talis. “Someone’s got him. You know they have.” I flinched, probably my imagination, but the ache behind my ribs seemed sharper all of a sudden.
Talis growled, the sound echoing around us. “By the fucking Goddess, someone better tell me what’s going on before I break something.”
Max did the talking this time.
I couldn’t.
