Darkness Unleashed by Belinda Boring Read Free Book Online Page B

so much, only to use that information against us, against the supernatural community who’d embraced her as a supportive colleague.
    Betrayal surrounded us and we were all reeling from the painful dagger we could almost feel protruding from our backs. It proved, once again, the importance of being careful about who we let in—that it wasn’t always the stranger who posed the greatest threat. No, most times it was the friend, the one who smiled and placated you with agreeable words, the one who patiently waited to strike when it would do the most damage.
    I thought I’d learned that with Amber, my former girlfriend and betrothed mate.
    I’d vowed never to allow myself to be fooled again, when Nathan, a trusted pack brother and friend, sided with Amber and accused Darcy of magical falsehoods. When he stepped forward to defend his lover’s honor and challenged me, it was like a dagger through my heart.
    Killing wasn’t something I reveled in. It was a necessary evil that came with being Alpha and the need to defend my pack. I always tried to reason first, to understand what went wrong, and find an alternative that encouraged the wrong doer to reform—be better.
    But not this time. This time there would be no mercy. That Mason had stepped aside when I’d entered the scene at the Vortex and witnessed the senseless destruction unleashed. All the blood spilt and dark magic that tinged the air with its vile corruption.
    He wasn’t here, standing in this small-darkened room, jaw clenched as a heavier weight pressed firmly on his chest. With each thunderous tick of the clock hanging on the wall beside me, I pushed that Mason deeper and deeper down. I wouldn’t allow his willingness to look for the good in people to cloud what needed to be done.
    Darcy needed to be freed–and whoever was controlling her? They needed to be killed with my bare hands.
    Pack justice.
    “ How you holding up?” Daniel asked, coming up from behind.
    I hadn’t heard him come in. Turning, I growled low before returning my gaze to where Devlin and Darcy sat, now in heated conversation.
    Placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, my first instinct was to shrug him off. As he squeezed firmly, I realized the gesture for what it was—a warning to calm down. Nothing would be achieved if I lost my temper entirely, even if it was justified. I needed to remain level headed for Darcy’s sake.
    Her safety came first; and then I would avenge her.
    Slowly releasing the tension in my jaw, I nodded my thanks for his quiet intervention. “This is driving me nuts.”
    “ I know. I could feel your power through the building. It’s making everyone twitchy.” The everyone he referred to were those council members working in their offices and Enforcers assigned to the area.
    “ It’s kind of hard to suppress it, Daniel. That’s my girl in there. That thing . . .” I spat at the last word with disgust. “That thing has been inside her for who knows how long, wreaking havoc. It’s put Darcy in danger and I can’t forgive that.”
    “ I know; and though it doesn’t help, getting so agitated that you could level the building isn’t either.”
    I gave him a look that told him he was being absurd. “Fine, maybe not that bad. But we found her in time and now we can get her back. Once Devlin’s finished getting the information he needs, Vivien will come in and exorcise whoever it is.”
    “ Can’t come soon enough,” I growled.
    “ Any idea who you think it is?”
    “ No, and I don’t care. They’re dead the moment I know Darcy’s out of danger and whole again.”
    Movement on the other side of the mirror caught my attention. The interrogation had come to a grinding halt as Devlin stood, the chair scraping across the linoleum floor, and exited the room. A few seconds later, he entered the area where I’d been watching, a look of frustration blazing over his features.
    “ That good, huh?” Daniel joked, weakly.
    “ I’m just going to say it. This