the boy’s face. Not someone he had seen before.
When he recognized Christoph, his eyes narrowed to thin slivers, and his nails dug in hard enough to draw blood.
“You ungrateful little wretch. Are you trying to save the girl after so kindly handing her over to my care?” Royce shook his head, disgusted, finally loosening his grip enough so that the two could catch their breath. He didn’t release Christoph, but he did give him just enough breathing room to answer. “Tell me, Christoph, did your alpha send you on this fool’s errand?”
Before the Were could choke out a response, John threw the door open and rushed into the room, Mouse hot on his heels. Both were carrying swords and looked grimly determined to use them. Seeing that Royce had everything under control, John lowered his weapon, but Mouse kept hers on guard and sidled closer, ready if the two should attempt escape.
“I’m sorry, sir,” John said, frowning. “Henderson must not have been watching the security monitors closely enough. I’ll make sure he’s replaced immediately.”
Royce shook his head, voice thunderous with barely restrained wrath. “Worry about that later. Call Arnold Moore at The Circle and request his immediate presence. Then tell Analie to come up here.”
John hesitated for a second, long enough for Royce to shift that heavy glare from the Weres to his second. Rapidly backing up, John pulled out his cell with his free hand and dialed The Circle, retreating to make the call in the stairwell.
Royce turned his attention back on the pair, shaking Christoph again. “Answer me,” he snarled, “now.”
Christoph couldn’t even give a proper cough of respect before mentioning his alpha. It came out as a stuttering gurgle through his compressed throat.
“Alpha...doesn’t know...we’re here,” he choked. “Didn’t want...come here...Ashi ordered—” he needed to stop and breathe for a few moments, “…out-ranks me.”
Ashi snarled, baring his teeth. “Quiet...! That’s...an order!”
Christoph went back to breathing after gurgling respectfully to Ashi.
Royce, eyes narrowed to dangerous slivers, studied Christoph. He didn’t think the boy was dumb enough to lie to him under the current circumstances, but he doubted that the alpha was oblivious of his actions. Even if he was, their pack would still have to pay for this. Dearly.
“So. Ashi ordered this little coup, did he?”
That disenchanted tone sent a surge of frightened adrenaline through the Weres, and they renewed their efforts to squirm free.
“Ashi,” Royce purred, his fingers slowly tightening on the Asian man’s throat as he pulled him closer, lifting him a few inches off the ground until they were practically nose-to-nose. “I am in charge, here. You no longer give orders – you take them.”
With that, he gave the two men a harsh shove until they were thrown back on their asses. Mouse stepped in before they could rise, a sharp, slender sword-tip pressed to each man’s throat. The silver content was high enough to redden their skin in reaction, even without piercing it.
“If you’d like to live without scars, stay right there,” Royce growled, turning away. “Mouse, if they so much as twitch, do as you like. But do keep them alive.”
The mute vampiress smiled genially at the two, her angelic features reflecting utter peace with being given the all-clear to carve them up.
Royce pulled out his cell phone, sending a few text messages as he walked back to the bank of computers against the far wall.
* * *
Analie padded into the hallway when John called to her from her apartment’s front door. He was busy talking on his phone, but paused to tell her to go upstairs to Royce. She hopped up the stairs, apprehensive, then hesitated at the door before she opened it and stepped in.
It took her a moment to figure out what the hell she was seeing and, even once all the figures were in view, she still didn’t understand it. Mouse’s silhouette was holding two battered guys captive. One of the windows was smashed in from the outside, broken glass glittering like fallen stars on the floor. Shadows she assumed were Royce hovered by a door leading into a bedroom. She sniffed the air and suddenly realized who she was looking at.
Christoph didn’t dare move with the sword against his throat, but he managed a glance at Analie. She edged around the perimeter of the room to get a look at the other Were. Once she could see his face, she froze, pressed against the wall.
Ashi narrowed his eyes at her. Immediately, she scurried toward Royce, keeping her gaze on