you contacted my father?”
“Not yet.” Zane motioned toward Promise. “This is Dr. Promise Williams, and she met your dad yesterday. We want her to talk to him to see if we can avoid a war.”
Hope’s eyes filled. “Drake wantsta go home, Daddy. You hafta let him.”
Zane nodded. “I’m happy to take him home. Let’s contact his dad.”
Promise held out her hand to Drake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Drake shook, ducking his head. Was the kid shy? “You too. Now will you call my father?”
“Yes. You two stay here and play. Max will keep an eye on you.” Zane smiled. “Drake? I’m sure your dad will want to see that you’re okay. I’ll talk to him first, and then we’ll come get you. Don’t worry. You’ll be home soon.”
Ivar took Promise’s hand again, his nerves firing. He’d brought her into a possible target zone, and he didn’t have the ability to teleport her the hell out if things went bad. Worse yet, he wasn’t familiar with the demon land holding or the escape routes. “Where’s Logan?”
“Probably went to see our mom,” Zane said, heading downstairs. He reached in his pocket and pulled out an earbud to toss back at Ivar. “If escape becomes necessary, all doors and locks have been calibrated to obey your voice commands. Just in case.”
Ivar caught it and shoved it in his left ear. At least now he’d know what was happening up to the minute.
Promise gave him a wow expression. This had to seem like a crazy sci-fi show to her. She was holding up remarkably well under the pressure. In fact, even though she looked a mite shell-shocked, there was fascination in her attitude too.
They reached a sprawling computer center and walked right past it to a small room with a camera, huge wall monitor, and green screen background. “Stand there,” Zane said, moving to the camera. “They obviously know the location of our headquarters, which we’ve assumed for a while. But Dayne may try to learn other information from you, and I’d appreciate it if you kept the discussion to the return of his child.”
Ivar let her go but remained by the door, prepared to grab Promise and run if necessary.
She stood in front of the green screen and folded her hands together. “I find it peculiar that I’m doing this.”
Zane shrugged. “You’re female and human and have no reason to lie to him. Most of us have killed people he’s known, and he’s done the same. Think of yourself as an intermediary.” He flicked a switch, and the Kurjan leader came up on the screen.
“Dr. Promise Williams,” Dayne said quietly. He was dressed in a Kurjan fighting uniform—all black with medals on the left breast. “This is unexpected.”
Promise gazed directly at the camera. “Hi, Dayne. I’m at demon headquarters, and I just spoke with your son. He’s healthy, unharmed, and ready to go home.”
Dayne’s eyes had turned a deep purple. “You don’t seem like a liar.”
“I’m not,” she said. “We can bring him in here for you to see. I assume Zane wanted to make sure you were calm first in order to avoid scaring the child.”
Man, she was smart.
Dayne smiled. “I have bombers ready to go, and the missiles are armed. Show me my son, and you bring him to me. Perhaps then we can prevent war.”
“No,” Zane said, angling Promise out of the shot. “I’ll show you your kid. In exchange for the three Enhanced women you kidnapped earlier this year. Call me back when they’re free.” He pressed a remote in his hand, and the camera went dark.
Promise whirled, and Ivar stepped in, drawing her away. “What have you done?” she snapped.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Promise could barely breathe she was so angry. “You’re supposed to be the good guys.” She forgot to shield her brain, and pain instantly slashed into the base of her skull.
Seeing her reaction, Zane stepped back. “I didn’t attack.”
“Shield,” Ivar barked.
She imagined the metal barrier in her head again, and the pain dissipated. “That was unacceptable.”
The demon leader looked at her with dispassionate eyes. “I understand you’re new to our world, but we’ve just entered a negotiation, and I used you to do it. I’m sorry if that makes you unhappy.”
“That is not an apology,” she snapped, wanting to hit him in the nose.
His grin was quick and unexpected. “You’re not the first to accuse me of that. I am sorry.”
“But you’ll use a child to get what you want,” she said, her hands shaking even more.
He nodded.