Chapter 152
Axton POV
Trying Alpha Thomas and Soyer again, but neither answered. Giving up. I growl, pulling into the council
chambers huge iron gates. “She’s here, I can feel her,” Khan tells me. I nod because I feel she is close
also.
My stomach sinks as I pull into the parking lot next to her car. I stare up at the huge council building.
The night was foggy and dark, illuminated only by the faint yellow light of the moon pecking through the
thick clouds. Lightning in the distance, just breaking through the fog, makes everything look white with
each sh. The smell of rain in the air raises goosebumps. We would get a huge storm, that I was
certain of The feel of the air around me is charged, not like when I first left; it is chilly, and now the air is
warmer and thicker.
In the distance, I can see pack members carrying torches, fanning out, and searching the area for
Elena. The council building looms before me, arge, imposing structure made of dark stone walls. Its
windows were high and barred. Climbing out of the car, I hear the sound of a loud engine. This makes
me turn toward the gates in time to see the lights of cars entering the gates. One of them is Osiris’ car
pulling in. Of all my rivals, I didn’t think he’d show up. He parks his car beside mine, and I watch as he
steps out. He looks around, surveys the area, and then strides toward me.
“Sorry, I got here as fast as I could. I drove by Soyer’s ce to see if he was home. Neither his nor his
wife’s car were there.” Osiris tells me, and I nod, looking up at the building.
“Come on,” I tell him, knowing our men were waiting for one of us to let them in. Jogging to the front
door, I unlock it and rush in to turn off the rm, but it’s already off Osiris tries the lights, but they don’t
turn on. Osiris turns to one of his men. “Find the circuit breaker. Get these lights back on.” Osiris orders
as our men start rushing inside to search the building.
“And you’re sure she is still here?” Osiris asks, and I nod.
“The bond, I can feel her, but she isn’t conscious,” I tell him as Eli rushes in, just in jeans, his chest
bare, and his hair poking in every direction.
“Anything?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“ter found Soyer’s car around the back with Alpha Cane’s. On the street, they found Luna Amy’s
car.”
Osiris calls his men to the foyer, handing out orders and telling them which sections and floors to
check.
“We’ll check the filing rooms and this level,” Osiris tells them as they break off into groups. My pack is
out searching the surrounding buildings and outside.
We search every room of the council chambers before moving down a corridor toward the archive
room. It is the only room that has been checked on this floor. Yet I am certain she is here. She feels
close. Stepping into the dusty room, the power still isn’t on, making it difficult to see.
The archive room isrge and from floor to ceiling with towering shelves of musty books and old
documents. This room is covered with dust, and the windows are shuttered and barred. The room
almost appeared lost and forgotten in its condition. You can tell no one has been down here in a while,
at least not since technology came in.
“You check that side; I’ll take the back,” I tell Osiris, and we split off.
As I make my way through the shelves, I take in the dusty old books and documents. Most of them are
yellowed with age. Some are ancient manuscripts written innguages I couldn’t even begin to identify.
I pass by a shelf filled with artifacts from long-forgotten packs and a few shelves of old maps and
globes. As I walk down the narrow shelf corridor, I feel for the bond. “I didn’t think you would show up,” I
say to Osiris, turning to look at him.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Osiris asks me.
“Because it’s me,” I artswer honestly.
“We may not see eye to eye, Axton, but that does not have anything to do with your ability to run this
city. I know firsthand how challenging it is and admit it is a lot to take on.”
“Is this your way of apologizing?” I ask him.
“Nah, my reasons are more selfish than that,” he tells me, and I stop.
“Huh?”
“My father is still missing, or have you forgotten?” he asks me when I turn to the next aisle, only to run
into him.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I tell him.
“You just believe what everyone else believes, that I killed him,” I shrug because that is what I believe.
Osiris nods once and then peers around. “Did you?” I ask him, and he sighs heavily.
“My old man and I may not have gotten along, but he was a terrific father. I was just a terrible son, but
we fixed all that. We sorted everything out,” he shrugs. I side-eye him, not believing him.
Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Besides, I thought you were the strigoi, so I guess we’re even.” Osiris tells me, and I stop.
“You seriously thought I was the Strigoi?” I ask, a little shocked. I thought he was trying to turn the city
against me, not that he actually believed the nonsense he spouted.
“Well, you’re always hanging with that bloodsucker.”
“Marco,” I correct, and he nods.
“Yeah, and it made sense why this strigoi was never seen or caught. You could have easily covered it
up. That is why I went after your seat on the council.”
“Is that why you also went after Elena?”
“Nah, that was just to get under your skin. Not that I would have minded had she taken me up on the
offer,” I growl at him, and he puts his hands up in mock surrender andughs.
“What, she’s fucking hot,” he shrugs, and Khan presses forward, not liking how he speaks of her. We
reach the doors to the corridor when finally, the lights flicker on.
“Finally!” Osiris says, tossing his hands up in the air.
“So why did youe back? Your father went missing the moment you showed up here. Kinda makes
you look guilty,” I admit.