by Tena Stetler
“I find myself it this situation because I acted without thinking. I received a picture clearly indicating my little sister and my Demon Overload boss were having an affair of the heart. Didn’t like it.” He raked his fingers through his hair, leaving little rows. My sister mated to a demon. I’ve failed on so many fronts. He cleared his throat. “Renegade demons, werewolves, and vampires attacked our coven and killed our parents during what was supposed to be a celebration. Angie was in Ireland with Willow’s family. But I never told her what really happened. My bad.”
She shifted, shook out her wings, then tightened them against her body.
Drawing his knees up, he braced his feet against the ground. “I’ll get around to it, soon. I wanted to keep her away from the magic world, but instead she was drawn to it and now is mated to a demon. My parents would hate this situation.” He threw his hands up in the air. “Not just any demon, the Demon Overlord of the Western Hemisphere and my boss, Bruce. In an uncontrollable rage, I ported to D.C. and tried to kill him, also endangering my sister.”
She blinked her eyes slowly, leaned forward as if intent on every word.
He hung his head. “Normally, I keep a cool head—never meant for any of this to happen.” He paused not wanting to expound on the situation but ultimately told her every disgusting detail of the battle, the meeting, and the reason her life could be in danger. Because of him. I don’t understand why I feel it necessary to confide in this woman.
She made a keening sound that was almost sympathetic, he thought. But her blazing gaze said differently.
“I’m Bruce’s enforcer. My team and I neutralize those that will not conform or break the laws of magical creatures endangering the delicate balance between us and mortals. Usually, my team tries to mediate the situation, however, if they fail, I move in and extinguish the perpetrators.”
Pausing a beat, he dared to glance into her eyes, expecting to see shock or disgust. Yet, none of those emotions appeared in her eyes. Could it be understanding? He must be mistaken. She shifted, tilting her head to one side as if to encourage him to continue. At least that’s what he assumed.
“One such demon lord, Rezar, was left alive due to circumstance beyond our control, but we managed to banish him to the underworld, collared him so he couldn’t wield magic. Now, he’s escaped and sworn revenge on Bruce, myself, and anyone we care about.” Tristian pushed up from the ground, brushed his hands together and paced. “That’s about it in a nutshell.”
She blinked, shook herself, and cocked her head sideways in question, then glanced at the bundle of clothes.
He held up the bundle. “Couldn’t have you wandering around naked, though I wasn’t sure what to look for at first. A sleek coppery feather and bits of fur left on the balcony gave me a hint. I track creatures for a living but wasn’t sure how far you’d gone. Figured you’d head somewhere that provided cover until you came up with a plan. I wanted to get to you before you did.”
She unfolded her body, which was a good eighteen inches above his six feet six inches, yanked the bundle up in her beak, and pranced out of sight. The sun was cresting the eastern horizon as he heard rustling from where she’d disappeared.
“I’m sure I caused you to flee, but you didn’t have much of a plan. Did you?” He blew out a breath and hoped to hell she’d join him soon. The one-sided conversation was getting tedious. On the positive note, without any incendiary comments from her, he was able to tell his tale without losing his temper. Where do we go from here? Surveying the area, he figured they were somewhere in rural Maryland, he hadn’t paid attention on his way here. Since meeting Hannah, his methodical, calculating, and meticulous attention to detail brain seemed to have flown out the window. What is happening to me? If I don’t get back on my game, the consequences could be deadly.
She sauntered into his line of vision a hand fisted on her hip. “If I understand the situation correctly, I can’t safely return to Maine and my job. I took a quick leave of absence without explanation because I’m caught up in a web of—” She shook her head. “Some asshole is looking for you and your compadres because you didn’t finish him off. Did I miss anything?”
“That’s about the gist of it.”
“Unless you plan to support me, I need to contact my employer ASAP with an explanation. I can’t afford to lose my job. What about my citizenship test in six weeks? I left my book at the cottage, I’d made several notes in… Oh, well…”
Tristian scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t have all the answers.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “There is a secure line in Bruce’s office.” Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “Bet the phone line in the apartment is also secure. You can use that to contact your employer.”
“I’ll tell them family emergency and when can I return?”
He let out a harsh breath. “A month or two at the most. Depending only how long it takes to locate Rezar and eliminate him. Then you’re free to go.”
“Is that what you want?” she asked staring him down.
“Yes.” He paused and drew his top lip through is bottom teeth. “No. If I didn’t care for you, I would have left you in Maine to fend for yourself. But I’ve fucked everything up so bad, with you, my sister, my—boss. I understand if you want to leave.” Tristian slammed his fist into the tree trunk. Pain radiated from his hand up his arm, shoulder, and spine. He groaned.
“Do you think for one minute that I would have come with the men you dispatched after me if I didn’t…” She hesitated and peered at the floor, then tried again. “Didn’t care for you. I could have easily escaped and flew off. But I didn’t. I was scared shitless that something terrible had happened to you. Something you may not recover from. What I expect from you is honesty, from here on out. Clear?”
He could only nod. Unable to believe she was going to or at least it sounded like she was going to give him another chance. “So, you’ll stay with me at the apartment until we track down Rezar?”
“Yes, provided you keep me in the loop. If you have to leave to find him, tell me, don’t yank me around. It’s imperative I take the citizenship test.” She emphasized the last two words. “I need my book.” She yanked her arm back, her hand balled into a fist as if she was about to hit something, but at the last minute drew back.
Tristian bit back a grin as his phone buzzed. Reaching into his pocket, he jerked it free, checked the screen. “We gotta go.” He glanced at Hannah as he put the phone to his ear. “Yeah, Ruben, I found her. We’ll be back shortly. I understand, probably for the best.”
Disconnecting the call, he tapped the screen again, scrolled to Birch’s secure line and put the phone to his ear.
“What in the hell happened?” Birch greeted him after several rings. “Where have you been?” Birch’s voice dropped. “What did you do?”
“We’ll discuss it later. Right now, you and Freesia need to disappear for a while. You remember Rezar?”
Birch remained silent for several seconds. “Yeah, the one that got away a while back. Responsible for Paul’s death.”
“He’s back and out for blood. No one associated with either Bruce or me is safe.”
“Understood. We closed your house up when Willow called and brought us up to speed. We’ll be gone within the hour. Take care of yourself and Hannah. You realize it’s a different game now.”
“I do.” He reached out and grasped Hannah’s hand, pulled her into him, wrapped his arms around her, and they disappeared.
Chapter Ten
More Trouble, a Location, and a Plan
“What in bloody hell are you doing?” Were the first words out of Hannah’s mouth when he released her inside the apartment. “Creatures could trace your magic trail here.”
“What would you have me do? Grab a cab to D.C. from somewhere in Maryland? I don’t have wings, which by the way could have put you in the enemies’ cross-hairs along with me as I tracked you. No more acting before thinking.” He paused a moment. “For either of us.” His ful
l lips kicked up in that damn sexy as hell grin again.
She tried to squelch the heat rising in her body. The effect he had on her was disconcerting, and she didn’t like it one bit. Tied to one woman for eternity—he probably had a different female in his bed every night. She snorted, then covered it with a cough. “Agreed. What do we do next?” Walking over to the couch, she plopped down, glanced around, somehow the room seemed brighter than she remembered.
Tristian narrowed his eyes at her. “We aren’t…” Before he could get his point across, a loud knock sounded on the door, then it flew open. Owen stood in the doorway.
“Tristian, what the hell are you doing? Up and disappear for hours, your men tried to cover for you, but out tracking a woman?” Owen’s hands clenched and unclenched as he paced across the room, stopped and stared out the window before turning on his heel to face Tristian. “I know you’re new to the relationship shit, but—” He lifted a gray bushy brow. “Bruce and Angie left for the safe house hours ago. They’ve arrived safely…wanted you to know.”
“Good,” Tristian said a bit harsher than intended. “While I was off tracking Hannah, I was working on a plan. No doubt Rezar’s spies have figured out something is amiss here. My team has been in town for several days, which in itself is unusual. Bruce has the same woman by his side for more than a day or two, so they know she’s something special. And lastly, I’ve spent a lot more time here than normal. How about we use that to our benefit?”
Owen glanced suspiciously at him. “What do you suggest?”
“Use Hannah and me as bait to flush out whoever is watching us. Hopefully, the magic I spun around the apartment building will keep our enemies guessing for a while. However, if we play tourist…”
“Absolutely not. You got a death wish?”
“No,” Tristian said calmly. “We make it appear as if Bruce is on holiday. I’m covering with your help and have brought my lady. Act as if we suspect nothing. Scatter the team leaders, then covertly have a few return through untraceable means, with the new faces we have in the ranks as security for Hannah and me.”
Owen rubbed his chin with thumb and forefinger. “Could work…if we’re careful. With Hannah as part of the equation…it’s too risky. She’s untrained.”
“Let me worry about Hannah. She brings her own skills to the table.”
“That’s what I am afraid of.” Owen glanced at Hannah. “With all that has transpired, it’s too risky.”
“So, you suggest we wait, like sitting ducks?” Tristian sneered. “You got a better idea?”
“No. But I want to talk it over with Bruce. Not going to have it over my head.” He walked into the room used as an office in the apartment and closed the door.
“I’m not sure I want to be used as bait,” Hannah said carefully.
“I don’t see any alternative. They might get sloppy if we appear to have no idea we’re being watched. From the information Bruce obtained, Rezar himself is still out of country. His men are not going to make a move without him being here. It’s personal for him. If we can flush out one of them, question them about the plan, we’ll be in a good place.”
“What makes you think they’ll talk to you?” Hannah asked.
“I have my ways,” Tristian said, a wicked smile spreading across his lips. He stood in front of the window, hands behind his back watching the activity on the street. When he whirled around, he flicked his fingers and flames shot up from the fireplace. “Bit chilly in here. Don’t you think?” He ambled over to the sofa and eased down beside her. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I want time to see how things play out between us. Kinda of a rough start. It’s going to get better.” Leaning over, he gently brushed his lips over hers, something he’d wanted to do since he’d found her safe. But she could be so prickly.
The door to the other room creaked open, and Owen strode into the living area. He shot Tristian a look and nodded toward the outside door. “A word.”
Tristian leaned backward, stretched his arms across the back of the couch, then stretched his legs out, in no hurry to get up again. As he was preparing to push up, Hannah patted his arm.
She stood. “I need to make that call we discussed, Tristian. May I use the phone in the office? It’s a secure line?”
“It is,” Owen said as she started toward the other room.
“Fine. I’ll be a few minutes.” Her gaze slid from Tristian to Owen, then she walked through the door, closed it behind her, and picked up the phone. Before she dialed her boss, she listened to the voices on the other side of the door.
****
In the other room, Tristian smirked. Nice move Hannah. He turned his attention back to Owen.
“Bruce is uncomfortable with your plan and with your woman. But agrees sitting around waiting for something to happen is not advisable. So, he is leaving it to your discretion as usual.” Owen gave him a hard stare. “He’s putting a lot of trust in you after your actions. I wouldn’t screw it up if I were you,” Owen warned.
“Have no intention of doing so,” Tristian said smugly. Anger still simmered inside him, but he had to let it go for the benefit of them all. Angie made her choice, I’ll have to live with it. He gestured for Owen to sit beside him and pulled out of his pocket a tourist map he’d picked up earlier and unfolded the map, smoothing it out on the coffee table. The two men discussed Tristian’s plan, the number of men needed and the time frame in D.C. They also discussed the leaders and teams assigned to move out when Rezar and his group came stateside. Tristian wanted to be prepared to move on a moment’s notice. He sensed no matter what scenario he envisioned, they could be caught by surprise.
****
Hannah finished her conversation and sauntered out the door. “All set. But I have to check in with them routinely. If one of my systems encounters a problem, I’ll have to access a secure network and computer. Will that be a problem?”
“Shouldn’t be,” Tristian said getting to his feet stiffly. “We are going to be playing tourist. Have you ever been to D.C?”
“No.”
He folded up the dog-eared map and tossed it to her. “What would you like to see first?”
She caught it and peered up at Tristian as he pulled a book out of thin air. “What’s that?”
A mysterious smile crossed his lips and sparkled in his eyes when he turned the book over. “It appears to belong to you.” He waved the book in front of her, but when she reached for it, he jerked it higher. “It’ll cost you.”
“Then I don’t need it that bad.” She continued to eye the book. “That’s mine. It’s my study guide for the test.” Narrowing her eyes, she sighed. “What do you want for it?”
“A kiss,” he said without hesitation, a seductive smile played at the corner of his lips.
She loved it when he flirted with her. He was so serious much of the time. “Fair enough, but you have to tell me how you got it. I left it on the nightstand at home.”
He pointed to his lips with an index finger.
On tiptoe, she brushed her lips over his lightly, then grabbed for the book, knocking it out of his hand. “Debt paid.” She snickered and took a couple steps back from Tristian, the book safely tucked behind her.
Owen chuckled. “She’s got your number Trist. I gotta get back to the Salon. I’d appreciate you keeping me in the loop, and no more disappearing,” he said firmly. “Either of you.” With a wave, he opened the door and was gone.
“So how’d you get this?” Hannah held the book, fanning through the pages.
“It was out wandering in the universe, and I snatched it.” His lips twitched, unable to hold a straight face—he snickered.
She leaned forward and raised a hand as if to slap at him. But he slipped neatly out of reach. Out of the book’s pages, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor.
“Birch and faery magic. I don’t know how he does it, but the book appeared in hand when you saw it.” Tristian stooped and picked up the slip of paper and read it. “Figured y
our lady might want this. We’re gone. Be careful, you’re being watched. But he’s out of country. B.”
“Well, that’s cryptic. Who’s out of the country? The bad guy?”
“Sounds like it. Now, where do you want to go tomorrow?” He glanced at his watch. “We still have time to join a tour of the White House.”
“Getting a tour of the White House is difficult. Don’t you have to get with a senator or representative, congressman, or something?” Hannah asked.
Tristian snorted. “Usually, but… I have connections. As many suspect, those types are not all that they seem. Would you like to see the White House?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“Done.” He pulled out his phone and touched the screen. After a quick conversation, he hung up and smiled at her. “Tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.”
“Wonderful.” She sat down on the couch and spread the map out on her lap. “The Spy Museum sounds interesting. Maybe you could pick up a thing or two.” She giggled and turned her attention back to the map. “I’ve always wanted to stand next to the Lincoln Memorial, have my picture taken, and see the Reflecting Pool. It’s the largest of the many reflecting pools in D.C. Then if no baddies come out of the woodwork, the Library of Congress. I could spend a whole day there with exhibits, lectures, and gallery talks that breathe life into the collections housed inside. Not to mention the reading rooms.”
“Wow. I’ve created a monster.” He chuckled. “This is serious, you know. The baddies to which you refer are dangerous.”
“I know, but it’s the only way I can deal with the not knowing when or if. Don’t like being bait.”
“Understood. We’ll keep you safe. Now back to the fun… I’d like to see the United States Botanic Garden, how about you?”
“Sounds good. You’re a gardener, aren’t you?”
“On occasion, when Sean is off.” He shrugged sitting down beside her. “Otherwise, he doesn’t want me messing with his precious dirt and plants. Okay, our schedule for the next few days is set.” Tristian touched his screen again, this time calling Owen. “We’ll be spending tomorrow morning at the White House. Ruben and a couple new faces will join us.”
