"Nothing. Take Sunshine to your place and keep her there until the drug wears off, then call me." Ash rubbed his eyes as the Katagaria led them from the building.
Once outside, Talon placed Sunshine in the car while the others stood nearby.
Vane had his arms folded over his chest as he looked at Ash. "So, Ash, where does all this leave you?"
"Basically screwed. In the next twenty-four hours I have to find a way to get Zarek out of here before the cops find him, and unless I miss my guess, the next act of my nemesis will be to tell Kyrian and Julian who their new neighbor is."
Talon caught Acheron's gaze. "He wants your attention scattered and unfocused."
Ash nodded. "Yeah, and he's doing a really good job at it."
An idea occurred to Talon. "You know, I think we've all been forgetting something."
"And that is?"
Talon indicated the Katagaria to remind Acheron that the wolf patria wasn't the only group of Were-Hunters in town. "That your pal doesn't know about Sanctuary. I think we need to go put the bear clan on standby. I'm sure Papa Peltier and the boys would be more than happy to lend us a hand on Mardi Gras. They owe me a few favors, and if the Daimons come out like they did tonight, we'll be needing all the help we can get."
"True."
"And if I were you," Talon continued, "I'd go ahead and break the news to Kyrian about Valerius just like you were planning on doing. And keep Zarek on standby here in the city."
"What about the police?"
"Trust me, T-Rex, I know my city. The police will be so distracted on Mardi Gras that Zarek could introduce himself to them and they wouldn't realize it's him. But if I were you, I'd pretend that I was getting Z out of here just in case your 'friend' is watching. Call Mike and have him fly in and ride Eric out under the cover of darkness so that they'll think it's Z. And keep Zarek in hiding and bury Valerius until that night."
Acheron set his jaw. "It's risky."
"So's living in a swamp."
Vane moved forward. "I can set up sentries around Talon's place. If they make a move on him again, Fang and I can be there in a heartbeat."
"Why are you willing to help us?" Talon asked. "I thought it was your policy to let Dark-Hunters rot."
"It is. But I still owe Acheron a debt." He turned to Acheron. "After this is over, consider it paid in full."
Acheron nodded. "Done."
Talon said his goodbyes to the group, then got in the car and headed home.
As he drove away from the district, he reached over and took Sunshine's hand into his and held on to it tight. Her bones felt so fragile in his palm and yet he knew the strength this lady possessed. The grace and determination.
He'd been so afraid when Camulus had taken her.
He didn't like living with this fear. He didn't like feeling anything. He'd been without emotions for so long that having them now hurt even more.
How he missed his calm serenity. He was used to having complete control and yet every time he looked at her he felt his emotions spin out of control.
Sunshine touched him so deep in his heart that he knew he'd never be the same again. And it wasn't just because she was Nynia. It was because she was her.
Sunshine held strength, courage, and fire. She was her own person and he loved the challenge of her.
She was precious to him.
Talon loved her more now than he ever had as a man. And the pain of that thought was enough to cripple him.
Talon got her back to his place and laid her carefully on his futon. He wasn't sure what Acheron had done to her, but she slept peacefully.
His phone rang.