"Yeah, but they won't be expecting Kai. Last night they had wards set up. My guess is that they haven't had time for that shit in the desert. It's not Kasdeya's stomping ground. She was planning on taking us out last night."
"She wanted the Kris," Kai said.
"She wanted the Kris because she knew it would destroy her little demon trick. That ship has sailed. I say we leave it here in Hunter's safe."
"I've got wards on this place. Kasdeya won't even see it, let alone be able to get in here," Hunter assured them.
"Look sweetheart, I'm going to be calling on your beast if we need her. No offense to you, Quint, but Kasdeya has had several years of this demon mojo going for her. Even though she split, she might still have something in her. We can't chance it."
As Jake and Hunter continued to strategize, Kai's beast stirred. Its time had come to fruition. The evil that had taken her sister would wish for a thousand deaths. No longer restrained, her great pixiu would rise. Fighting with her Alpha, she would protect her mate and her pack.
Chapter Eighteen
The whirl of the blades cut into the dry desert air. Jake glanced to Kai, who gave him a shaky smile. He could sense her trepidation, but his warrior mate, determined to find her sister, was prepared to fight to the death. Quintus, an unlikely ally, sat stoically, his focus on the dark horizon. With the sun nearly set, they'd attack within minutes. Jake's eyes met Hunter's, and the great Alpha nodded. His Acadian brother had no obligation to help him, but he'd committed to helping Jake find Kai's sister and killing Kasdeya.
As the helicopter drew closer to its destination, Jake closed his eyes, reaching for his pack. Men, women and children, all within Anzober Wolves, would sense his call to them. While unable to identify their location, their pain twisted through his psyche. He shoved the guilt for leaving them to the recesses of his mind. All that mattered now was taking control of what had been rightfully his.
They began their descent and Jake squeezed Kai's hand. I love you. The thought ran through his mind and he attempted to conceal it, aware she could hear him. He'd never thought he'd fall for a woman he'd only known for a few days but the attraction to his mate could not be denied. Their souls had known each other long before they'd met, and he'd never let her go.
As he peered out the window into the distance, pinpricks of light shone through a blanket of darkness. The distressed hum of his wolves buzzed in his mind.
Jake turned up the volume on his headset, alerting the group. "Something's off with the pack."
"What's up?" Hunter asked.
"I feel them. They're upset, I know that much. I can't tell what's going on, though." Jake cursed inwardly.
Going home to New Orleans, he'd attempted to shut down his Alpha nature. Despite being away from Anzober Wolves, their energy ran through his veins. He'd stay angry with himself for leaving them if it helped, but he knew that it was essential to remain focused on the task at hand.
"They'll spot us before we land. Quint, you stay with Kai. Find Shilan first. Kai, if you can materialize her out of here, do it. I know you've only done it a few times, so if it doesn't work, get yourself to the chopper and go."
"You're going after Kasdeya?" she asked.
"I'm taking out whoever's terrorizing the wolves. Could be her, could be the brown wolf that split in San Fran. Either way, this ends tonight."
"Kasdeya is mine," Quintus told them.
"After Shilan. Look Quint, I know you want her, and if I don't kill her first, you can have at it. But I need you to get Shilan. I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Can you feel her?" Kai asked him.
"No. But that doesn't mean she's not there." As disappointment painted across her face, he attempted his best to explain without giving her false hope. "She's not a wolf. Anzober was mine for a short while. So during that time, this vibe thing … the way I can feel them? It was just getting started. I don't know if in time I'll be able to sense Shilan because you're sisters, but right now, I can't do it."
"It's rare to get a vibe on anything else but your pack," Hunter added. "Like now, you might get a sense there's supe floating around but you can't tell how they're feeling. The only reason you get on with Kai is because you're mates."
"I can get a read on Quint here. But it's not like with Kai or the wolves." Jake brought her palm to his lips and kissed it. "We'll get your sister. I promise. You are the one who holds the power to find her, and Quint and I will make sure you both get home safe. Find her, okay?"