Alara had just slipped her keycard in their room door when Nik said, “Alara.”

She turned, finding him walking toward her. She frowned at the serious look on his face. She’d seen it when the shooting happened. She dubbed it his “warrior face.”

“What is it? Did something happen?”

He smiled at her. “Not yet. I’m glad you’re going back to the room. I was about to come and get you and take you here anyway.”

She raised a brow in question.

He held open the door. “I’ll explain inside.”

Weird.

She didn’t question him. They both walked inside. “What’s going on?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Nik, you’re scaring me.”

He smiled and grasped her arms, running his hands along them. The soothing motion helped calm her nerves a little, though her heart still galloped like a racehorse. “I was just talking to Gage. Since the shooting, we figured we ought to keep both you and Danica hidden—as a precaution.”

It took her a moment to figure out why they’d want to hide Danica. “She’s the werewolf queen who was attacked last month, right? By that Nightshade wolf?”

Nik’s eyes flashed gold for a split second. “Yes. That was Danica.” He let go of her arms and went to sit on the bed. She sat down beside him.

“I heard about it,” she said carefully, “but I didn’t know all the details. What happened?”

Nik searched her eyes as if debating on whether to tell her the truth.

She squeezed his hands. “Whatever it is, I can handle it. Trust me. I’m a lot tougher than I look.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. You’d have to be tough to survive in that world of cutthroat politics.” He kissed her forehead and rested his head on her shoulder. It was such a sweet gesture, she took him into her arms, resting her head against his.

“Do you know about the witch mafia?” he asked.

She racked her brain. “Very little. You hear stories, of course. They’re almost like an urban legend.”

“We suspect they may be involved with hiring the hit on Danica, but we don’t have any leads that directly point to them. No one knows their customs, who’s a member. Gage and I don’t know many witches and warlocks. I have a witch friend in the DPI, and she’s keeping her ear to the ground, but so far nothing concrete has come up about the mafia.”

Alara frowned. “What makes you think it’s even them? Sounds more likely it was a scorned were.”

“You would think,” he murmured darkly. He explained to her about Onyx and the pentagram symbol on him and told her all about the battle that resulted in his death. By the time Nik was finished, she was wide-eyed. “Holy crap. I had no idea there were wolves buying Black Magic spells.”

Nik grinned. “It doesn’t surprise me. A nice girl like you probably has no reason to stick her nose in the Underworld’s Black Market of forbidden goodies.”

She stood, mind racing. “I have to tell my father.”

“Whoa, wait up,” Nik said, grabbing her arms. “We can’t contact your dad.”

“Why not? Nik, this is huge! If things like this are happening, he has a right to know so we can put a stop to them!”

Nik looked away. She ducked her head. “What is it? What’s the matter?”

It took him a moment to answer. “We can’t tell your dad.”

“Why not?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I haven’t told Gage this, but I think in the back of his mind he’s been wondering the same thing too.”

“Which is…?”

He took a deep breath and forced himself to meet her eyes. “I think the reason this kind of activity has been allowed to happen in the first place is because the authorities are turning a blind eye.”

She stood there, silent, letting what he’d said sink in. “Wait a minute, are you suggesting my father knows about this?”

“It’s possible.”

A sliver of fear crept into her chest, but she firmly pushed it down and shook her head. “No way. My father’s strict and a bit scary sometimes, but he’s an honorable man. He would have snuffed out this operation soon as he got word of it.”

“Are you sure?”

She swallowed. “Of course I’m sure.”

“You hesitated.”

She rolled her eyes, growing irritated. “It’s insane, Nik! To suggest my father is aiding in criminal activity is treason!”

“But what if I’m right? Huh? What if he’s been bought, or worse, what if he’s funding it?”

Her jaw dropped in outrage. “How dare you!”

“Look, princess, I know you’re daddy’s little girl and you hold him on a pedestal. But you have to consider all the possibilities.”

“My father’s not a criminal,” she said firmly, clenching her fists at her sides. “You’ll see. He’s going to be just as shocked as I was.” She started toward the door, but Nik grabbed her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, sounding amused.

“To call my father. I can’t stay locked away when we have valuable information like this.” She tried to take another step, but Nik’s grasp held firm.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“Ugh!” She jerked her arm free. “Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do! I am a princess!”

“Yeah, you’re sure acting like one right now,” he said, crossing his arms.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you, like most royals, want to think your shit doesn’t stink. But let me tell you something—power corrupts. I’ve seen it firsthand. How do you think Malachite became so nasty? He wasn’t always that way. Some of the wolves I’ve spoken with who were there at the beginning of his reign told me he wasn’t such a bad guy at first. Then he let his power go to his head. There’s a good chance your father’s been compromised. Until we know all the facts, we can’t take any chances.”

She crossed her arms. “So, you’re what, going to hold me prisoner?”

“Something like that. Don’t make me tie you down,” he said in a husky voice.

Heat stirred below her navel. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, which only made him grin. She was usually so careful at hiding her emotions. When had he torn through her emotional walls? “I don’t think you realize the severity of the situation.”

“I understand it damn well.”

“Then let me tell my father.”

“You’re not going back to him.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to lose you!”

She blinked, stunned by his outburst.

His shoulders slumped as he stared at her, begging her to stay with his eyes. “I’d given up on love. I’ve been dreading the mating Fever ever since I first heard about it. I thought after all I’d been through, my heart was broken beyond repair. Then I met you.” He stepped closer. “You’re my miracle. My angel. My princess. And I don’t want to risk the most precious person in the world to me right now. I’m not ready to let you go yet. I doubt I ever will be.”

Alara stared at him, speechless. Her heart swelled. “Oh, Nik,” she said, eyes dropping to his mouth.

He kissed her before she could get in another breath. She eagerly kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. She had just started to reach for his shirt when he abruptly broke the kiss. Cold fear flashed in his eyes.

“What is it?” she whispered, almost too afraid to ask.

He swallowed hard. “That was Gage, in my head just now.” His eyes met her. “They’re here.”

“Who?”

“The royal guard. They’ve found us.”