Just finish telling me how Malik manipulated you earlier.
It didnt escape his notice that Nick hadnt answered the question. He promised me power, told me all I had to do to get it was surrender to him. He was . . . very seductive.
In a sexual way?
Kalen felt sick, and fought it down. Yeah. The bastard touched me, and suddenly I wanted everything he was selling. God, Nick, he choked out. Whats wrong with me?
Once a whore, always a whore, my pet . Maliks smug voice intruded into his head. Dont forget you belong to me.
Kalen shoved the Unseelie out with great effort.
The commander pushed from his desk and walked over to stand by Kalens chair, gripping his shoulder. Theres not a damned thing wrong with you. Like the rest of us, youre trying to get a foothold on fighting the Unseelie, only for you its worse because hes taken a personal interest in recruiting you. That means hell stop at nothing to get what he wants. Creatures like him wield seduction like a weapon.
I know. Just like I know him messing with me was nothing but a mindfuck, but that doesnt make it better.
A mindfuck? How so? Nick retreated to park his butt on the desk again.
He sent Beryl to me in my room, or the illusion of her since she was still locked up, and by then I was lost, he said miserably. She seduced me, but when it was over, she just vanished. And heres the weird partI was still dressed and I wasnt even fully hard. No evidence of sex at all. It was so real at the time, and yet it never happened! Im losing my fucking mind.
Burying his hands in his hair, he held on as though he could keep his scrambled brains inside. I called him Master, and I liked his approval. No, I wallowed in it and wouldve done anything right then to please him. So I guess youre right about the cub thing, huh?
Jesus Christ. Nicks gaze pierced him to the core. Then what happened?
Kalen lowered his hands to his lap, fists clenched. He told me to let Beryl out of her cell. He said she had a task to perform before she left and that she was never meant to stay with us. I didnt know he meant for her to die, but I should have. Then I let her out, took her up to the ground level, where she attacked Sariel. Rowan and Aric went after her, and Aric killed her.
The commander fell silent for so long, fear balled in Kalens gut. Finally he gathered his courage and asked once more.
Are you going to kill me?
Would you submit if I said yes?
Kalen nodded, the bottom falling out of his stomach. Yes, I would.
Why? Nick cocked his head.
Because youre a PreCog and that means you can sometimes see the future. On top of that, youre the commander and a good, fair man. So if the future is better without me in it, if my death will keep the Pack and other innocents safe . . . He couldnt finish.
On your knees, Sorcerer.
The commanders tone was cold, his blue eyes like the Arctic North. Legs shaking, Kalen slid from his seat and knelt on the stubby carpet. Placed his hands on his jeans-clad thighs and stared at his polished black fingernails digging in painfully. His heart thundered in his chest, threatening to break his sternum.
Then Nick walked around his desk and opened a top drawer. Reached in and lifted out the biggest fucking hand cannon Kalen had ever seen. The spit dried up in his mouth and he watched numbly as the Alpha wolf approached, went to stand behind him.
The hard muzzle of the gun pressed to the back of his head. So hed die on his knees, execution-style. Quick and painless.
Oh, God. Take my soul before Malik can claim it, and look after Mackenzie, too. Thats all I ask.
Im sorry, kid.
Kalen squeezed his eyes shut. Time crawled to a standstill.
The crack of a gunshot split the air.
Lightning before the storm.
Mackenzie pushed an errant lock of curly dark hair behind her ear and looked up from the paperwork on her desk to see Noah standing there. The cute blond nurse was wearing a pleased expression as he hovered in the doorway to her office.
Whats up?
Blues finally awake, he said, referring to Sariel. Blue was the name all of the staff at the compound had called the Fae prince, due to his long, gorgeous blue hair and matching wings. The Fae had eventually revealed his real name to Kira, Jaxon Laws mate. Kira had proved to be a godsend in the ensuing months, working with the creatures in Block R, or the Rehabilitation unit, where Sariel used to be housed.
Thats great news! She smiled at Noah. Does Dr. Mallory know? Melina Mallory was her colleague and a damned fine doctor. Mac counted her as a friend, but the woman also ruled the roost in the infirmary as well as in their research on shifters and other paranormal beings.
Shes with him now. All his vitals are looking goodwell, at least for what we know about faeries, anyhow. The prince has got some color back in his face, but hes still refusing to eat. I wouldnt be worried because its not surprising that a patient wouldnt be hungry after being severely wounded, except Blue hasnt been
eating well since hes been at the compound.