Page 16 of Caged

I make my way across the yard, keeping to the shadows and moving silently. Once I’m close enough to verify, I comm Dax.

“Found something.”

“What?”

“There’s a separate building at the back of the property that butts up against the treeline behind Varenthrall’s wing. It looks like an unused pool house, but it’s teaming with technical security. Motion sensors, alarms, and cameras at the entrance.”

I work my way around the structure, careful not to get too close. “There are no windows, and it’s pure brick. Security looks newly installed as well.”

He hums, and I can hear his fingers flying over his keyboard. After a few seconds, the typing stops.

“Mounts look new?”

“No weathering,” I confirm.

“Can you get closer?” There’s a hint of excitement in his voice, but I know I’m going to have to squash it before it has a chance to grow roots. I’m already moving, testing the perimeter.

I won’t be able to get closer without alerting Varenthrall.

“Negative, I’ll have to return once you can disable the tech.”

Dax sighs in disappointment. I try not to smirk. The sound is eerily reminiscent of a toddler’s response to being told he can’t have ice cream before bed.

“Acknowledged. I’ll do some more investigating, then we’ll return.”

I frown.

There isn’t much more he can do from HQ. His drones already came back with weird readings, and he had to deploy an upgraded model to rerun the scans on the estate. Apparently, those readings were slightly glitchy, too. I don’t know the specifics, only that he was debating green-lighting the recon at all and made me swear to pull out at the first sign of trouble.

“The wards here⁠—”

“I know,” he cuts me off sharply. “The tech is all fucked up thanks to those wards. The footage didn’t show another building. We’ll figure something out.”

It isn’t uncommon for humans to pay one of the few vampires who can do blood magic to install wards around their property, but something about these has Daxen rattled. I let him stew in his irritation as I circle the property.

East.

Again.

I’ve been pulled in this direction too often tonight, and it’s starting to make me twitchy. The itching under my skin is getting worse.

This side of the estate is barely used, according to Dax’s research. Still, my gut is telling me to check it out, and I never ignore my gut.

Despite reports that this wing of the estate seems to have very little movement, the moment I slink into the shadows of the hedge maze, a light flickers on in a room directly above the gardens.

My eyes are drawn to a balcony with ornate French doors. They’re shut now, but there’s something off…

No curtains.

That’s… strange. Most people have curtains in their bedrooms, don’t they? For privacy, if nothing else.

I advance closer to get a better angle, and notice the outline of a figure moving at the back of the room.

I can tell right away it isn’t Varenthrall, and it isn’t staff. There are no deliberate, quick movements as I saw from the housekeepers.

Whoever it is, they’re too small to be an Alpha, and it definitely isn’t Alexander. That asshole is broad-shouldered and carries himself with all the confidence of a man who thinks he owns whatever room he’s in.

This person’s movements are small. Almost hesitant.