“Wonderful.” He stared at him over the rim of his cup. “No major headaches as you remembered?”
He couldn’t lie, since his beta guard knew. “Yes, but when I remembered Agrippa, the pain subsided.”
“Good. Don’t worry, headaches are normal, but if they become intolerable I have stronger drugs.”
I bet you do. “Is Father leading the hunt?”
“Yes. He wanted you to come, but not until you’re well. For now, let’s catch up.”
Like how you lost your ear? Slade returned to slicing his steak. “How often do we hunt humans?”
“Twice a week, normally before a rally. Tonight, Wolfstrom will address the packs.”
“Have I hunted humans?”
“But of course. In fact, you slaughtered the ones who found the old Nazi relics in the jungle. Of course, the national news blamed their disappearance on drug dealers. They’ll never find their bodies.”
“Let me guess, you added them to a stew?”
“Nothing beats hiding the evidence in one’s digestive system.”
His wolf fought to tear him apart, but not now. Must win his trust. Play along. Cricket said Henrik had the master key. Win his trust, get the key code, find her and kill him. Or maybe kill him, get the key code and find her.
“Agrippa will be so happy to see you remember her or at least the fact you share a bond.”
Slade laughed. “How could I forget her boobs? Trust me. I am anxious to refresh my memory of them.”
Henrik studied him. “Do you remember a human named Jack?”
He shook his head. “I don’t remember any humans.”
“What about a runt named Cricket?”
Slade wrinkled his nose. “Cricket?” He creased his brow. “Nothing. Odd name.”
“Yes. She was a spy along with a human, but despite her betrayal, your father wants to keep her around.”
“Spy? Who did they work for?”
“The Keep.”
He tilted his head to convey confusion. “The Keep exists?”
“Very much so.”
“Why keep the runt bitch alive?”
“According to your father, she survived Variant Midgard, and her blood serum provided the anecdote.”
Slade stiffened. The bastard had used her as a guinea pig. Mauling Wolfstrom clouded his wolf’s need for revenge. The fact she lived allowed him to continue the
ruse. “But werewolves don’t develop the virus.”
“True. She, being nearly human, has been the exception. If she’d not shifted, I am most certain she wouldn’t have survived.” Henrik narrowed his eyes.
Did he suspect the truth? For her, you bastard, I’ll smile. He met Henrik’s eyes and exuded calm. “Indeed. Interesting.”
Cricket stretched out the last of her kinks. Ah, better after a long sleep in a real bed and a fresh shower. She still looked pale, but at least they brought her personal cosmetics, including her red lipstick and compact. The same compact where Jack had stuffed their coordinates.