Page 36 of Act of Command

“Brad. And you?”

“Alice,” she said, glancing around the room more. Gasping, she ran to the bed and bent. When she stood she had Mae’s glasses in her hand. Her gaze snapped to him. “Who was in here before me?’

“That is Mae’s cell,” he said softly. “They took her hours ago. She was having a reaction to the drugs they’re giving us.”

Alice shook, clutching the glasses in one hand, looking much more vulnerable than she had when she’d first arrived. “They have Mae too?”

“You know her?” he asked.

“She’s my best friend,” answered Alice, the fight seeming to leave her. She sank to the floor and sat, holding the glasses to her chest. “She’s so innocent and always forgetting things. She’s not a fighter. She can’t handle this.”

Brad didn’t point out that not many people could handle it. Another thought hit him. “How long have you been here?”

She didn’t respond at first, when she finally did, she sounded tired. “At this facility, just today. I was at a different one for a couple of weeks. I think. Time is hard to keep without a clock.”

He knew what she meant.

She kept going, “They said I was too difficult to deal with at the other place. They brought me here. Something about it being higher security or something. Oh gods, they’ve had Mae this whole time, haven’t they?”

Brad’s chest tightened at the sound of her grief. “She’s been here just over two weeks. She mentioned being taken the night of a blind date.”

Alice gasped and met his gaze. “I was taken then too.”

The door to the room Alice was in opened and Ezra entered. Brad couldn’t help but feel a spark of jealousy at the way Alice’s body relaxed at the sight of the man. “They have my friend Mae.”

Ezra nodded. “I know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, holding Mae’s glasses to her chest as though they were precious. “You came with me from the other place and you never once mentioned they have my best friend too?”

He sighed. “I only just found out this morning. I didn’t know that two of you were taken from the same location. That information wasn’t presented to me prior. She’s fine, Alice. I promise.”

“Did they force her to breed?” asked Alice, her face paling. “Like they threatened to do to me?”

Ezra snorted and Brad punched the window, flipping the man off. It was no laughing matter. Ezra shook his head. “Relax, wolf. I’m only laughing because any man who tries to get near Alice has been very sorry.”

Brad wasn’t sure he bought the beautiful creature in the cell next to him was capable of more than a harsh verbal tongue lashing, but this was the second guard to reference her piss and vinegar.

Alice shrugged nonchalantly. “I told them they weren’t touching me. They should have listened.”

“Not sure the one you went at this morning will ever have use of his manhood again,” said Ezra with a grin.

Alice smiled, looking very proud of herself. “Good. Asshole should know it’s wrong to touch a woman who doesn’t want to be touched. Now every time his dick doesn’t work, he’ll remember why that is.”

Brad liked her. A lot.

Ezra held his hand out. “Mae needs her glasses. She’s resting now and I made sure to leave someone with her who will keep her safe.”

Alice stiffened, her gaze narrowing. “This Caesar guy you’re working with?”

“The fact you were able to read my thoughts before I figured it out and started blocking you is unnerving,” said Ezra. “And to answer your question, no. Caesar isn’t with her. He’s not checked in with me yet. He should have.”

“You think something happened to him, don’t you?”

Ezra offered a curt nod. “I have to say you’re one of the few people in my long life who can do that—who can read me. I’m not really a fan of it.”

Alice shrugged again as if it was no big deal. “Never met a guy who could shift into a dragon. Hell, I didn’t think dragons were ever real.”

“Most people assume werewolves aren’t real,” replied Ezra. “And I think Brad would be the first to dispute that claim.”

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