Savage Prince by Alison Aimes

36

Turns out make-up rutting was incredible.

But change, growth, and actually putting your money where your mouth was? That was about as much fun as swallowing jagged Abzalian reinforced crystal. It did not go down smooth.

Maxheim growled low.

“You got this.” Damien punched him in the shoulder.

Maxheim shoved his brother off the edge of his desk. “Quiet. I’m trying to listen.”

Damien returned to his perch. “Then stop growling and making it impossible for the rest of us.”

Alexi and Nikolai were handling the Council offensive, doing their best to get Prendel and the rest to rethink their planned assault through a Skolov cocktail of last-minute diplomatic skills, over-promising, and a dash of scary arsenal to back it up.

Since only the last of those three activities was in Damien’s skill set, his youngest brother had come with him.

Dahlia, Jaxson, Anya, and the rest of the beta staff were all safely locked away since there was no guarantee this new plan was going to work.

Still, it was at least a plan—and one that involved him and Tess working together.

The best part about it? The way his female was looking at him even now.

He winked at her. She smiled back.

“Caden.” Tess’s voice was low and thickened with just the right amount of nervousness.

“Tessie? Is that you?” Hawke’s voice echoed through the comms. “You got my delivery.”

Maxheim sucked down a deep breath. He’d almost hit the roof when Tess had told him about the secret comms, but he’d focused his fury on the male who tried to drive a wedge between him and his omega. Even now, Maxheim wanted to reach through the comms and strangle the sneaky, conniving bastard. It lessened the sting, however, to know that not only hadn’t Hawke’s plan worked, but that the secret comms would now be used against him.

“Yes,” responded Tess. “I didn’t realize it was from you at first.”

“I understand.” Blondie was all earnest goodness, just like he’d been when he’d held them in those Federation cells.

“I-I can’t talk long.” Good girl that she was, Tess was staying right on script. “I need your help.”

“Of course. Anything. Gods, Tessie. I’ve been searching for you everywhere. Are you still with Skolov?”

“Yes, but I need to get out.” Her voice shook. “I overheard Maxheim talking with his brothers. They’re . . . they’re making him trade me. The Brotherhood somehow knows I was involved in the deaths against their own, and they’re coming here. I-I can’t stay, or I’ll die. I know I shouldn’t ask this of you, but can you help me? Can you get me into Federation protection? I’ll tell all I know.”

“Of course. You know I’d do anything for you.”

“Do you think your commander will make me a deal?”

“I will insist on it.”

Liar. Maxheim growled low. He was sure the commander would never hear of this exchange. Something was rotten within the Federation, but Maxheim no longer thought Commander Flynn Anderson was involved. In fact, he suspected the uptight, blowhard of an Alpha would be displeased to hear that his subordinate was also working for another entity besides the Federation army. But the delivery of that kick-in-the-balls news to the arrogant commander was a bit of fun for another time.

First things first, capture and crush Caden Hawke, the head of the death squad.

“How soon can you come?” Tess was doing so well. “I don’t have long. The Council will be here soon.”

“I can be there fast.”

Of course, Blondie could. Maxheim’s fists clenched at his sides. Because the liar and his army of killers were even now waiting just outside Skolov territory, attempting to breach their defenses, searching for a weakness.

Hawke was no fool. He’d been tasked with finding and killing Rav Byrel and, having failed to find him at the auction and Rav’s slave compound, he knew using Tess as bait was the best shot he had left.

“Can you create a distraction like you did before?” Tess laid the rest of the groundwork for their own trap. “If so, I can use that to sneak away.”

“Yes.” Hawke didn’t even hesitate, making it clear he’d already given this a lot of thought. “There are tunnels beneath the compound used to bring supplies in and out. They are guarded, but with a distraction, one small female could slip out.”

“Yes! I know where to find one of those. I could do that, I think.”

“Done.” Smug triumph crept into Hawke’s voice. ““Be ready and wait for the sounds of battle. My men will breach the perimeter on the first floor so you can sneak away below. I’m so glad you chose to come to me, Tessie. Rav never should have taken you from me all those years ago. I’ll see you soon, and everything will work out as it should.”

The hairs on the back of Maxheim’s neck rose. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of sick plans Blondie had for Tess once he’d used her to draw out Byrel. Not that it mattered.

Neither male would be getting anywhere near his omega.

Her future was with her fated mate.

“Thank you, Caden. I just know this is going to make all the difference. See you soon.” She disconnected, then swiveled to him. “Do you think he bought it?”

“Yes. You did a great job.” Maxheim held out his arms.

She rushed into them.

He held her close, the fragility of her body beneath his hands making him sweat all over again.

Breathe. Control.

For her, for them, he could do anything, including letting her play a part in getting their lives back and saving their family.

But he wasn’t going to lie to himself.

He couldn’t wait for this next part to be over and for her to be back in his arms where she belonged.

* * *

“Tessie! I’m here.”Caden’s voice reached her through the comms he’d given her. He sounded annoyed. “Where are you?”

The sounds of shrieking alarms and laser bursts forced her to raise her voice. “Caden?” She forced another quiver into her voice. “I’m close, but I-I hurt my ankle escaping.”

Maybe she should feel bad about leading the male to his doom, but all she had to do was picture Mauve or the other dead from the compound, and her guilt miraculously disappeared.

“I can’t make it. I . . . I think it’s broken.”

Silence.

She held her breath.

She could sense Hawke’s suspicion even through the comms, and his desperation.

If it had been up to her, she would have ventured outside the compound tunnels to avoid risking Hawke getting cold feet, but Maxheim had refused, insisting that any trap had to take place within the compound since that was the best chance they had of controlling the environment and limiting the risk.

Since he was allowing her to be a part of the plan at all and she was all for limited risk, she wasn’t about to push it.

She could tell the whole scheme was making her Alpha miserable, and she only loved him more for letting it happen anyway. Honestly, if there’d been another option, she would have been fine with that as well, but after talking through various possibilities, they’d both agreed this was the best one they had.

She really didn’t think there was a more perfect, more wonderful Alpha in the galaxy than hers.

The bands at her throat and wrists tingled.

She forced herself to concentrate—and lure in her target. Just like old times. “I’m scared, Caden. It’s chaos above.”

Nor was that a lie.

Even from her position in the tunnel, the battle sounds above were intense. She could only hope most of what she was hearing was Damien and his small army of Skolov guards keeping Hawke’s soldiers busy. Maxheim wanted Hawke and his death squad confident their plan to provide a distraction was working.

All non-fighters, including Anya, Dahlia, and Jaxson were safely tucked away while Damien handled Hawke’s men. Alexi and Nikolai were dealing with the Council.

She and Maxheim were in charge of Hawke.

It was a coordinated assault planned out by Maxheim and, though she might be a little biased, she thought it was damned brilliant.

“I’m so sorry, Caden. We were so close.” She followed the plan, reeling him in. “Y-you should go. I can’t make it.”

It never paid to look too eager.

A moment more of silence, then, “I’m coming, Tessie. Hang on.”

It would have been heroic if her former friend wasn’t out to trap her so he could use her to kill another ex-friend and then either kill her or use her himself. Alphahole.

At her nod, Maxheim and the other Skolov guards drew back into the shadows. Maxheim’s tech distorter was a new invention so there was only one, but he would use it to stay close.

She settled into position on the tunnel ground, her back propped against the wall, her legs sprawled in front of her, the picture of helplessness.

But she wasn’t anymore.

The plan was simple. Lure Hawke in. When he passed a certain point in the tunnel, his presence would trigger an undetectable laser, and two secret compartments in the tunnel ceiling would drop, trapping him within. In the meantime, Maxheim and his men would pick off the rest of the death squad.

She knew her Alpha would have preferred to rip Hawke apart, but, as he’d explained, an extensive firefight with her around was unacceptable, and he knew it would be smarter to keep the target alive. Hawke needed to be interrogated for all he knew about his employer.

The Council would be pleased—and hungry enough to get their hands on him that they’d be willing to back off their demands for Tess.

Rav would have to wait for another rotation. The twins too.

It wasn’t a perfect solution, nor did it offer them everything they wanted, but it was a workable plan, and the only chance they had at this point.

Tess kept her gaze locked with Maxheim’s as long as she could, until the clomp of boots forced her to break the connection.

This was it.

Maxheim pressed the distorter at his wrist and disappeared, becoming a fuzzy blur against the blackened tunnel wall.

“Tessie!” Hawke’s low hiss came from around the corner.

“Here,” she whispered back.

Overhead, the sound of a firefight continued.

The boot falls grew louder. Of course, Hawke hadn’t come alone. Even he was not that foolish.

Timing would be everything.

He turned the corner, laser out, mask and gloves on. Six large males flanked him. They were masked and gloved too.

Clearly, Hawke hadn’t forgotten the danger of her gift. He’d come prepared.

Only around thirty feet separated them now.

She counted his steps, willing him closer.

His men were dressed in the same uniforms as the death squad males from the auction house.

No wonder the Federation ships had been so close that rotation at the auction house. And that Hawke had known so much about Rav, the Skolovs, and even the Brotherhood. The Federation soldier had already been up to his elbows in the mess, working behind the scenes for whoever this mysterious employer was.

But he wouldn’t be for much longer.

“Caden. Thank the gods.” She waved from her prone position and then grimaced. “Help!”

He didn’t rush forward.

Too smart for that, Hawke and his support continued forward at a steady pace, weapons out, their alert gazes scanning the area.

But Maxheim had designed those trip switches himself, and he swore they were virtually undetectable.

“How is it you were able to get away?” Hawke scanned the area.

Her heart beat fast. He remained suspicious. But the possibility of seizing her was too good to pass up. Even at the cost of his life. Either this mysterious employer was paying Hawke extremely well, or he had something on her ex-friend.

“I used my gift.”

“Smart.” Hawke was close enough now that she could see his eyes. Even now, knowing what he was, he still appeared so earnest, so good, as the corners of his gaze crinkled, and he smiled at her. But, if she looked closely, she could almost imagine she saw the blankness in his soul where feeling should reside, and when her gift reached out to seize on his darkness, all it found was an eerie vast emptiness.

She shivered.

When she’d been young, afraid, and orphaned, she’d been ready to follow him anywhere. She’d always blamed Rav and herself for leaving the hideout and being snatched by Aldar. She’d imagined often what her life might have been like if she hadn’t made that choice.

Now, she realized, it might have been much worse.

Hawke moved closer.

She forced her gaze not to drop to the trip switch or to where Maxheim stood. Any moment now . . .

“Tessie! No!” Another voice rang out from down the tunnel. But it wasn’t Maxheim’s. “Stay away from her, Hawke.”

Shock slammed through Tess.

Hawke stopped—the tip of his boot inches from the trip switch. He swiveled away from her, his laser rising.