“Yeah. It has.” She nodded somberly. “Every day of my life for the past eight years. But this isn’t one of those cases.”
With that, she turned on her heel and entered the foyer, before striding quickly to the stairs.
She had been too trusting many times, but not since Chaz. Chaz had taught her the value of questioning any trust she had. She no longer trusted in people; she trusted in herself. In her ability to profile.
She hadn’t failed in suspecting Tanner of being the spy; his profile had fit the possibility. Jolian didn’t even come close to a possibility.
“God forbid we ever give her the chance to say ‘I told you so,’” Cabal muttered.
“Don’t tempt fate,” Tanner growled. “Because I have a feeling she would exact payment out of our hides.”
Scheme smiled. Of course she would.
As they topped the stairs, Callan was heading from the end of the hall, where it turned to his family suite, his expression tight, his eyes glowing with fury.
“We have a problem,” he grated, stopping at Tanner’s door as Cabal moved ahead of them and entered the rooms.
Scheme watched as Cabal grabbed the electronic detector and began moving over the room, finally nodding the all-clear.
“Your father has just held a press conference.” Callan directed the disgusted comment to her. “He’s claiming you’ve been kidnapped and brainwashed. Reports are already coming through of the pure blood societies arming and preparing to go hunting. They’re going after Breed hides.”
“We expected this,” Tanner pointed out to him. “The party tomorrow will alleviate a lot of the suspicion.”
“Callan!” Jonas stalked into the room. “We just blocked a transmission out of Sanctuary. Someone’s attempting to upload information on the mating heat. We broke the encryption on it; it was sloppy for a change. They have everything.”
“And if it gets out, we’re f**ked!” Callan’s growl was a primal, furious rasp. “I want a complete blackout on transmissions out. Cell phones, sats and landlines as well as Internet. Whoever our spy is, they’re getting ready to make their move.”
“I’ll get a statement together and prepare for a news conference after the party tomorrow announcing the engagement,” Tanner informed them quickly. “Jonas, have you tracked where the transmission came from?”
“We’re working on it. It was bounced around Sanctuary like a damned ball. It’s just a matter of time.”
“And the spy knows that,” Scheme informed them. “He’s getting ready to make his move. He’s trying to get the information on mating heat to Father to create chaos within Sanctuary when it’s released. That will allow him the break he needs to take David and get him out of the estate.”
“Move.” Callan nodded to Jonas. “Do whatever it takes. I want that bastard found. Now!”
Jonas’s gaze was fiercely intent as he turned and left the room, the accompanying Breeds following quickly behind him.
“Tanner, get that statement ASAP,” Callan rasped. “Let’s defang this bastard before I have to kill him myself.”
And he could do it. Tanner watched as the pride leader stalked from the room, his expression savage, his eyes cold amber. Callan had protected them for nearly ten years before the world ever knew they existed. He had killed, silently, remorselessly, and he had assured the safety of the other members of his main pride as they healed and grew to enjoy the freedoms he ensured for them.
Tanner knew Callan wouldn’t hesitate to go hunting Council members or collaborators again if the need arose. It was a risk they couldn’t take. Not now, while the world was watching them so closely.
Grimacing, he turned to Cabal as his brother made his way to the connecting suite.
“Cabal, find that bastard,” he growled.
His brother shot him a cold smile. A smile of promised agreement. “I’ll slip out of my rooms and go hunting.”
Tanner blew a restless breath out before turning to Scheme. She had the television on, working the remote to show several major news channels at once on the screen, searching for threads, for hints of how her father would attack next.
“It’s only a matter of time,” she murmured then. “News of the mating heat is going to break. Ten years is too long for anything that explosive to stay hidden.”
“We’ll counter it.” His eyes narrowed as she shifted, subtly pressing her thighs together as the scent of her heat filled his sense once again.
She had been burning for hours and refused to sate the need. He could smell it building in her now. Hell, he had scented it building within her the first hour after they had left their bed that morning.
She shifted again, finally sitting down in the chair at her side and leaning forward as she watched the news. Her gaze was restless as she scanned each view on the television screen, listening to the alternate statements, one of which was a review of General Tallant’s accusation that the Breeds had kidnapped his daughter and were now brainwashing her.