Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” Garris says, his expression grim. “But I think it is time we spoke to the alpha. This is bigger than the three of us.”
He might be right.
“Fine,” I say. “Call him.”
Garris pulls out his tablet and puts the call into Thorn, though not before I see how many missed calls there already are from the alpha. It shouldn’t please me that Garris has been ignoring Thorn’s summons in order to help me, but it does.
I can hear Thorn’s voice transmitted through the air. He sounds angry. That’s rare for him.
“I sent the two of you to retrieve Avel, not join him in his rebellion. Where is he?”
“He’s with me,” Garris says. “He has found some blood he suspects belongs to his human mate. He also located a cache of saurjuice. We are dealing with both now.”
I hear a pause and then a growl. Thorn will not be pleased that Garris and Cirrus are taking orders from me, but they always have. I am his second in command, and that means everybody he sends for me has at one time or another done precisely as I have told them to do.
I shouldn’t feel as pleased as I do, but his means and method of summoning me did not please me.
“Put him on, Garris.”
Garris extends the tablet toward me. There is a brief moment in which I consider slapping it out of his hand.
“Yes, Thorn?”
“What in the primal’s name are you doing, Avel!? I have dozens of reports of you half-killing Wrath and then taking off with him. Since when do you act so recklessly?”
“Since someone took my mate,” I reply simply.
“I know Raine’s missing. Everybody in the city knows Raine is missing thanks to your outburst. She’ll be found.”
“I know. Because I intend to find her.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Avel. I have investigators on the case.”
“And I just found her blood on the floor following Wrath’s tip. So I think I’m going to keep pursuing my methods.”
There’s a brief pause. “Are you defying me, Avel?”
“Only if you make me.” I answer without hesitation.
“Avel…” Thorn rumbles. “You know better than this. You’re out of control, and the population is taking note.”
“Good. Then they will learn not to interfere with my mate. I am going to track this blood trail, Thorn. Let me know if there are any useful updates.”
I disconnect the commlink and hand the tablet back to Garris, who takes it with a stunned look on his face. He probably cannot believe I just spoke to Thorn that way. There’s some part of me that is also surprised, I suppose. I had never imagined I would deny the alpha anything or defy him so blatantly. But every now and then, something comes along that justifies a radical shift in priorities. Raine is that shift. I would do much more than take Wrath for a little ride in the sky or tell Thorn I can’t come to see him at the moment to get her back.
A moment later, Cirrus calls.
“Speak,” I say, ignoring the way the tablet vibrates with the alpha’s attempts to call me back.
“The maid has some interesting things to say. She’s given me the names of all the saurians who’ve visited the place in the last forty-eight hours. A lot of them match Torin’s crew.”
“Why am I not surprised? Where is Torin? Has he deployed to the bar yet?”
“Torin is supposed to be out at the Ground Bar. But he isn’t there. I already called. He didn’t show. Add another one to the missing list.”
6 CRIME AND ANARCHY
Raine
I come to my senses in a very comfortable room. There are beautiful tapestries all over the walls, and I am lying on a pile of fine cushions at the foot of a very large bed. The room smells like plants and musk. It’s messy, with items of clothing and tools and treasures sort of strewn about as if they were put down haphazardly and simply left there. It reminds me of some of the crew quarters I’ve seen on the Mare, usually belonging to new pirates who still think they need to keep every bit of loot and booty they come across.
“You’re awake.”
I find myself looking into the eyes of a familiar face. Torin looks different now that he’s at ease in his own environment. I’m going to guess that we are still somewhere underground. There’re no windows, and the walls have that hard-packed look that gives the place the feeling of a lair.
“I am,” I agree, sitting up slowly. I expect to hurt, and I do, though not as much as I expected. There’s a certain pleasant, numb sensation suffusing me, making me feel nice and relaxed. I could fight the feeling, try to become alert and combat ready, but I am not sure I can be bothered. My psychedelic jaunt through the past was harrowing, and I’m happy to be separated from it.