Page 73 of Brock’s Mate

Desi gave a little laugh. “Well, I see the asshole in everyone, so maybe we’re a good match.”

Emon laughed. “I think so.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get him back. Don’t worry.”

Chapter 28

Desi’s hands were shaking as she drove up to the cabin. You can do this, she told herself. You’re good at escaping, but you don’t run from danger.

And this was Brock, and DB. She couldn’t let them down. She knew they had oceans of backup, but she was the one the plan depended on.

No pressure.

The black van wasn’t in sight when she drove up. They must have moved it behind the cabin—either by magic or by brute force. She parked, checked her hair in the mirror, and got out of the car.

No one came out. She took a deep breath. She couldn’t stand here forever, and putting it off wasn’t going to make it any easier. She walked up the steps and opened the front door.

As soon as she did, she was grabbed and jerked inside. Four dark warriors were there, including DiSantos, who apparently had healed from his wounds the other night.

She didn’t see Jered. Too bad. She’d really wanted to spit in his face. Maybe Brock had killed him.

That would be nice.

“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled, playing her part. She struggled in their grip. “Where’s Brock? What have you done with him?”

Please don’t have killed him, she prayed. Please think he’s valuable enough to experiment on. That was a prayer she’d never thought she’d say.

“You’ll see him soon enough,” DiSantos said.

A robed man with a deep hood shadowing his face walked into the room. Ah. Mr. Pain. He looked Desi up and down, and then said, “Search her.”

Desi held her breath as the men patted her down—and felt her up. Jackasses. They found the gun in her waistband and the knife in her right boot.

“Why did you come here with weapons?” the sorcerer asked.

Desi rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? After you all tried to kidnap me twice? Not to mention turning me into a wolf. Duh. I go everywhere with weapons.”

“Check her other boot.”

There was another knife in there, which they also confiscated, naturally.

As she’d expected.

The sorcerer said, “Put her in the cell with the others until the transport gets here. I will not be happy until we have the young Draken safely back at the lab.”

You’re not going to be happy at all, Desi thought. Because he’s never getting there. And, with any luck, neither are you.

They dragged her downstairs. She hated the look on Brock’s face when he saw her—she knew he’d been hoping he’d kept her from coming. DB was lying on the mattress, still unconscious.

They opened the cell and shoved her in—she noticed that they used a code to open it, not a fingerprint. They must have reset it so Brock couldn’t get out.

They slammed the door shut and Desi threw her arms around Brock. He hugged her hard, and then said, “Why did you come? I tried to warn you.”

“I couldn’t leave you in here. I had to come.” Desi glanced outside the cell. Most of the dark warriors were going back upstairs, but one was left as a guard. She hugged Brock again and whispered, “Lots to tell you. Mind talk.”

They sat down against the back wall, holding hands, and Desi felt Brock slide easily into her mind.

What the hell are you doing here? he demanded. When you texted back your safe word, I figured you’d gotten my message.

I did. Thanks for that. I had to explain it to the rest of the crew, though. Be prepared for banana jokes the rest of your life.