chest to tighten further. These people were all his friends, but the bond between him and Khan...well, that had always been special.
“I can’t say how long I will be gone. It could be for some time.” He had to do this, no matter how much it hurt. “And I can’t promise it won’t be permanent.”
“I can see how important this is to you, and I don’t want to sound selfish, but what about Beast?” Torque asked.
And there it was. The all-important question. Ged had a duty to his country, but he also had a responsibility to the entity he had created. Because of him, Beast was one of the most popular rock bands on the planet. He had brought this group of incredibly talented people together. It was his vision and hard work that had taken them to the top and kept them there. Now he was telling them he was walking away. Could he do that? And if he did, what would it mean for Beast and for them as individuals?
He had an answer, but he hadn’t discussed it with anyone. Not even the person it affected most. And he didn’t have time for lengthy conversations...
“There is someone who has been at my right hand over the last year, someone who can take my place.”
Ged looked directly at Hollie as he spoke. Her introduction into their friendship group had been unconventional. An undercover FBI agent who had been investigating a series of arson attacks, she had fallen in love with Torque, a dragon shifter. Hollie’s commitment to the man she loved had been absolute, and she had taken his bite to become a dragon shifter herself. Now they had their twin dragon babies to complete their family. While theirs was hardly a classic love story, it was definitely one that proved the theory of opposites attracting.
During her time with the band, Hollie had become Ged’s unofficial assistant, to the point where he often wondered what he used to do without her. She was a fast learner, picking up every part of the job and anticipating his needs, often before he even knew them himself. He knew she enjoyed the work, but was she ready for this? And could she fit it into her new dragon-mom lifestyle?
The question was reflected back at him as Hollie returned his gaze. She was silent for long moments before she responded. “Do you think I can do it?”
“I know you can.”
Her laugh was shaky. “I don’t suppose I’ll be able to call or email you if there’s a problem?”
Ged shook his head. “Technology hasn’t reached Callistoya.” The clock was drawing his attention again. Lidi was taking a hell of a long time. He laughed. “Think letters written in longhand and delivered by a messenger on horseback.”
Hollie looked around the assembled group. “What do you say? There are two more concerts before Christmas. Will you give me a tryout as your Ged substitute until then?”
Torque slid his arm around her waist. “We’ll support you all the way. And I can take on more of the baby chores over the next few weeks.”
There were nods and murmurs of agreement. Khan came forward to give Hollie a high five and Dev wrapped her in a hug. Ged exhaled long and slow. That was part one over with. The next part was even harder. “Good. Because I have a plan that involves your help. I need you to be at the royal palace in Callistoya on Christmas Eve.”
Sarange raised her brows. “Is this a royal invitation?”
“Believe me, it is not going to be that grand. Or that easy.” He nodded in the direction of the children. Karina, Khan and Sarange’s toddler daughter, was playing with her toys on the rug while the babies slept in cribs nearby. “And those of you with kids should probably excuse yourselves from this one. Outsiders are not welcome in my homeland. The battle will be a bloody one.”
Sarange’s expression conveyed her werewolf stubbornness. “Your people have never encountered us.” She swept a hand around the room. “Two wolves, a tiger, a snow leopard, a panther and two dragons. You wanted an army? You’ve got one right here in this room. We don’t need to excuse ourselves. Our children are in no danger of being left without their parents...because Beast doesn’t fight to lose.”
Khan placed a hand on Ged’s shoulder. “She’s right. You’ve always been there for us.”
Torque nodded. “It’s our turn to repay you.”
“Thank you.” Ged managed to get the words out despite the choking sensation in his throat. He had a long journey ahead of him. He didn’t want to start it by breaking down in tears. “Now I really do need to find out what’s keeping Lidi.”
After a group hug that tested his emotions—the ones he’d sworn he didn’t have—to their limit, he left Khan’s suite and made his way along the corridor toward his own room. A feeling of disquiet assailed him when he saw there was no security guard outside the door. His instructions had been simple. The guy was to escort Lidi to Khan’s room. Surely nothing could have gone wrong with such a simple plan?
He almost laughed out loud. Rule one of shifter living: if something can go wrong, it will.
When he entered his own room, it was empty. The feeling of unease became a squirming worm of certainty gnawing at his gut. Something had gone wrong with his plan.
Luckily when he called Rick, the other man answered his call immediately. “Everything is under control. There is no trace of the intruders. The police are downstairs. They’re bemused, but—”
Ged cut across him. “Find the guy who was guarding my room half an hour ago.”
“Dave?” Rick sounded surprised. “He’s right here.”
“Ask him why he left his post without permission.” The impulse to smash something was becoming overwhelming. He could hear the murmur of voices as Rick relayed his message to the other guy.
“Boss?” Rick’s bewilderment was even more evident. “Dave says he stayed outside your room until Lidi came out. He offered to take her to Khan’s room, but she said she knew where it was. She refused to let him escort her.”
Ged muttered a curse as he swiped the screen to end the call. What the hell were you thinking of, Lidi?
But he already knew the answer. She had gone because he had told her he couldn’t help her. Now she was out there all alone, with no money, no transport and no one to turn to next time Vasily’s men caught up with her.
It was like déjà vu. In another time and place, he had failed the woman he was responsible for. Alyona had died and now Lidi was facing the same fate. Because I didn’t protect her.
Feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness crowded in on him, crushing his chest until he couldn’t breathe. He was immobilized by fear, his usual decisiveness deserting him. Gradually, he forced his limbs into action.
Do something.
He was the guy who rescued shifters from danger. Since Alyona’s death and his exile from Callistoya, it had been his way of giving something back. His personal mission. For Alyona and for his missing brother, Andrei. During the years of his exile, Ged had built up a worldwide network of contacts, shifter and human.
Focused now, he moved with increased purpose. If anyone could find Lidi, he could. All he had to do was get to her in time.
* * *
The prospect of retracing her steps across thousands of miles made Lidi’s heart sink, but she had no choice. At least she was able to slip out of the hotel without anyone noticing her. Although the lobby was swarming with police officers, they were too busy concentrating on the ruined furnishings and the traumatized employees to pay attention to anything else. The scene was chaotic and, even though Lidi couldn’t understand exactly what was being said, there was clearly some confusion around exactly what had taken place.
Once she stepped outside, she could barely move for the hordes of people. The elegant promenade had become a battleground as reporters and photographers vied for the best story and camera shot. Keeping her head down, Lidi pushed her