Pan was excited, but he tried to restrain himself as he approached Viktor’s home. He parked the rental car down several blocks to keep from signaling Viktor’s location. Pan was almost certain the scroll was somewhere in Viktor’s house, but he couldn’t say where. He wasn’t going to root around for it, not yet, anyway. He didn’t want to damage Viktor’s trust in him, but if it came down to Viktor’s trust and his life? Pan wouldn’t hesitate. Viktor could hate him all he wanted, but he’d be alive to hate him. Pan firmly ignored the pang in his heart such a thought created. Viktor was different from his other lovers, was from the start. There was no point denying it since it was the main reason Pan hadn’t kept in contact. It was only now after all this time that Pan recognized why Viktor was different. None of his other lovers ever inspired visions of home and a life away from the Agency. Viktor had. Over one long weekend, Pan began to wonder what a “normal” life would be like.
That was dangerous. He was a soldier fighting a war. The Agency was his family, and he loved everyone in it. But Viktor shook that firm foundation. They’d shared so much more than sex when they first met. There’d been a connection. He had ignored it at the time and managed to shove it away for three years. But no longer. So the question was, what was he going to do about it?
Pan huffed a breath and shook himself. Now wasn’t the time for soul-searching and deep questions about the heart. Distractions would get him—and others—killed. He needed to bring his A-game, no matter what tugged at him.
The Agency taught him well on the art of observing, and he quickly scanned the vacant street as he walked. It was too early for most people to go about their usual business, and Pan found himself missing the buzz of activity on the street where Viktor’s shop resided. He enjoyed the bustle of bodies and often indulged himself in the act of people watching. Humanity was fascinating.
Jin was somewhere behind him, covering his back. Once again Jin would stand guard as Pan talked to Viktor. One of the reasons they split up the first time was to make sure Viktor didn’t feel outnumbered and backed in a corner. This time Pan felt he and Viktor understood each other better, and he wanted to keep the easy communication open. But since the Knights still loomed like a dark thundercloud over all of them, Jin would act as their first warning signal.
Pan casually glanced over his shoulder and couldn’t see Jin anywhere. That didn’t bother him. He could feel Jin close by. After five years of partnership, many of them violent and full of close calls, he felt he could often read Jin’s mind. Whether he wanted to or not.
Pan decided after today he should start wearing his Kevlar vest. They’d yet to hear back from Mac about the knights that might reside in Portland, and it bugged him.
As he approached the front door of Viktor’s house, he smiled again at the charming picture it made. He really wouldn’t mind living in a place like this. But that was just a silly dream. He lived where the Agency wanted him, and that was it. Granted the Agency had good taste. The residence assigned to him was a condo in New York, and while he couldn’t make it a home, it was comfortable and efficient. Jin lived in the condo next to his.
Pan walked up the two short steps to the front door and took a deep breath to steady his excitement. No matter how he felt about Viktor, he couldn’t let that distract him. And it wouldn’t change a damn thing, anyway. There could be no “them.” But it was difficult to shut down his lust for Viktor, the Russian hawk shifter. He didn’t often resist temptation, so he needed to look at it as a good challenge to his fortitude.
Resisting temptation sucked, and not in the good way.
He knocked on the door in a friendly manner. It was seven in the morning, and Viktor’s car was in the driveway. Pan had the feeling Viktor was an early riser. The early bird caught the worm. Chuckling at his own private joke, Pan knocked again when nothing came from the other side.
A short moment passed before heavy footsteps sounded, and then Viktor opened the door. It would seem he was expecting someone else because there was a flash of disappointment, but then unmasked pleasure suffused his face. Even as Viktor tried to control his expression, Pan knew he’d never forget that look.
“Good morning, Viktor.” He kept his tone light and friendly. He’d even dressed more casually than usual, in dark slacks and a black polo he knew complemented his olive skin and dark eyes. But he always wore his shit-kicker boots. He never knew when he might need to kick some ass.
Pan realized he’d pegged Viktor correctly as an early bird. He was already dressed in a snappy suit and only needed to put on a tie.
“What are you doing here?” Viktor asked.
“I would like to continue our conversation from yesterday,” Pan said. “If you have time.”
Viktor nodded and stepped back.
“Thank you.”
Pan followed Viktor through a small, neat living room into a modest kitchen decorated cheerfully and far more feminine than he would have expected from Viktor. But Pan knew a little of Viktor’s history from research done last night and knew the shop and house had belonged to Viktor and Natasha’s mother. It looked like Viktor didn’t change much of its look when he inherited. For some reason that made Pan’s heart ache. Viktor obviously loved his mother very much, as well as Natasha since he seemed to want to maintain a comfortable and familiar environment.
Pan almost thought of his own mother before slamming the door to those memories. He had a job to do.
“Coffee? Tea?” Viktor said.
“Coffee, please.”
“You take black, da?”
“Good memory.”
Viktor smiled slightly.
Pan happily sat on one of the stools at the short island in the middle of the kitchen as Viktor poured him coffee.
“If I remember correctly, you take vodka in yours.”
Viktor chuckled, the sound rumbling deeply from his chest. Pan’s cock swelled. That laugh was as sexy in the light as it was in the dark.
“Da. Cannot start morning without caffeine and alcohol.”
Pan snickered. “So are Tommy or Natasha up? I wouldn’t mind talking to them.”
Viktor paused in his movements before quickly finishing up.
“They are not here.” He set a coffee mug—one with a picture of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg—down in front of Pan before taking his own seat on the other stool. He took a sip from his mug as Pan stared at him.
“Where are they?”
“Not here. Safe.”
Pan closed his eyes. “Dammit, Viktor.”
“What is problem?”
Pan opened his eyes. “While I don’t think knights have located you or us yet, I can’t guarantee it. They could have one or all of us under surveillance. I assume you had them leave sometime last night?”
Viktor nodded, his mouth set in a grim line.
“If they are surveilling you, then they might have followed Natasha and Tommy to wherever you sent them—”
“Nyet.” Viktor shook his head. “Natasha call me this morning. They are safe. They will stay there until threat has passed. Not negotiable.”
“Viktor—”
“There is no evidence they have found us yet. Is there?”
Pan frowned and shook his head. He and Jin were on high alert and though Viktor managed to sneak Tommy and Natasha away under their noses, Pan was mostly assured they weren’t discovered yet. But he was only human and had made mistakes before. Though Pan understood Viktor’s mindset, and he couldn’t completely fault his logic, he hoped Viktor’s decision didn’t bite them in the ass.
Besides, any further argument would be pointless. He considered the stubborn set of Viktor’s mouth and the heat of refusal in his eyes. It would be a waste of both their time to pursue the negation of a decision already made.
Instead Pan let out a long breath and sipped some coffee. They drank in silence for a short time.
“The scroll?”
“It is safe.” Viktor must have seen Pan’s expression because he elaborated with “I check it this morning.”
“Good.” Pan set his half-empty mug down. “Look, I’m guessing we’re at an impasse regarding the scroll. But I still have to tell you that, right now, the safest place for it is with the Agency. Not only will that put you and your family out of immediate danger, but the Agency has special secure places for sensitive material. I know bird shifters are the traditional guardians and that you see it as your duty. I understand duty, believe me. But we also need to be practical and think of the long term, not just the here and now.”
Viktor was silent as Pan spoke, and Pan hoped he was getting through that thick, stubborn mind. It was an intelligent, sexy mind, but stubborn nonetheless.
“If you’re worried about trusting the Agency, let me reassure you. We’ve made some impressive strides in the last several months, ever since we elected a new chief. We’re reaching out to shifter packs, herds, and clans and offering alliances and exchanging information. We’re networking, Viktor, trying to make it harder for Arcas and his Knights to fracture us. His greatest strength is our distrust of each other. If we keep isolating ourselves, then I’m afraid we might perish like the Native Americans. If all the tribes had banded together, they probably would have given the white settlers a run for their money.”
Viktor grunted.
“The Agency is even assigning ambassadors to the larger shifter clans,” Pan said, pressing his advantage. It appeared Viktor was actually listening. “A fellow agent and friend of mine is ambassador to the bear shifters. He’s the mate of Nordik.”
Viktor’s eyes widened. “The master shifter who protects Sanctuary?”
Pan smiled and nodded. “The very same.”
Nordik was the most well-known master shifter. He guarded a place the shifters called Sanctuary—the collected area of several national parks in Canada, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. The part of Sanctuary in Montana was located near the town of Haven.
“If Nordik can trust the Agency….” He let that hang.
Viktor looked away and rubbed his brow. He seemed frustrated, and that didn’t surprise Pan. The entire situation was incredibly frustrating.
“I hear what you say. I understand what you say. But the decision is now out of my hands.”
Pan frowned. “What do you mean?”
Viktor stared at him for a long, intense moment. Those pale eyes of his were piercing and distinctly birdlike in their focus. Pan realized only then why Viktor’s gaze three years ago seemed so familiar: it was the look of a predatory bird. Pan’s cock thickened and pressed uncomfortably against his pants.
“My father is from ancient line of hawk shifters,” Viktor said. “But our last name is Orlov in honor of our famous ancestor through marriage.”
Pan waited, knowing the struggle it took to break lifelong secrecy. He knew it all too well.
“There is an eagle master shifter. Her name in this age is Glory. My sister and I, and some of our extended cast back in Russia, are part of her convocation. She is our leader. I called her last night after Natasha and Tommy left. She is coming here. She will decide what is to be done with scroll.”
Pan blew out a stunned breath. Then he gulped down the rest of the coffee.
“Well, that just complicated matters.” Should he call Captain Odin?
“She is my leader.” Viktor spread his hands.
“I know. I get it. I was just wondering if I shouldn’t call my superior and let the adults hash it out.”
Viktor smiled slightly. “Maybe Glory takes scroll, and that ends it.”
Pan didn’t think either Odin or Hera would go for that. “Maybe.” He checked the time. “Aren’t you opening the shop today?”
Viktor shook his head. “I think I stay closed until the matter is resolved.”
“I want to advise you not to change routine, but it makes it easier for me to protect you if strangers aren’t always coming in and out.”
Viktor frowned heavily. “You do not need to protect me.”
“Yes, I do,” Pan said easily, perversely enjoying riling Viktor up. He got the distinct impression Viktor’s hawk was also indignant and ruffling his feathers.
“I am not child.”
“I know you’re not.” Pan covered the back of Viktor’s hand. “But this is my job, Viktor. I take my job very seriously.”
Viktor frowned down at their hands, although he didn’t appear angered or annoyed by the touch.
“I miss you.” Viktor’s voice was barely more than a murmur. He flipped over his hand and gripped Pan’s. “I am glad to see you again.”
Once again Pan had visions of a “normal” life. One without war, without the Agency. A life of permanence with someone to come home to. The same someone. What would it be like to wake up to that face every day, drink coffee with him every morning?
But such thoughts were pointless. Pan was married to the Agency. But wasn’t the Agency itself changing? He’d said as much to Viktor. Poe, his friend and fellow agent had, against all odds, found love with Nordik, and because of that was made ambassador. Josh had managed to heal Xavier, the rogue wolf shifter Arcas brainwashed. Now they were mates and founders of a clinic that assisted shifters harmed by the Knights. Pan thought of Derek and Brian, whom he’d recently met: a wolf shifter mated to a veterinarian with his own special gift. They all seemed happy… content. Whole.
Pan looked into Viktor’s pale eyes and wondered.
They’d yet to establish an ambassador to the bird shifters since bird shifters were once thought to be extinct. Maybe….
Suddenly there was no time to think because Viktor was kissing him, and Pan acutely remembered what Viktor could do with his mouth. His resolution of restraint fled. He wanted him. Now.
Pan eagerly wrapped his arms around Viktor’s broad shoulders and pushed off the stool to press against his warm chest. Pan opened his mouth wide, insisting on tongue, and was rewarded when Viktor accepted the invitation. Moaning, Pan pressed closer as if trying to crawl inside him. Viktor’s taste, scent, touch, it all felt as wonderful as it had three years ago, but more so now because he knew what to expect. The anticipation of the familiar was striking. An ache formed inside him, and he needed Viktor to ease it.
Sliding his fingers through Viktor’s hair, Pan directed the kiss, showing with his mouth how much he wanted him. This right here was pure passion and lust and need. While Pan found satisfaction with his other lovers, with Viktor he found all the pleasures in one package: passion, spontaneity, play, humor, intelligence, and so much more. For some reason Viktor hit all his happy spots.
Viktor dug his broad hands into Pan’s back before lowering them to squeeze his ass. Pan pushed closer, slipping between Viktor’s legs, and pressed their groins together. They moaned when each found the other hard enough to burst.
“Now. Let’s… right now, let’s take the edge off,” Pan said, panting.
Viktor said something in Russian that Pan took as agreement, even as his pulse spiked. He really should learn Russian.
Pan dove for Viktor’s zipper, and Viktor was no less eager and insistent. Soon each had their cocks exposed and in the other’s hand. Pan bestowed kiss after kiss on Viktor’s swollen lips as he stroked his impressive length. Viktor accepted each kiss, his eyes glowing faintly. It was fucking hot.
Viktor’s hand on his cock felt so right, so amazing. He had a strong grip, and his sure strokes soon had Pan’s balls tightening.
“Close,” he managed to say.
Viktor grunted in agreement.
“Sexy Russian hawk,” Pan said.
Viktor groaned and used his other hand to yank Pan’s head down to his again. But instead of a kiss, Viktor attacked his neck and bit him. The pain was all it took to have Pan come with a loud gasp all over Viktor’s hand. Even as his orgasm crashed over him, Pan never let his hand slacken, and soon Viktor joined him in ecstasy.
They leaned into each other afterward, panting heavily.
Viktor was still speaking in Russian and laid soft kisses on the bite mark. Pan shivered from the modest ache and was absurdly thrilled with Viktor’s mark. That was odd—he didn’t go into marking or bruising or anything like that. He knew some in the BDSM lifestyle and had experimented once or twice, but the hardcore scene wasn’t for him. He felt enough pain in his job that he couldn’t see it as pleasurable, either receiving it or inflicting it on someone else. He wondered what it was about Viktor that let him accept the small injury with pride.
“Prastite,” Viktor said.
“Huh?”
Viktor cleared his throat. “I am sorry for bite. I didn’t mean to….”
His voice faded, and Pan pulled back far enough to see the embarrassment and surprise on his face. Pan smiled. “Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t really hurt, and I don’t think you broke the skin. Is there blood?”
Viktor shook his head.
“Good. But this means I’ll have to finally come clean with Jin.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Jin doesn’t know about us. Three years ago, I mean.”
“Oh. Does it matter?”
“To him it will.” Pan pulled away completely and looked down at himself. “Let’s clean up before he sees us. He doesn’t need all the details.”
“You are all right?”
Uncertainty was evident on Viktor’s face, which was an odd look for such a self-assured shifter. Pan made sure his smile was happy and sultry. “Baby, you just flung me over the moon. I’m fantastic.”
Kirk didn’t know what to make of the newest email from Gregor. He hoped the agents would make their way to Oregon. Allen worked at ODOT and pulled overtime to keep his eye on the traffic cameras, yet there was no guarantee his unit would be the ones to bag the big prize for Gregor. But he felt slightly deflated upon reading Gregor’s addendum to his first email.
Apparently Arcas wanted Agent Pan alive. No reason was given, but it stated, very clearly, that any other casualty was acceptable, but they wanted Pan alive. He was to be detained and remain reasonably unharmed. Kirk couldn’t come up with a reason for this. Yes, Pan had the enviable ability to communicate with animals, but what of it? Jin controlled storms and lightning! Why was he expendable?
Kirk knew better than to question a direct order, though. He passed along a coded message to his fellow knights from where he sat in his patrol vehicle. He scanned the streets, not really seeing the mass of bland humanity. It was now late morning, and most of the shops were open. Customers walked here and there, and Kirk sneered at the simple herd animals. Nothing but greedy sheep. Their only worth was the menial tasks they would perform when Arcas ruled supreme.
Kirk didn’t have much to go on in regards to Tommy and Natasha. He only had first names and descriptions. No way he could run a facial recognition or DMV check on them. Kirk had a little more luck when he ran Pan and Jin’s photos through the database. They were in the system, but nothing pertinent popped up. The Agency was as adept as the Knights in fabricating backgrounds for their agents. Fake names, occupations, and probably fake residences were listed. Agents were ghosts. Kirk had to admire the efficiency, even if he hated it.
His cell suddenly rang. He glanced at the readout before answering.
“You have something?” he said immediately.
“Boy, do I!” Allen said, his voice shaking with excitement. “Just spotted the agents on a traffic cam in Portland. It was taken yesterday. I’m looking for more, but at least we know they were here. Maybe still are. And I got a shot, it’s a little fuzzy, but I think I got a shot of the kid. Tommy. He’s in the backseat of their car.”
Kirk’s heart sped up with excitement, but he kept his voice even. “Did you get my message?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Tell the others. Stay alert. Call me the minute you have more.”
“Affirm.”
They hung up, and Kirk gripped the steering wheel. He’d be damned if he allowed them to slip under his nose and out of the city. He called the number Gregor provided and relayed the information.
“Find more, Kirk,” Gregor answered, voice hard and tight. “You can’t let them slip through.”
“I won’t.”
There was a pause. “You’re the first to call with information. I’m going to tell you about the object they have that Arcas wants. I demand your discretion, Kirk.”
“You have it always, Commander.” Kirk’s heart drummed with excitement. He listened as Gregor told him about the object. The importance of this mission gave him a sense of pride and determination. He would be the one to bring the scroll and Agent Pan to Gregor. He would be the one to gain that glory.
When Gregor hung up, Kirk pulled back out onto the street. He was determined to turn this city upside down to find them.
“Now I know why you like The Birds,” Pan said.
They moved to the living room, and though both tried to keep it casual, Pan could feel the thick sexual tension between them. The hand jobs had eased the need but hadn’t satisfied it completely.
Viktor looked confused for a moment, but then his face cleared. He chuckled. “Da.”
Pan smiled. “Like I said, you have a wicked sense of humor. At least now I know why I kept thinking ‘predator’ when I met you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I knew you were definitely a predator shifter but couldn’t put my finger on what kind. Now I can clearly see the bird in your eyes. But I didn’t think bird then because, as you know, bird shifters are extinct.”
Pan gave a grinning Viktor a once-over. “Funny, you don’t look extinct.”
“We keep to ourselves.”
“I noticed.”
“Glory also keeps us in check.”
Pan resisted a shudder to think of a master shifter looking over his shoulder. He’d never met one personally, and it still amazed him Poe was mated to one.
“There is that,” he said.
As he sat there, he wondered again what it would be like to do this every morning and evening—to wake up next to the same person and go to sleep next to the same person. It had never been an option before, so he never let himself wonder. But why did he think it was now? He was still an agent, a soldier in a war where much was at stake. But wasn’t this, right here, what he was fighting for? Maybe not for himself, but for others. Derek and Brian flashed through his mind. The commitment and happiness between them was palpable. He hadn’t lied to Derek when he said he and Brian fought the war against Arcas in their own way. Their love for each other was another blow to the discord Arcas tried to create. Brian was a human, though he had the ability to communicate with animals—similar to Pan’s ability—and was a veterinarian. Derek was a wolf shifter and an animal control officer. Their type of relationship was one Arcas and the Knights wanted to eradicate. The Knights saw shifters as abominations, aberrations of nature.
Pan couldn’t understand that. He loved shifters. They were beautiful creatures who made the world more interesting.
“Pan?”
“Hmm?” Pan looked over and realized he’d lost the momentum of the conversation. “Sorry. Got lost in my head.”
“Is everything all right?” Viktor asked, puzzled.
Pan offered a smile. “Fine. Nothing’s wrong.”
Pan’s cell signaled a text even as a knock sounded at Viktor’s front door. Viktor tensed, but Pan patted his hand.
“It’s just Jin.” He got up and answered the door.
Jin came in and nodded stiffly to Viktor. Nothing about his expression was unusual, but Pan sensed tension.
“What is it?” he asked as Viktor stepped over to them.
“Mac called.”
Pan looked at Viktor and smiled. “Could you give us a minute? Please?”
Viktor frowned and looked like he wanted to argue, but then he shrugged. Pan blew out a breath and led Jin into the kitchen, trusting Viktor not to eavesdrop. But when he turned back, Jin was eyeing him suspiciously. Then Jin’s keen gaze zeroed in on the bruised skin of Viktor’s love bite.
Pan cleared his throat and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Okay. Confession. Three years ago I was on one of my shore leaves, remember?”
Jin nodded slowly.
“I visited the west coast of Oregon and met Viktor. We spent the weekend together, then split. Now we’ve been thrown back together. The heat’s still there.”
Jin’s face held no expression, but when he closed his eyes and sighed heavily, Pan felt guilty. And defensive.
“You know I won’t let this distract me. It was a fling.”
Jin opened his eyes and blatantly looked Pan up and down.
“What?”
“Something’s different about him.”
Pan frowned.
Jin tilted his head slightly to one side. “Would you say something’s different about him?”
Pan looked away. Sometimes he hated that Jin was so astute.
“Bird shifters mate for life,” Jin said. “At least that’s what legends say.”
“Yeah. So what?”
“You know what. What if he doesn’t see it as a fling?”
“He does. Lay off.”
Expression hardening, Jin stepped closer and got in Pan’s face. “We are at war, soldier. We are being hunted. I need you to have my back, and I need your head in the game. Do you understand?”
Pan felt a tickle of fear in the back of his throat as he stared into Jin’s cold eyes. Most of his defensiveness trickled away. He knew Jin, and he was just as scared as Pan was, but Jin was also prepared to do what needed to be done. And he needed Pan to keep his head straight and remember the mission. Pan couldn’t argue with him about that.
Cupping Jin’s face in his hands, Pan continued to stare into his eyes. “Yes, brother. I understand.”
Jin’s expression softened, and he took a step back. Pan dropped his hands.
“What did Mac say?”
“He found files. There is a unit of five knights in Portland.”
Pan cursed. That was the largest unit they’d heard of by far. Usually it was only a team of two, maybe three. But five?
“He get names? A location?”
“Only the name of the leader: Kirk Lancaster. And a possible location. But the file is outdated.”
“That means they could have moved. How outdated?”
“Two years.”
“Before the raid.” Pan stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet. “They probably moved after the raid to stay hidden. It’s what we would do.”
Jin nodded.
The most disturbing thing about the Knights was the similarities between them and the Agency in how they operated. They were almost like twins, only one was good and the other evil.
“Where?”
Jin gave an address even as he pulled out his iPad and accessed the encrypted files Mac sent him. Neither of their mental maps of Portland were very good. Jin pulled up a map, and Pan walked over to stand side by side with him to view it.
“We’ll check it out,” Pan said.
“Mac also did a search of Kirk, and it turns out that’s the name he actually uses for employment.”
“Employment where?”
Jin brought up the file and Pan grimaced. He looked at the photo of an unsmiling man with tawny skin, closely cropped brown hair and stone gray eyes. He was mildly attractive with a square jaw and blunt nose. But what made Pan grimace was the uniform he wore.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. A fucking sergeant of the police department? Hell. Did it list a place of residence?”
“Yes. Probably fake.”
“We’ll have to check it out anyway. After we check out the unit’s last known address.”
“Has Viktor said more about the scroll or the weapon?” Jin asked after a moment of silence.
Pan sighed and glanced up. “Yeah. Things just got more complicated with that.”
Jin frowned and cocked his head.
Viktor wasn’t one for eavesdropping. He personally found the act abhorrent. But he couldn’t stop himself from being a hypocrite this time. He stood against the wall beside the kitchen entry, hidden from view, and listened to the two agents talk. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Pan’s insistence that what was between them was a fling, or Jin’s cryptic statement that there was something different about Viktor.
Jin spoke true when he said bird shifters mated for life. It was the main reason his parents hadn’t divorced and remarried. It just wasn’t who they were. His hawk ruffled his feathers, and once again his mind filled with the words true mate. Viktor scowled. Supposedly when a bird shifter found their true mate, they knew it instantly. There was an instant bond, and the way to prove that without a shadow of a doubt was for the bird shifter to try to link their mind with their mate’s. If the pair were true mates, the telepathic link would be made effortlessly, and images and thoughts, even conversations, could be held mentally. While bird shifters could link their minds with anyone, with true mates, there was hardly any effort at all.
Viktor didn’t believe such things. But he couldn’t shake the realization Pan touched something inside him none of his other lovers ever had. Perhaps it was still a fling for Pan, but Viktor knew it wasn’t for him. The kiss and hand jobs they shared in the kitchen only cemented the desire for more, for something deeper and lasting. If he once thought the heat between them would cool, he was forced to reconsider. Viktor admired and respected Pan; his confidence and surety in who he was and his purpose left Viktor in awe and slightly envious. And his courage. Damn if Pan’s courage wasn’t frightening.
But he agreed with Jin on one thing: this was not the time for distractions. They were, indeed, being hunted. It was his duty to keep Tommy and Natasha and the damn scroll out of enemy hands. But that kiss, that heat, wasn’t something easily forgotten. He felt cold without it. His hawk berated him for resisting, for denying what he believed to be true. Viktor pushed his twin spirit aside and focused once again on Pan and Jin’s conversation.
The agents were going to check out a location where knights might be staying. And the knights knew their faces. Were they insane?
He stepped away from the kitchen when he sensed their conversation was winding down. Jin certainly wasn’t happy about Viktor calling Glory. But what was done was done, and now they could only wait for her arrival to decide the fate of the scroll. But that was only half the battle, it seemed. The other half was to take the battle to the knights themselves. While it made good fighting sense, it still frightened him to think of Pan in such danger. It didn’t help to remind himself Pan was a soldier and that he put himself in dangerous situations all the time. He was still alive and kicking, but for how much longer? Viktor was in the war now, and he would stay in it until his part was over. The time for standing on the sidelines was ended. Too many of those he cared about depended on his participation.
Viktor pushed aside the curtain slightly to scan the street. Pan and Jin entered a moment later. Would they lie to him?
“We might have found a location for the unit of Knights stationed in Portland,” Pan said without preamble.
Viktor was slightly mollified by the fact the agents weren’t going to lie to him. But when he turned around, he noticed Jin eye Pan in a way Viktor couldn’t read.
“We’re going to check it out,” Pan said, his tone too light, as if making this a casual thing when they all knew it wasn’t. “I would like you to stay here, please. Or open your shop. But try to stay off the streets as much as you can.”
Viktor narrowed his eyes. “Do not presume I am stupid, Agent.”
Pan frowned. “I don’t.”
“I know this is dangerous. They know your faces. They will likely have cameras on the building watching everyone approach. They might be there, and they might not. Or they could have new place, maybe in another part of city. Or within eyeshot of old place so they can plan attack if agents come.”
A flicker of surprise entered Pan’s eyes before he controlled it. “You said nothing that isn’t true. It doesn’t change our mission. They are a threat that needs to be eliminated.”
Viktor swallowed hard as fear rooted in his gut. True mate or not, it didn’t matter. He couldn’t let Pan be harmed. Not when he could help.
Viktor drew himself up to his full height. “I will come with you.”
“No.”
Viktor glared. “I will come with you. I am part of this fight.”
“You need to be safe—”
“I am not child!” Viktor nearly shouted. “You will not treat me as one. Knights wish to destroy my kind. My family. They wish to steal my heritage from me. I am their target. My kind are their victims. You know what they do to shifters.”
Pan flinched. He recovered quickly, but Viktor didn’t miss it. Jin watched them both, and while his expression didn’t change, his eyes darkened.
“I will not stand on sidelines. I will fight. My kind deserves justice for crimes committed against us. You cannot deny this.”
“No,” Pan said softly. “I can’t. But what would we gain if we lost you?”
“What would we gain if we lost you?” Viktor countered.
“Dammit, Viktor,” Pan said, clenching his fists. “Jin and I are agents. We’re expendable. You and the scroll are not. We—”
Viktor lost his mind. At that moment he thought both he and his hawk had had enough. Forgetting Jin was even there, he gripped Pan’s face and kissed him.
Pan could no longer speak. It might have had something to do with Viktor’s angry and heated kiss currently keeping his mouth busy. Viktor thrust his tongue possessively into his mouth, holding Pan’s head prisoner in his hands. Pan gripped Viktor’s wrists but couldn’t find the strength to stop him. The intensity of it swept away his will like a firestorm through a forest, and his knees weakened. He could only stay on his feet by leaning into Viktor’s solid form.
His mouth was well and thoroughly used, and his cock was aching for relief by the time Viktor pulled away. All Pan could do was breathe, gulping down precious oxygen.
Viktor’s eyes were blue flames. “You are not expendable to me.”
Pan gulped. A fierce raptor stared from behind Viktor’s eyes, the hunting hawk intent on its prey. Viktor’s single-minded focus to assert his claim was something Pan had no experience with.
He vaguely realized Jin had left the room, abandoning Pan with the fierce hawk. He didn’t know whether to curse Jin or be thankful.
Pan finally found his voice. “I’m not reckless, Viktor. I don’t take unnecessary risks since I like being among the living.” He paused. “But I’m sorry for my careless words.”
Then he took a steady breath and gently but firmly pushed Viktor away. With obvious reluctance Viktor dropped his hands and allowed the distance.
Pan straightened his polo. “Don’t become too attached, Viktor. I can’t…. There’s a reason why I have casual lovers. You could say I’m married to the Agency. I’m a soldier.”
“Other soldiers have families.”
Pan rubbed his face. “Yeah, they do. And look at the toll it takes on their loved ones as well as the soldiers themselves. The Agency can’t afford that. While we might have units spread around the world, we are still relatively small. There aren’t many who can become agents. And even fewer who can become field agents. Most are more adept at office work and behind-the-scenes sort of things. But in the field, they’d freeze up.”
“So you are not as expendable as you claim.”
Pan managed to smile. “No, I guess not.”
Jin returned and silently handed both of them a glass of water. Pan wanted to laugh for some reason but instead took a sip. Viktor drained the glass and looked partly embarrassed for his outburst, but still stubborn in his decision.
“I can go as hawk.” Viktor set down the glass. “They will not recognize me.”
“We can’t be sure what they know or don’t.” But Pan considered the idea. It had merit.
“I can get closer, and you can stay at safe distance and observe.”
Pan looked at Jin. Jin narrowed his eyes in consideration before nodding.
Pan blew out a breath, hoping this didn’t backfire. “Okay. Let’s go.”