“He has more sway over her than I do,” Kevin admitted with a heavy sigh, throwing a rock into the pond he and Sean walked around. The flat stone skipped three times, leaving smooth ripples in the water before disappearing into the inky depth.
They were just two friends taking a casual stroll in Atherton Square. Nothing suspicious, and no means of plotting anything beyond life. At least that’s what they hoped if anyone had bothered to follow either of them.
Sean tore at a leaf he’d picked up at some point. Little pieces floated away with each step. “He had Kat in knots after only a few minutes with her.”
“She was drugged.”
“His words were toxic.”
Kevin met Sean’s amber gaze, recognized the seriousness in them and frowned. As they continued along, Kevin searched the bank for another suitable skipping stone. “If I knew what hold he had on her, maybe I could figure out why he’s so important. As it is, she always seems more annoyed by him than pleased to be in his presence.”
“At least you know it’s not seduction then.”
Rolling a stone between his fingers, Kevin focused on the cool, smooth surface. “Of that, I can thankfully be positive.”
The crisp, evening air blew hair around Sean’s face. “Do you believe he’s tried?”
Kevin nodded. “I do. And I think he relishes in the fact everyone believes he’s succeeded.”
Sean tossed the rest of the leaf and rubbed his hands together to finish cleaning them. “Except you’re still married.”
“Well, no one said I wasn’t a fool.” Kevin flicked his wrist, sending the stone skidding along the water’s surface. He smiled. Five jumps before sinking.
Sean sighed. “You aren’t a fool.”
“No? Then explain why I agreed to marry an Arch Guardians daughter to save my rank, only to be forced to give it up to save her honor? And she doesn’t even trust me.” Kevin shook his head, kicking at a cluster of rocks near the shore of the pond.
“You joke.”
“I wish.”
Sean let out a long strong string of curses. “Every time I think it’s treason to hate that man, he gives me no reason to feel loyal.” He sighed again. “And you’re going to?”
Kevin reached down for a stone, inspected it, discarded it and chose another. “What choice do I have? His nomination and subsequent vote is out of my hands. If he doesn’t go in my favor, I’m back to where my family started. In a poor fishing village not even within Sziveria’s legal jurisdiction, only their protection.”
“It’d serve him right if she went with you,” Sean growled.
“And we both know she doesn’t deserve such a fate.”
“I’ll leave that for you to decide. I don’t know her well enough.”
Continuing along the edge of the pond, they both nodded to an elderly couple enjoying the mild late summer evening. “Tell me you wouldn’t have sacrificed more for Kat, even before you knew you loved her.”
Sean clasped his hands behind his back. “Point made. Though I should warn you, I loved her before I knew what the emotion stirring in my chest even meant. That particular train tends to hit fast and hard.”
Subconsciously, Kevin rubbed the center of his chest. While he couldn’t deny his desire for Raina, something he’d been fighting since the first moment he saw her standing noble and fearless at her father’s desk to sign their marriage contract, love wasn’t something he could afford to have for the pixie. Once she claimed that part of him, he knew he’d never get it back. “Noted. By the way, I’ve told Asherwick how to meet with you without anyone knowing he’s at your residence. He’s supposed to be bringing his promised, who’s from Italyssa. I’m hoping we can compare timelines and methods for the uprising.”
“I think I’d rather figure out why the First Prefect for Haven City has gone after my Interceptor. Twice.”
“At least he hasn’t gone after your wife again.”
“The only reason he still lives.”
Kevin scoffed. “That, and he hasn’t as of yet harmed mine. Enbrackon’s not the only one who knows how to hide a body. And if he keeps playing games, those who hold his puppet strings are going to learn the hard way.”
Alone in her study, Raina twisted the simple gold band on her ring finger in thought. The dying rays of the sun cast long, pink shadows across her empty office. Four years ago, she’d fought being offended at the unadorned band. Women of her station often had prominent bands ornamented with sparkling gemstones to show off how much more their husband loved them. Station and perceived wealth through all things shiny hadn’t changed in the history of humanity.
As she fingered the smooth, modest surface, she realized the ring signified everything her husband was. Deceptively uncomplicated. Only recently had she also realized his wedding band matched hers. Another uncommon act. One that made hers more valuable than any other she’d ever seen.
And the more she turned the newly discovered treasure around her finger, the more she realized she wanted, no needed, to trust her husband with the plans for her future.
Fear however, was a fickle friend. At any moment a man dressed in the Arch Guardian Synintel’s green livery could arrived at her door and whisk Kevin away for another four years. Then where would she be? Absolutely nowhere. Stuck, with only her father’s handouts and no accomplishments to claim.
A subtle rap sounded on her open door, disrupting her thoughts. She glanced up from her hands to Mrs. Taft’s concerned face. “My Guardianess, Shield Guardian Enbrackon is asking to see you.”
She straightened in the oversized chair she sat in, her feet hitting the floor. “He’s here? Now?”
The frown on the head housekeeper’s face intensified. “I’m afraid so. Would you like me to tell him you’re no longer accepting visitors?”
Raina licked her dry lips and thought quickly. If she sent him away, he may take the prospective clients he’d been dangling in front of her away. However, if she accepted him after hours again, the speculation, which had finally begun to die down, would return. Maybe she could compromise, meet him the vestibule and convince him to return during her regular hours.
With a plan, she rose. “I will see him where he waits.”
Mrs. Taft nodded. “Very good, Guardianess.”
The older woman followed dutifully behind. At the spacious vestibule, Enbrackon paced like a caged animal. For a moment, Raina considered hanging back and having Mrs. Taft take over. A heavy, uncomfortable sensation washed through her at seeing the Shield Guardian, one she’d never dealt with before and wasn’t sure how to handle.
Kevin’s suspicions made her steps falter. If he were correct, the Shield Guardian had been sneaking around her house, seducing one of her staff and spying on her. And she couldn’t call him on even one of the accusations.
As with all upper-class, anything said against them by anyone lower than their rank was often waved away. He’d deny every complaint. Since most cases were fraudulent, the accusations often amounting to little more than blackmail, they ended in a decent handout to keep the lies out of the gossip section. Unless the maid had solid proof her paramour was Phipps, the Shield Guardians denial meant innocence. Raina had no doubt he’d deny right up to his pretty, dark brown eyes.
Relaxing her shoulders, she forced a smile. “Shield Guardian Enbrackon, I wasn’t expecting you this evening. I’d be happy to see you in the morning, before my first scheduled client.”
His frame visibly loosened when he met her gaze. “I’m afraid an acquaintance of mine has had an emergency arise. His firm is unable to help on such short notice. I told him not to worry, I had the best logistics expert in the country able to help without any notice. You won’t let me down, will you? Tomorrow would simply be too late.”
Raina clasped her hands in front of herself and took a deep breath. “I don’t see what I can do. Logistics takes time to plan accordingly, not to mention all radio signals are down until dawn.”
He waved a hand while reaching with his other into his jacket pocket. Folded papers emerged. “You know I have access to a twenty-four-hour signal.”
Surprised, Raina raised a brow. “The emergency is that great?”
“A shipment of medicine from Imperial Qu’in to Ravenna. It’s already a week delayed, and my dear friend received word they’re running dangerously short. If the shipment can’t be routed, people will die.”
“And a firm really denied such a need?”
Phipps shook his head and heaved a sad sigh. “Personal comfort is often met before the needs of others. I knew you’d have a different view. Besides, the fact that the shipment is due past a week shows their ineptitude, does it not? Why waste more time?”
Why, indeed? Raina looked away from him, focusing on the potted plant near the door. Kevin had left over an hour ago and had yet to return. Her assistant had left before that. Mrs. Taft, and Tabby, were the only staff remaining in the house. Raina was positive Mrs. Taft only remained because Kevin had yet to return. Though her very professional housekeeper would never admit it, knowing one of her hired staff members had put the Guardianess of the house in danger was a personal upset. Mrs. Taft wouldn’t leave until Raina wasn’t alone, even if she had to sleep in an upstairs room after her daughter left.
While Raina didn’t want to contribute to another nation’s growing disaster, she also didn’t want to contribute to her social one. “My assistant is gone for the day. I can send word for her to arrive early and we can address the shipment if you’ll leave me with all the pertinent information. We can have instructions to relay to Imperial Qu’in the moment the first communications station is open.”
A frown darkened his face. “My friend and I would rest much better tonight knowing the medicine is already en route come the sun’s rising. I know a frightened nation would be too.”
Raina glanced nervously at Mrs. Taft, whose stern expression matched her no-nonsense uniform. “Would you mind helping me with the Shield Guardians emergency, Mrs. Taft?”
Phipps stepped forward, the papers clutched in his hand. “I don’t mind helping, no need to put another person out.”
Mrs. Taft’s smile was anything but warm as she snatched the papers from his hand. “Helping Guardianess Raiventon is never a chore, Shield Guardian. And while not her assistant, I do believe I’m more familiar with her needs.”
Red bloomed across the Shield Guardians cheeks. His shoulders squared and his chest filled with air. “Master Guardian Raiventon must not be much of a man around this house if his female servants behave in such a manner.” With a swift flick of his wrist, the papers were back in his control. “You will never speak to me out of turn again, or take something from my hands without my express permission, is that understood?”
Too stunned by Phipps condescending treatment toward one of the few people Raina trusted in her life, she couldn’t even sputter a protest when he grabbed her arm and all but dragged her down the corridor to her office. Her feet stumbled. With a rough yank, he hauled her against the side of his body, his hand wrapping possessively around her waist. When Raina went to release his hold, he tightened to the point of pain. Once they were inside her office, he freed her. And firmly shut the door, and Mrs. Taft out, with a swift click of the lock.
Raina put distance between them. The sun’s rays had fully died, leaving the room bathed in the delicate blue light of twilight, visible, yet strangely difficult to see in. With an ease that alarmed Raina, Phipps went to the oil lamp beside the door, locating the matches on a small shelf beneath without asking for their location. As if he’d already known, had already lit that very lamp before. The match flared to life.
“I asked for your help in good conscience. I did so politely. I will not be so polite again. Do you understand?” Light burst from the lamp the second he touched the flame to the wick. His dark stare made her stop in the center of the room.
Unsure what to do, she nodded.
He shook the match out. “Good. We’ve come so far my dear, I’d hate to have to undo all our good intentions. Now, be a good girl and pull out the map of Imperial Qu’in. I don’t have enough time for further pleasantries.”
Raina thought quickly, glancing to the shelves that held her neatly rolled maps. She’d never been locked alone in a room with a man before, and Phipps certainly wasn’t the one she ever wanted to be unaccompanied with. “Qu’in is eight hours ahead of us, it’s currently two in the morning there. I don’t see what help I could be for another four to six hours.”
Before she could scramble away from him, Phipps grabbed her arm and forced her around the desk. “Let me worry about the time. You do your job that I, and my acquaintance, are going to pay you handsomely for.”
The moment he released her, Raina put space between them again. “Why did you lock the door?”
“I don’t want to be disturbed.”
“My husband won’t stand for it.”
His dark eyes betrayed nothing, but the harsh line of his mouth showed his displeasure. “Raiventon doesn’t concern me. I can have him in handcuffs and charged with any number of offenses before you sputter a protest. And trust me, he’d likely deserve all of them. You know nothing of the man your father forced you to marry, or you’d never have signed a contract binding you to him.”
Raina’s heart pounded and she swallowed against panic. While she didn’t trust his words against Kevin, she had no doubt of the threat. Enbrackon was the one man who could draw up trump accusations and make sure they stuck. At least until her father, or another higher-ranking official, stepped in. As the First Prefect of Haven City Enforcement Services, only a higher-ranking Guardian with the First Intelligence Office, or Sziveria National Investigative Division could interfere.
Without another choice, Raina went to her maps and pulled free Qu’in’s and Northern Africa’s. The Shield Guardian laid out the papers he’d been carrying. He lit both the mounted lamps behind her desk, bathing the space in workable light. Fading pink tendrils still clung to the low clouds in the sky. The Shield Guardians threats against Kevin may frighten her, but she somehow doubted they’d concern her husband. Hopefully once the light died completely, he’d be home. Not too much longer…
Laying the maps out, she secured them with heavy brass holders. “I’m assuming the papers contain all the information I need to properly fill out the shipping manifest?”
“They do, along with port information and the final destination.”
Raina shifted into professional mode, a safe, familiar place. She reached for the papers and looked over the information, comparing it with the maps laid out before her. Three times she checked the destination. “Is this city spelled correctly?”
The Shield Guardian shifted closer. “Yes.”
Raina frowned. “It’s not on my map of Ravenna.”
“Oh, it’s not a city, it’s a camp.”
“What’s the nearest city?”
He moved closer still, until his hip touched hers and the sharp, pungent scent of his cologne invaded her space. “I believe it’s written below. See, right here.”
Raina swallowed and tried to focus as his hand slid around her back to touch the paper under her right wrist, brushing her breast in the process. Revulsion slithered along her spine.
“Yes, I do see, thank you.” Moving would bring his hand entirely in contact with her breast, so she stayed still.
“Good. There’s a rail line that runs to the camp from that city.”
“That will help. The camp needs the medicine the most?”
“Yes. Half will be offloaded at the dock. The other is to be taken to this camp. They are distributing to the poorest areas of the nation, the ones that cling to the edge of the Uninhabited Zones, where land is cheapest to purchase or work.”
The words seemed planned, rehearsed. Raina forced away unease. “What is the problem that the ship isn’t able to make port in Ravenna?”
“There is no ship. That’s why we need you. The shipment is large and no one has had the available room. You’ve never failed in securing a means for transport, regardless of the size.”
Raina chewed on her bottom lip, overlooking the map. She opened her top drawer and pulled out a binder of the carriers and known transport companies. “Imperial Qu’in is still a very primitive country, their exports are marginal. As a result, most trading companies don’t export from there, and their ships are small.”
“Again, why I’m here.”
The clipped tone of his voice made her stiffen in wariness. “I need space to work.”
His hand left the page, but didn’t leave her, settling on her hip. In caressing lines, he rubbed from her upper thigh to her side. “You know I’ve said it before, we’d make an amazing team. We could rule this city.”
Uncomfortable by his forward touch, crowded and on edge, Raina gritted her teeth. “I thought you needed this route completed without delay.”
He sighed. “Someday soon you will see the error of denying me. But you are correct, I do need a plan.”
Only when he stepped away, did Raina allow herself to become lost in the puzzle that was routing and plotting efficiency. Looking between two maps and two lists, she solved the problem with an ease her father had attempted to recruit before her sixteenth birthday. But sending troops proficiently to their death wasn’t something Raina had any interest in.
After writing out the plan in step-by-step instructions, she handed the paper to Phipps. “The shipment will need to be transported via rail from Imperial Qu’in to Vativarsa. From there, Alexandria East Shipping has a near empty vessel. If you secure space quickly, it can sail with the medicine once it’s loaded. I can’t handle any of the routes for you this time of day.”
A smug sound escaped from Enbrackon. “Now, that wasn’t so hard. Why couldn’t the other firm see the solution?”
Raina shrugged. “I don’t know, I don’t work for them.”
“I will handle the routes.”
“And the manifest?”
He waved a hand. “Already done by the other firm.”
“Vativarsa will require a new one.”
“I will be sure the person in Imperial Qu’in is aware new documentation is needed.”
Raina glided her fingers along the drawn coast of Ravenna. “I will have my assistant bill for a consultation fee.”
“Don’t be absurd. Full fee as if you did all the work, it’s the least I can do, or rather my acquaintance can do. You saved lives, after all.”
Before he could gather any of the papers up he claimed contained everything she’d have needed to get the job done for him, she picked up the one nearest to her. A shipping manifest for destination from Imperial Qu’in. But not for Ravenna. The location listed was Italyssa. As if she’d seen nothing strange, she reached for another and stacked the remaining pages for him. With hands that were steadier than her pounding heart, Raina handed him the sheets.
“Sulphur and silver compound. Is there an infection in Ravenna others need to know about?” she asked mildly, hoping he believed that’s all she’d seen.
He shrugged, using the desk to straighten the papers before refolding them. “I have no idea, I only know of the importance of making sure the medicine arrives.”
Slowly, Raina inched around the desk. His dark eyes fixed on her and she froze.
“I need your official route recommendation, Guardianess Raiventon.”
“Since I’m not handling the assignment itself, I can get you the documentation tomorrow, during normal hours.”
“Now. Alexandria East will need your logistics code for the manifest to show you set up the transit.”
Dread flowed through her, forcing her to swallow. Her gaze flitted to the door. Stronger, and likely faster than her, Phipps would have her pinned to the wall before she was able to unsecure the lock. She didn’t want any involvement with whatever Enbrackon was doing with the shipment he’d forced her to plot. In fact, she wasn’t sure she wanted much to do with him anymore at all. She couldn’t be free from a prison cell.
“But I’m not setting up transit, you are. They can leave it blank. As a private consumer, your colleague—”
“Acquaintance.”
“—can make the inquiry and then purchase the space.”
“He’s a business making the purchase on behalf of Ravenna, who is in turn purchasing the medicine from him. As a company, he must utilize a third, neutral party, to secure the means of distribution. You know that. I need the code.”
To safeguard against one country hoarding resources already scarce worldwide, many allied countries had gone into agreements that once their country’s needs were met, the assets would be shared. A neutral third party kept businesses and their allies trustworthy, checking market conditions, value and additional shipments of the same resources. The use of logistics codes allowed other analysts to identify each other on the reports, and to know where to look because they usually specialized in routing specifics commodities. While Raina didn’t, she managed whatever someone brought to her, knowing who specialized in what did make her job easier.
Raina gritted her teeth and kept from fisting her hands. Technically, Phipps had her code already. It was located on the dozens of manifests she’d filled out for the shipments leaving Sziveria ports she’d arranged for him, and on the route recommendations he’d been given duplicate copies of. One for his records, one to file with the manifests. If he really wanted to use her code, he could. The only reason she could think that he’d need paperwork for this farce of a job left her cold and more than a little scared. He needed the paper trail.
“But I’m not securing anything, you are. I simply advised.”
Anger rivaling his earlier mood returned, turning his cheeks bright pink and making his already dark eyes black. She gasped as he snatched her wrist and yanked her forward so hard her hip slammed into the corner of the desk. Her desk chair appeared behind her knees, hitting the backs of her legs and forcing her to sit.
“Fill out the damn paper, Lorraina.”
“O-okay.”
Phipps released her wrist and stepped away, his focus on each small movement she made. Raina was careful to keep them minor, reaching only for what she needed. Her wrist and hip burned, as did tears threatening to spill down her cheek. Being treated like a bad child was a wholly unpleasant experience.
The paper trembled slightly when she lifted it from her desk drawer, along with a pen. She quickly filled out the sheet, hesitating at the code box.
“Don’t even think about lying, I do have your number and will compare them.”
Raina resisted the urge to hum in fear. After filling out the correct information, she handed him the paper. All the sheets disappeared into his jacket.
Raising her chin to show annoyance, she stated, “Now, if that will be all, I’d like to retire for the evening.”
A predatory light entered his gaze. “But we’re all alone, without the threat of intrusion. How could I possibly let the potential slide from my grasp?”
Before she could rise, he had her pinned in the chair, a hand on each chair arm. Raina pressed herself into the leather, trying to put distance between them in vain. His mouth crushed to hers at the same time his hand fisted around her breast. She whimpered and turned her face away. His tongue slid along her cheek, leaving a wet trail to her ear. In painful squeezes, his fingers dug into her tender flesh.
Terrified, Raina grabbed his wrist and tried to pull his hand free. He subdued her attempt, gripping her forearm and forcing her touch to him. The hard evidence of his arousal ground against her palm. Bile rose in her throat. His fingers bit into her flesh as she tried to wrench her hand from his crotch. She pressed her other hand into his hip for leverage, but he didn’t budge or release her.
“Do you see how much you make me want you? But then, you’ve always known, you’ve always teased. You don’t have to pretend anymore. Why waste the energy?”
“No, I-I haven’t,” she denied. “Please stop.”
The grasp on her arm tightened to the point of agony. Holding her hostage, his fingers moved to hers and covered them, forcing her to grip his length through the fabric. His grinding turned to outright thrusting and she bit her lip as a tear slid down her cheek.
Breath escaped his lips in harsh puffs. He continued to squeeze her breast as he pumped into her hand. “It’s okay to admit it. We’re alone.”
The tip of his tongue snaked into her ear. She grimaced and fought the heave of her stomach. His fingernails dug into the flesh of her hand as she continued the useless struggle to get free. What else could she do? Bite him? Kick, maybe? She didn’t fight, she never had the need, so she wasn’t sure what to do. The bulge in her hand grew thicker while his thrusting increased. His labored breaths became rougher into her ear. All the while she was helpless in the role he’d forced her into.
Using her free hand and both her feet this time, Raina shoved firmly against Phipps. The action took him by surprise. He tumbled back onto the desk. Raina scurried into the chair, the skirt of her gown bunched beneath her feet. She grasped the back of the chair for support and attempted to keep balance so the thing didn’t topple over, sending her through the large window behind her.
Fury turned Phipps’ beautiful face into ugly, harsh lines. His fingers arched like claws reached for her. Panic quickened in Raina’s stomach. No matter how she looked at her situation, she had nowhere to go but through the glass to get away from his reach. Shock registered on the Shield Guardians face a split second before he was yanked off his feet and across her desk.
Paper tore and fluttered. The heavy brass holders thumped to the floor. Without stopping, Kevin dragged the Shield Guardian across Raina’s office and into the corridor as if the man weighed nothing. Not once did he look over his shoulder. Phipps’ feet attempted to gain traction on the carpet, his arms flailed at his sides. Incoherent words sputtered from his mouth.
Raina scrambled out of the chair. She kept a safe distance from her client-turned-aggressor while Kevin rudely showed him to the door. But he didn’t open it, rather he hauled Enbrackon up and shoved him hard against the solid wood surface. Gasping, Raina’s steps halted and she grabbed the edge of the wall, hiding from view.
“If I catch you in my house again, you won’t live to leave,” Kevin’s deep voice threatened. An odd shiver raced down Raina’s spine and made her fingers tighten on the corners edge.
A smug expression entered the Shield Guardians gaze. “You can’t threaten me. I’ll make sure you’re holed up in a cell so deep not even the Arch Guardian will be able to find you.”
Kevin released Enbrackon with a sudden step back. The man crumbled to the floor in an embarrassing heap. “I’m not threatening, Enbrackon. I’m giving you the benefit of a warning. You won’t get a second one. Stay away from my wife.”
Kevin didn’t wait for Phipps to move from the doorway. He opened it, shoving the man along the floor. He hauled the Shield Guardian up again, and threw him outside. Then, with the swift turn of two locks, his gray eyes, darker than the worst thunderstorm she’d seen, settled on her.