Page 49 of Dark Gambit Reliance

"They were never nice." Max handed him the bottle. "Personally, I prefer the new sexy versions. Give me that phone."

35

TOVEN

Toven wondered why Igor had chosen two low-level hybrids to trail Sofia when he had a pureblood who spoke English. It seemed that their command of the language hadn't been the only reason they had been chosen. Igor hadn't wanted to send this one for some reason.

The pureblood struggled against the chains, and when he realized that his struggles were futile, he looked at Toven with eyes that were filled with fear mingled with curiosity. "Who are you? What do you want from me? What did you do with my friends?"

"I told you. My name is Tom, and I want to ask you a few questions. But first, we need to free you from Igor's compulsion."

"How do you know about Igor?"

"Stop asking questions," Toven commanded.

The Kra-ell opened his mouth, tried to speak, and closed it. Evidently, he could be compelled as long as it didn't contradict Igor's compulsion.

"You can tell me everything you were ever told to keep a secret." Toven slammed his power of compulsion into the guy.

Pavel's eyelids twitched, and he hissed, revealing two very long, sharp fangs. They looked exactly the same as any male god or immortal's when fully elongated. Also, his huge bug-like eyes were fully red now and glowing from the inside. But despite the alien features and the aggression, the male didn't look like a monster.

He was just different.

"Tell me about the weapons in your compound's arsenal."

Pavel repeated the same information Dima and Anton had provided, but Toven had a feeling that he wasn't telling him everything.

As someone who had dealt with compulsion probably since birth, Pavel had no doubt figured out that there were ways to resist it as long as it wasn't phrased tightly enough.

"Are the weapons you told me about the compound's only defense against intruders?"

Pavel shook his head as much as the chains allowed.

"What other defenses does the compound have?"

"Everything is rigged with explosives. If we are invaded, Igor blows everything and everyone up."

Toven frowned. "Who knows about this?"

"Everyone who needs to know."

"You mean the purebloods?"

Pavel's big eyes widened even further. "Yes. You know about us." He couldn't ask a question because of Toven's command, so he circumvented it by stating what he wanted to ask.

"Is he going to blow up the compound with you in it?" Toven asked.

Pavel nodded. "No one is to be taken alive."

"I bet Igor has an escape tunnel. He's not the type of guy who would go down with the ship."

The Kra-ell looked puzzled. "I don't understand."

"He will not die with his people."

"I don't know about an escape tunnel." The guy couldn't hide the telltale grimace.

"But you suspect that he has one."