Puzzlement filled his frown. He shook his head and tried to speak again.
A phone buzzed from the nightstand.
Surprise lifted his eyebrows.
Yeah. She’d made him forget the bad stuff for a short while. Triumph heated through her.
Keeping his cock inside her, his gaze on her, Kane reached for the phone. “What?”
He listened and then hung up. “We leave in thirty minutes.”
CHAPTER 31
Kane stretched his neck, cataloging the weapons worn by the large raiding party. Oscar had been ordered to the other helicopter just in case he got it into his head to hit Dage again. While Kane hadn’t blamed him, they didn’t have time for another fight.
Kane had gotten some sleep on the flight across the ocean and made sure Amber was rested.
She loved him.
While that made it easier for him to keep her as a mate, he doubted his liking her was enough. The idea of her leaving him after the century made his gut ache with an intensity that surprised him.
Was that what love felt like?
Love was supposed to be all silly flowers and dancing tulips.
Not a deep, gut-wrenching ball of pain.
He frowned. Without question, he had been caught up in the moment earlier and would’ve returned Amber’s words if the phone hadn’t disturbed them. Feelings were foreign to him—by his choice and his design. Yet he was going to have to tap into them to figure out what the hell was going on with him. After they found Jase.
Across the wide helicopter, Moira Dunne Kayrs studied him with her light green eyes. While he’d missed the little witch, her frown made him feel worse. The witch could often read people, and she was seriously reading him right now.
He growled at his brother. “Make your mate stop frowning at me.”
Conn’s frown beat Moira’s—hands-down. “Last time I made her do something, she burned my eyelashes off. You make her stop frowning.” He cocked a gun and shoved it in Moira’s vest.
She protested. “I don’t need another gun.”
Conn tugged one of her red curls. “Yes, you do. Take the gun, Dailtín.”
Kane settled back, used to Conn’s Gaelic term of endearment for Moira. Brat.
The witch rolled her eyes but left the gun in place. She smiled at Amber. “We have a support group.”
Amber started before frowning in puzzlement. “A support group?”
“Aye. For mates of the Kayrs brothers. We get together and lament our lot in life.” Moira’s smile brightened her pale face. The little witch had always been a beauty.
Amber chuckled. “I’ll join as soon as I get home.”
“Ah, Amber, you’re already in. Believe me, I understand.” Moira shoved an elbow into Conn’s gut. “I totally understand.”
Conn frowned. “We’re not that bad.”
“Yes, we are,” Talen countered with a broad shrug. “But my mate says we’re worth it.”
“Usually,” Moira muttered.
Kane allowed the banter to flow around him, knowing everyone was trying to keep from thinking about the battle to come. But they had ten minutes until touch down, and it was time to focus. Seven other helicopters flew in formation around them, all filled with soldiers ready to kill. The vampires had brought four ’copters with them to Ireland, while the witches had sent four of their own.
Conn smiled at Amber. “Thank you for coming along—rumor has it you can actually counter the demon mind attack.”
She nodded.
Moira shook her head. “That’s absolutely amazing. I’ve heard rumors about your people, but I never thought to actually meet a demon destroyer. The playing field is finally level with you here.”
Kane cleared his throat. The statement rang true. Amber’s gift finally gave them a chance to fight the demons with their strength intact. “Talen? Please go over the plan one more time.” His older brother was the strategic leader for the Realm and always created their plans. His current plan was both daring and destructive.
Talen nodded, pressing a button on his ear communicator so the other helicopters could listen in. “We’re going with plan A since the demons haven’t sent any planes to intercept us. Hilde Freebird’s tracking device is active, and she’s there. Make no mistake, they’ll be waiting with armed forces ready to go. They’ll employ mind games right off the bat.”
Kane swallowed, tightening his hold on Amber. She’d need to shield immediately. The woman nodded slowly, understanding his silent command. Smart girl.
Talen continued, “Forces three and four will blow all buildings, while forces one and two will instantly infiltrate. We’re not looking for prisoners—aim to kill. Decapitate quickly. If there are children or female demons, try to render them unconscious before securing them in a location we’ll determine once on the ground.” He paused, his fingers ticking off points as he made them. “Female demons are few and far between, but if we find any, they’re masters at mind attacks. You’ll need to knock them out immediately. Kill if necessary, but try to avoid doing so if possible.”
Kane nodded shortly. The idea of killing a woman, even a demon, didn’t sit well with any of them.
Talen shrugged his vest into place. He nodded to Kane. “Primary objective for forces one and two is to find and free Hilde Freebird, as well as locating Jase Kayrs. The remaining forces will protect the perimeter.”
Kane leaned back against the metal side, forcing calm into his muscles. Chances were incredibly slim that Jase was alive—just because the tape stopped before Suri shoved his head free didn’t mean that Suri had also stopped. They’d find Jase and bury him at home. Damn demons. Kane eyed Dage as his hands worked furiously over the controls, flying the aircraft. The king hadn’t spoken much, his jaw set, his eyes hard since showing the brothers the video of Jase being decapitated.
Talen had argued that the video could’ve been doctored, but there hadn’t been time to study it before they needed to head to Scotland. Kane had wanted to agree, but giving his brothers false hope wasn’t a good idea.
Though, deep down, a small kernel of hope lived in his gut. Please, God, let Jase still be alive.
The idea of God never bothered him and just made sense. Sure, Kane was a man of science, but you couldn’t create something out of nothing. A Creator was logical.
Maybe love existed, too.
His mate’s scent of wild heather wrapped around his head, around his heart. He leaned to whisper in her ear. “You stay behind me at all times and keep your shields up. Now isn’t the time to work on attacking demons. I need you strong and your mind clear.”
Irritation flashed in her dark eyes, but she wisely nodded.
“If you fail to follow my orders at any time, I’ll yank you onto the nearest helicopter whether we’ve found your grandmother or not.” He’d threaten her in a heartbeat to keep her safe. And he meant what he said.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
He jerked his head, more than a little startled.
Moira laughed long and hard across the aisle. “Oh, aye, girl. You’re in the club.”
Amber wrinkled her nose, tugging her bulletproof vest down.
Kane’s gaze met Conn’s deep green one. Amusement as well as sorrow mingled in his younger brother’s gaze. Conn tilted his head toward Dage, a question on his face.
Kane nodded. Dage was okay to go, but they’d need to watch his back. If he found Jase’s body, he’d try to kill every demon he saw, regardless of his own safety. Of course, Kane wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep a clear head, either.