Slowly she eased to her feet, peering down at him. “I told you. Because I like you. And because Kyrin is a man so deeply in love he would kill himself before allowing himself to become a weapon used against his woman. If he died, Mia would never agree to anything I asked.”
Or maybe Trinity simply couldn’t infect Kyrin.
A muscle twitched under her eye. Had she read that thought? “There are other couples within AIR that might be willing to bargain.”
Mind blank. No reaction. “Like?”
“Like time will tell, sweet Dallas.” She didn’t wait for his reply. She disappeared.
Fuck. Dallas leapt from the bed, but before he’d taken a single step, his vision busted past his mental block and slammed into vivid focus. Ava and Noelle, fighting the Schön. Ava, falling. Blood spilling. Her body, motionless. Her … death.
Unchangeable.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! He was panting as he came back to the present. He couldn’t tell her, he thought. He couldn’t risk being the one to drive her to that point. That had happened to him before. He’d had a vision, done everything in his power to stop it, but because of his actions, the vision had come true.
So, while there was nothing he could do for Ava—damn it!—there was something he could do about Trinity’s threat. Dallas raced from the room, uncaring that his hospital gown was split in back and revealed every inch of his bare ass. He was going to contact every fucking AIR agent who was dating, married, or in love and warn them. Which meant he had to contact every AIR agent working for Mia. Even Ava. Before it was too late for the rest of them.
Twenty-seven
McKell found himself standing in front of the most exclusive apartment building in New Chicago, a towering monstrosity of gold-veined marble and rising columns. Mia and Kyrin lived in the penthouse—and that’s where the Schön queen’s men had visited after leaving Johnny’s.
Had Mia and Kyrin known? McKell wondered. He didn’t think so, or hardass Mia would have thrown a fit all the city would have heard about.
Those men hadn’t lingered for long, though, and had next visited … Devyn and Bride’s city house a few miles away. McKell positioned himself outside the closed gates with Ava tucked safely beside him, the rest of the gang remaining about a yard behind. Silent, he stared at the mansion on the hill, certain the otherworlder and vampire hadn’t known about their visitors, either.
The Schön bitch had certainly made the rounds. How many agents had she watched?
Thankfully, the stink of rot that followed her and her men created a very clear path. A path he had to walk, just as they had, that glimmering doorway popping up every ten minutes. So. Annoying. Ava kept up beautifully, though she called him all kinds of bad names for dragging her, walking too swiftly, and stopping too abruptly.
He loved when she called him names. Meant she cared for him with the same intensity she cared for Noelle. That she was comfortable with him, that she trusted him. At least, that’s what he told himself. And as he was most often right …
He didn’t even mind the other agents tagging along. Even Jeremy. Every time McKell released Ava to study something, that boy would close in on her. To shield her—and as selfish and unwilling to share as McKell was, he found that he didn’t mind that someone coveted something of his because Ava’s protection came first.
Of course, the fact that Ava was in danger at all had his nails elongating and his teeth sharpening. He wanted this case over, done. Didn’t help that the doorway was appearing more frequently now, harriedly breathing his name. So far, he’d managed to keep Ava away from it. What did it want? What was its purpose?
“Whatever pissed you off,” Ava said, “dial it down a notch, ‘em kay? You’ve already taken the fun out of my hunt. The way you’re cutting my palm with your nails is going to take the fun out of your morning. You know, when we get home. After our talk, and before our nap.”
Home, she’d said. Theirs. He immediately loosened his grip. “Just one more stop, then, and if the queen isn’t there, we’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow night.” The sun would rise soon, anyway, and McKell would have to move indoors.
“Sounds good.”
Only a block later, Ava said, “Wait.” She pulled from his grip and withdrew her phone. She frowned as she read the screen. “Just got a text from Dallas. The Schön queen plans to target a couple. She’ll threaten one so the other will do whatever she wants. He says she can read minds, so we aren’t to think about what we would do to her if that happens.”
A mind reader. Wonderful. Exactly what they’d needed to add to the equation.
“She already threatened you. I wonder if this means she changed her mind.” Ava pocketed her phone, and they picked up speed. Soon they were back in the heart of the city, people strolling along the sidewalks, shop lights flashing, but two corners later, he tensed, tendrils of rage nearly choking him.
He recognized this neighborhood.
“Decide to call it a night already?” Ava asked, recognizing it as well. She should, since she lived here.
If the scent led to her door, he would … do anything, he realized. Anything to stop the queen. Drain humans to remain in the sunlight. Yes. No matter how much of a hypocrite that made him. He wouldn’t sleep until the queen was dead.
“McKell?” Ava prompted.
Another yard, and they would be standing in front of their apartment building. Dread filled him, mixed with rage, and he slowed his steps. Little by little, his feet ate up that yard until—a low growl rose from deep within. No, the queen hadn’t changed her mind about him.
He hadn’t smelled her disgusting scent in Ava’s building before. That meant the first visit had been today. Did that also mean he and Ava were the targeted couple Dallas had mentioned?
“McKell?” Ava insisted. “We done?”
“She was here,” he gritted out. “She came to our home.”
Silence. Now Ava tightened her grip on him, her nails cutting his skin.
“What do you want to do?” Noelle asked, coming up behind them. “I was eavesdropping and heard what you said to each other, so no need to explain. Plus, I got Dallas’s text, too.” The trainees were close on her heels.
What did he want to do? He wanted to keep searching, that’s what. Things were personal now. This was war. Resting wasn’t an option.
“Count me in on the eavesdropping, too,” Jeremy said. “If she’s been here, I don’t think Ava should stay here. Not that my vote matters.”
“When you agree with me, it counts. Now. Not another word out loud,” McKell snapped. “Don’t even think about what we should next do.”
“Remember, the queen can read minds,” Ava said with a tremor. She leaned her head on his shoulder. “But the thing is, we can’t leave Hellina in there alone. We have to get her.”
“I’ll get her,” he said, then kissed the top of her head.
“No,” she rushed out. “She, the queen—” She pressed her lips together, flicked him a glance, looked away. “I can’t say it. Can’t think about it. Sorry. Just, let me do it. I’ll get the dog. Okay?”
McKell inhaled deeply, trying not to think or plan or panic. Along with the sweet scent of butterscotch from Ava, he discovered an increase of rot. He stiffened. Were the queen and her men here, even now?
And, damn it. Wouldn’t you know it. The doorway opened, air churning wildly.
“What you just said, about not thinking, not talking.” He forced her to look up at him, noses almost touching. “Take the others to AIR headquarters. Now. I’ll grab Hellina and follow.”
Truth or lie, he didn’t know. He only knew that he had to keep his mind clear, not plan, just act on instinct. Hopefully Ava would do the same, obey him or not, without thinking about it.
Ava opened her mouth—to argue?—but closed it with a snap. Wariness clouded her lovely dark eyes. So did worry. But darling that she was, she nodded. Trusting him. “Be careful,” she said.
“You, too. Do nothing to put yourself in harm’s way.”
“The van is just around the corner. I had one of the guys follow us,” Noelle said, and the group marched off. She had to tug Ava along, though.
Ava’s gaze remained on McKell until the last possible second. He stayed where he was, sniffing, ensuring that the queen—or her men, whoever—didn’t leave with the others. The scent of rot never lessened, so he knew the queen had stayed with him.
“You might as well come out of hiding,” he said, scanning the darkness. The command agitated the doorway, the churning now so frantic a hard breeze hit him.
A laugh echoed a split second before a woman appeared out of nowhere, leaning against the cracked brick of Ava’s building. Red curls hung down her back, and she wore another robe, this one blue and streaked with dirt. In fact, there was dirt on her face and arms, too.
Not a single guard appeared. Did that mean they were still hiding, or that they weren’t even here?
McKell. Come. Never had the doorway sounded more desperate.
No, he projected. Never.
“I like you, McKell,” the queen said, seemingly oblivious.
Like everyone else, she probably was. “I can’t say the same about you.”
McKell. Please.
I hear nothing. Know nothing. “I don’t like that you came here. I don’t like that you stalked my woman. And do you know what I do to people I don’t like?”
“You hurt them,” she replied with a smile.
Please! Now.
Silence, ignornace. “Yes.” He lifted the necklace he wore, the human bones clinking together. “Your fingers would look nice resting beside the others.”
“You cannot hurt me,” she said confidently. “You can’t make me bleed without severe consequences.”
“There are other ways,” he said. Don’t consider them, he reminded himself. “And I guess it’s up to me to save the day. I’d prefer you left this planet, but if I have to kill you and everyone who serves you to do it, that’ll just be a bonus.”
McKell. The danger … too great …
Another feminine laugh chimed from her. “Others have tried to scare me away, too. Ask me if they succeeded.”
Such smugness. He should choke the life from her. In fact, nothing was stopping him from doing so. He closed the distance between them, and if she knew what he planned, she didn’t react. Not even when he reached out and wrapped his big hands around her small throat. “Leave, or you will die.”
McKell!
Wind danced the strands of his hair together.
Unaffected, she said, “You think you’ll be the one to finally fell me? You think there’ll be no consequences for doing so? You think my men won’t want revenge? You think I’m not the only reason Ava’s alive, right. This. Second?”
Her threats … He tightened his grip, relaxed his grip.
Danger, so much danger.
“The moment I’m dead, they’ll attack your girlfriend first,” she continued, voice strong, as if his lethal intention meant nothing. The wind kicked up. “There’s so many of them, you won’t be able to stop them all. Won’t be able to get to her fast enough. Not even with your ability. We adapt to abilities such as yours, after all. We learn to override them. Do you really want to risk that? What if we’ve already adapted?”
Intimidation. He’d used that tactic himself. When it came to Ava’s well being, however, he had no defenses.
“Go ahead and freeze time,” the queen said, taunting now. “See if I lie. Only, know that the moment you do so, I will consider this little truce over.”
Truce? She called this a truce? “What do you want from me, female?” God, the wind. If the queen didn’t kill him, the mind just might.
“I’m surprised Dallas didn’t tell you, didn’t try to help you figure out how to deal with me.” The grin returned. “Maybe he wants you to fail.”
If you won’t come with me, leave the area.
Can’t leave Ava with such a threat hanging over her head. McKell’s eyes narrowed. Damn it. No more communicating with the door.
“So … how much do you love your Ava?” she asked silkily.
The sun was slowly rising, warming the restless air, heating his skin. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, and he could feel blisters already trying to form on the back of his neck. Not by word or deed did he act as if he was bothered, though. “I don’t. Love her, that is.” True or not, he didn’t know, but he wouldn’t think about his feelings for her right now. He couldn’t. Too much was at stake.
“What would you be willing to do to save her?”
“That, you will never know, because you won’t touch her.” His hands fell to his sides, fisted. Just like that, the wind died.
“Maybe I already have.”
That. Was. It. The need to act exploded through him. She claimed her men would attack Ava the moment McKell killed her. She claimed he wouldn’t be able to reach Ava in time. Could be lies. Could be truth. Either way, he couldn’t allow this woman to walk away.
Ava was in danger either way. If the queen died, she had a chance. If the queen lived, she didn’t, and that was where this Schön had made her biggest mistake. Anything else, and he might have walked away.
With only a thought, McKell froze time. Froze the queen, as well. And she was frozen, he was sure of it. She didn’t move as he once again wrapped his hands around her neck, as he squeezed hard enough to smash her trachea.
Oh, McKell. No, the doorway said.