“Then what does it matter how long I’ve known Tonya? I trust her—” His words came to an abrupt halt as he met Nefri’s steady gaze. Dios. There was one reason someone would go to the effort of kidnapping Tonya. “He’s using her to send a message to me,” he said in rough tones.

“That would be my guess.”

“Now the question is—”

Nefri grimaced. “What’s the message?”

Chapter 24

Nefri grimly maintained her composure. Right now Santiago needed her calm, cool logic. Inside, however, she was battling a rising tide of fear.

She didn’t know why Gaius would have discovered a sudden interest in Santiago. Or more likely, the spirit that was controlling him.

But she did know that Santiago would do whatever was necessary to rescue the female imp. Including putting himself in danger.

And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop him. “It could be that he discovered we’re hunting him.” Santiago spoke his thoughts out loud, his barely leased fury dropping the temperature in the tiny room to near zero. “He could be hoping to convince me to give up the search in exchange for Tonya.”

“But?” she prompted, hearing the lack of conviction in his voice.

“But it’s not Gaius’s style.” With a sharp movement he was pacing back and forth, his hand instinctively reaching to pull out the Roman dagger he kept tucked in his back pocket. “He can be a hammer when necessary, but he prefers to be subtle. He’s a master of diversion.”

Nefri grimaced. Gaius had certainly managed to deceive her. He’d hidden his true intentions behind his genuine grief to gain access to her clan beyond the Veil.

A knowledge that still burned like acid against her pride. But she wasn’t going to allow his abuse of her trust to blind her to facts.

“Yes, if he is actually still in the position to be master,” she pointed out. “It’s quite possible he’s no longer making the decisions.”

Santiago sent her a grim frown. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

She shrugged. “It wasn’t supposed to.”

He continued his pacing, his hands clenching and unclenching until he at last came to an abrupt halt directly in front of her. “Nefri.”

“Yes?”

“Tonya is family.”

She reached to place a hand on his arm, able to sense his distress at Tonya’s capture. It was far more than just the anger of an employer. Or a friend.

It was deeper. More personal.

“You rescued her,” she said softly.

He gave a low hiss of shock. “I’m beginning to suspect you truly can read minds.”

“No, but I know you.” Her fingers tightened on his arm. “Styx pulled you from the blood pits and Viper gave you a home. They taught you honor and discipline and that a leader cares for those who are vulnerable.”

He slid the dagger back into his pocket, his eyes dark with painful memories. “It’s not my story to tell, but she ended up on the wrong side of an argument with a tribe of trolls and was sold to a slaver.”

Levet gave a violent flutter of his wings. “Evor?”

The two males shared a rare moment of understanding. “Sí.”

The tiny gargoyle trembled. Nefri had heard rumors that Levet had been held captive by the brutal slaver, along with Viper’s mate, Shay.

“A very bad man,” Levet muttered.

“Very bad,” Santiago agreed. “If Tonya hadn’t been so strong she would never have survived.” His low growl trickled from his throat. “Now she’s being held against her will again. I can’t leave her in the hands of Gaius.”

“Of course not.” Nefri studied his stubborn expression with open concern. “But, Santiago—”

“I know it’s a trap,” he interrupted her cautious words. “I have to go.”

“Gaius will be waiting for you.”

The dark eyes smoldered with a ruthless determination. “There’s nothing I can do to prevent that.”

The fear that she was trying so desperately to control threatened to explode as she glared at him in helpless frustration. “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”

His touch was tender as he cupped her face in his hands, but he gave a firm shake of his head. “No.”

“Very well.” She met his gaze squarely, her centuries of experience allowing her to transform the fear into stark resolve. What made a clan chief a leader was their ability to control their emotions rather than be controlled by them. “There’s no longer any need to try and sneak up on him.”

Santiago’s expression became guarded. “You have a plan?”

“Not really, but we might as well use my medallion to travel,” she said. “It will save us time.”

He was shaking his head before she even finished speaking. “I can’t pinpoint his exact location.”

“Then we’ll travel north until you can.”

“Nefri . . .”

She pressed her hand to his mouth, her eyes warning that she wasn’t in the mood to listen to his endless list of reasons why she shouldn’t join him.

“Don’t even bother.”

His fingers tightened on her face. “Dammit, Nefri, we’ve agreed this is a trap. It would be beyond stupid for both of us to—”

“Three of us,” Levet abruptly intruded into the conversation.

Santiago’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, hell no.”

“Yes, the three of us,” Nefri said.

Dropping his hands, Santiago glared at her tranquil expression. “Is this some sort of punishment?”

“We’re partners.” She stepped forward to place her lips against the stubborn line of his jaw. “Which means we stand together. Always.”

He stiffened, clearly torn between his instinctive need to protect her and the understanding that she was a powerful weapon that might very well make the difference between Tonya’s rescue or her death at the hands of Gaius.

“I knew you were a dangerous female.” Pressing a resigned kiss to her forehead, Santiago headed for the door. “I need to speak with Gabriel before we leave.”

Gaius’s lair in Wisconsin

With an appreciative eye Gaius studied the female imp chained to the wall of the cellar.

He’d never been a lover of the fey, but there was no denying her emerald green eyes and tumble of flame curls could make any man want to spread her legs. Who wouldn’t want to indulge in those lush, delectable curves barely covered by the strapless silver gown?

And then there was the warm scent of her blood. It was . . . intoxicating.

His fangs ached as he was struck by a sharp hunger. It had taken a considerable amount of energy to use his medallion to travel to Santiago’s demon club and return with the imp. He needed to feed.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t brought the female to his lair for a snack. Or even to pleasure him.

He needed her if he was going to persuade Santiago to accept his offer of reconciliation. And to convince him to assist him in protecting Dara.

Which meant no tasting the hostage.

At least not until she’d served her purpose.

Strolling forward, he crouched down to meet her gaze, enjoying the scent of plums that was spiced with a combination of fear and fury.

“You really are remarkably beautiful,” he murmured, his finger drifting over the dewy skin of her cheek. “It’s no wonder Santiago kept you as a companion for so long.”

She choked back a scream. “I’m his employee, not his companion.”

“More than that.” His finger shifted to linger on the pulse that hammered at the base of her throat. The moment he’d appeared in Santiago’s club he’d been drawn to the female. “It’s distant but I can sense his claim on you. He considers you a part of his clan.”

She licked her lips, making a visible effort to calm her nerves. “You’re mental. I’m just a member of his staff.” She futilely tried to arch away from his touch. “So if you’re expecting to use me to get to him, then you’re wasting your time.”

Clever imp.

She had easily realized she was the bait and hoped to trick him into believing she had no value.

“No, he will come for you,” Gaius said with an unshakable confidence. “Santiago is at heart a savior.”

Her lips thinned, but she didn’t try to argue. “What do you want with him?” she instead demanded.

“Only for an opportunity to tell him how sorry I am.”

Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. “You don’t need me for that.”

Gaius shrugged. “He’s too angry to listen to me unless I can force him to hear what I have to say.”

“Kidnapping me is only going to piss him off. It certainly won’t put him in the mood to listen,” she pointed out, shuddering as his fingers drifted to follow the line of her collarbone. “Or to forgive.”

Gaius frowned, his fingers moving to squeeze her throat. What did the bitch know? Santiago was his son. That was a bond that couldn’t be broken.