“Nico will be fine.” Jaden pushed past them, ignoring Julian, who stood in silence, his hands clenched, his face dark.
They followed Jaxon through two high-level checkpoints, each of them thorough. Jaden was impressed with the security. She’d heard of Desert Hole, as the facility was called, but had never had the opportunity to visit. It was manned by a mixture of otherworld and human, and run by the legendary Ethan Crane.
He was a shapeshifter, a wolf, who’d fought in both world wars, Vietnam, and had apparently been in Afghanistan as well. She’d never met him in person, but his reputation was legendary. A lethal killer with insane tracking capabilities.
He was also, apparently, quite the ladies’ man.
A few minutes later, she could appreciate the latter.
Crane didn’t walk so much as glide into the briefing room. His age was pegged at over one hundred human years, but he had the appearance of a man in his prime.
The tall American smiled though the glint of his eyes remained frosty as he quickly scanned the room. His build, though muscular, was lean in the hips and long-legged. His movements were those of a predator.
He was very much like her men, and she found her eyes drawn to Julian. As always.
He stood on the fringe of the group, his lips set in a tight line. The pent-up energy that thrummed through his body could easily be felt. She saw his nostrils flare, and when he suddenly turned and met her gaze, she stopped breathing.
His golden eyes glittered in a strange way, a wild look hung in their depths. He looked like a man on the edge. She wanted to do something. To say anything to calm him.
“Okay, let’s make this quick.”
Jaxon’s voice cut through their moment, slicing it away as they both turned their attention to the warrior.
“We’ve been able to determine that Cormac is keeping Azaiel underground, beneath Black Magick. Here is a schematic of the building. Luckily for us, our prisoner was one of Cormac’s inner circle, and his mind held many details that will help us.”
They all looked up at a large screen that had noiselessly slid from the ceiling. The impressive casino’s secrets were laid bare. To the east was a large amphitheater, where the main attraction, magic shows, were held. Apparently Cormac had quite the apprentice, and it was the hottest ticket in town.
The main casino was large, with nearly two hundred thousand feet of gaming room, and there were nearly six thousand rooms, located in towers at each of the four corners, including four luxurious penthouse suites. As was the trend in Vegas, there was an additional theme park where you could bring the entire family and let them feed on the dark energy that surrounded Black Magick.
Nice.
“We need to get to the lower level, and there are only two ways that we feel we can successfully penetrate.” Jaxon pointed toward the south end of the casino. “There is a service entrance near the kitchen that allows access below.” He then pointed toward the amphitheater. “And there is another access point located behind the main stage.”
He looked up at all of them. “This is where we’ll get in. Azaiel is being contained in a room. At this moment, we’re not quite sure where.”
“I didn’t think basements existed in Vegas,” Declan observed.
Jaxon grimaced. “This will be no ordinary space, of that we can be sure.” Jaxon paused as he took a few moments to look at each and every one of them. Jaden felt his strength, his worry, and as his eyes passed over his woman, Libby, she felt his love.
She clenched her hands together tightly as a wave of emotion ran over her. They could do this. She felt Julian at her side. They would do this.
“Our mission is twofold: The main objective is Azaiel. We need to retrieve the portal. Second to that is Cormac.” Jaxon literally spit his name. “That son of a bitch will not live to see another day.”
“How can you be sure the fallen will cooperate? That he even knows where the portal is?” Nico cut in. “Seems to me Cormac has had him for months; if he couldn’t extract the information, what makes you think we can?”
“If Azaiel refuses to cooperate, he will be eliminated.” Jaxon was firm in his answer. “The portal shall remain hidden, and for now I’m okay with that as long as Cormac is dealt with.”
“What the hell do we do if, miraculously, he gives it up?” Skye asked.
“He will be eliminated either way.” Jaxon again was curt and to the point.
“How do you suggest killing something that is supposedly celestial?” A hint of sarcasm tinged Declan’s words, and Jaden looked at him sharply. He was pushing the boundaries. Not good. The darkness that threatened both him and Julian was digging in deep.
She knew they were running out of time.
“You get close enough and cut its fucking head off,” Cracker answered as he spit to the side. “Even then it’s a crapshoot.”
“Okay then,” Declan retorted, as a smile crept over her features.