Page 202 of Primal Bonds

“You know his son died.”

Do Mar nodded. “We do.”

Of course they did. Adric would bet Rock Run even knew that a Baltimore fada had killed Tyrus. But most people believed it had been Adric who’d knifed the man—because that was how he wanted it.

“He asked about Merry,” he told do Mar. “He wanted me to agree to give him access to her.”

“In exchange for what?”

My sister’s life. “That’s clan business. But I lied—told him Merry was dead.”

Adric caught a hint of surprise in the other man’s scent, but his face remained impassive. “I see.”

“She got rid of her quartz?” Adric asked, even though he knew the answer. He no longer felt the thin bond connecting him to Merry.

“Sim, yes. It was hard, but she trusts you.”

Adric’s cheek flexed. “I’m sorry.” He was Merry’s alpha. It was only right that she trusted and obeyed him—no matter that Rock Run had claimed her as an honorary river fada—but he’d hated like hell to give the order. It hurt an earth fada to remove their quartz. “It’s for her own protection.”

“She knows.”

“Make sure she finds another quartz—soon. She’s still growing. She needs the energy more than ever right now.”

Do Mar nodded. “She’s already looking for another one. We have a few small deposits within the base.”

“Good.” The Rock Run Base had been carved out of underground caverns near the mouth of the Susquehanna River, an area rich with quartz deposits.

“There’s more,” Adric added. “Our best guess is that Tyrus was trying to wipe out everyone connected to Merry. That’s why he targeted Jace.” He blew out a breath. “And when I met with the prince, he made a point of telling me that all three of his sons are dead.”

Adric didn’t have to connect the dots. Do Mar bit out something dark in Portuguese. “He wants Merry.”

“He didn’t say it straight out, but she’s his only living heir.”

“So he has changed his mind.” Do Mar rubbed a hand over his face. “Before, he didn’t want his people to know he had a half-blood son with a human. He was happy for us to keep Merry at Rock Run.”

“She may be only a quarter night fae, but she’s his blood. His only granddaughter.”

Their eyes met. Do Mar’s shark shone in his eyes, and Adric knew the other man could see cougar-blue streaking his.

“No fucking way,” Adric ground out, “am I going to let Merry be raised by the night fae. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, let alone a sweet kid like her.”

“Agreed. We will keep a close watch on her. We have one advantage—Dion’s mate, Queen Cleia. She loves Merry.”

“I’m counting on it.” Adric had never thought he’d be grateful the Rock Run alpha had mated with the sun fae queen; it gave Rock Run too much power in their little corner of Maryland. But now he thanked the gods that Merry had Cleia to protect her.

“She’s already volunteered one of her best spellcasters to cast a look-away spell for Merry’s new quartz,” do Mar said. “The prince may look for her, but he won’t find her.”

“Thank you.”

“I have no need of thanks,” the other man said as they rose to their feet. “You still don’t comprehend, do you? Merry is my daughter, here.” He touched a fist to his heart. “I would do anything to keep her safe and happy. And my mate—Valeria—feels the same.”

Adric nodded—and then stuck out his hand.

Do Mar’s hooded eyes flickered with surprise. In all the years they’d known each other, they’d never touched. Touch was reserved for clan members, or at least people you didn’t see as an enemy. But Adric could no longer see the shark fada as an enemy, even if he was the Rock Run second.

The other man gripped his hand firmly. “Peace to you and yours.”

Adric met his eyes. “And to you and yours.”

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