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  Rune stepped out of my line of view, allowing me to see…the house. He shook his head in sympathy that wasn’t fake, murmuring quietly, “Not yet.”

  My eyes widened as I stared at the mansion that was so, so far away. With a lot of damn stairs. I jerked my gaze to Poppy, and growled, “Tell me your bedroom is at the front.”

  She hummed, mischief entering her drunken gaze. “It’s at the very back.”

  “Holy. Fuck.” My chest rose as I inhaled deeply, and studied the terrain. Rocks and grassy patches. “Why the hell would anyone want to live here?” I didn’t give a shit if I was offending her. “Give me trees and more trees. Not this crap.”

  Rune’s golden eyes sparkled under the moonlight. “You like forests?”

  I nodded. “I like vegetation. And a lot of it. It’s beautiful.” This barren world was not.

  “I like my home,” Poppy slurred. “At least, I used to.”

  I cocked a brow. I wasn’t touching on the subject. That comment was filled with drama. Instead, I herded her forward. With each of her steps, she leaned more heavily on me, as if going to her house was dragging her down. I whispered, “You okay?”

  She grunted, not remarking. Then a single tear leaked down her cheek as she stared at her home, lit brightly through the windows, the lights shimmering off the water surrounding it in a welcome home effect. Apparently, she didn’t believe it was very welcoming.

  I swiftly wiped it off her face, and murmured, “Don’t start that right now. You’re strong, remember?” Her current life must be a living hell. Tragedy had struck her—that was certain.

  Of what variety, I wasn’t positive yet.

  Poppy cleared her throat and walked a little easier. Thank the moon above.

  Cassander continued to stumble behind us. His bare feet must be taking a beating on the rocks. They weren’t only boulder size. A few were tiny and getting kicked up by my own shoes.

  Rune walked directly next to me, pointing at spots for me to travel, helping me avoid any dips I couldn’t see in the night. His black, shiny dress shoes were silent with each of his easy steps. As we neared the stairs, he asked gently, “Do you want me to take over?”

  “No, I’ve got her,” I mumbled. And I did.

  It took fifteen minutes since Poppy started blabbering on and singing in a god-awful voice, stopping at every stair to chatter about pointless shit. But we made it to the top of the stairs. It was there, as we neared her front door when it finally dawned on me. Poppy was lonely. All her actions pointed right to that simple reality.

  So where the fuck was Mr. Godric King? Did he run off with some other woman?

  If so, I’d be tempted to kick his ass. I didn’t know Poppy all that well, but she deserved better than that. Damn asshole with a God complex.

  But I quickly changed my mind. It must be some type of “lion complex.” Because there was a most obnoxious and enormous, golden lion statue parked right next to his front door. My nose wrinkled in revulsion, and I muttered, “What the crap? Is that real gold?”

  Poppy snickered—a little sadly. “It’s hideous, isn’t it?”

  “Hell yes, it is.”

  Behind us, Cassander slurred, “Don’t say that too loud. Alaric made it for God.”

  My mouth snapped shut. I didn’t want to tick off the giant of a man.

  Rune opened the front door and held it open while I maneuvered the drunkard inside. The four of us continued into the house with Rune leading the way. Cassander banged into the walls a few times on the route, cursing occasionally, but managed not to break any of the expensive pictures hanging on the walls. My chest pumped in exertion and sweat dotted my brow. Her room had better be coming up. We’d already been walking for five minutes.

  We stepped into a small living room full of comfortable and plush couches, the area dimly lit for the evening. A few drinks sat on the tables and books cluttered the space. A single man sat in a recliner, the seat leaned back and his feet up. His eyes were closed and his hands linked together over his chest.

  I squinted. I could have sworn I had seen him somewhere before.

  Maybe twenty or thirty years old—odd how I couldn’t really tell. He had dark honey-colored hair currently in disarray as if he’d been tugging at it. He wore a pair of red flannel pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt, his feet bare, the soles pointed right at us in the entryway to the room.

  Without opening his eyes, he asked softly…slowly, “Who the fuck is with you?”

  My spine stiffened, all alarm bells of self-preservation blaring in my mind.

  Danger! Danger! Get the hell away from him…

  Cassander stumbled forward and fell backward onto a couch, half hanging off it. “That’s Megan Marshall. She’s with Rune and is currently helping the escape artist—who’s presently drunk off her ass.”

  Poppy grouched, “Look who’s talking. You’re just as drunk as me.”

  Instant. “I walked inside all on my own.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Fuck you too.”

  The honey-haired man opened his eyes slightly. Dark orbs stared out at me, his cool gaze taking its time to evaluate every inch of my rigid frame. Like a storm passing, they closed once more and stayed that way. He grumbled, “Megan, huh? The woman who was kidnapped with Mina?”

  Somehow, I didn’t think that was really what he was asking.

  Rune took one careful step in front of me. “Yes.”

  “Hmm.” Not bothering to sit up or even open his eyes again, the dangerous man stated with candor, “Megan, I’m Theron King. Welcome. My advance apologies for not being more courteous. It’s a trying time right now.”

  I swallowed on a dry throat. “Thank you, Theron.” Then his words truly hit me, my blink ever so gradual, as excitement from new information unfurled in my belly. “Did you say King?”

  Rune turned, placed his warm palm on my back, and pointed to a door in the far corner. “That’ll take you to her room.”

  Another blink and I yanked my attention away from Theron. I stared up into golden eyes, the warning clear not to ask any more questions. “All right. I’ll get her into bed.”

  Poppy’s feet dragged even more as I headed to the door. Goose bumps popped up along my flesh in foreboding.

  She didn’t want to go in there.

  I halted just outside the closed door and glanced at her. I pressed my mouth directly against her ear, ignoring the smell of unwashed flesh, and whispered softly, “You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to. If these men are keeping you here without your permission, I won’t let that happen.”

  Her exhale was a shaky breath. She shook her head. “Don’t bother whispering. They can hear you. And this is where I need to be. Where I should be.”

  My neck craned to the side as I glanced back. All three men were staring directly at us where they rested. It didn’t matter if one was drunk and another half-asleep. Each set of eyes was watching with intelligence as if they had heard my comment. My nostrils flared, and I demanded to know, “Is it safe in there?”

  Whatever was behind that door wasn’t good.

  Rune stated with blunt honesty, “There are cameras in there and alarms. It is as safe as it can be.” He shook his head of black hair gently, his eyes turning to Poppy with tenderness, his voice softening. “She won’t sleep anywhere else. Anytime we move her, she goes right back to their room.”

  I stared. “Cameras and alarms?”

  He merely nodded. Once.

  My black brows puckered, and I reluctantly turned my attention back to the door. What in the mighty fuck was behind this door? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know. There were secrets in families, and then there were secrets. The dark and deadly kind you could never escape.

  Poppy took the decision out of my hands and leaned forward. She grabbed the door handle and twisted it, opening the door wide. Her brown eyes scanned my face as I took in the view, her words quiet. “Now you know.”

  I choked, “Shit.”

&nbs
p; CHAPTER SEVEN

  On stiff legs, I pushed forward into the bedroom. The drunk woman’s weight was still heavy in my hold, but I only had eyes for the bed. I practically swallowed my tongue to keep from spewing obscenities. I had not wanted to see this. Never in a million years.

  If they let me leave here alive, I would be praying to a God I didn’t believe in afterward because I would be the most blessed individual on earth. Someone high above would have to be looking out for me. If I were them, I wouldn’t let me live after witnessing this.

  Mr. Godric King lay on the bed, dressed in a simple pair of black pajama bottoms, the rest of him bare to the world. His eyes closed, his chest moved in a regular breathing pattern, his arms placed down by his sides. Except he was inside a rectangular cage of sorts. There were black bars all around him, even underneath him. Directly over the bars, encasing it all—including Mr. King, was a glass box with tiny air holes punctured throughout the glass.

  This was some twisted fairy tale shit.

  Poppy pointed to the other side of the bed. “That’s where I sleep.”

  I cleared my throat but kept my mouth shut. I moved on numb legs and focused on putting Poppy where she needed to be so I could get out of there as quickly as possible. My left fist grabbed at the blanket and pulled it down, helping Poppy slide into bed.

  Right next to the most powerful man in the world…residing in a cage.

  My eyes lingered on him while I pulled the blanket back up over Poppy’s small form. Mr. King wasn’t waking up from the jostling of the bed. If he weren’t breathing, he would have appeared dead to the world.

  Poppy rolled over under the covers and placed her small palm against the glass surface. She spread her fingers and sighed, staring at the man inside. Her eyes welled up with tears, but none fell, her repeated fast blinking keeping them at bay. With her eyes on her lover, she whispered absently, “Thank you, Megan. You can go.”

  I didn’t have to be told twice.

  Though I did grab the tissue box on the bedside table and place it directly next to her.

  My feet flew into action, and I was out the door and shutting it behind me in two seconds. The shirt I was wearing rose and fell in rapid succession with each labored breath I took, my lungs working hard to keep me from fainting. With enormous, freaked eyes, I stared at the three men gazing back at me—utterly no expression on their faces.

  I hitched a thumb over my shoulder, toward the bedroom, mumbling quickly, “I swear, I won’t tell anyone what you’ve got going on in there.”

  Whatever the hell that actually was.

  Rune lifted his black brows, his tone patient. “I trust you. So they trust you.” He tipped his head to the entrance of the living area. “Do you remember your way back to the front door?”

  I nodded, already moving. “I’m great with directions. I’ll find my own way home.”

  He placed a stopping hand firmly on my shoulder as I started to pass him. “You don’t need to do that, Megan. I’ll take you back to your place.”

  My lips pinched into a thin line. “I’m not sure if that’s best.”

  Golden eyes softened, even though he didn’t smile. “There’s a lot you don’t understand right now, but believe me when I say we aren’t harming God. The same man who kidnapped you hurt him. Now we’re just trying to keep everyone safe.”

  I eyed him and then glanced at the others. My attention snapped back to his mesmerizing gaze, and I leaned forward, hissing quietly, “He’s in a fucking cage, Rune.”

  He explained patiently—sadly, “He isn’t really there. Not really.”

  I shook my head and stepped out from under his hand. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  Cassander sighed heavily from the couch and stopped staring to drop his forearm over his eyes as if the dim lighting was hurting him. “Until Rune decides to quit babying you and tell you everything going on, think of it as hypnosis, Megan. The bad guy took God from us and can use him however he wants now. And God can do a fuck ton of damage. Does that make more sense?”

  I stared at the drunken man, my jaw dropping in shock. “Actually, it does. I’ve seen what hypnotized people can do.” That was one of my father’s favorite pastimes—fucking with peoples’ minds.

  Rune sighed in relief and rubbed at his forehead, his golden eyes peeking at me under his dark eyelashes. “Will you wait for me by the front door? Theron wants to speak with us in private for a second.”

  I peered at the other men once more, evaluating their exhausted slumped bodies, before turning my regard back to Rune. I nodded once, deciding to trust him. “I’ll wait for you.”

  “Thank you, beautiful.” He dipped and placed a gentle kiss on my right cheek, his lips heated against my chilled flesh. “I’ll be out there soon.”

  My lips pinched in hesitation to leave without him—who really knew what else lurked in this house of horrors—but I straightened my spine. I wouldn’t cower. Not for anyone anymore. I turned and proceeded with sure steps outside the room…then I purposely halted in place when I was out of their eyesight.

  I wasn’t being told the whole truth. A little spying might enlighten me on the situation I had fallen into. At this point, I needed to know what the fuck was going on. I had seen too much.

  On silent feet, I placed my back against the wall, standing outside the light shining from the living area. I held my breath and listened carefully, keeping a watchful eye on the entryway. I wanted to know if they caught me spying on them.

  It was silent until Theron sighed from inside the room and then stated in a weary voice, “I tried something tonight while you were gone.”

  No one immediately commented.

  I wished I could see in there, but I wasn’t chancing getting any closer.

  Finally, Rune grumbled, “What did you do?”

  “What Poppy and Cassander can’t bring themselves to do.” He coughed, his tone choked. “I’d hoped to save them from that misery, but it didn’t work. He healed instantly. A king can’t kill a king.”

  My brows furrowed in confusion, and I leaned forward further.

  Leather creaked, and then Cassander hissed, “That is my job, not yours. I bear that burden. You shouldn’t have even tried.”

  Theron growled, “You don’t get to decide my actions. None of us knew if it would work or not.” His sigh was exhausted, his tone easing. “But you will need to do it, son. And soon. His mate will never kill him, and he poses too big of a risk if he’s used as a puppet.”

  Cassander immediately retorted, “Just as you decide your own actions, I decide mine too. It took me a year before I was able to give mercy to Mother, and she needed the sweet mercy of death. God…he doesn’t deserve this.”

  “And yet it still needs to be done,” Theron stated quietly. “Soon, Cass. Soon.”

  Rune sighed. “Cass, he’s right. Is there anything anyone of us can do to help?”

  “No.” The couch creaked again, and he groaned. “It has to be of my own will.”

  “Fuck,” Rune muttered. Then he growled quietly, his tone harboring vengeance. “We need to find Mr. Valentine or whoever the fuck he really is. I think it’s time we called in extra manpower. Wolfe almost has the code ready so no one will be able to hack his system ever again, but we’ve been lucky this past month. That killer hasn’t so much as sent one golem our way.”

  Cassander hummed. “Dad, should we call in the other Ancients?”

  Theron instantly snorted. “We only call them if the world is ending. They would cause even more trouble if they went on a rampage.”

  Rune asked hesitantly, “Are they…like you?”

  “No one is just like me, but yes, the old ones are different,” Theron grumbled. “I’ll call my assassins in. Jonathan can lead the team and start a quiet search for Mr. Valentine. You’re right. We need the extra help to dig this sick fuck out of whatever hole he’s hiding in.”

  I nibbled on my bottom lip, unease churning in my stomach. I couldn’t keep up with half of
what they were saying, except to know I was in over my head. The drunken man on the couch could perform unhuman acts, and they were acting as if Theron was Cassander and Mr. King’s father. Maybe Wolfe Corporation had finally come up with technology to enhance humans, defying age and shit.

  The fact they were talking about killing family so easily didn’t bother me. If I had the chance to off my father, I would in a heartbeat. So I didn’t judge. Every person had their reasons.

  Rune grunted. “Is there anything else? I need to get Megan home.”

  Theron hummed quietly in his throat. “Yes, there’s one more thing.”

  Cassander groaned, “For the love of fuck, I’m too drunk to talk anymore.”

  “Then just listen.” Theron chuckled—the sound vicious. “I’m coming out of vacation tomorrow.”

  “Oh, fuck,” Rune muttered under his breath. Then quickly amended—with respect apparent, “That’s wonderful. We’ll be glad to have you back as our leader.”

  Theron laughed outright. “And the ass kissing begins.”

  Cassander grumbled, “Are you taking over God’s business too?”

  “I am. I’ll be his brother, Mr. Theron King. The business left to me in his will.”

  Rune questioned, “He truly left you everything?”

  “Not everything. Only his business. His active will stipulates Poppy gets everything else.”

  After a beat of silence, Rune questioned with caution, “Then we’re declaring God dead?”

  “We are.” There was no room for argument in his tone. “Have Wolfe work up the paperwork for a corpse, and Alaric, take care of the tomb. We’ll announce that he died a week ago while on vacation—an accidental drowning while scuba diving—and his family has already buried him in a private funeral. If any news of Poppy’s adventure tonight gets out, then the story will fit for a grieving lover.”

  Cassander muttered in heated aggravation, “I’m going to bed. I can’t deal with this shit right now.” The couch creaked loudly, groaning under his moving weight.

  That was the alarm to run.