Page 93 of Royal Bite
It had taken her too long to understand that. She promised that she would do all she could to make up for it when she got Stormey back.
If one hair was harmed on Stormey’s head, Hegna would lose it.
No doubt about it.
She would kill anyone who dared to harm her mate.
“Like I would have it any other way,” Niall said. He covered his wife’s hand with his. Something passed between the two of them. He turned back to Hegna, his eyes hardening. “We will get on national television. Azura wants to play games. She wants to make threats against me. The lycan better damn well be able to back up those threats. She’s a pup compared to me. I’ve fought larger and older lycans and won. I will squash her and her twin like the vermin they are.”
Hegna’s heart raced at the thought of fighting alongside her father. Niall Riskel was a legend in the vampire world, and he was well respected as a warrior and as a king.
“Don’t lose your focus, daughter,” the queen said.
Hegna turned to her mother, surprised. “I am focused,” she bit out around her fangs. It had been extremely difficult to walk around their private area, scent her mate, but not have her to hold. Hegna wanted Stormey in her arms again. She wanted to be able to nuzzle her neck with her face and breathe her in. Her voluptuous body belonged pressed against Hegna’s muscular frame. “So fucking focused that I have imagined all of the ways I will kill Azura.”
A glint appeared in her eyes that alluded to the queen’s own bloodthirsty need for vengeance. The same lycan had threatened her mate and would not go unpunished.
“There will be time for bloodshed, daughter. I promise you this. The lycans will pay for everything. Spreading lies, attacking our towns, threatening your king and taking your mate.” The queen held her head high, a devious grin appearing on her lips. She was just as dangerous as her husband. The lycans didn’t know how truly fucked they were. They wanted the attention of the royal family on them.
They had it.
Her sisters were a phone call away. Their armies were ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Her mother was right. No matter how much she wanted to go out and kill every single lycan who crossed her path, it would not do her any good. They were loyal to their alpha—alphas—and would not roll over and give away their position.
“If you need us, don’t hesitate to call for backup,” her father growled. He glared at Hegna.
She was known to be a hothead and had been told she was just like her father. She bit her lip, denying she would need them.
“Yes, Father.”
Her father stared at her for another moment before he motioned for the call to end. The room appeared to breathe once the royal couple’s hologram images were no longer present. Hegna glanced over at Bijou who gave her a comforting nod.
“Your Grace!” June rose from her laptop. The hacker stood, determination lining her face. She held papers. “We have what you asked for.”
“What do you have?” Hegna strode over to her. She was immediately hit with the slight scent of fear coming from some of the techies. She eyed them but dismissed their fear. If they gave her what she wanted, then there was no need to be afraid of her. This was a critical time, and there was no room for mistakes.
“First, I found traces of the hacker who got into our system. I assure you that we will seal it and this will never happen again.” June lifted her chin and met Hegna’s hard gaze. She handed the papers over to Hegna. “Second, I found the recent purchase agreements of two warehouses and I was able to trace them back to multiple dummy corporations. But lucky enough, our team is the best, and we were able to zip through all of the red tape. The owner of the properties listed on those papers is Rayna Vaughn.”
“Who?” Hegna asked.
“Rayna Vaughn is the sister to Azura Michaels.”
Hegna flipped through the papers and took notice that Rayna Vaughn owned three large buildings in Black Hollow and countless within her territory alone.
“Good job,” Hegna said. She looked up at June who appeared relieved. “Take care of the break in our system.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” all of the techies echoed.
Hegna moved back to Bijou and Corbin and tossed the papers on the table. She leaned down, gripping the edge of it tight.
“How bad is it?” Corbin asked. He picked up the papers and eyed them. A whistle slipped from his lips before he passed them to Bijou.
The general glanced down at the papers. “Your Grace. The warriors are ready. We can separate and coordinate this within twenty minutes.”
“Good.” Hegna stood to her full height. She trusted her second-in-command would do as she promised. The men and women who served her were highly trained and would not rest until they had accomplished the mission. “We have less than twenty-four hours to find my mate. I will not accept failure in this.”
Stormey closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. After her debut on national television, she’d been dragged away and thrown into a little room. It wasn’t the one that she’d woken up in, but it at least allowed her to be alone. There was a small cot that was harder than the cement floor. A hole in the floor in the corner was her toilet. She grimaced thinking of the scent that rose from it.
