Winter Halo

by Keri Arthur

  “I’m guessing Cat and Bear just returned?” Jonas said, the sudden question making me jump a little.

  I glanced at him and nodded, even as I silently asked, Did you get a chance to look inside the truck?

  We did, Bear said, sounding a little smug. We thought you might ask that.

  We also stole the sensor thing from the truck, Cat added, dropping the small device into my hand. They didn’t need it to get out. We checked.

  I rolled the device around in my hand. It didn’t look any different from the sensors they’d placed in military vehicles during the war. And the truck’s cargo?

  Their amusement died. It was two children. They were drugged and they did not look well. Something had been done to their mouths.

  The image of the sewn mouths on the five we’d already rescued rose, and my stomach churned. If they were doing that to these two, then maybe they’d outlived their usefulness. Maybe they, like Sal and the guards, were destined for the gleaming dissection tables. But why bring them to Winter Halo in a truck? Why not use either of the false rifts? It would certainly be safer.

  Unless, of course, my use of the rifts had forced them to move the children to a more secure position away from the things. I swore and rubbed a hand across my eyes.

  “What?” Jonas leaned forward, his expression intent. The warmth and amusement had fled, leaving only the dispassion of a soldier.

  I gave him a quick rundown, then said, “I really do have to get in there tonight.”

  “Yes.” His expression was slightly distracted. Updating Nuri, no doubt. “You can’t do this alone.”

  “We have no other choice, Jonas. Ela has brothel duties, Branna would kill me, and if you show your face in Central after having taken this job, questions will be asked in the wrong quarters.”

  “I’m aware of all that. It doesn’t change what I said.” He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. The rough sound echoed lightly in the hush that surrounded us. The younger ghosts had finally fallen silent—perhaps even they realized the gravity of the situation. “Are there cameras in either the parking area or on the thirtieth floor?”

  “The kids won’t be on the thirtieth. They’ll be on the twenty-ninth, where the holding cells are.”

  If they’d gone there for dissection, that is. It was always possible the scientist working to develop immunity for the wraiths and vamps had another serum ready to test, and had requested the two children brought in to enable that. Though why they’d risk that rather than take the serum to them, I had no idea.

  “I’m aware of that,” Jonas said. “Just ask the question.”

  No, Bear said. But there’s everything imaginable on the remaining floors.

  I repeated what he’d said. “Getting onto the thirtieth is going to be useless if we can’t get onto the other floors.”

  “Let Nuri and me worry about that.” He frowned suddenly. “Don’t you have a lunchtime meeting with Charles?”

  I looked over at the autocook clock and saw it was just past one. I had less than half an hour to get back into Central and make myself presentable for seduction.

  “This sensor is from the truck that delivered the children; we’ll need it to get into the elevator.” I dropped it onto the table, then drew in the power of the lights that flooded this entire area, using it to wrap a shield around my body. “I’ll come back here as soon as I can. Keep the door open for me.”

  “The ability to shield like that,” he said as he rose, “is one I’m damnably glad the soldier déchet didn’t have in the war.”

  “It’s hard to give someone a psychic gift when you’ve all but gutted their mind.” I rose and followed him across to the door. Bear, Cat, I need you to remain here this afternoon.

  If you need help, call, Cat said.

  I will. I stepped through the door, then hesitated and looked back at Jonas. He might not be able to see through the light shield, but his gaze nevertheless met mine unerringly.

  “What would you do if I did decide to pursue this attraction?” I asked.

  “Until it actually happens, I honestly can’t say.” A smile twitched the corner of his mouth. “But it’s an event unlikely to occur anytime soon, is it?”

  “That is a question I honestly can’t answer.”

  I turned and walked away. He didn’t immediately move back inside. He just stood there, watching me, his gaze a caress I could feel against my spine and one that had my whole body tingling.

  Having Jonas stay in such close proximity really wasn’t a good idea—either for my hormones or my determination to keep them all at arm’s length.

  I made it back into Central. Given that it was lunchtime and the cross streets would undoubtedly be filled with people, I instead made my way to the nearest public convenience. Once I’d shifted back to my Cat identity, I hurried across to Third Street and my apartment there. Thankfully, Charles hadn’t arrived yet. I stripped, tossed my clothes into the laundry chute, and had a quick shower, just in case any scent of dust or even Jonas lingered on my skin.

  The door alarm went just as I stepped out. The nearby monitor came to life, revealing Charles standing outside the building. I buzzed him in and then walked into the bedroom to grab a sheer gown before heading downstairs. By the time I’d opened and poured two glasses of whiskey, he was at my doorway.

  “Enter,” I murmured, pushing a husky note into my tone.

  The door slid open and he strode in. His expression was initially thunderous, but that gave way to delight and desire when he saw me.

  “I’m gathering it’s been a hard morning,” I said, sashaying toward him.

  His gaze swept me, and lust burned the air. He accepted the drink with a nod of thanks and downed it in one quick mouthful.

  I laughed and handed him mine. “Seems you need this more than me.” The second drink disappeared as fast as the first. I raised an eyebrow and added, “Would you like another?”

  He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yes, please.”

  I plucked the second glass from his hand and walked across to the kitchen. He followed and, when I stopped to pour the alcohol, wrapped his hands around my waist.

  “What I need more than a drink, however,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on the side of my neck, “is to lose myself in the glory of your body and simply forget my problems for a short while.”

  Given that I certainly wanted the former so that I could read the latter, I stoppered the whiskey and pressed my butt back against him.

  He groaned and moved his grip to my hips, pressing me harder against his erection. “I’m really not in the mood for self-control. Not this first time.”

  “Self-control is sometimes overrated.” Fast wouldn’t gain me much information, but Charles was a man of amazing stamina. The first session would not be the last, even if our time this afternoon was limited.

  He dropped another kiss against my neck, then undid the gown’s ties and slid it to the floor between us. I tried to turn and face him, but his grip tightened, preventing me.

  “I need control,” he murmured.

  Because he doesn’t have it at work, intuition whispered.

  He stepped back and stripped. The fact that he tossed his clothes onto the nearest chair rather than neatly place them said a lot about his urgency and his desire to forget.

  He began to caress and tease my body, and for a man in a hurry he did a damnably good job of making sure I was ready for him. But as his breathing got faster and the lust stinging the air felt liquid, he kicked my legs farther apart and thrust into me. There was nothing gentle, nothing civilized about this mating; it was all heat and need and desperation, and the images that filtered through my mind were fractured and all over the place. But I saw enough to know he’d been called up to the thirtieth floor to face Rath Winter. He came before I could glimpse the outcome of that meeting.

  �
�That,” he said, resting his forehead momentarily against my spine, “definitely chased a few demons away. Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome.” I turned around and wrapped my arms loosely around his neck. “I’m thinking said demons aren’t entirely banished, though?”

  “You could say that.” He traced a line around my lips, his expression edging toward dark. Furious. “I was given an ultimatum.”

  “Whom by?”

  He leaned forward and kissed me for several minutes. It tasted of anger and hate—the former aimed at his boss, the latter for the situation he’d been forced into.

  “My boss,” he said eventually.

  I raised a hand and cupped his cheek, my expression one of concern. “What sort of ultimatum? Or aren’t you allowed to talk about it?”

  He snorted, a sound that was rough and wrong on his lips. “The latter, but it’s not like they can sack me when I’ve already given notice.”

  “Why?” The shock in my voice was real enough. Why, why, why?

  “Because he’s asking the impossible and as much as I love working there, I do have other options. I don’t need the stress of impossible targets.”

  I resisted the urge to ask what those targets were or what his options might be. Now was not the time, even if the latter would certainly play a part in what happened next between him and me. “I’m so sorry, Charles.”

  “So am I.”

  I rose on my toes and kissed him. After what seemed like ages, he pulled back, then caught my hand and tugged me toward the stairs. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.”

  We moved into my bedroom. This time, he took his time; even when he entered me, there was no rush, just a gradual buildup of heat. It gave me time to go deeper into his mind, catch more than fleeting glimpses. What Rath had demanded was the cessation of financial support to all projects on the lower level, with funds being diverted to those on the upper levels. He hadn’t specified which projects, but it wasn’t hard to guess the ones he meant. Charles had refused and then quit. Rath Winter had immediately ordered guards to escort him out of the building. No good-byes, no here’s your stuff, now leave, nothing.

  I dove deeper into his memories, trying to discover how many people had access to the thirtieth floor. It seemed most departmental heads from the lower floors did, which meant around six people. I couldn’t find any information about the upper levels, but it probably ran along similar lines.

  I became aware of heated movements and carefully withdrew from his memories. My body had been primed for completeness by then, and I came at the same time as he did. He kissed me, then rolled to one side and gathered me in his arms. Neither of us spoke for a while, but eventually I said, “So, what are you going to do now? Go back there until they find a replacement?”

  “No.” His breath was warm against my cheek. “They marched me out; my personal stuff and severance pay will be forwarded, apparently.”

  “Oh, that’s dreadful!”

  “But not unexpected. He’s done it before with departmental heads who refused to play his games.” He sighed and rubbed a hand across his eyes. “As to what I’ll do, well, the family has been after me for a while to take up my position in the House of Lords.”

  Which explained the odd emphasis Nuri had placed on information gathering when I mentioned Charles to her. As a member of the House of Lords, he had full access to Government House and everything that went on there. And it was yet another example of Rhea favoring our quest.

  “And is that something you really want?”

  He grimaced. “It’s something I’ve been avoiding, but I am my father’s only son, so it is both my duty and my place.”

  “And here I was, believing that sort of thinking went out with the Dark Ages.”

  He smiled. “There are some traditions that never go away, I’m afraid.”

  And I couldn’t help being glad of that, because if Charles did take his seat there, it would certainly work to my advantage. As his lover, I might not get access to Government House itself, but I sure as hell had access to his thoughts and memories.

  He threw one leg over mine and dragged me a little closer. “As I appear to have the rest of the afternoon and the evening free, I would very much like to spend it with you.”

  I sighed. “I’d love to spend more time with you, but I’m afraid I have a dinner appointment.”

  “Ah.” He idly played with my nipples. “Is this another rival for you affections, or the same one?”

  “The same.”

  “Should I have cause to worry?”

  “He is the most annoying and opinionated man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.” Not to mention strong, thoughtful, and caring, that inner voice unhelpfully whispered.

  Charles chuckled. “In other words, I should be concerned.”

  “Perhaps.” I slid my hand between us and began to caress his erection.

  “Then perhaps . . .” He paused as the door alarm chimed, then added, “Ignore it.”

  I started to agree, then stopped as I felt the energy of the ghosts. They didn’t come into the room—while they were both aware of what I’d been bred to do, they also knew I didn’t like them witnessing it.

  “And what if it is my other suitor?” I began to untangle myself from him. “It would be terribly awkward if he decided to break in and discovered us midcoitus.”

  “Indeed,” Charles agreed. “But perhaps him realizing there is another in the mix would improve his behavior.”

  I laughed. “That I doubt.”

  I jumped free of the bed and ran down the stairs. My two ghosts spun around me and a note fluttered free. I caught it, then continued on to open the door, even though I knew there was no one on the other side. I proceeded to softly converse with that nonperson even as I unfolded the note.

  Tonight not ideal. Better if you stay where you are, it read. Meet for breakfast in the usual spot.

  I glanced up at the ghosts. Do you know why there’s a delay?

  Bear’s energy touched mine. Lack of time to organize an assault. Plus, they can’t get the children out at night.

  But why would they want to do that? Most of the children had lived in Central with their families before they were kidnapped, so why go elsewhere?

  It has something to do with the five we rescued, Cat replied.

  Are they okay? By Rhea, don’t tell me we’d gone to all the trouble of rescuing them only to have them fall foul of these people again.

  Physically, yes, Bear assured me. But there are other problems.

  Which wasn’t surprising, given everything they’d gone through. I closed the door and walked across to the kitchen, quietly opening drawers until I found an old pen. Take this note back. I quickly scrawled both my agreement and my uncertainty that delay was the right course of action, as well as the information about the departmental heads all having access to the thirtieth. But when you’ve done that, go back into Winter Halo and keep track of the two children. One of you let me know the minute there’s any sign of them being moved.

  And be careful, they both intoned, before I could.

  I chuckled softly and told them to scoot. Then I grabbed the whiskey and two glasses and headed back upstairs.

  “I realize it’s never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach,” I said as I climbed onto the bed and handed him a glass. “But given the situation you have found yourself in, I think it’s entirely appropriate.”

  “So the rival has been given his marching orders?”

  “Until tomorrow morning, yes.” I unstoppered the whiskey and poured him a generous amount. “I did have to promise him breakfast before he’d leave, however, so I’m afraid you’ll have to depart at the rather unseemly hour of seven.”

  “Which still gives me plenty of time to indulge in both the alcohol and you.” He tossed the whiskey back. “A
nd perhaps I will even combine the two pleasures.”

  I raised my glass and let the whiskey dribble down my torso. “Perhaps? That doesn’t sound ideal to me.”

  He laughed, grabbed my arm, and tugged me downward. From that moment on, there was little conversation and few other sounds except those of pleasure.

  * * *

  “It might be a couple of days before I can see you again,” Charles said as we walked toward the front door. “I may be the only son, but claiming my seat in the House of Lords is a somewhat lengthy process.”

  I stopped. “Which saddens me, but I’m sure I’ll be able to find something to do to fill my time.”

  “Which is a none-too-subtle reminder that I am not the only tom in this particular cathouse.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and dragged me closer. “I am, however, a tom who expects to win.”

  He kissed me hard, then released me with a curse and added, “I had best go, before I do something ungentlemanly, like throw you over my shoulder and cart you upstairs.”

  I laughed. “We can do the caveman thing when you are next free. I do own silk restraints; perhaps we can put them to use?”

  His gaze darkened. “I look forward to it.”

  And with that, he left. I watched until he’d entered the elevator and the doors had closed, then shut my door and leaned my forehead wearily against it. What a night. It might have been an enjoyable one, but it was nevertheless one in which there’d been no sleep. That, ultimately, was what I now needed—and the one thing I wouldn’t get anytime soon. I pushed away from the door and headed upstairs. By the time I’d showered and put the bedroom back into some semblance of order, an hour had past. Even so, I took the time to sit down and boost my energy levels. It might not erase all the tiredness, but hopefully it would help get me through the day.

  Outside, it was cool and crisp, and the bitter wind that swept down Third Street made me glad I’d thrown on a coat. I hitched the bag holding my change of clothes a little higher on my shoulder and headed for the nearest cross street. I slowed my pace once I’d entered, waiting for the couple at the other end to exit, then glanced over my shoulder to check that no one else was approaching. Once I was in the clear, I quickly drew a light shield around my body and then changed both form and clothes. Doing all that while holding on to the shield was not something I’d attempted too often, and it left me shaking with fatigue. So much for boosting my reserves earlier.