Page 397 of Primal Bonds

Her full lips curved. “Haven’t you figured it out? I already have.”

Chapter 32

The Rock Run men rode fast and hard. Marjani grimly kept up, fear for her brother a live creature gnawing at her insides.

Behind her, Fane maintained a loose grip on her hips. She was thankful now he’d insisted on coming. She’d never needed his calm, steadying presence more.

As they pulled onto I-95, she tapped her quartz, calling Jace.

“Hey, Jani.” He raised his voice to be heard over the sound of drilling. He must be at the quartz mine. “Whassup?”

“It’s Ric. He’s not at his den. I think he’s going to New Moon.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah. I tried to get ahold of him, but he’s cut off all communication. And it’s deliberate. I can tell.”

“He didn’t give you a heads-up?”

She ground her teeth. “No.”

“Fuck.” They both knew that if Adric hadn’t told Marjani he was leaving, it was because he’d wanted to sneak out of town. Whatever he was up to, it was dangerous.

“And somehow Rosana do Rio got mixed up in it. I found Dion, Rui, Tiago and a couple of other Rock Run men outside Ric’s den. They looked ready to tear him apart with their bare hands.”

“His den? What the fuck?”

She explained how Rosana had apparently been kidnapped from outside Adric’s den.

Jace swore. “They don’t think it was Ric?”

“No. But it looks like it might’ve been Luc. His scent was all over Ric’s backyard.”

“Hell.” Jace’s tone matched the sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. “So Lady B’s a part of this? But what the fuck would she want with Rosana?”

“Good question. But Cleia traced Rosana to southern Maryland. I’m on 95 south of Baltimore, along with Dion and his men. Fane’s with me.”

“On my way.” The sound of drilling faded as he made his way to the surface.

“I’ll keep you updated on our location, but figure on going to Virginia. And Jace? Call Zuri, tell him what’s up. Until he hears otherwise, he’s in charge.”

“Cat’s balls, Jani. Give me the hard job, why don’t you? Zuri’s going to be royally pissed if we leave him in Baltimore.”

“He’ll just have to deal,” she returned in a hard voice. “He’s chief of security. With Adric and me both out of the city, he’s in charge. And if the night fae catch Adric, we’ll be at war—he’ll have more than enough to keep busy. And Jace? No secrets.” The clan had had their fill of that during the Darktime, and even since. “Tell Zuri to let everyone know what’s up. Ric’s going in there for me. Every den needs to decide once and for all if they’re with the two of us—or against us. If not, they should leave now, or I will personally kick their asses out of Baltimore.”

“Understood.”

Fane leaned forward to mutter in Marjani’s ear. “Tell him to send Evie and Kyle to Baltimore. They’re not safe in Grace Harbor alone.”

Marjani nodded. She relayed Fane’s message, adding. “If she asks why, tell her the healers will need her.”

It was the one argument guaranteed to get Evie back to Baltimore. If it came to war, the healers would be stretched to their limits, and Evie’s ability to add her energy to theirs would be desperately needed.

“Already planning on it. Horace is with me—he’ll make sure they get there okay. You heard that?” he asked the cougar fada.

When Horace said yes, Jace instructed him to shut down the mine and send everyone back to Baltimore, ASAP.

Marjani heard the rumble of Jace’s motorcycle coming to life. “I’m right behind you,” he told her, and ended the call.

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