Adam (The Protectors #5)(21)

Sloan stared down at her, his eyebrow cocked over his golden eye, a small tick played with his strong jawbone. “Is that so?” His tone was level, but hinted disbelief. “Ms. Fitzpatrick—”

“Caroline,” she interrupted. Being called Ms. Fitzpatrick at that moment irritated her, and she wasn’t afraid to express it. “I don’t care if you believe in what I do or not, but I will deliver this message so he will leave me and my sister alone. So, if you are ready, we will begin.”

The tick quickened as his full lips curved into a respectful smirk. “I am sorry, but it’s hard for me to believe that you have a message for me from anyone in my past.”

“Said the vampire to the medium.” Caroline smirked back. “As I said, it matters very little to me if you believe me or not. I will deliver the message and be done with it. What you believe or disbelieve or do with the message is entirely on you.”

“This is real,” Jared stepped in. “Lana gave me a message from my brother. Even talked in our language, which she doesn’t know.”

Sloan hadn’t looked away from Caroline as Jared spoke. “Okay, I’ll play. Who is this message from…Caroline.”

The way he said her name sent shivers in places she didn’t want to think about in a room full of alpha vampire warriors. Feeling the dark man’s presence build stronger, she glanced over Sloan’s head to focus. “Alexio Milona—”

“What did you just say?” Sloan’s voice turned menacing, which brought Caroline’s eyes back to his.

“You heard her right,” Jared spoke before Caroline could.

“You’re an *.” Caroline frowned, and then her eyes opened in shock.

Sloan slammed his hands on the desk. “Excuse me?”

Caroline jumped, and then slammed her hands on his desk in front of him, almost going nose to nose. “I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Alexio.” Taking a deep breath, Caroline backed off. “I don’t know who this guy is to you, but I’m about done with his condescending remarks. I’m about to find a priest and have him exorcised on out of here.”

Sloan’s lips curved into a smile, but quickly disappeared. “What message does the son of a bitch have?”

Caroline’s mouth opened to speak, but suddenly her body jerked, her eyes widened before slamming shut. Sloan jumped over his desk grabbing her by the shoulders. “Caroline!”

Her eyes opened, but just like with Lana, Caroline wasn’t there. “Hello Sloan.” It was Caroline’s voice, but her tone and attitude took on that of Alexio Milona and every Warrior in the room, other than Slade, knew it.

“Son of a bitch.” Releasing her shoulders, Sloan took a step back, a rare look of shocked surprise on his face.

“Yes, actually, I am, as you well know.” Caroline’s head tilted. “It’s good to see you, old friend.”

“Are you hurting her?” Sloan asked, getting himself together enough to realize exactly what was going on.

Caroline laughed Alexio’s laugh, which had each Warrior shooting glances at each other. “No, I’m not hurting the girl.” Looking down, Caroline’s hand went to her breasts. “Though I’ll tell you she has a nice set of tits on her, doesn’t she?”

The room erupted in aggressive growls Sloan’s the loudest. “Stop!”

“Or what?” Caroline’s arms spread apart still laughing. “You can’t hurt me. Here take a swing. I can take it.” Caroline stuck her chin up and out toward Sloan.

“What do you want, Alexio?” Sloan demanded, his tone indicating he was close to snapping.

Caroline’s face took on a completely different expression, one of seriousness and thought. “I’m here to warn you.” Her eyes searched each of the Warriors, even Slade. “There is a war coming.”

“A little too late with the warning, Alexio,” Duncan replied. “We’ve been at war since the day we were turned.”

Caroline’s head swiveled toward Duncan, a half grin on her face. “You made the choice, my friend. To stay a slave or become a Warrior. You chose this life, not me.”

Damon stepped forward, anger on his face. “We made the choice, minus one important factor.”

“Details. Details.” Caroline rolled her eyes. “Like you would have chosen differently.”

“I would have,” Damon growled. “I would have chosen to die in the arena, rather than to live forever.”

“You would have died a slave,” Caroline spat Alexio’s words. “And how would your beautiful mate feel about that, hmmm?”

Damon went after Caroline, but Duncan and Sloan stopped him. “It’s Caroline’s body,” Duncan reminded him. “Slow down, brother.”

Caroline clapped, laughing at Damon. “You were always so easy to piss off, DeMasters.”

Sloan let Damon go, knowing he wasn’t going to move any further. “What war are you taking about, Alexio?”

“The humans.” Caroline again became serious. “This will be a war among wars, a war that will wipe out all humankind as well as all half-breeds. The only remaining will be full bloods. And it has already started with the hunt for half-breeds.”

“So what made you decide to let us know this?” Sloan asked, his eyes shooting toward Slade who had moved closer, watching Caroline with a concerned expression. “I have never known you to do anything that you didn’t benefit from.”