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"One of the men he interrogated mentioned a prince, he didn't give a name. We assumed Ceasar, we never thought about Malakai."

"Ceasar was never a prince."

"I know."

Fuck. "What about Lucien?"

"I'll ask."

"And Draugr?"

"Already has men checking the old demon networks."

I leaned back, this had just become something much bigger. "If Malakai is alive..."

"I know," Roman said.

"No. If he's alive and working with Ceasar, that shooting wasn't just revenge."

Silence, Roman understood. "It was a message," he said.

"Or a test."

"Testing what?"

"Our response, our security. How quickly we mobilize. Who protects whom when the family is threatened. Fucking hell, so many fucking possibilities." The thought made my blood run cold. They'd been watching us, learning.

The berserker stirred again. "Roman."

"I know."

"Double the guards, change the routine."

"Already done."

"Nobody leaves alone."

"Already ordered."

"The women..."

"Are protected."

"Bryn needs…"

"Viking." I stopped.

Roman's voice softened by a fraction. "Your mate is safe."

I closed my eyes, breathed. Bryn was home waiting. "Where is she?"

"In the family room with the others."

"Near the windows?"

Roman sighed. "No, you fucking lunatic. We replaced the glass with ballistic panels."

"Good."