Page 148 of Queen of Diamonds

Then he’d wandered right on in, dropping pressurised canisters rigged to puncture at the push of a button.

Kyan may not have known Glade was being blackmailed into choosing Ace, but it was still pretty fucking clear he’d been fantasising about killing the Alpha who’d taken his mate for a long time, regardless of whether he intended to respect her autonomy.

While he pulled out his laptop and executed his long-awaited plan with intensity, there wasn’t much for me to do but wait. Of course, like the mad fucking genius he was, he’d planned everything, right down to doorstep deliveries. So I was able to spend my time putting together the brand-new pack bed he’d ordered, while he updated me with things like: “Jesse tapped into some of their communications. Whole lot of them are scrambling.” or “Henderson warehouse is dead already, my eyes are saying they’re jumping ship.”

And finally, the best news of all: “The whole Brotherhood is cracking way faster than I planned for. I think they were way more shaky since Ace lost his pack.”

“Good.”

Un-fucking-surprising, really.

Ace ran the Brotherhood on threats and fear. There was no loyalty left, and as fast as it had risen, it had fallen, ready to crack at the slightest pressure.

All we needed to know was that there wasn’t anyone with a vendetta that a few of Kyan’s connections couldn’t handle. For a few weeks, he’d organise around the clock eyes on the warehouse. Even then, it was unlikely—his biggest concerns had been Ace’s pack mates, but Zed had already handled them.

Finally, when the sun was rising, Kyan got the all clear, and the others were safe to return.

The bed, by now, was sorted, as was the sea of pillows Kyan had slowly been accumulating since we’d first kidnapped her. I’d set it all up in the main living room. We would figure out a proper nest for later—for now, with her hormones, we needed it ready.

I wished Lucy was here, too, but Lev was having a pretty busy evening, so I hadn’t pushed that one.

And finally, after a strained few hours, Glade entered the warehouse with Zed at her side. She was tense, as if on high alert, and it broke my heart, seeing her like that.

That last part—the trauma we couldn’t save her from, had taken its toll. Her eyes were still blank with shock as she watched us approach.

I reached her and drew her into a hug. She clutched me, far too fragile.

How afraid had she been?

Kyan was next, and he held her in his arms for a long time. He might be feral about catching Ace, but letting her believe, even for a moment, that we’d failed her, had broken him, too.

“I have a gift for you,” Kyan told her, when he drew back.

She just stared at him, but didn’t argue when he led her through to the living room.

He opened the cell door, and she froze.

His scent of roses and redwoods was impossible to miss.

Kyan didn’t push her, and it took a long time before she stepped into that doorway.

She vanished in the bond when she caught sight of him, just… slipped away for a moment.

A long, long time passed, and then finally, she looked up at Kyan.

“It’s over?” she asked.

“It’s over, Oasis. He’s never going to hurt you again.”

52

GLADE

The cell door closed and something deep within me rattled the cage of my shock, demanding to be let out.

A breath.

I think… I could take a breath.

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