Andre hissed up at Warrick. "You are forbidden to return to our level or to interact with anyone in the family. You are completely cut off."
Warrick straightened his back. "I feel your father has done me a great service. I want nothing more to do with you."
Andre eyed Kari and Avery with an evil glint in his eye. "If the shifter has an accident and dies, you can come home." Andre licked his lips. "Or I am sure we could find a different use for him."
Kari blinked and almost missed it. Warrick stepped forward as he swung his right arm back. On the second step, he landed an uppercut that sent Andre flying. Kari realized that when one is almost seven feet tall an uppercut can go very, very high. Andre flew off of his feet and into the air. When he landed, everyone heard something snap. Nobody moved; they were shocked by Warrick's red eyes and his long black claws. "You go near my mate and I will rip you apart!" Warrick growled. When he received no response, Nigel edged around the crowd over to Andre and nudged him with the toe of his shoe. He looked up. "He may or may not be dead. I'm not quite sure. I don't want to get close enough to look." Declan walked forward, reached down and grabbed Andre's shirt, and pulled him up. "He's still breathing." He dropped him back onto the floor.
Warrick sniffed. "Too bad."
Declan eyed his friend. "You do not want to kill your cousin, Warrick. You don't want to give Avery the grief of losing his mate. It wouldn't have been in self-defense."
"Who is to say it was not self-defense?" Old man Richter called out from the crowd. Mumblings of agreement sounded off all around them. Declan pinched the bridge of his nose. Kari felt tears gather. The people around her were supporting her and her brother. Kari ran a hand over his hair, trying to ease his shaking. "It is okay, baby boy, I am pretty sure that no one would be stupid enough to face your mate to get to you."
Warrick turned at her words, his eyes fading back to his normal color. He raced forward and dropped to his knees, and very gently, he pulled Avery away from Kari.
When Avery looked down at him, they were almost the same height. Warrick took both of his hands and kissed them. "I swear to you, I swear I will not let anyone hurt you." Avery just nodded. He lifted their hands up and began rubbing his cheek across Warrick's knuckles. Warrick looked at Kari as if asking permission. She rolled her eyes and nodded.
Warrick stood, scooping Avery up into his arms. Only then did Avery's trembles begin to dissipate.
"What in the hell have you guys done now?" Doc asked, hurrying over.
Declan looked around confused. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a camera. He reached to his belt and grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Menace, did you send Doc?"
"Sure did, Simba," Meryn's voice came back.
"Thanks." He knelt beside Doc who began evaluating Andre's injuries. "I think he got his brain rattled a bit."
"What did you do hit him with, a steel bat?" Doc asked.
Declan jerked his thumb toward Warrick. "No, he punched him."
Doc looked all the way up, taking in Warrick's height. He turned to Declan. "Next time, you hit him with the bat; it might do less damage. Is this the DuBois boy?" he asked.
"Yep," Declan said grinning.
"Great. Just great." Doc looked around and stood. "You and you"--he pointed to Etain and Micah--"get this blockhead to the holding cells."
"Holding cell? Not the infirmary?" Declan asked also standing.
Doc shook his head. "I think he will be better off next to his father; he isn't dying or anything."
Declan grinned openly as Etain grabbed the back of Andre's collar, and Micah grabbed his pant legs. "Thank you for coming."
They nodded. "It's not like you needed us," Micah grinned. Together, they floated Andre from Level Six to Level One.
Doc waved. "You know the saying, 'When it rains, it pours.' They weren't kidding. I have gone years without returning to Noctem Falls, yet here I am on my third call this week." Shaking his head, he also walked over and jumped down the tunnel.
Declan headed over to Kari and took her hand. She appreciated the gesture. She felt like her emotions were racing out of control.
"Come on," he said, pulling her hand.
Kari hesitated, looking over at Avery. "You okay?" she asked.
He nodded blushing. "Warrick takes care of me."
"He better." She gave Warrick the evil eye. He nodded at her.
"You know"--Declan wrapped himself around her--"it's like I have my own personal tunnel escort."
"Do not get used to it. You know I will be busy with Magnus."
"How about you and I play hooky? The interviews are done, and we finished earlier than we thought. I could show you your new home."