"The Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons. Unbelievable." Izzy sniggered as they entered the elevator.
Conlin pushed the button to the twentieth floor and leaned against the rail. "Where would you expect him to be? The Super 8?"
Izzy glared at him and his mocking smile. "Ha ha, funny." Of course she didn't think he'd stay at a cheap motor inn, but a luxury hotel didn't seem right either. He was the bad guy. He should be in some secret underground complex with lots of high-tech gadgetry. Very 007, not Donald Trump.
At least this property was neutral territory. The thought soothed her jitters until the elevator started its ascent. As it rose, her nerves matched each new level attained. The walls seemed to grow smaller, squeezing precious oxygen out of the cabin. By the time the tin can stopped for two passengers on the tenth floor, she was sweating and had to pee. A couple entered the lift and stood in the center, holding hands and blocking her view of Conlin. She took a step forward to keep him in her periphery. Three floors up, the couple exited early fanning themselves. The doors closed and Conlin's power flared to life engulfing her. The car stopped moving, and she expected the alarm bells to sound. Coaxing her flame, she readied herself for the attack. She wasn't sure what had alerted Conlin, but as his power flowed over her skin, she knew something was amiss.
What she didn't realize, it was her. No one would be bursting in on them because she was the loose cannon. The beads of moisture trickling down her back weren't from nerves. Not solely, at least. Her dread of this meeting had triggered a nasty side effect. The temperature in the elevator had risen at least fifteen degrees with her errant ability. Granted, she wasn't setting things on fire, but she was still undisciplined, haphazardly affecting her environment.
Conlin smiled, utterly at peace. Bastard. How did he always remain so calm? It was maddening. "Come here." He'd used his best sex-me-up voice. The ultimate distraction. Even under extreme stress, his dulcet yet commanding tone could breach her fear, impossibly turning the screaming meemies to wanton lust.
"You've bubbled the entire elevator, haven't you?"
"Mmmm hmmmm." He grasped her hand and drew her to him. Settling his arms around her torso, she fit neatly into his embrace. His hands played with the hem of her shirt until he brushed bare skin. The rough pads of his fingertips dug gently in her hips. He kissed her and the car cooled while her insides warmed. "Better?"
"Much."
A devilish grin split his face. "We do this together."
"Together," she mimicked. Reaching around his neck, she pulled him back down for another slow exploration of lips and tongue. A thank you for standing by her despite her past. He allowed her the indulgence, but only for a moment.
Pulling back, he kissed her brow. He let his fingers trail up her arms until he slipped them over her shoulders and kneaded the top of her spine with his thumbs. "Let me go first. Our primary objective is to find out what he knows about Yadira's disappearance." She nodded and rested her head against his chest. "I know you have questions, but I don't want to scare him off. Whenever your mother is mentioned, he becomes unbalanced."
"Unbalanced? That's a very tame word for it."
His chuckle rattled in his chest. "You know what I mean. Trust me, I want to know the why as much as you."
"Agreed. Just give me some kind of signal when you have all the info you need."
"You'll know." Taking her hand, he spun them toward the doors planting a kiss to the top of her head before releasing his magic. "Let's do this." The lift groaned as it rumbled to life and climbed the remaining floors to the Presidential Suite.
Conlin looked closely at the MU standing in the threshold. His shoulders sagged under an invisible burden, and his clear blue eyes had grown cloudy and dark. Milos was drained. No doubt his tricks at dinner had depleted him. Freezing a gathering as powerful as that took no small amount of effort. Opening the door wider, Milos ushered them to the parlor.
"Thank you for allowing us to come." Conlin firmly believed in the killing-more-bees-with-honey approach.
"I owed it to your father." Milos shuffled by them and faced the windows overlooking Downtown Houston. "Please have a seat." He remained still, his back to them.
"Thanks but I don't intend to be here that long." No way would he sit and allow Milos the power position. The MU may be spent, but he'd lay odds the man had a reserve to call on if the need arose. Conlin refused to take the chance. Not with Izzy standing a few paces behind him.
"As you wish. My intent was not to bring an enemy into your midst. Your father has earned my respect.” He had yet to turn and face them directly. Conlin stretched his senses, trying to get a read on him. "Please, scan away. I could have told you all this on the phone, but you wanted to verify the information. You're thorough. I can appreciate that."
Of course Milos knew why he'd come in person. Conlin could sense underlying emotions. If the MU lied, he'd be able to sense his dishonesty. "Your associate? Tell me about him."
"If Cade has something to do with this, I'll be deeply embarrassed."
"How well do you know him?"
Milos craned his neck and spoke over his shoulder. "Not very, I'm afraid. He was only recently assigned to my care."
"Do you know where he is now?"
"No." He walked to the side table and picked up what was left of his drink. "I've not seen or heard from him since we entered your father's house. Shortly after we arrived, he was called away to handle other matters." Conlin started to ask, but Milos cut him off. "I don't know what was so urgent. Before dinner, he asked to be excused."
"You have no reason to suspect him of any wrong doing?"
"I don't know him well enough to make a judgment, but nothing in his behavior caused me concern. Until today. It's unlike him not to report in when asked."
Conlin felt the MU's dislike of Cade, but nothing in his manner suggested he was being insincere. He seemed genuinely concerned a man under his care may have caused harm. It was an odd juxtaposition considering his typical behavior. "Why are you really here?"
Milos sighed. As he began to speak, his voice was tired, as if he'd repeated the same sentiment for years. "I'm here to help bring together our various groups before there's a war. Tensions are running high and I fear, along with the collective, we'll begin fighting each other rather than working together. Now, more than ever, we must abandon our old ways. We must have solidarity." He truly believed in his words. There was not even a hint of doubt in his speech.
"Then why were you openly hostile toward the shifters at the table?"
"Was I?" Milos chuckled.
"You weren't exactly welcoming."
"You're right. I have my own prejudices, which is why the collective chose me. It's well known I feel the draoithe are vastly superior beings. Above vampires, above shifters, certainly above humans." His lip crinkled in disgust as he spoke. "Yet, we need each other, do we not?"
"How long are you expected to stay?"
"Indefinitely." Milos picked up his glass and swirled the drink around before taking a careful sip.
"But why? We're on our way to an alliance. You did more to piss people off since being here than bring anyone together."
Milos laughed, genuinely amused by his statement. "So it would seem. But my orders state I'm to remain here and oversee the work being done."
"Fantastic," Conlin said, not bothering to disguise his dislike of the situation.
"Ah, Conlin, it will be such a pleasure to work with you." Milos let out a bitter laugh and sagged into the nearest chair.
Izzy watched as Milos's energy flagged. He was little more than a husk of skin. This could be her chance, and she might never get this opportunity again. "May I ask a question?"
He closed his eyes, letting his head rest on the back of the chair. "Your mother?"
"Yes."
"I don't want a fight. I haven't the energy." Lolling his head to the side, he opened his eyes. "If you want to defend her honor, go elsewhere."
"Please." The single word sat heavy in the air. With one word, she'd laid her soul bare.
He paused and sighed. "Pour me another drink?" He raised his glass. She brushed past Conlin and took the tumbler from his hand. There was nothing on the bar but small bucket of ice and a near empty bottle of whiskey. She poured in the remnants and returned it to his hand.
"Thank you."
A few hours ago, this man owned the world. He'd been confident. Assured. Cocky. Now his hand shook as he brought the glass to his lips. Something about his frailty hit Izzy square in the chest. "You should eat."
He rested the lowball on his knee and studied her. She didn't feel intimidated before this version of the man. She felt like the parent and he the child. The thought made her still. None of this made sense. The vision. Her mother. His angst.
"Who was my mother to you?"
"An acquaintance. Our parents were close," he said. A stock response. He was lying. The vein in his neck jumped under the ink of the dragon.
"You were more than friends. I saw her eyes, Milos." It was a look she thought reserved for her father. No. There was more. Her mother had never gazed at her father with complete abandon. Not the way she had in Milos's vision.
"You saw nothing." His voice was tired, but steady. His heart beat so fast now that the dragon seemed alive. If it flew off his skin, she wouldn't have flinched.
"I did. You know I did. You showed it to me." She should back off, but she couldn't. Instead she stepped forward until she loomed over his crumpled frame. She no longer felt pity toward this man. He may be weak now, but his power would return and when it did he wouldn't think twice before using it against her. "Why did you show me that memory if you didn't want me to know?"
Anger infused his features, but there was a sorrow in his eyes he couldn't hide. "I made a mistake. It's a memory you should have never seen." He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees as he pleaded with her. Milos was scared. "It wasn't real. Simply a dream. A dream of what could have been. But your mother was a coward. I'll see you as the same until you prove otherwise." He sounded tough, but he was too weary to hide his underlying emotions. Desperation laced his words.
"Were you…were you in love with her?"
With her words the shell of man was gone and the only spark of life left—the dragon—had taken his place. He towered over her, his eyes slits of unrestrained fury. "Get. Out. Now." His energy surrounded her. Against her will, she began to move toward the entrance and out of the suite. On the edge of her vision, she saw Conlin following until they were both unceremoniously evicted.