Everyone stared at him like he’d died.
Well, Ian told himself, he almost had. And even two weeks later Breaker, Fisk and Seb (especially Seb) glanced at him sideways like he might puff into smoke at any moment.
He scowled at them all from his new desk, then put his feet on it to make a point. This office wasn’t nearly as large or nice, but the little back room had better security. Even if it didn’t have the view – his way of watching over Haven.
Ian tried to convince Breaker the window saved his life that day. The beta had to point out it was the fire escape that did it. And, like usual, Breaker was right.
“It’s too. . . cramped. How can I fight in here if someone attacks?” Ian said and glanced at the bare brick walls. “It looks like someplace a middle manager would work. Not the leader of the Black Wolves. The feared leader.”
“The leader who came back from the dead,” Seb said and rolled his eyes. “I chose this place. It’s defensible and in an unconventional spot. Some place the Russians won’t look. It’s the best headquarters for now, and these two agree.”
Breaker would agree. He probably thought it was fitting for their group – he often said Ian acted like an avenging angel. What better place for an angel to reside than a church? Too bad he couldn’t use the front of the church with the huge cathedral windows and the brightly colored stained glass. Apparently they still held services here for the poor and downtrodden.
It fit with the Black Wolves sensibilities just fine. Better than the laundry mat.
Since that business at the cannery, the Bears were reeling. If Sergei was alive, and that was a big if, Ian wasn’t sure what the crazy Russian bastard would do to them now. Something even more unpleasant than last time, he knew that much.
Ian didn’t remember what happened after he blacked out, but Seb and Breaker were kind enough to fill him in. Apparently, Fei and his Tigers staged a rescue mission, which was a success in every way.
Not only did everyone get out alive, but several bears were killed in the process. Too bad they didn’t destroy that warehouse. It’s what Ian would’ve done, but Fei was a different sort of leader than Ian was.
More reserved.
Ian was almost dead when Ari used the Pharaoh’s Staff on him. Ari used it to heal the two detectives and Breaker as well. What happened to the staff after that was anyone’s guess. Fisk said the cops took it, and Ian couldn’t even muster the urge to be annoyed.
It did what it was supposed to do, for the most part.
Breaker cleared his throat. “Do you have an answer for Fei? His terms to the alliance?”
After the trouble the Tigers went through to save them, Ian couldn’t say ‘no’ to an alliance, no matter how badly it turned his stomach. Seb, once again, knew what he was talking about.
Fei was a better man than any Tiger he’d met – maybe a better man than Ian himself. Or maybe Fei was a more dangerous man. Ian wasn’t sure about that part yet.
He’d have to find out.
Ian studied his fingernails. “Yeah, I’m agreeing to them.”
Fisk snorted, and Breaker stood very still. “Milo’s not going to like that,” he said carefully.
“Milo will do what he’s told. Plus, I’ve been assured he’ll be well taken care of, and he’s still part of our pack. The exchange is only temporary. We’ll get a Tiger in his place,” Ian said and swiveled in his chair. Damn. No window to gaze out of pensively. He’d have to figure out another way to plot in this new office.
Breaker nodded once, his lips pursing. “Should I make an appointment with Xian?”
“Yeah – at a small restaurant though. Private. I want to enjoy a meal for once,” Ian said and waved his hand in dismissal.
Breaker got the point and left. Always the perfect enforcer. Fisk trailed after him, talking about the alliance and Milo as if Ian couldn’t hear every word.
The door clicked shut, and he turned to face Seb. His heart sped up a little, jumping the way it did when he realized what he had with the cat shifter. How amazingly lucky he was to find a mate like that.
“Are you going to say it’s a bad idea?” Ian asked as Seb stepped forward.
Seb’s fingers twitched at his sides, and he shook his head. “No. Fei’s a man of his word. Plus, it’s a Triad tradition to keep each gang honest. As long as it works,” he finished with a shrug and picked up the little chess set from the side table.
It wasn’t as nice as the one at the penthouse, but all of that furniture was in evidence at the local police department at the moment. Even after Seb helped rescue those two detectives, they couldn’t drop the case against him. The best they could do (since they weren’t crooked cops, and Ian wasn’t going to try to bribe them anyway) was look at the Russians for the hooker’s murder in order to clear Ian’s name.
As far as Ian knew, they were currently working on it.
“Black or white?” Seb asked as he set up the pieces. His deft fingers slipped over each one, stronger than they’d been before.
Looking at him now, Ian hardly saw a hint of the old sickness. No paleness. No circles around his eyes. The telltale hint of sweat on his brow, warning the world Seb pushed himself too hard, was gone.
While the staff hadn’t totally healed the cat, it improved his condition more than a simple tonic ever could.
“Are you really asking me that?” Ian said.
Seb smiled, and pushed the black side of the board toward him.
His green eyes caught Ian’s, and he moved forward slowly, leaning over the chair. The hint of worry furrowed his brow, and he placed his hand over Ian’s heart.
He did that a lot lately.
Ian placed his hand on top of Seb’s. “Are you finally going to tell me how happy you are that I’m not dead?”
“Shut up. You know I’m happy about that. But. . . do you ever feel like it will come back?” Seb asked, biting his bottom lip.
“Like the magic won’t hold?” Ian said. “No. But I wondered the same thing about you. It seems too good to be true. But then again, so do you.”
Seb rolled his eyes and turned to move, but Ian held his hand and pulled the cat forward. His lips hovered above Seb’s in an almost kiss, and for a beautiful moment they breathed the same air.
“No kissing until you beat me,” Seb whispered. His hands bunched on Ian’s tie, and he pulled at it playfully.
Ian smirked. He loved it when Seb gave him a challenge – even if he’d never beaten the cat at chess. “And what happens if you win?”
“Well, I get to do what you promised. I claim you,” Seb said and leaned back.
A little jolt of excitement shot through Ian’s veins, pooling in his groin. That was going to make focusing on the game a lot harder.
“Deal,” Ian said, moving his black pawn two spaces to meet Seb’s white pawn.
Ian planned to lose spectacularly.