“Mission? What mission?” She pushed herself up on his chest with both hands to better study his face. Unfortunately, that motion pressed her core harder against his, and mini explosions rocketed up her body, tightening her breasts.

Red darkened his cheekbones. “We’re taking out the Kurjan headquarters and saving what captives we find. Shock, awe, and destruction.”

She blinked. “What? Ronan didn’t say anything.” Faith would be beside herself with concern.

Adare tightened his hold in her hair, slightly lifting her head back. “Ronan isn’t going. It’s Benny and me. Just us.”

Panic clawed through her and she scrambled to sit up. He held her securely in place with just one hand. “Two of you taking on the entire headquarters of one of the most dangerous species on Earth? It’s suicide.”

“Aye.” Almost causally, he twisted his wrist, tilting her head. “We can only afford to lose two of us in case we fail. They’ll have to find two more members to make the Seven, and that’s difficult.”

Her chest ached. There were two unmated members of the Seven, Benny Reese and Garrett Kayrs. Well, three if Adare was counted, which he might as well be. The Seven were a secret group of vampire-demon hybrids tasked with destroying Ulric in some bizarre ritual that she was also to attend as a Key. Sometimes she wondered if the immortals had just lost their minds. “Why not Garrett?”

Adare shook his head. “Garrett’s uncle is the King of the vampires and the Realm, and we need them on our side if Benny and I can’t end things with our mission.”

The Realm was a coalition of immortal species, excluding the Kurjans, and it was run by King Dage Kayrs. She would probably see the king the following week when she met with his wife, Emma. “I don’t understand why it’s just the two of you and not a whole contingent of soldiers. Why not take Realm soldiers?”

Adare nodded, rubbing his thumb across her cheekbone. “I think sometimes you forget that the Seven isn’t part of the Realm, and they don’t agree with our mission. Most of them don’t even know about us or what we plan to do in the end. We’re a secret, and don’t ever forget that. If the king of the vampires started a new war with the Kurjans, without the approval of the witch, shifter, and demon nations, then the Realm would split apart. It was before your time, but not too long ago, that the Realm was at war with the demon nation. We can’t let that happen again.”