Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)(25)

He wasn’t about to make a fool of himself by prancing around looking like a damned female while lurking in the wine cellar of the King of Weres. He did have some pride left. But, of course, the witch had instantly done her wireless communication with the Dark Lord and Gaius discovered himself on his knees, agreeing to travel to St. Louis and pose as Harley.

He didn’t, however, agree to like it.

“Her mysterious source could be mistaken,” he pointed out in biting tones. “Or hoping to keep us here long enough to become lambs to the slaughter.”

“Ingrid knows what she’s doing.” Dolf sent a glance that was far too intimate toward his sister. Creepy. “She came up with the plan to trick Caine into coming to this wine cellar, didn’t she?”

“So she did.” Gaius shifted his attention toward the female cur who leaned against the shelves of wine, her muscular arms folded over her chest. “You’re certain he will come to this cellar instead of calling as you demanded?”

Ingrid shrugged. “Caine is pathologically suspicious, which makes it almost impossible to ambush him. We have to convince him that he’s actually avoiding the trap while we nudge him where we want him to go.”

“You’re assuming that he watches the video you sent and then ignores your demands to call despite the threat to his queen.” Gaius impatiently brushed back his long blond hair, which was proving to be a constant nuisance. Cristo, he would be relieved when this stupid charade was done and he could return to his true form. “And that he recognizes this wine cellar.”

The cur smiled. “Trust me.”

Gaius hissed in disgust. “Never.”

Chapter 6

Salvatore’s lair in St. Louis

Caine left the Jeep parked several miles away from Salvatore’s lair, located in a northern suburb of the city. Then, leading Cassie along the edge of the large lake surrounded by brick mansions set like fine jewels among the manicured lawns and formal gardens, he came to a halt behind a boathouse.

It was late enough that the neighborhood was shrouded in a slumbering darkness, but his night vision easily allowed him to scour his surroundings for any sign of danger. Not that there was any to be found.

He dismissed the incubus currently fulfilling the fantasy of a neglected housewife and the nest of harpies who were hidden on the small island in the middle of the lake. They posed no threat to a pureblooded Were.

Far from reassured, he studied the vast three-story home perched on a hill that overlooked the lake. The back walls, which were made almost entirely of glass, were partly obscured by a large veranda framed by marble columns. Trellised gardens descended the length of the steep slope, coming to a halt at the edge of a stone grotto that not only served as a perfect picnic spot, but a lookout for Salvatore’s guards.

Guards that should have been on duty.

So where the hell were they?

He was still searching for an answer when he felt Cassie crouch beside him, her wide gaze trained on the mansion above them.

“Good Lord,” she breathed. “That’s Harley’s house?”

“One of them.”

“It’s very large.”

His lips twisted at the understatement. The place was big enough to lodge a small country. “If you like it I could have one built for you.”

She shuddered. “No, I spent too many years in soulless caverns to feel comfortable in such a place,” she said. “I prefer your home.”

He reached to give her hand a light squeeze. “Our home,” he corrected.

“Yes.” Her dimples made a brief appearance. “Our home.”

Satisfaction seared through him and with a small groan, Caine tugged her close enough to claim her lips in an urgent kiss. Our sounded amazingly perfect.

Then, with a curse, he forced himself to pull away. Now wasn’t the time to be distracted. No matter what the temptation.

Even if this wasn’t a trap, he knew that Salvatore had a bounty out on his head. If the king’s pack caught scent of them he would never shake them off their trail.

“Do you sense anything?” he asked, returning his attention to the seemingly abandoned house.

She tilted back her head, sniffing the air. “No.”

“Neither do I.”

She grimaced. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

That was the question, wasn’t it?

“Salvatore would never have left Harley completely alone,” he muttered. “If she was kidnapped, his pack should be swarming through the neighborhood searching for her.”

Cassie shrugged. “Maybe they don’t know she’s missing.”

“Then they should at least be guarding the house.”

“You think it’s a trap?”

His jaw tightened. “Absolutely.”

She blinked at his blunt honesty. “Then shouldn’t we be somewhere that isn’t here?”

“Yes.”

She tilted her head to the side, regarding him in confusion. “Caine?”

He heaved a sigh. His every instinct screamed to toss Cassie over his shoulder and rush away from Salvatore’s lair at top speed. The very air whispered a warning.

But he’d spent enough time with Cassie to know that she wouldn’t be satisfied until she was certain that Harley had been rescued and was safely back in the hands of her mate.