Bolton answered, “She’s in the lab.”
“Hmm.” Svetlana enjoyed criminal activity and loved the finer things of life, but setting her foot in the lab wasn’t one of them.
Saskia sipped her drink. “That old bitch may or may not join us for dinner.”
Bolton laughed nervously. “I will leave you two alone. I’m meeting my men for some mental exercises.”
Nik smirked. “What, mindful meditation for new werewolves?”
Bolton frowned. “We newbies need to learn control, isn’t that right, Saskia?”
“Absolutely.” She smiled at him. “Yes, but then I’ll teach you how to channel your fierce werewolf.” Knowing Saskia, she’d eventually turn them into mindless killing machines.
“Yes, ma’am.” Bolton left, followed by his men.
Saskia’s personal guards remained. Recent chimeras, but despite the danger to themselves, armed with wolfsbane rifles. If he confronted them, he’d have no chance of survival. If he died, he couldn’t save Emma.
As if reading his thoughts, she smiled. “I’m happy you respect our weapons.”
“You must trust them, knowing they can turn their weapons on you.”
“After I broke them out of death row, you might be right, but then again, they were more than happy to take Bolton’s chimera drug.”
He glanced at them. Their mugs and arms marked by scars showcased the brutality of a violent life. “Where did you spring them from?”
“Prison is all you need to know.”
Death row meant they had committed murder. “All this time, I thought you had been hiding in colder climates.” He didn’t want to reveal he had traced her to Eastern Europe before being called back to guard Emma. He had failed miserably to keep Emma safe. Even if he managed to tell Rylee about the nefarious plot of Bolton and his new partner, Saskia, if Emma died because of it, Rylee would have him fired. No, banished.
“I acquired them six months ago. I occasionally enjoy warmer climates, but when hunting, I prefer winter.”
“You mean murdering humans for their blood?”
“Come now, it’s not like they are superior to us. Humans are sheep for our taking. One day, you too will learn to appreciate the delicacy of human meat.”
&
nbsp; Nik tightened his lips as if tasting the flesh of some hapless victim. “I see you still are an adherent of Gunter Wolfstrom, the last Nazi werewolf.”
Saskia rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Bolton tells me you want to bargain for your human lover.”
“I will be your mate if you allow me to compel her to forget everything. Drop her off somewhere safe and I promise to be yours. Those are my conditions.”
“Ah, but I was so looking forward to the taste and scent of her sweet blood bathing my skin.”
“So you would choose a onetime blood bath instead of your destined mate?”
“And how do I know you’re not lying to me about remaining as my mate?”
“Let her go and I will give you my mating claim.” The one thing she could not force him to do was give her the mating bite. Nik knew little about the mating bite, but heard he’d be lost to the blood bond and become hers forever. At least Emma would be free. Imprisoning my soul for Emma’s safety is a reasonable deal.
Her eyes widened. “That means you would protect me with your very life.”
As much as he found Saskia revolting, the blood bond would compel him to kill anyone, even his comrades from Team Greywolf, who threatened Saskia, no matter how evil she was. “Yes.”
“Not the most romantic proposal, but I accept.” She raised her cup, but he didn’t raise his.
“That means ensuring she is gone and safe.” Why not show his jealous side? He lifted his glass. “You, my soon to be wife, will not mate with Bolton or any other new werewolf.”