Page 63 of Clash of Sin and Secret

We move in single file, sticking to the shadows, our tactical form precise and exacting. Bran choosing Scotland over someone else to be Zane’s Sacred Squire has the upside that we grew up and trained together.

We know each other…strengths and weaknesses… habits and instincts.

Tucker is the wildcard. He seems surprisingly solid despite being a late arrival. But heisJack’s son and has been working out with the old man for two years now, so that could have something to do with it.

We move as a unit, closing the distance to the property we hope is being used by the seethe of turned vampires sired by Lazarus Kaza. The surrounding buildings are mostly commercial, dotted with a few old homes which have been renovated into businesses.

There shouldn’t be anyone to notice us.

Or, if they do, hopefully they won’t care enough to get involved.

“There are security cameras on the northeast corner of the property wall.” Tucker gestures to the stone column in the distance to our right. Holy shit, his heightened sight is better than a vampire’s because Zane and I hadn’t even picked up on that yet.

Zane nods. “Any lights on them to determine if they’re active?”

Tucker squints and shakes his head. “No. There are wires hanging loose. They’re long forgotten.”

“Or made to look that way,” Scottie offers. “Nothing Lazarus Kaza has done suggests he overlooks details. The loose wires might be a decoy, so people don’t consider the camera a threat.”

Good point.

Zane considers her comment and nods. “All right. Let’s assume any cameras we find are live and avoid getting caught by their line of sight.”

We circle back in the other direction and creep close to examine a section of crumbling stone wall. Zane waves off any attempt to use it to access the property within. “If I were Kaza, I’d leave this here as an invitation for a breach point. I’d have guards and security cameras watching it.”

Agreed.I scan the area and find an alternative.“There’s a grouping of trees in the backyard of that Gothic house up ahead. I say we climb those and use the shadowed canopy to peek over the wall before committing ourselves.”

Everyone agrees on that, so I lead the way.

Minutes later, we’ve accessed the backyard of the neighboring house, climbed the trees, and eliminated any risk of foot patrol or cameras catching us coming over the wall.

The property is laid out with a main hospital building plus a half-dozen smaller outbuildings. The layout provides plenty of hiding spots but also means countless points where we’ll need to watch ourselves or risk being discovered.

“Check this out.” Scottie points to a path of worn grass along the inside of the stone wall. “Someone is walking the perimeter.”

Zane kneels beside her to examine the path.

“Without knowing how frequently the guards make their rounds, it’s impossible to know how much time we have.” I study the landscape, frowning at all the blind spots those buildings create. “We should split up. Two move that way and watch the main entrance while two circle the buildings.”

Scottie nods and checks her watch. “We’ll work to verify there are mutts here and then we’ll call Link to bring the royal guards for backup.”

“Agreed.” Zane glances between us. “Scottie and I will make our way to the trees in view of the entrance. You and Tucker check the perimeter.”

The way he claimed Scottie as his stakeout partner doesn’t escape my notice. Neither does the quick look that passes between her and Tucker. But now isn’t the time for relationship drama or getting possessive.

“Keep your comms open,” I tell them, tapping my earpiece. “If you see anything suspicious, don’t engage. We’re just here to confirm the location.”

Tucker falls into step beside me as we peel away from the others, both of us moving with practiced stealth toward the eastern wing of the building.

Tucker and I stick to the shadows, following the crumbling stone wall that defines the property line. The silence between us stretches, broken only by our careful footsteps on bits of brick and dead leaves.

“So,” I keep my voice a low whisper, “what happened that had you looking like someone pissed in your Cheerios earlier? You mentioned getting a call?”

Tucker shoots me a sideways glance. “It was pack drama from up north.”

“Yeah, you said that. But here’s the thing—” I pause to scan the tree line before continuing. “If you’re with Scottie, and we’re with Scottie, that makes us a unit. Your problems become our problems.”

Tucker stops walking and stares. “So what…we’re all one big happy family now? I’ve seen the way you look at me, vampire. You don’t want me here.”

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