by Honor James
Rimi nodded and laughed. “I could totally see that.” It was intense, the bonding that occurred between mates. It was beyond incredible and it was something she loved. “But now that we know, is there a way that we can somehow look for the bond-mates? Find them and put guards on them before whoever it is that’s looking for them finds them?” She knew that would seriously tax manpower, but if it had to be done they could at worst hire it out to some of the retired marines or SEALS that the group knew.
“Yes and no,” Quincy said. “And before you all jump down my throat, listen,” he advised the rowdy bunch. “While I would be essentially starting from scratch in the search, we do have one, plus, we have all the original records including some, Dragons and Fae included, that were never scanned into the Net. On the downside, I’d be starting from scratch plus trying to backtrack those that are working for this group, find the group, and get into their system. The algorithm is simple enough to write for the search parameters and linking it to the vault, our central computer storage, but it’s going to burn a lot of computer power that quite frankly, we don’t have.”
“Get it,” Talon said instantly and decisively.
“Already on order, boss,” Quincy said with a grin. “Just don’t be surprised by the bill that comes with it.”
“Rarely am anymore, Q,” the Dragon said honestly with a lazy shrug.
“Good.” Quincy looked at everyone again. “Second issue is that I’m going to need people to monitor and make the calls. The system will send us alerts if it finds a possible hit, but we still need to do the back tracing ourselves, with a program of course, to verify if they have the right lineages and aren’t some bizarre coincidence of an offshoot deal. We can’t make mistakes and we can’t miss any of them. In the meantime, on top of all that, I have to find this group and still need to run the ops for all the missions. Basically, I need mega help from people with at least basic computer skills. Hacking would be a plus.”
“I think Q might be right here,” Katherine spoke up. “Some of the brightest minds are hackers. So why not put out there a forum that only tempts them into wanting to break into our servers? Dangle the bait, reel them in, and make them work for us,” she said with a grin. “I don’t have a lot of time to give, but anything that I have is at your disposal, including Wilder Inc. Just put it out there and I’m sure that you will find what you are looking for.”
“Already got it in the works,” Skittles said with a grin. “I’m a hacker at heart and know just how to lure them in. I have a bunch of things on various boards about this awesome site that is impossible to hack. I’ve put it out there all on the DL and we’ll see who can get through what I constructed. It’s constructed to test their skills, and they’ll never even know it is a test or that I know where to find them if they pass.” Winking at Kat, he chuckled at the growls he got from the Bears and Wolf. “But I’m glad you had the same idea, kitten,” he teased her, using the nickname he knew her mates had given her.
Katherine put her hands on her mates’ chests and laughed. “Honey, he’s giving you a hard time. You know as well as I do that this man is so much in love with his mate that it’s not even funny. Don’t worry about it, honey. Really it will be good, sweetheart.”
“Course I adore and love my mate.” Quincy grinned and blew kisses at Maya. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to yank the Bears’ and Wolf’s tails from time to time. Besides, Kat’s family, and that means I get to do it. She even said so herself,” he told the Bears and Wolf in question. “Anyway, hopefully I’ll have some hackers soon that can do the work, but I’ll still need a couple of people to put the calls out. ‘Cause we all know that the Teams will only take orders from those they know and those that Talon puts in a position to give those orders.”
“Maybe we can get my father to get us some help?” Jackie popped out there. “I mean, come on, what’s the use of having the secretary-general of the military as your father if you don’t call in a favor every now and again?” She winked at her bond-mate and added, “Or we could call in a couple of my brothers. I think that they still are ready to take a piece out of Allister for the last time they tried to play football together.” Which had ended in lots of bloody noses and growls. It had been epic.
Allister grinned evilly. “We really should get them out to play again,” he said, chuckling darkly. Damned humans hadn’t had a prayer. It had been great.
“Well, let’s not do anything yet,” Quincy said to everyone. “I need to figure out who we’re dealing with, get the hackers lined up, and then we’ll pull in those we need.” Digging out his phone, he shook his head. “Seriously, in my day a hacker knew how to get through a few little security measures,” he muttered. “Hell, I regularly hack the Secret Service just to mess with their schedules for fun.”
Rimi knew her eyes bugged out. She couldn’t seem to help herself. Gulping, she looked to Quincy and asked, “Why would you do that? Weren’t you worried that someone would find you and then they would imprison you or something?” She was sure that messing with the men and women who guarded the president was a serious infraction of the law, wasn’t it?
“Oh it’s highly illegal, but I don’t do anything to endanger the big guy,” Quincy said with a grin. “I just add in a few extra bathroom breaks, snacks for the President, it provides much entertainment when they realize someone’s been messing with them again. It’s piddly stuff, but it keeps them on their toes.” He chuckled softly. “Nothing compared to what I do with the letter groups.”
Rimi shook her head. “I don’t even want to know,” she admitted.
“And I can’t know,” Jackie put out there. “Can you imagine if my father knew that it was you? Or the agency I worked for? Nope, seriously I don’t want to know another word. In fact I’m blanking my memories of the last five minutes.”
Chuckling evilly, Quincy shrugged and moved to sit next to his mate. “You can’t say anything to them anyway, Jacqueline,” he told her with a grin. “You’re mated and officially work for us now, which means all reports have to go through Talon first. Not a word of it would ever get out anyway.”
“Trust me that I know, but my brothers and father can read me like a book,” she grumbled, biting back the retort at him using her full name. “But that’s beside the point. We both know that I would never rat out anyone that I consider family anyway, even if I think of him as an annoying little brother.”
“And I’m older than you, too,” Quincy teased. “Doesn’t that just suck it?” He chuckled. Turning serious, he looked at everything on the screens. “Well, boys and girls, for the moment that’s where we are. Rimi, if you think of anything more from that night, let me know would you? Other than that, folks, we’re done for the moment. Not much else to do until I can get a crew together.”
Rimi nodded and leaned against Lee when she felt his arms wrapping around her middle. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the sweet scent of a clear and beautiful day that was all him, relaxing because of that scent and his arms around her middle. “I love you, too, honey,” she whispered very, very softly.
Pressing a kiss to her hair, he smiled. “I didn’t say anything,” he murmured quietly. He’d been listening for the last while, trying to follow everything said and had been hopelessly lost. Oh he’d gotten the gist of it all, but some of it still had flown way over his head. He really needed to do some reading he was sure. “We’ll be going soon,” he said, watching Kat and her mates. He knew the signs that they were ready to get out of there.
“I know you didn’t say anything, but I felt it,” Rimi murmured with a grin. “It’s something that I just simply can’t explain, love. When I feel you holding me, I feel the love that you have for me. You touch me and I feel it. It’s truly amazing, and I never want to lose that, darling.”
“You never will,” he promised softly, giving her a squeeze. “I’m not going anywhere my, love,” Brushing a kiss to her cheek gently, he turned his gaze back to his Queen’s mates. They were still talking quie
tly with Talon, but they all began to gather things. “It’s time to go.”
“You do that so very well,” she whispered to him. “It amazes me just how well you are able to read people.” She loved that he could read her so well as well. “I’m ready to go now, honey.” She moved from his front and stood to his side, squeezing his hand gently before letting his hand go. He was the Queen’s Royal Guard and knew that he would be there to protect his Queen first and foremost.
Rolling his eyes, he reached out to take her hand again and put it on his arm. “And my mate,” he murmured softly. Patting her hand, he kept her close to him as Kat, Trey, Mac, and Sully all headed for the door. Falling into step behind them, he signaled the other Fae in the halls to fall into line ahead and behind them, providing a secure net around their Queen.
Rimi smiled. She knew that it was silly, but being reminded that he loved her so very much with as many people around them as there were made her giddy with happiness. “I love you, too,” she whispered as they moved toward the SUVs waiting for them in the drive.
“Silly woman,” he murmured, opening the door for her to slide into the back seat. He’d have to sit up front, but she would be right behind him where he could protect her. They were in car one, the lead, the Queen in car two with one mate in each of the three vehicles. Dropping a kiss to her lips, he shut the door and slid into the passenger seat.
Buckling into the seat, Rimi closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest. She was utterly exhausted and didn’t even know why. One thing she hated about these “meetings” was how much they wore her out. Lee, are you truly okay? Rimi asked through their bond, her eyes still closed and simply relaxing in the heavenly leather seats.
More than a little confused yet again, but other than that I’m fine, he told her honestly. Turning his head, he shot her a quick glance and then searched around the vehicles visually for a moment. Why do you ask, love?
Because I can feel your anxiety, your worry. That makes me worry as you well know. I just wanted to know that you were fine. Rimi stifled a yawn and turned sideways in her seat, closing her eyes to rest. I think I’m going to catch a nap. The drive is forever long and it’s been one of those days as you well know, honey.
Sleep, my love. I will wake you before we get there so you have time to reorient. He knew how much she hated being shocked awake. I love you, Charisma. Sleep well, little mate, he whispered softly and turned the heat up in her seat just a little.
Chapter Twelve
Rimi, love, Laighean called softly to her, we’re almost back to the house, little mate. You need to wake up, sweetness. Leaning forward, he looked around and frowned at an odd flash in the woods. “Slow down,” he told Mac, who was driving the vehicle. Tapping the comms, he tipped his head. “This could be nothing, but I just spotted some sort of flash in the woods.” He looked to the Bear. “Slow enough for me to get out and then head straight to the house.” Shooting a look in the back seat, he sighed. “Keep an eye on her?” he asked softly.
Rimi’s eyes were opened and she was focusing. Frowning, she looked to Lee. “You are leaving me here?” she grumbled. Reaching out, her hand caught Lee’s shoulder and she whispered, “Be careful, honey. Keep in mind how grumbly I get if you get so much as a hangnail.”
Catching her hand, he kissed her fingers. “Stick close to Mac and Katherine,” he told her softly. Letting her hand go, he slid out of the vehicle and looked over as Trey joined him. Pointing, he spoke under his breath to let him know what he’d seen and where. At Trey’s nod, they split up and moved silently toward the flash of light.
Rimi watched him leave and felt her heart plummeting. She hated to have him leave her. She knew that this was what he was trained for, knew that this was his destiny, but it didn’t help her from worrying. Taking in another deep breath, she nodded and leaned back once more, determined to let him do his job and not toss herself out of the truck to track him.
“You wouldn’t be able to track them in there,” Mac said and grinned into the rearview mirror at her sharp look. “You have a very expressive face, and I’ve seen that look on a few other faces before, so I know it well,” he told her as he sped up a little. “Don’t worry about Lee. I’d worry about the one that might be out there. Trust me, he beat the snot out of us three,” he said, talking about himself, Trey, and his twin Sully, “without even breaking a sweat. I know for a fact he could have kept going, too, had he wanted to without ever exhausting himself.”
“I know just how amazing he is, but it doesn’t mean that I will worry any less for him. Until he’s home and in my arms I won’t rest easy,” Rimi admitted to the large man driving the SUV she was in. “Thank you though, for trying to help me feel better. I truly do appreciate that.”
“Just part of the services, ma’am.” He grinned at her as they pulled up to the house. Sliding into one of the spots, he parked and turned off the engine. Turning in the seat, he looked at her. “Kat always feels the same way any time one or all of us has to go out. We usually end up coming home to a hell of a welcome and enough baked goods to supply a bakery for a month.”
“Well, I don’t bake, so he won’t get that from me, but I could paint.” Then again with the way she was feeling she would likely paint something dark and something very not like her. No, maybe painting wasn’t the way to go. “I think instead I will simply make him dinner and wait for him at home.”
“Well, then you get me hanging around with you,” he told her with a grin. “I did promise him I’d keep an eye on you until he returned. Bonus is, I can finally see all the decorating Kat did,” Mac said before jumping out of the truck and moving around to open her door. “I was on a mission when they were finishing it up, so I haven’t seen it yet. If you don’t mind, that is.”
“Nope, I don’t mind at all. Come on in. You are welcome to go through the house and see what a great job she did.” Rimi moved toward the kitchens. “Do you want a drink while you are walking around?”
“Water would be great,” he said, looking around and up with a smile. “It turned out amazing,” he murmured, turning slowly. Walking to the living space, Mac ran a finger along the sofa and sighed. “How are you liking it so far?” he asked her curiously.
“I love it,” Rimi admitted when she came back with the water for him. “I hate that you are having to give up your time to stay here and babysit me, but I’m grateful that you are here all the same.”
Taking the water, he smiled and shrugged. “It’s okay. I haven’t exactly had a lot of time to get to know you since you’ve been here. Which kind of sucks actually,” Mac told her honestly. “You’re a good friend to Kat, and I feel bad we’ve all been so busy we haven’t had a chance to do more than wave or nod in passing.”
Taking a seat across from him, Rimi smiled. “Well since you make Katherine happy that’s really and truly all that matters to me,” she admitted honestly. “And you do, you make her so very happy.” Which was amazing truly. “She deserves it. She deserves to be happy, and for that I’m very thankful that you guys are in her life.”
“She makes us exceptionally happy,” Mac said in return as he finally settled onto the sofa. “She brought laughter and fun back into our lives, made even the smallest thing a joy again. Which for us was huge.” Especially Sully. Mac’s twin had been right on the edge for a number of years. Meeting Kat had nearly pushed him over the edge, and then she’d saved him, saved them all really.
“It’s a very good thing then that you met her when you did. It’s always very good to have happiness and joy in your lives.” Rimi looked out the windows and smiled. “I know what it means. I love that I’m able to have happiness and joy in my life now. It makes me very happy to have him there with me and a part of my life.”
“You’re helping him, too, darling,” Mac pointed out to her honestly. “I know it was seriously rough on all the Fae when they came out of stasis, but especially for Laighean and the few others that hadn’t deserved it.” Those that had been try
ing to stop the war from happening, those that had been trying to prove their innocence in the face of the treachery of a few Rogue Dragons only to be shut down, hard.
“It’s my goal in life to make sure that he has nothing but happiness from here out. I’ve loved him since before I was born. He’s been in my life since I was in the womb, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” What she and Lee had shared was amazing. It was truly something that was theirs and theirs alone.
“What was that like?” he asked her with honest curiosity. “Kat mentioned it to us, but she didn’t really get too much into it and then we all got distracted.” Mac grinned and wiggled his brows, letting her know just how they’d gotten distracted.
Rimi blushed at his words and couldn’t help but to laugh. Shaking her head, she said, “It was amazing. I never knew anything different. Anytime I slept I dreamed of him. Honestly I truly believed that everyone had people that had been in their lives since before they were born but realized I was wrong pretty quickly. But yeah, I loved it. I was able to talk to him about everything. I confided my life in him and shared that life with him as well.”
“Which explains why he accepted the new world easier.” Mac nodded before taking a drink of the water. “And also explains why some things still stump him, though I have to admit, listening to Quincy tends to fry my brain, too. When he gets all geeky and starts talking tech, it turns my brain to mush, and I literally start to drool.”
“He tends to do that to me as well. I normally try to keep from having to listen to him too much. Just the few times that I’ve met him he’s made me feel even dumber than a rock, and I’m truly not a stupid person by any stretch.”
