Текст книги "Savage Awakening"

Автор книги: J. Tyler

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

Better him than Mackenzie. He would protect her, no matter the price. With his last breath, when the time came.

And it would come.

Yesss, my boy, the voice purred seductively. Why do you bother to fight what you know is true? You are mine, and I do not share.

“Shut up, asshole,” Kalen hissed. “You’re full of shit.”

Am I? Does your pulse not quicken at the image of the ultimate power we’ll wield together? Does your cock not harden at the mere sound of my voice?

His groin throbbed, his length pushing against his leathers. Dark need demanded to be satisfied, the lust for mastery. To own all of the world.

Oh, yes, it’s such delicious temptation for a boy who’s had so little. No one has ever loved you—

“My grandmother loved me!”

And then she left you all alone. Poor mite kicked out of your family at age fourteen, unloved and misunderstood. But I will keep you safe, and we’ll rule together.

“God,” he rasped. “Help me.”

No, young one. There is no help, not for the likes of us. So we must take what others would not give, and make it ours.

“No.”

Yes. Prepare, my apprentice. I will come for you soon.

On that day, Kalen had better have a plan for how he was going to defeat Malik.

And the darkness within.

Thirteen

S weet Jesus, she feels like heaven.

Aric tucked his would-be mate against his side, so close they were almost one body. As she napped with her head on his chest, he let his fingers slip through her sable hair again and again, and replayed their lovemaking in his head. Never had he felt closer to a woman—or anyone, for that matter.

And he had to lose her.

He was so freaking hot, and not in a good way, but he refused to move her just to try to get cooled off. These last few days were all he had left, and he wasn’t about to waste a second. Against him, she wiggled a bit, and a light kiss was placed over his heart.

“Mmm.”

He smiled at her sleepy moan. “Awake?”

“Barely. So good, bein’ lazy like this. Wish it could last forever.”

Closing his eyes, he willed down the pain. Hugged her tighter. “Me, too.”

“Unfortunately, I have to move.” Raising up, she kissed his lips. “Micah woke up earlier, for real.”

“Really? That’s great,” he said with relief. “How is he?”

“As well as can be expected, I guess. Confused. He has no memory of his months in the hands of those bastards, being rescued, none of it.”

“Shit. He’s blocking?”

“Yeah. It’s there, in his subconscious, but the only way he can cope is to shut out all the bad stuff. I’m so afraid of what’s going to happen to him when he can’t suppress it anymore.”

He stroked her cheek, trying to give her a measure of comfort. “The doctors will be there to help him. We all will.”

“I know. But the thing is, I have to head out day after tomorrow. I hate leaving him, but I have to go home for a while,” she said worriedly. “I need to pay bills, check on the apartment, and see when I can get more vacation time to come back.”

The news, though not unexpected, hit him like a fist in the gut. It didn’t escape his notice that she hadn’t expressed the same reticence to leave him, and he cursed himself for being a selfish asshole. “Reality intrudes, huh? Time and the day job wait for no man. Or woman.”

“Something like that.” She gave him a sad smile. “It’s not like I can tell my sergeant that I can’t come back to work because my brother is a wolf shifter who was tortured by an evil Unseelie and his shitheads.”

“At least not unless you want to find yourself on the wrong end of a psych eval.” He kissed her nose. “But he’ll be in good hands. It’s not like you’re abandoning him, so get that guilt out of your head. You’ll be back to visit as soon as you can, and he’ll understand. When you wear a uniform and are sworn to protect the public, you don’t just walk away from your career. Nobody gets that more than we do.”

There. He could be objective about letting her go. He could.

Some of the shadows left her eyes, making the sacrifice worthwhile. “Thanks for the pep talk. You’re good for me.”

Then don’t go. Please, don’t leave me.

“Great. Let’s get you up and moving, and we’ll go see him. Shower?”

“Race you!”

Leaping up, she sprinted for the bathroom. A broad smile bloomed on his face of its own accord and he didn’t even try to win, because he was too busy watching her edible, naked bubble butt jiggle all the way across the room. As far as he was concerned, hewas the winner.

Once she disappeared, the lure of wet, soapy woman got his ass going. He jumped in the shower to see her face turned to the spray and he grabbed her hips, sliding his hard cock along the crevice of her butt cheeks.

“Ooh, is someone poking fun at me?”

“You bet!”

She giggled and then moaned as he made good on his threat. He made love to her under the cascade of water, slowly, savoring every moment of the glide of his cock inside her, the pleasure bittersweet. This was the last time, because he couldn’t touch her again. Not if he hoped to keep his wolf leashed and restrain himself from claiming her. Something she would never want.

No, didn’t deserve. She could do much better than being tied to the man responsible for her brother’s kidnapping and torture.

Still, his fangs lengthened, instinct almost stronger than human will. Almost. Resisting the urge to sink his teeth into the delicate curve of her neck and shoulder was more painful than ever. Heat sizzled under his skin, baked his insides. But he held strong in his resolve and plunged deep, brought them to orgasm with a rush of heady ecstasy, filling her.

Making it last forever.

Easing out, he cleaned them both and they finished their shower. Toweling off, they got dressed in simple jeans and T-shirts and went to see Micah.

Slipping into Micah’s room behind Rowan, Aric saw Ryon, Jax, and Zan already there, standing around his bed. The four of them were talking, and Micah was sitting up, looking tired but smiling—a fact that soothed some of the heartache, but not nearly enough.

How could he seek absolution for a sin Micah wouldn’t even recall?

Micah’s smile lit his scarred face. Aric managed not to react to the sight of the puckered skin pulling at his cheek and the corner of his mouth. The man would get the wrong idea.

“Aric! Jesus, it’s good to see your smart-ass self.” He held out a hand and Aric shook it carefully, avoiding the IV.

“It’s great to see you sitting up, bullshitting everybody with that trademark charm,” he said with a smile that felt strained. Fortunately, his friend didn’t notice.

Micah snorted. “Charm? Well, it’s not working or the docs would let me out of here.”

“Soon. Don’t push yourself.”

“Hey, we’ve been here awhile,” Jax interrupted. “We’ll go so you guys can visit. Micah, it’s great to have you back. You’ll be in the game again, kicking demon ass before we know it.”

The trio took turns shaking his hand and slapping his back before making a noisy exit. Micah chuckled hoarsely and regarded his sister and Aric, the facade of good humor sliding off his face.

“How are you, really?” Aric asked, taking a seat. Rowan pulled up an extra chair next to him.

“Tired,” he admitted. “I feel like I’ve been dropped on my head. It’s like I went to sleep, opened my eyes ten minutes later and all these changes had happened. Half our guys dead or missing.”

Resting his elbows on his knees, Aric steeled himself. “You don’t know how sorry I am about that, buddy. I trusted someone I shouldn’t have, and it was my—”

“Your fault. Yeah, yeah, Jax just fed me the same line of crap.” He shook his head, pinning Aric with a determined gaze. “Jax said Beryl was his girlfriend—which I remembered—and she betrayed us all. I don’t remember that part. He also said Beryl is your stepsister, but he didn’t blame you for her actions. Neither do I. Hell, I don’t blame anybody. I just want to get better and get on with rejoining the team.”

“You might feel different when you remember what you went through. You might hate me.” Whether Micah did or not, Aric hated himself enough for both of them. He’d take that to his grave.

“No. Not gonna happen.” His friend raised a hand to his ruined cheek and his brown eyes darkened. “I owe some motherfuckers for this, but not you and Jax. You’re my brothers. That’s the way it is.”

The man was putting up a brave front, and that’s exactly what it was, but Aric let it go. No point in dragging down what little confidence his friend was attempting to muster. He cast about for a way to change the uncomfortable subject, but Micah did it for him.

“So, sis, what’s the latest from the LAPD? You’ve got to get back soon, don’t you?”

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you. I have to go back day after tomorrow, take care of my business. I’m not sure when I’ll get more vacation time to come back,” she said anxiously.

“Listen, don’t feel bad about that.” He waved a hand in dismissal. “You have a job, Ro. It’s not like we’re frigging independently wealthy that we’ve got a choice in whether to work. Go. I’ve got the whole team and staff to baby my ass.”

Rowan laughed, though her expression was still worried. “If you’re sure…”

“I am. Just say good-bye first.”

“You know it,” she said softly.

“So what’s new in the land of fruits and nuts?”

She snickered at his old reference to California, and launched into some recent tales from the trenches. A drunken streaker they’d arrested one night, a catfight between two women who’d ripped each other’s blouses off, and a bank robber whose car wouldn’t start after he’d done the deed. There were more, and she had Micah smiling, troubles forgotten for just a little while.

Aric, on the other hand, sat almost gasping for breath, sweat rolling down his spine. His temples. Trying to act as though nothing was wrong.

If he could last two days, it would be a miracle.

* * *

That evening, Aric, Rowan, and the rest of the gang were eating dinner in the cafeteria when Nick strode in, obviously a man on a mission if his serious expression was anything to go by. Conversation tapered to a halt as their commander stopped in the middle of the area and addressed everyone.

“I got a call from Jarrod Grant,” he announced. “Orson Chappell and Beryl have been located. Finish your dinner and let’s meet in the conference room in fifteen. I want A.J. and Rowan in on this, too.”

Setting down his fork, Aric wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it onto his plate. He hadn’t been able to muster much of an appetite anyhow, and this killed it. Glancing at Rowan, he entertained absolutely forbidding her to ride along on this op, but figured that would go over real well. Not. Besides, Nicky had a reason for requesting her involvement. He’d tell them why himself.

Aric waited as Rowan and the others quickly downed their meals, and then they all filed out, making their way to the “war room,” as he thought of it. Everyone took seats at the long conference table except Nick, who stood at the head of it holding a small remote control. Once the group was settled, he began.

“Grant sent us footage, courtesy of the military, of a remote cabin in East Texas where Chappell and Beryl are reportedly holed up. There’s no evidence that this is a lab facility—it’s just a cabin. But it’s a very well-guarded one.”

“The Sluagh?” Kalen asked.

Nick nodded and pointed the remote at the new flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. “Let’s take a look.”

The screen came on and showed a video of the front of the cabin, a nice midsized retreat nestled back in the towering pines. It boasted a wide, covered porch that wrapped around the side of the house, and large windows with the curtains drawn. A stone chimney stood on one side, and Aric had no doubt the interior was just as attractive as the outside. Then again, he wouldn’t have expected Beryl to stay in a dump, on the run or not.

Nick paused the video. “Okay, see these dark spots in the footage?” He pointed to several shapes that appeared to be shadows or perhaps bad reception in the feed, located on opposite corners of the porch, several along the edge of the trees. “There are more of these shadows on the porch as the camera pans to the side and back. I believe those are the Sluagh being used as sentries, only their true forms don’t show on film. I showed this to Sariel and he agrees. Now watch as the video travels to the back of the cabin.”

The transition wasn’t smooth. Whoever had risked his neck to obtain the vid pointed the lens in the general direction of the cabin as he obviously sneaked around the building, making the view bounce up and down. Then it smoothed out as he reached his destination, giving a nice shot of the rear of the cabin at a forty-five-degree angle.

More shadows dotted the back porch and surrounding area. Nick paused the video, pointing to a window on the left side. “Right here. Look closely and you’ll see two figures, a male and a female. The male on the left is taller, white-haired, heavyset. He’s been identified as Orson Chappell. The female with the long auburn hair is Beryl. The military believes they’re the only two inside.”

Aric let out a curse. He and Jax locked eyes, and he knew his friend was both anticipating and dreading the coming confrontation, because he felt the same.

“Nicky, I counted somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty of Malik’s ugly-assed pets,” Zan said, frowning. “That’s just the ones we can see in the vid. How the hell will we destroy them all to even have a prayer of getting inside that cabin?”

“Because we have some points on our side that we haven’t before—the element of surprise and the knowledge of what they are, and that they canbe killed. Our resident faery prince also gave me a very important tidbit that we’ll use to our advantage.”

Their commander stopped the vid and then pushed another button. A slide appeared on the screen, a hand-drawn illustration of a Sluagh. The rendering was quite good, done in dark pencil, with all of the minute details, right down to the warts. A red circle was drawn on the beast’s upper left side, just above the ribs at the spot where the top of a lung would be, if it were human.

“What is this? Sluagh Anatomy 101?” Ryon joked. The tension was broken and the others chuckled. Even Nick managed to lighten up some.

“Exactly. And this is probably the most relevant fact you’ll learn about them.” He pointed to the center of the red circle. “When the Seelie transform into their evil counterparts, the transition is physically tough on their bodies, as you can see. Their hearts are displaced, which is kind of appropriate when you think about it.” More snickers, and Nick’s lips curved in a half smile. He tapped the picture. “The heart ends up right here, far to the left of where human and Seelie hearts are located. Like most sentient supernatural creatures, a Sluagh can’t survive if this organ is destroyed. He is, for all his strength and nastiness, simply flesh and blood. Take out his heart, and he’s dead.”

“But that means we have to get close enough to the damned thing to get at it,” Aric observed.

“Not true. Shoot it if you can. Stab it if you must. But one way or the other, kill the fuckers,” Nick ordered. “Then take Chappell and Beryl alive if at all possible.”

A.J. spoke up. “So, Rowan and I get to go? Are you sure you trust humans along on this op, especially green ones?”

“Fair question. A.J., the rest of the Pack should know that you’re more than just a former security guard for one of Chappell’s buildings.” At the newest man’s reluctant nod of assent, Nick addressed the group. “A.J. is a former Dallas police detective and was also part of the SWAT team… as a sniper. Of everyone in this room, he’s the man most likely to pick off a dozen of those bastards before they even realize what’s hit them.”

All eyes swung toward the good-looking sandy-haired man. His lips pursed and he looked down at the tabletop.

“Dude, that’s awesome,” Ryon said.

“No, it’s not,” A.J. snapped, and Ryon blinked in surprise.

Aric wondered what the guy’s story could be, why he’d left the force to become a rent-a-cop, but that was a tale for another day.

Nick quickly took the floor again, steering them away from the uncomfortable exchange. “A.J. has agreed to be the Pack’s sniper, an area where he can really excel without having to go hand to hand with our nonhuman opponents. He’s been practicing at my request and has accepted the position. Does anyone have an objection?”

It was a moot point if the job already belonged to A.J., but Aric knew Nick would listen. As it turned out, the Pack was supportive, agreeing that having a sniper on the team was a good plan. He’d be loaded with silver bullets for added protection.

“Good. This will also help Kalen, letting him save his magic for bigger problems, and believe me, there willbe some. As for Rowan,” Nick went on, “she’s an officer, trained in firearms and apprehending criminals, even if she’s used to human ones. She can fight, and she’s proven herself in battle as far as I’m concerned—and we need every able-bodied soldier we can get. This is of course up to her, and the Pack has to agree.”

“I’d be honored to be included,” Rowan said eagerly. “Yes.”

“Objections?”

Aric expected one in this case, and not surprisingly it came from Hammer. Their friend who was also sweet on Aric’s woman. A growl escaped from Aric’s throat, but he managed to make it sound like a cough.

“She did fine before,” Hammer said worriedly. “But we didn’t know she was with us until it was too late. I’ve got my doubts about bringing a woman into battle, cop or not.”

Oh, the big man would have his hands full with his own mate someday, with an antiquated attitude like that. Aric smirked to himself. Sure, he’d had the same urge to protect Rowan, but he knew she wouldn’t have it.

“Are you saying you refuse to fight at her side?” Nick asked sharply. “That what? Her sex will be a distraction in the heat of danger?”

“No,” their friend protested with a scowl. “I’m a better warrior than that, and you know it. You asked, is all, and I said my piece.”

“Noted. Anyone else?”

“Nope.”

“It’s cool, boss.”

To Aric, it was anything but cool. Being in the minority, he kept his trap shut. For a change.

“Everyone be armed this time, and use your gifts as you can. Let out your wolf—and panther—only if you have to get that close to one of these creatures. Wheels up in one hour.”

The meeting was dismissed, and Rowan turned to Aric. “You’re upset that I’m going. I can tell.”

“I’m overjoyed,” he drawled sarcastically. “Does it make a difference? You’ll do what you want because you’re as stubborn as anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Including you.”

“Yep.” He tweaked her nose. “Meetcha at the hangar.”

He left her standing in the hallway, and he felt kind of shitty about that. But he needed some distance between this woman and his emotions. He had to psych himself for the coming fight, or risk endangering his friends. His mate.

In his quarters, he stood panting, the fever almost unbearable. He had the strength to get through tonight, barely. This would be his last battle.

He’d make it fucking count.

One hour later, he was armed to the teeth as he strolled into the hangar. He headed for the group and glanced around for Rowan, then spotted her coming in after him. As she joined him, he grabbed a gun from the waistband of his leathers and handed it to her, butt first.

“My extra hand cannon, complete with silencer. Figured you’d need one.”

“Thanks. I was going to ask, since they confiscated mine when I got here.”

“No problem.”

Nobody said much else as they loaded into two Hueys, buckled up, and took off for Texas. Time to kick some Unseelie ass.

And catch his bitch of a wicked stepsister.

They crept through the foliage, and Aric blessed the carpet of pine needles for muffling their approach. They were prickly, and the heavy pine scent in the air made his wolf itch to sneeze, but they were useful.

The Pack fanned out, but Aric kept Rowan close. The woods were almost pitch-black, occasional slivers of moonlight providing a path, like the floor lights in a movie theater. The Pack could see much better, but their human companions were vulnerable.

Thankfully, the cabin wasn’t far off the isolated county road, so their trek wasn’t as long as some they’d been on. Even though they were moving slowly and cautiously, within a half hour the place came into view. Crouching, they froze as a unit. The hulking shapes of more than a dozen Sluagh were posted in the front, on the porch and perimeter combined. Some lumbering around, a few dozing. One in particular was snoring in one corner of the porch, so loudly he could be heard halfway to Dallas if the wind was right. Aric snorted to himself. No matter how evil you were, good help was hard to find.

“Be careful,” Nick whispered. “They just lookstupid. Go in quiet, kill as many as you can before the alarm is raised, and then A.J. will do his thing. Okay, my group, let’s take the back.”

Nick, Ryon, Jax, and Zan moved off silently, leaving Aric, Rowan, Kalen, and Hammer to cover the front. A.J. hung back in the trees, sniper rifle in hand. They were as ready as they’d ever be.

Aric’s group moved forward, and then spread out to pick off the beasts hanging on the outer edges, the ones alone and close to the shadows. Taking a deep breath, Aric took aim at one and fired. Thanks to the silencer, the shot made the barest whisper. It struck the kill zone and the thing slumped to the ground, dead.

The problem proved to be the noise their rather large bodies made when they fell. Hearing the thump and a grunt from its fallen comrade, one Sluagh swung its big head around, searching for the source of the disturbance.

“Come on, you big bastard,” Aric said under his breath. “That’s right, come on over and see what’s going on.”

Sniffing the air, the creature ambled toward his spot. A few steps later, it came upon the other’s body and lifted its head to let out a roar. Aric fired again, striking this one in the heart as well, and it crumpled.

To his left and right, his group began taking out the rest of them, but their luck couldn’t hold. Someone’s shot went wide, hitting one beast in the shoulder instead. The creature let out a booming cry that brought the area to life and made his ears ring.

“Fuck.”

Time to dance. They rushed the remaining creatures, picking off as many as they could before the numbers overwhelmed them and he, Hammer, and Kalen had to resort to their gifts. Just as he shot a Sluagh to his right, he spun to find two more nearly on him. He threw out a hand, unleashing his fire, grimacing as they burned, squealing.

Not far from him, Kalen was doing a good job of protecting himself and Rowan from the onslaught, using his magic to dry them to husks. Hammer used his gift as a Tracer, teleporting from one place to another in an instant, barely avoiding decapitation. Aric was so distracted seeing him do that in battle, he nearly got himself gutted.

He collided with one of the creatures, causing him to drop his gun. Shit. In desperation, he pushed his body into the other’s massive bulk, then forced a rapid half shift, his fingernails becoming razor-sharp claws. Then he drove them through rancid flesh into the beast’s heart. It gave a grunt and fell as he yanked them free again.

Another beast rushed him from the side and he threw out a hand, using his gift of telekinesis to stop it cold, lift it. Then he sent it flying backward with the speed of a runaway train. He gave a shout of triumph as it slammed into a tree with a crunch, slid to the ground, and fell still.

Hammer and Kalen were easily dispatching the last of the Sluagh, though the bigger man was bleeding. Seeing that the path to the front door was now clear, Aric ran, vaguely aware of Rowan racing behind him. He paused long enough to give the front door a couple of hard kicks, and it crashed inward.

Sprinting inside, he searched for the witch. The one he longed to see burn for her crimes. He spotted the white-haired man who must be Chappell running for the back of the cabin, and Rowan shouted.

“I’ll get him!” She took off, weapon in hand.

“Be careful!” He scanned the room; it appeared to be empty. Until she spoke.

“Did you miss me so much you had to come back for more?”

Right in front of him, Beryl appeared out of thin air. She hadn’t changed. Long hair flowed around a face that should have been beautiful, if not for the ever-present coldness in her eyes and the cruel twist to her mouth.

“I’m here to toast your skanky ass,” he snarled, taking a step forward.

She laughed huskily. “Good luck with that.”

Aric released his fire again, throwing out a hand. But Beryl was just as fast, uttering a word in Latin and raising a palm toward him. His flames were deflected with a roar as crimson light drove them back, the power of the clash tossing him backward. He landed hard, the hit jarring his spine, and lost his hold on the flames.

The red light enveloped him, entering his body like a million volts of electricity. He screamed, couldn’t help himself, the pain was so great. Writhed on the floor like a cockroach that had been sprayed, waiting to die and helpless to do a fucking thing about it.

Then a loud boom sounded and he was released from the light’s power. Raising his head, he saw Beryl go flying, crash into a wood-and-glass case, the kind that held little knickknacks. Wood crunched and glass showered everywhere. In the entryway, Kalen stood, staff in hand, whispering another chant and sending a second bolt at the witch.

Aric didn’t think he’d ever been so happy to see any of his brothers. No doubt, Kalen was one of them.

Beryl shrieked in pain and rage, flying up into the air with superhuman strength and speed. She flew at Kalen, firing a return blast that lifted him off his feet, propelled him back to smash into a wall. He slid to the floor, and the two of them returned blows.

Aric pushed to his feet, moving around behind the witch. He had to help Kalen while her attention was focused on him. Aric tore off his shirt, let loose his wolf. Shifted, kicked free of his pants and shoes, and ran. He leapt, hitting her between the shoulder blades, taking her to the floor. She twisted and he went for her throat, clamped down, fully intending to tear it out.

“Aric!” Nick’s voice shouted. “Don’t kill her!”

Damn it!He held his position, kept her pinned. Somehow he managed to suppress the need to tear the head off the bitch who’d caused him such pain. Several sets of footsteps approached, his team joining them. Where the fuck was Rowan?

“Aric, let her up,” Nick ordered. “And you, witch. Get to your knees, nice and slow.”

Aric moved aside, growling, hackles raised. Ready to go against his leader’s command and tear her to shreds if she tried anything. “Now, on your feet. Slowly.”

The men surrounded her. Kalen was the closest, keeping a wary eye on her. But even he wasn’t prepared when she raised a bloodied finger and pressed it to the center of his forehead.

“Abyssus abyssum invocat,”she hissed. Then she withdrew her hand and licked her own blood from her finger, looking quite pleased with herself.

Kalen’s eyes drooped for a moment, and he staggered as though about to pass out. Hammer steadied him and the Sorcerer seemed to shake off whatever she’d done. Immediately, he mouthed his own incantation and the witch went rigid, arms going behind her back.

“She’s bound,” Kalen said in a tired voice. “We can transport her now.”

Aric shifted back to human form and went for his pants. Yanking them on, he looked around for Rowan and spotted her emerging from the hallway. “Thank God,” he said, striding toward her. Grabbing her, he pulled her against his chest. “I was way past worried about you.”

“I’m good. Chappell, though? Not so much.” She sighed, pulling back. “Sorry, guys, but he turned and pulled a gun. I returned fire and shot him in the stomach. He’s bleeding out in the master bedroom, and he’s not gonna make it. If Nick wants to question him, he’d better get back there.”

“Shit,” Nick spat. Then he glanced at Rowan, shaking his head. “Not your fault, though. I just wish we could’ve brought him in. Kalen, Hammer, Ryon, watch the witch. The rest of you can come with me.”

They trooped to the bedroom. Aric was as curious as the rest of them to get an in-person look at the man who’d caused so much grief to so many shifter and human families. But when they walked in and saw him sprawled on the floor, clutching his stomach and bleeding out onto the carpet, he simply looked like a pathetic old man.

His complexion was papery as he turned to squint at them, panting hard. What he said next shocked everyone.

“I’m glad you caught me,” he rasped. “I’m glad it’s over.”

His pale blue eyes were clear of malice, his words sincere. Aric had heard somewhere that the dead didn’t lie, and he thought it might be true in Chappell’s case. Jax crouched next to the older man, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Then he closed his eyes, and Aric knew the RetroCog was grabbing the threads of Chappell’s past. Gathering the visions that would lead to the truth.

Finally Jax opened his eyes and gazed at Chappell. “You were a good man, and you did great things at NewLife, helping families through organ transplant techniques and medical research. You helped thousands.”

“Yes. And then the demon came.”

“Malik?” Nick asked, his expression intense.

Chappell nodded. “I never knew such evil truly existed.” The old man coughed, and blood bubbled to his lips. “But then he came, and I was lost. He takes what he wants by bending you to his will. He’s a seducer, the bastard, and he takes pleasure in the twisting of a soul. In making you enjoy it.”

The old man was fading fast. Nick spoke quickly.

“Chappell, tell us how to identify Malik—what does he look like?”

The man gave a laugh that rattled in his chest. “He can be anything, or anyone. But I’ve seen his true self…”

Aric doubted that very much. Sariel had passed along to Nick and the team the description of Malik he’d given to Rowan—that the Unseelie was ugly as sin with horns growing out of his head. Nick was only trying to discern what form Malik had used with the old man.