Page 104 of Primal Bonds

He’d brought a switchblade himself, but if things went south, he was going in as his cougar. His teeth literally ached to sink into Corban’s carotid.

As they emerged into the early morning light, Zuri arrived on his motorcycle. He looked from Adric to Marjani. “What’s wrong?”

“Corban and a night fae attacked your den.” Adric slung a leg over his bike while Marjani hopped on behind.

Zuri’s jaw set. Without a word, he swung around and took off down the street, Adric right behind.

The outside door to Jace’s den was wide open, the look-away spell broken. Adric took the lead as they pounded down the steps. The scent of blood was strong—Jace’s mainly, but a touch of Corban’s as well.

Adric eased open the front door. The living room was intact, except for a thin trail of blood, also Jace’s. The bedrooms were dead silent. The three of them moved into the hall on catlike feet.

He inhaled, sorting through the scents: Kyler, Sam, and Horace were all still present, if injured. He set that aside to identify the three that didn’t belong. He didn’t think they were still in the den, but just in case, he kept his voice too low for anyone but Marjani and Zuri to hear. “It’s Corban and Tyrus all right…and Kane Savonett.”

The three of them exchanged a glance. Another traitor, this one living and working with the rest of them for the past six years. Even though Adric had never entirely trusted Kane, it was still a blow.

They all saw the pool of blood outside the bathroom. Jace’s blood, mixed with a fair amount of Corban’s. At least his friend had gone down fighting. But the bathroom was empty.

A faint groan came from Jace’s bedroom. Kyler.

“Go check the other rooms,” he hissed at Marjani and Zuri as he slipped in through the partially open door.

The teenager was seated on the floor, arms around his legs, rocking back and forth and moaning, the back of his head matted with blood.

Adric’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice calm. “Kyler? It’s me—Adric.”

He started and scuttled away, wild-eyed. “No…”

“It’s okay.” Adric crouched beside him and stretched out a hand. “You’re safe now. I’m here to help. Just tell me what happened.”

The teen’s whole body shuddered.

Adric clasped his shoulder. “Kyler? Snap out of it. I need you to tell me what happened so I can help your sister.”

“Evie.” Kyler’s wide, shocked eyes focused on Adric. “They have Evie.”

“Who?”

“A night fae and a wolf and another man. You have to help her.”

“Do you know where they took her?”

The kid shook his head. “But you can track them, can’t you?”

“Yes. Now come. You can wait in the living room—put some ice on that head.” He rose to his feet and held out a hand.

Kyler looked at it for a few seconds and then took it.

“There you go.” Adric placed an arm around the kid’s bony shoulders and helped him into the hall.

Marjani stepped out of Sam’s room to report that he was injured, but that Suha was on her way over with Beau. “They tore him up pretty bad, but he was able to use his quartz to stem the bleeding.”

“Good.”

Zuri called from Horace’s room. “Ric? You’d better come here.”

Adric jerked his head at Kyler. “Take the kid,” he told Marjani. “His head got banged up, but nothing too much else that I can see. Get some ice on that head of his, will you?”

She nodded and helped Kyler down the hall as Adric strode toward Horace’s room.

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