Page 78 of Ruin

Alex laughed as Lionel clapped Myles on the back. “Looks like a safer option. Daayum, Prime, looks like she used you all up.”

I grinned and slumped against the chair back. I felt stronger than ever inside, but, yeah, my body was used and still recovering from the best five days of my life. I couldn’t keep the stupid grin off my face, and I didn’t need to, not with my brothers, or Walker and B’nar who watched with identical smirks curling their lips. And yeah, Alex, Lionel and Drake were counted amongst those I trusted now. They were my brothers and my pack.

“Bloody hell, Connor. I’ve never seen you looking so exhausted...or happy.” Owen’s joking words were full of happiness for me.

“Thanks, man.” I folded my arms over my chest, and grinned wider. “It’s been the best and most exhausting experience of my life, but hey…” I cracked my neck, happy to bear the scars of Ember’s claimings.

“Damn, Connor, it looks like she tried to eat you. You sure she’s not part vampire? Those fuckers pop up everywhere, especially that cold bastard, Balthazar. He’d know if she was his kind,” said Kawan, his eyes sparkling with laughter.

“Piss off.” I threw my coffee mug at him. Which he duly caught and placed on the table in front of him. “She’s no more vampire than you are, you shit.”

“No, she’s an immortal spirit who needs protection from our foes,” said Walker gravely, bringing us back from our light hearted banter. “We sent Berith back to Hell, we didn’t kill him.”

I pulled my chair in and fixed the faerie king with a serious stare. He was right. My mate was out of danger from any unmated males in the compound, and her hormones had settled again; but she needed to be kept hidden from any of Berith’s spies. That runway had been clear for a reason and I was sure he had sent demons out into the world. We needed to go somewhere he couldn’t find her. Another smile stretched my lips at the thought of a lifetime with her by my side. But we both needed to recover from the physicality of her season before we could make plans. My stomach tightened. My mate…fuck, she could be pregnant right now. That thought had everything inside me twisting, including my heart and soul. It was hard to stop myself from marching right out of this room and to her side so that I knew she was safe and protected.

“Yeah, every victory comes with a price. And now all the shifters in this camp know what she is. We can’t lock everyone up, or prevent them from sending out word to the bastards who’d pay to have her.” I peered at Walker. “She’ll be a target for every supernatural who wants to do a deal with the devil.”

“She will.” Walker leaned forward and held my gaze. I forced myself to disregard it as a challenge. Walker’s face was grave, his body language stiff. Whatever he was about to say was important to him. The green ring around his blue irises deepened. “I have a proposition for you, King of the Shifters.”

I sat up straight, wondering what he was up to this time. Walker was a clever and devious ruler. I glanced at Owen who understood. He moved closer to me, standing behind my shoulder, protecting my back and showing his support. Walker had orchestrated not only my capture, but Owen’s as well; and Owen still held that grudge even if he wouldn’t act on it without my say so. I had yet to find out how Walker had managed to manipulate the hierarchy of the SBI—but I would.

I rested my elbows on the table, forcing myself to appear relaxed. Walker and B’nar had watched my back while I’d been with Ember, so I trusted them...to a point, but doing a deal with the fae wasn’t always wise.

“Keep talking, High King of the fae.”

A smile ghosted over Walker’s features before he once again became the Ice King. B’nar stood at his back as Owen stood at mine. But the prince heir’s posture, although ready to fight at a moment’s notice, was not aggressive, he merely watched the door.

“You are aware that I went to great lengths to get you both into my employment?”

“I am.”

Walker waited as if expecting me to say more. I held his gaze and remained silent. The hows were not important to me, right now, and I already knew the whys.

Again the ghost of a smile. “I did not expect you to become the King of Shifters, or be as powerful as you are. Nor did I expect that you would be powerful enough to house a dark fae beast; but it matters not, I have a feeling all that power will prove to be essential to help you with what’s to come.”

“And what would that be?”

Walker leaned his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together in front of himself. “Together with my son, and a few others I believe Ember has told you about, I have put together a task force to hunt down the Hell rifts and any demons who are in this world. Now that we know where Ember is, she must be kept out of Hell’s grasp.” His disturbing eyes met mine. “I’d like you to head that task force, and keep her in the shadows.”

I raised my brows. “And how do I do that when I have a species to rule over? We have to find a home for our kind…”

“What about here, boss? We could make this settlement more permanent…” Owen suggested.

Walker shrugged. “It is possible. Though as far as Ember’s safety is concerned, I have a facility back in Faerie with weapons and training space...”

“Faerie? Nope, sorry, Walker, I’m not leaving my world and people to go to Faerie.”

“Not even for your mate? She will be safer there, Connor.”

“Safer? For how long? Besides, she wouldn’t agree to leave this world. It’s her home…”

“Is it? She lived in Faerie happily while you weren’t there…”

Behind Walker, B’nar’s face darkened. I kept my face impassive. It seemed the son did not agree with the father.

“How do Lance and Ava feel about me leading this little group of assassins you have put together? I can’t imagine they are all that happy considering I shot them both.”

Walker inclined his head. “They weren’t. But their lives belong to me; they do as I say. And once they realised you’d be in that prison, they jumped at the chance to set up the dominoes that got you there. Besides, your ex-lover developed a friendship with your current one while they worked together in Faerie. They were friends, and Ava wants to help keep Ember secure and safe.”

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