by Tyler, J. D.
Immediately, both men stepped in front of her and growled a dual warning at the winged man. Belatedly she recalled that this being had supposedly immobilized half their team with a single gesture. But he’d been fighting for his life then, or so he’d undoubtedly believed. Something told her that even if his hands were free, he wouldn’t do the same again without a very good cause.
She hoped she wasn’t wrong.
“Honestly, how am I supposed to make any progress with you overgrown bullies getting in my way?” Crossly, she stepped around them and caught their incredulous expressions.
“Bullies! That firefly over there just about turned us into pillars of salt,” Zan protested.
“Hush and let me concentrate.” Giving her attention back to Blue, she had another pleasant jolt. He was sitting up straighter, regarding her with rapt attention, lips curved the smallest fraction.
“Who are you?”
The smooth, melodic quality of his voice rushed over her like cool water. “I’m Kira Locke. Like you, I’m new here. Really new—today’s my first day.”
“You are my jailor?”
“What? No! I’m going to be a lab assistant and sort of a caretaker.”
He looked puzzled. “Lab assistant?”
“It’s someone who helps a doctor around the lab with—well, never mind that at the moment. Too much information. The important thing is, I’m going to take care of you and the other creatures here, make you feel at home.”
Instantly she regretted her poor choice of words as his face fell and sadness once again replaced the curiosity. “I have no home. I am outcast.”
“From where?” she prodded gently.
“The Seelie High Court. I was a prince. Now I am nothing,” he whispered.
She shook her head. “I disagree there, but we’ll work on it. Is that why you were running loose on the streets in Ireland when the team found you? Had you just been cast out?”
“Yes. I was in Ireland once, as a child, but when I was tossed through the gate, I was disoriented and frightened. People were screaming and I ran. I meant no harm.” Remorse colored his voice, and she knew he spoke the truth.
“Why didn’t you just tell that to the Alpha Pack guys when they came for you? Could’ve saved yourself a bunch of trouble.”
“As I said, I was frightened. I thought they were sent by my sire to kill me.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sariel.”
She smiled. “What a beautiful name. It suits you.”
Ducking his head, he flushed. “Thank you.”
“Who’s your father? Do you think he’ll follow you here?”
This evoked a bitter laugh. “My sire is Malik. He’ll stop at nothing to see me dead. He is Unseelie, and is the reason I’m no longer welcome in my world.”
Not promising. “You’re royalty, right? Can’t your people protect you?”
“From Malik? You know nothing of Unseelie, then. They are little better than demons, and Malik is the worst. When the Seelie High Court learned that I’m a Halfling, they were upset enough. But when they found out Malik is my sire, public outcry forced them to banish me rather than risk facing his wrath. You see, he’s on a quest to destroy me and will kill anyone who gets in his way.”
“Why? I don’t understand.” How awful for Sariel.
“Does it matter? He is a rotten stench, a pestilence in any land he chooses to corrupt.” Sariel paused, as though searching for the right term.
“Malik is the evil that time forgot. And now he is risen.”
Six
“That’s kind of melodramatic,isn’t it?” Sariel leveled Zan with a cool look. “Malik likes to paralyze his prey with his venom and then strip the flesh from their bones, eating them alive—and that is when he is in a jovial mood.”
“Jesus,” Hammer muttered. “You sure you don’t have any other relatives we can contact who’ll take you in? A distant cousin or something?”
Hurt flashed in his golden eyes, and was quickly gone. “My family is the reason I am here. But if you’ll kindly step aside and allow me to pass, I’ll no longer be your problem.”
Zan disagreed. “You will when we get dispatched to wherever you’ve caused a stir after being spotted by humans again. Bad plan.”
“I cannot imagine that all areas of your world are overrun by your kind.” His wings rustled and he negligently waved a hand. “Point me to one of those places and I’ll spend the last centuries of my life there.”
Kira wanted to ask how old he was, but the pain behind his declaration concerned her more. “Alone, and with no one to help if Malik locates you? I don’t think so.”
“When he finds me,” Sariel said with total surety. “And none of you will wish to be within leagues of me on that day. No, it’s best I go.”
“And I believe it’s in your best interests to stay.” She glanced at the guys, who didn’t look pleased. “What, you’re going to tell me you guys are a bunch of wimps who can’t take on one nasty Unseelie?”
“Nasty flesh-eating Unseelie.” Zan sighed, apparently deciding she wasn’t going to budge. “Fine. It’s not like we’ve ever backed down from a fight, anyway.”
“Great, it’s settled! And no arguments from you, Highness,” she said firmly. “I can’t think of anywhere better for you to be than here, where most of the folks aren’t human and can relate to your situation. Well, I can relate, but I’m human—there’s nothing special about me.”
He studied her, bemused. “I’m simply Sariel now, not royalty. And you’re wrong about your worth. If you possessed wings, you would be Seraphim—highest of the Angel Hierarchy, a being of pure light and love.”
Clearly, the wolves could use a lesson in charm from this guy.
“Well, aren’t you sweet? Maybe your manners will rub off on certain others around here.” She turned to Hammer. “Would you get Sariel some clothes? He can’t go parading around naked.” Darn it.
“Sure.” He eyed their newest resident. “Tall and slender? I’ll see what I can find.”
After he left, she addressed Sariel again. “If we let you out, do I have your word you won’t try to harm yourself again?” She should’ve thought of this before sending Hammer on his way.
The faery had the grace to appear ashamed. “Yes. I wouldn’t have succeeded anyway, not by attempting strangulation. The Fae are not so easily killed, and I dishonored my name even further by attempting such foolishness. I was feeling very hopeless and I still don’t see how things can end well for me. But I give you my word I won’t attempt to harm myself again.”
Eyeing him, she felt he was telling the truth. “I believe you, but not the part about dishonoring yourself. Everyone feels alone at times, like they have nowhere to turn and no options. But you have us now, so put your troubles aside for a while and let us take care of you. Okay?”
He hesitated, then smiled. “All right. I shall try.”
My goodness, what a lovely male specimen, no matter his species.
Too bad that ill-tempered, possessive wolves were more her type. One tattooed, goateed, übermacho wolf in particular.
“Zander, is there another empty room he can occupy, perhaps one close to mine? I’ll take full responsibility for his liberation.”
“I don’t know, Kira,” he began, frowning.
“Nick gave me the chance to prove I could make a difference. How can I do that without a little cooperation? Work with me. Sariel won’t harm anyone here, and he wouldn’t have fought you all if he hadn’t felt threatened. Right?”
“This is true,” he said gravely. “I would never harm another unless in self-defense.”
She gave Zan her best pleading look, and after a few seconds, he relented—though he wasn’t thrilled.
“It’s not only your ass on the line if you’re wrong; it’s all of ours. But I’ll go with it, for now.” He gazed past her to Sariel. “You cause trouble, and you’re on your own. Nothing personal.”
The faery pressed his
lips into a thin line and inclined his head. “I understand.”
Hammer returned, thrusting a pair of army green and brown camouflage pants and a green T-shirt, along with socks and boots, at Sariel. “Couldn’t find that fancy getup you were wearing. Best I could do on short notice.”
Sariel eyed the garments dubiously. Kira doubted a Fae prince had ever had an occasion to dress up like a clump of turf, but he was too nice to say so.
He took them, managing a polite, “Thank you.” Which earned some points of approval all around, however unintentional. “But I can’t put them on unless these are removed.” He lifted his bound hands.
Here was the test. If she was wrong about Sariel, they were screwed. Zan looked to Hammer, who nodded. They were aboard. Zan removed a set of keys from his pocket and flipped through them. Finding the one he wanted, he unlocked the silver cuffs and the attached mesh gloves. The Fae male flexed his hands, and then expressed his thanks.
“Once again, you have my gratitude. Allow me a moment?”
She breathed a sigh of relief, and they slipped into the hallway, leaving the door cracked a bit so he could come on out when ready. Kira heard clothes and feathers rustling, some muttering, and finally he joined them. He was dressed except for the shirt, which he held aloft. She was struck again by how thin he was, and made a mental note to get him to eat.
“I can’t get it in place over my wings,” he explained. “Perhaps one of you might be of assistance?”
“Shoulda thought of that,” Hammer said. Reaching into his pocket, he fished out a small knife and flipped it open. “Hold it up so I can see the back.”
He did, and Kira grabbed the edge of the shirt, pulling the material taut. Hammer went to work and made two long vertical slits at the shoulder blades.
“Try it now.”
Sariel pulled on the shirt, and then Kira helped by gently guiding each wing through the slit. They were a bit tight going through and the fabric tore some, but once in place he stretched one, then the other, seeming satisfied. Kira stared, unable to get over their magnificent span and iridescence.
“Much better.” He swept his long, blue locks over one shoulder and regarded them with a regal tilt of his head. “To my quarters?”
On the way, they caused a little excitement. Dr. Mac and another woman wearing a white coat were walking with a couple of people wearing scrubs—one young man and a third woman—who might’ve been nurses or lab techs. The group stopped and stared, openmouthed, at the entourage. The woman with Mac, the one in the lab coat, stepped into their path, her expression morphing from incredulity to anger.
“Excuse me, but what’s going on here?” Her eyes swept over Kira and then apparently dismissed her as unimportant in the matter. She turned her attention to Zander and Hammer as the others with her exchanged whispers. “Where do you think you’re going with Blue? I didn’t authorize any order for my patient to be moved.”
The woman’s chin lifted, dark eyes snapping with anger. Her tone left no doubt about who ruled this little corner of the compound. Behind her, Mackenzie gave Kira a nod, her expression encouraging.
Kira returned the gesture and turned her attention back to Mac’s friend. She immediately recognized this woman’s type from her own work experience. The names and address had changed but the song remained the same. This steely woman with the short cap of black hair would be the alpha bitch, the one who could choose to make her life here a living hell, or not. Whether or not she was also a fair-minded person and well liked among her colleagues, Kira would soon find out.
Zan handled her smoothly. “Hey, Doc, good to see you. Now that our new pal is up and around, we have some introductions to make.” He waved the Fae male forward, who came to stand at his side. “Sariel, this is Dr. Melina Mallory. Melina, this is Sariel, prince of the Seelie High Court.”
“Displaced, as it happens.” Sariel swept a bow, and then regarded her steadily. “Doctor, we’ve met before, but it’s good to make your acquaintance under less stressful circumstances. Call me by my given name; it is much simpler.”
The doctor in question stared at the faery in amazement, mouth agape. Quickly, she regained her shaken composure. “Sariel. It’s good to see you up and about, and willing to talk. Who do we have to thank for this positive turn of events?” Though she sounded sincere, she also appeared a little wary.
Sariel waved a hand at Kira. “My new friend persuaded me to give your hospitality a chance to make a difference for me. I don’t know how long I can impose myself upon you all, but for the time being I will live here and abide by your leader’s rules.”
Dr. Mallory nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t think you’ll be sorry.”
A wave of emotion rolled off Sariel, catching Kira by surprise. Had she really felt a deep, profound regret and sadness emanating from the Fae prince, or was she simply projecting her own feelings? It had happened the first time she’d seen him weeping, his emotions pouring over her like a waterfall.
It had happened when she met Jaxon, too.
Before she could puzzle over this more, Dr. Mallory addressed her. “You must be the new assistant Nick and Dr. Grant told me about this morning. You’re quite the busy bee already.”
While not unfriendly, her tone held a note of censure as she slid a brief side glance toward Sariel. In doing so, she silently made it plain that while she wouldn’t take issue with Kira’s initiative in front of the others, she’d appreciate being kept in the loop in the future.
“I’m Kira Locke. I apologize if I’ve stepped on any toes,” she said, injecting as much sincerity into it as possible. “I simply couldn’t stand to see Sariel so unhappy and I wanted to help.”
“Yes, well, that’s understandable. Nobody wants that for anyone living here. We’ll discuss the other residents of Block R later, all right? I’ll give you some insight on them before you continue your work.” So the doctor was tough, but wasn’t the type to berate her subordinates in public.
Good to know. “That sounds fine. I’ll come down to see you this afternoon, if that’s okay by you.”
The older woman looked satisfied. “Buzz me first to make sure I’m not in the middle of something in the lab or with a patient, but that should work.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Nice to meet you, Kira. Sariel, I want to examine you after you’ve had a chance to settle into your room. How about after lunch. Three hours?”
“As you wish.” The faery leveled the doc with the full force of his brilliant smile, causing her to blink at him a couple of times before looking to Zan and Hammer.
Lust. It was suddenly radiating from the outwardly stoic doc, as well as a distinct wave of . . . fear? Vulnerability? Didn’t anyone else notice? Nobody seemed to. Kira stifled a giggle and thought she must be losing her mind—though if she hadn’t already, she was probably safe.
“Later,” Dr. Mallory said. Then she left, her staff following. Mac waved at Kira and hurried after them.
“Why do I feel like I just passed inspection?”
“Because you did,” Zan said with a chuckle. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he gave her a friendly, one-armed hug. “After getting the equivalent of a green light from Melina, the rest will be gravy.”
“If you say so.” Kira paused, recalling something in retrospect. “I sensed a lot of anger in Dr. Mallory. And oddly enough, a feeling of vulnerability, as though she’s not as in control as she’d like others to believe.” She glanced at the men, who were gazing at her intently. “What?”
Hammer crossed his arms over his massive chest. “Does that happen a lot?”
“Does what happen?” she asked, mystified.
“Getting ‘feelings’ from people.”
“No, I don’t think so.” She frowned, remembering. “At least not before I met Jaxon last night. Weird, huh? It’s probably this place and the sudden submersion into all this woo-woo weirdness frying my brain. No offense.”
Hammer looked at his friend and raised his brows, and
the two seemed to share the same thought before Zan turned to her.
“Maybe you should mention this to Melina when you meet with her.”
“Why? Other than suffering from delusions because I talk to faery princes and think I see men shifting into wolves, I’m perfectly healthy,” she deadpanned.
Both men gave a quiet laugh, and then Zan answered. “I know you are because I’m a Healer and I’d know if you weren’t. Still, it won’t hurt to tell her and see what she has to say. Since the Institute of Parapsychology was established, Melina has made it her life’s goal to learn what makes every supernatural creature tick. Tell her, and then she can log your information in case it’s important.”
Kira thought he was going overboard, but didn’t see the harm. “Sure. Why not?”
“Have you ever had any leanings toward paranormal ability? Ghosts in your house, seeing things others don’t, anything at all?”
“Not in the slightest.” She frowned, recalling the voice she thought she’d heard when fleeing NewLife with the tissue samples, then dismissed it. Surely that had been her imagination. “But I’m a big fan of Ghost Hunters!” They gave her a blank look. “You know, on the Syfy Channel?”
“Um, we don’t watch much TV. And when we do, it’s probably not going to be anything dealing with the paranormal.”
“Kind of like folks who work in an ice cream parlor not eating the stuff because they’re sick of it,” Hammer put in.
“Exactly.”
“Oh. Well, you’ll have to make an exception in this case. Great show. I’m completely addicted; even follow Jason and Grant on Twitter.” She grinned at their perplexed expressions. “Never mind. Baby steps.”
“What are Syfy and TV?” Sariel asked in confusion. Everyone had forgotten him as he tried to follow their conversation.
“Jeez, what do they do for fun in the Seelie High Court?” she teased.
The Fae prince made a face. “Fun? Very little. My existence there was all about pomp and proper behavior. I believe humans call it ‘kissing ass.’ ”
