Darius stepped over the dead dog and strolled toward Gideon as he might on a walk in the park. Bending, he wrapped his hands around the dog’s neck and broke it like a toothpick.

Gideon shoved the dead animal off his chest. Looking back and forth between the two prostrate dogs, he felt himself grin. “Damn glad to have you with me.”

Darius pulled Gideon to his feet, motioning to the dogs. “There may be more.”

Suddenly, a soft, melodious voice spoke. “Normally I would be quite put out with anyone who killed my pets—”

Gideon’s head swiveled in the direction of the voice. Jesslyn stood in the hallway, two lycans framed on either side of her.

“Do you know how long it takes to properly train them?” Jesslyn gestured to her pets, her look aggravated. “It’s all in the breeding, really.” Her silver gaze flowed over Darius, warming to dark pewter. “But since it’s you, Darius, I’ll find the forgiveness.” She held out both arms. “Welcome home, darling. It’s been a long time.”

“Jess,” Darius acknowledged, staying put.

After a moment she dropped her hands, her plump lips pouting, marring her lovely features. With a light shrug, she shifted her attention to Gideon and smiled again. “Lovely. I see you brought a snack.” Her gaze swept over Gideon in appraisal. “A bit more than a snack,” she amended, a hungry gleam entering her silver eyes. “He looks like a movie star. Delicious.”

“You know who I’ve come for,” Gideon announced.

“Indeed?” She tossed her thick blonde hair over her shoulder. The fading sunlight cast her face in a fiery glow. “Our Claire is the popular one. Cyril is quite taken with her, too.”

Her gaze swung to Darius, and Gideon heard the jealousy in her voice when she asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve come for her as well? Perhaps I should take lessons from our little Claire. She attracts mates like bees to the honey pot.”

Impatience reared its head. Gideon pulled the gun from his holster. He was finished chatting. “How many of you have to die before I get what I’ve come for?” Lifting the gun, he fired.

The lycan to Jesslyn’s left hit the floor with a howl. The other one charged, and Gideon fired a second time, watching numbly as he collapsed at his feet. He swung the gun back at Jess, cocking an eyebrow. She stood cool and composed.

“Where is she?” he asked, his words dropping like heavy stones into the charged air.

She stood calmly, as if members of her pack were wiped out in front of her every day. Her glittering gaze turned on Darius, ignoring Gideon entirely. “You’ve come to kill us? Your brethren? Your old pack?” she accused, her voice low.

Darius lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Should have done it a long time ago. Would have if I’d known where to find you.”