Paul and Skyler looked at Josef's sorrowful expression, the dramatic hand over his heart, and both burst out laughing simultaneously.
"He's not going to kill you, Josef," Skyler soothed. "He'll just . . . you know . . . do his Gabriel thing."
"He's going to kill you," Paul assured. "Dead. For certain. But he'll make you suffer first."
"Don't look so happy about it, bro," Josef said. "He's going to kill you, too."
Paul shrugged. "Better him than Zacarias. I've got like five of the craziest Carpathians known that are going to be eager to strangle me; you've only got a couple."
"We'll get in and get out with no one the wiser," Skyler said. "That way no one will get killed."
"Sky, I'm going to be in the ground when you go wandering in the woods," Josef said, worry taking the laughter from his voice. "You'll be very vulnerable. Paul won't be able to be too close to you, so you have to make certain that there is as clear a line of sight as possible from Paul to you at all times. He's your only protection until sunset."
"I honestly don't think the Lycans are going to worry about me rescuing Dimitri. Our papers are in order. We've set the camp up perfectly to be a working environment, and they must know of Dimitri's organization to save the wolves. He's set up preserves all over the world. Of course they have no idea it's that Dimitri they've wrapped in silver."
"There are other things in this forest to worry about than just the Lycans," Josef pointed out. "Wild predators live here."
"I know, but most of them come out at night. Really, I feel like between you and Dimitri, I could use a little encouragement."
"I think the plan is solid," Josef said. "I think your presence will draw a Lycan to you. Just make noise. I want you aware, that's all."
She heard the reluctance, the concern in his voice. He would be in the ground, unable to aid her if she got into trouble. She knew, like Dimitri, being helpless would be the most difficult thing of all. "I'll be hypervigilant," she promised.
"Were you able to remove the silver from his body?" Paul asked. "All of it?"
Skyler nodded, relief sweeping through her. She hadn't realized how tense she was until that moment. "Yes. And one of the Lycans gave him blood. He's been starving for over two weeks, so it wasn't nearly enough to bring him to full strength, but it should be enough that he can get out on his own after I remove the hooks and chains."
"There is no way you, or either of us, could ever carry Dimitri. He's too big of a man," Paul said.