Page 29 of Thirst
“Because the proof—” that damn painting—“would out her to her syndicate. So I can’t use it. But she was on the island at Nazaire’s orders.”
He straightened. “Your contact was the other person on the island that night?”
Too late, I realized I’d made a mistake. I gave a reluctant nod. “Yes.”
“So she blew up the boat.”
My stomach sank. “Yeah. But she rigged it so we had time to get off before it exploded.”
“Or that’s just what she’s telling you. And you’re protecting her? What are you playing at, Cain?”
“Nothing. I gave my word she’d remain anonymous. She wouldn’t have helped us otherwise.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “I’ll allow you that. I won’t even remind you that as your primus, your first loyalty is to me, because you’re also a friend. A good one.”
“Thanks,” I started to say, but he wasn’t finished.
“I think I know who she is anyway.” He was too close, his gaze too knowing. I fought not to squirm on the hard leather cushion, but if I stood with Brien in this uncertain mood, he might see it as a challenge. “So the question is, what are we going to do about her?”
“Do about her?” I straightened in the chair, upset. “Look, she did what she could. She was the one who made sure Eden got food and water, and she bought us time to get off the boat.”
I realized I’d accepted Nyx’s explanation as the truth. That I’d begun to trust her.
“I see.” His expression iced over. “So let me get this straight—this bitch was there on the island with the bastards who kidnapped Eden. The ones who were trying to take Twilight, too. My fucking mate. And you want to let her off.”
“She didn’t have a choice, damn it.”
“Is that what she told you?”
“Yes, and I believe her. Didn’t you wonder why we had enough time to get a dinghy out and away from the boat before it caught fire? She was caught between us and Nazaire. She had to make it look like she tried to stop us from escaping.”
Brien’s lip curled. “Sounds like you’re thinking with your dick.”
That brought me to my feet. If I stayed in that chair one second more, I’d go for his throat. That was unacceptable—and not just because he was my primus, but because he had a valid point.
He made a low, gotcha sound. “So you are fucking her.”
“So? You got the intel you needed to take down Fleur and Lamaire’s blood-slave ring, didn’t you?”
His eyes narrowed. “Stand down, Lieutenant.”
I met his stare, refusing to blink. The air between us tightened. A long, dangerous beat stretched—two predators sizing each other up.
Then I spun on my heel and paced away before I did something I’d regret, like pulling a blade on my fucking primus. When I turned back, I had myself in check.
“You’re wrong about her,” I said evenly. “She did everything she could for us. Anything more and Nazaire would’ve figured out she was the reason we got off that boat alive. As it was, he punished her for screwing up.”
Brien unfolded his arms. “I don’t trust her, Cain. And if she’s who I think she is, you shouldn’t either. Nazaire is a snake. It would be just like him to use his own spawn to seduce one of my lieutenants.”
“Not this time. I made the first move. I’m the one who went after her, not the other way around.”
Or had I? A sliver of uneasiness worked its way under my skin. Looking back, I couldn’t say for sure.
Our first meeting at the Tremblay Castle had been like something out of a fucking rom-com. Across a packed ballroom—a high-class gala hosted by the new Tremblay prima and her mate—we’d locked eyes. Nyx had wet her lips. Then she turned and sauntered toward the exit, her short purple skirt swaying like bait. At the doorway, she stopped and thrown me an over-the-shoulder glance.
I’d followed, telling myself she might be a useful contact. Someone I could cultivate, pump for information.
She’d been waiting in the castle’s sweet-smelling garden, the moonlight turning her red hair into dark fire. Ten minutes after that, I had her up against the wall in one of the stone turrets, that tease of a skirt flipped up, my fingers inside her…
