by Virna DePaul
“I was approached,” Zeph began again, “about a contract on your life, Felicia. One put out by an organization that views your marriage to Knox as an abomination to humanity.”
Felicia’s eyes widened and jerked to Knox’s. He felt her confusion and fear, and it made him sick. That her life was in danger because she loved him . . .
She shook her head furiously. “Don’t you dare, Knox. Don’t you dare think what you’re thinking. I love you and there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s not your fault that others think there is. There will always be people who hate, but I’m not afraid of them. I’m not afraid,” she emphasized as she turned back to Zeph. “Just how do you know about this organization, Zeph?”
Knox couldn’t keep himself from speaking up this time. It still blew his mind that his brother had been working with these people behind their backs. “Zeph’s been working as a double agent for an organization called the Quorum. They recruited Dante Prime, and he, in turn, recruited Zeph. But Zeph only went along with Prime’s machinations because he’s hoping to bring the Quorum down. With Mahone’s help.”
Felicia’s mouth dropped open. “Mahone . . .”
Knox nodded. “Mahone suspected Prime had stolen the antidote and given it to North Korea. So did Zeph. But Zeph only discovered who Prime was working for, a group of humans calling themselves the Quorum, when Mahone was captured. Zeph was there, trying to figure out a way to get Mahone out without blowing his cover, when Caleb and Team Blue arrived. Zeph maintained his cover, and he and Mahone decided not to tell the rest of us about the Quorum because of some bullshit—”
“It’s not bullshit, Knox,” Zeph gritted out. “It’s just not your mission to bring them down. You can’t be everywhere at once. The Para-Ops team’s role is to deal with the shit the Quorum and other scum—human or Otherborn—cause, not with the Quorum itself. You’re needed on the streets, in the action, and if the Quorum gets wind that you’re after them, they’ll go to ground fast. By keeping the hunt for the Quorum leaders separate from the Para-Ops team’s role in maintaining peace between the races, Mahone was doing what he thought was best for everyone.”
“So you and Mahone are buddies now?” Knox questioned in disbelief. “Swapping secrets and keeping them from your family? From me, Zeph?” Damn Mahone. The man was proving to be full of deception. First, he’d pitted Caleb against Wraith. Now Zeph against Knox. What would he do next?
“I understand Mahone’s reasoning,” Bianca said quietly.
Shocked, Knox jerked his head toward her. “Mother, how can you condone what they’ve done? It’s always better to know the existence of one’s enemy.”
Stepping out of her husband’s protective embrace, Bianca smiled. “But you already knew someone else was pulling Dante Prime’s strings. And Zeph’s right—you can’t be everything to everyone, and you can’t be everywhere at once. You had to lead this clan by yourself for so long, but you no longer have to. You also don’t have to fight the Quorum alone, and I’m grateful for that.”
“That’s ridiculous. I would never turn away help, but—”
“Knox, how hard was it for you to take this time for you and Felicia to be together, away from your team? For both of you? We had to practically threaten to tie you down before you’d agree to it.”
Knox glanced at Felicia, who had flushed guiltily. They’d relished this time together, but their first instinct had been to go right back to work . . .
“The things Kyle Mahone is asking of your team involve stopping the crimes that the Quorum have set in motion. The Quorum is the source and provides the funds, but the cancer they wield is imbedded within the communities of this nation. You can’t be in the trenches while trying to fight the corrupt politicians, as well. It would fracture the team’s focus and unnecessarily. Especially when they have others, like Zeph, who are willing to carry the other half of the load.” Bianca turned her narrowed gaze on Zeph. “That, however, does not excuse the fact that Zeph failed to tell his mother and his Queen how he was occupying his time. And you can bet Mr. Mahone will be hearing from me about that.”
The room went silent. Knox heard his mother’s words and knew she was right, but he didn’t say so. He didn’t look at his brother. He couldn’t.
With a curse, Zeph left the room.
Felicia took Knox’s hand and squeezed. With a sigh, he squeezed back. He was about to lead her from the room when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and turned.
His father, Jacques Devereaux, the human-turned-vampire whom Knox had only recently been reunited with, looked at him with unflinching directness. “Your brother came to you as soon as he knew Felicia’s life was in jeopardy. He didn’t even talk to Mahone about it first. Because his family, of which Felicia is now a part, is his main priority. He learned of the Quorum’s plan because he deceived you, Knox. Because the Quorum believes he’s still of use to them. You and he and Mahone can fight all you want about whether keeping certain information from one another was justified, but you’ll do it later. After you take care of what needs to be taken care of. Understood?”
At his father’s words, Knox, who’d led the vamp clan for years during his father’s absence and his mother’s illness, instinctively bristled at his father’s calm, commanding tone. But that lasted only a moment. Then he remembered how grateful he was to no longer be the only one leading the clan. He had help now. Support. Others who would not only help him protect the clan, but would die with him in order to protect his wife.
Knox nodded. “I understand.” He turned to Felicia and met her eyes. “Let’s go find Zeph and figure out what we’re going to do.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
When morning came, Caleb wasn’t even fully awake before he knew Wraith had retreated from him. Beside him, she sat up, the sheet pulled around her. “Playtime’s over, Romeo. We need to get going.”
Despite her calculated words, her voice trembled. She was troubled, but she was also probably still turned on. He’d bet anything that if he cupped her with his hand, she’d be dripping wet. It made him want to go down on her again. Making her come like that would be the highlight of his year. Feeling her juices on his face. In his throat. If she hadn’t yet learned to enjoy it, too damn bad. He’d give her so much pleasure, she’d let him do anything to her. Everything.
He pressed his lips to her shoulder, following an intriguing trail of freckles just visible under her skin. He narrowed his eyes, thinking her skin had hardly any blue left to it. Listing all the changes she’d undergone in his mind, he lightly caressed her other arm with the tips of his fingers. “Are you in a hurry?” he murmured.
“Lucy and Dex—”
“Don’t need us right now. The clubs aren’t open until tonight, you know.”
She stiffened as his lips trailed close to the rise of one breast, putting her hands on his chest as if to push him away. He tilted his head up slightly to look at her, feeling her fingers flex against him. But she didn’t apply any pressure. Simply rested her fingers against him, their warm weight an erotic pressure against his nipples.
She licked her lips and he almost growled, wanting to chase her tongue as it disappeared back into her mouth. “I know, but . . .”
He moved his hand, rubbing his thumb against one nipple so her body jerked in surprise. Her teeth were white against the softness of her lips as she bit down, trying to stifle a gasp but not quite succeeding. God, she was responsive. He moved his thumb in tight circles and resumed kissing her fragrant skin. “Besides, I haven’t gotten enough of you. I want more.”
She swallowed audibly. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Yes, that’s fine. But one more time. That’s it. Then we’ve got to go.”
He laughed darkly, his throat scratching at the almost forgotten sensation. “All right. One more.” Suddenly, he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed her. Now.
While they made love, she was silent, except for a moment when he thought he heard her whisper, “One more.”
/>
When he woke again, Wraith was gone. And he knew, if Wraith got her way, the time they’d spent together had truly ended.
Later that evening, four of the Para-Ops team’s six members were mingling with over a hundred people looking to get drunk, high, and laid. Wraith had never craved alcohol, but she knew Caleb had struggled with an addiction in the past. Nonetheless, she wasn’t surprised that he was nursing a real beer because ordering anything without alcohol would call attention to him, and that was the last thing he wanted. Even so, he drank slowly, pacing himself and keeping his attention focused on what was going on around him.
At the same time, Wraith struggled with her own cover. To appear unaffected by who she really was and what it was she really wanted. Because in just a few hours, she’d discovered she was addicted to Caleb and his unique brand of sex. So addicted, in fact, she’d thought about him all day, like a junkie going through withdrawals, even as she’d avoided him and pretended to be thoroughly engrossed with preparing for their mission.
Only, pretending she didn’t know Lucy, Dex, and Caleb while asking questions in a nightclub really didn’t require that much preparation. She knew it and so did Caleb. Thankfully, he seemed amenable to letting her dodge him, and she only hoped that continued. Because she wasn’t ready to face what it was they’d done together—to each other—and she wasn’t sure if she ever would be.
At least Dex seemed relaxed and appeared to have put aside his concerns about Lucy. She could see why. As Wraith scanned the bar, not allowing her gaze to linger on Lucy more than any other person, she couldn’t deny it—Lucy looked fuckable.
In fact, none of them should have worried about her ability to pass herself off as a feline on the prowl. If she didn’t know better, Wraith would have sworn Lucy was part feline, but more importantly, that she’d spent the past two days getting the sexual experience she lacked from Caleb—but of course, that was impossible.
Because that’s what Wraith had been doing.
She shivered when she recalled how many times and how many different ways she’d had him.
Now, from across the room, it was as if none of it had ever happened.
They were all playing their parts.
After a short briefing over the phone with Mahone, they’d decided against her playing at being Lucy’s friend. After all, she scared most people, anyway, and she didn’t want that to affect whether people approached Lucy. Dex and Caleb would keep their eyes on her. Wraith’s job was to mix and mingle and try to get information on the drug rapes.
So far, she wasn’t having any luck.
She loitered around the bar until a hard-looking woman, the kind that looked like she’d started smoking early and had never stopped, sat down beside her.
“Hey. I’m Wilma. What the hell are you?”
Wraith liked her instantly. “I’m a ghost. I’m called Wraith.”
“No shit?”
“Uh, no,” Wraith said. “I mean, yes. No shit. Haven’t you heard of wraiths before?”
“I’ve heard of them but I never met one in person.”
Wraith plastered a look of unease on her face and pretended to scan the bar before saying sotto voce, “Yes, well, I hope it doesn’t make people uncomfortable. I’ve heard the felines have been getting some flack in these clubs lately. I don’t want to attract the perverts who’ve been drugging and raping them.”
Wilma patted her arm and said, “You don’t have anything to worry about, hon.”
“Why’s that?”
“Like you said, it’s only felines that have been hit.”
Had that been approval in Wilma’s voice? Going with her instincts, Wraith nodded and responded in a whisper. “Yeah, and they sure ask for it, don’t you think? They’re so damn loose. Will sleep with anyone or anything. But who knows when their attackers will look for fresh meat. Aren’t you scared someone will slip something into your drink and—”
Wilma laughed. “No.”
“Why not?” Wraith tried to sound more surprised than interested.
“One, I’m careful. I don’t drink much, and when I do, I don’t let anyone near my drink. Two, I’ve got other ways of protecting myself from pervs.”
“Like?” She expected Wilma to say she had a gun. Or a can of Mace. Or a Taser.
Instead, she said, “I’ve got a dick. And if they try anything, I’m not afraid to use it.”
Wraith choked on her drink and laughed her ass off. “I knew there was a reason I liked you,” she said.
Wilma snorted. “Stick with me, Wraith. They might think we’re freaks, but we know different, right?”
Wraith hummed in agreement, not realizing her gaze had unconsciously moved toward Caleb until Wilma said, “He’s hot, but not as hot as the were next to him. Hon, if I could get a dog like that to bang me, I might even consider getting some surgery done, if you get my meaning.”
Disconcerted by the brief, heated look Caleb shot her, Wraith shook her head. “Don’t do it. Any male worth taking to bed should accept you for exactly who you are, right?”
“You’ve got a lot to learn about males, Wraith. It’s not about who’s genuine when they take someone to bed, it’s about who’s available. And luckily, sometimes that includes me.”
“Of course it does, Will. You’re definitely worth switching sides for.”
They both laughed. And the whole time they talked, Wraith kept her eye on Lucy. Men were crowding around her and she was handling them with ease. In fact, she actually looked like she was enjoying all the attention, which included a whole lot of fondling.
Imagine that. Looked like they were both learning something about themselves on this mission. What exactly that was, she still didn’t quite know.
“Lucy’s holding her own,” Caleb murmured.
“Yes, she is,” Dex replied even as he scanned the club.
“You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”
Dex scoffed. “That was supposed to be your job, remember? If you and Wraith had been around, that is. Did Wraith squirrel you away to make sure that didn’t happen?”
“We didn’t even see each other until tonight.”
Dex nodded, then caught Caleb’s gaze and held it. “Same with Lucy and me.”
“Got it.” And he got it, all right.
“Wraith looks like she’s having a good time, doesn’t she? In fact, she looks quite at home.”
Caleb didn’t glance at Wraith. He didn’t have to. He’d kept tabs on her from the second they’d entered the club. At first, it had surprised him, how comfortable she’d seemed hanging out and chatting it up with strangers. She’d seemed to drop her natural defensiveness in favor of a laid-back attitude. She seemed more natural with the transsexual sitting next to her than she did with her own team, and that kind of pissed him off, especially given how thoroughly she’d been ignoring him. But then he’d reminded himself that she was doing a job, and Wraith was only doing what she needed to. Glancing at Dex, aware he hadn’t responded to the were’s comment, Caleb murmured, “I don’t know if Wraith’s ever had a place to call home.”
Dex took a drink of his beer. “Sometimes that’s a good thing, O’Flare.”
Remembering the reservation and the comfort his people had brought him, even despite the hardships, he wasn’t sure he could agree. But he knew his life was far from what Wraith or Dex had experienced.
“So you never told me what Mahone is paying you for joining the . . . basketball team,” Dex finished with a grin, despite the way Caleb had started to glare at him.
“Funny. I was just about to say the same thing to you.”
Dex shrugged. “I’m not shy about what I want. It’s something I’m going to do myself, but Mahone’s assured me that he and others will be looking the other way when it happens.”
“Ah,” Caleb murmured as he nodded. He forced himself not to look at Wraith even though he wanted to. “I get it. Tough thing about that, though: When everyone’s looking the other way, no one c
an be watching your back.”
Dex didn’t say anything, and when several minutes went by, Caleb couldn’t help himself. He checked to make sure Wraith was still sitting at the bar.
Laughing, Dex leaned back farther in his chair. “What’s going on with you two? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you guys finally did the wild thing, but you’re avoiding each other more than ever.”
“Shut the . . .” Caleb spotted something from the corner of his eye and suddenly straightened. “Shit,” he breathed, feeling his stomach drop.
The were went on high alert. “What is it?”
Caleb just shook his head, forcing Dex to follow his line of sight.
“Oh yeah. I’d say that’s beyond a shit and more like a holymother-fucking hell.”
Not about to disagree with him, Caleb watched as Princess Natia wound her way through the crowded nightclub and made her way not toward Caleb and Dex, but toward Wraith.
Caleb was on his feet and had grabbed her arm before she’d taken another two steps. “Natia . . .”
Eyes rounded with mock surprise, Natia smiled and threw herself into Caleb’s arms. Then she kissed him.
TWENTY-EIGHT
“I need you to get me out of here, Isaac. Now!”
The voice that spoke the urgent command was a familiar one—Zeph Prime’s.
Looking around the five-star French restaurant, Isaac spotted a private corner and excused himself from his date. Holding his cell phone to his ear, he didn’t speak until he was convinced no one could hear him.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the fact my damn brother had already started to turn Felicia and I didn’t know it. And now, thanks to you, everyone in my whole damn clan knows I tried to kill her and that she kicked my ass in the process. I’m talking about the fact that I’m now friendless and family-less and if you don’t get to me and get me someplace safe real fast, I’m gonna start talking about you and the twelve Greek Gods you’re working—”
“All right,” Isaac said. “Calm down. I’ll take care of the situation. Where are you?”
