The Protector (Fire's Edge #4) - Abigail Owen Page 0,52

rumors, even as isolated as we’ve been.”

“What kind of rumors?” Finn asked slowly.

“Same things you’re hearing, I expect. Enforcers cracking down on even the smallest of the laws, going group by group to inspect. A few shifters disappearing…mates, orphans, rogues of course. They’ve had it out for us since I mated Sera. Worse probably after the thing with Drake and Cami. We’re all on their shit list.”

Levi exchanged a glace with Finn and Drake. The rookie wasn’t wrong. “Makes sense that they’d double down on searching for Aidan. The question is…is this coming from the Alliance or is the Alaz team acting alone?”

Aidan stiffened, ice-blue eyes sparking. “Why would the Alaz team go off on their own that way? Unsanctioned?”

Levi raised his brows at Drake who gave a low growl. “They lost one of their men in a scuffle that involved Cami and her family. Because of Rune’s involvement, the Alliance stuck with blaming him rather than us. Tineen, however, does blame us. He’s got to be pissed. I would be.”

Finn nodded slowly. “I think you’ve got to be right. As far as the Alliance is concerned, we’re to be monitored but are otherwise untouchable. This, all of it, the way it’s piling up, feels more like…”

“Retribution,” Levi spat.

A series of nods circled the room like a wave.

Sera scooted forward in her chair, slipping her hand into her mate’s, the gesture unconsciously done. “So they’re coming after us harder to hurt you, maybe to get you to react, as proof for the Alliance?”

Levi straightened at the same time as the others. Why hadn’t they seen it sooner? This had to be exactly what the Alaz team was doing. Provoking the Huracáns like poking a stick at a rattlesnake. Eventually, the serpent would strike, and they’d get their proof and permission from the Alliance to behead the danger.

“Then this attack on Aidan and Sera wasn’t just tracking them down,” Kanta said. “This was a declaration of war on us and anyone associated with us.”

The room went deadly quiet, shock reverberating through it like someone had taken a hammer to a bell. Holy fuck. If they were right about this, even if these moves against them were sanctioned by the Alliance, shit was about to hit the fan.

Whatever the Alaz’s next move was going to be, it no doubt was coming soon.

And I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m abandoning my team when they need me most.

Lyndi was the first to speak. “Rune is still part of the equation, then. He might not be the safest place to go.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“He’s too far away for them to get to easily,” Drake assured everyone.

Aidan’s brows went up. Being gone as long as they had, he and Sera had missed a lot.

“Only Drake and Cami know where Rune is,” Levi explained.

Drake’s jaw worked before he glanced at his mate. Cami nodded. “Where he is, is probably your safest bet.”

“Where’s that?” Aidan asked.

“I’ll only tell the two of you in private,” he said. He shot a hard stare around the table. “Not that I don’t trust the rest of the team, but if we’re right about this and the Alaz gets ahold of one of us, the fewer people who know, the better. The Alliance, too. He’s still top of their Most Wanted.”

Aidan turned his gaze to Sera, communicating with her in that silent way mates had. “We’ll leave as soon as night falls.”

Levi nodded, seeing no other way.

Drake didn’t do anything, which meant he also agreed.

“We’ll need to keep them isolated in the mountain until they go,” Levi said, thinking of their scents, which other dragons would pick up if they came, even a day later. “Actually…” Levi mused. “The best place for you would be the dungeons.”

Lyndi whipped around to send him a glare. “We are not making them—”

“Trust me,” he mouthed.

She cut herself off mid-word, and he almost had to laugh at her expression. A mix of still irritated and confused and reluctant turning to belief.

She gave the tiniest nod, just for him, and that warm contentment in his chest expanded, easing the grip on his bones. It had taken over two hundred years. One tiny battle won with her. Another step forward.

“We have to stay down here anyway,” Aidan said. “Blake can’t get upstairs.”

“Good. If someone were to drop by, they’d scent you in there primarily. We could say we’d caught you, but you escaped.”

“A plausible lie,” Lyndi murmured.

Levi tipped his chin at her, holding her gaze. See min eneste, I’m for us. Not