"Wulf?"
It was Cassandra's father.
Wulf hung up the phone, his thoughts whirling. He looked at Cassandra who had gone pale. "What did he say?"
Part of him wanted to lie to her, but he couldn't. Their relationship was beyond that. He'd never kept anything from her. He wasn't about to start now. She had a right to know what was going on.
"Stryker wants to exchange your father for Erik. If we refuse, your father dies."
What he didn't tell her was that her father would probably die anyway. Given what he knew about Stryker. It was pretty much a given.
But maybe Urian would be able to keep Jefferson Peters alive since he had a vested interest in the man's health.
Cassandra covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were large, terror filled. "What do we do? I can't let him kill my father and I damn sure can't give him my baby."
Wulf stood up and kept his voice calm so as to not alarm her any more. She had her own health and Erik's to worry over. He would take care of the rest. "There's only one thing I know to do. I'm going to go kill Stryker."
She looked less than convinced. "We've tried that. Remember? It didn't exactly work. I seem to recall he and his men cut a swathe through you, the Were-Hunters, and Corbin."
"I know, but the thing about us Vikings, we know how to take advantage of surprise attacks and disorient our opponents. He won't be expecting me to attack."
"Sure he will. He's not stupid and he knows who he's dealing with."
"Then what do you want me to do?" he asked in frustration. "You want me to give him Erik and say bon appetit?"
"No!"
"Then offer me another solution."
Cassandra tried desperately to think of something. But he was right. There was no other way.
Maybe if they could reach Urian, but he'd been gone for several days now and no one, not even Phoebe, had seen hide nor hair of him.
"When and where are you supposed to meet him?" she asked.
"Tonight at the Inferno."
"We'll think of something by then."
Wulf hoped so. The alternative was completely unacceptable to him.
"I'll go and help."
Both Wulf and Kat looked at Chris as if he'd lost his mind.
"What are we supposed to do with you, Chris?" Wulf asked. "Lob you at them?"
Chris bristled, offended. "I'm not a baby, Wulf. I happen to know how to fight. Hell, I've been sparring against you for years."
"Yeah, but I never really hit you."
Chris looked even more offended.
Kat patted him on the arm. "Don't worry, Chris. The day that Sony PlayStation attacks the world and threatens to destroy it, we'll give you a call."
Chris made a disgusted sound. "Why do I bother?"
Wulf took a deep breath as he fastened his sword on. "Your job is to protect Cassandra and Erik. I need you here, boy."