Chapter 156
Blake
Dmitri removed his sunglasses with theatrical slowness, revealing pale washed-out blue eyes—ice on thawing lake. Sharp eyes, missing nothing as they catalogued me, my warriors, the prone wolves.
"Ah," gravelly bass with thick Russian accent suggesting he'd never bothered mastering English beyond business necessity. "Sterling boys. I hear much about you. Three Alphas, very impressive. Very strong. Very... angry, yes?"
Gold-toothed smile, gesturing toward his office with meaty hand. "Please, please. We talk like civilized men, yes? No need for all this..." Vague wave at destruction, broken door, terrified wolves. "...drama. You want information, I give information. Easy. Simple. No problem."
Too calm, I thought. Not surprised. Expected this.
Or very good at hiding fear, Cole suggested. Scent too controlled for someone whose door just got kicked in.
Then we make him afraid.
I stepped forward.
Dmitri's smile never wavered, but his hand twitched toward his pocket. I moved before conscious thought—crossed the distance in two strides, hand clamping his wrist hard enough to make bones creak, leaned close enough he couldn't miss gold eyes or lengthened canines.
"Let's get something straight," voice dropping to that dangerous register that made other Alphas nervous. "You answer my questions. Everything about Konstantin, Connor and Celeste, the debt they owed, who bought it, where the fuck they are now. Quickly. Honestly. Because every second wasted is another second my pregnant mate is in the hands of animals working for your boss."
The lie slipped out—Kara wasn't pregnant as far as I knew, though God knew we'd tried—but effect was immediate. Dmitri's eyes widened fractionally, scent spiking with surprise or calculation or both.
"Pregnant?" genuine emotion in his voice for the first time. "The debt collector's daughter is carrying Sterling heirs?"
"The debt collector's daughter has a name," I snarled, tightening grip until something in his wrist started giving. "Kara. And if you or anyone in your organization hurt her, looked at her wrong, I'll make sure you die screaming. Understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand." Other hand up, placating. I noticed the tattoo on the back—snake coiled around full moon, faded blue ink speaking to decades.
Same symbol Boris described. Same from the gloves in Kara's room.
Eclipse Court, Cole breathed. He's one of them.
"That tattoo," I released his wrist, grabbed his hand instead, forcing it up. "What does it mean?"
Dmitri's expression shifted, almost philosophical. He pulled back gently—I let him—traced faded lines with his other hand.
"You are interested in mysticism, young Alpha?" something in his voice raised my neck hair. "In old ways, symbols that mean more than flesh and blood?"
"I'm interested in why everyone connected to my mate's kidnapping has the same fucking tattoo," I shot back. "So unless you want me carving it off and mailing it to Konstantin, start explaining."
Dmitri sighed—long, weary. For a moment he looked every one of his years. "The serpent," gesturing to the tattoo. "It sheds skin, yes? Moon waxes and wanes. Both represent same thing: renewal. Rebirth. Cycle of death and life, ending and beginning."
He looked up, pale blue eyes suddenly intense, burning with fervor at odds with shabby appearance. "To be reborn, you must first die. To be renewed, first destroyed. You must break down, nearly perish, to rebuild stronger. This is Eclipse Court philosophy."
"Eclipse Court," I repeated. Through the link, Cole frantically pulled references. "That's what you call yourselves?"
"It is what we are," simply. "Wolves who practice old magic, blood magic, power modern packs forgot pretending we're civilized. We are..." Searching for words. "A coven, if you will. Though we prefer 'Court.'"
"And Konstantin?"
"Is a member, yes. As am I. As were..." Hesitation, genuine emotion flickering. "As were Connor and Celeste."
World tilted sideways.
Kara's parents were part of a wolf witch coven, I thought numbly. Blood magic, dark rituals, God knows what.
That's why Konstantin wants her, Asher's mental voice sharp with understanding. Not just debt. Her bloodline. Whatever power or knowledge her parents had.
We need everything, Cole urged. Blake, keep him talking.
"Tell me about Connor and Celeste," I demanded, leaning into his space. "What they did, why they ran, where they are now."
Dmitri's expression shuttered, unreadable. "That is very long story. Very dangerous. Perhaps we discuss in my office, yes? With privacy, vodka, and—"
"Right here, right now," I interrupted. "Or I start breaking bones until you forget why you wanted privacy."
Long moment, he just looked at me. Then slowly smiled—real this time, not theatrical.
"You remind me of your mate's father," words hit like physical blow. "Connor had same fire, same willingness to burn the world for those he loved. Refreshing, to see that passion in younger generation."
"I'm nothing like Connor," I snarled. "Connor abandoned his daughter in a snowstorm and ran like a coward."
"Connor," Dmitri said softly, "made the hardest choice a father can make. He gave up his daughter to keep her safe from people who wanted to use her. People like Konstantin."
Room went completely silent.
"What," deadly calm, "did you just say?"
Dmitri sighed, voice heavy with old grief and older secrets. "I think, young Alpha, we have much to discuss. I think, perhaps, you do not know nearly as much about your mate's family as you believe."
He turned, started walking toward stairs, hulking bodyguard falling in step. At the base, he paused, looked back.
"Come," he said. "Let me tell you truth about Kara's parents. Why Konstantin wants her so badly. And..." Pause, pale eyes meeting mine with intensity making my wolf growl. "Why I am the only one who can help you save her."
"And why the fuck would you help us?"
Dmitri's smile was sad, almost gentle. "Because Kara is not just the debt collector's daughter. She is my granddaughter. And I will not lose another child to Konstantin's madness."
World tilted harder. Cole's sharp breath through the link, Asher's shock rippling through our bond.
Her grandfather, Cole whispered. Dmitri Morozov is Kara's grandfather.
Which means Celeste was his daughter, Asher added, tight with implications. Kara's bloodline goes deeper into Eclipse Court than we thought.
Which means, I finished grimly, we have a lot more to worry about than just Konstantin.
Dmitri was already climbing stairs, heavy footsteps echoing. I looked at my warriors, the terrified wolves, the waitress with her bruised collarbone watching with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Then I followed Kara's grandfather up the stairs.
Because if there was even a chance he could help find her, I'd walk through fire.
And if he was lying?
I'd paint these walls with his blood and add his corpse to the pile of people who'd stood between me and my mate.