Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(102)

"Aye," Simone said, reading her screen. "I'm locked down. No need to keep me from working the campaign."

"Agreed," Nessa said, scouting the board. "The demons are moving in lower Africa?"

Nick turned to check out the screen. "Affirmative. We have seven details and will have protection in place . . . five minutes, tops."

"Thank you," Nessa said, turning toward Garrett. "You in touch with the king on the update I requested for area seven?"

"Yes. Your people are safe in Australia, and our soldiers are widening a net to find the attackers. We'll get them," Garrett said, reading a printout.

Nessa turned back to the screen. She had the entire world covered with protection and tracking forces. So much for retiring today.

Lucas loped through the secret door. "Nessa? Do you have a minute?"

She looked at him. Concern covered his face. "Is Bear all right?"

"No." Lucas looked around the room and then toward the rec room. "I just need a second."

"Go," Simone said. "We're on standby at the moment."

Nessa nodded, her temples thrumming. God, she hoped Bear wasn't hurting Jasper or Boondock. She had to believe he had good instincts and would think twice. She shut the door to keep their conversation private and followed Lucas into the rec room. "What's happening downstairs?"

Lucas turned, a stun gun in his hand. He jumped and pressed it to her neck before she could scream. Electric jolts, much higher voltage than from a human stun gun, burned through her body. The pain was excruciating. She convulsed, her legs giving way. Lucas caught her and lifted her over his shoulder.

Her hair swung down.

She couldn't move. Saliva dribbled from her mouth.

Think, damn it. There was no way he could get her out of the building. Too many guards and sharpshooters awaited outside. He turned and ran toward the dartboards. Leaning down, he smashed her head on the wood floor. "Oops," he muttered.

Pain bloomed in her skull.

Lucas rearranged loose floorboards, and the floor opened up to a long staircase. "I made a few adjustments when Bear was in Ireland for a while." Lucas stood and bounded down the stairs, jostling her until her ribs protested. The trapdoor shut quietly above them.

Dirt and earth pressed in.

Nessa opened her eyes to see a narrow dirt trail beneath Lucas's feet. She tried to struggle, but her limbs were still numb. They were under the clubhouse. Bear didn't know about the tunnel. Tears filled her eyes. Where was he?

She passed out a couple of times during the long walk, awakening briefly, confused each time. Then she'd remember, and her stomach would clench.

Finally, Lucas climbed stairs, and light flooded them. Nessa blinked her eyes against the pain and then had to shut them to keep from throwing up. Taking several deep breaths, she reopened them. She had to get away from him. The world tilted, and she found herself on the floor in what looked like a secret war room. Lucas quickly secured shackles around her wrists.

She shook her head to concentrate. A blond woman sat across from her, a collar around her throat attached to a long chain that reached outside of the room. "Grace Sadler?" Nessa croaked.



       
         
       
        

The woman nodded. Her hair was messy, her blue eyes clouded, and her neck bruised. In fact, a blue stripe marred her neck. "Aye."

Lucas moved to her and smoothed back her hair.

She tried to toss her head, but he held tight.

He sighed. "Grace and I were on the same page for so long, and then she had second thoughts." He pointed to a large screen at the end of the room that displayed green dots across the entire world. "But I'm still allowing her to watch the witch nation end."

"Let me free," Grace whispered, her voice hoarse.

"Is that a planekite collar?" Nessa asked, trying not to vomit.

Grace nodded, her eyes shooting sparks.

The poison would contain Grace's fire. And it would make her way too weak to escape.

Lucas chuckled and petted Grace's hair. "Sweet Grace was in on the plan to dismantle the Coven Nine Council. The death of the whole nation by the use of Apollo is my own pet project."

Grace snarled. "I fucking hate you more than them, now."

Lucas pulled her hair. Hard.

"It'll be okay," Nessa whispered. "Just hold on." Though the woman had more than likely committed treason, she'd obviously paid a high price already. Nessa looked around. Lucas had modeled his war room after Bear's, right down to the big screen.

Lucas released his hold on Grace and moved to a computer, punching up numbers. "I've amassed forces everywhere to take out witches. Apollo darts for everyone," he said. "It'll be a crippling blow to your nation." He turned and smiled, his expression cold and somehow blank. "My researchers are almost ready for the second attack. I'm thinking it'll take place next week."