Chapter Five

 

 

 

Kieran couldn’t believe that, instead of fear at Dakota’s roar, he was turned on by the sound. His life was just getting more and more complicated. Behind Dakota, the Alpha finally joined them.

“I found our first cave,” Kieran announced. “From here on out we need to be silent.”

Both animals nodded. Kieran grinned. Maybe he’d get Dakota to shift more often. He liked her not being able to argue. He spun on his heel and headed in the direction of the opening he’d seen a couple of minutes before.

The jaguar and wolf moved almost silently as they followed. They were far enough away from the opening he’d seen that they didn’t really have to be quiet yet, but it was better since they didn’t know if the group they were searching for had guards. If they were smart, they would.

Kieran used enough speed to move them quickly, but made sure both shifters were able to keep up with him. When he found what he was looking for, he crouched and waited. Dakota licked his arm when she reached him.

“Let me go in first,” he told them. “You two stay at the opening. I can move faster and if no one is inside, then we can move on. If I think I’m not alone, I’ll call out for you.”

The Alpha gave a low growl and Kieran took it he didn’t like that plan.

“I doubt they have any Walkers working for them,” Kieran said. “Most shifters won’t even see me and we know they can’t smell me.”

Dakota butted her head against his leg. It was amazing he was so close to the jaguar. He took her broad head in his hands and kissed her snout. She wrinkled her nose and it was so cute he smiled at her.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he promised.

Kieran climbed to his feet and raced away. The gap in the mountain was about half his height and it would be hard to get people in and out, but that didn’t mean the shifter group didn’t enter in their animal form or use this as an emergency exit. He couldn’t take chances even if he didn’t think he was going to find anyone inside.

The rocks under his feet crumbled and he slipped as he dropped down to his knees. He couldn’t believe he was crawling through a damn hole taking him into the dark. He fucking hated the dark.

It seemed like an hour, although it couldn’t have been more than five minutes, before he broke through the tunnel. If he didn’t have Walker vision, he wasn’t sure he would have been able to see the small amount he could. It was pitch-black.

Kieran placed his hand on the wall as he stood. There were no noises echoing around. He was even more certain this wasn’t going to lead anywhere, but he had to check. He slid his palm over the rough side of the mountain to keep his bearings.

As he headed deeper into the shadows, it got colder and Kieran grew uncomfortable. He clenched his eyes tightly and tried to take deep breaths. He could feel his mind slipping back into the memories. He tried to fight them, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to.

Kieran was sure this time he was going to die. He was strapped to a chair instead of a table. Every finger had been broken, his right hand smashed, and he’d suffered one of the worst beatings he’d gotten. The worst was they’d ripped out his fangs, again.

“Why?” he managed to ask through his swollen mouth.

The cackle sent a chill down his spine. “Because I can.”

That was the answer he always got when he asked the question. He didn’t know how long he’d been held captive, but he was certain it had to be into years by now.

“You do heal remarkably well,” the doctor told him.

Kieran had no idea if the man really was a doctor, but that was what he called the hyena shifter. He loved to poke and prod Kieran as well as inject unknown substances. Kieran had figured out a long time ago they were testing him to see what he could and could not heal from. There were instances when they even gave him blood so his healing was sped up. Whatever suited their purposes at that moment.

But he hadn’t had any blood for so long Kieran knew he was slowly dying. He had prayed the night before, alone and freezing in his cage, for his body to just give up.

He wasn’t immortal, but he was damn hard to kill. The shifters were close to ending him though.

“I’ve gotten more data from you than any of my other test subjects. Now I’m just trying to see how long you can last. It’s quite entertaining,” the doctor mused.

Kieran was in so much pain he couldn’t even flinch when the doctor held a scalpel in front of him.

“I do love to hear you scream, though,” the shifter told him.

He’d tried, he really had, but he did scream as the scalpel pierced his chest and set up a burning from the inside.

“I treated the blade with a little something special for you,” the hyena doctor said.

Kieran gritted his teeth and his vision wavered.

“I think I’ll return you to your cell. I’ll check on you in about twenty-four hours. See if you’re still alive.”

Kieran found himself on his knees gasping. The vision or memory was one of the strongest he’d suffered. It was also a reminder of one the worst nights of his life.

Whatever the doctor had given him had eaten away at his insides as he lay curled up in his cage. He’d screamed. Begged them to kill him, but no one ever came. Not until days later.

Kieran hadn’t been able to even raise his head when the shifters had picked him up and carried him into a filthy washing area. They’d dropped him onto the stained, broken tiles before turning on a hose with cold water above him. He hadn’t been warm after that until his rescue. Even the blood they’d given him hadn’t heated him at all.

Bile rose and he lurched to the side before he vomited. Shit, this couldn’t be happening. He was finally happy and the memories were going to tear him apart.

No, he wouldn’t let them. He was stronger than some fucked-up past. He’d made himself strong. He would never be a victim again, wouldn’t have to rely on another to rescue him. Kieran did the rescuing now and he was going to do his damn job.

He climbed to his feet and rolled his shoulders. He was done cowering. It was time to bring Bradley and the other shifters to their knees. The doctor had never been found. Maybe once he found Alex, that was what he would do. Track down the fucker.

It was time he was in charge of his own life again. For months, he’d let everyone dictate what was happening with him. Caspar had maneuvered him into coming to Las Vegas. He was working for Sparro just so he could keep in contact with Caspar and even being around Jackson was bringing up these painful memories. No more! He was in control of his life and it was time he proved it.

Determination had him moving forward to check out this cave and move on to the next.

 

* * * *

 

Dakota was filthy, hot and exhausted. It had been a long day of tracking in and out of caves and one that hadn’t brought them any closer to finding Alex or the other missing shifters. The hours had taken a toll on them emotionally as well.

After the first time Kieran had left to search by himself, he’d grown quiet and cold. He’d still petted her once he returned, but his touch was different, distant somehow, and she didn’t know why.

Once they’d had to call it a day, almost ten hours after they’d started, Kieran had called Jackson and it had been decided everyone would clean up and meet back in their suite for food and updates. Even the Alpha was coming into town.

It didn’t appear Damon was going to let them keep him out of the investigation.

She couldn’t say she was really surprised. If it were her, she’d want to know what was happening. It didn’t help that the first agents in charge of the case had royally screwed up. And the Alpha was coming in handy.

It had become obvious right from the start there was no way Kieran could search all the hidden openings by himself. There were just too many. Damon had shifted back to human form and argued with Kieran that they would have to split up. Dakota hadn’t liked that idea. At least guarding the entrances she would have been able to run to his defense if he’d found trouble, but Damon was right. She’d let the two males decide and finally Kieran had seen reason.

“You okay?” she asked her lover as they stepped into the hotel.

“Just tired and frustrated,” he replied.

Dakota knew it was more than that, but she didn’t push. The others had left before them so there wasn’t a whole lot of time to get cleaned up before they arrived.

“I’m going to take a shower. Want to join me?”

“Go ahead,” Kieran said as he strolled across the room to the desk. “I want to check my email, then I’ll come wash your back.”

She held in a sigh but made her way to the bathroom by herself.

Even the sight of the freshly made bed with all the extra blankets and pillows didn’t bring her any happiness. She was worried about Kieran. This entire investigation was tearing him apart. She could see it in the dullness of his blue eyes as well as in the circles underneath.

She wanted to suggest he take blood from her but was scared it would end up in a fight.

Kieran had told her from the beginning he didn’t want to drink from her. Dakota still didn’t understand. Kieran kept control and would never hurt her. He needed only a few sips from her every few weeks and could go a month. As far as she knew, he hadn’t had any blood since she’d convinced him in the very beginning of their relationship she wanted to try.

It hadn’t been anything like she’d thought.

He’d told her it wasn’t like a Hollywood movie, but she’d still romanticized the act. Instead he said he never drank from the throat but preferred the wrist. He also wouldn’t touch her sexually as he drank. He’d had so many rules, but in the end she’d understood.

Being fed on by a Walker was not a pleasant experience for a human. They would grow sick, the illness in Kieran passing on to them, and they would throw up and have flu-like symptoms for several days.

Shifters handled it better, though.

She’d only had a small headache, which had quickly gone away once Kieran had lain his body over hers and made her very, very happy. She smiled, thinking about how he’d loved her fast and hard before being gentle and caring. He was so damn complicated, but that was what made him unique. Made her want to protect him from all the bad things out there. Which was absolutely ridiculous, since he was a Walker and one of the strongest creatures in the world.

Still, she got to see him unlike anyone else. The vulnerability he couldn’t hide, though he tried, in such close quarters all the time.

Dakota began to strip as soon as she walked into the bathroom. A hot shower would clear her head and take away some of the weariness she was feeling. Hopefully Kieran would indeed come and wash her back.

She turned on the water as hot as she would be able to stand it before she climbed inside the huge stall. “Ahh,” she groaned as the heat soaked into her neck while the water pounded down. She really wished Kieran had joined her. He would need this too.

As she closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, the bathroom door opened and a waft of cool air drifted in before it clicked back closed. At least it hadn’t taken him all night.

“You look so beautiful like that,” he said.

Dakota turned and saw him eying her body.

“I bet I’d feel even better,” she teased. She held out a hand to him and was relieved when he immediately took it before crowding her against the warm tiles. He ran his hands down her slick body as she cupped his face.

He still looked tired, but whatever mood he’d been in seemed to have passed for the moment. She rose to her tiptoes and kissed him, deep and dirty.

Their tongues dueled until she gave in and he took control. As soon as she submitted, she was rewarded by him lifting her up off the ground with her back plastered to the tiles.

Every touch of his hands over her body heightened her arousal until she was pushing her breasts against him in a silent plea for more.

Kieran drew his mouth back and she chased those delicious lips. “I want to taste you,” he said.

“Yes, please.”

He lowered her feet back down to the floor then dropped to his knees while running his tongue over her stomach and down.

Dakota moaned and gripped the back of his head. “I need you so badly.”

“I know,” he said before trailing his palm up her leg then positioning her with her knee over his shoulder. “Open up for me.”

Like she could have resisted him? Or would want to.

The first sweep of his tongue between her folds had her shivering, but when he added his fingers along with his tongue inside her pussy, she almost came apart.

He fingered and licked her at a brutal pace that had her orgasm threatening sooner than she would have liked. With every hump of her hips, she rode out the delirious rush.

“That’s it,” he murmured. “Show me how much you want me.”

“Always,” she panted. “Always want you.” Oh, God, she could feel her body getting ready to explode. She wanted to watch him on his knees in front of her, but she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She trembled, her clit tingled and she dropped her head back.

He plunged a third finger into her as he sucked hard on her clit.

Dakota screamed as she climaxed. Kieran kept rubbing her until she started to fall.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he said helping her to steady on her shaking legs. “Bend over the seat.”

Since she was still too clumsy to comply, Kieran used his hands on top of hers to get them braced on the built-in ledge. He gripped her hips and pulled her back to where she could feel his hard cock stroke between her thighs. Dakota spread her legs farther apart, inviting him to take her.

He pressed his hand against her entrance right before he plunged his shaft in deep. Hissing, she raised to her toes as he drove forward. It felt so fucking good. The pleasure made everything else disappear. She couldn’t feel the water raining down on them anymore. Had no idea if it was still hot or if it’d grown cold.

Kieran was still holding her tightly as he withdrew.

Was he bigger? No, there was no way. It just felt as if he was filling her more than ever before. She knew that in her mind, but her body was having trouble remembering all the other times they’d been together.

It felt like the first time. That intense connection sizzling between them.

He growled then thrust hard. Dakota gasped. He did it again.

“I won’t break,” she told him. “Fuck me hard.” She needed to see some of that control of his vanish. To know she could make him just as crazy as she felt.

“Mine,” he whispered against her ear.

She nodded frantically. “Prove it.”

The pounding rhythm he’d started had her entire body rocking forward and she pushed desperately back against him. Sweat dripped off her forehead into her eyes, but she couldn’t move her hands to brush the moisture off her face or she would have ended up falling.

Every drive of his cock had Kieran grunting and she knew her lover was close. She clamped her inner muscles down on his shaft and he yelled and cursed. Dakota grinned. She wasn’t going to last much longer and, damn it, he wasn’t going over the edge with her. When Kieran’s hips started to stutter and his grasp slipped, she took the chance and reached her left arm back to hold him close.

He came, howling her name and filling her with cum. Heat took her over from the inside out and it was marvelous. Kieran didn’t stop his thrusts until her own orgasm was triggered and this time she did collapse.

Kieran caught her and how he managed when he was shaking as badly as she was, she didn’t know, but she did appreciate it.

“Fuck,” he said between puffs of air, trying to catch his breath.

“Oh my God,” Dakota replied. “I don’t think I can walk. I can’t feel my feet.”

His soft rumble of laughter brushed over her cheek as he rested his lips on her temple. “Let me wash you. I don’t think you have time for a nap, though, so stay awake.”

She whined. It wasn’t something she would ever admit out loud, but when he moved her under the showerhead, she actually whined. It wasn’t that she was opposed to being clean, but he was right. It would at least be several hours until they would be alone again.

When he’d soaped up and rinsed every part of her, twice, Dakota gingerly climbed out of the shower to let him finish up. Luckily, they’d had plenty of hot water.

The mirror was fogged up, so after she’d dried off and wrapped her towel around her body, she wiped off the condensation. Kieran’s reflection was distorted, but she would never get tired of looking at him.

The scars from his years of torture stood out against his wet, pale skin.

He hated them and had once told her she was the only person he’d ever let touch the marks. Dakota wished they weren’t there, but for Kieran’s sake, not hers. To her the damage that had been inflicted on him should be visible. It showed he had survived. That he hadn’t let the monsters win. It wouldn’t be right for there not to be physical evidence of what he’d endured.

Kieran turned off the taps and the bathroom grew quiet as he reached out to scoop up his own towel.

Distantly she could hear someone else in the suite. It sounded like the noise came from the living area. She should go out there and help set up the food, but instead she waited until Kieran stood beside her, wiping off the drops of water clinging to his broad chest.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he told her. “We don’t have time for another round.”

“We could always ignore them and hope they go away?” she suggested.

“When have you known that to work on Remy?” he asked playfully.

“Shit.” She had to agree with him there. Remy would probably want to set up a video camera or something. Kieran’s partner was a very odd duck…wolf…whatever.

“Come on.” Kieran took her hand and tugged her to the door. “Let’s get dressed.”

“Wait.” She pulled him back.

Kieran glanced down at her. “What is it?”

“I wanted… We didn’t talk about…” She blew out a breath. “Shit! Are you sure you’re okay with seeing my jaguar today?”

He laughed. At first she wasn’t sure whether she should be insulted or not. But he grabbed her hips and lifted her to sit on the vanity before moving in between her legs. He cupped her face before pushing back her neck so she was gazing up at him.

“As shocked as I am to say it, yes. I am so glad I got to see your jaguar.”

“Really?”

“I promise.”

“You didn’t freak out.”

“Actually, I had the opposite reaction. I was a little turned on by seeing you in your animal form,” Kieran confessed.

She blinked up at him, unsure how to respond.

“Now don’t get me wrong,” he said. “There won’t be any bestiality or anything like that. I like you human and…you. But seeing you like that was powerful.”

“I’m so relieved,” she admitted.

“Me too,” he agreed. “I can’t say I understand why. I’m still wary of Remy when he’s in wolf form, but it was different from you. I had to touch you. Not to make me feel better to know it was you. I’m as drawn to you in your jaguar form as I as in your human one, it seems.”

“You know,” she teased, “I love to be petted in my other form.” She wrapped her legs around the back of his.

“You love to be stroked in any form,” he replied.

“True. If you’re the one doing the petting.”

His hard-on pushed against the fabric of the towel. She reached down and ran her fingers lightly over his shaft.

“We could practice caressing and fondling in your human form and…”

The pounding on the bathroom door startled them. Kieran jumped back and she almost fell off the counter.

“Remy! God damn it!” Kieran yelled.

“Just wanted to make sure you knew we were here. I don’t really feel like hearing round two!” Remy called back.

“I’m going to kill him,” Kieran threatened.

Remy’s laughter could be heard clearly through the door.

“Go away, Remy,” Dakota shouted. “Or I’m going to let him hurt you this once.”

“Fine!” Mirth was still obvious in his voice. “But seriously, food’s here. And I’m not waiting on you to eat.”

“We’re coming,” she hollered back.

“Not now we’re not,” Kieran muttered as he fixed the towel around his waist.

“Did you just make a sex joke?” she asked. She pushed him to the side and hopped off the vanity. “You bad boy!”

“I’ll show you bad and not care who hears!” He reached for her, but, laughing, Dakota avoided him and opened the bathroom door. She was glad that Remy had left the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

“I could have had you if I really wanted,” Kieran told her with a pout.

“Just get dressed. I smell steak,” she ordered.

“Fine,” he bitched but he did head toward his dresser. “I’ve been passed over for a steak.”

“And wine,” she added. “A whole lot of wine.”

Dakota strolled over to the bed then flopped down and knew it had been a mistake. Christ! The bed was so damn comfortable. She just wanted to lie back and…

“Here!”

She looked up to get a pile of clothes in the face. “What was that for?”

“You were thinking about lying down and you said you were hungry. We skipped lunch and, with the shifting, that is not good for you.”

“Are you taking care of me?” she asked sweetly as she rose to her feet.

“Someone needs to.” He’d already pulled on a pair of soft black sweatpants and was currently tugging on a dark blue knit sweater. She loved him in black leather and his bad-boy get-up, but when he was laid-back and dressed for comfort, she just wanted to devour him.

“Stop!” He pointed his finger at her.

Dakota grinned in response, but decided he wasn’t going to let her play anymore while they had guests, so she might as well stop torturing the both of them. He’d tossed her a pair of worn blue lounge pants and a white V-neck T-shirt that were both warm and snuggly, so she quickly clothed herself. He waited at the door and took her hand before pulling it open.

It looked like everyone else had already arrived. The table was covered with plates and platters of food while their guests had made themselves comfortable.

Dean, Gabe and Dare sat with their backs to the wall and plates on their laps. Remy, Jackson and Damon were all settled in the living room chairs and were using the coffee table for their dishes. That left the couch for her and Kieran.

Next to Jackson’s chair, a younger man sat, and by the lack of scent he had to be a Walker. He also appeared to be much younger than anyone else in the room. Not that it was easy to guess a Walker’s age. They might not be immortal, but they lived a long damn time.

Still, if Jackson had brought him to this meeting, the kid must be important.

“Where’s the wine?” she asked as they stepped in the room.

Remy held up a bottle. “It’s the good stuff too. Jackson doesn’t skimp.”

She took it as they strolled past. There was still plenty of food left and no doubt the shifters at least would be making another trip to the buffet to fuel up. It really did take a lot of energy to shift and stay in their animal form for as long as they did.

“Pour the wine and I’ll bring the plates,” Kieran told her.

That worked for her. She caught up two of the crystal glasses and made her way back to the others. There wasn’t much talking as everyone devoured their dinners. She poured both her and Kieran some of the red wine before passing it back over to Remy, who refilled his and Damon’s glasses.

It was the largest group she and Kieran had entertained, but she enjoyed the feel of those in the room with her. Walkers, shifters and humans all seemed to blend well together.

“This is my IT guy, Mitch Anderson.” Jackson patted the kid’s shoulder. “He and Dean worked so well together I thought it would be a good idea for them to meet and maybe cook up some more plans.”

“He’s brilliant,” Dean said through a mouthful of food. “Better than me even.”

“That’s high praise,” Dakota commented before taking a sip of her drink.

The kid blushed, which she wouldn’t have thought possible for a Walker. He appeared to be in his early twenties. The tips of his black hair were dyed bright blue and he had ratty jeans on. If she was to see him on the streets, she wouldn’t have pegged him as working for one of the most powerful men in the city.

“I’m happy to help,” Mitch told her. “I just want to find Alex.”

She nodded. “We do too.”

Kieran rejoined them and handed her a plate before he sat next to her. The smell of the steak, baked potatoes, green beans and fresh rolls had her mouth watering already.

Jackson wiped his mouth with his napkin and settled back in his chair. “I let my other guys head home for a while to rest. They’d been up for over thirty-six hours.”

“So have you,” Kieran pointed out. Dakota could hear the concern in her lover’s voice.

“I feel better now I’ve showered, but I’ll catch some sleep when I can. I did get full reports from my men before I let them go,” Jackson said. “Unless you would like your agents to do the honors?”

Both Dare and Gabe waved him off as they continued to demolish their food.

“Guess not,” Jackson said with a laugh.

“Why don’t you start with your update first then,” Dakota suggested. “They can add anything they need during their sections.”

“Here, I brought this.” Dean jumped to his feet and hurried to the other side of the room, where the office was.

She hadn’t even noticed the rolling boards, extra computers, or boxes when she’d entered. Dean pushed one of the boards over—it had a copy of a map pinned to it.

“I circled the sections that were divided up today and figured we could just cross out what we’ve already eliminated,” Dean said.

“Good idea,” Jackson agreed as he stood. He strolled over to Dean and accepted the marker Dean handed him. “We’ve been able to reduce the areas we searched today, but what worries me is no one saw any sign of traffic. No vehicle tracks, footprints or anything. It makes me question if we’re completely off-base.”

He started to X out most of the map.

“I had that thought myself,” Damon said. “But even though we never found a sign of them, I can’t get over the feeling that we were closer than we thought.”

Jackson and Damon both looked toward Kieran. Dakota shifted in her seat so she could better see him as well. What was she missing?

“You felt it too?” Kieran asked quietly.

“What?” she and Remy questioned together.

Kieran turned his gaze to her. “Evil, there was a sense of evil around that place. It might be from something that happened long ago, but it’s just a feeling I had about halfway through.”

She nodded even though she couldn’t really say she understood. What did evil feel like? she wanted to ask, but that was a conversation for later.

“I agree,” Damon stated, drawing her attention. “I’m used to the area. I showed you where we run, but I’ve never sensed the wrongness in the mountains like I did today.”

“It wasn’t until the end for me,” Jackson said, pointing with his marker. “The closer to where my section butted up with yours.”

Kieran sat his plate on the coffee table before he stood. Dakota noticed the humans and the shifters in the room looked just as confused as she felt. Her lover took the marker from Jackson and made his own addition to the map. “This is where all the teams need to concentrate.”

“It still looks like a pretty good-size area,” Dakota commented.

“Yeah,” Kieran agreed. “But we might get a better sense of things when we get there.”

“We should go now.” Jackson grabbed Kieran’s arm.

“No,” Kieran replied gently.

“What?” Jackson shouted. “If it was you—”

“I’d want you to wait until it was safe,” Kieran interrupted. “No one has gotten any sleep. The shifters need to gain their energy back.”

“Then I’ll take my own people,” Jackson insisted.

“Who haven’t slept either. Probably haven’t fed as well. If we’re not one hundred percent prepared when we find where they’re hiding, they’ll kill Alex and anyone else they have.” Kieran gripped Jackson’s shoulder and pulled him in. “I know you don’t want him to suffer, but we have to be smart about this. They haven’t had Alex as long as they had us. They won’t have him as long.”

Jackson nodded and seemed to deflate. Kieran held his old friend and Dakota wished she had something to offer him as well. Kieran was absolutely correct. If they rushed in without a plan, they would end up getting themselves killed or captured.

She was surprised when Damon stood and walked over to Jackson.

“Today was a good day. We were able to get closer than I thought we would. We have a solid idea of where they might be,” Damon said. “Going in at dawn, we’ll be refreshed and ready.”

“Alex is strong,” Mitch told Jackson from his spot on the ground. “You know he’d agree with your friends.”

“Okay.” Jackson lifted up his hands. “Okay.”

Kieran led Jackson back to the chair, so Dakota looked over at Dean. “Were you able to find out anything else?”

“Mitch has been searching the database they keep when paranormals enter the city,” Dean responded. “I’m not even going to go into how illegal that is, by the way.”

“What database?” Mitch asked with a grin.

Dean glanced at him before turning back to her and rolling his eyes. “See? It’s nearly impossible to work with Walkers.”

“Hey!” Mitch complained.

“Anyway,” Dean drawled. “He thinks he has some possible suspects who arrived and were never spotted again.”

“Email me the files,” Kieran told him.

Mitch glanced at Jackson who nodded his permission. “Sure,” Mitch agreed.

“Anything else?” Kieran asked.

“We still can’t find Alex’s car,” Dean said.

“I’m not really surprised,” Kieran told him. “They never found my truck either.”

Dakota hadn’t known that. She barely remembered that was how they’d captured him in the first place.

“The best plan is to have two teams,” Remy told the group. “The search team we’ll make up and a backup of agents in case we do find them.”

“My Pack can serve as backup as well,” Damon offered.

“We still need to keep this as legal as possible,” Dean said. “Especially with the Coalition sniffing around.”

“Was that a shifter joke?” Remy asked Dean.

“If the collar fits,” Dean answered with a smile.

“That was pretty good. The collar remark too,” Remy told him. “Kieran must be rubbing off on you.”

Dean might not have paled, but he came pretty damn close to causing everyone to laugh and break the tension.

“This is what we do,” Remy said once he had all their attention again. “How we end this once and for all.”