Arcas had been incognito for weeks, and Gregor could barely stand the disconnect from his leader. He had the scroll. He had it, and he wanted to crow, to laugh, to tell Arcas every detail so he could be praised, so he could see that pleased smile on his lover’s face. But he needed to practice patience and never let the scroll leave his sight.
Lindsay had done well. It had all gone according to plan. No, they hadn’t captured Agent Pan, but there was still time for that. Kirk and his team had performed splendidly, but it was a pity he was captured. Kirk had such potential. Now he was a prisoner like Anu. It was some relief to know the rest of Kirk’s team was dead. The Agency didn’t need to capture more than one knight. They would get cocky if they got too many in their prisons.
He was determined to give Lindsay a promotion. She’d performed spectacularly in locating and cracking the safe and in helping him deal with the gruff shifter. Silver had fixed him good. It was disconcerting, however, to almost be defeated by a shifter, even though such weakness could be blamed on his injuries. But he didn’t make excuses for himself. He’d been weak and he couldn’t afford that. Yes, he’d made up for his failure the first time he tried to claim the scroll, but still, failure was failure. Any was inexcusable.
He was thankful Arcas had given him the serum. It had worked splendidly.
The faint sound of Lindsay singing in the kitchen reached Gregor. He glanced at the doorway and smiled softly. Destroying the shifter’s home after they obtained the scroll had been rather petty but certainly gave them both a boost. She had a wicked mind for one so young. She’d earned the praise he bestowed upon her. Her glowing smile made him feel like a proud father.
Gregor sat on the couch in the house they’d rented in Los Angeles and gazed at the scroll in his hand. He had so much to tell Arcas when he finally made contact. Gregor was fairly bursting with news, and not all of it good.
Merlin was back. Arcas wouldn’t be pleased with that knowledge.
His phone rang. He immediately answered and nearly groaned when he recognized Arcas’s voice.
“Gregor, are you well?”
He grinned, knowing better than to mention his injuries. Arcas would simply say if he was weak enough to incur them, he deserved them. “I’m very well, my lord. And yourself?”
Arcas sighed. “Frustrated. My own search has so far proven futile. Yours?”
“Bountiful.”
“You found it?” His voice tightened with urgency.
“Yes, my lord. I have the scroll those damn abominations held. I have it even now in my hands.”
“You are beautiful.”
Gregor blushed from Arcas’s words and his tone. His heart sped up, and he desperately wanted to kiss him.
“Hold it safe for me, dearest. My search is not yet done.”
“I understand. I will stay on the move. I will never fail you.”
“I know.”
The simple surety in his tone delighted Gregor to no end. It melted his heart and filled him with pride. But….
“I also have rather disturbing news to impart.”
“Yes?”
“My lord… Merlin is back.”
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end, and Gregor’s gut clenched. But he didn’t dare say a word.
“So,” Arcas whispered, his tone as keen as a blade. “He finally came out of hiding. Good. I want him a part of this. He’s the reason.”
Gregor frowned. “The reason?”
“I do what I do because of him, Gregor. He started this war. I will end it by soaking this Earth with the blood of his children. Then he’ll know what it is to go against a god.”
Gregor shuddered. Not with fear but anticipation and excitement. He grew hard imagining Arcas’s plan. He thirsted for the final battle, to finally make Arcas the god he deserved to be.
“What should I do?” Gregor asked.
“Protect the scroll. I will return when I have located the other one. Keep our spies near Haven. Give them a push to find the location of the fourth scroll. It has to be there. They wouldn’t have gone anywhere else with it.”
“They?”
“The keepers. An eagle shifter and his snake. Half-bloods.”
Gregor’s eyes widened. “A snake? There are snake shifters?”
“Not anymore.” He paused for a long moment. “We need to keep the Agency distracted, Gregor. And we need to keep the knights sharp.”
“My lord?”
“It’s a fire sale, Gregor. All shifters must go.” He chuckled darkly. “And when the Agency gets involved in the murders—you know they will—then our knights are free to take them out.”
Gregor’s breath hitched. “My lord, are you certain? We could lose many of our troops—”
“Are you questioning me?” Arcas’s tone was smooth and venomous.
Gregor snapped straight and swallowed hard. “No, of course not. I would never. You know that.”
“It’s well you remember your place, Gregor.”
Humbled, Gregor lowered his voice. “My lord.”
Arcas paused again, and Gregor waited silently. “I will send a message to my knights. It’s time they saw my face, don’t you think? I’ll give them a boost. A pep talk.”
“How, my lord?”
“A video on our channel.”
“My lord, what if the Agency is monitoring that channel?”
“All the better.”
Gregor’s eyes widened. “You want them to know you’re calling open season on shifters?”
“And agents. If a few key agents are dead, then that weakens the entire Agency. I already have a few in mind I’d love to see in the ground.”
Gregor was sure Agent Poe was one of them. Captain Odin another. Even Hera, the new chief.
“After I send the message,” Arcas said, “make sure to keep an eye on our soldiers. But loosen the leash a little. Exposure’s not our main problem now. Let the Agency worry about covering up such unsavory things. Hold down the fort for me, my dear.”
“I will.”
“I’ll be in touch.” The line went dead.
Gregor pulled the phone away from his ear and blew out a shuddering breath. Lindsay walked in just then and took in his expression.
“What did he say?”
Gregor glanced at her young face and intelligent eyes. “It’s a fire sale, Lindsay.”
She frowned.
“All shifters—and agents—must go.”
###