Page 67 of The Death God
People were moving everywhere, screams and growls filled the air. It was too crowded, and he wasn’t sure who was on his team and who wasn’t. Gregory looked around, instinctively searching for Rufus’ fiery hair in the crowd before he could stop himself.
The man he was holding down tried to break free, and Gregory shoved him onto the floor anew before hissing in his face, making sure he saw his fangs. As he pushed him down, he wondered if he had cuffs or zip ties on him he could use. It was a waste of time sitting there and holding one person immobilized.
Running a hand over him in search of restraints, grief so sharp he couldn’t breathe filled him. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and a sob tore out of him.
Thanatos. Had something happened to Thanatos? He held the man and tried to fight against the anguished wail wanting out. He couldn’t get air into his lungs, his heart was shattering, he didn’t want to live anymore.
Then Alaric dropped to his knees next to him and took over holding the guard down. “The grief god or whatever?”
His words penetrated some of the fog in his brain. “Oh, fuck. I’m gonna kill the bastard.” Before he could locate the fucker, the grief lost its hold, and he wiped his cheeks in annoyance. “Where did he go?” What did he look like, so he could avoid him in the future?
“Jedrek carried him outside.”
“Alone? Is that safe?”
Alaric grimaced. “Remo! Take this asshole and make sure Jedrek is okay. He has the grief.”
The wolf Gregory had almost run into when he’d taken out the smoker grabbed the guard.
“Load them in the trunks of the cars.” Alaric stood and looked over to where several wolves had surrounded the man who’d carried Amell out of the clearing. He looked terrified, the poor thing, but cornered, terrified creatures were dangerous.
Gregory moved closer. “Kratos?”
The huge man’s eyes snapped to his.
“Himeros told us you’d be here.” He hadn’t, but maybe speaking about Himeros would calm him.
“Who?”
Or not. “The guy you were to retrieve today.”
Alaric slid up next to him, and Kratos’ gaze flicked to him.
“We don’t want to hurt you, but we need you to come with us.” Gregory kept his voice calm. “Can you do that, you think?”
Kratos turned to him again. “Where?”
Good question. “To a castle.”
“Will I be punished?” Kratos straightened, but fear emanated from him. Gregory shouldn’t care, but…What did a man like Kratos fear? He was big and inhumanely strong, most likely stronger than he was, which was disconcerting. No human should be stronger than a vampire.
“Not if you help us. I live with four psychics. One of them is my mate.” Alaric snorted next to him, but he ignored it. “We mean you no harm, but if you fight us, we’ll have to defend ourselves.”
Kratos curled and uncurled his hands. “Has the superintended cleared it?”
Fuck. “Nope, but we’ll get to her.”
Kratos’ shoulders slumped, and Gregory believed he’d won this round. “Come on. Let’s get you in a car.” He’d never fit in a trunk. It was a problem for later. Gregory nodded toward the door and gestured for Kratos to walk with him.
Alaric dropped his shoulders and went to get Amell off a cot in the corner. He was still out of it but at least someone had removed the dart from his thigh. With a grim look, Alaric pulled at his arm and one of the other wolves came to help him.
* * * *
Thanatos stayed in the kitchen, as did Jaki, Minerva, and Prophecy.
“I have a bad feeling.” Minerva’s hand curled around her cup in a hard grip.
“Speak a prophecy.” Thanatos was a little annoyed she hadn’t offered on her own. Amell had been kidnapped, Gregory was doing his best to get him back, and Rufus believed there would be an attack on the castle any minute now. Why the fuck hadn’t she and Prophecy tried to help the situation?
