by Emma Dean
She and her sister shared a look. It would be best to keep it that way.
“Yes, well…are you going to report me to the Council? What about the mercs?”
Samuel arched a dark brow at her. “You mean your mates?”
Kenzie planted her hands on her hips. “I haven’t accepted the mate bond, but yes, what are you going to do about them?”
Samuel tilted his head ever so slightly and she hated how it reminded her of Hunter. It was the bit of feline the foxes had and she could see it in the way the tiger moved. The foxes moved like that too. “Do you care what I do with them?” he asked.
It was a loaded question so she shrugged instead of responding.
Kenzie didn’t know the game that was currently being played. Samuel held all the power at the moment, or so she thought, but there was something he wanted from her and Selene badly enough that he’d set up this meeting and sat on the information rather than take it straight to the Council.
But would he punish Hunter, Ash, and Finnick? What then? Would he take the potion from them? They fell under his jurisdiction as Six Rivers Pride answered to him. What Samuel did with them didn’t need to go through the Council.
If the Alpha took the potion from the foxes then she’d really be out of luck. Kenzie doubted she could steal it from the tiger twice and get away with it.
She tried to tell herself that’s why she wanted to know what he would do to the three foxes, but Kenzie knew the truth. She was starting to care about those stupid bastards.
Stupid, stupid bastards. Getting caught like a bunch of noobs.
“I don’t give a shit what you to do them,” Kenzie lied, thanking the Fates for her charms. She slid off her blazer and noted the way his eyes fumbled over her curves, staring before he caught himself. “If you punish the foxes, there’s no reason for this meeting. They’re the ones who have the potion. I could walk out right now and justice would be served. Unless you have proof I was the one who originally took it.”
Samuel narrowed his eyes at her. She couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or impressed. “I just recorded your confession.”
She smiled sweetly at him. “Did you?”
A deep grumble filled the room as Samuel reached for his keyboard. The noises that played back were painful over the static. The Alpha growled and it made the hairs on her arms stand up straight, but Kenzie kept that smile plastered on her face.
“What did you do?”
Her smartwatch had all kinds of goodies she didn’t plan to share with anyone. Ever. “Something you probably want. Now…are you going to punish Six Rivers Pride?”
“No,” he snapped. Selene jumped at the deep sound and Kenzie couldn’t blame her.
“Are you going to turn me in?”
The Alpha eyed her and then he sighed. The tension in the room lessened a fraction and Kenzie could almost breathe again. “You know they warned me about you?” He gave her a rueful smile. “The entire security staff, and the private investigator warned me about you, but they didn’t know it was you. Just that whoever managed to get into my vault undetected, and then out would have to be smarter than a fox.”
Then he laughed so hard and so long Kenzie thought he might actually be losing his mind.
“And then you end up mated to foxes. How fitting.”
It was so stupid Kenzie couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Har har, yes the universe plays terrible jokes.”
“I won’t turn you in if you two can help me out.” Samuel didn’t look like a male trying to blackmail them. He just seemed…at his wit’s end. Like the break in had been the last straw.
Selene tapped her long red nails on the arm of the chair and her blue eyes were like shards of ice. This was the matriarch of the Kavanagh clan, not the silly nineteen year old girl with a crush on a shifter. “I assume that’s why we’ve really been called. You didn’t think we would agree to work with you, did you? Well, get it over with.”
Damn girl. Kenzie wanted to sassy-snap her fingers but she settled for a smug look. Samuel looked outright shocked at the shift in attitude.
Then he chuckled. “I really like you two. And no, I didn’t think you would work with me on this. Witches don’t work for shifters.”
Kenzie didn’t know how to feel about that exactly. He was still an ass for forcing their hand, but there was something else going on.
Samuel spun the pen on his desk that was probably worth more than her car. “As you know I’m in the business of cutting-edge technology. Clean, affordable energy. I’ve been having some issues with competitors and I need to keep them out of my company and warehouses. Corporate sabotage isn’t a joke when the fate of the planet is at stake. They’ve destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of equipment and I can’t keep them out or find out who they are. I’m not even sure if they’re human or paranormal.”
Kenzie sighed. “So you really want me, not my sister.”
“No,” Samuel corrected. “I need you both for a contract job to set up a new security system using tech magic.”
She shared a look with her sister.
“No witch has worked with you before?” Selene asked. “Most would do a Council member the favor of warding his company and warehouses.”
The Alpha shrugged. “I have, but I assume they aren’t as powerful as you or Takahashi. And they can’t do tech magic. Morgan was down here a while ago, but told me to ask you two.”
Kenzie hid how much she liked hearing that. Morgan was one of the most powerful witches in a generation, but tech wasn’t her specialty though she was decent at a few of the smaller tricks.
“We don’t do tech magic for free,” Kenzie told the tiger.
Selene nodded. “And it can’t be done overnight.”
If they couldn’t get the potion…shit, how much time would Samuel give them? How much time did Selene even have left before things started to go bad?
Kenzie had a sinking feeling she would need to beg the foxes for the potion. And she would. She’d get down on her knees if that got Selene what she needed.
“I’ll pay you,” Samuel told them. “I understand the method I’m using to acquire your services isn’t the best, but I need to keep what I love safe. You may hate me for it now, but would you do anything less?” Samuel eyed Kenzie like he knew.
“No, I’d do whatever it took,” Kenzie admitted. And she would. Right after she wrung their little fox necks.
“Good, then as soon as I have you contracted I’ll forget all about the potion.”
Selene stood from the chair and studied Samuel with that matriarch air. “You better, Samuel. Wouldn’t want for it to be known the Alpha of the West Coast Pride breaks his oath. Send me the contract so I can have my lawyers look it over before we sign. We’ll go from there after we’ve both agreed to the terms.”
Without another word her sister walked out of the office.
Kenzie slowly stood and then picked up her blazer, still trying to process. Somehow…this hadn’t turned out as badly as she thought it might. She glanced at the tiger still eyeing her curiously, eyes trailing over her scars.
He annoyed her, but she could also see where he was coming from. Clean energy was a vital part of their future, but she didn’t have to like the way he was going about this.
Before she could blink Samuel had her pinned against the wall. His hand on her throat squeezed just hard enough to bruise and she choked. There were a thousand different ways to get out of this hold, but she wanted to see what he would do, she wanted to know why he felt the need to threaten her. So Kenzie breathed through the pain and held his glowing gaze.
The game wasn’t over yet.
“How did you do it?” Samuel asked. “How did you get in and out without a trace? The only reason I suspected you were here at all was the pentagram on my vault door. It was too perfect for a twitchy fox. They would have used brute force. You’re the only one I know with access to powerful enchanted objects.”
No, they were smarter than that, she wanted to
say. They had used her.
Samuel studied her, trying to figure out how she’d outsmarted him. He didn’t really expect an answer from her. Kenzie assumed he was just nursing his wounded pride. The Alpha squeezed her neck one last time to remind her who was stronger, and then he released her.
What he said next made no fucking sense after what he’d just done. “You don’t need powers, Kenzie. You’re quite capable all on your own.”
Her hand went to her throat, feeling the bruises already forming. They all forgot. They forgot she was barely more than human and not another paranormal, even Selene did sometimes. She didn’t heal like they did.
Samuel straightened his cuffs like this was just another meeting. “I’ll have the contract to you by Monday.”
Kenzie ignored the pain and the sting in her eyes as she left his office. They needed that fucking potion before Monday. She didn’t want to know what would happen if they couldn’t complete the tech magic Samuel wanted.
He may like them, but he didn’t trust her. Kenzie couldn’t really blame him. She glanced back once to see him staring at the shelf where the vault was located. Samuel had no idea how easy it had been to sneak in, or the power it had required to enchant the crystal.
Selene had slept for an entire day after.
All shifters were the same. When backed into a corner they all snarled and lashed out, hurting everyone around them. There was something comforting about knowing the most powerful feline shifter in the United States wasn’t any different than the foxes she knew.
Kenzie caught up to Selene and decided they needed to make a stop at the foxes’ den.
Chapter Fifteen
Ash
Someone knocked on the door hard enough Ash was up and moving across the living room before he even realized what he was doing. Who the fuck was at their house and what did they want?
He jumped down the small staircase and pulled open the front door. Ash blinked when he took in his fiery, red-haired mate and her sister. They didn’t have plans to meet up that day for sabotage, and what the hell was she wearing?
“You!” The crack of her hand across his face was more shocking than the sting itself.
Ash blinked. What did he miss?
Kenzie stormed past him and Selene gave him an apologetic look. Ash just smiled at her and stepped aside. Despite his confusion, this really wasn’t all that unexpected. He just didn’t know why it was currently happening.
“Don’t worry,” Ash told Selene as she carefully walked by him. “Women love slapping me. It’s because I’m so endearing.”
She gave him a look like he might actually be insane and then took the stairs one at a time instead of two like his mate had. In heels. How the hell?
Ash was up the stairs so fast Selene paused when he went by, but he was very careful not to touch her. He really didn’t like touching people, especially ones steeped in so much pain. The curse was starting to take its toll.
If he wasn’t fast enough Kenzie would get the other two and he really just wanted to see what her ass looked like in that dress.
“Damn girl!” Finnick exclaimed from the main floor. “What are you wearing?”
“You guys are the reason Samuel knows I was there!” Kenzie pushed Finnick hard enough he stumbled backwards, but only because he was too busy staring at the way the dress hugged every, damn, curve.
“What are you talking about?” Ash asked, trying to keep his eyes on her face. How did the dress cover so much and yet still make him feel like he needed to adjust his pants? And those heels made her legs look a mile long, showing off her muscles.
Kenzie glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest, making her tits stand out even more. He wasn’t going to look. He wasn’t.
Ash crossed the room and went into the kitchen. If he didn’t get away from her he was definitely going to look and then he’d be staring as badly as Finnick was. Holy shit, he knew he was attracted to her, but he had no idea it was this bad.
Listening to her make out with Finnick the other day had actually made him hard, not jealous. He wanted to see what she’d look like on her back, nails in his back…
They had tea. He should serve the tea. Ash grabbed a tray and a few glasses, hoping Selene wasn’t on some stupid diet where she couldn’t enjoy a sweet tea. The girl could definitely use the caffeine.
Would Kenzie kiss him like she had Finnick? If he asked her out on a date would she go?
Ash growled and grabbed the pitcher of tea from the refrigerator, annoyed that he cared so damn much. Some liquid sloshed out of the pitcher and onto the floor. He growled again and then looked up when Kenzie started ranting.
Selene was watching him closely and he ignored her as he brought the tray out and set it on the dining room table. Ash carefully poured the tea while he listened. Somehow the Alpha had figured out who’d stolen from him.
“Samuel threatened to punish you and your whole stupid pride if Selene and I didn’t work for him. So, you’re welcome,” Kenzie snapped as Hunter came down the stairs.
The other fox didn’t look fazed as he walked over to where Ash was and grabbed a glass of iced tea. He sipped quietly while he watched Kenzie fume.
“He had no idea I was even there. It was because you three tripped the alarm we got caught at all. I thought you were professionals! How could you get caught?” Kenzie was so mad she was pacing.
Ash cocked his head and watched her strut back and forth. If someone had asked him he’d have said she couldn’t walk in heels to save her life, and definitely not six inch high ones. With those things on she was as tall as Hunter.
Hunter noticed it too and he smiled a little. The smile only infuriated her more.
Kenzie stalked right over to him and jabbed her finger into Hunter’s chest. “You put your whole pride in danger. I could have let him punish you and gotten away with it.”
“But you didn’t,” Hunter said softly. “Why?”
That question stopped her storm right in its tracks.
Ash watched her every move as he handed Selene a glass of iced tea. “Feel free to sit anywhere,” he murmured.
The witch gave him a grateful look and then sat gingerly on the couch. She looked so out of place, but she was trying. Ash gave her credit for that.
Kenzie had her arms crossed over her chest. Ash settled down on the couch, plenty of space between him and her sister. Ash preferred to observe so he could deduce what would happen next, but with Kenzie he was almost always guessing.
The urge to touch her skin was so hard to ignore, but she was on edge. He didn’t need to make it worse.
“Why didn’t you turn us in?” Hunter asked again.
Finnick grinned and walked around Kenzie so he could take in every part of her. He reached up and yanked the pin out of her hair. Ash stilled when her glorious red hair tumbled down. Would that be as silky soft as he thought it would be?
What the fuck was wrong with him?
He shook his head. Selene eyed him warily but he ignored her. Ash had it bad and he didn’t even really know why. They’d barely spent any time together, but Kenzie was magnetic.
“Because I want the potion,” Kenzie finally said, glaring at Finnick. “If he took it from you I’d never get it.”
His eyes widened. That was true. Clever girl.
But Hunter just smiled and finished his tea. He turned and placed the empty glass on the table and then refilled it. “What did I say about scent charms in my den?”
Kenzie cursed him up and down but she took her charm off. Selene actually gasped beside him, but it was quiet enough only a shifter would hear. This charm thing was a big deal to his mate, and yet she’d conceded to them.
Then it was off and Ash was drowning in her scent, in the burnt sugar and anger and…pain. He was snarling and off the couch so fast Selene actually made a squeak of fear. But that wasn’t what he cared about right now.
His hand was in her hair and moving it from her neck before anyone else could react. Kenzie
inhaled sharply but it wasn’t out of fear, it was something like desire and Ash’s dick instantly hardened despite how furious he was.
“The bastard hurt you,” he whispered. Ash was mostly angry with himself. He hadn’t noticed the bruising when she walked by, too distracted by her body. No scent meant it was difficult to get a read on her and she was always covered in pain.
But this pain was brand new and fresh.
Finnick’s growl rumbled deep in his throat as they both leaned forward to inspect the bruises that formed a large hand.
“I’m going to kill him,” Finnick stated matter-of-factly.
Ash agreed. The Alpha deserved to die for hurting his mate. Without thinking he traced the bruise and took the pain from her – without her permission. But Ash couldn’t stop himself even if he tried. She was hurt and in his den, and smelled like fire and smoke and something deliciously sweet.
She looked up at him then and Ash stared into those blue eyes that were such a bright shade compared to his navy ones.
It was then that he realized he was quietly falling for her. Not just because of how beautiful she was, or because of the mate bond, but because she was vibrant and warm and full of so much life. Life that she’d stolen from those who wanted to take it from her. Then she wore the proof of that survival and still loved her sister so fiercely she’d do literally anything for her.
Including making a deal with foxes and letting a tiger strangle her.
It hurt; this realization. It made Ash hurt deep in his chest. He didn’t want this, he didn’t want a bond, but he wanted her.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, as if she’d been privy to his inner thoughts. “I can skin him alive if you ask it of me.”
Her heart beat so hard and so fast he knew she was aware of the shift between them, but he couldn’t figure out what she thought of it.
Finnick watched the two of them closely, but he didn’t step in and he didn’t smell angry or jealous. Well, not angry about this. The level of fury currently riding Finnick was completely focused on the male who had touched their mate.
