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"This was once used as a crypt," Mira infor roo with the arena"

Kellan had never been near one of the illegal cage-fighting clubs, and he wasn’t enthused to realize how fae of protectiveness rose up in him as he watched her hips sith each quiet stride of her combat boots on the stone floor He didn’t want her in the vicinity of dangerous erous Breedone another to shreds for the a to pay to watch the spectacle

"Hey" He snagged Mira’s hand and drew her to a halt Pulled her closer to hi toward him in the dank coolness of the corridor "Where the hell are we going?"

"To see Rune"

Now Kellan bristled He knew that naround, soerous crihter reputed to have never lost a match It was a well-known fact that some of his opponents had forfeited their lives to hi anywhere near that guy" It was a command, spurred by pure masculine possessiveness, and Kellan couldn’t bite it back No hter where he now held on to Mira

The answering curve of her lips seeirl, Kellan I can handle ht have some" She came up on her toes and planted a quick kiss on his lips "But I kind of like seeing you all growly and protective"

She didn’t give hi away, she resumed her trek down the corridor and paused in front of a battered, unmarked door She dropped her fist on it a couple of tieway

"Fuck off" A terse, snarled reply

Mira knocked again, glancing to Kellan as he took his place beside her, battle instincts at the ready

"Holy bleeding Christ" The voice was deep, all gravel Asnarl from the other side of the door, before heavy footsteps approached at an ies as it was forcefully yanked open Then roughly six-and-a-half-feet, three-hundred-plus pounds of bare-chested, pissed-off vampire stood in front of the comprehend?"

"I need infor over the lol that had crept up Kellan’s throat His response was automatic, an alpha reaction to the potential threat this other deadlyin front of them

My Breedainst the dark-haired fighter, chin lowered, eyes fixed on hi

But Rune didn’t appear to be in the ht blue eyes slid only briefly froruff, uninterested "Not in the business of providing infor else to anyone Least of all the Order" He eased off, started to close the door

Mira’s palainst the scarred wood panel before Kellan could pull her back "If you can help hter’s curt dismissal, "I promise I’ll see that you’re coaze, and the gravel of the fighter’s voice took on sharp edges The tangle of derlyphs on his chest, which had been infused with dark color when he first appeared in the doorway, now churned with ht - at any price?"

"The lady is asking for your help," Kellan interjected, subtly stepping in to put hi behind his shoulder "You going to give it to her or not?"

"Lady," Runethe word like he wanted to chuckle "I’ve seen the way she wields those daggers of hers She may be female, but she’s no lady Who the fuck are you?"

Kellan felt his own eyes light with flecks of rising a to catlike slits as his temper spiked "Someone prepared to carve your larynx out of your throat if you lift one finger against her"

Rune stared "I believe you would Or try, at least" The words were a challenge thrown, but then the big vampire’s fierce expression relaxed a fraction "I don’t hurt females Not even the ones arood Not even the ones who coo pound so, then stand in front of ht coize for that, Rune," Mira said from behind the shield of Kellan’s body "Please, let us inside so we don’t have to talk around your door"

Rune didn’t budge, but behind hiht the sudden, swiftbut a black satin bedsheet and a veil of honeyed brown hair that obscured her face as she ducked out of sight

Now Kellan understood the othereyes leveled on hi wohter’s private cha, so spit out what you have to say, then leave Got things to do, and I don’t appreciate wasting ti for Rooster It’s important that we find him, and I ot a hard-on for that piece of shit, eh?"

"Have you seen hiue shake of his head "Not since a few nights ago, when you nearly took the bastard’s arms off with those wicked blades of yours In front of a full house down in the arena, Iin the wake of that disturbing news flash, but he did pivot a questioning look on Mira No doubt she caught his displeasure at such a reckless aze, devoid of excuse or reed "Anyway, haven’t seen hiht and sent you back to your boss with your tail between your legs Heard you ot bounced froured you were back in Montreal by now, licking your wounds"

Kellan realized then that Jere and Mira’s unintended sweep into the fray were not yet coe in the city Not even a shady individual like Rune was privy to the intel that rebels had grabbed a notable scientist who’d been under the protection of the Order

Which uess that Lucan had likely clapped a lid on the situation, given instructions to his warriors to keep the inforood news for Kellan or his crew

Because if Lucan and the Order were keeping Ackmeyer and Mira’s abduction quiet, that probably ht now Almost certainly a death squad with license to kill anyone standing in their way

Kellan had been part of the Order long enough to know that Lucan Thorne didn’t mess around, especially when a strike hit close to ho the tentative peace at the GNC su Mira was an offense Lucan would not forgive

Nor would Nikolai and Renata, Mira’s adoptive parents

Or Nathan, who’d been a best friend and brother to both Kellan and Mira since the three of them were kids