Crimson Highlander (Onyx Assassins 2)

If they weren’t than that meant—

Screams interrupted my thoughts.

Agonized screams loud enough to shake the whole damn residence.

I raced from my room, following the now searing thread of the mating bond between Lachlan and myself—weaving through hallways I’d never seen before, flying down staircases I’d never traveled before.

Until I burst through the wooden doors of an unmarked room that looked a hell of a lot like an infirmary.

Five pairs of vampire eyes snapped to mine—four I recognized: Hawke, Alek, Ransom, and Lachlan, the other…the one who scrambled around a table that Benedict currently wailed on, I didn’t know him, but I assumed he was a doctor.

Two heartbeats later, Lachlan gripped my arm, not enough to hurt but hard enough to haul my ass out of the doorway and slam it behind us, the wood splintering as he rushed me farther down the hallway.

“What happened to Benedict? Is he okay? Where is Daphne?” The questions tumbled from my lips so fast I wasn’t sure if he understood a word of it.

He jerked us to a halt, his eyes burning.

Anger.

No.

I rechecked the damn bond flaring between us.

He was fucking livid…and just this side of…hurt?

“Benedict could be dying, Valor!” he snapped, raking his hands through his hair. His fingers were trembling. “We don’t have the antidote perfected yet!”

“I don’t understand!” I snapped back, my heart racing in my chest, stealing my breath. The flight or fight instinct was real, but I didn’t have a clue what to do.

Lachlan went so still and cold I took a step away from him.

He followed my retreat, but there was no hint of desire in his eyes.

“Don’t you?” His voice was icy-quiet. “You led us into a fucking ambush. They were armed to the teeth with Night Thistle, and there was absolutely no sign of your cousin.”

My heart dropped to my stomach.

“If Benedict dies…” He shook his head, eyes like fire on mine. “I’ll wipe out every fucking person ever tied to your family.”

My lips parted open, a knot in my throat clogging the words desperate to escape—that it hadn’t been a trap, that I’d read the code correctly, that I must’ve missed something—

But he blinked out of sight.

And the walls shook with another scream.

7

Lachlan

“Dorchester was in a mood tonight,” Alek said quietly as we walked across the courtyard toward the residence. The increasing attacks meant aristocrats were also increasing their requests for audiences and accommodations.

Pretty soon, we’d have half the species under our roof if we couldn’t get a foothold in this war. Thank God Alek kept the residence for Order, mates, and talem only, or I would have personally volunteered to fight in Ottawa. For some reason, the matchmaking mamas of the aristocracy didn’t give a fuck if we were currently battling for the survival of the supernatural world—they were still thrusting their sweet little debutante daughters our way.

“Dorchester’s been in a mood since his wife discovered his mistress seventy years ago,” I countered, scanning our surroundings. The estate was safe, but I was still never comfortable letting my guard down. That shit got you killed.

Alek muttered a laugh under his breath, then slowed his steps.

“Alek?” I matched his pace, coming to stop on the grass.

“We can’t afford another night like Tuesday.” The muscle in his jaw ticked.

“I know. We’ll be…better prepared next time.” We had to be.

His gaze flickered toward the residence. “I’m not saying you can’t trust her—”

“I already know I can’t trust her,” I countered, knowing it was Valor he spoke of. If anyone else had even implied differently, I would have shed their blood right there and let it water the juniper bushes, but Alek was my king. And as for Valor…I hadn’t spoken to my mate in two nights, and she’d done the smart thing and steered clear.

“Leave it to you to immediately twist what I just said.” Alek sighed.

“It’s pretty fucking obvious that I shouldn’t be sharing state secrets with her or anything.” I pulled my hair out of my face, securing it above my head with an elastic band. “I never should have—”

“She’s your mate.”

I flinched, and folded my arms across my chest.

“It’s true. Whether or not you choose to accept the bond, it’s growing stronger every day, and I don’t have to use my powers to see it, either.”

“It might be growing stronger, but it’s making me weaker.” I never would have taken that intel at face value from anyone I’d known less than a decade, let alone a flimsy year.

“Damn, you’re stubborn. Listen to me. Mates are given to us for a reason. They complement our strengths, bolster our weaknesses. Take Lyric, for example. The one thing in this world I’m vulnerable to is Night Thistle, and her blood is the cure.”

“Lucky you.” I turned away, but he grasped my shoulder.

“She has something you need!” he snapped. “Even if you’re too much of an obstinate jackass to see it!”