Page 57 of Rurik
“Jason, uncuffhim.”
“You can’tbelieve—”
Damien looked to his brother. “Did Istutter?”
Jason’s lip curled, but he reluctantly obeyed. Soon Rurik was rubbing his sorewrists.
“What do you need from us?” askedDamien.
“Aside from a bottle of aspirin?” Rurik said. “Aphone.”
Damien nodded to the one called Nicholas, who tossed him hisphone.
“Thank you,” Rurik said. Calling Grigori’s cell, Rurik knew he would have to speak English and on speakerphone so his new potential allies would understand and trusthim.
“Rurik, is it done? Did you acquire that third vial?” Grigori spoke in Russian, but Rurik answered in clearEnglish.
“Grigori, we have a problem. I ran into Charlotte’s brothers, and while we were having a polite and civil conversation, Charlotte waskidnapped.”
There was a short pause. “Drakor.”
“That is my guess as well,” Rurik said. “We don’t have much time. He’s not a fool. He won’t make the mistake of waiting to kill her in front of us like he tried to do with Madelyn. He will kill her immediately because he knows it will killme.”
“But he hasn’talready?”
“No…” It was true, he’d have known instantly if Charlotte died, and though it might take hours or days for him to pass on, that part would beinevitable.
“But whynot?”
Damien cut in. “I believe he’s going to arrange things to make it look like you didit.”
“Who is this?” Grigoriasked.
“Damien MacQueen of theBrotherhood.”
“Why would Drakor fake Charlotte’s death as if we killedher?”
Damien exchanged glances with Rurik. “I think he expects us to exterminate your family inretaliation.”
“Which you would do without question,” Grigori said, a sting in hisvoice.
“If it’s any consolation, I’d bet money he’d have men in position to take us out afterward,” said Jason, edging closer to the phone. “It’s what I’ddo.”
Grigori began cursing, and Rurik heard Madelyn’s sleepy voice in the background as she asked what was going on. “What do you propose, MacQueen?” he said atlast.
“If…” Damien paused. “If we work together, we need a few agreements in place for what happens after Charlotte is rescued.” He met Rurik’s stare, then looked down, as if slightly ashamed. “Look. There’s a lot we could argue about right now, I know. Tons of blame to throw at each other. Centuries of bad blood. But that has to wait for another day. Rurik and Charlotte both said that they wanted to be a first step toward us working together, and I believe that. So here’s what I propose. We work together, rescue Charlotte, and part in peace. Then, when you’re ready, we talk, on neutralground.”
Grigori said nothing for a moment, and when he did speak, his tone had softened. “You’re different from your ancestors. You have a dragon’s wisdom in you.Agreed.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “Great, now that the hug fest is out of the way, would someone explain to me how we findCharlotte?”
“That is up to my brother,” said Grigori. “He’s the only one who could tell us where sheis.”
“What? How?” Jasonasked.
Rurik stared at the brothers. “The bond between us is already strong. I could sense her wherever she was…until you injected me with thatserum.”
“MacQueen drugged you?” Grigori’s shout made the phone’s speakerswhine.
