Zeus’s free hand. Seconds later that same lasso was around Yakov’s middle and Zeus pulled the loop tight. “You’re going to sit in your master’s office, with us, until Ra’s Anubis guards are done snooping.”
“And you’d better hope we don’t find anything,” Ra added. “I can’t imagine how my beloved Kirill will react if we do, especially after the lengths he went to, assuring me there were no unattached humans ever allowed on the estate.”
From the pasty green tinge along Yakov’s jaw, it would seem the second knew exactly how Kirill would react. But Ra had to give it to the sneaky vampire, he still thought he was in the clear. “So,” Yakov said brightly, as though he wasn’t being dragged down the hallway in front of many of his curious coven members. “How did you meet our Master? Was it romantic? When he was on holiday perhaps?”
Ra turned, the weight of his headdress pulling on his neck as he looked down at the still grinning vampire. “I met him in a basement where he was chained to a wall. Apparently, he’d been drugged by someone too chickenshit to challenge him. You can imagine how he and his beloveds, including me, feel about that.”
Yakov’s gulp could barely be heard above the sound of Zeus’s boots on the marble tiles, as they made their way to Kirill’s office.
/~/~/~/~/
“What if they don’t find anything?” Kirill had given up sitting twenty minutes before and was now pacing the room. “What if Yakov hasn’t got hidden humans being kept in cages or whatever else on coven grounds?”
“Everything we’ve heard about him indicates that he hasn’t changed at all.” Paulie leaned on his palm, his elbow on the table, watching the screen dreamily. “Doesn’t my Zeus look amazing in a suit? And when he flexes those fingers over a keyboard, my knees go weak.”
Kirill tugged at his hair. “I don’t know what’s worse. If they do find something, the council’s going to be looking real hard at me, and I’m not sure if I could live with myself, knowing abuse had been going on under my nose, but if they don’t… then I’ve still got to kill Yakov for freaking chaining me up and threatening my mate. I can’t do that standing around here.” He paused by the screens. “What’s your mate doing in front of my computer?”
“Hacking into it.” Paulie looked up and grinned. “It’s kinda what he does, although not often. There’s not a device around my mate can’t work his magic on and get into. He’s so smart about things like that.”
“There’s a known murderer and sexual abuser sitting in the office with my beloved, and your mate thinks it’s time to see how many blood bags I order for the coven every month?”
“And what your porn tastes are like.” Giggling, Paulie put his finger up to his lips. “Shush. Looks like he’s found something interesting. Oh, and it looks like one of the guards are back.”
Kirill slumped back in his seat. He’d never felt so hopeless in his life. From the moment he became an adult, Kirill had prided himself on being in control of his life and had been happy to suffer any consequence of his actions. Having his coven “invaded” by two gods, while he was stuck in Montana of all places, was so outside his comfort zone he didn’t know how much more he could stand.
Arvyn’s smile was sympathetic, but Kirill could tell his wolfen beloved was as tense as he was. The tightness in Arvyn’s shoulders and his chiseled jaw line was a huge clue. Kirill wasn’t sure he could offer much comfort, but he reached over, settling his hand on Arvyn’s taut thigh. The muscle under his hand didn’t relax, but Arvyn covered his hand with his own, letting Kirill know his touch was welcome at least. While Kirill wasn’t sure he knew which way was up anymore, knowing Arvyn was on his side was a bonus.
Chapter Fourteen
Ra did not like his mate’s coven. In fact, he’d go so far as to say he hated it. The whole place had a chill that had nothing to do with the weather. It was a building full of pretentious people who all looked as though a couple of gods visiting was an everyday event, and they were certainly too refined to gush about it. But, oh, Ra wasn’t deaf, and he’d heard their hushed gossip as he walked past, vampires eagerly wondering what they could get out of