Bound to Kill

Alexa

Darius paces. “Stall him.”

Pretending to be Amanda, I tap a response.

Me: Darius and Alexa have been fucking like bunnies since she almost died. We’re under strict orders not to interrupt. I’ll bring them to you when they resurface.

Theo: For Fate’s sake. Text when you’re on your way.

Me: Sounds good. You bring backup?

Theo: Why would I? I’m more than capable of handling a pair of subpar wolves.

My eyes roll. That arrogance will be Theo’s undoing.

“I bought us some time; the good news is, he’s on his own.” I turn to face Leslie. “Do you have enough juice to portal us back?”

“Can’t risk tapping myself out.” Leslie looks at the vampire. “Can you drive us to the airport?”

“Ja.”

I find and book the next flight out. “Flight leaves in two hours.”

“Let’s move.” Leslie holds the door, ushering us out.

Darius links the pack. Theo is at the border. Strengthen the wards, Cathy. Nobody leaves until I give the all-clear.

Adrian links us. I’m heading to the perimeter with a team. How soon can you get back, Alpha?

Few hours. Let me know if Theo makes contact.

Will do.

Two hours later, we’re in the air.

"Theo will conceal himself. What’s our plan?” I ask.

“I can break his concealment, but I need to know where he is first,” Leslie replies. “I’ll glamour us to slip past him.”

My eyebrows rise. “Do you mean alter our appearance?”

“Yes.”

“What about the wards, won’t they disintegrate the glamour?”

Leslie laughs. “Your weak wards may affect witch magic, but I am a Fae.” He puffs his chest.

Good grief, another egomaniac. “Should one of us appear as Amanda to draw him out?”

Darius nods. “That could work, but only if they’ve met in person.”

I scroll through Amanda’s inbox. “There’s nothing here to indicate they’ve met. Only one way to find out—ask the bitch directly.”

We touch down an hour later and run to the car we left earlier.

Once seated, Leslie glamours me—blonde curls rest just past my shoulders. I glance in the mirror, noting blue eyes and high cheekbones.

“How do I look?” I ask Darius.

“You look fine, but I miss my little wolf.”

Truth. I get the warm fuzzies.

The Unseelie glamours my mate and then himself. Looking at Darius, I burst out laughing.

“What?” he questions, puzzled.

“Look in the mirror.”

He checks his reflection; shiny silver hair frames his aged face, crow feet sit on the outer corner of his eyes, and a thick moustache sits on his upper lip, curling inward at the ends. “What’s with the old man look, Leslie?”

“Don’t be so vain, Alpha. We need to sell the glamour,” Leslie responds, his tone flippant.

“Is that why you made yourself look like Adonis?” Darius arches a brow.

“Hardly. This is a downgrade for me,” Leslie claims with a straight face, looking like Jason Momoa.

The car thrums to life, and Darius pulls into traffic. “If you say so.”

A short ride later, we approach the packhouse. I keep my eyes peeled, but as expected, Theo hides.

Darius links Adrian and Neil as we park. We’re back. Go to my office.

We rush upstairs. The Beta and lead enforcer jump out of their seats, startled by our appearance.

“Stand down,” Darius commands. “It’s us.”

To my delight, Adrian’s got jokes. “Damn, Alpha, Holland did a number on you. Do you need help getting to your seat, or…?”

“I’m good!” The hint of a growl as Darius responds betrays his annoyance. I bite my lip, attempting and failing to hide my amusement. “Grow up, the pair of you.”

“I think you’ve matured enough for all of us,” Adrian replies, sending me into another fit of giggles.

Darius can’t fight his smile. “Leslie, drop the glamours please.”

The Fae waves his hand, and we’re our usual selves.

“Now, can we please focus?” Darius says, exasperated.

“Sorry, Alpha.” Adrian straightens his face. “Of course.”

“Report.”

Neil brings us up to speed. “No contact made or new faces spotted. The sentries report several new cars on the east side. We’re monitoring them closely.”

“We need a tracker to scent magic and narrow our search,” Darius suggests. “Leslie, can you conceal a tracker?”

“Yes, no problemo.”

Neil’s brows furrow. “But if the tracker is surrounded by magic, will they scent Theo’s?”

Adrian nods. “Fae magic is much stronger. A good tracker can make the distinction. I’ll do it.”

Darius places a hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “Thank you. Make one sweep and head back. We’ll have a team nearby for backup. Be careful.”

“I always am, Alpha.”

After the meeting, Leslie conceals Adrian, and Neil heads to the border with enforcers on standby.

Darius, Leslie and I make our way to the dungeon.

Amanda stiffens at our approach. She attempts to appear unfazed, but her racing heart betrays her fear. We enter the cell and surround her.

“To what do I owe this pleasure? Are ye here to watch me suffer or put me out of my misery?”

Darius unfastens his cuffs and rolls his sleeves up, taking his sweet time before answering. “We’re here for information.”

She sneers. “Why would I help you?”

I pull out my blade and position it beneath her chin, forcing her to look up at me. “Cos if you don’t, I’ll acquaint you with Miami Slice.”

Smirking, I wait for the others to laugh. Anyyy minute now.

When too much time passes, I stand back to see their reaction. Darius’ face is blank, and Leslie looks bored.

“My blade is named Miami Slice instead of Miami Vice,” I explain.

“Yeah, we got it,” says Leslie.

Quit embarrassing us with your shit jokes. My wolf huffs.

You shush. Nobody asked you.

Rolling my shoulders, I return my focus to Amanda. “I suggest you start talking before I start slicing, or did you want to see if you’d last longer than Paul? He lost a nipple, a toe and an ear before he cracked.”

Her sharp intake of breath and terror in her eyes tells me she wouldn’t last thirty seconds.

Grinning, I step toward her, but Darius holds me back.

“You’ll talk for redemption,” he growls. “Theo used you, and your naivety cost many wolves their lives. Help us stop him before more deaths are on your conscience.”

I can practically hear cogs spinning as she considers, her eyes dart from me to my knife and back to Darius, beads of sweat break out on her head. “What do ye want tae ken?”

“Have you ever met Theo?” Darius asks.

“No. We only communicated by text or call."

“How did he initiate contact?”

“A letter arrived on the anniversary of my parents’ death. A photo of my da was in there, too. Theo said they were good pals and asked me tae call him. So, I dialled the number on the letter.” She glares at Darius. “Theo reminded me you’re the reason I lost everything. The reason I’m alone. He said ye made him lose his wife and suggested we work together tae make ye pay.“

“You realise he played you, right? He didn’t lose shit,” Darius spits. “He just wanted to cover his arse for helping Paul bury Kayleigh.”

Angry tears roll down her face. “I ken that now, but at the time, I believed it. When the truth came out, I was already in too deep.”

Fighting my desire to wring her neck, I ask, “So Theo knew who you were? He knows what you look like?”

“Aye.”

“One last question.” My nails bite into my palms. “If you hate Darius so much, why not just kill him? He trusted you—his guard was down.”

“I dinnae want the pack tae ken I was behind it. I dinnae want to lose my home,” she admits.

Letting out a breath, I link my mate. It’s time. I feel his pain through the bond, but his face remains blank. Do you want me to do it?

He shakes his head. “Amanda, for your treason and role in the deaths of many packmates, I sentence you to death.”

Amanda cries out. “No! Please!”

“Do you have any last words?”

“Tell them—“

Darius does a partial shift and tears her throat out mid-sentence cos nobody gives a shit.

Just then, Adrian speaks in our minds. Got him—east side—the black SUV parked between the Nissan and Escort.

Good work! We’re on our way. Darius replies.

“Adrian found Theo,” I tell Leslie. “You should glamour us again, but make yourself look like Amanda.”

“Very well.”

My skin prickles as Leslie’s magic envelops me. Glamours in place, we hurry toward the east perimeter.

When we reach the street, Leslie pulls ahead and calls Theo from Amanda’s phone. He imitates her voice perfectly. “Where are you?”

“I’m staring right at you. Why are you alone?”

Leslie makes a show of looking around. “They’re still fucking. I came to sneak you in.”

Theo growls. “Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.”

Darius and I slowly walk past Leslie, our focus never leaving the black SUV. Theo’s invisible form opens the door.

In a flash, Leslie drops his glamour and fires magic at the car door. It’s a direct hit. Theo’s spell disintegrates as the Fae secures him in the sphere of doom. The horrified look on his face is like an early Christmas present.

“Leslie…” I move my finger in a circle, “…give him a spin in the Merry-Go-Round.”

Grinning, Leslie happily agrees. “With pleasure.”

The globe floats beside us, constantly spinning as we return home. Theo’s screams are the best feel-good music.

We head straight for the dungeon. Once inside, Leslie releases Theo from his bubble prison so I can chain him.

But before I get close, magic explodes from Theo, knocking me and Darius into the cell bars. My glamour drops and my head bounces off the metal, making me see stars.

Leslie

The witch is faster than I expected. I’m just able to protect myself before his blast of power hits. Unfortunately, there’s no time to save my companions.

With no time to spare checking on them, I fire ice magic at Theo’s chest. He deflects with a rebounding spell, sending it harmlessly back at me.

I throw another containment bubble, but before it hits, Theo vanishes, his concealment spell in place once again.

Fuck!

Aiming blindly, I let loose a barrage of magic to prevent his escape. A sharp pain takes my breath away.

Theo reappears, still holding the iron sword he stabbed me with. “Hello again, old friend. You should have killed me when you had the chance.”

Alexa

Magic hits me in the chest. It feels like lava runs through my veins. My back arches, and I scream, the pain so intense my eyes water. When the burning ceases, I search for my mate. Darius groans, still in pain but recovering.

My focus turns to Leslie. Theo buries a sword in Leslie’s chest—twisting the blade with a sadistic smile.

Instincts kicking in, my wolf springs free. We planned to interrogate the fucker, but he’s too volatile, too dangerous. I need to end him. With his attention on Leslie, Theo doesn’t notice my attack. I crash into him, knocking him away from Leslie. My fangs tear out his throat before he hits the ground.

I shift again and race toward Leslie. As I look him over, I link with Darius.

Are you okay?

I’m fine, little wolf. A moment later, Darius is beside me, covering me with his shirt.

“Leslie, what can I do? Should I pull it out?” My hands are shaking.

The resolved look Leslie gives me has tears welling in my eyes. “There’s nothing to do. Fae cannot heal from iron to the heart. Finish what we started—take down the SEB.”

Blinking back the tears, I swallow past the cube in my throat. I can’t believe I started to like this asshole.

“I will. I promise,” I sniffle.

He smiles at me. “I told you we’d become good friends.”

The next moment, he’s gone.

I don’t mean dead, literally gone, vanished.

Then I hear his voice behind me.

“Gotcha!” His laughter echoes off the walls as he doubles over, patting his knees in hysterics. “Awwww, that was a good one.”

“What the actual fuck, Leslie?! I thought you were dying, you asshole!” I fume.

My wolf hisses at me. Be polite!

His features harden, all trace of humour gone. “I will let that slide as emotions run high, but mind your manners, Alexa. It was a simple prank, you see! When the magical blast left Theo, I glamoured a clone of myself. But I am truly touched by the tears you shed for me. Does that make us BFFs?”

“No,” I growl.

“Bring it in, buddy.” He wraps his arms around me.

I bite back a smile.

A breath later, Darius pulls me from Leslie’s hold. He chuckles, clearly less traumatised than me. “You got us, man. But no touching Lexi.”

Leslie pats Darius on the back as we make our way out of the dungeon. “C’mon, you have nothing to worry about. We’re practically family now.”

I smile, watching them laughing and joking.

A stab of disappointment hits me—we didn't get answers from the Agent—but my relief buries it. Theo is finally dead. We’re safe.

Leslie pauses outside our room. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day. We have a corrupt organisation to bring to its knees.” He winks, then hums as he continues down the hall to his room.

Thank the Fates he’s alive.

Haha! Did that trickster Leslie have you freaking out?

Never trust a Fae. 😉

Gem 💕