office wasn't already large enough, the ego-maniac had a huge mirror on one wall, which gave the effect of doubling the size of the room. Craven walked over to the desk, and studied his reflection in the mirror. There was the smallest speck of grey on his temple. He hadn't noticed that before.
“Craven.” Milton glided into the room. “How good of you to come. How long is it now?”
“Where is she?” Craven had no time for his bullshit.
“All in good time. Have a seat.” He pointed to the deep leather armchair.
I'm good.” Craven stood his ground. It was taking all of his will-power not to launch himself at Milton.
“Do as he says.”
Craven hadn't realised that Layla had followed Milton back into the room. He glared at her with a look that should have struck her dead, but which she seemed to enjoy.
“If you've harmed a single hair on Louise's head, I promise I'll kill you both.”
“Brave words.” Milton's smile was barely clinging to his lips. “But then you always were way too sure of yourself.”
Craven heard footsteps, and turned around to see a line of shifters stream through the door. He recognised them immediately as Milton's elite guard. They stood with their backs to the wall—their eyes fixed firmly on Craven.
“Just in case you haven't already worked it out,” Milton said. “This is where it ends for you. Oh, and don't worry about Louise. I've made sure she has a grandstand view. Once you're dead, it will be her turn.”
Craven stared at the mirror. He'd sensed Louise's presence the moment he'd walked into the room. Was she still okay? Had they harmed her?
“After you're dead,” Layla said, “I'm going to take care of your mate. I promise her death will be a slow and painful one.”
A loud noise rocked the building; it felt like an explosion. Milton and Layla exchanged a worried glance. The guards looked around—unsure what to do. Another bang—even louder—even closer. This one sent ornaments crashing to the floor.
“What's happening?” Milton shouted to no one in particular.
Layla was staring at the door.
Only Craven appeared calm. He looked into the mirror and smiled.
Several more explosions followed. Numerous voices could be heard—screaming—shouting. Loud footsteps were pounding their way towards the room. The guards had forgotten all about Craven now—they were staring at the open door. They didn't have long to wait before what seemed like a thousand shifters piled into the room. Individually the shifters wouldn't have been a match for the elite guards, but their numbers quickly overwhelmed Milton's henchmen. The floor was soon awash with blood.
Craven spotted Milton who was heading for the far corner of the room. At first, he couldn't understand why Milton had gone that way—he'd be trapped for sure. But then he saw a hidden door swing open. Milton slipped through it, but Craven was already hot on his heels. They were in an ultra-narrow corridor which was only just wide enough for Craven to squeeze through. At the end of the corridor was a metal staircase. When Craven reached the last flight of stairs he saw Milton directly below him—he was about to make his escape through a fire-door. Craven leapt over the handrail, and landed on Milton's back, sending him thudding into the door. To Craven's surprise, Milton shifted into his wolf—his clothes tearing and falling to the floor in the process. Craven had no option but to follow suit. Milton raised himself up onto his back paws, and was about to leap at Craven, but Craven was way too quick. He ducked low and leapt at the alpha. The two of them hit the fire-door with such force that it sprung open, sending them both into the alleyway outside. The two wolves faced one another—their eyes locked in a deadly gaze. It would be a fight to the death.
Chapter 16
LOUISE
Craven's smile was only fleeting, but unmistakeable. How could he smile at a time like this? I'd just watched the elite guard
“Craven.” Milton glided into the room. “How good of you to come. How long is it now?”
“Where is she?” Craven had no time for his bullshit.
“All in good time. Have a seat.” He pointed to the deep leather armchair.
I'm good.” Craven stood his ground. It was taking all of his will-power not to launch himself at Milton.
“Do as he says.”
Craven hadn't realised that Layla had followed Milton back into the room. He glared at her with a look that should have struck her dead, but which she seemed to enjoy.
“If you've harmed a single hair on Louise's head, I promise I'll kill you both.”
“Brave words.” Milton's smile was barely clinging to his lips. “But then you always were way too sure of yourself.”
Craven heard footsteps, and turned around to see a line of shifters stream through the door. He recognised them immediately as Milton's elite guard. They stood with their backs to the wall—their eyes fixed firmly on Craven.
“Just in case you haven't already worked it out,” Milton said. “This is where it ends for you. Oh, and don't worry about Louise. I've made sure she has a grandstand view. Once you're dead, it will be her turn.”
Craven stared at the mirror. He'd sensed Louise's presence the moment he'd walked into the room. Was she still okay? Had they harmed her?
“After you're dead,” Layla said, “I'm going to take care of your mate. I promise her death will be a slow and painful one.”
A loud noise rocked the building; it felt like an explosion. Milton and Layla exchanged a worried glance. The guards looked around—unsure what to do. Another bang—even louder—even closer. This one sent ornaments crashing to the floor.
“What's happening?” Milton shouted to no one in particular.
Layla was staring at the door.
Only Craven appeared calm. He looked into the mirror and smiled.
Several more explosions followed. Numerous voices could be heard—screaming—shouting. Loud footsteps were pounding their way towards the room. The guards had forgotten all about Craven now—they were staring at the open door. They didn't have long to wait before what seemed like a thousand shifters piled into the room. Individually the shifters wouldn't have been a match for the elite guards, but their numbers quickly overwhelmed Milton's henchmen. The floor was soon awash with blood.
Craven spotted Milton who was heading for the far corner of the room. At first, he couldn't understand why Milton had gone that way—he'd be trapped for sure. But then he saw a hidden door swing open. Milton slipped through it, but Craven was already hot on his heels. They were in an ultra-narrow corridor which was only just wide enough for Craven to squeeze through. At the end of the corridor was a metal staircase. When Craven reached the last flight of stairs he saw Milton directly below him—he was about to make his escape through a fire-door. Craven leapt over the handrail, and landed on Milton's back, sending him thudding into the door. To Craven's surprise, Milton shifted into his wolf—his clothes tearing and falling to the floor in the process. Craven had no option but to follow suit. Milton raised himself up onto his back paws, and was about to leap at Craven, but Craven was way too quick. He ducked low and leapt at the alpha. The two of them hit the fire-door with such force that it sprung open, sending them both into the alleyway outside. The two wolves faced one another—their eyes locked in a deadly gaze. It would be a fight to the death.
Chapter 16
LOUISE
Craven's smile was only fleeting, but unmistakeable. How could he smile at a time like this? I'd just watched the elite guard
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