“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Yes,” he said, with more conviction than he felt.
Just as he finished, the Mad King’s voice boomed through the universal intercom system. “Where’s that hybrid?”
He closed his eyes briefly. “Fuck.”
“What does he want with you?”
“I don’t know, to get Idris maybe.” Or perhaps Jacko has told on me already. No, he couldn’t be that stupid. Merlin straightened and stared at the intercom as if somehow it would magically have the answers.
“Or maybe one of those guys from last night told him what you did.”
Oh, right. He’d kind of forgotten how many enemies he’d made in the last twenty-four hours. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll handle it.” He grimaced and pointed to the monitors. “You see the ones for the outside?” When Mateo nodded, he continued. “Keep watch on those in particular. You should be able to see the guards and anyone arriving, both inside and outside. If you think that our guys are in trouble, flick the switch by the relevant monitor. That will flicker the warning lights in that area. It’s the signal I agreed to. Do you think you can do that?”
With his eyes wide, Mateo nodded. “I’m on it. Don’t worry.”
“Good. Lock the door after I leave and don’t let anyone in who isn’t on our side.” Glancing at Jacko, he added, “Sorry to leave you with that, but I don’t dare take him out.”
“No worries. Go.”
Merlin didn’t leave the hall until he heard the door lock, then he raced to the throne room. He arrived in time to see Andri trying to settle a fretting Idris. Dracul was furious, drinking down a great goblet full of wine, his crossed leg jiggling with obvious agitation. The changeling’s expression showed true relief when he saw Merlin. He wasted no time in practically tossing the baby into his arms.
“Take care of him. The Master needs me.” So saying, the dude flipped his zebra hair and ran to his Master’s feet. He dropped and started sucking before his knees hit the ground.
Merlin saw nothing after that as he hurried to take Idris somewhere, anywhere, even a modicum more wholesome than there. Although he headed for the room where Andri kept the boy, it occurred to him that it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t too much of a leap of faith to believe that this nightmare was almost over. Dafydd shouldn’t be alone, and he weighed the wisdom of letting Idris see his father with the surety that having Idris by his side would give Dafydd the will to hold on. He decided that Idris had reached his breaking point anyway, given that he was still fussing. It was time for him to be with his father.
Luck was with him, sort of, in that Dafydd’s eyes flew open when he entered the cell. Though he didn’t move, his face lit up at the sight of his son. This had been the right call. And with Idris down by his father, Merlin would be free to defend them if anyone came in.
“Here you go,” he said as he put Idris beside Dafydd. “Be careful now, Idris. Your papa doesn’t feel well.”
Idris stopped his crying and set his butt down right next to Dafydd’s face. “Da!” was all he said before sticking his thumb in his mouth.
“My baby.” Dafydd’s voice was little more than a whisper. He managed to move his hand and put it on the boy’s knee.
Merlin backed up and faced the door. “You guys hang tight there. The rescue is on its way.” At Dafydd’s hiss, he twisted to say, “Don’t worry. The only one listening is Mateo.” He pointed to a spot in the far corner where the hidden camera was placed. “We’re good. You just have to hang on, okay?”
“Not going anywhere,” Dafydd breathed out.
And that was as good as it was going to get.
Chapter Ten
If not for the terror of what they faced, the race across first ocean then land in the great beast of the helicopter would have been exhilarating. It was different from the planes Alun had ridden in since being liberated from the castle in Wales. It was almost as if he weren’t in the air at all in those things. This left nothing to the imagination. He truly felt as if he were flying. Getting to sit beside Craig and hold his hand simply added to the experience. He knew he’d never forget this night. If only it ended well…
Please, God.
When they landed, he stayed out of the warriors’ way, standing watch with the other boys. It was almost like play-acting, except the gun in his hand had heft and seriousness to it. He knew it could kill if and when he wanted it to. He prayed that wouldn’t be necessary, but he knew that, unlike the others who stood guard, he wasn’t going to stay on the periphery of the fight. As soon as the warriors left, he was going to have to release Annika and do her bidding.
Or not. It wasn’t a crazy idea that he simply tell her no, that whatever she had planned, he wasn’t going to let her do it. The others would back him up. Being human, they weren’t in thrall to the Queen, and Damien, as a second father to her, certainly would put a stop to it. That was assuming that they had the physical power to defy her. Although he’d seen very little of her training, he knew she had skills, and she had the strength of her sire’s race. Could mere humans, even with their changeling abilities, handle her? Obviously no one would shoot her. Still, the outcome of a fight was hardly set in stone.
“Hey, are you okay?” Craig trotted up to him, covered in weaponry. It was quite impressive. He looked every inch the alpha male.
“I’m fine.” Lying came easily, although it no longer sat well with him.
Craig offered a smile, then a kiss. No lingering, more’s the pity. “We’re heading out now. You stay frosty out here, understand? There are more than Dracul’s goons that are dangerous and this is one fucked-up part of the world.”
“I shall stay alert, and you be careful, mind.”
Craig tapped the spot over his chest. “Promise.”
Alun watched the man run after the others. They had a couple of miles to go before reaching their destination, and as a human, he had to work harder to keep up. He held his gaze on all of them until they turned into dots then disappeared altogether.
“They’re going to be okay. I have faith in Alex.”
“I should hope so, Mr. Stelalux.”
Quinn snorted. “It’s Cooper. I’m keeping my name.”
“Very modern of you.”
“You think? I dunno. It’s the same-sex marriage part that’s modern. We have to find our own way of doing things. Mackie loved changing his name and I think Demi has already got towels monogrammed with Duncan’s, in anticipation of the big event. What would you do?”
“Oh, I have no idea.” It had only occurred to him when Craig had asked that he still had a last name. It hadn’t meant anything to him in a long time. If he got married, it might be nice to take on another family’s identity. He could never be part of his old one ever again.
Brenin rounded the helo. “Hey, guys, maybe we shouldn’t be talking so much. You never know who’s out there.”
“Fair point,” Quinn agreed and walked away.
As the go-between guard, Alun had a chance to head directly to the back of the helo where the trunk was. No one was paying him any attention. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it in the very back, untouched. Having loaded it himself, he knew it was there, but it was nice to see that it hadn’t been disturbed or buried under other containers. He slung his weapon over his back and knelt beside it.