Through the Ether (Force of Nature Book 5) - Amber Lynn Natusch Page 0,73

muscles went slack, Merc slowly stalked toward us, took my chin in his hands, and lifted my face so he could kiss me in a way he never had. To claim me. To own me. Knox neither moved nor said a word as he did; he just held me up and made good on his promise to share me with the vampire king.

“I wish we had more time,” Merc said, the intent behind his words as clear as could be, “but the factions have gathered in the media room, so we must go.” Knox lowered me down, and I quickly sorted out my clothing as he did the same. And all the while, Merc’s dark stare was pinned on me. “Shall we?” He swept his arm toward the door and Knox led the way, casting a mischievous glance back at me as he walked. I started to follow, but Merc caught my arm. “I really, truly do wish we had more time…”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Any sign of Larken yet?” Knox called back to us from where he waited on the stairs.

“None, which is disconcerting, to say the least. I thought for sure there would be something when we returned…some type of ambush, given how she seems to always be a step ahead.”

“Maybe she still is,” I muttered to myself. “Maybe we just don’t know how.”

“Of that, I have little doubt.”

“Then we need to find a way to draw her out,” Knox said, leading the way to the main floor. “A way to bait her. Something she wouldn’t pass up.”

Something in his tone of voice set me on edge.

“Something like what?”

His lack of response must have freaked Merc out a little because, in two massive steps, he passed me to catch up to the alpha. He dragged him to a halt with a hand on his arm and turned him around. Knox let out a warning growl, and Merc did the same in return.

“If you are thinking what I suspect you are thinking, then the answer is no, if for no other reason than you cannot ensure that she won’t succeed in taking it.”

“She won’t if we set a trap—”

“And if that trap fails because she once again has expected it? What then, Trevor?”

“What are you two arguing about?”

“His plan,” Merc answered, voice curt.

“I don’t remember him saying what it was—”

“He did not have to,” Merc replied. “I know exactly what it is.” He looked back at me, his expression tight. “He wants to be the bait, or more accurately, to dangle Phineas’ powers in front of Larken like a fool—”

“It’s a solid idea—”

“If you want to get yourself and others killed, then yes. It is.”

“Knox,” I said, worry tainting my tone, “you can’t. All it would take would be for her to grab you—”

“It won’t come to that—”

“Merc is right. You can’t know that.”

I heard my voice break and could feel my eyes welling with tears, but it was the way his eyes softened when he looked at me that was the most telling about how desperate I must have looked and sounded.

He opened his mouth to explain—or to plead his case—but the sound of a door slamming open above echoed through the concrete stairwell, cutting him off.

“Yo!” Dean shouted down to us. “You need to get up here. Now.” Knox and Merc rocketed up the final flight of steps as I rushed after them. Dean stood in the doorway, face lined with concern. “If you don’t get in here soon, shit is going to pop off.”

“Understood.”

We filed into the media room to find a war all its own brewing there. Tensions were at their highest and everyone was on edge, to say the least. Knowing that the fey queen was out there concocting an evil plan only made things worse.

“Everybody calm the fuck down,” Knox yelled as he entered the room. “I have an idea that should bring the queen to us.” The room went utterly silent in a second.

“Knox, no—”

“It’s the best plan, Piper, and you know it.”

“What plan?” Foust asked, stepping to where Knox had stopped in the middle of the room.

“Larken wants what I inherited from Phineas, so we’re going to make her think she can get it.”

“Fuck no,” Brunton growled, shoving his way through the group to reach his alpha. His objection was echoed by the Alaskan boys. And Grizz. And Merc’s brothers. Reinhardt looked concerned but said nothing.

But it was Kat’s reaction that took me completely by surprise.

The fiery wolf sauntered through the masses until she