Page 110 of Darkened Promises

“Okay, thank you for the update,” she responds.

Logan says his goodbyes, and the call ends.

There’s a pause in the room. None of us knows quite what to say to help make her feel better. It’s not a situation any of us can fix, so we’re left useless and worried for her.

Bry’s timer in the kitchen pings, and it jolts us all out of the silence.

“I’ll move all this off. Maxi, can you grab the plates and cutlery?” I prod, standing up and carefully moving the board game over to the coffee table.

Rosy remains in Nate’s lap, staring blankly at the table. His arms wrap around her tighter, cocooning her against his larger frame, and his head dips to rest his chin on her shoulder.

Bry’s talk with me from a few days ago trickles into my mind, increasing the concern that Rosy might push more about her idea to be used as ‘bait’ for Peter. If Logan and his team keep coming up empty, then is there a real possibility that she might be used to lure him out? I’d struggle to acquiesce to such a risk to Rosy’s safety, and I have to hope that Logan makes some sort of discovery soon.

We almost lost her once, and that fear still lingers, fisting my heart tightly at the mere thought it might happen again. It can’t because no matter how hard we struggled, it almost broke Rosy. But more than that, if they’re unable to locate and arrest him, will she start to slip back on her progress and retreat within herself?

What if she does it permanently?

The oxygen in my throat suddenly vanishes. My throat is too thick and swollen to swallow as I glance at her, still sat in Nate’s lap, expression vacant as she disappears internally.

Where I can’t reach her.

FIFTY-FOUR

DRACONIS

“Come in.”

My office door opens, but I don’t bother to look up. There are only a select few who have access to come in here. Once I’ve finished checking through an email regarding our next pet adoption event, I switch my attention to the man standing quietly before me.

He’s been with me long enough that he knows the respect I require.

Flicking my hand, I indicate for him to speak.

He nods. “Sir. The tail we have on Serpens has advised that he still has not relocated as requested.”

Unfiltered displeasure fills my bones at his insolence, and my fists clench on the desk as I grit my teeth. “This organisation has succeeded because we operate carefully, and the members obey the rules,” I retort and smack my palm against the desk, relishing the bite of pain.

“What do you want done?” he asks.

I sit back in my chair and look over to the cage built beside the floor-to-ceiling one-way window. Some of the tension eases from me. My pet stares at the ground; the window view no longer holds any interest for them. It’s one of the reasons I had the cage installed next to it. It’s empowering watching their spirit break as they realise the grass will always be greener out there, and they’ll never experience it again.

Violence has its purposes, but it’s not always necessary.

I take pride in learning what my pet needs to break. It’s an art form I’ve perfected over the years.

It’s also something I thought Serpens and I shared. After all, he’s been a member for so long.

“A week,” I dictate. “If he doesn’t leave by then, or it looks like he’s about to be revealed or does something stupid, then he’s to be dispatched.”

There’s a trickle of disappointment at Serpens’ behaviour, and if it weren’t for the years he’s been a member, I’d have had him removed by now.

“I’ll instruct the Ring Maestru of the updated order.”

Pet moves slightly in his confines, and my eyes narrow at the disobedience.

“Make it happen without anything tracing back to us.”

The man before me nods, then turns and leaves.