“What the fuck took you so long?” the other guy asked.
“Shut up, Sam.” Zane shook out his wet hair, keeping his rowing rhythm. “You try to maneuver in between a Kurjan and demon fighting to grab the trophy.”
Garrett growled. “I’m not a trophy.”
“You are tonight, sport.” Sam grinned, his green eyes glowing in the darkness.
Similar bone structure and the same color eyes. “You two brothers?”
“No,” Zane snapped. “I don’t have family.”
Now why did that sound like a lie? Garrett shrugged. “Whatever you say, man.”
Zane growled.
Sam tapped his ear. “There’s a lot of chatter about a firefight in Seattle tonight. I think the Realm boys took on Suri’s soldiers.”
Zane snorted. “That’s unfortunate. The prize was on a boat in the Pacific.”
Garrett sat up. “Who won?”
Sam shrugged. “Don’t know, but all hell broke loose. Even the human cops are headed to the scene.”
Garrett relaxed his shoulders. His people knew how to fight. If the humans were involved, his family was already long gone. “What about Suri?” Uncle Jase really wanted to kill Suri.
“He wasn’t in Seattle,” Sam said. “Your people attacked one of his main bases, though. He’ll be hurting.”
“My people?” Garrett eyed the two. He’d known Zane was part vampire, but nobody knew what else. Gut feeling? The guy was a shifter—one who didn’t align with the Realm. “Who exactly are you, anyway?”
“I’m the guy you owe,” Zane said.
Maybe. Maybe not. “How did you find me?”
Sam grinned. “Contacts, young man. It always comes down to who you know, now doesn’t it?”
Zane shook his head. “Shut up, Sam.”
Garrett tried another tack. “What do you want with my sister, anyway?”
Zane’s eyes flashed fire. “I want your sister to stay the fuck out of the war.”
“Have you met my sister?” Garrett snorted.
Zane sighed. “Yes. Well, kind of.”
“She’s not staying out of the war.” In fact, hadn’t Janie said the end would come down to her, Kalin, and Zane? Garrett jerked his head up. “Did you kill Kalin?”
“No. He and a demon were going at it, and I only had a second to save your ass. I’m sure he got free—he’s too smart to die on the boat.” Zane frowned, the moonlight casting dark shadows across his face. “But our time is coming.”
Lights glowed from a distant shore. Garrett stiffened.
Zane held out a hand. “No need to dart away. I’m not keeping you. This time.”
Yeah, like he’d trust some wacko Janie only met in dreamworlds. “Gee, I appreciate that.” Garrett yanked out the knife, twisting the blade to catch the light. “I’d hate to have to kill you after the kind rescue.”
Sam grinned at Zane. “I really like this kid.”
“You should meet his sister,” Zane muttered. Then he pointed to a lighthouse about a mile away. “Can you make that lighthouse?”
Garrett nodded. “Sure.”
“Okay. There’s a disposable cell phone duct-taped to the northern side. Get there, call your people, and stay out of sight until they pick you up.” Zane stopped rowing.
Garrett tucked the knife way. “Um. Well, thanks.”
“Not a problem.” Zane eyed the distance. “Get going now before the sun comes up and you’re easy to spot.”
Garrett fell back and over the edge, making a small splash. He grabbed the boat and hauled himself up to face Zane. “Saying I do owe you. What do you want?”
Zane pierced him with that odd green gaze. “I want you to keep your sister out of the war for as long as possible.”
Garrett shrugged. “That was my plan anyway.”
“Good.” Zane shoved him in the shoulder, and he splashed back into the ocean. “And don’t fuck up my great rescue here by getting caught. Speed to the phone and call for help.” Oars hit the water again, and the raft quickly moved out of sight.
Garrett bobbed in the sea for a moment, his gaze on the waning moon. With a shrug, he turned and put all his strength into swimming around the lighthouse. He took several passes until he was sure nobody waited for him.
Then he swam to shore and yanked out his knife.
Still nothing. So he walked around the lighthouse until he found the cell phone. Grabbing it, he dialed one of the public numbers, just in case, and asked to be transferred.
Several transfers later, a female voice answered.
His throat nearly closed, and he felt like a little kid again. “Mom? It’s Garrett.”
Jase’s ears still rang from Talen knocking him out. What the hell was it with his brothers beating on his head lately? Guilt made it hard to move. He’d pointed a gun at Talen, and might’ve shot him. What kind of trigger had the demons put into his brain?
Was he a danger to his family now? What if the trigger was activated again?
He sat in a cozy relaxation room in the main lodge. The window was wide open, letting the scents of sea and fish into the room.
Kane shook his head, staring at a printout. “I don’t know how we missed the trigger.”
“You missed it because I haven’t dealt with everything that happened.” Jase’s hands closed into fists on his bloody jeans. “The Latin words he spoke sounded familiar, but I don’t know what they mean.”
“It’s the sound that matters,” Kane said absently. “There’s only one thing to do. We have to hypnotize you.”
“I know.” Dread compressed Jase’s lungs. “Have we gotten anything from the demon we brought back?” Dage had captured one of the soldiers after the raid.
“Not yet, and frankly, you don’t need to worry about it.” Kane pierced him with a hard glare. “Talen said you didn’t shoot him when ordered.”
“No, but I wanted to. Or rather, my body wanted to.”
Kane nodded. “That’s good. The trigger isn’t set as deep or as well as they thought.” He turned and sat on the matching sofa. “Why don’t we get rid of that trigger for good?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Jase took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
A knock echoed on the door, and Dage poked his head in. “How’s it going?”
“Just started,” Kane said.
Jase rubbed both hands down his face. “Any news from the prisoner we took from Seattle?”
“Not yet.” Dage eyed Kane. “You going to hypnotize him and delete the trigger?”
“That’s the plan,” Kane said.
“See if you can make him be not such an ass.” Dage shut the door.
Jase grimaced. “He’s pissed.”
“No. He’s worried.” Kane reached over his head and dimmed the lights. “You’ve been out of control twice lately, and both times could’ve gotten you killed.”
Jase settled his shoulders. “Let’s get rid of that trigger so I can go hunt demons.”
“Damn it, Jase.” Kane blew out air. “Fine. Count down from ten.”
Dage poked his head in again. “Just got word—Garrett called. Seems he’s safe. We leave in five minutes, so suit up.”
Jase stiffened, his gaze flashing to Kane’s concerned one. “I guess we’ll do this later.”
Jase leaned out the door of the helicopter as the waves undulated below him. Even after being damaged, he was the best sniper around. Especially when shooting from a moving vehicle. Conn aimed out the other side, while
