Nash looked on as Ryker ran Ryanne through simple self-defense moves: the base of her palm to a nose, a heel to an instep, a knee to a groin. But it was the knife-wielding lesson that stirred Nash’s protective instincts. Every time Ryker knocked the weapon from her hand and pinned her to the ground or against a wall, the beast in Nash rose up in its desire to defend his mate.
It didn’t help that Ryker knew exactly what Nash was feeling—or he did if the smirk on his face was any indication. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Ryanne turned the tables in a stunningly fast move and held the blade tip to Ryker’s jugular. A cheer welled up and out of Nash as he rushed across the room to sweep her into a hug.
“Well done, babe.”
Her face flushed with pride, and she never looked more beautiful.
Ryker bowed his head in acknowledgment of her win. “You’re as ready as you can be on such short notice. Remember to stay alert, and if all else fails, stab Salinger in the ball sack.”
“I’d say that is a little vicious, Uncle.”
One dark brow rose, and Ryker stared him down.
“I didn’t say unwarranted, just vicious,” Nash said with a laugh. “It’s probably better to aim for Victor’s balls since he’s missing a heart.”
“Any man who would murder his own sister is exceedingly dangerous,” Alastair added as he strode toward their small group. He stopped in front of Ryanne and gave her a stern look. “Never forget that, child, and never hesitate.”
“I’ll remember,” she promised.
Nash clasped her hand and squeezed. “As much as I hate to say it, it’s past time for ‘Rylee’ to return.”
“I could go with her,” Ryker offered.
“You’d never get out alive, my friend.” Alastair shook his head, expression grim. “His paranoia runs deeper than Zhu Lin’s ever did.”
“So the only thing left is to recreate a journal to look like the original,” Ryanne stated. “How do we hide the magic of the journal?”
“We won’t need to. He’ll expect it to be spelled from the Council or from Nash. It’s okay if trace amounts of magic are detected on it.”
“Do you remember what we discussed for extraction? Once you find the necklace, you text Nash from Rylee’s phone. We’ll be waiting at the tree line on the edge of the compound. The Blockers can only maintain a perimeter of about fifteen yards beyond the building. The trees start at about thirty yards.” Alastair’s gaze bore into hers. “If you have to run for the trees, do not run in a straight line. It makes you an easy target.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Knox worked up a map from the GPS data. Victor’s place shouldn’t be hard to find.” Alastair tilted his head toward his office. “There is a shower in the bathroom attached to my office. When you are done, Autumn or Spring will conjure clothes to match your sister’s.”
Nash lifted their joined hands and dropped a light kiss on her knuckles. “Have one of my cousins let me know when you are ready, and I’ll attach the microphone. You won’t be able to hear us, but we will be able to hear you and come for you if you get into trouble.”
“Why do I need to text you if I’m wearing the wire? Won’t you hear me if I tell you that I found the necklace?”
“It’s assumed Victor will have video cameras everywhere. The signal interrupter only lasts a few minutes after it’s activated, so you need to be fast when you search each room. When those cameras come back on, I don’t want Victor to see you speaking into the wire.” He shot a glance toward the other men and then looked back at her. “If you use Rylee’s phone to text your phone, you can keep up a pretense of casual conversation. Ryker and Alastair have created a code of sorts. It will still appear like casual conversation. For example, type the words ‘Do you still have that red dress?’ and we will know you are in trouble. It’s a code red.”
“Fair enough. I’ll assume you’ll give me a rundown of these codes?”
“Yes. Are you sure you’re okay with this, babe?” Nash wondered how she could be, when his own instincts were screaming so loudly that they practically drowned out the conversation around him.
“I feel as if you’ve asked me this a million times. I wouldn’t have agreed in the first place if I didn’t believe it was the right thing to do,” she assured him.
A quick glance revealed his father’s impassive expression. Ryker’s countenance didn’t show much more emotion than Alastair’s. It seemed Nash was the only one freaking out. But then, he had the most to lose.
“Any last words of advice?” If his tone was gruff, it couldn’t be helped.
“Yes,” Ryker said as he placed a hand on Ryanne’s shoulder. “Don’t let your act slip. Not once. You have to assume someone is watching you at all times. You must be Rylee.”
She nodded her understanding.
Nash crowded closer to her side. “If you two don’t mind, I’d like a moment alone with Ryanne.” After they left, he drew her into his arms. “I’m terrified for you,” he confessed. “All along, I’d planned to ask for your help, but now that the moment’s here to send you into Victor’s compound, I can’t seem to find it within me to let you do it.”
She snuggled into his chest and sighed. “I’m taking the choice out of your hands, Nash. I’m doing this whether you want me to or not. I had a chance to read the journal a little this morning and again during my makeover. I don’t need to tell you how dangerous that necklace can be in the wrong hands.”
“No, you don’t. But I feel like we should find another way.” He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter. Part of him never wanted to let her go. Wanted to protect her from anything that could possibly hurt her. That same part urged him to battle anyone who might take her away from him.
Ryanne patted his chest. “If you can find a different solution while I’m in the shower, I’ll be open to a new plan. Otherwise, this is all we have.”
“How are you so calm about this?”
“I’m not. Not in the least. In fact, I’m downright terrified. But what choice do we have?”
He cupped her face between his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips opened under his, and he swept his tongue into her mouth. Into that kiss, he poured all the things he couldn’t say. All the overwhelming love for her that he’d waited too long to act on. All his hopes and fears. And miracle of miracles, he felt her answering response. Nash never wanted this moment to end.
From the doorway behind Ryanne, Alastair cleared his throat. “Son, we have to get a move on.”
A stinging started behind Nash’s lids as deep, burning emotion clogged his throat and seized his vocal cords. All he could do was rest his forehead against Ryanne’s as he cradled her face.
She lightly stroked his wrists. “It’s going to be all right.”
He nodded slightly, still unable to speak.
“We just connected. I’m not about to lose this,” she whispered.
Her words gave him the strength to pull back and release her. “Go get your shower. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“I love you, Nash.”
“I love you more,” he said, casting her a teasing grin in an attempt to hide his distress.
She laughed, and it was sunshine to his soul. “Probably.”
“Rylee, please help me.”
When her sister remained stubbornly silent, Ryanne heaved an internal sigh. She’d been trying for the last fifteen minutes to get her twin to see reason and to provide any intel on Victor’s compound she could.
“I don’t understand why you would wish harm on me and Nash. What do you truly owe Victor?” Ryanne tried to reason. “He’s done unspeakable things. He was responsible for killing his own sister. Do you truly believe he won’t turn on you?”
“You love him more than me,” Rylee whispered.
“Who? Nash?”
“Yes. You love him more than me.”
“That’s not true.” Okay, it was a little true, but how did one tell their sister that they held very little affection for them anymore? Tell them that all the horrific things they’d done in the past had tainted that love and made it something ugly? Tell them that any love they felt now was a sense of obligation only? “I love you both in different ways, Leelee.”
Rylee’s eyes softened for a moment, but hardened back to cold jewel-like diamonds mere seconds later. “You’re a liar! You’ve always been a liar!” she spat. Hatred flared to life in her dark eyes. Ryanne could see the flame of insanity deep in their depths, and a chill swept over her.
“When I return, we are going to get you help. Whatever spell Victor’s cast over you, I intend to break, Rylee. Count on it.”
Rylee snorted her derision. “You think he won’t be able to tell you are posing as me the second you step into his office? You’re a fool.”
“Come away, Ryanne. You’re wasting your time here.” Nash stroked her back. “She’s not going to help you.”
“Yes, Ryanne. Run along. It’s time to dance to the Great Nash Thorne’s tune like the good little puppet you are.”
Fury unlike any she’d ever experienced, pounded against her temples and made her want to smack the ever-loving shit out of her sister. The only thing that stilled her hand was the oddity of the sudden anger. Where had it come from? It wasn’t like Rylee hadn’t taken verbal pot-shots at her before. This blinding rage was so far from normal, it gave Ryanne pause. Was this another side effect of her revived magic, like the fire flaring from her fingertips last night?
When she returned from retrieving the Red Scorpion, she intended to get to the bottom of this. She couldn’t go around raging at people or setting things on fire.
Because she refused to give in to hate, Ryanne leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her twin’s forehead. “I’m sorry, Leelee. For whatever wrongs you think I’ve done to you, whatever affection you feel I’ve withheld, I’m sorry. I do love you, despite what you may believe.”
Once again, Rylee’s eyes softened and tears welled up. Their gazes locked in a moment of unity, as they had when they were young children before potential parents would interview them at the group home. But in a blink, their connection was lost, and Rylee turned her head to stare at the wall.
“Don’t forget your fake journal, Rylee.” Rylee gave a harsh laugh. “Like Victor will fall for that one.”
Ryanne hurried away, unable to bear another second of the animosity. The very air around her sister was thick with hate and too stifling to breathe.
“You feel it too, don’t you?” Nash asked her quietly.
“Feel what?” she asked, irritation heavy in her tone.
“That. Right there.” He pointed. “The negative emotions bubbling up out of nowhere.”
“It’s been happening on and off since my sister showed up. I assumed it was my nerves getting the better of me.”
“I think it’s something else, although I’m not sure exactly what.”
“Do you think anyone else feels it?”
“If I had to take a guess, yes. Autumn was snarkier than normal earlier. Spring definitely felt the pull of stronger magic. She mentioned as much before she introduced herself, remember?”
“Yes, but at the time, I didn’t realize this…this…well, whatever this is, was what she was referring to.” She waved a hand around her chest and head when the proper words failed her.
Ryker approached them. “It will be dark within two hours. If we want to find Salinger’s compound, we need to get going.” He faced Nash. “Your father and I were discussing it. We think you should stay here.”
“No fucking way. Achoo!”
Alastair sauntered up, his clenched fist a clear indication he’d anticipated Nash’s reaction. “You are too volatile where your young woman is concerned, son. Ryker, Knox, and I have this handled.”
Ryanne looked at the tall blond man standing beside Alastair. He’d remained silent most of the day, only adding his two cents when asked directly. The guy was extraordinary in every way. His long hair begged females to run their fingers through the thick locks, while his intelligent blue eyes saw everything and made a woman feel overly warm if he spared them a glance. He was the perfect match for the breathtaking Spring, and appeared to only have eyes for her.
In his deep baritone, he now promised Nash he’d not let anything happen to Ryanne. “I owe you, man.”
“I…” Nash pressed his lips together and turned to stare down at her.
Ryanne understood his reticence. She would never say it aloud, but she wanted him to wait for her outside the perimeter of Victor’s reach, ready to step in should she need it. This man was highly capable when he set his mind to it. This new realization startled her, but she knew no one on the planet made her feel safer.
“Keep my sister out of trouble,” she finally said, making the decision for him.
With one last hard hug, she left.