Primal Law (Alpha Pack #1)(87)

"Fuck." This couldn't be happening. That conniving, murderous bitch could not still be alive and working with Chappell on his sick scheme.

But she was, and had been all along. The truth was unavoidable, forming a knot of fresh guilt and shame in his gut. And now he knew he'd have to revise what he'd told Kira.

If he could bend time back far enough, he'd make certain Beryl was dead. And then maybe Micah and the others would be safe right now.

Clearing his throat, Aric leaned back in his chair, shoving a fall of auburn hair over his shoulder. "How're we goin' in? Quiet, or a fast strike?"

"Both carry bigger risk than before, because they'll be ready," Nick said. "What we need is a layout of the building to study first, and Kalen offered to take care of that."

The red wolf frowned. "How?"

"Magic. He'll demonstrate when we arrive." Nick glanced at the clock on the wall, which showed it was just past one in the afternoon. "We're going wheels up in four hours, same crew as before, except Kira won't be going in. She'll stay with Melina in the van."

His mate frowned, but didn't argue. Wouldn't do her any good, because Jax was in agreement with the boss on this one.

"Just so it's perfectly clear, our goal here is to shut down their operation, one facility at a time if need be. Destroy their research, and take out Chappell and his minions if they can't be captured alive. Be ready. A.J., you and Sariel hold down the fort."

"Yes, sir." Their newest man appeared a little disappointed.

Those were the breaks. The human was too green to join the party just yet. Kalen was an exception-he had quite the arsenal of tricks up his Goth sleeve.

The meeting broke up and those who were leaving in four hours went to pack and attend to other business. Jax took Kyra's hand and they headed toward their quarters. As they walked, he put the disturbing news about Beryl out of his mind for the moment and worked up the nerve to address the issue foremost in his mind.

"I have something to ask you," he began uncertainly.

"Shoot."

"It's about our living arrangement. You're always at my apartment and I figured, you know, that's a waste of space and . . ." He trailed off, feeling stupid. "I totally screwed that up."

She grinned up at him. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"Yes, I am. Will you?" Jesus, he'd never been so nervous. He felt like a boy asking a girl to the prom.

"Well, I'd need a better reason than it being convenient. I'm sorta picky that way," she said, poking him in the ribs.

Stopping outside the door to his quarters, he turned and pulled her into his arms. "Move in with me because I'm madly in love with my pretty mate and need you with me more than I need air to breathe."

She blinked. "Wow. I believe the only answer to that is yes!"

Picking her up, he hugged her to him and swung her around, laughing. Squealing, she hooked her legs around his waist and held on, then gave him a kiss that fried his brain.

"Dang, get a room." Ryon stepped out of his apartment, closed the door, and walked off.

"We intend to! She's moving in with me," Jax called to his retreating back. His friend waved and kept going.

Without letting go of his mate, he walked them inside and proceeded to show her just how happy he and his wolf were with her decision. They barely got packed and to the hangar on time. They loaded into the two Hueys, a little bit of deja vu unsettling him for some reason. They'd come away from the first op successful, despite his life-threatening injury. He was back to full strength, his shifting abilities restored, if not his Psy gift, so there was no reason to think this op wouldn't be successful as well.

The ride in the flying tank was loud and boring, and he was glad when they landed. They climbed out to find themselves at a private hangar in a rural area outside Dallas that they'd never used before and didn't belong to them. Grant had pulled some strings and two plain, dark vans were waiting. Quickly, they loaded their gear and headed for the hotel close to downtown.

Kalen and Zan had booked two adjoining suites for the whole group so they could have plenty of room to move about without attracting too much attention. Forty-five minutes later the team was gathered around the dining table in one of the suites, where Kalen had placed a hunk of brick, right in the middle.

"So, are we ready to make a model?" Seemed he was talking more to himself than the group, since his green eyes were fixed on the brick. He took a couple of deep breaths, appearing to find his center or something, and smoothed a palm over the pendant on his chest.

Jax and Kira exchanged curious glances, and she shrugged. Sorcerers were interesting, for sure.

"With what, a hunk of stone?" Aric snorted, but the younger man ignored him.

In fact, Kalen seemed to forget about everyone as he focused all his attention on the object, holding his palms just above it as though warming his hands over a flame. "You're going to reveal to me your secrets, take the form of the whole. Show me," he murmured.

Softly, he began a chant in the strange language he'd used before, the words lyrical and hypnotic. Maybe Latin, but Jax wasn't sure. A blue light enveloped the brick under Kalen's palms, which was really cool. But it was nothing compared to his amazement when the brick began to break down. Grain by grain, swirling around the object like a miniature sandstorm, the brick growing smaller until there was only the sand.