by Dannika Dark
“I am a member of HALO and you have—”
“Yes, Mage. I’m well aware.”
A tall blond with sharp cheekbones and blistering yellow eyes entered the room, the heels of his dress shoes clicking on the floor. He wore black slacks and a tight-fitting jacket of the same color. Another man walked in holding papers in his right hand. But what caught my attention was that each of them was armed with a katana—a gently curved steel blade that looked over two feet long. On their other hip was a dagger, both weapons prominently displayed outside their attire.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Levi said with a familiar tone, walking toward the Chitah in black.
The man lifted his hand. “Stay back, Levi. This is official business.”
Justus sent a quick text on his phone and stood beside Christian. “The Mageri knows nothing of your visit.”
The Chitah pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. “Of course they don’t, Mage. As you’re well aware, Regulators carry out orders given by any Breed member of the higher authority once a warrant for arrest is issued. We are here on orders of the Chitah Overlord.”
With a flick of the wrist, the second man handed the papers to Justus. I clutched Logan even tighter as my Ghuardian meticulously reviewed them.
“This is ludicrous,” he muttered.
Ignoring him, the Chitah moved toward me. Logan’s posture rapidly changed to an aggressive one.
“By order of the higher authority, the Regulators of the Security Force have been summoned to serve a warrant and place Logan Cross under arrest for the murder of Tarek Thorn, Lord of the Youngblood Pride. The investigation is complete and the family of the victim seeks justice for your deliberate actions. They feel your baneful influence poses a threat to their good name and is a danger to our society.” He coolly stepped in front of Logan as they locked eyes. “You will be held in the Breed facilities until such time that the Council has determined your fate.”
“You can’t do this!” I shouted. “Call the Overlord. Logan is my kindred and—”
“The Overlord is the one who issued the warrant. Law is law, young Mage. You break a rule and you pay the hefty price.”
The second man lifted his eyes to meet mine and I felt the distinct flare of a Mage. He began increasing his energy to prepare for a confrontation. Attacking a Regulator was a criminal offense.
Logan peered over his shoulder with a look of defeat. The rims of his eyes pulsed—this was one battle he couldn’t win. It’s something he’d tried to prepare me for in conversation, reminding me that the investigation was still ongoing and until the case closed and the family settled, it was a looming threat. The orders had been issued by the Overlord, but the decision for the arrest had to be unanimous among the leaders within the higher authority.
My fingertips buzzed as the tension in the air thickened.
The Regulator arched his brow. “Well, then. If this is your refusal, Cross, perhaps you’d rather us take your female.”
When the man reached out to touch my arm, Logan blocked him and Finn shifted into his wolf, causing Sadie to scream.
“Finn, no!” Logan roared.
The wolf paced forward, canines bared, crouched low. Levi swiftly corralled Finn in the hallway.
“You have two choices, Cross. Easy or… not so easy,” the Chitah continued, squeezing the hilt of his katana. “A warrant is not debatable; you can plead your case with the Council of elders, but think twice about resisting arrest. It will go on your record and may sever any sliver of hope you have of overturning their decision.”
“Logan, no,” I pleaded. “They can’t do this. You saved my life…”
I grimaced at the emotional turmoil ravaging my heart. The sharpest ache I’d ever known constricted my chest. I looked to Justus whose eyes briefly darted to mine while he spoke in a low voice to the other Regulator. The man continued shaking his head and pointing at certain passages in his papers. Everything began moving in slow motion.
Logan placed a heavy hand on Levi’s shoulder. “Take care of my female. Protect her as if she were your mate.”
Levi lifted his dimpled chin. “I will guard her with my life, brother.”
This isn’t happening, I thought. It’s a nightmare and I’m going to wake up at any moment.
Logan turned around and cupped my neck, tenderly kissing away the tears that spilled down my cheeks.
“My female,” he whispered softly against my cheek. “Bars will not cage my love for you. Distance will not keep me out of your dreams. Death will not stop my heart from beating for you, Little Raven. You knew this might happen.”
“I know, but I don’t want to lose you,” I said through sobs, holding on to his neck. “Please don’t leave me here alone.”
He gripped me tight and I felt him slipping away, so I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to imagine this moment wasn’t happening.
“I’ll never leave you,” he whispered against my hair.
“Promise?”
“Let’s go,” the Chitah barked out, gripping Logan’s arm and pulling him away.
Logan lunged toward me and held my face, giving me a desperate and soulful kiss as he spoke against my lips.
“You’re the reason I exist.”
“Come on, Chitah,” the Regulator said, tugging him away. “Time to face the man.”
“Watch over my sister,” Logan demanded of Adam as the men cuffed him.
All I could think about was how handsome Logan looked tonight. He’d gone out of his way to put on something that would impress Sadie so it would be a night to remember. One she would remember for years to come.
And it was.
Chapter 20
I was inconsolable and enraged. How could Logan’s leaders allow so many months to elapse before deciding to incarcerate him? Sadie was visibly shaken and Adam drove her back to the motel after I loaned her a pair of my jeans to wear beneath her dress. Because Levi wouldn’t leave my side, Justus volunteered to drive Lucian home. Finn remained in wolf form—agitated—so I walked him down to the lower level.
Levi didn’t like the scent of my distress and looked close to flipping his switch a few times. I could trust Logan in that primal state, but I had no idea how volatile a man like Levi might be.
Still wearing my green dress, I slipped into a leather jacket and zipped up the front.
“Going somewhere, female?” Levi folded his thick arms and tilted his head empathetically.
“To see the Overlord,” I replied, retrieving my car keys from a bowl in the living room. “He’s the only one who can stop this. We’re not going to argue about it, Levi. You can come or you can stay here. You decide. Logan asked you to look out for me, but he didn’t ask you to control my decisions.”
“Damn, girl. I wasn’t going to say anything. I guess you must be used to that shit from Logan.”
I grabbed my phone and tucked it in my coat pocket. “This isn’t the day to get on my bad side, Levi. Don’t joke about Logan when he’s given me more freedom than any man I’ve ever known.”
I put the alarms on the highest setting, and since Finn was downstairs, I placed the chicken casserole by the lift with a note, telling him not to go upstairs under any circumstance until I came to get him. Finn had everything he needed down there from books to workout equipment. Superman couldn’t break into that house, but if for some reason he did, he wouldn’t find Finn as long as he remained hidden downstairs.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Christian asked in his Irish lilt, leaning against the garage door with his hands stuffed in his pant pockets. He pulled out a small peppermint and began to twist the wrapper off.
“To see the Overlord.”
He popped the candy in his mouth and tucked the wrapper in his pocket. “I don’t think that’s such a grand idea,” he said, walking toward my car and blocking the driver’s side door.
“Move out of my way, Christian. You aren’t the boss of me and this is none of your business.”
&n
bsp; “Protecting you is my business, and you’re about to walk into a lion’s pit.” His black eyes swallowed me up and I dodged his glare, noticing he’d trimmed up his beard a little.
Christian touched my chin and stepped forward, lifting my head. “Don’t look away from me, lass. I’ve already promised I wouldn’t charm you.” His eyes floated to my mouth and I jumped when Levi slammed his fist on top of the car.
“How ’bout you take your hands off her and do your job? I know a few guards, and they shut their trap and don’t get involved.”
“Maybe my brawn comes with a brain,” Christian suggested. “Clearly yours doesn’t if you’re allowing her to walk into danger. I have no patience for ineptitude.”
Levi’s fingers tapped on the hood angrily. “I don’t allow anyone shit. You allow children, and Silver is a woman who makes her own choices. She’s also my brother’s mate, and you had better put your hands back in your pockets. I’m going to take this shit up with Novis. When guards get too involved with who they’re protecting, they don’t concentrate as hard as they should. They become easily distracted. They make mistakes. Their emotions compromise the safety of their client. So back the fuck off, Vampire.”
Christian’s stoic expression fell on me once more and he turned around and hit the button to the garage door, stalking outside with his black coat flapping in the wind. He sat on his bike, the headlamp off despite that it was a moonless night.
“Silver, there’s just one thing,” Levi said.
“What’s that?”
“I know where the Overlord lives, but you’re not getting on the property.”
“I’m sure there’s a call button or a guard; he’ll have to let me in. This is important.”
“It is,” he said. “But to a man like him? Business as usual. I don’t think he’s ever let a Mage on the premises. I’ll call Leo and see what he says. Get in the car and turn on the heater before you freeze.”
I did just that. A forgettable song played on the radio and I watched Levi in the mirror talking to Leo on the phone. He paced and had a habit of holding a fist to his head when upset.
Justus sent me a message not to leave the house. I grew irritated, knowing Christian had ratted me out. My facetious reply suggested that he order Christian to charm me. Justus didn’t respond.
The car bounced when Levi sat in the passenger seat and slammed the door. “Well, this is unprecedented. The Overlord is giving you a golden ticket. Leo said he spoke with the Overlord and he owed you a favor. Damn, girl, you know how to work your connections.” He buckled up his seatbelt and pushed the seat back for more legroom.
Not long ago, Novis had sent me on a job to give the Overlord inside information about the experiments, but not in explicit detail. It made sense to involve him after we found Chitah venom in the lab. Not to mention my surrogate and biological mothers were both Chitahs. Perhaps Quaid, the Overlord, owed Novis more than he did me, but I worked for Novis and I knew he was extending the courtesy.
“Here goes nothing,” I said.
Levi tested my sanity during the drive with his rendition of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. When we arrived at the Overlord’s mansion, he had a couple of security checkpoints on the property, just as Novis did. The Overlord’s Chitah guards scared the hell out of me. Luckily, we didn’t have to get out of the car. They questioned us and leaned in, taking in our scent. After determining we had no weapons or intent to inflict harm upon the Overlord, we were permitted entry.
“I feel violated,” I said, rolling up my window after I’d been sniffed over by the guards.
“So do I, but in a different way,” Levi replied. “That last guy wasn’t a fan of deodorant.”
After we parked in a designated area to the left of the ostentatious residence, a guard escorted us inside the mansion and we waited in a spacious room. It was definitely a house designed for entertaining a large number of people. Before I could soak in the grandeur of it all, we were hustled into an office where the Overlord was sitting behind a mahogany desk. Bookcases filled the wall behind him, and a window on the right had the champagne-colored drapes closed.
Levi bowed and I followed his example.
Quaid, the Overlord, extended his arm and offered us a seat in the burgundy chairs in front of his desk. They were plush and certainly expensive.
When I removed my coat, he looked at my dress and frowned. “I do apologize it had to occur during a festive occasion. However, when the order is made, I have no knowledge of the locations of those arrested. The Regulators are sent forth to serve the warrant and take them to jail.”
Breed jail. Each major city had a building that served as a prison for all Breeds. Perhaps they were concerned it would raise red flags to have a number of different facilities for each Breed. One per city didn’t raise suspicion among humans and was easier to conceal. Prisoners were detained until the higher authority determined their punishment. Usually it was decided prior to the arrest.
“Why after all this time?” I began. “Why give us false hope?”
He laced his fingers together on the desk, looking between us with crisp, citrine eyes. The Overlord had a remarkable appearance because his coal-black hair was a rare trait among Chitahs, although it was turning salt-and-pepper. His regal features set him apart—Quaid was born to lead. Logan said the man had a strong genetic line and his father had once been the Overlord, even though it wasn’t a title passed down to their children. The position had to be challenged for, but only by a Lord, and only during the period that allowed for a shift in power.
Quaid drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment. “We have been unsuccessful in proving facts that would release Logan Cross of his guilt. You state you are his kindred spirit, but there is no written evidence to prove what you claim. I may be able to scent the truth from you, but I am bound by the law. As it stands, a Chitah cannot become a Mage and I can only assume you are being led to believe a lie. We have eyewitnesses that Tarek killed the human, and the autopsy confirmed this when traces of venom were found in his throat that linked to Tarek.”
“Isn’t that enough to discredit Tarek as a Lord?”
“Perhaps. But we do not know what transpired between him and the cop that made him react violently. Both victim and assailant are deceased. The elders have been in a longstanding debate as to whether this should weigh in on the case. While you state your life was in danger, you openly accepted Tarek’s claim in public, so a few have been skeptical as to how forced the situation was, as you claim. Our Sensors picked up strong traces of emotions within the cop’s house that lead us to believe there is some truth to your story, although they cannot detect who the emotions came from. Keep in mind our decision must be unanimous.”
“If you are Logan’s leader, why is your decision not the final call?”
“It must fall within the allowances of our laws. I have the authority to overrule the elders to some degree, especially when a human is involved.”
I leaned forward. “I’m his kindred spirit. Your law states that it is within a man’s right to protect his soul mate by any means necessary if her life is in danger.”
“Then prove your claim in writing. We cannot bend the law on word alone.”
“Nero stole the papers that could contain that proof! The scientists we questioned admitted it, but most of the documents were stolen. Somewhere out there is evidence that my biological and surrogate mothers were Chitahs.”
“What?” Levi exclaimed. “What did you just say?”
“Chitah, you may leave the room,” the Overlord commanded.
Levi’s eyes widened—he’d never been part of our investigations. He only knew I was Logan’s kindred on word alone, and perhaps he accepted it as an anomaly. I nodded and he left with a look of disbelief.
“I don’t care who knows anymore,” I said matter-of-factly to Quaid. “It’s time I come out of the genetic closet and stop hiding what I am.”
His black brows angled and he reached for a glass of
water, taking his time to respond. The glass clicked on the wood surface when he set it down. “That is your decision to make, but err on the side of caution when you consider the ramifications of exposing these experiments without supporting evidence. People will fall into a panic at just the idea. I have spoken privately with Tarek Thorn’s family on several occasions and offered them a settlement for their loss. They’ve had a difficult time, as I don’t believe they respected Tarek. I approached them a final time this week and they adamantly declined, stating they wanted justice for the death. Their family name has been shamed by gossip and the brothers have no hope of claiming the title of Lord. An open challenge was set and a new leader was selected within their territory. If they had accepted the settlement, the investigation would have ceased.”
“How can they do this? They disowned Tarek because he raped Logan’s mate years ago, and now they suddenly respect their brother and want revenge?”
“Perhaps not for Tarek,” Quaid pointed out. “A man’s good name is not easily reclaimed once it has been soiled with scandal and controversy. Pride comes at a hefty price.”
“An innocent man,” I said.
“Young Mage, provide me with written evidence and I can grant him a pardon,” he said, tapping his hand impatiently on the desk. “You are fortunate that your Mageri fought to protect you.”
This took me by surprise. “What do you mean?”
“You were accused of acting as an accomplice, but the charges were dropped. Your leaders expressed you did nothing to violate their laws, and it is out of my jurisdiction to punish a Mage if the Mageri is not willing to pursue. Aside from that, it couldn’t be proven.”
I shivered and leaned back, feeling my life spinning out of control like a top on a sloped surface. The faint smell of aging books and a trace of fresh paint filled the room. I noticed how white the baseboards were and imagined they must have touched up the room weeks ago. What kind of room was my love in?
Quaid drew in a deep breath and licked his lips. “Despite all that has befallen you, I can sense your love for him. Despite public opinion, I admire the fortitude you both possess in following your hearts. You each have made sacrifices to stay together, and I don’t often see interbreeding work out. I hope you are able to provide us with evidence, and soon. I won’t sit before you and evade answers or lead you to believe there is hope. Logan Cross will be put to death. There are still discussions going on in regards to his fate, but it will inevitably lead in that direction. Tarek’s family wants retribution. The murder of a Lord is treason—one of the highest crimes a Chitah can commit. You are no longer in the human world, nor do Mage rules apply. You might not agree with our laws, but they serve a purpose that is beyond your comprehension. You have not lived enough years to appreciate their value.”
