I growled deep in my throat. My plan to break every bone in his body seemed like a slow and painful death, but the way Puck was eyeing Stimpson made me think the other alpha’s plans were equally… uncomfortable.
“Fine. But I want to be there when he dies.”
“Only the Goddess can grant wishes like that,” Drexler said with an elegant shrug. “Why not join us for an evening meal? You can then, uh, retire for the evening and enjoy your mate. You’ve done a pretty job of bloodying him. No need to alarm Lady Paxton with news you killed a man.”
“How in all the hells did he get away?” Pax screamed an hour later. We were standing in the door to the cellars of the Hell only for it to be empty except for a rickety table and chair shoved into one corner.
“Like as he had help, m’lord,” Puck sneered. Then he slumped into the chair. “The beta in charge was likely paid a handsome sum by some person as yet unknown… But she’s vanished as well.”
Pax snarled. Every line of his body advertising how much effort it took to keep himself from going after the other alpha. “Why didn’t you have an alpha in charge?”
“Because I trust Sarah with my life, that’s why.” Puck snapped.
“And you think she cut you out.”
“As loathe I am to admit it—” He looked away as if the thought of Sarah—did he mean the pretty Sarah Pax and I had shared over a year ago?—betraying him made him sick.
“Fear not Puck,” Drexler’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “I am certain that Sarah would not turn on you. It is my hope she was discarded in the area stair of a residence a few building down with a nasty lump on her head and still unconscious. I doubt she gave up her loyalties, dear Puck, for coin. You see gentlemen, we pay our people well enough that bribery would only insult them. Go home for now. I promise you will get your mate back.”
“You’re playing a deep game, Drexler. I don’t like it.” Pax radiated fury, only his superior civility prevented him from going into a Rage. I’d never seen him so angry before, and with his height, there might be no stopping him.
I cursed. We’d already sent a letter informing Trix she could return home.