“I take it you’re with the son of Pharzuph,” he ground out. I sat up a little taller, remembering how he’d threatened Kaidan not to have contact with me.
“Yes. I am.” It came out bold. I was glad. And I wasn’t going to reassure him that I’d been “good,” because if he didn’t trust me by now, that was his problem.
There was a long pause as I awaited his temper. But it never came. Instead, he sighed, a deep, guttural sound of fatigue.
“We had our summit last night, as you know.”
“Yes?” I asked, because it sounded like he had news. My pulse spiked again as I wondered if the Dukes wanted to follow up on me after the last summit. Or if that disgusting demon had told them about seeing Kaidan and me together yesterday. Oh, please, no.
“I’m calling from Reno, and I’ve got to get back to Vegas. The summit’s been extended one more day. We’re having a changing of the guard, but that’s not why I called.”
I gave Kaidan a confused look about the changing-of-the-guard thing, and he waved it off like he’d explain later, giving the phone his rapt attention.
“Okay,” I said, prompting Dad to continue.
“Zania’s in prison.”
My heart sank, followed by every other internal organ, making me feel heavy all over. I crawled to the wall and slumped back against it, my eyes burning.
“In Damascus?”
“No. She’d been working farther out, in a more conservative area. She was taken in for being drunk and lewd.”
“What’s going to happen?” I pressed a palm to my forehead.
“Sonellion’s done with her. Says she’s a lost cause now. He’s given them permission to do whatever they want with her. Most likely they’ll beat her publicly to set an example. Then, if they keep it quiet afterward, they can sell her to the highest bidder. Underground slavery.”
I felt Kaidan tense next to me as he listened with his Neph hearing. Because of his father and Madam Marissa, this was a sensitive subject for him.
I got to my feet and began pacing. “We have to do something.”
“You’re not getting involved in this, Anna. Sonellion will be back over there soon. He’ll be keeping an eye on the situation to be sure she gets what’s coming to her. He’s disappointed that he’s not there to see it unfold himself. There’s nothing you or I can do.”
An image of Zania in prison came to mind, surrounded by men whose disdain for her was nearly as thick as her hate for them. And all the while she’d be going through withdrawal.
I sat heavily on the bed and rubbed my forehead, which was tight with an oncoming headache. Kaidan watched me, leaning against the wall.
“There has to be some way,” I said.
“There is,” Dad replied. “You and I can’t go, but we also can’t afford to lose one of our allies.”
He paused, and I waited, a spring of hope blooming to life inside me.
“Is Kaidan listening?” Dad asked. “I need him to hear this.”
“Yes,” I said. I crinkled my brow at Kaidan, who shrugged.
“All right,” Dad began. “Son of Pharzuph?”
“Yes, sir?” Kai pushed off from the wall, as if my father were really in the room.
“I assume you’ve agreed to ally and help us with this cause in any way necessary?” Dad asked.
“Of course, Duke Belial.”
Kaidan and I stared at each other expectantly.
“Then pack a bag, boy. You’re going to Syria.”
My head whipped up to Kaidan, whose eyes had widened with surprise. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Dad added on a kicker.
“You’ve got to move while the summit’s still on. I should mention you’ll be traveling with the son of Alocer, and I’m putting him in charge. But I’m sure that won’t be an issue for you, will it?”
Oh, Dad.
Kaidan’s hands rounded into fists and uncurled again as he cleared his throat. “No, sir. No problem.”
I stared at the phone, which emitted my father’s low chuckle. A demon-worthy sound. He was so not funny.
“The son of Mammon will meet you there from Australia. He’ll lie low and watch your backs. I would send Blake, since he’d be easier to disguise than Flynn, but his father mentioned he’s got a dirt bike race tomorrow. Anyhow. You’ll need to use extreme caution out there because I’m sure Sonellion will have human watchers keeping an eye on the situation.” Dad filled Kaidan in on where to meet his contacts for weapons and instructions once they got to Damascus. “Any questions?”
“Only one, sir.” Kai stood tall and serious. “When do we leave?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
STRANGERS
Dad had already set the ball in motion before he was finally able to get in touch with us. Kope was on a plane to L.A. and would take a cab to Kaidan’s apartment so they could discuss the mission and arrive together. A local makeup and costume artist would also be coming to transform the guys into passable Syrians, under the assumption their getups were for a movie filming.
Kaidan and I had been rushing around his apartment since the phone call. We’d both showered and forced down some breakfast. I helped him pack, keeping it basic since we didn’t know what he’d need. Kaidan had been quiet all morning.
We finally stopped and sat together on the black leather couch, staring at the television and sound system that were turned off. Kaidan’s posture and silence spoke of mounting tension. Tucking my feet under myself, I angled toward him, wanting to touch him and ease him somehow. With a slow movement, I pushed the wavy locks from his eyes; they were just long enough to twist behind his ear. He didn’t move.