tightened his gun strap. “We’ve activated the land mines around both headquarters. You’ll be blown up before you get ten feet.”
Benny sighed. “We’ll teleport, then.”
Garrett grabbed his shoulder, his odd gray eyes sizzling into a deep metal color. “How about I lead?”
Faith took Ronan’s hand. “We want to come. The queen and I have been working on some genetics, and I’d like to see her.”
“Damn it,” Ronan said, shaking his head. “All right. I’m with Benny.”
“Wait,” Ivar said. “Real quick. The Realm has the best computer system in the world. We need to find a female demon-Fae hybrid born around twenty-five years ago and probably raised by humans. Have the computer guys go through all databases they can find to search for her. Somehow.”
Benny’s chin dropped. “There’s a fairy-demon hybrid? A female one?”
Mercy kicked at the firepit. “Yes. When I was created, the leaders experimented a little bit. That’s all I know.”
Benny rubbed his chin. “Where do you suppose they got demon sperm?”
Zane turned toward the doorway. “We don’t have a lot of time here. Please come this way.”
Ivar’s warm palm slid down her arm to take her hand, and Promise held on tightly. The world was changing in front of her. Or rather, it was revealing itself to her, and her senses were experiencing an overload that tilted her vision.
Her head held high, her gaze seeking new discoveries with each step, she walked into the headquarters building of the demon nation.
* * * *
Ivar kept a good grip on Promise’s hand as they followed Zane through the maze of headquarters, taking a second to admire the architecture. Logan had designed it, using sharp lines and elements of stone, wood, and stained glass. Zane barked orders into his comm unit the entire time, even sending up the Blackhawks. This was serious.
They’d just gotten out of a full-out war and were currently succeeding in keeping the Mission of the Seven to a strategic battle.
Maybe seeing the way the immortals lived would change Promise’s mind about mating him. Or perhaps she’d find another immortal among the demons.
The idea flashed like a knife through him, and he growled again, his fangs pricking his lip.
She jumped and turned her head.
He forced his fangs into place and gave her a smile. Her eyes widened. Man, it had been too long since he’d gotten in a fight. If they survived the current crisis, he’d ask Benny to spar with him. Benny never held back.
Zane paused outside of a closed door at the end of a hallway. “The Kurjan kid seems okay, but I’m sure he’s taking notes.”
Ivar exhaled. “You don’t think this was deliberate, do you?”
Zane shrugged. “Dunno. The Kurjans have never hesitated to take advantage of any situation. Apparently my daughter and Drake have been meeting in a dreamworld, and I sure didn’t know about it. If the Kurjans did…”
Ivar shook his head. “I can’t imagine a father would send his eight-year-old into danger like this.” But the Kurjans were evil, so who the hell knew? “Did you check the kid for recording devices?”
“No,” Zane said, sighing. “We brought the kids from the park to headquarters in the back of a van. If he’s recording, let him. I’m not searching a child.”
“Dreamworld?” Promise asked.
Zane pushed open the door. “Could be another universe, one she gets to without her body leaving here.” He shook his head. “Sounds like the Seven ritual, and I did the same thing as a kid. But we thought we blew up what we considered the dreamworld.” He looked down at Promise. “Guess it’s one more theory for you to solve.”
It didn’t surprise Ivar that Zane was well versed about Promise. The demon nation had excellent resources.
Zane led them into a colorfully painted room containing game consoles, a small golf putting course, air hockey tables, and dartboards with plastic-tipped darts. Plush beanbags were strewn about along with bookshelves overflowing with books. A costume area stood in the far corner with princess dresses, sparkly shoes, and tiaras.
A massive vampire with sizzling pink eyes stood guard at the other end of the room, while two kids sat in the beanbags, not playing, both pale.
Zane pointed. “This is my daughter, Hope, and her friend Drake. The other two pint-sized escapees went home with their parents.” Hope was a cutie with blue eyes and brown hair, and Drake a pale kid who looked almost human. In fact, he could probably pass for human if necessary. Very rare genes for a Kurjan.