us, Dane. We have kept
ourselves secret all these years. Your father was ostracized from the Originals
for mating with your human mother. If they find out about us, we don’t know
what the repercussions will be. I’m sorry I can stay longer, but I really have
to go. I need to see your sister before I head out of town. But listen, be
careful. Don’t give away any information about us to this Jasper. If he asks
questions, just be vague.”
Dane
knew that was going to be as impossible as finding Elizabeth Flanagan. “I’ll
try, but Tessa, he’s a detective. He’s smart and he’s a shifter.”
“Just
do your best. I will be back as soon as I can, and we’ll talk more about it
then.” She walked up to Dane and wrapped her arms around him in a sisterly hug.
The
door to the office opened, and Jasper stuck his head in. “Sorry to interrupt,
but we have another murder. I’ll just let you two get back to whatever you were
doing.” He closed the door.
Dane
sighed, but Tessa laughed. “How long do you think it’ll take before this is all
over the precinct?”
“Not
long, you’re too cute.” Dane grinned at his cousin. They said their goodbyes,
and Dane prepared mentally to go to the crime scene. No matter how many dead
bodies he saw, it never got easier.
Nine
Tessa
left the police station and rode to the prison. If she was lucky she would have
a chance to talk to Isabelle then sneak around and find Tamian. She needed to
get her hands on Belle’s electronic entrance card so she could visit other
levels. If she was unlucky, she’d run into Gregor. She spent all day going over
various scenarios of getting caught and getting away. She needed more Intel on
the layout of the Pen before she attempted breaking her brother out.
Tessa
had spent the last thirteen years honing her skills. Her cover as an
archaeologist enabled her to travel the world and keep an eye on her cousins.
Even though she was a watcher, her job sometimes came with danger. Not all of
the cousins were in semi-safe locations such as New Atlanta. When the near
apocalypse happened thirty-three years earlier, countries fell apart, causing
them to revert to less than civil behavior. Why her family didn’t have the
shifters move to safer cities was a mystery. It was a question she asked every
time she was in her father’s presence, and his answer was always the same: for
their safety. Xavier obviously hadn’t visited the cities where they lived, or
he would know the cousins were far from safe.
Tessa
slowed her bike as she neared the guard shack, but the man just waved her on
through. Hmm. That was unexpected. She drove around to the back of the building
and parked by Belle’s car. The same few vehicles were in the lot as were
yesterday with the exception of a van, so that meant Gregor was more than
likely in the building. Shit. Hopefully she could call Belle and bypass having
to deal with the warden. She pulled her cell out of her pocket just as the back
door opened. Luckily it was just one of the guards. She walked through the door
without being questioned.
She
probably should have called her cousin first, but if Belle was in a mood she
might not want to see her. Tessa slipped quietly down the now familiar
hallways. She paused at Gregor’s door, listening for any proof of her mate. He would
talk quietly, then he would pause. Good, he was on the phone. Curiosity got the
better of her so she listened closely. “We went out to a bar last night. No, it
was rather boring. There was a pretty blonde who caught my eye. Yeah, you know
I’m a sucker for blondes.” Tessa was fuming. A blonde ? What the fuck
happened after she left The Tavern? Did he not know she was his mate? Fuck
you, Stone. She continued on past his door to Isabelle’s office.
She
didn’t bother knocking; she just barged in and closed the door. Isabelle looked
up at her, eyebrows raised. “You know, you really shouldn’t just show up here
without calling. What if I
ourselves secret all these years. Your father was ostracized from the Originals
for mating with your human mother. If they find out about us, we don’t know
what the repercussions will be. I’m sorry I can stay longer, but I really have
to go. I need to see your sister before I head out of town. But listen, be
careful. Don’t give away any information about us to this Jasper. If he asks
questions, just be vague.”
Dane
knew that was going to be as impossible as finding Elizabeth Flanagan. “I’ll
try, but Tessa, he’s a detective. He’s smart and he’s a shifter.”
“Just
do your best. I will be back as soon as I can, and we’ll talk more about it
then.” She walked up to Dane and wrapped her arms around him in a sisterly hug.
The
door to the office opened, and Jasper stuck his head in. “Sorry to interrupt,
but we have another murder. I’ll just let you two get back to whatever you were
doing.” He closed the door.
Dane
sighed, but Tessa laughed. “How long do you think it’ll take before this is all
over the precinct?”
“Not
long, you’re too cute.” Dane grinned at his cousin. They said their goodbyes,
and Dane prepared mentally to go to the crime scene. No matter how many dead
bodies he saw, it never got easier.
Nine
Tessa
left the police station and rode to the prison. If she was lucky she would have
a chance to talk to Isabelle then sneak around and find Tamian. She needed to
get her hands on Belle’s electronic entrance card so she could visit other
levels. If she was unlucky, she’d run into Gregor. She spent all day going over
various scenarios of getting caught and getting away. She needed more Intel on
the layout of the Pen before she attempted breaking her brother out.
Tessa
had spent the last thirteen years honing her skills. Her cover as an
archaeologist enabled her to travel the world and keep an eye on her cousins.
Even though she was a watcher, her job sometimes came with danger. Not all of
the cousins were in semi-safe locations such as New Atlanta. When the near
apocalypse happened thirty-three years earlier, countries fell apart, causing
them to revert to less than civil behavior. Why her family didn’t have the
shifters move to safer cities was a mystery. It was a question she asked every
time she was in her father’s presence, and his answer was always the same: for
their safety. Xavier obviously hadn’t visited the cities where they lived, or
he would know the cousins were far from safe.
Tessa
slowed her bike as she neared the guard shack, but the man just waved her on
through. Hmm. That was unexpected. She drove around to the back of the building
and parked by Belle’s car. The same few vehicles were in the lot as were
yesterday with the exception of a van, so that meant Gregor was more than
likely in the building. Shit. Hopefully she could call Belle and bypass having
to deal with the warden. She pulled her cell out of her pocket just as the back
door opened. Luckily it was just one of the guards. She walked through the door
without being questioned.
She
probably should have called her cousin first, but if Belle was in a mood she
might not want to see her. Tessa slipped quietly down the now familiar
hallways. She paused at Gregor’s door, listening for any proof of her mate. He would
talk quietly, then he would pause. Good, he was on the phone. Curiosity got the
better of her so she listened closely. “We went out to a bar last night. No, it
was rather boring. There was a pretty blonde who caught my eye. Yeah, you know
I’m a sucker for blondes.” Tessa was fuming. A blonde ? What the fuck
happened after she left The Tavern? Did he not know she was his mate? Fuck
you, Stone. She continued on past his door to Isabelle’s office.
She
didn’t bother knocking; she just barged in and closed the door. Isabelle looked
up at her, eyebrows raised. “You know, you really shouldn’t just show up here
without calling. What if I
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