Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(88)

I rose to my feet and returned to the mansion, armed with a sense of purpose. Lives were at stake, and running was not an option.

“Viktor!” I charged up the stairs, skipping every other step. “Viktor!”

When I reached the second floor, I found everyone gathered in the open area, deep in discussion. Claude rose from a sitting chair, and Niko looked around as if he were watching an energy show.

Gem scanned my face and then whipped her head around to Christian. “I thought you said she was badly—”

He covered her mouth, his eyes locked on mine, staring in disbelief.

I flipped my hood off and shook out my hair. “My father’s in danger. If Darius means to blackmail me, he’s going to send one of his men to the trailer park to find out who I’ve been visiting. I can’t go after Darius until I know my father’s safe, and if that’s not something you can give me, then we’ll have to part ways.”

Viktor furrowed his brow. “He might not.”

“I can’t take that chance.” I waved my hand at the group. “And spare me the lecture about cutting human ties and letting destiny do its thing. If you were in my shoes, you’d do the same. You can make me give up my family, but you can’t make me stop loving them.”

Blue reached in her pocket and pulled out a short necklace with a long silver spike. She latched it around her neck and looked at Viktor. “I’ll go.”

He nodded.

Relief swam through me, and I gave her the address and the best way to find it. You couldn’t miss his motorcycles out front.

With a graceful turn, Blue ran down a long hall toward an open window. In a fluid motion, her clothes fell away and large wings extended as she gracefully shifted into a grey falcon. She angled her body as she neared the open window and then disappeared.

I released a breath I’d been holding. “What did she put around her neck?”

Gem sat down on a small end table. “It’s one of those stunner spike thingies. There aren’t many like those around. When they used to make stunners, they mostly used daggers. Spikes and arrowheads weren’t as common because people lost them all the time. It’s easy for her to carry since it stays on her animal.”

“What if there’s more than one Mage?”

Shepherd smirked from his seated position in a curved-back chair. He continued sharpening his knife against a thin rod, the same knife he probably used to shave his head. “Blue can take care of herself.”

I imagined a beguiling and very naked woman approaching Darius’s guards, concealing the spike in the palm of her hand. That would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Viktor headed toward the staircase. “I want everyone dressed and weapons ready in fifteen minutes. Meet me downstairs at the table, and we’ll devise a plan.”

Gem strutted toward me and hooked her arm in mine. “Let’s get you changed into something a little more appropriate than a ratty old sweatshirt.”

Christian reached out and clasped Shepherd’s hand, pulling him to his feet. “Gird your loins, men. We’re going into battle.”





Chapter 25





While I was perfectly content going on a raid in my jeans, Gem pointed out the bloodstains and insisted it was bad luck.

Given Gem was about four inches shorter than me, and I was a mean five-eight, borrowing her clothes was out of the question. The clothes I’d left behind were still in the armoire, and when she pulled out a black dress, I regarded her with a patient smile.

“This isn’t a cocktail party,” I said, tossing it on the bed.

Her wavy hair bobbed when she tilted her head to the side. “A dress is less restrictive if you have to flash.”

I gave her knee-high boots a pointed stare. “What about those?”

“I can run in anything,” she said with a playful smirk.

Not everyone could pull off tall boots and a black romper. I admired her confidence.

After I threw on a pair of dark jeans and a formfitting shirt with long sleeves, we rushed downstairs where the van was waiting. It was after dark, and once Christian had checked the area to make sure it was clear, we headed into the city.

The van bounced around, and I gripped the bench to keep from flailing about since we didn’t have on seat belts. There were no regular seats, only narrow benches on either side. Viktor drove, Shepherd rode shotgun, and the rest of us were holding on to our butts during sharp turns.

Wyatt tapped his boots on the cheap carpet. “I’m not going anywhere near you guys, just so you know. Don’t even think about following me.”

“We know,” Gem said with an exaggerated tilt of her head.

I looked across the van at him. “Why not?”

He lifted his eyes. “Do you really need to ask? I don’t like to be anywhere in the vicinity of a murder scene, especially when it’s happening. I’m just here to search for evidence. You keep those freshies away from me. That’s a therapy session I ain’t got time for.”

Christian sat to the right of Wyatt, and he’d been staring at my legs since we left Keystone.

I tipped my head to the side. “What?”

“Where’s your lucky dress?”

“Where’s yours?”

Claude put his arm around me. “Tone it down, Christian. Let’s not turn on each other before we even get there.”