Page 42 of Blood Submission

“It’s where the monster dwells,” Aiden told her. “The parts where the tourists aren’t allowed because it’s”—he made quotation marks in the air—“dangerous.”

Emma stood up, knocking Nik’s hand away from her ass. “And you guys are just going to leave her down there? It’s gotta be cold. And wet. She must be miserable.”

“He’ll bring her up eventually,” Nik told her as he tried to pull her down again.

“I don’t know about that,” Sheasaid.

Emma and Grace looked at each other, and two sets of Moss jaws set with determination. “We’re going to get her,” Grace said. “She’s family. And even if she wasn’t, we couldn’t just leave a human being locked away down there. Come on, Em.” The two witches got up and started walking toward the frontdoor.

“You two don’t even know where you’re going,” Nik calledout.

“We’ll find it,” Emma answered.

“Don’t leave the apartment building,” Aiden warnedthem.

Shea looked at the two guys. They looked back, and Nik shrugged as Aiden turned the fights backon.

“You know there’ll be no stopping them now,” he said. “Besides, they’ll never find it. Might as well finish watching the fight and then we can figure out how we’re going to get Dante to allow the female to stay in the protective coven of our witches.”

“You two are idiots,” she told them, not un-fondly. Getting up, she followed the females. “I’ll let myselfout.”

She caught up to the women pulling on their coats by the elevator. “You two seriously don’t want to go down there. Let me talk to Dante. He’ll listen tome.”

“No, we’re going to get her,” Emma insisted. “You can make our lives easier and tell us where he’s hidden her, though.” She smiled sweetly.

Shea couldn’t let them go down there. Dante would be furious if they found his home. And he’d kick her ass if she didn’t try to stop them. The other Hunters didn’t understand why he chose to dwell beneath the city, but Shea did. Sort of. In any case, she respected his wishes to do so. And that he needed his space.

“Please, let me talk to him. I know he seems all hard and tough and unfeeling, but he has his reasons for being the way he is. And he won’t take you guys coming down there and removing her lightly. Let me talk to him,” she repeated. “And if I can’t convince him to take her out of there, I’ll even help you get her and keep her safe.” She stared at each of them in turn. “But you know, he has to be allowed to feed on her. He’ll die if he doesn’t. There’s nothing we can do aboutthat.”

Grace and Emma looked at each other, and Grace gave a small shrug. Emma sighed. “All right. You talk to him, Shea. But if he won’t listen to you, then we go afterher.”

“Agreed,” she said. “Give me a night or two. She’ll be okay untilthen.”

Emma nodded. “Okay. Two nights. Then I go get Keira and Ryan to join us and wego.”

Shea stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

“Deal,” the witches said in unison as they shook onit.

Now to get Dante to agree.

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