Seling. She was going to seduce him tonight. I went to her place and even got her some lingerie and brought it to the set.”
“They’re at the set?”
“Yes. That’s where Luke, Runako, Michael and Tokaki are going.”
“Did someone warn Jo?”
“Yes. She says there’s a secure room in the basement of her studio building. She’s going to hide out there, but she’s probably in less danger than…than us.”
Akta jumped up, went to the alarm panel and started pushing buttons. Then she turned on her TV, pressed a few more buttons and the feed from the six security cameras appeared on the screen.
“Impressive,” Margo said. “When did you have that installed?”
Akta’s mouth was set in a grim line. “A few months ago. Don’t open any doors or windows. I also set the motion detectors in the bedrooms, so we need to stay in here, the kitchen or the bathroom.”
They looked around the room, each person meeting the others’ gazes in acknowledgment of what they now faced.
Akta went to the kitchen and emerged with bottles of water and wine. “We’ll be okay,” she said. “We’ll be okay. They’ll rescue Seling and Cali, and get the bad guys.” She passed out bottles of water, forcing each person to take one, then opened the wine.
As Henry looked at them—these smart, talented humans who’d risked their lives for him and his Clan—Henry wished they’d never met. He wished that Luke and Lena hadn’t gone on that first date, that they’d never started this project. If they hadn’t, the women—Akta most of all—would now be safe. They’d live happy lives full of love and laughter, never knowing monsters were real, never knowing his Clan’s struggle to survive.
After a few minutes, everyone settled down to wait. The tension and fear was still thick enough to make the air heavy.
Henry positioned himself by the wall where he could see both the sliding and front doors. Akta came up to him.
“You’re here because of the attack?”
“Yes.”
“You came here…and you kissed me…” her gaze searched his face, “…because you thought we might not survive the night.”
Henry nodded. “And to protect you.”
“Oh.”
Henry had no idea what that meant, or why she suddenly looked so disappointed. She gave him a small smile, then returned to her seat beside Jane.
Lena’s phone rang. “It’s Luke!”
“Where the hell were you?” Luke’s voice was low with anger, and he spoke in their native tongue rather than English.
Henry turned, hands in fists at his side. They were in human form, in Akta’s backyard, waiting to hear from Runako about how the body disposal had gone. Luke had been torn up, but Michael had easily healed him. Seling, who almost hadn’t made it, was inside with Cali and the other women.
They’d won the battle, with no casualties on their side. Maeve, Tokaki and Runako were dealing with Blackwolf—both the bodies and the survivors, though no one really wanted to ask what Maeve had done with the men who were still alive at the end of the battle.
“You should have been there. We needed help.”
“I’m sorry.” There was nothing else Henry could say.
“You’re sorry?” Michael was resting against the table, but when he looked up, his eyes were streaked with lightning, a sign of anger that normally only happened when he was in his true form. If it was spilling over to his human form, he must be livid.
“I came here to protect the women.” It wasn’t exactly a lie—protecting Akta had been one of the reasons he’d come.
“Bullshit, I didn’t tell you they were coming here. You were supposed to come help us fight.” Luke was seething with anger. “I never pegged you for a coward.”
Henry’s fist was back, ready to strike, but he calmed himself, taking a step back. He wanted to deny the accusation, but he couldn’t. He was a coward, not because he hadn’t gone to fight, but because he let fear keep him away from Akta.
Henry made an
“They’re at the set?”
“Yes. That’s where Luke, Runako, Michael and Tokaki are going.”
“Did someone warn Jo?”
“Yes. She says there’s a secure room in the basement of her studio building. She’s going to hide out there, but she’s probably in less danger than…than us.”
Akta jumped up, went to the alarm panel and started pushing buttons. Then she turned on her TV, pressed a few more buttons and the feed from the six security cameras appeared on the screen.
“Impressive,” Margo said. “When did you have that installed?”
Akta’s mouth was set in a grim line. “A few months ago. Don’t open any doors or windows. I also set the motion detectors in the bedrooms, so we need to stay in here, the kitchen or the bathroom.”
They looked around the room, each person meeting the others’ gazes in acknowledgment of what they now faced.
Akta went to the kitchen and emerged with bottles of water and wine. “We’ll be okay,” she said. “We’ll be okay. They’ll rescue Seling and Cali, and get the bad guys.” She passed out bottles of water, forcing each person to take one, then opened the wine.
As Henry looked at them—these smart, talented humans who’d risked their lives for him and his Clan—Henry wished they’d never met. He wished that Luke and Lena hadn’t gone on that first date, that they’d never started this project. If they hadn’t, the women—Akta most of all—would now be safe. They’d live happy lives full of love and laughter, never knowing monsters were real, never knowing his Clan’s struggle to survive.
After a few minutes, everyone settled down to wait. The tension and fear was still thick enough to make the air heavy.
Henry positioned himself by the wall where he could see both the sliding and front doors. Akta came up to him.
“You’re here because of the attack?”
“Yes.”
“You came here…and you kissed me…” her gaze searched his face, “…because you thought we might not survive the night.”
Henry nodded. “And to protect you.”
“Oh.”
Henry had no idea what that meant, or why she suddenly looked so disappointed. She gave him a small smile, then returned to her seat beside Jane.
Lena’s phone rang. “It’s Luke!”
“Where the hell were you?” Luke’s voice was low with anger, and he spoke in their native tongue rather than English.
Henry turned, hands in fists at his side. They were in human form, in Akta’s backyard, waiting to hear from Runako about how the body disposal had gone. Luke had been torn up, but Michael had easily healed him. Seling, who almost hadn’t made it, was inside with Cali and the other women.
They’d won the battle, with no casualties on their side. Maeve, Tokaki and Runako were dealing with Blackwolf—both the bodies and the survivors, though no one really wanted to ask what Maeve had done with the men who were still alive at the end of the battle.
“You should have been there. We needed help.”
“I’m sorry.” There was nothing else Henry could say.
“You’re sorry?” Michael was resting against the table, but when he looked up, his eyes were streaked with lightning, a sign of anger that normally only happened when he was in his true form. If it was spilling over to his human form, he must be livid.
“I came here to protect the women.” It wasn’t exactly a lie—protecting Akta had been one of the reasons he’d come.
“Bullshit, I didn’t tell you they were coming here. You were supposed to come help us fight.” Luke was seething with anger. “I never pegged you for a coward.”
Henry’s fist was back, ready to strike, but he calmed himself, taking a step back. He wanted to deny the accusation, but he couldn’t. He was a coward, not because he hadn’t gone to fight, but because he let fear keep him away from Akta.
Henry made an
Similar Books
