Page 51 of Blood Submission

Keira appeared behind Luukas. “What is it you need to tell me?” Laying a hand on Luuk’s arm, she tried to get him to let her pass, but he wouldn’t budge. With a sigh, she stood behind him and peeked out from over his shoulder as he rocked on the balls of his feet, ready to pounce at the slightest indication.

In that moment, Grace was very grateful that Waano had come so close to succeeding in killing Aiden, for it was Luukas’s blood that had saved him. And that re-established blood bond was the only thing saving himnow.

“Not her,” Waano said. He pointed past them into the office Keira had just left. “Her.”

Grace looked to where he pointed, as did everyone else. Ryan, Christian’s female, stood in the doorway, her face pale and her eyes wide with fright.

“They’re coming,” Waano told her. The same thing he had told Grace.

“Who’s coming?” Keira asked.

He directed his words at Ryan. “The demons. They’re here, and they’re coming for the box. You must not let them find it. Your brother. Tell Shea she must contact him. They must not find the lastclue.”

Keira frowned. “Who must Shea contact?”

Waano smiled, an evil grimace that was nothing but a morbid replica of Aiden’s normal cheeky grin. “She will know of whom I speak.”

“But who is ‘he’?” Keira asked.

Waano’s head whipped around toward her. “I’m not speaking to you, witch!” Grace rushed forward, as did Nik. But before they could reach him, Luukas shoved Keira back and rose to his full height. Throwing out his hands, he roared with rage and knocked the demon back a few steps without ever touching him. The fact that he was only able to throw him a few steps spoke of the demon’s power.

The demon narrowed his eyes, but stayed where he was. Looking around the angry vampire, he repeated to Ryan, “Tell her. She will know.” Then he smiled at Luukas again. “Until next time, Master Vampire.”

Grace held her breath as Aiden’s eyes rolled back in his head. His body sagged as the thing that was animating it slithered back to wherever it normally hid. His knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor just as she and Nik rushed forward to grabhim.

Aiden gagged as he pulled his knees into chest. “Bloody hell,” he moaned. “I think I’m going to retch.”

Tears filled Grace’s eyes as she pulled his head and shoulders into her arms. He could ‘retch’ on her all he wanted, as long as she had him back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luukas walk to the window and knew Keira would be watching him with a worried expression. Though his state of mind had gotten much better since they’d come home, it was never a good sign when he stared out the window.

Ryan came out of the office, looking as confused as Gracefelt.

“Who is your brother?”

Ryan shook her head slowly, her brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t have a brother.”

“I need a shower, luv,” Aiden groaned. “Get me home, please. I need a shower.”

“Okay.” She kissed his forehead. “Nik, would you help me, please?”

“I’m on it.” Bending down, he pulled his best friend from her arms and threw him over his muscular shoulders in a fireman’s hold. He pointed with his chin at his brother. “You got him?” he asked Keira.

She nodded. “He’ll be fine.” To Ryan, she said, “We need to figure out what the hell Aiden’s alter-ego was trying to tell us, who it is he wants you towarn.”

“I guess we need to ask Shea,” Ryan said. “He said she could get a hold of ‘him’, whoever thatis.”

“Let’s go,” Nik told Grace, and she fell into step behindhim.

As they waited for the elevator, Grace looked up at Nik. He smiled down at her, but she could tell he was distracted. “I wonder why he didn’t just go straight toShea?”

Graced shrugged. “Do you think he meant what I think he meant?”

“That the demon-possessed vampires Leeha created have figured out we have the last clue they’re looking for, and that they’re here in Seattle to get it, leaving a path of rotting bodies behind them? Yeah, I think that’s exactly what he meant.”

The elevator opened and they got inside, Grace making sure Aiden’s head didn’t slam into anything. “What are we going todo?”

“We planned on taking the box out of here tonight. We’ll still do that.” He frowned. “We’ll have to bring all of you with us now. There’s no fucking way I’m leaving Emma here by herself with the threat of those things finding their wayin.”

“Keira has wards in place. I don’t think they could getin.”

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