Part 66 (1/2)

She heard his boots, looked his way and greeted, ”Hey, honey.”

Even as fury and fear still smoldered in his chest, at her greeting, Apollo nearly smiled.

However, he did not.

This was because she turned instantly back to Frey and opened her mouth.

But Frey got there first.

”You will not enter.”

Apollo stopped close behind Maddie but had no chance to speak.

”Finnie's in there,” she returned heatedly. ”I saw her when you opened the door.”

”My Finnie is an unusual woman and princess of this realm,” Frey retorted.

”Well, I'm an unusual woman too. Seeing as she's of my people, we're the same kind of unusual and it was me and my girls”-she jerked her thumb at herself with each stressed word then threw out an arm-”who were out there with those things.”

Apollo felt his jaw grow tight at a reminder of the danger Madeleine had been in.

But Frey was not swayed ”What you would see in there is not for women's eyes.”

”Huh,” Maddie huffed in disgust, and at that noise, Apollo lost his disquiet and rage at the events of earlier that night and again almost smiled. ”I've seen Lo slit a man's throat, gut another one, slice another one in the neck and cut off a man's hand.” She twisted her neck and looked up at him. ”What other carnage have you wrought in front of me, sweetheart?”

At that, there was no hope of stopping it, he smiled down at her.

”Lo, this is your decision,” Frey stated and Apollo looked to him.

”Let her enter.”

He felt Maddie relax in front of him.

Frey nodded and turned instantly to the door he was blocking, opened it and moved inside.

He left it open and Maddie began to move there but he caught her arm and turned her to him.

”Apollo-” she started impatiently.

”One moment, my dove,” he interrupted her gently. ”Before you enter that room, you must be warned. You have seen Laures at work but you were in no state to let it register and he had just gotten started. Oleg, Frey's man, is also skilled at extracting information. He does not relish using these skills, but he has them. What you may see in that room may be difficult to witness no matter the...” he paused, ”carnage you've already beheld.”

Boots were sounding down the hall but he didn't look, nor did Madeleine.

Instead, she a.s.sured him, ”I'll be fine, honey.”

”If you wish to leave. You go. But you do not go alone. I or one of my men goes with you and takes you immediately to the witch.”

”They have a witch in there,” she told him. ”I saw her too.”

”Regardless, do as I say. Understood?”

She held his eyes as he felt others join them and he only looked to them when she nodded.

Alek and Hans had arrived.

”They have them?” Hans asked.

”All of them,” Apollo answered. ”Save Franka. She's staying at a cottage not far from here. They're collecting her. ”

Hans jerked up his chin.

”The children?” Apollo asked.

”Quincy and Balthazar play guard. Calder has sent a witch as well.”

This time, Apollo jerked up his chin.

Hans looked to Maddie. ”Word on Loretta?”

”She's fine, Hans,” Maddie said quietly. ”St.i.tched up and now resting.”

With mild surprise, Apollo watched a cloud shadow Hans's face before he moved into the room. And this cloud formed even as the news he received about Loretta was good.

Alek had already gone in.

Apollo took Maddie's hand and led her in.

When they entered, he saw Eirik and Calder nose-to-nose. He also saw Valeria standing to the side, watching in a detached way, arms crossed on her chest. And last he saw Kristian squatting in a corner, head down between his knees, the fingers of both hands shoved in his hair.

Kristian. Clearly the weak link.

Apollo cast his eyes further through the room and saw Frey and his own men standing about, as well as Garik. Finnie was standing in the shadows resting one shoulder against the stone. Her booted feet were crossed at the ankle, her arms crossed on her chest, eyes to Calder and Eirik.

When they entered, she looked over her shoulder, caught Apollo's eyes, then hers moved to Madeleine, down to their clasped hands and back to Apollo whereupon she winked.

He again felt his lips twitch.

Then his attention was taken by the action.

”Three witches I paid a fortune to watch over my wife, my unborn child, and my home and you connive to tear that protection away?” Calder clipped into his father's face.

Clearly, the interrogation had advanced during his absence. No one knew about the conspiracy.

Except the conspirators.

Apollo knew, however, that Frey had warned his brother and Calder had taken precautions. This was the reason why Apollo felt safe bringing the children and Maddie to Brunksar.

In his fury, Calder had obviously informed the occupants of this room who previously might not have known.

Unless they did.