“He’s got our Alpha. My father.”
She didn’t lower her weapon. “Why would a demon want to use werewolves to sell a sword?”
Lennox’s gaze locked on hers. “I don’t think he intends to sell it. He said he needs to…feed it.”
Greyson stepped up beside her. “Let’s go back to the ship. I can take Duke with me for extra muscle and we’ll bring the sword back to you.”
Her ex-partner’s face flashed through her mind. Jones had been searching for her. A demon looking for the chosen one. Had he already stolen the sword at that point? She swallowed the lump in her throat.
The ache in her tired arms helped her focus and keep the fear at bay. “Take me to him and I’ll help you free your Alpha.”
Lennox glanced at her Glock and back to her. “I don’t know where he is right now, but I might be able to find out if you get the gun out of my face.”
Now that Greyson was here, he’d cover her if Lennox made a move. Putting her trust in someone else was new, but from the depths of her being, she knew Greyson would defend her.
She holstered her Glock. “Fine.” Her gut twisted as memories of Jones’s reptilian face and the burn of his saliva assaulted her again. She crossed her arms to hide the tremor in her hands. “How did your pack get tangled up with him?”
“I’m not sure.” Lennox crossed his arms. “My father owed him a favor. He showed up about a week ago to collect.” His gaze moved between her and Greyson. “He told me to advertise the Tyrfing on the dark web.”
Shit. Did that mean he’d found out she worked for Department 13? Was the ad on the dark web just bait for the trap? He’d lured her to Scotland to come for it.
Or it could be another demon altogether. Jones could be long gone from this plane.
“Have you had any other interested buyers?” she asked.
“One man, but Mr. Mamon refused the counteroffer.” He shook his head. “The demon said we’d know the right buyers because the cost wouldn’t be a factor.”
She was right. He’d been baiting them, luring her out. Damn it.
She dropped her hands to her sides. “What happens to the funds once they’re in the escrow account?”
He reached for the desk drawer, and Greyson’s gun was out so fast, she almost flinched. “Don’t do it, mate.”
Lennox brought his empty hands up. “I was just grabbing my tablet.”
“What’s on it?” Greyson asked.
“The escrow account. Let me log in and I’ll show you.” He shifted his attention to Aura. “Once he has the sword…fed, we’d get our Alpha back, and he would leave us the money.”
So, money wasn’t the objective. Why was he going to all this trouble to power up the cursed sword? Judging by the silo he’d cut through at the harbor, the sword worked just fine without the chosen one.
She went to the desk and took out the tablet. “I’ll make the deposit.” She looked up at Lennox. “How will he contact you?”
“Once I text him, he’ll check the account and then send me the rendezvous point.”
She lifted her eyes, gauging his reaction. “What about your father?”
“He said he’ll set him free.”
According to the files in Department 13, demons rarely kept their promises. “Has he given you proof of life for your dad?”
Lennox dropped his hands to his sides. “No.”
She glanced over at Greyson as a new plan simmered in her head. He wouldn’t like it. She wasn’t a big fan, either, but if it saved a life and got her the sword, it was worth the extra effort.
Her attention shifted back to Lennox. “Tell him you’ll trade me for your father.”
“What?” Greyson lowered his gun. “No.” He shook his head. “It’s too risky.”
“Hear me out.” She stayed focused on Lennox. “Most of the demons in the files I’ve studied never return their hostages. Mortal flesh is too tempting to their endless hunger. If we go through with this plan as it stands, you father will be dead before we even get there. He’s only alive for leverage, to force you to play his game. Let’s shake up the rules a little.”
The werewolf didn’t know the demon needed her.
The sword hungered for the chosen one. Aura. She didn’t want to think about how her blood might feed a sword, but that didn’t matter right now. She was still their only bargaining chip.
“This is the only way to save your father’s life,” she added.
Greyson caught her arm. “You can’t do this.” He searched her eyes. “There’s got to be another way.”
She shook her head. “There’s not.”
“Bullshit,” he growled. “At least let me get the cup. I stowed it on the Sea Dog just in case.”
She blinked. He’d brought the Holy Grail on this trip? She wanted to probe further, but not with Lennox staring at them.
Turning to the werewolf again, she said, “Send him the text. Tell him you have Aura Henderson. He’ll make the trade.”
…
Greyson’s pulse pounded like a jackhammer.
He could barely control the urge to shake Aura for offering herself up to save the life of a man they’d never even met. She wasn’t even giving Greyson time to regroup. The Grail was back in the harbor, stowed on the Sea Dog.
“It’s sent,” Lennox said, placing his cell back on the desk.
Greyson could almost hear the seconds ticking away.
“Keep this in case you need to reach me later.” Aura gave Lennox a plain white business card.
Agent Bale had given Colton a similar token. They bore only the agent’s name and a cell phone number. Nothing else to track it by.
The werewolf shoved it into his pocket. “Who do you work for?”
“A branch of the U.S. government.” She crossed her arms. “I wasn’t aware there was a wolf pack in Scotland.”
He smirked. “Until last week, I wasn’t aware there were demons and bloodthirsty swords, so I guess we’re even.”
Greyson leaned in close to Aura. “Can I talk to you? Alone.”
She nodded and glanced at Lennox. “Text me at the number on the card when you hear something.”
Greyson was no expert on werewolves, but he knew they had keener senses than he did, so he didn’t speak until they were a good distance from the building and the rental car. Hopefully out of earshot for the shifters.