“Good to know.”
Nik straightened. “Once we are home, I’d like to ask you out on a date.”
Emma gave him a sidelong glance. When they returned, their relationship must go back to work only. For now, not knowing if she’d live or die, why not love a forbidden werewolf? “If we get back home, I’m treating,” Emma quipped.
Nik scanned the area. “Perhaps Saskia thinks you escaped with Nexus.”
“Possible, but then, who will she think busted you out of prison?”
“Could have been a scientist willing to risk it, or she might think I unlocked the cage myself. In a few minutes, I would have done so anyway.” He winked. “My skills are almost as good as my looks.”
Emma
snorted. “Okay…” She shook her head. “You had two guards, each holding a tranquilizer gun. No matter how good your skills and handsome your looks, escape would have been impossible.”
He rubbed his brow and gazed at her. “Which reminds me...”
“What?”
Nik drew her into his arms and kissed her, his tongue dancing with hers, warming every inch of her body. She moaned in pleasure. Instant gratification won over danger and possible death.
He released her. “Thank you for getting me out.”
“If that’s my reward, I’m happy to break you out anytime.”
Nik turned serious. “Are you sure you can trust Nexus?”
“I know I shouldn’t have given her Rylee’s private number, but knowing Rylee, she won’t trust her. If anything, she’ll meet Nexus out in the open, far from any lycan territory. She’ll make sure Nexus is completely vetted by the team before bringing her in.”
“Assuming they have not caught her,” said Nik. “If Saskia thought you were on board, she wouldn’t stop until every yacht in the vicinity was destroyed.”
Guilt overtook her. Nonetheless, she pushed her shoulders back. “We must stop Saskia.”
Nik crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze. “Not we. I will stop her.”
Her stomach knotted. “You can’t go down there. She’ll kill you.” I can’t lose you.
He took her hands and kissed them, warming them with his lips. “Don’t worry. Now that you are safe, I can put an end to her insanity.”
Emma frowned and moved her hands away. “You brought me up here, so you could face her and who knows how many werewolves.”
“Should be no problem.” He straightened his collar and winked. “Remember, I have a charming personality.”
Emma met his eyes. “Look, I’m not sure how much you know about the major side-effect of the chimera drug, but all those new werewolves will eventually turn into ravenous monsters.”
He waved a hand in dismissal and smirked. “Only if they remain werewolves for more than an hour.”
She sighed. “No. According to the data Nexus shared, the men will all remain as maddened werewolves as time goes by. Permanently.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You mean they will no longer be able to shift back to human form?”
“Precisely. Unless they fall asleep, and the odds of that happening are not good. They can go on a killing spree for days before exhaustion takes them.” She sighed. “Even after sleep, they will eventually remain as monsters.”
Nik scratched his unshaved chin. “No wonder Bolton is worried.”
“According to Nexus, he was injected against his will by Svetlana, who in turn was betrayed by Saskia.”
Nik snorted. “Maybe Bolton is willing to join our side, that is, if our scientists can resolve this monster issue.”