Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress 5)

Had Mia and Kyrin known? McKell wondered. He didn’t think so, or hardass Mia would have thrown a fit all the city would have heard about.

Those men hadn’t lingered for long, though, and had next visited … Devyn and Bride’s city house a few miles away. McKell positioned himself outside the closed gates with Ava tucked safely beside him, the rest of the gang remaining about a yard behind. Silent, he stared at the mansion on the hill, certain the otherworlder and vampire hadn’t known about their visitors, either.

The Schön bitch had certainly made the rounds. How many agents had she watched?

Thankfully, the stink of rot that followed her and her men created a very clear path. A path he had to walk, just as they had, that glimmering doorway popping up every ten minutes. So. Annoying. Ava kept up beautifully, though she called him all kinds of bad names for dragging her, walking too swiftly, and stopping too abruptly.

He loved when she called him names. Meant she cared for him with the same intensity she cared for Noelle. That she was comfortable with him, that she trusted him. At least, that’s what he told himself. And as he was most often right …

He didn’t even mind the other agents tagging along. Even Jeremy. Every time McKell released Ava to study something, that boy would close in on her. To shield her—and as selfish and unwilling to share as McKell was, he found that he didn’t mind that someone coveted something of his because Ava’s protection came first.

Of course, the fact that Ava was in danger at all had his nails elongating and his teeth sharpening. He wanted this case over, done. Didn’t help that the doorway was appearing more frequently now, harriedly breathing his name. So far, he’d managed to keep Ava away from it. What did it want? What was its purpose?

“Whatever pissed you off,” Ava said, “dial it down a notch, ‘em kay? You’ve already taken the fun out of my hunt. The way you’re cutting my palm with your nails is going to take the fun out of your morning. You know, when we get home. After our talk, and before our nap.”

Home, she’d said. Theirs. He immediately loosened his grip. “Just one more stop, then, and if the queen isn’t there, we’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow night.” The sun would rise soon, anyway, and McKell would have to move indoors.

“Sounds good.”

Only a block later, Ava said, “Wait.” She pulled from his grip and withdrew her phone. She frowned as she read the screen. “Just got a text from Dallas. The Schön queen plans to target a couple. She’ll threaten one so the other will do whatever she wants. He says she can read minds, so we aren’t to think about what we would do to her if that happens.”

A mind reader. Wonderful. Exactly what they’d needed to add to the equation.

“She already threatened you. I wonder if this means she changed her mind.” Ava pocketed her phone, and they picked up speed. Soon they were back in the heart of the city, people strolling along the sidewalks, shop lights flashing, but two corners later, he tensed, tendrils of rage nearly choking him.

He recognized this neighborhood.

“Decide to call it a night already?” Ava asked, recognizing it as well. She should, since she lived here.

If the scent led to her door, he would … do anything, he realized. Anything to stop the queen. Drain humans to remain in the sunlight. Yes. No matter how much of a hypocrite that made him. He wouldn’t sleep until the queen was dead.

“McKell?” Ava prompted.

Another yard, and they would be standing in front of their apartment building. Dread filled him, mixed with rage, and he slowed his steps. Little by little, his feet ate up that yard until—a low growl rose from deep within. No, the queen hadn’t changed her mind about him.

He hadn’t smelled her disgusting scent in Ava’s building before. That meant the first visit had been today. Did that also mean he and Ava were the targeted couple Dallas had mentioned?

“McKell?” Ava insisted. “We done?”

“She was here,” he gritted out. “She came to our home.”

Silence. Now Ava tightened her grip on him, her nails cutting his skin.

“What do you want to do?” Noelle asked, coming up behind them. “I was eavesdropping and heard what you said to each other, so no need to explain. Plus, I got Dallas’s text, too.” The trainees were close on her heels.

What did he want to do? He wanted to keep searching, that’s what. Things were personal now. This was war. Resting wasn’t an option.

“Count me in on the eavesdropping, too,” Jeremy said. “If she’s been here, I don’t think Ava should stay here. Not that my vote matters.”

“When you agree with me, it counts. Now. Not another word out loud,” McKell snapped. “Don’t even think about what we should next do.”

“Remember, the queen can read minds,” Ava said with a tremor. She leaned her head on his shoulder. “But the thing is, we can’t leave Hellina in there alone. We have to get her.”

“I’ll get her,” he said, then kissed the top of her head.

“No,” she rushed out. “She, the queen—” She pressed her lips together, flicked him a glance, looked away. “I can’t say it. Can’t think about it. Sorry. Just, let me do it. I’ll get the dog. Okay?”

McKell inhaled deeply, trying not to think or plan or panic. Along with the sweet scent of butterscotch from Ava, he discovered an increase of rot. He stiffened. Were the queen and her men here, even now?

And, damn it. Wouldn’t you know it. The doorway opened, air churning wildly.

“What you just said, about not thinking, not talking.” He forced her to look up at him, noses almost touching. “Take the others to AIR headquarters. Now. I’ll grab Hellina and follow.”

Truth or lie, he didn’t know. He only knew that he had to keep his mind clear, not plan, just act on instinct. Hopefully Ava would do the same, obey him or not, without thinking about it.

Ava opened her mouth—to argue?—but closed it with a snap. Wariness clouded her lovely dark eyes. So did worry. But darling that she was, she nodded. Trusting him. “Be careful,” she said.

“You, too. Do nothing to put yourself in harm’s way.”

“The van is just around the corner. I had one of the guys follow us,” Noelle said, and the group marched off. She had to tug Ava along, though.

Ava’s gaze remained on McKell until the last possible second. He stayed where he was, sniffing, ensuring that the queen—or her men, whoever—didn’t leave with the others. The scent of rot never lessened, so he knew the queen had stayed with him.