“Before you do anything, Cain . . .” It was John who spoke, hesitating for a moment, before continuing, “Abel has me by the balls.”

Abel jerked back, wanting to curse, but no sound came over his lips. Instead he pressed them together. John was going to betray him, revealing what he was supposed to do for Abel, despite the fact that this would mean death for his lover.

Abel balled his hands into fists. There was no time to lose now.

Change of plans.

He turned on his heel and rushed in the direction he’d come from.

He had to act quickly and save what he could. Now the gloves would come off and he’d go for the jugular.

No more being Mr. Nice Guy.

41

John dropped his head. “He’s holding Nicolette captive to force me to do his bidding.”

Cain expelled a breath. “Fuck!”

Similar curses came from his colleagues.

“I’m sorry, Cain.” John lifted his head, his eyes now displaying regret and pain. “He’s going to murder her the moment he finds out that I won’t kill you. He’s going to make her suffer.”

Seeing John’s anguish, Cain felt his heart go out to his old friend. He was willing to sacrifice the woman he loved for his king. “It doesn’t have to come to that. We’ll get to Abel before he can do anything.”

John shook his head, his hand trembling as he lifted it. “I’m supposed to kill you when the Mississippians are here. So he can pin it on them and start an all out war. As soon as he realizes that I’m not executing his orders, he’ll order Baltimore to kill Nicolette. We’ll never get to her in time.”

“War with the Mississippi clan? Are you sure?”

“He didn’t say outright, but it’s obvious, isn’t it? If he pins your murder on them, all your subjects will be behind him to avenge you.”

Cain put his hand on John’s shoulder, squeezing it. “I appreciate what you’re sacrificing by telling me the truth, John. I do. And I’ll do everything in my power to save Nicolette.”

John closed his eyes, his jaw clenching now, his chest heaving as if to hold back tears. When he opened his eyes again, they were rimmed with tears. “I’ve fought with this decision ever since I was confronted with it. Every minute since Abel captured her. She’s tied up in some hut somewhere in the bayou, scared. I promised her that nothing would happen to her. That I’d come back for her.” A tear ran down his cheek. “But that won’t happen now. Because I can’t kill a man that I’ve loved and admired ever since I met him. Because of you, I can’t save the woman I love.” John’s jaw set in stone. “And right now, I hate you for that, Cain!”

Before Cain could react to the tearful confession, John’s hand went to the inside of his jacket. In lightning speed, he pulled a stake from it.

Cain jumped to the side, but instead of John lunging at him he jerked the stake toward his own chest.

“Noooooo!” Cain cried out and barreled toward John, slamming his fist against John’s arm. The impact loosened John’s hold on the stake.

At the same time, Haven tackled John from behind, while Thomas kicked John’s legs out from under him, making him tumble to the floor.

Moments later, Haven and Thomas had John pinned flat to the ground. Cain crouched down next to him. “That’s not a solution, John! Do you hear me? We’ll get Nicolette out of there.”

“How?” John spat, anger and desperation evident in his entire body.

Cain had never seen a man in so much emotional pain and hoped that he would never have to go through what John was going through this moment.

“Uh.” Wesley cleared his throat, making Cain snap his head to him and toss him a quizzical look.

Wes raised his finger as if he were in second grade, asking for permission to speak up in class. “Is Nicolette human?”

John turned his head, an impatient look on his face. “Why is that important?”

“Well, it is, because I assume you don’t know her exact location, right?”

“When I was brought to see her, they blindfolded me and then did the same when they released me. I only know it was some hut in the bayou. Maybe forty-five minutes from the palace.”

Wesley nodded. “Well, since she’s human, it shouldn’t be too hard to find her. I can scry for her, which I couldn’t do if she were a vampire.”

John made a motion to sit up, and Cain nodded to his friends to let go of him.

For the first time, a hopeful glint appeared in John’s eyes. “Can you really do that?”