Page 122 of Primal Bonds

“Fuck.” Even knowing Corban as he did, Adric found it hard to believe. Earth fada swore to guard the secret of the quartz with their lives. As it was, most fae treated the fada as their pet mercenaries and errand boys. If the secret of the earth fada’s quartz became general knowledge, they could turn the earth clans into slaves.

“I’ll let the other earth alphas know.” This was no longer simply a battle for supremacy between Adric and Corban; it was a full-out war. Every earth fada in the world would be on the lookout for Corban now, with orders to execute him on sight.

Adric glanced at the dank cellar where Tyrus’s body lay. “Thank the gods the man’s dead, or I’d have to kill him myself.”

“But did he tell anyone else?” Marjani spoke before he could. “His father?”

Adric grimaced. He was still reeling from the information that Leron had invited the night fae into Baltimore. The idea of Prince Langdon having that kind of power over the clan made his stomach churn. What did the prince know?

An hour later, it was done. Tyrus was in a shallow grave beneath the dirt floor, and every trace of his scent was removed from the area.

Just to make sure, one of their explosive experts—a woman barely out of her teens—set off a charge after everyone was out. The rest of them watched from a safe distance as the earth rumbled and shook, and then collapsed inward.

Adric didn’t kid himself that this was the end of it. Langdon would eventually track down his son’s remains, and he might even suspect the earth fada—but he wouldn’t have proof.

And if he went after the clan anyway, well, Adric would cross that bridge when he came to it.

Chapter 38

Two grim-faced fada were guarding Jace’s entrance. Jace stopped to talk to them, but Evie pushed past them to run down the steps to the den.

Beau opened the door for her. She barely noticed him saying hello, her gaze searching the room for Kyler.

His face lit up. “Evie!” He bounded off the couch toward her and then halted. “You’re okay?” He rubbed his hands nervously over his shorts.

She gathered him into a hug. “I’m fine.” Her vision blurred, and for a few moments, she just held him tight. Then she swiped a hand over her eyes and pulled back to look him over. “What about you? You’re okay? The wolves—they didn’t hurt you?”

“Nah.” Kyler knuckled a tear from his cheek and she pretended not to notice. “They left right after you. But you…that prick didn’t—”

“I’m fine,” she repeated, because he didn’t need to know how close Tyrus had come to breaking her. “Jace was with me.” She nodded at Jace, who had come up behind her.

“Thank you.” Kyler stuck out a hand to the earth fada.

Jace ignored his hand to pull him into a hug. “Hey, it was a team effort. Your sister smacked the bastard with a fae light.”

“You did?” Kyler’s gaze swung to her. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Don’t ask me how.”

Kyler looked back at Jace. “He’s dead? You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” Kyler said, low and vicious. “Because I was the one who let him in. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help it. I—”

“You did?” Evie knit her brow. “But why?”

“He got to me.” His Adam’s apple worked. “He—showed me things. Of you, dead—all of you. And—and—” He pressed his knuckles into his eyes. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

“Oh, Kyler. It’s okay—you don’t have to talk about it.” She took a step toward him, but Beau was there first, dropping a massive arm around his shoulders.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. The man was a fucking fae lord—one of the strongest night fae around. It could’ve happened to anyone.”

“But it didn’t.” Kyler’s eyes were stark in his narrow face. “It was me he got to. Me who let him in—and not just him, but the wolves. And Horace—he’s hurt bad. Suha’s still with him. Sam’s hurt, too, but not as bad.”

“Horace is hurt?” Evie’s stomach tightened. She met Jace’s eyes.

“Fuck,” he said, and strode toward the bedrooms.

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