On a Razor's Edge (Darkness #3)(33)

But then heʼd sent Darla to basically sit on her hands and wait for me to fail.

Tim and the Mata were my friends.

I would not fail.

Decided, I sucked power into myself, feeling the darkness as it warred with the daylight, drawing it into myself and feeling my limbs heat. Jonas flinched, trying to hold on, but was unable to as my body electrified to his touch.

He jumped and released me suddenly, leaving me sprawled on the ground.

“What the f**k are you doing?” he asked savagely, reaching down to me with a giant hand. “Do you want to die?”

I scrambled away, ready with a blast of magic. I raised my palm and registered the widening of his eyes just as Adnan burst through the trees ahead of us, his blade glowing red, his throwing star in his hand.

“I knew it, Jonas! Trying to steal away Sasha? You failed last time so you wanted to do it in person this time?”

Darla stepped through the trees next. Sinewy and graceful, she held two deceptively delicate-looking daggers, each glowing deep red. Her confident gaze took in Jonas and she shook her head and tsk’d. “The Boss’s childhood friend. But then, we all saw this coming. Didn’t we, Adnan?”

“Why are you helping me?” I blurted, focused on Darla.

Her gaze never left Jonas, as she worked with Adnan to block Jonas and myself from continuing on our path.

“I’m not helping you, I’m helping the Boss. You are just a stupid human. If I save you, I save the day.”

“What is it you think you’re saving her from?” Jonas growled. “I’m going to the underground safe house to cut off her magic from the Dulcha.”

“Would that work?” I asked of no one, which was exactly who paid attention to me.

Chapter 9

Stefan walked through the south-end corridor on the third floor, his focus on the turmoil within the link. With Sasha as far away as she was, he couldn’t feel much, but what he did had him disconcerted. She’d been in some state of unhappiness since she left, but this was altogether different.

He saw two flesh covered forms writhing against the wall, one between the legs of the other, thrusting in great swings. Stefan’s balls tightened, the three weeks of abstinence playing hell on his concentration.

“Knock it off,” Stefan snarled as he passed, stopping the figures in a tight embrace.

The young male looked up with the fervor of lust. He wouldn’t dare question orders, but the blank stare said he obviously didn’t know why he should refrain.

“There is a ban on sex in this area. We house a pregnant female and her offspring. She does not want her children seeing fornication when they wander out of their rooms.”

A red hue suffused the youth’s face, the female looking down to hide her embarrassment. They muttered apologies as they disengaged, then hurried away. Shaking his head, Stefan knocked politely, waiting for one of the Shape Changer children to open the door.

Esmine waited inside, lounging on a sofa, rubbing her belly. She looked up at Stefan’s entrance, smiling a greeting.

“I came to ensure your continued comfort,” Stefan stated, looking over the room to make sure it had been cleaned regularly. He’d stopped by once every few days just to check on her. Seeing all was well, he returned his gaze to the female.

“Yes, thanks,” she replied demurely, the lupine gaze he sometimes saw retracted now. “Your people have been kind and gracious.”

“You have everything you need?”

“Again, yes, thank you.”

A small child bounded over to her, looking at him through the shyness of youth.

“They are enamored with your people,” Esmine said with a laugh as she put a comforting hand on the female child’s head. “They stare and gawk, only to squeal and giggle when one of the helpers assigned to us plays. I had no idea everyone here was so good with children.”

Stefan lounged so as not to appear impatient. “We cherish children here. We try hard for them, and are only rewarded occasionally. We protect them with every fiber of our being.”

Esmine nodded. “Continuing the line. We know something of that.”

A fast rapping interrupted them, the door swinging open and Jameson marching in. “Boss, we need you.”

“What is it?” Esmine asked, rising onto her elbows, her pregnant belly awkward and hindering. “Are we in danger?”

“I assure you, you are not in danger. I will send someone in shortly to fill you in on whatever is happening. We are safe within these walls.” Stefan bowed to her. “Excuse me.”

“They are planning to attack Sasha’s location,” Jameson said as soon as they were out of earshot. “For the last three weeks we haven’t seen one Dulcha. Not one. We’ve seen increased numbers crossing our borders, but we only engage in skirmishes.”

They nearly flew down the stairs, heading to their strategy room where Dominicous would be waiting. “We knew something was up, but couldn’t find out what. Then our spy overheard Trek and Andris speaking. They have someone on the inside.”

Stefan burst into the strategy room, accounting for each member of their battle council, noting the presence of Rich, Tim's Beta, then taking a seat at the head of the table. Dominicous stood just off to the side, allowing Stefan the authority to preside by removing himself. It was an incredibly helpful gesture of good faith. Not many in the chain of command would relinquish power to one lesser. Stefan understood, however, that it wasn’t permanent by any means. Simply expeditious.