“If they’re able to go into the sun, why did the force you attacked the other day need to use protective gear?” Dage asked. “You described their equipment well, and we’ve been researching their uniforms around the clock.”
“How the fuck should I know?” Adare snarled. “Maybe the new ability is limited to special forces. But I’m telling you, two full squads attacked in the sun earlier, and the light didn’t seem to slow them down any. We got out of there fast. Also, Grace was taken by another Kurjan, but I haven’t reviewed the video recording yet.”
“Grace was taken?” The king’s voice lowered.
Adare swallowed, fighting a pain dead center in his chest. “Yes. And we need to know how they found her here. The only way would be if we were followed from Realm headquarters, either by a force or satellite. How shitty is your security?” He wanted to shake the king by his arrogant hair.
Dage was silent for a moment. “Our security is flawless. You weren’t followed from here.”
“Wrong. That’s the only way it could’ve happened,” Adare countered.
A soft voice murmured on the other end of the line, and the phone was muffled. Then the king returned. “Emma’s here and she might have an idea. Hold on for a few minutes.”
“I don’t have a few minutes. Get your satellite guys on it and track any vehicles that left my cabin today. Call me back.” Adare clicked off, already shucking his damaged pants and shirt to suit up for another op. He had to find Grace. His legs still hurt, but he shoved the pain away and tried to speed up his healing cells. He didn’t have time for weakness.
“They won’t kill her, Adare,” Ronan said, still holding Faith. “They’ll want all three Keys.”
Yeah, but they’d have no problem hurting her. Maybe torturing her for information about the Seven, the Keys, and even the Realm. His stomach rolled over and his chest hurt even worse. If anything happened to Grace, he’d scorch the earth to destroy the entire Kurjan nation. He hustled into his room and pulled on fresh winter-camo cargo pants and a shirt, reaching for his weapons.
Ronan stepped inside, a bruise healing across his jaw. “We don’t know where to look.”
“Dage will get his satellite guys on it, and we’ll have a direction,” Adare said, his hands shaking. He felt like throwing up. What was happening to Grace right now?
“Benny hasn’t called in, so he’s probably tracking her.”
Adare didn’t look up. “He would’ve gotten word to us, so he’s a prisoner, too. You saw his rig, Ronan. It’d be a miracle if he was even conscious.” Which meant he was as good as dead if they didn’t find him soon. Anybody dumb enough to take Benny Reese hostage would soon realize the eccentric immortal wasn’t worth the struggle. There was no way he’d give up information, no matter what they did to him.
Ronan put a hand on Adare’s shoulder. “I’ll gear up and be ready as soon as we have a direction.” His green eyes were tortured. “She’s strong, and we’ll figure out how to find her, brother. I promise.”
Adare nodded. Dage had the best satellite experts in the business, so if there was any sign of that green suburban, they’d find it. He needed a break. Anything. “Go suit up.”
Ronan pivoted and disappeared.
Adare finished inserting knives and guns throughout his clothing, his movements deliberate, his mind calculating, and his chest bursting. Whatever was flowing through him was something new. Something desperate and dark. An image of Grace, her eyes teasing, flashed across his mind.
The sound of her sweet voice echoed in his head. “Do you believe in love?” Those words, asking the bigger question. Was this love?
This desperate, furious, riotous energy nearly ripped him apart. The fact that the Kurjans had her, that she might be frightened or hurt, brought the beast at his core fully to the surface, growling and ready to destroy. A thought caught him and he rushed into the kitchen, dropping to examine the pictures Grace had spread over the table.
Ronan moved in behind him, already dressed in winter camo. “What are you doing?”
“Just looking.” Would he be able to see what she did? He just saw people. Then he found the picture of the woman with the baby, and he picked it up, holding it to the light.
“What?” Ronan asked.
Adare held it higher. Holy shit. How had he missed it? If she wasn’t Bobbi’s sister, who the hell was she?