“Secondary location in New Mexico,” Yvonne said, sounding tired. “We have a small headquarters and a much larger holding just a few miles away. We moved the Cyst there because it’s better defended, and they must be protected until Ulric returns.”
The woman was all in, that was for sure. “You’re human?”
“Yes. Enhanced. Like you, but better.” Yvonne smiled.
“Then this plan Ulric has for enhanced females, whatever it is, will kill you, too.” The skin around Grace’s wrist was bleeding, so she set her hands on her jeans and kept working away.
Yvonne shook her head. “No, I won’t die. You will, however.” She leaned to the side. “How much longer, Terre? I need to use the facilities.”
“Half hour,” Terre said, taking off the sunglasses.
Grace’s heart rate hadn’t slowed down any. She felt like a coke bottle that had been shaken up, and her skin prickled. Was it adrenaline? Terror? “Adare is a good fighter, Terre. One of the best. Are you sure you want to piss him off?”
Terre laughed. “Adare’s dead by now, pretty Key. He wouldn’t have expected an ambush in full sun, would he?”
A rock, sharp and solid, dropped into Grace’s gut. Nobody knew that the Kurjans could go into the sun, and Adare never would’ve seen them coming. He wasn’t in top shape right now, either. Oh, God. Her shoulders shook and her teeth chattered.
“I think you terrified her,” Yvonne said to Terre.
He looked at Grace in his rearview mirror. “Don’t pass out on me, girlfriend. We have a lot of talking to do later.”
“Talking. Right,” Yvonne clicked her tongue. “So that’s what you kids are calling torture these days.” She leaned to the side as if telling a secret. “I’ve seen him work. He can make it hurt so bad you can’t even scream.”
Grace reacted without thought, dropping her head and smashing her forehead onto Yvonne’s nose.
There was a pop and blood burst forth. The blonde yelled, clapping a hand over her nose. “You fucking bitch.”
Grace’s ears rang. They were going to torture her and then save her to kill when they got the other Keys. Reasoning with them wasn’t going to work. Might as well make them bleed first.
Chapter 37
Adare burst through the destroyed front door of his cabin a step ahead of Ronan. “Grace?” he bellowed, running for the hidden door and keying in the code.
Faith dashed out, bounced off him, and headed straight for Ronan. He held her tight, breathing her in, his gaze tortured. Faith pulled back, tears on her face. “They came to get her, and I think she’s gone. They destroyed most of the security system, but I watched the cameras downstairs, and they tied her up and put her in a back seat of a green Suburban.”
“Who?” Adare growled, his body settling into fight mode, even while he bled from one leg. The blood pooled on his boot, dripping onto the wooden floor.
“Bobbi and what looked like a Kurjan in the front seat,” Faith said, wiping her face off. “But the snow had stopped and the sun came out. I don’t understand. Maybe he was wearing a mask? But he looked like a Kurjan. A real one.”
They’d passed the burnt-out shell of Benny’s truck, and the hybrid was nowhere to be found. If he’d survived the attack, he would’ve gotten word to them. Or maybe he was tracking Grace. It was unlikely he would’ve gone without leaving word, but it was a hope to hold on to. Benny had to be okay.
Fury raced through Adare so quickly, he swayed. “How the hell did Bobbi find her? Find this cabin?” He grabbed his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the Realm. The device had somehow survived the dunking in the river.
“I take it you didn’t die in the ambush,” Dage Kayrs said absently instead of a greeting.
Adare dug deep for patience. “Listen up, King. The Kurjans have developed the ability to withstand the sun, so you might want to send the word out. They’re probably ambushing anyone they want right now.”
“Bullshit,” Dage returned.
Adare pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s true. We were attacked from two sides in full sun.” He pulled the phone away from his face, focusing on Ronan. “Why do you think they had a bigger force in the trees than the water?”
Ronan kept Faith plastered against his side. “I’m not sure. Maybe the water amplifies the sun?”
That was a good thought. It took Adare a beat to realize the king was yelling into the phone.