spy in Valhalla,” he snapped, forcing himself back into motion.
“We’re looking into it,” Lana promised, her beautiful face smoothed of emotions. “But it’s extremely unlikely the leak came from here.”
He headed down the staircase, one painful step at a time.
“Of course not,” he muttered. He didn’t think Lana could be entirely unbiased when it came to her beloved Valhalla.
He heard her heave an exasperated sigh. “Think, Bas. The Brotherhood isn’t large enough to have their followers based in every city. How could they have time to set up a trap and get it in place when none of us knew the coordinates until Boggs contacted me?” she said.
He scowled. “Maybe we were followed from the abbey.”
“Only Wolfe and I knew you were traveling to France.”
Shit. She had a point.
He didn’t believe for a second that Lana or Wolfe would betray them.
He reached the bottom of the stairs and weaved his way across the small foyer like a drunken human.
“Could Boggs have set us up?” he asked, managing to reach the door without collapsing.
Grasping the handle, he held onto it with a death grip, his breath a loud rasp.
Christ. He felt as weak as a newborn pup.
What the hell had they shot into him?
“Doubtful,” Lana murmured, her brow furrowing as she considered the question. “He’s unpredictable, but he’s fiercely loyal. I don’t think he’s a traitor.”
Neither did Bas.
Which meant he had to hope Kaede could discover how the Brotherhood had gotten their information.
Accepting that it was a question he’d have to deal with later, Bas pulled open the door and stepped out of the house. It was dark, the front garden bathed in shadows, but Bas had the ability to easily see at night. Which meant he was still several feet away from the SUV parked at the gate when he realized the front window had been shattered and Myst was no longer in her seat.
An icy fear clutched his heart, his mouth dry as he stumbled forward.
“Shit,” he breathed in horror.
In his mind, Lana shoved herself to her feet, the feel of her magic a tangible force.
“What’s going on, Bas?”
“She’s gone,” he rasped.
“Wait there and I’ll send hunters from the monastery to help you search for her,” she commanded.
“Screw that.”
Bas didn’t hesitate to slam her out of his brain. Lana wasn’t the only one with power. And if she thought for a second he was going to wait around for backup, she didn’t know him at all.
Moving toward the SUV, Bas paused long enough to retrieve the gun he’d hidden beneath the seat and to lock on to Myst’s scent.
“Hold on, cara, I’m coming,” he whispered softly, heading down the narrow path with a lethal determination.
* * *
Kaede had been forced to wait until dinner was being served in the main bunkhouse before he could at last slip away from his new bestie.
Hester had refused to leave his side as they’d finished up at the training center and taken a tour of the abandoned mines now known as the “pit.” For a while Kaede thought he might have to scrape the man off like a barnacle. Or he might just kill him and dump his body in one of the deep shafts where they’d left Myst when she was barely more than a baby.
The idea had poetic justice.
Unfortunately he couldn’t risk attracting unwanted attention, so he’d bided his time, waiting for Hester to grab a tray and get in line before he silently slid out a side door.
From there he’d casually strolled toward the A-frame house, taking careful note of the various guards who stood on duty, as well as the number of doors into the private residence. His only intention had been to get a feel for the security that surrounded the house and the easiest point of entrance. But he’d been passing along the back edge of the swimming pool that looked grossly out of place in the barren landscape when he realized he was being watched.
He’d deliberately dropped his phone, giving him the opportunity to covertly glance toward the outdoor bar near the back of the house.
Lying on a recliner was a woman with long auburn hair and a lush body shown to advantage in a red halter top and white shorts. Her gaze had followed him from the time he’d stepped around the house.
At first he’d sensed her burst of fury. No doubt she preferred to keep her loyal followers from realizing she lay around the luxurious pool sipping a glass of wine and enjoying a