Betrayal's Shadow

by K H Lemoyne

  She let out a deep breath and leaned back.

  His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, regarding her with a speculative gaze for a long minute. “Those are all statements, not requests for help, Briet, with the exception of a sample from me. You are welcome to all the blood you can extract.”

  She smiled, hands folded over her stomach. “This woman, maybe she has more information. Maybe she can provide missing pieces about Isabella’s death. Maybe she’s alone and needs help.” She leaned forward. “I’m good with help. No one knows I’m out, so I won’t attract attention. You do still trust me don’t you, Grimm?”

  “You make me dizzy.” He let out a sigh and rubbed his face. From his clenched jaw, she’d bet money he was gritting his teeth. “Yes, I trust you, Briet, but you need to leave here. The dampening fields I have in place for this room will not keep the Sanctum security system from detecting you for more than another twenty minutes or so.”

  “If you feel strongly enough to protect this woman, then it has to be serious. Don’t shut me out.” She ignored his silent warning as his eyes narrowed in frustration.

  “It’s complicated.”

  She rolled her eyes. “When isn’t it?”

  “Fear makes people dangerous.”

  “She doesn’t fear you, does she?”

  He shrugged, but his reluctance to talk spun her thoughts again.

  “She knows about us. It won’t go over well with the council, which is Salvatore’s fault, so she’ll be wary.” She spoke aloud, her mind processing the situation. “She won’t expect a woman to be available to help.”

  Grimm nodded, reluctantly following her line of thought.

  “So I have a little time to explain myself before she’ll consider fear and react. Perhaps she’ll sense I mean no harm.”

  He shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Why?” She wrinkled her forehead, considering and then glanced back at him. “Turen’s with this woman still? Is he protecting her, too? He would trust me.”

  Grimm met her gaze, but tension radiated from his rigid posture. What wasn’t he willing to tell her—no, what wasn’t he at liberty to tell her? What would cause him to give so much loyalty to a stranger? A female, granted, but Grimm had been her teacher, her mentor. Perhaps the loyalty was to Turen? “Turen guards and hides her from us. Why?”

  She rose from the chair to stand before the window, the scenery blurred before her as she tried to sort it out.

  Stubborn, stubborn man. He wouldn’t tell her. With determination, she turned and sank before his chair, squatted at his feet and covered his hand with hers.

  “I won’t hurt her. I promise.”

  “And you?”

  “Turen would never hurt me. I am no threat to this woman.”

  “You underestimate the situation.”

  “Grimm, what if I can help and don’t? I can’t live in the shadows like this and watch our people deteriorate. Things are terribly wrong here. I refuse to stand back and do nothing.”

  His gaze bore deep, trying to break her down, but she didn’t give. This was too important. She could feel it with every fiber of her being. “If you don’t help me, I’ll keep trying by myself until I can track to her. Heaven only knows what trouble I’ll cause in the process.”

  With a muttered curse, he stood and walked to one of the many bookshelves lining the room. “You need to consider your actions more carefully, for they have consequences you haven’t anticipated, Briet.” He selected a small wooden box, polished to a heightened brown sheen and etched in swirls and scrolls with blonder woods. He flipped open the lid, removed a small folded piece of paper from inside and handed it to her.

  Puzzled, she took the paper and gently pressed open the first section and then next until the result displayed several strands of hair. She glanced up at Grimm, but he’d set the wooden box aside and watched as he used to do when testing her abilities during her early years of training.

  Another lesson? Things never changed.

  She brought the paper closer to her face. The hair was dark brown, fine and obviously a clipping, not yanked from some poor sod’s head, for it was definitely male. Eyes closed, she inhaled the scent. Light, fragile and familiar, not like her brother or Grimm, but not human, certainly not animal. Guardian? She reached to pick up the strands, but looked at Grimm first. His slight nod freed her to touch the sample.

  With a quick gasp, she replaced the strands, folded the sheet, and handed the parcel back to Grimm, blinking back emotions with a strengthened resolve. “Please let me go to them.”

  ***

  Mia leaned back against Turen’s chest, his arms crossed over her waist and his chin resting on her head. Even his proximity couldn’t keep away the trepidation that shimmered beneath her skin as they listened to their son making small, puffy noises in his sleep.

  “We could wait.”

  “I doubt the situation at the Sanctum will ease with time.” His voice rumbled across her back, his breath warming her neck.

  “I know. You’re right.” She turned and pressed her face to his chest as he held her close. She trusted him with their lives. She even trusted Grimm. The rest of his people were an unknown and dangerous commodity. There was no way to gauge their willingness to safeguard her son. Yet her conscience couldn’t reconcile withholding knowledge if somehow she and Marcus could provide the proof needed to save Turen’s people. Marcus’s existence should be enough to change their lives.

  Turen never brought up this discussion. It always started at her instigation. Each time she talked her way out of any action, and he put up no resistance.

  “We don’t need to do this at all.” Turen held her away to check her reaction.

  From the lines around his eyes and the tension around his mouth, she knew what this debate cost him. His people could have a chance at hope. But he had doubts, still reeling as he was in the aftermath of her delivery and his incarceration under Salvatore. While he didn’t treat her as if she was fragile, she knew it took every bit of his self-control not to. Fleeing to the far regions of the world to hide her and Marcus forever was at the top on his list. Yet he would support her without hesitation. Unfortunately, they both realized the benefit from full disclosure at the Sanctum.

  “No need to decide anything now. We both agree or we do nothing, right?” His thumb stroked her jaw in reassurance. There was no need. They were on the same page of this debate.

  She wanted so much more for this man. His people’s survival and happiness were part of him. However, she couldn’t dismiss the risk to their son, bringing her back full circle in the debate. Because her son was a Guardian, this act to help would change his life as well. Given she was no longer fully human, she should feel more committed, but she wasn’t ready to trust his people to embrace them instead of killing them. Not after all Turen and Xavier had been through.

  He rubbed his hands down her arms and kissed her lips. “I’m going to go check the perimeter. I’ll be back before he’s up for his feeding.”

  “Go. Go.” She smiled and pushed him away. “I’m fine.”

  He grabbed a jacket and headed out the door.

  The knock at the door moments later jarred her from her thoughts. He must have forgotten something. Mia had the door halfway open before a cold shock ran through her at the sight of the stranger on her doorstep.

  Oh God. She didn’t even think to check. She’d just opened the door. The slender, blonde woman on the front porch smiled shyly, her hands gripped around the handle of a black leather satchel.

  “My—car broke down and my cell phone’s dead. I was wondering if I could use your phone to call for a tow?”

  Mia counted breaths and tried to steady her voice. The woman didn’t appear threatening. According to Turen, all the women were in cryo except Isa. Isa, being dead, sadly, was no threat.

  Could Xavier, or the Guardians, have sent a woman? Possibly. Yet this woman exuded no threat, and something about her short blonde hair in spik
ed disarray and those huge brown eyes made Mia think life, not fear.

  “I understand if you don’t want me to come in. I can try the next house over.”

  The woman started to turn, and Mia gave in to the wave of guilt. She hoped someone would be compassionate to her were the situation reversed. “Wait. Please. It’s okay. You can use our phone.” Mia stepped back to allow the woman into the house.

  “Are you sure?”

  Mia nodded. Confidence seeped back in and replaced her initial reticence. She was sick of expecting fear around every turn. Now was as good a time as any to squelch the response. “Come in. The phone’s in the kitchen.”

  The woman stepped over the threshold and put out her hand. “I appreciate your kindness.”

  Mia accepted the handshake. Warmth emanated from the woman’s touch and eyes, but caution crept back to the forefront of Mia’s mind even though she perceived no overt danger. Almost as if she’d forgotten something.

  She shook her head. Turen would be back in a few minutes, okay, maybe half an hour. Besides, she had defensive skills to fall back on should a situation arise.

  Phone in hand, she turned from the kitchen counter expecting the woman to have followed behind her. Instead, she’d stopped, frozen inside the kitchen entry, her gaze riveted on Marcus. Mia fought down the prickly sensation of alarm and tried to run through Turen’s instructions. She extended her senses and detected no harmful intent, but something wasn’t right quite. However the strange aura of peacefulness about this woman kept Mia from leaping to a conjecture of threat. Trusting her instincts, Mia placed the phone on the table.

  “You can make your call here.”

  The woman glanced her way and her incredible smile took Mia by surprise, reinforcing her decision.

  “Thank you.” Bag placed on the table, the woman sank into a chair and curved her hand around the phone to pull it closer. “Your baby is beautiful, though I’ve never seen an ugly baby.”

  “You see a lot of babies?” Mia glanced at the bag in speculation.

  “I see a fair number at the hospital.”

  “You’re a doctor.” Relief swept in, pushing away her concern.

  “By training. My practice tends to be in biomedical research and development. I get to jog back and forth between university research and hospital trials, mostly with children.”

  “Your job sounds rewarding and exhausting.”

  “I have a lot of extra energy. I hope the rewards will develop in the near future.”

  The woman cast a glance at Marcus as the baby moved and made little sighing noises. With an uneasy rustle, he wiggled until he successfully stuffed one fist in his mouth and sucked. Mia picked him up, pressed him to her shoulder, and turned back as the front door’s click signaled Turen’s return. Early but right in sync with his son.

  Mia watched the woman visibly stiffen but remain seated. Hands flat on the table in front of her, she kept her fingers free of the phone and wide in an oddly submissive posture.

  Turen rounded the corner and caught sight of Mia with Marcus. A broad smile lit his face. “Just in time.” His expression froze when he saw the woman at the table. Turen’s posture changed in a split second. Tense and ready for action, he flexed his hands at his side, prepared for battle.

  “What are you doing here, Briet?” The terse words held undisguised threat as he moved between the woman and Mia.

  She held out both hands, beseeching them. “No one knows I’m here.”

  Mia turned to Turen for answers, but the tightness of his jaw and his motion for her to back away from the table stopped her. She still sensed no danger from this woman. Her emotions were open, honest, calm, and a bit frightened.

  Briet. The connection Mia had failed to make when she’d run through scenarios at the door clicked into place.

  “Answer me.”

  Mia glanced back at Turen, alarmed to find he’d palmed a blade in defense against this woman.

  “Turen, she hasn’t done anything. Please, give her a chance to speak. You trusted her enough to try to bring her here before.”

  His gaze skimmed past her. “We may not have time. They could be tracking to us right now.”

  “I wouldn’t do that to your mate and child. Turen, you’ve known me all your life. I would never betray you.”

  Turen was going to defend them against one of the cherished woman of his people. Mia could see it in his stance.

  “They don’t know I didn’t go under,” whispered Briet. “Only Grimm will know if you kill me. And Ansgar.” The last came out with reluctance.

  He remained unmoved, but Mia laid a hand on his arm. “Turen. Please, let her explain why she’s here.”

  “You have two minutes, Briet.” His muscles still taut beneath Mia’s hand, he never took his gaze off Briet’s face, but Mia felt a crack of concession underlying his words.

  Briet nodded. “I have information. Samples I’ve assessed from Maitea, Isabella and others. There’s a serious threat, and it’ll take longer than two minutes. I was very careful. No one followed me.”

  Mia squeezed Turen’s arm. “If they find her, isn’t she at risk, too? What will Salvatore do to someone who has defied his orders? She won’t survive what he did to you.”

  He didn’t respond, but his inhalation and the softening of his muscles beneath her hand said he was out of attack mode, back to rational thought. Progress.

  “I need to feed Marcus, so maybe Briet can tell you while…”

  “No.” Briet and Turen spoke at once. He crossed his arms over his chest to stare again.

  Briet took a breath. “She’s your mate, one of us. She needs to know this, too.”

  “Fine, you can tell me how you got here and who knows about it while she’s gone.” Turen relaxed and nodded to Mia. “We’ll wait for you to come back for the rest.”

  An hour later, they still sat at the kitchen table, Marcus snuggled back in his carrier and down for the count, Turen seated between Briet and Mia.

  “And you’re certain this has no potential for cross contamination.”

  “I’ve tracked it for a long time. It’s what I do. Grimm ran additional tests before he’d let me come here.” She waved her hands between them. “He never told me about you. I put most of it together.” She frowned. “I’m afraid I threatened him.”

  Turen raised an eyebrow. “That worked how?”

  Mia could have sworn she almost saw him smile.

  “I had a suspicion Mia was one of us. Not your relationship,” she added quickly. “But I had the part about her helping you escape and you hiding her. I threatened to go seek her out—no matter what.” She rolled her eyes and closed them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm. I want to help. He knew I wasn’t going to give up until I found her. I was desperate to talk to another woman. I hoped she would have information on Isabella and access to the Archives. I’ve had such a struggle getting information, and I want us to move out of the dead hole we’ve been in for so long. Grimm warned me this was dangerous, that you would feel threatened. I pushed way too hard.”

  Spent from her rapid slew of words, Briet bowed her head in a gesture so like remorse but not that it was all Mia could do not to laugh. The woman obviously harbored no regret for her actions.

  “He gave me rigorous detailed instructions on how to get here, how to avoid detection, how to check for being tracked, what to do, and what not to do. Typical.”

  The corner of Turen’s mouth twitched and threatened a smile. Mia was glad to see him finally give in to some joy at Briet’s arrival. She found the woman entertaining, a bit impetuous, but enthusiastic.

  “Sounds like this isn’t your first bout with Grimm and detailed instructions?” Mia tried to determine what relationship Briet shared with the quiet man who’d delivered Marcus.

  “Yep, and some of us never get to grow up.” Briet rolled her eyes again. “He was my teacher. We share some abilities, though mine aren’t oriented to healing. I am an accredited doctor, degrees and
everything. I wasn’t lying.”

  Turen sighed and shook his head. “Briet, Grimm didn’t allow you to find us.”

  Briet grimaced. “I think he sort of thought this was a good place to contain me.”

  “I rather think protecting you was his purpose. He suspects you’re getting too close to the truth for your own good. You’re also lucky I believe you.”

  Briet pressed her lips together. “There really wasn’t any good way to ease into this. I thought I’d have more time to present my case to Mia, and then you returned so quickly.”

  His eyes narrowed. “How long were you out there waiting for me to leave?”

  She sucked a small breath through her teeth. “Not long.”

  He closed his eyes. Mia had the odd feeling he was counting. She glanced at Briet.

  “I have that effect on them, the men. It’s not like I do anything any other warriors wouldn’t.”

  Mia bit her lip and dipped her head. Yep, she rather liked this woman.

  “I’d like to—” she nodded to Mia, “Monitor Mia and the baby, so we could create some history, some medical details. It will be needed if others find their mates and have children.”

  “When. Not if.” Turen scowled. “Archiving the information may be traceable.”

  Briet met their gaze. “I can’t rule it out, but my intuition says no. I believe only the women have the ability to access the Archives.” She glanced at Mia. A line of worry and hope marred the space between her brows.

  Turen glanced toward Mia in question of Briet’s assumption of the Archive security. She shrugged. Some things would have to wait until later for explanation. “You’ve been away from the Sanctum for a long time.”

  “Years,” said Briet with a tinge of sadness.

  Mia stood and held out her hand to Briet. “So if the women were drugged before they went into cryo, it would be gone from your system?”

  “I’ve tested myself and haven’t found any traces of the drugs given to Ansgar and Grimm.”

  “Archives, show me the list of children brought to the Sanctum after the virus,” Mia said in a clear voice. She glanced away from Briet for a second and then looked back. Briet opened her mouth to question the command and then froze when the Archive screen appeared, suspended in the kitchen.