by Brianna West
Conall was sitting on the sofa when I finally reappeared in the living room, giving me the only option of the armchair he’d previously used. When I sat down, he scooted as close as he could and rested his chin on his hand to stare at me.
“You look lovely,” he remarked cutely.
Although his smile radiantly mocked me, I managed to ignore it and conjure some food for us. “What did you wish to discuss?”
“All business and no play, is it?” My stare narrowed, causing him to laugh as he rushed to continue. “Right. You’ll be partnered with myself.” Damn. “There are two others on the team at present, Aidan and Laura. Before you ask, no, they aren’t dating. They argue like it, but sadly, neither of them seems to be interested in each other…or me.”
Or him? His narcissism was boundless.
My eyebrows drew down in confusion. “How is that important?”
“That they aren’t dating?” Conall shrugged, chuckling. “Thought you might like to know. Laura is rather popular here, but I guess you wouldn’t be interested in her.”
“Or anyone,” I corrected angrily. “Why only three? I was told you recently lost a member, so that means you were only a team of four. Isn’t the required team count six?”
Conall watched me as I took a bite of the burger I’d conjured from the fridge, thankful it was something I enjoyed. “Yes, but we’ve had a few…erm, issues holding onto Guardians.”
A smile crept onto my face. “I can’t imagine why.”
“Hey now, I resent that look you’re giving me. It wasn’t my fault, I’ll have you know. It had everything to do with why I first mentioned the two weren’t dating.” Conall’s sparkling eyes caught the firelight and momentarily distracted me from my meal as I set the burger down.
“How so?”
“Laura attracts a lot of suitors, so we almost never bring on male Guardians. Aidan might not care after her like that, but he’s still fairly difficult to contend with when she’s being lusted after. Of course, he’s not all that innocent either. Bringing on female Guardians is the opposite problem. Aidan gobbles them up as fast as he can, and spits them out just as quickly.”
Intrigued by the conversation, I had all but forgotten my meal. “Why not separate them to other teams? Why keep them when they make it difficult to keep the appropriate number of Guardians?”
Conall laughed, fingering his jaw absently. “Right, a good boss would kick their sorry arses to the curb, but I can’t find it in myself to. They’re both very good at what they do, and I’ve never been a shining example of a rule-abider myself, so it would feel hypocritical to expect that of them.”
Blatantly disregarding conflict within a team, one that is created discord with new Guardians being added, seemed to be only a portion of the full story he was telling. There was something missing, but it wasn’t my place to pry into it. I had already decided not to join, so it wouldn’t matter what Conall chose to do or not to do with his team.
“So, when Victor mentioned you were looking for a good fit, this is how he meant it?”
I resumed eating, noticing that he hadn’t touched a bite of the spread. It was easy to conclude why. If I could conjure a bag, then whether or not he took it from a donor would be answered. Summoning a bag of blood with my power, I was disappointed to find that it did not, in fact, come. A donor then. It wasn’t surprising to find that he sought blood from a donor but, after associating with Lucas all these years, it was a bit disconcerting. I idly wondered who he took as his donor, finding my wonderment had tuned out his answer to my question.
“Sorry, what?” I asked when he looked at me inquisitively.
“Lucas was the one who originally suggested you. Said you never made waves and always followed the rules. Something we all lack on this team, as he so nicely pointed out. He also made it clear that love and relationships were far from your mind and wouldn’t be a problem.”
The statement struck me, causing the hold I had on my burger to weaken. With lightning speed, Conall caught it and set it down onto my plate. His gaze was on me as I attempted to recover, suddenly overcome by an emotion I hadn’t felt in a while.
Despair.
Lucas thought I would fit here only because I’d been pining after him for so long that I barely noticed any other person. Love had been inconceivable with him, so I’d never imagined having it. But still, I’d always hoped there might be a day. It wasn’t that I never desired it for myself, but I never thought it would come where my unrequited love was concerned.
My chest constricted as I touched the gun resting at my side, seeking its comfort. “He’s correct. I’ve been married to my job, and I won’t make waves while I’m here.”
“Already decided to leave us?” Conall asked, catching me by surprise.
I opened my mouth, but thought better of it. Nodding, I cleared my throat and gathered my thoughts as the despair I’d previously felt settled into the background. “I don’t think I’m a good permanent fit, no. I’ll assist for the promised four weeks, but at its conclusion, I’ll return to my original post.”
Conall sighed and settled into his seat. “I’ve gone and made an arse of myself, haven’t I?”
Feeling somewhat guilty at the sight of his sullen resignation, I leaned forward and shook my head. “Not really. I don’t think I came here ever intending to leave my current team. I’m happy there.”
“Nothing I can do to convince you?” Conall’s smile reappeared as I shook my head. “Ah, sod it. We’re getting pissed tonight!”
Chapter Three
“Carl!” Conall cried out as I descended the stairs, hearing the stirrings of other bodies inside the house from my bedroom. “Look who’s come home early! My babies!”
“Get off, Old Man,” a deep voice demanded as I ducked under the low hanging ceiling halfway through the stairwell. “I swear to all, you make such a fuss every bloody time I walk through this door. What’s with all the shrill screaming?”
“Come off it, Aidan. Can’t you see the old man’s lonely?” a woman’s voice giggled, her figure shadowed by the dim light of the hallway. However, with my keen eyes, I could see her perfectly.
It was quite clear why she was sought after. Even I could appreciate how beautiful she was.
Pure blue eyes that shown brightly with no light to illuminate them. Golden hair cascading in subtle waves just above her large chest, which was practically spilling out of the low-dipping top she wore. Not much of her body was left to the imagination. Every line and curve was distinctly highlighted by the clothing she’d dressed herself in.
The man beside her easily towered over the three of us; his smell distinctly were-bear. The shirt he wore barely contained the muscle beneath, practically suffused to it. His dark locks had been styled around his head and towards the ceiling, making his appearance rather striking at a distance. Light caramel eyes bled into a bright rim of gold, still illuminated with heightened emotion. His almond colored skin, distinctly mixed race from his features, was visible along a wide neck and immensely large biceps, which were marred with scars in different stages of healing. While there were ways to conceal scars, or make it so that one did not scar, some wore them with pride. Much like I imagined this man did.
His full lips formed a thin line, while his eyes stared my direction with severe regard and an expression bare of any emotion at all. If anyone had ever been stone-faced, it was this man. The slight slant in his eyes was what initially made me think he was mixed race, and on closer inspection, his features were immeasurably sharp for a black man. His strong, attractive face and body were definitely what one might find alluring and, while I couldn’t deny the sudden jump in my pulse, I mostly felt the prick of my pride as yet another man towered over me in this occupation. Not to mention this house.
I absently corrected my posture, attaining a slight measure of height with the move and masking the envy floundering inside of me.
I detected hints of magic coming from both of them, so I assumed that they w
ere more than likely warlock and witch-born. Her features suggested faerie descent as well; their luminescent quality a natural marker for their kind. So, I concluded their origins mostly with scent and sight alone. The sheathed blades on her belt and the large hammer strapped to his back also depicted particular fighting styles. Though, I was sure the pairing of magic was also present during combat.
More importantly, time to meet-and-greet.
Smoothing over the vest fitted to my torso, I hurried down the steps and stopped a couple feet from the trio. “Good evening. Glad to make your acquaintance. My name is Carl.”
“I’m…Laura, and this huge thing is Aidan,” the woman greeted with a wistful sigh.
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me a thing, you daft cow.”
“It’s what you are, isn’t it?” she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him before offering me a bright smile.
Laura’s blue eyes glittered with delight, while the man whom she referred to as Aidan peered over at me skeptically. I offered him a hand, shaking it strongly the moment he lifted his own, and then presented my palm to Laura. Her squeal followed shortly after I pressed a small kiss to the top of her hand.
“I haven’t been treated like this since the 1940s. Care to share a drink with me?” Her dazzling smile brought about my own as Conall watched the exchange with a secretive grin.
Catching sight of him, I narrowed my eyes before offering Laura a gentle smile. “I’d be mighty honored.”
She was practically swooning as I led her by the arm into the living room, trailing the other two men behind us. Aidan watched warily as I helped Laura to her seat first before motioning at the other two to take theirs. Snapping my fingers, a bottle of aged red wine materialized in my awaiting hand and I promptly poured Laura’s glass first.
“How…my oh my, Aidan, I think I’m won over,” Laura teased as she sipped the wine gingerly with a glazed look my direction. “I want to keep him.”
“Think you can manage to convince him?” Conall interjected with a sideways glance my direction. “I’ve already tried.”
“And probably made an arse out of yourself doing it,” Aidan interrupted with a stolen look towards me before bumping his shoulder into Laura. “Hey, you better not chase this one away. He actually looks like he might be worth keeping. He doesn’t screech like the old man does.”
“Me? Isn’t it you and the old man who chases them away? I’m nothing if not nice to each one of them. You and the old man are the ones that swallow them whole and leave them like a bad habit.” Laura brought the rim of the wine glass to her lips, smirking devilishly as her blue eyes found mine. “Did the old man sink his teeth into you yet?”
I stalled, eyes slipping away from her intelligent stare. This woman was trouble. I’d better watch my Ps and Qs around her, because I expected she already perceived too much as it was. When I met her stare once more, her lips lifted briefly before she took another sip and crossed a leg over.
“The old man just recently dropped his donor, so he’s in the market for a new one,” she added, peering over at said man nearby.
So, he no longer had a donor? It would explain his sallow appearance. However, it couldn’t have been too long since he had a drink. His appearance suggested a week, at most.
“Stop calling me Old Man.” Conall huffed petulantly and sunk into his seat. “I’m young at heart.”
“Too young some might say,” Laura quipped before returning her gaze to where I stood. Smirking, I set the bottle of wine down after I’d finished distributing the drinks. “So, the infamous Carl of Lucas Easton’s team. I can’t say I’m surprised, but who knew you’d be so dashing.”
Thankful for conversation that didn’t veer on rudely intrusive, I bowed respectfully. “I’m honored by the compliment. It’s my hope that I offer invaluable assistance during the weeks I’m here.”
Conall straightened in his seat, eagerness practically radiating from him. But Aidan’s voice rang out, cutting off Conall before he could effectively join in.
“I thought you had a twin brother.”
Conall slumped back into his seat with another petulant huff.
“I do. He’s currently campaigning in the In-Between realm,” I responded quickly, thinking of my brother for the first time since I’d arrived. “It could be months before he returns, so I’ve been making myself useful elsewhere.”
Aidan nodded his understanding, seemingly satisfied with my response. “The old man is a bloody cock-up most of the time, but he means well. Hope he didn’t say anything that’d put you off us entirely. We’re a good lot, really. Just misunderstood.”
My lips twitched into a smile, appreciative for the effort Aidan was making towards his superior. “No need. I’m here for a short time, so let’s not make anything out of it. Whatever you need, I’ll assist you with it.”
“I definitely want to keep him now,” Laura said softly, her sparkling eyes evidence that I’d won her over completely.
Conall had sat pouting a majority of the conversation before he stood. “Alright, that’s enough of that, you insubordinate eejits. I’m sure Carl doesn’t want to sit here gossiping with you lot all night, so off to bed with you.”
*
“Our mission is simple. We’ve gotten reports in this area of an underground feeding warehouse that’s been kidnapping from all over Ireland. Recent reports suggest it’s somewhere around Cork. The two potential hubs are here and here.” Conall pointed to two red dots on the map, raising his eyes to us. “We’ll split up and stake out. Find out what we can, then regroup.”
Aidan was leaning in next to me, his expression severe. “Considering our backgrounds, I think I should pair up with Carl for this mission. We’d cover more ground.”
Caught by surprise, I jerked my head his direction and found Aidan’s fearless smile projecting at me. Normally indifferent, it caught my off guard to see his gorgeous smile. Especially from this close. Plus, I couldn’t read anything from his eyes, but with my ability to vaguely read someone’s intentions, I could feel how strongly he felt the desire to partner with me.
Conall appeared to be as equally surprised as I was. He took hold of the tablet he’d used to relay the information and straightened. “I’ve already decided to partner with him. I think our abilities complement each other better than yours would.”
Laura’s eyes trailed between the two, inquisitive. “What are you two on about? How about we leave it up to Carl to decide, seeing how you two are going to be absolute girls about this and fight over him.”
In the day I’d known her, I already enjoyed Laura’s company immensely. She reminded me greatly of Cecile. The faerie-warlock mix vixen, Cecile, was also prone to speaking her mind and taking no prisoners. She fared well with others, but ever cross her and it was your death warrant, signed and sealed. While I still worried Laura might discover my true nature, I did trust that she wouldn’t prattle on about it like her idiotic superior had.
Aidan’s expression soured. “I guess that’s a good point. Well, who do you want to work with, Carl?”
Conall groaned, defeated already. “There’s no way he’ll choose me right now. That’s why I wanted to forcibly pair myself up with him. I’d hoped to put myself in a better light.”
Laura laughed with a small pat to Conall’s shoulder. “Old Man, you couldn’t put yourself in a better light if your life depended on it.”
“I really must be some sort of masochist to keep the two of you around. Maybe if I get Carl to stay on, I’ll just send the lot of you away and make a new start with him,” Conall said unconvincingly, staring at me from across the table. “He’s lovely. He pours my pints without my having to ask him to.”
I hadn’t poured a pint for him yet, so I wasn’t quite sure what to make of what he was saying. I assumed he meant that I’d sent for blood and it arrived just that morning, but I hadn’t poured it for him.
“You can pour your own bloody pints,” Aidan growled. “This isn’t some
holiday we’re on, Old Man.” Aidan directed his gaze towards me, his gorgeous eyes strongly entreating. “Laura knows how to keep the old man in line, and I’d be no trouble for you. If you don’t want to be dragging your bloody heels at every pub in Cork, I’d seriously consider pairing up with me.”
He had a point. I already knew that partnering with Conall spelled trouble for me, in more ways than one, but there was something about the Irishman that intrigued me.
Team leader posts, especially for the ground covered in this country, weren’t given to inept individuals. Whatever he’d done and continued to do, it was keeping him in his post. Considering that Conall also maintained a low Guardian count, he must’ve somehow convinced his superiors that he could do well without the recommended six.
Conall was also a friend to Lucas, which spoke volumes to me. Lucas didn’t often take a liking to those that endangered their team or humans. Also, Lucas was incredibly perceptive and could read another person’s intentions, whether they were Light or Dark, with a single touch. I had to wonder where the gap lied between his personality, mannerisms, and professionalism.
While I was hesitant to share any more than necessary company with Conall, I didn’t know Aidan very well at all. He had kept to another room from the moment he’d arrived until now, only resurfacing for meals. Otherwise, the man was a mystery.
The attraction I felt for Aidan was noticeably different than the one I felt towards Conall, which was a relief, but I hadn’t been overwhelmingly attracted to Lucas either when I’d first come under his command. My attraction to Aidan was strong, but it didn’t overtake my thoughts like Conall’s had. I didn’t resist it like I did with Conall, and I couldn’t be sure if that was a good or bad thing. While I was drawn to Aidan in a way that made my eyes follow him, it wasn’t devastating my thoughts like my attraction to Conall had.
