Ian wrapped her in his arms and laid his head over hers the way he had since they were little. “I’m happy for you.”
The tears choking his voice weren’t a sign of the strong leader he projected to the world, but he’d never hidden his true feelings from her. He had always been the only one on her side or at least the only one who’d ever showed her affection and attention.
Love rushed up. She buried her face in his shirt. “If Calan will let me, I’m going to help him hunt down Dar. When the bastard is dead, I’ll find a way to save my brothers and sisters.”
“Do you think there are many other kids like you?”
“Still alive?” Harley shook her head. “I doubt it, but I’m sure there are other women out there carrying Dar’s kids. Their babies are ticking time bombs.” She leaned back and let him see her determination. “I’m going to save them.”
She hoped the certainty she pushed into the vow gave it power. She didn’t want any other child to suffer the way she had or die at the hands of Dar’s monstrosities. Or Calan’s hands, for that matter.
Ian nodded as if it were a done deal. “I’ll help you.”
Harley pressed her palm to his cheek. “You know I can’t allow you to do that. The commitment you’re making to Cynthia overrides the one you feel for me. I’m no longer your problem.”
“You were never a problem.”
She gave him a small smile, both glad and saddened he hadn’t argued with her. “I’m getting out of here. I’ve had my fill of half-naked women for the night.”
He watched her intently for a long moment. “You’re going to release him?”
She nodded.
“You’re taking off then too?”
“Hopefully with Calan, but if not, I’m going to hunt for my siblings myself.”
“Not alone. If your ghost man doesn’t go with you, you shouldn’t do this. It’s too dangerous.”
“I have to. No one else will save them. They don’t matter to anyone else but me.”
“They do matter. I’ll ask Trevor if he’ll go with you.”
Like hell. She wouldn’t risk another innocent’s life.
“Sure, okay.” Harley forced a smile, hoping Ian would believe her.
He narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t buy her lame acting skills but gave her hand another small squeeze anyway. “You’ll call, right?”
She patted her back pocket and the cell phone there. “You know I will. Every day, just like I promised.”
“Good.” He nodded. “That’s good.”
They held each other’s gazes for another long moment. Good-byes, promises, and love passed between them. Finally, she turned away and left her only family member behind, or at least the only one she knew wouldn’t turn into a hungry beast someday.
Harley evaded another one of Ian’s friends who stepped in her path and slipped outside. She scanned the parking lot, a habit she’d developed. At nearly midnight, the lot was deserted.
After one more visual sweep, she strode toward where she’d left her car, one of the spare SUVs from Ian’s company. The hulking black vehicle was the biggest she’d ever driven. Inside the metal shell, she had a sensation of power, though she doubted it’d win any races.
A few feet from the decked-out beast, an awareness she’d felt too many times over the years skipped over her skin. Normally, the chaos she carried would flare in response. Tonight, it remained dormant and calm under Calan’s silky barrier. She breathed a sigh. Her happiness over the knowledge that Calan really had healed her faded with the first sight of the man she wanted to gut for what he’d done to her family.
Raul walked around the edge of the building with the same nonchalant amble as the last time she’d seen him.
How did he find her so quickly?
Harley pulled her dagger from the sheath she’d shoved inside her boot. His gaze flicked to it, but he continued to approach, eyeing it without even a tiny bit of apprehension.
Shit, shit, shit. She knew his change in patterns indicated more than his unraveling mind. It looked as if she’d find out the reason. She tightened her grip and waited.
Raul stopped several feet away and matched her widened stance. His empty hands hanging loosely at his sides didn’t fool her. His nails could grow into curved talons as sharp as a razor blade. Unlike the sluaghs, who were more animal than human without the glamour their redcap leader bestowed upon them, men like Raul retained their human appearance. For the most part, at least. The whites of their eyes turned red and pointy teeth filled their mouths when they allowed their nonhuman side out.
Raul swept desire-ridden eyes over her. He let his gaze linger on her breasts the same way most men did, then tore his attention from them and focused on her face.
“Happy belated birthday, Harley.”
The raspy tinge to his words reminded her of a smoker. The last time he’d spoken to her, she’d been equally disgusted and intrigued by his voice. It had appealed to the darker half of her persona. With Calan’s touch holding it at bay, she felt only revulsion.
“How did you—”
“Know you just turned twenty-seven?” He gave her a lopsided smile. “Because you’ve matured. I feel the change in you.”
“And now you no longer want to kill me?”
Quicker breaths expanded his chest. “No, I don’t want to kill you.”
She focused on the cock straining his pants. Fear rose. She stamped it down. “What do you want, then?”
A smile spread over his handsome face that didn’t need an ounce of glamour to create. It seemed almost wrong that his physical body didn’t match the monster he was.
“You’re going to claim me as yours, and together we’re going to bring my plan to life.”
Her heartrate kicked up a notch. Harley locked her knees so she didn’t turn tail and run. Calan
