Free Broken by Shiloh Walker Page B

Costin continued down the hall, his brow furrowed.
    Why? Had Kalin’s attempt to bring out Jonah discomfited Costin? Could it be that he was expecting his host to assert himself at any time now?
    Maybe he shouldn’t trust Jonah, even though the host was behaving right now. He tended to get excited, and if he thought Costin wasn’t handling things properly, he wouldn’t hesitate to take over; he’d grown so strong in his own body that he often assumed control of it.
    Costin seemed to anticipate her pointing all this out, and he turned around just as he stopped in front of a door that led to his own strategy room—a place where he sometimes retreated without her.
    “Soon,” he said, “this will be over.”
    She wanted to remind him that they’d only be going after another Underground—one they’d have to hunt down and learn all over again since all of the communities had specific skill sets and modes of operation.
    Unless Costin vanquished the dragon tonight. If previous master deaths were any indication, the ultimate master’s demise would turn its direct progeny human again, and all Costin would have to do is fulfill his vow to The Whisper by terminating the rest of the much easier to kill humanized brothers.
    “Just one more thing,” she said, hanging on to every second. “What about Kiko’s ‘key’ vision, where I—”
    “Vanquish a key vampire.” Now he looked more troubled. But then he was back to being Costin. “Who is to say that you will not be encountering an important vampire on your own, Dawn?”
    So maybe this wasn’t about trust. Maybe he’d put more of it in her than she’d realized.
    At his vote of confidence, she went to him, grabbed ahold of the front of his shirt. He’d be changing into something more battle-worthy. Something more comfortable to fight in.
    “Then this is it,” she said. “You’re preparing the last details before you leave.”
    “Yes. And, Dawn? If I do not return by tomorrow’s sunset, you must follow my wishes. Find the real Underground without me. Even if I am gone, the world will still need you and the team to help it. But do not make a move outside before dusk tomorrow, no matter what you think you should do. Understood? I might need the time to infiltrate this Underground, and for the team to come rushing in would destroy any progress I might have gained.”
    She shook her head, but he rested a palm against her cheek, peering into her eyes and allowing her in for one precious moment.
    She saw golden days stretching into the future. Hope. Confidence.
    As he pulled out, leaving her with a sizzling ache, she tightened her grasp on him. Her throat closed around her next words.
    “If that’s the way you want it, Godspeed, Costin.”
    She’d said it, even though she didn’t believe in much of anything. At least, that was what she’d always told herself. Then she angled forward, closing her eyes as she rested her forehead against his, putting her mouth to his lips.
    Costin wrapped his arms around her as she kissed him, pulling her closer, harder, like this would be the final time.
    Then he slowly eased back, opened the door behind him, and retreated with one last long gaze.
    Good-bye, she thought. It might’ve been their final time together, and there was still so much to say. To admit.
    But, as the door shut, Dawn didn’t move.
    He would be back.
    She forced herself to head down the stairs to make sure every inch of headquarters was fortified, playing her own role in this nightmare, too.

SEVEN
    THE SHADOWS KNOW
    DAWN spent the rest of the day and much of the night keeping busy by going over security precautions, overseeing similar assignments for the rest of the team, and meeting with the Friends to make sure they were all on the same page.
    She was busy enough to almost forget that Costin had no doubt already left and was probably Underground.
    But she never did quite forget.
    After she’d submerged herself in checking to see that the outside UV