With one more look around, Kalina then strode back through the foliage. She pulled her com unit off her belt. “PIA Lia confirmed subjects acquired. Request prisoner containment and medical crews, my coordinates.”
“PIA Lia, acknowledged. Report immediately to headquarters,” a voice on the com unit replied.
Surprised she didn’t have the usual week off before reporting, Kalina frowned then replied, “Acknowledged. PIA Lia out.”
She broke the connection before she returned the com unit to her belt. She strode behind the foliage, flicked her wrist and brought up her shades. A soft clink made her look down. Surprised, she lifted her hand. The man’s bracelet was now on her wrist. A sense of dread filled her. She hadn’t detected the bangle’s presence. Somehow, the piece of jewellery had got past her shields.
She tugged to remove it, but it wouldn’t budge. She examined it more closely. It appeared to just snap on with a simple closure but she couldn’t pull it free. Narrowing her eyes, she infused her stare with enough power to break even the strongest metals. The bracelet hummed, then the topaz flared. It sucked in her power, yet returned it to her at the same time.
Hearing a noise behind her, Kalina stopped and glanced over her shoulder. The air glowed, accompanied by a popping sound. The speed of everything around her seemed to increase as she spied the teams she had requested beginning to arrive. She stepped deeper into the foliage and put her shades on, then shimmered away.
In moments Kalina transported, cloaking herself so she was invisible, then she returned to form in front of the inconspicuous-looking building that was headquarters. The Phoenix Intelligence Agency looked like any of the other corporate buildings that lined the Wall Street area in New York City. No one knew it housed a secret agency sanctioned by the supernatural government. Only a select few of the human race knew of their existence—the President of the United States wasn’t one of them. He wasn’t in the ‘need to know’ category.
Striding across the sidewalk, Kalina unshielded herself in the throngs of people bustling in the area. No one gave her a second look as they went about their business. She arrived at the front glass doors of the building, and noted the sign that read, ‘Phoenix—Attorneys at Law’. Her lips quirked as they always did at the partial truth. They upheld the law when it suited them. At other times, agents like her handled the dirty work.
She stepped inside and took in the marble floors and huge reception area. Without acknowledging the receptionist, she strode across the lobby. No one could get past the reception desk without prior approval. Not only was the area warded, various oracle shifter witches staffed the reception desk. They could evaluate your business at the agency and, if you were human, make you leave without being aware you had entered. If you were a supernatural, they could get rid of you without needing security. They were truly that powerful.
At the elevator, Kalina stepped inside as soon as the doors opened, then pressed ‘Z’. She waved her hand over the panel of buttons, making the elevator bypass all the floors between her and her destination. She ignored the grumbles floating through the doors as she passed each floor. Anyone wanting to ride the elevator would just have to wait. She rarely rode with others.
The doors opened and she walked out into the quiet area, the near-silence making her itch. She strode down the hall. She preferred the lower floors where it looked and felt like any other bustling law enforcement agency, where the various supernatural and not-so-natural beings spewed their hate at you. It was easier to breathe when surrounded by hostility.
Which was why she would never accept the promotion they offered. She couldn’t take the politics and stuffiness behind the job. Phoenix Intelligence Agency wasn’t merely a covert law enforcement organisation. It was the agency for the supernatural government, and the place the humans who knew of them called when they came upon a criminal, be it human or super, they couldn’t handle. They were the ones who were willing to do the dirty work when others baulked at getting their hands messy. They were responsible for the defence of all the realms and dimensions.
The Phoenix Intelligence Agency had the most technologically advanced systems. They had many different divisions and areas, were ruthlessly organised and efficient with only the elite of various races as part of the agency. Once you joined, you had to stay on top of your game. They often gave surprise evaluations, both physical and psychological. If you failed any of the tests, they stripped you of all knowledge of the agency location, what it entailed and any secrets. Wiping was one of the things all agents feared.
Kalina kept her face blank while fear bubbled inside her. She’d barely passed her last evaluation. They had called her the same way they had today. Since she hadn’t had an eval in a while, she should have expected it, but then again, no one ever did.
The itch intensified when one of the ‘suits’ passed her. They always looked as if their tight collars were choking the life out of them. He returned her gaze, taking in her outfit, and she resisted self-consciously touching her clothing as she continued down the hall. Although she didn't like wearing a suit, she wished she had thought of putting on a shirt. Too late now. She refused to give them the satisfaction. Her ‘don’t care’ reputation was at stake. They would just have to see her in what she liked to call her ‘hunting clothes’.
The darkness of her skin-tight, deep rich red leather vest made it almost appear black. The garment stopped halfway to her navel. From below her breasts to where the vest ended was a metal plate compartment where she stashed extra supplies she couldn’t create with her power. Her matching pants rode low on her hips and curved in the middle leaving the bottom half of the tattoo over her navel and the top part of her stomach bare.
Her mouth went dry at the thought of testing. Although she wanted to turn around and leave, she didn’t, but continued heading in the direction she had been summoned to. They would start with a psych eval first, the hardest part for her by far. The Oracle Psychiatric Investigators—OPI—could see anything, everything. It freaked her out when they exchanged their silent looks, which always seemed full of pity. Her hands clenched into fists. They didn’t know crap—there were some things even they couldn’t uncover from her mind.
Despite her hatred of them, the surprise evals were for the best. They protected the agent, and the public they had sworn to protect. As part of the Phoenix Assassination Unit, she didn’t doubt her judgement—to do so could cost her life.
Tiredness seeped into her, almost making her stagger. She barely managed to stay on her feet, but Kalina kept walking. She hadn’t expended enough power to be this weak. Something was wrong. The feeling passed almost immediately, but Kalina frowned, thinking she might have to make a trip down to medical. But the thought of prodding and probing made her heart beat harder. She hated doctors.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a guard in the shadows. He acknowledged her with a nod before fading, disappearing before her eyes. Kalina kept her face empty despite the shock coursing through her. She hadn’t seen a Shadower this close to the agency leaders before. Their presence was unheard of let alone as guards. Shadowers were power-hungry, and could strip any being of its power. They usually tried to take over the world. For him to be this close to the director, they had to trust him.
Kalina shoved open the door at the end of the hall, then walked through the waiting area with only an abrupt nod at Cairo, the receptionist at the desk in front of the director’s office. She moved purposefully towards the closed doors, but they opened before she could saunter in as planned. Without slowing her pace, she walked in and went right up to the director’s desk. She stood relaxed, silently watched her boss, waited for him to acknowledge her. It didn’t take long.
“Why did you kill the Firebird, Kalina?” Christos Shalamr’s gaze remained steady, studying her as he waited for her to respond to his question.
The bluntness of his enquiry threw Kalina for a moment. Although Christos rarely minced words, his delivery was usually smoother. She tried to f
igure out the trick in his question.
Relying on the intuition that had saved her often in sticky situations, Kalina shrugged and answered with the truth. “Instinct. He woke up with death on his mind. It was either him or me.”
Christos looked at her, seeming to search for something, then nodded abruptly. He sat back and steepled his lean fingers under his chin.
“Do you know why you were called to my office?” The cool unemotional tone matched his expression.
Matching him, Kalina spoke. “For testing.”
Christos’ arched an eyebrow then he smiled. “Do you want to be tested?”
Kalina thought for a second about lying before discarding the idea. “No.”
Christos’ lips twitched. “You’re honest. I like that about you. Have a seat.”
Reluctantly, Kalina did as requested.
“Relax. This will be painless, I promise.”
Kalina watched him with narrowed eyes and pursed her lips. “For you, maybe.”
Christos shook his head. “You’re not going to testing.”
The tension filling her dissipated. Relief almost made her almost miss what else he had to say.
“You’re going out on another case. You and your partner—”
She interrupted him. “I don’t work with a partner.”
“For this you will.”
Steel imbued his tone. Uncaring, Kalina stood her power flared and her chair flew across the room.
“Fuck you. I quit.” She spun on her heel, heading for the door.
“Fine. Report to the Wipers.”
Kalina stopped, stiffening. The Wipers would take all her knowledge of the agency. She closed her eyes then clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. As a threat, it was a powerful one. The agency had become her home, and she could not return to her past. Swallowing, she turned, staring at him. He appeared unruffled at the idea of losing her.
In a fluid motion, Christos stood, then strolled around the desk. Kalina watched him guardedly. His movements looked like those of a shifter, but she knew better. He hadn’t called his power, although he had every right to. Christos stopped in front of her and cupped her face gently.
“Kalina, why must everything be so difficult with you?” His voice was silky, smooth.
Kalina jerked away, putting some distance between them. She couldn’t handle his touch. The tenderness would remind her too much of what she’d lost.
Christos sighed and leaned against the closed door. “It’s okay to care. He w—”
“Leave it alone.”
Her harsh voice cut through the room. Closing her eyes, she fought to hold back the pain. Ruthlessly, she squashed it down. She opened her eyes looking at him once again calm.
Christos’ soft look of understanding almost undid her. “I’m here if you need to talk.”
Kalina reached out and touched his arm, a bare whisper of skin on skin. “I know, but I can’t.”
Christos nodded, his face blank as he returned to business. “Sit.”
She went back to her seat as he returned to his. He sat down and briefed her. Absently, she listened as he told her of the research teams assigned to the case. Watching Christos’ handsome face, she wished things could be different. With a shake of her head, she brought her attention back to him.
“Report at oh–eight-hundred to conference room thirteen.”
Kalina rose, clenching and unclenching her fists. “Who is my partner, and who are we looking for?”
Christos had a closed expression on his face. “You will be advised in the morning.”
Kalina had an uneasy feeling in her stomach, but said nothing. From the look on his face, she knew he would say no more. He came around the desk and motioned her towards the door. She turned, and he placed his hand on her waist as he escorted her.
He reached for the door, then stopped, bringing his arms to rest on her shoulders instead, his intense gaze on her face.
“Shielas, I love you and I want what’s best for you. Remember that.” Christos leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
Tears welled in her eyes when he spoke in her language. She cleared her throat before she replied. “Brother, I know you do, even though I don’t always show it.”
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. Christos smiled and she saw a flash of fang. Christos was an ancient Silan Guardian from a fierce vampire warrior society, and the most feared of his kind. Although he rarely played the political games expected of him as the leader of the agency, he ruled it all with an iron fist. He showed no weakness, kept to himself and called only a few friends. Christos had no blood relatives that she knew of. Their personal history was why he called her sister. It was a private thing between them, and he showed none of his feelings for her in public.
He leaned over and opened the door, his usual detached expression once again on his face. Kalina nodded and strode out. Walking back past the reception area, she shimmered then left.
Christos watched her go hoping it would all work out as it should. Closing his door, he looked back into the empty room. “This should have been done long ago.”
“You know the reasons it was not,” a husky voice answered from behind the desk.
Christos watched the woman who detached from the shadows by the wall. “It was a stupid reason then and now. This had better not be one of your plots. If anything happens to Kalina, you will answer to me.”
The woman looked at him, her golden gaze flashing. “I don’t take threats or orders, Christos.”
Christos streaked to her, before closing his hand around her throat.
He felt her pulse flutter wildly against his fingers as he stared into her eyes. “You need someone to order you around.” His voice had gone soft, deadly.
The woman looked at him, hunger in her gaze before her eyes went cool. “Better men than you have tried and failed.”
“Give me a chance and see,” Christos purred against the side of her face, nuzzling her cheek.
She shuddered, then disappeared. He turned to see her standing across the room. He could have easily bridged the distance, but let her have the space.
She raised a hand that shook. “You have to stop this. Yo—” She cut herself off, looking stricken. Bitterness welled inside Christos. It was useless. She would not see past it.
Turning his back on her, he bit out one word. “Go.”
He sensed her staring at him. Steeling himself, he glanced over his shoulder. Regret shone on her face. He smiled a mirthless grin. Too bad it wasn’t for the right reasons.
“Go, now. Remember, if anything happens to Kalina, you will answer to me.” The threat rang clear in the room.
The woman nodded in acknowledgement before she stepped into the shadows by the door and disappeared. Christos stared back at the door Kalina had left through and prayed he had made the right decision, for all their sakes.
He went to his desk and sat then turned, waved his hand and the wall opened. The panel slid back soundlessly, revealing the computer that filled the space from floor to ceiling. No one knew of his own system he used for his special projects. Pulling back his long hair, he then pinned it up and out of his way.
Waving his hand on the desktop, he brought up his keyboard. He would not use the voice function for this. He would let his fingers do the walking. Before the end of the day, he would have enough information to give Kalina all the headway she would need.
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About the Author
Taige Crenshaw has been enthralled with the written word from the time that she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance.
Her novels are set in the modern day between people who know what they want and how to get it. Taige also sets her stories in the future with vast universes between beautiful, strange and unique beings with lots of spice and sensuality added to her work.
Always hard at work creating new and exciting places, Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with
exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun and frolic, with interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels.
Email: [email protected]
Taige loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Taige Crenshaw
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Blackstone Haven: Power of Attraction
Blackstone Haven: Power of Instinct
Blackstone Haven: Power of Enticement
Singleton: Hurricane
Singleton: Perfect Fit
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Indigo Rain
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Silken Inferno
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Dark Callings
With Aliyah Burke
Kemet Uncovered: Talios
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Kemet Uncovered: Saffron
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Totally Bound Publishing
Immortal Bloodlines Page 8
