“What—or who—the hell is that?” Odhran was the one to ask.
“Back in the ’50s, an organization became known to us,” Adryan said evenly. “But then they dropped off the face of the earth before we could do anything about it. Not sure if they were tipped off or felt the heat from the supernatural side.” He shrugged again. “I don’t know, but they disappeared and have been quiet until now.”
“And how do ye kno’ the ones who attacked us are this Assembly group?”
“The tattoo,” Adryan growled. “The fuckers brand themselves. We don’t know how long they’ve been around, but presumably since the beginning of the Otherworld, or shortly after.”
Cian grunted beside me in a noncommittal way, but when I looked at him, I could see and hear his jaw working as he took in that information.
“So what else do we kno’ about them?” Cian asked.
“What I found out before they went underground is that they’re an organization run by some of the most powerful and wealthy humans in the world. That’s the only reason they have the means and resources to do what they do. And because they do what they do, it’s safe to say they are super fucked-up.” Adryan went over to the couch and sat, making himself comfortable. The other two men stayed in place, very clearly related by their similarities. One watched Cian and the other Odhran.
“Their soldiers are known as Shepherds.” Adryan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Fucking dumb, but whatever,” he murmured.
“And what?” Cian hedged. “These soldiers abduct Otherworld species and humans for what purpose?”
Adryan grimaced, or what I supposed was as close to one as an arrogant asshole like him could muster. He leaned forward and braced his forearms on his thighs. “I assume they hunted your female down because they wanted to use her to get to you.”
“And what do they want with us?” Odhran asked when Adryan hadn’t answered Cian.
Adryan leaned back and kicked his booted feet up onto the coffee table. “They hunt the Otherworld down so we can be their exhibits.”
I felt my eyes widen and my eyebrows lift once again. I asked Adryan, “Like… like a zoo exhibit?”
“Give the girl a prize for her correct answer.” He winked. “I told you they were fucked-up.” He sighed. “Let’s get real. Your clan of Lycans keep to themselves up in the fucking Highlands,” Adryan said matter-of-factly.
“Canna deny that,” Cian said and glanced down at me, his eyebrows pulled low, his expression one of intensity.
“I think the Otherworld was getting too close back in the ’50s, and that’s why the Assembly disappeared underground. We figured out they drugged and kidnapped our kind and used us like fucking sideshows.”
“That’s horrendous.” I hadn’t meant to say the shocked words out loud.
“Yeah, sounds about right. If you have enough money in the human world, and a hell of a lot of power, influence, and connections, you can get anything you fucking want. And what the Assembly wants is us. The Otherworld.”
“How did ye even find out about them back then?” Odhran took a step toward Adryan, but it was clear he was invested in this. There was some strange expression on his face that could only be called personal. I saw a flicker of an expression cross Adryan’s face and wondered if he’d caught on to Odhran too.
“Had a male escape them and made his way to us. Unfortunately he died shortly after. But he told us enough.” He paused, and I felt like he did it for effect. “If someone has even more money to burn instead of just taking a walk down the halls to gawk at caged creatures they’d only thought were in fiction, they can pay for what is known as Sessions.”
I felt the air in the room grow even thicker.
“For an even more exorbitant amount, they’re able to watch acts of torture, rape, or even participate in it themselves.” Adryan’s face showed nothing, but there was dark rage behind his eyes. “Really corrupt motherfuckers, the kind who would be okay with selling women and children… or worse, if you get my fucking drift.”
He snarled those last words, and I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. Good God. How could anyone do that to anyone?
“I’m not sure who runs that shit show, but it’s absolutely someone of high power in the human world. Judge, billionaire mogul, hell, fucking trust-fund baby with too much time on their hands.”
“Fooking Shepherds,” Odhran growled. “Like they’re tending to a flock.”
The low rumble that came from the other male was so loud I found myself inadvertently moving toward Cian. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and snapped out something angry and loud in Gaelic to Odhran.
Odhran was breathing hard and lifted his hand to rub it over his jaw. He kept saying things in Gaelic, low and rushed things that were clearly meant just for him. But the way Cian’s face paled had me even more worried.