Roxie sat at the conference table feeling awkward and out of place. Everyone here was a trained operative, many with supernatural abilities. She was the lone civilian, an outsider. This wasn’t her world, but she wanted to understand it, because of Elias.
Elias sat at the head of the table looking authoritative and fierce. He wore black pants and a camo T-shirt that outlined every ripple and curve of his incredible torso. In any other room he would draw attention, but here he was one of many. He belonged.
Many people lived their entire lives without finding a place where they truly fit in. She’d found her home at Unique Ink and Elias was part of this world. A world most humans didn’t even know existed. Roxie felt honored to have been allowed inside, but she honestly hoped she would never need to be directly involved again. She was an artist by nature and preferred to hold nothing more violent than a tattoo machine.
“The raid on the lab was an unqualified success,” Elias began. “All eight captives have been taken to a medical facility for observation and transitional support. Each woman was traumatized as well as genetically modified. Their recovery will take time. The one named Emily became quite a resource once her children were brought to her.”
Lor slipped into the silence as Elias paused. “The four Shadow Assassins that Sevrin captured rather than recruited were returned to the City of Tears. Everyone is grieving for the sixteen who were lost. Shadow Assassins do not fear death, but knowing how they died is hard for them to accept. Still, knowing that Sevrin paid the ultimate cost for her brutality is helping them heal.
“Sevrin’s guards became shockingly cooperative as soon as they learned of her death. It wasn’t even necessary for Varrik to read their minds. They told us everything we wanted to know. The Team East house was raided this morning. The containment field generator worked even better the second time around.”
“All of the hunters, with the exception of Nazerel, have been returned to Ontariese,” Elias resumed as Lor fell silent. “The Overlord has appointed Lor to oversee the tribunal that will decide the fate of each hunter based on his level of involvement.
“Everything in both the team houses is being assessed and analyzed. If it holds no importance, it will be sold or destroyed. Anything of importance will be entered into evidence and become part of the trial.”
“I don’t envy you that nightmare,” Blayne told Lor. “I’d much rather catch criminals than suffer through endless months of trials.”
“It’s a necessary evil,” Lor countered. “After all, we’re not Rodytes.” Blayne just smiled, so Lor continued with the summary. “All of the research we found at the lab, as well as the lead geneticist, have been taken to Ontariese. Crown Stirate Quentin has been notified of his niece’s death. He was surprisingly reasonable, though he insisted that Sevrin acted entirely on her own. He went so far as to claim he’d been about to launch a full-scale investigation into her actions after several of his best scientists mysteriously disappeared.”
The ridiculous claim made Roxie chuckle. Plausible deniability at its finest.
“You find this amusing?” Lor looked at her, his gaze slightly narrowed.
“Of course not. I find the Crown Stirate’s attempt to duck any of the blame amusing in a pathetic sort of way. Does he honestly expect you to believe he didn’t know what Sevrin was up to and hadn’t been supporting her every step of the way?”
“What we know and what we can prove are two different things,” Elias told her.
“We don’t want to start a war with the Rodytes,” Lor pointed out. “Sevrin was the most to blame and she paid for her ruthlessness with her life.”
Roxie wanted to be quiet and let the briefing run its course. Everyone else seemed content to accept the information as it was given out. Her mind didn’t work that way. She was plagued by questions that demanded immediate answers. “What about the fifteen Rodyte families? Will they still come to Earth and search for their battle-born brides?”
“They were told the program was a scam, that Pern took their money and never intended to follow through with his end of the bargain.” Lor paused, almost as if he was waiting for her next question.
She didn’t disappoint him. “And they’ll believe that without proof? They’re a hell of a lot more trusting than I’d be.”
Lor had reached for his water glass so Elias responded. “It’s in Quentin’s best interest to be convincing. All of his subjects know he and his older brother were frequently at odds. He’ll blame it all on Pern. The families have no reason to doubt the story and no real recourse even if they have suspicions. We really are down to the cleanup and evaluation stages of this mission.”
“With one glaring exception,” Lor reminded. “Nazerel’s capture.”
“And Morgan’s rescue,” Elias stressed.
“Aren’t they one and the same?” Blayne asked with a hesitant smile.
“Are there any new strategies?” one of the soldiers asked. Roxie was pretty sure his name was Dekker, but she’d been introduced to so many people in the past few days it had all begun to blur.
“Just one,” Lor said with an enigmatic smile. “It takes a Shadow Assassin to find a Shadow Assassin, so I’ve arranged a clash of alphas.” Lor tapped the audiocom tucked inside his ear and said, “We’re ready now. Send them in.”
Everyone turned and watched as the conference room doors swung open. A man strode into the room as if he owned the world, a stunningly beautiful woman at his side. The man’s dark hair, which was pulled straight back from his face, was streaked with subtle threads of blue and bright blue rings blazed within his dark eyes. From the fierce expression on his angular features to the impressive width of his shoulders, everything about him screamed Rodyte warrior.
Like the male, the female made no attempt to hide her alien origins. Vivid purple eyes dominated her delicate features. Not only was the color unusual, but her irises flowed in a gently swirling pattern. That meant she was Ontarian. Was she the warrior’s mate?
As if he’d heard her question, Lor introduced the visitors. “This is Varrik and Echo dar Aune, soul-bonded mates. Varrik was the alpha sweeper and there is no one alive who knows more about the Shadow Assassins than him.”
“Excuse my rudeness, sir, but why wasn’t this man included in the team from day one?” the outspoken soldier asked.
“It’s a fair question, Dekker,” Lor said, but he let Varrik answer for himself.
Varrik stood beside Lor at the foot of the table, his hands clasped behind his back. “I was asked to lead this expedition, but the unrest on the City of Tears was still too volatile. You’ve been chasing fifteen of our best hunters. I was dealing with a massive lifestyle transition for thousands, but Nazerel must be stopped.”
“And you think you can do by yourself what all of us could not?” The question came from the generally good-natured Blayne.
“I can, but it’s not a reflection on you. Nazerel is the First Son of South. I am the First Son of North. We were reared together, taught by the same mentors, subjected to the same disciplines. More was expected of First Sons than any of the other Shadow Assassins. I know how he thinks, what he relies upon and his weaknesses.”
“I wasn’t aware he had any,” Dekker grumbled.
“He has weaknesses and I will exploit each one.”
When no one had any immediate objections, Lor motioned toward the female. “Echo isn’t here as moral support for her mate. She is a fully trained member of Ontarian Covert Operations with abilities that will greatly assist Varrik.”
Talk about a power couple. The woman’s gaze swept the room, pausing for a moment on Roxie. Her purple gaze drew Roxie in and made her feel slightly dizzy. Roxie had no idea what powers Echo commanded, but there was a calm assurance in her demeanor that Roxie found enviable.
Everyone scooted over and chairs were provided for Varrik and Echo. The briefing progressed with more enthusiasm, but Roxie’s thoughts began to wander. She couldn’t wait to return to Unique Ink, to the creative, peaceful environment where the most challenging decision was which design would look best on which area of the body. She helped people memorialize loved ones, process loss, and celebrate important events in their lives. She was ready to go home.
By the time the briefing ended, Roxie was unable to hide her restlessness. Everyone was crowded around Varrik and Echo, trying to learn more about the impressive couple. She loitered near the doorway, not wanting to interrupt, yet unwilling to leave without speaking with Elias.
He noticed her standing all alone a few minutes later and joined her by the door. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just don’t belong here.” She stopped him when he started to object. “I want to go home. I’ve neglected my responsibilities long enough.”
“Give me a minute to wrap things up and I’ll drive you—”
“You’re acting director, love. You can’t just leave.” She placed her hands on his shoulders and moved closer. “I’m not breaking up with you. I just need to go to work.”
He leaned down and kissed her, their lips lingering even as he pulled away. “And when my workday’s done, shall I come to you or will you return to me?”
“I know my apartment is small, but I’d like to keep you all to myself, for a while anyway.”
“Done.” He kissed her again then pressed his forehead against hers. “I miss you already.”
Lor approached and Elias eased her back though his hand remained on her waist. The Mystic smiled at them. “I need to dissolve the proximity bond if she’s ready to leave.”
“I’d forgotten all about it,” Roxie admitted. Sharing emotions with Elias had become second nature. It would feel strange to have her mind to herself again.
Lor’s knowing gaze moved from her face to Elias and back. “Mating bonds can be formed in stages. I wasn’t sure if you knew about that.”
“What do you mean?” Elias wrapped his right hand around her waist so he could face Lor.
“Some couples want the intimacy of sharing thoughts and feelings without the risk of immediate offspring. This seldom happens on Ontariese, but the connection is easily formed.”
She looked into Elias’ eyes and tried to gauge his reaction. “Are you interested in that sort of—”
“Absolutely. I’m not ready for kids right now, but the rest sounds amazing.”
“Very well. Then I’ll convert the existing link rather than removing it.” He held out his hand. “A physical connection makes this easier.”
Roxie placed her hand on Lor’s and Elias covered her hand with his, curving his fingers downward so they touched Lor as well. Energy tingled through Roxie’s palm, flowing down her fingers and up her arm. Instinctively she closed her eyes and followed the sparkling trail within her mind. She felt the proximity bond expand and transform, becoming something deeper.
Once I withdraw, the link will remain, allowing you access to each other’s thoughts and feelings. After you’ve become comfortable navigating the connection, I’ll teach you how to shield it.
It doesn’t feel that different, Roxie told Lor.
Intimacy of any kind will strengthen the connection. It will feel very different before long.
And when we’re ready for the final step?
Elias’ question made Roxie look at him. Was he really thinking about children, about building a future together with her?
Lor slipped out of the link and pulled his hand out from under hers. “When you’re both ready for a true mating bond, just let me know.” Then he glided off across the room to rejoin the crowd surrounding Varrik and Echo.
“I’m not trying to pressure you, darlin’,” Elias promised with a sexy smile. “I’m willing to wait as long as it takes, but I can’t pretend I don’t want it all. And I want it with you.”
Thanks to the newly formed link she could feel his sincerity and the depths of his commitment. Rather than frightening, she found it liberating. She was free to embrace her attraction to him because his devotion to her was even stronger.
She started to kiss him again then thought better of it. “If I don’t go now, I’ll never leave. You’re just too damn tempting.”
With a warm chuckle, he bent down and brushed his lips over hers. “Until tonight.” It wasn’t really a kiss, more like a promise of all the wonderful things to come.