"We don't have time for this shit."

The pair of agents glared up at him; whoever had chained them to the pillars in the basement had made sure they wouldn't be able to move an inch. He wondered where they kept getting lengths of chain in such a remote house. But he wouldn't ask. He didn't want to stumble accidentally on Gianna's weird fetish. He'd rather stay ignorant.

Kane crossed his arms over his chest. "You've fucked our safe house, you know that?" He jerked his head toward the staircase. "There's a newborn up there who will have to be packed into a car because of you dicks."

Blonde hair stained with blood, Nyx frowned. "Sorry."

"She's lying," Sterling drawled, lazing on the couch nearby. He smiled widely at Kane's slow glare.

It was obvious she was lying. She'd said it dripping with attitude. They had three agents of the Bureau kidnapped in their house, which gave him a pounding headache. Jail for life was a ripe possibility.

At least one of them seemed happy to be kept.

But still, this was a fucking nightmare.

He'd had to break Sterling's cuffs with brute strength because Lucas had the key. Having to wrench them off with pliers had left Sterling's wrists cut up. At the time, Sterling hadn't complained. Kane only noticed the damage he'd caused after the guy had started bleeding all over the bathroom floor. Anna had bandaged Sterling up and fixed his injured shoulder.

Kane was too tired to find another pair of shackles to put on the guy.

It's not like they couldn't kill him if he tried anything.

Since Sterling had been freed, he had acted overly friendly, as if they hadn't kidnapped the guy but were allies instead.

"Fuck you, Sterling," Nyx snapped, pulling on her chains. "Traitor!"

Sterling bared his teeth, snarling at her.

"Listen to me," Kane ordered, pulling all focus to him. "Sterling is here to tell me if you're lying. And he will." He gave Sterling a stern glance. "Won't he?"

After agent morons broke the wards, some magic was getting through now. They'd noticed it when Hannah accidentally boiled her coffee. Her magic was novice, untrained, and fucking wild when she had a strong emotion. Now, Sterling could read some thoughts. A word here and there, but nothing like before. That's what the guy claimed, anyway. Kane wouldn't tell Nyx and Stanton that, though. He'd let them think they were being read completely.

"Yes, sir," Sterling replied happily.

Nyx snapped, "That's just because he has a thing for big guys telling him what to do."

"That is not true!"

Stanton snorted. "There's a reason they made Chase your handler."

Sterling sighed. "Okay." He flapped his hand through the air. "I'll admit I like taking orders from sexy guys. It's like my kryptonite. I'd probably do anything I'm told." He laughed. "It's kind of scary, actually."

Kane chose not to think about the fact that if that held true, Sterling thought he was sexy. If it meant the guy obeyed, then whatever. Sterling's gift was seriously powerful. And sometimes, when Sterling wasn't acting unhinged, his sharpness was a major asset.

"We're leaving tonight," Kane told the chained agents. "So, if you don't want to end up buried in the yard, rotting, we're going to have to come to an agreement."

Nyx inhaled tiredly. "What kind of agreement?"

"You'll agree to help us fight Azrael in a month, and I'll let you go."

Stanton sat straighter, gaze flickering to Nyx warily.

Nyx's brown eyes were fiery. "That's all I want to do."

"She's telling the truth," Sterling told Kane, bored. He glanced at Stanton and smiled widely. "She won't ever reciprocate your feelings, you know. You're not her... type."

Stanton's face reddened. "Shut your mouth, Sterling!"

"I don't think she's ever seen a penis," Sterling said, laughing.

Nyx scoffed. "That's rich, coming from you."

"I've seen a penis!" Sterling growled.

Kane was so baffled by the turn of conversation that he didn't interrupt. He was debating dragging Reid from the backyard to join in. The idiot would love this.

Stanton rolled his eyes. "We've all heard the rumours."

Shifting a bit, Sterling kept his posture casual, but the guy couldn't hide how bothered he looked, a tiny pout taking his lower lip. "What rumours?"

"Virgin Sterling," Nyx sang.

Sterling scoffed. "Well, that's a blatant lie."

"Is it?" Stanton snorted. "You barfed at that office party when Rebecca came on to you."

Nyx snickered.

"Shut up, Paul," Sterling snarled. "We all know who wears the pants in your partnership, and it's not you. Let Nyx talk. She's the one holding your balls." He laughed at Stanton's growl. "If you, assholes, must know, Rebecca stuck her tongue down my throat after eating deviled eggs. It was disgusting. I'd been drinking, and it..." He made a gesture from his throat to his mouth, miming vomiting. "Did I mention she was ugly?"

Nyx murmured, "I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with the fact you blow Chase, so he'll let you keep your agent status."

Sterling was off the couch before Kane could react beyond a breathy curse.

Stanton shouted.

"Try it!" Nyx snarled.

Kane grabbed Sterling around the middle seconds before Sterling's hands would've been around Nyx's neck, wringing the life out of her. Sterling fought Kane's hold.

A jab of an elbow to Kane's stomach caused him to gasp and then growl in anger.

"I will cuff you again," Kane snarled near Sterling's ear.

The words seemed to rouse Sterling back to rationality. Sterling ripped himself away, breathing heavily.

"Calm the fuck down," Kane ordered, and when he received a curt nod from Sterling, he turned his attention back to the agents. "You can choose. Die, or help us." He sighed, exhausted. "And leave Sterling the fuck alone."

He didn't know why he added the last part, but that shit got heavy, and the last thing he wanted was to have to deal with more emotions tonight.

"I just want to save Francine," Nyx said, her eyes desperate.

"And you will, in a month," Kane said, keeping a careful eye on Sterling. The guy seemed to calm down but hadn't sat again; his face flushed, and his dark gaze remained locked on Nyx.

Stanton frowned. "Why a month?"

"Because that's when Azrael's ritual begins, and until then, getting into Shadow Peaks will be near impossible."

"What's the ritual for?" Nyx asked warily.

"The apocalypse."

"Before we leave tomorrow. We'll drop them off somewhere far from the house. I don't care how the fuck they get back to the city. I'm done with them the moment I boot them out of that car."

The coffee pot was empty. Kane debated making more, but he held off. He should try to get the best sleep he could tonight. The drive to the nearest small town would take over four hours. He didn't want to waste time while Lucas was in Azrael's hands. Dad, him, Gianna, and Wyatt would detour to take out that mage before they arrived. They'd chuck that crystal on the way, too.

He needed his rest.

Kiernan and Rowan finished their threatening letter to Darren Sinclair over an hour ago.

Sitting at the table, Kiernan answered coolly, "I agree, Rainer. The tactical advantage of keeping them alive outweighs the satisfaction of killing them."

"I say we bury them," Reid remarked from his seat at the table.

He'd come in while Kane was in the basement. Reid still had a bruised face, and his eyes were a dim blue. He was talking, which should have been a relief. But it was mostly disturbing because he was acting viciously. Every addition to their plan he gave involved violence. Kane would usually agree, but coming from Reid, it made him unsettled.

Kane hadn't told Reid about their shaky plan to detour to Fawnhill. He hadn't told him about Kiernan's meeting with Gabriel tomorrow either. He'd wait until Reid looked like he could handle another punch.

"He means that," Sterling said absently, focused on making a card tower that kept falling over, but he was tenacious. "The voices are quiet. His whole villain arc, it's all him."

Reid leaned across the table and slapped Sterling's cards, knocking them over.

Sterling blinked at him, unimpressed.

Reid sat back down with an unsettling smile. He averted his gaze when Milton glared at him from across the table.

"Why isn't he in chains?" Reid asked Kane, ignoring the muttering Sterling had begun to make under his breath.

Kane was pretty sure Sterling was speaking Latin.

"Because Crystal threatened to castrate us if we did," Kane replied bitterly.

That was true, but more so because Sterling wasn't an enemy. Sterling was a broken guy the Bureau had been using since infancy. Kane couldn't help feeling bad for him. And Sterling reminded him of Reid in many ways. Right down to the constant biting.

Not that Kane would be dumb enough to let Sterling walk around without any constraints. He might awaken Kane's pity, but he was still dangerous and capable of taking them all on if he wanted to.

Sterling lifted his arm, bringing attention to the thin silver bracelet worn on his bandaged wrist. Runes were inlaid on the thin metal. "I've been neutered, officially." He didn't seem bothered by this. "If I try to hurt anyone, my head will explode."

"No," Milton said carefully. "That's not true." He was giving Sterling a look that had become familiar these past few months while dealing with the agent, wary and mildly concerned. He told Reid, "Sterling will suffer if he tries to act on bad intentions. He should still be able to use his gift, as it doesn't require invoking. We are aware that the bracelet poses a danger to him. He won't be able to fight back if he's attacked, but anyone with magic can break the invocation on the bracelet quite easily."

Reid crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair with a deep pout. "Lucas wanted him chained."

"Lucas isn't here," Sterling said, tilting his head and regarding Reid intensely. "Azrael tortured me. The pain, which was terrible, wasn't the worst part. It was how he got into my head. He knew my fears and my desires. It was difficult to resist him."

"But you did," Reid snapped, glaring at Sterling. Reid was about to lose it. The twitch in his clenched jaw and constant flexing of his fisted fingers gave that away.

Sterling picked up a card and stared at its face—the king of spades. "Didn't he break me? Didn't he break Rowan? He's in our heads, infecting us." His gaze rose, finding Reid, and he didn't flinch when he took in Reid's dark glare. The kitchen felt stifling. "Didn't he break you last night?"

Reid's breath quickened.

"You've given up," Sterling declared.

The bob of Reid's throat caused Kane's heart to ache.

"Lucas will survive," Sterling said, focusing on restarting his card tower. His eyes were miserable. For a guy who claimed to hate Lucas, the tremble in his fingers told otherwise. "He won't give up. He's stubborn to a fault. So, while he's being tortured, counting the days until he sees you again..."

Sterling's gaze rose and pinned Reid, fiery enough for Kane to tense, ready to intervene.

"Fight," Sterling said fiercely. "If not for yourself, then for him. Lucas will have few thoughts to keep him strong, so don't disappoint him when he returns." He focused on his half-ass card tower with a deepening frown. "That would be too depressing."

The kitchen was silent, waiting for Reid's reaction. His lips parted, but no words came out. His gaze fell on the cards, blinking a few times.

"I..." The rasp in Reid's voice showed how much emotion he was holding back. "You have to make the foundation strong, or it'll keep falling."

Sterling nodded and narrowed his eyes at the cards.

Reid stood with a sigh. He met Kane's gaze, and Kane saw a spark of misery in his eyes, almost pleading. Kane wished he knew what to say to heal Reid's hurts. He felt powerless.

Walking around the table, Reid leaned over Sterling's shoulder, fingers gripping the back of Sterling's chair. Reid still wore his signet ring.

Kane wondered if Reid would wear a new one if he bought him one? He hated that Reid had anything to tie him to his father and that damn coven that had always acted like it owned Reid's life.

"Balance that one on this one," Reid explained. He rolled his eyes when Sterling attempted to follow the order but failed spectacularly. "No, not like that." He did it himself, and when the cards stayed with the edges balanced on each other, he sat in the chair closest to Sterling. "How high do you think we can get it?"

"Hm... Probably to space."

"You're so weird." Reid laughed softly.

A small smile grew on Sterling's face, but it was gone quickly as he licked at his lips and followed Reid's orders with newfangled accuracy.

The sneaky fuck.

He'd been failing on purpose. How long had Sterling let the card tower fall? Hoping Reid got sick of watching and helped?

Thank you, Kane thought earnestly.

Sterling had either heard because the agent's smile returned, or he was happy that with Reid's help, the card tower was growing quickly.

Dad looked immensely relieved to see Reid doing more than moping. He leaned back in his chair. "We'll have to begin packing weapons," he said to Kane.

"We need swords," Kane returned.

Milton snorted. "That's a given."

"Some pistols," Kiernan added tiredly.

Milton nodded. "Easy enough. A shotgun would be ideal. I prefer it out of all weaponry. But I think a rifle that is taken apart and easier to transport would be a better option. Is Gianna practiced?"

Kiernan grinned. "She is."

Badass.

"Hey..." Kane said to Reid. He felt a knot in his stomach, but he didn't know who else could comfort her. "Mind going and seeing Asha? Have her eat something, maybe."

She'd been in her bedroom since she'd learned about Lucas.

Reid swallowed. "Yeah. Sure. In a little while." He focused on the card tower, gaze dim, but at least he was doing something instead of wallowing.

"No," Sterling said quickly. "I'll go to her."

"You?" Reid frowned.

"Yes."

"You speak to her?"

"Yes."

Sterling didn't elaborate beyond his curt replies, returning his attention to the growing card tower. His face was slightly flushed, but that might be from the warmth radiating from the nearby space heater Sterling sat close to.

Reid caught Kane's gaze and shrugged. He seemed to accept this. Kane narrowed his eyes. His instincts told him that something he didn't like was happening, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He'd let it go for now.

From the hallway, Hannah peeked her head in the kitchen. Her pretty brown eyes fell on Reid, who was focused on making the card tower to space. She smiled, just as relieved to see Reid doing something other than wallowing.

Hannah looked at Kane, and her smile widened. "Want to see the baby?"

No.

He'd been purposefully keeping away from the back bedrooms for that very reason. Reid had been back there already. Everyone had. Kiernan had spent some time with Axel and Crystal, but Kane had a feeling Kiernan had been hiding in the kitchen since on purpose. Probably because Gianna was gushing over the newborn, hardly having left Crystal's side.

But Hannah looked so beautiful while excited that he couldn't refuse.

"Sure."

The bedroom window had frost on its glass. A chill had seeped into the air, and he felt it through his t-shirt and jeans.

The room had been bustling. But Gianna and Rowan had left to give them space to head upstairs to bother their kidnapped college student. Kane hadn't actually seen the guy yet, Jason, but he'd heard Darren's son wasn't bothered in the slightest to be stolen away. Presley was in wolf form outside, like always, pissing on trees or whatever werewolves do while running amok.

"Is there heat in here?" Kane asked tightly. He focused on searching the walls for a thermostat. There were electric heaters, but no dial was on them like in the farmhouse.

He opened the closet, searching the dark corners.

"Where the fuck is it?"

He wanted to slap himself and then felt silly.

A baby couldn't understand swear words. Could she? They were like sponges, right? Always listening and learning.

So what, he decided, she'd be saying fuck as a toddler.

That would be awesome.

"Kane," Hannah said, laughing a bit. "It's okay."

"It's freezing in here," Kane replied, giving her a harsh look that made Hannah smile wider. When did he stop being intimidating? He was so fucking soft. "The baby is small, which means she'll become colder faster. Use your head, Hannah. Do you want her to die?"

Hannah sighed and took a gentle hold of his arm, forcing him to turn towards the bed. Crystal held a squirming bundle in her arms. He saw a tiny foot and a hand with little fingers peek out. Axel stood beside the bed and wore the same smile as his wife.

They were enjoying watching Kane flounder.

Axel pointed to the dresser. "Over there."

The thick framing of a painting hid the thermostat.

Kane crossed the room and turned on the heating. "There." He swallowed and turned around. "I saw the baby. Good job, Crystal. You made a literal human... that's awesome." She gave him a soft smile. Labour seemed to have subdued her. "Axel." Kane nodded at the vampire. "I have no idea what to say, but now you have a daughter. I hope it's not utter shit."

He tried to leave, cheeks red and Axel's laughter following him, but Hannah caught Kane's arm, gentle brown eyes drawing him in.

"There's something I have to tell you," Hannah said. She picked up a darkened rune on the dresser and handed it to him. He recognized the marks etched into the wood. This was a protection rune. "Who made this? Sterling?"

This kind of spell was powerful.

"Me," Hannah revealed, smiling sheepishly.

"Fuck, really?"

"Yeah. I gave it to Crystal, and it invoked when she gave birth."

"That's badass, Hannah." He saw the look Axel was giving Hannah—reverence for saving the life of his wife and child. Kane felt a swell of pride in his chest. Hannah had just made an ally for life.

"Val helped me."

Kane rolled his eyes. Irritation overtook any good feelings he had. "Fucking..."

He left the bedroom with angry stomps, but Hannah seized his wrist before he could get farther, dragging him away from the bedroom door to a quiet corner of the hallway. He let her.

"You know he doesn't do anything without a benefit," Kane snapped at her. "Don't tell me I need to trust him now because he helped you when you were desperate."

"No," Hannah said. "I can never trust him again. I'm not stupid, okay? But you read his history. That baby brought up a lot of old wounds. He hasn't come out of the necklace since Poppy was born."

He'd never lost a child or a wife. But he could empathize with Sage's pain. Being powerless to save the ones he loved was torture. However, that didn't mean he trusted the slimy bastard.

"I'm not falling for his games again," Hannah said, eyes fierce. "I just want to be done with him after tonight... Seeing the real him... I need him gone.... and I don't have it in me to destroy him."

She might not be able to, but he could.

"He's powerful," Kane said, shaking his head. "It's too risky to resurrect him. I know you want to help, but it might be better if we let him pass on like he was meant to."

"What would you give to save Reid and all the other vampires?"

"Everything."

Hannah smiled, eyes teary. "See, I have an idea that might just make that dream come true. But Val will have to go in the dampener while I tell you." She touched the stone pendant hanging from her neck. "I think it might fix our beast problem, too. But only we can know. I don't want to give anyone any false hope."

Kane's heart leapt. "Tell me."