Sin Undone

The day care had been a new addition to the hospital—Serena’s idea. She and Runa spent so much time at UG that it made sense to create a safe place for the babies to play. Plus, it made life easier for the employees with kids. Serena helped out when she and Wraith weren’t off treasure hunting— or just hunting. Runa now ran it, and Idess helped out since she worked at the hospital anyway.

Eidolon still shook his head in amazement every time he walked into the day care to find Wraith or Shade cuddling and feeding the babies. Shade had always loved kids, but Wraith… E never thought he’d see the day that Wraith would be comfortable and happy with a fragile infant in his arms.

For Eidolon’s part, he couldn’t wait to get Tayla pregnant. His Seminus urges to reproduce with his mate were growing more intense, and Tay was finally starting to come around now that her twin sister, Gem, was sporting a baby bump. Just thinking about his mate growing heavy with his son made Eidolon restless, and Tayla was probably lucky she wasn’t here right now, or he’d have her against the wall, doing his best to make it happen.

Gem stopped playing with one of her black-and-blue braids to settle her hand on her belly. “Lore, what did you learn?” “That this guy is good at keeping his hands clean.” Lore handed the papers to Shade to pass around. “His photo is there, suspected residence, favorite hangouts. He owns an auto salvage yard in Pittsburgh that’s making a tidy profit. He’s got a lot of enemies, but they drop like flies. Nothing can be pinned on him, but his trail reeks of assassins.”

“And you would know,” Kynan muttered, but it was a good-natured ribbing, and Lore’s lips quirked up as he flipped off the human. They used to be bitter enemies, and though they weren’t exactly friends, they got along and actually sparred in UG’s gym from time to time.

Eidolon turned to Wraith, who was messing with his iPhone. “Have you learned anything more about the collar around Sin’s neck?” “No,” he said, not looking up from the device. “The demons who made it are, like, legendary. I can’t find any proof that they even existed.” “Well,” Gem said, “until a couple of days ago, we didn’t have proof that Feast wargs existed, either.” Yeah, that had been a total shocker. Luc and Kar were now staying at Shade and Runa’s New York house until Tayla and Kynan could get The Aegis death order against Kar called off. So far, doing so was a low priority—The Aegis and the military were still trying to decide if wiping out wargs was a desirable course of action, even though Eidolon’s vaccine had tested well and was being manufactured with the help of USAMRIID. Complicating matters was the fact that both paranormal agencies were scrambled by troubling developments, apparently unrelated to the warg virus, in the human world.

The Nile was running red, and though scientists had determined that the cause was red toxic algal bloom, they couldn’t explain how it happened overnight. Worse, the toxins were being spread by wind, and the normally mild effects on humans and animals—respiratory irritation—had become deadly. Naturally, thanks to the emergence of Sin Fever, The Aegis and R-XR were quick to blame demons on the new troubles, as well.

Shade crossed his arms over his chest. “So what you’re saying is that you don’t know how to remove the collar or release Sin from the warg’s bond.” “That’s what I’m saying,” Wraith grumbled. He hated not finding what he was looking for. Granted, he’d had only a couple of hours, but he wasn’t the most patient demon in the world, and with Sin’s freedom and, possibly, her life on the line, wraith was wound especially tight. “Tonight, Serena and I can snoop around the Horun region of Sheoul. Most of the legends regarding the Feast wargs and their creators originate there.”

The door to Con’s room opened, and Luc stepped out. “It’s done.” His voice was strangely raw. “Ah, what’s done?”

Luc stared at Eidolon, and he could have sworn that the warg’s eyes were a little bloodshot. His color was definitely mottled, a rare sign of emotion in the usually unflappable warg. “He didn’t tell you?” When E shook his head, Luc swore. “That fuck. He made me do it, E.”