by Leela Ash
An image came to her, of the tiny, brilliant dragonfly. Savannah brushed it from her mind.
Strange as it was, that was nothing like the Rite of Claiming. If we truly were Mates, something would have changed.
And it hadn’t. End of question. Silly, romantic fantasies would get her killed if she weren’t careful.
Mr. Beaumont must have gotten an email about the traitor and decided to take care of it at once, before the Darkborn possessed someone else and they lost track of it.
That made a lot more sense than some silly notion of Mates and true love.
The phone rang again. Mr. Beaumont’s direct line. Savannah watched the button on her phone light up. Inside his soundproof office, her master paced and swore. When he slammed the phone down and stormed out, he was in a temper that made her quail.
“Meetings,” he snarled.
No surprise there. He’d probably broken Eddy Adams’ nose. No doubt, the other lords of the Fangs wanted an explanation. The Wolf was, at least in name, in charge of Ormaz Corp.
In the doorway, he paused. “Lock this door once I’m gone. Don’t let anyone else in. If they insist, tell them it’s on my orders.”
No minion would dare disobey her master’s commands. He’d given her a perfect excuse. Meekly, Savannah did as he said.
Then, alone and behind locked doors, she took stock of her options.
The safest course was ‘do nothing.’ Lara’s death had kicked the beehive. And yet…
Chaos was the best cover. With Eddy injured, and the staff terrified, no one would pay any mind to her.
And there was more. In his agitation, her master had left his personal laptop behind. She could see it sitting open on his desk.
Anything he doesn’t want other Fangs to see will be there.
Fangs were traitors at heart, treacherous and devious to the core. None of their senior members were trustworthy. Everyone plotted against his peers.
What secrets would that computer hold? What weapons that the Shifters of the Aegis could use against their enemies? It might even reveal the name of the Fang spy who had infiltrated their ranks.
In the end, she couldn’t hold back. The temptation was too great. Coolly and efficiently – like her boss had ordered her to do this – Savannah fetched the computer. Then, she retreated into the ‘lounge’, the one room with solid walls no one could see through. Finally, the foul room served a good purpose!
Sure enough, Mr. Beaumont had left himself logged in. Giddy with excitement, she began to page through his secrets.
The first ones were… disappointing. Jordan Beaumont kept copies of all the research she’d done for him. He had a few extra analyses and spreadsheets crunching that data. Nothing that looked terribly important. None held any clues about the identity of the Fang spy. Savannah began to think she was wasting her time…
Until she checked his email.
No new messages – but as she scanned the list of read emails, one address leaped out at her.
[email protected]
Griffin Davis? The Chimera who’d been claimed by the Aegis? Why was he writing to a Fang of Apophis?!? Horror flooded through her at the thought. Did they truly have a traitor in their midst? One tied to the Aegis, no less? A man who had access to their most secret plots and discussions?
And there was worse. A few lines down, she saw another familiar address.
[email protected]
No way anyone would forget that domain name! Ghost was a hacker with the Sand Pack, the strongest band of Wolves in this area. How many times had the woman uncovered some inexplicable clue online, some ‘hidden’ bit of information that saved the day for the Shifters of the Aegis?
Was she another traitor? Did her ‘tips’ come from the Fangs of Apophis?
Mind reeling, Savannah clicked on the first message, the one from Griffin. As she did, she finally spotted Jordan’s own email address.
The mystery was solved.
[email protected]
Nemo. A mysterious ‘informant’ who frequently sent hints to the Shifters of the Aegis. A person who seemed to know an awful lot about the Fangs of Apophis.
No wonder. Jordan Beaumont was Nemo. One of the highest-ranking Fangs of Apophis was helping the Shifters of the Aegis.
Or was he? Savannah tapped her pen against her lips.
Nemo certainly seemed to be one of the Good Guys. He’d revealed Fang plans to them, and even helped them find the Aegis when it got stolen. Why would a villain do that?
Maybe because he hates Nemagorix more than us. After all, the Fangs can’t conquer the world if that thing destroys it first. The Aegis chose decent Shifters, not Fangs. If stopping the demon lord is Jordan’s top priority, betraying the Fangs is a small price to pay.
That was the simplest explanation. The only one that made sense. Yet, another, more outlandish idea charmed her.
Maybe he wanted to switch sides. To redeem himself for all the wrongs he’d committed.
Once more, she remembered that dragonfly, the gossamer sheen of its wings, bright in the desolation. She recalled Jordan’s politeness and restraint, so unusual in the Fangs. How Lara’s murder had enraged him.
Could he be saved? Had he changed?
Again, foolish whims threatened to drag her down.
I don’t know why he’s ‘helping’ us – and it’s not my place to figure that out. All I need to do is pass this information on to Todd.
Her boyfriend would know what to do.
The Shifters of the Aegis needed to know who Nemo really was.
Chapter 7.
Todd was ecstatic.
They met at a ratty ‘hotel’ that rented rooms by the hour. Savannah slipped past whores, johns, and drug addicts on her way upstairs. Even the joy of seeing Todd again couldn’t quite shake the disgust this place raised in her. She’d hoped they might spend some time together. Undercover work was lonely; it had been ages since she’d fallen asleep in his arms. On her way over, she’d thought that there was nothing she wouldn’t give to feel loved once more.
After seeing the room, she changed her mind. Stained sheets and a rumbled cover with a half dozen cigarette burns. Mold on the ceiling and the stench of stale smoke clung to everything. One whiff of this place killed her desire, dead.
Even Todd’s excitement wasn’t enough to make her amorous again.
“Nemo!” he crowed. “You did it, babe! You cracked our biggest mystery!”
“I thought ‘our biggest mystery’ was how to activate the Aegis and use it to bind Nemagorix.” The carpet crunched under her shoes. Savannah didn’t even want to know why it did that.
“Well, sure. But this is huge.”
It was. And surely, something as important, as game-changing as this, deserved a reward? A hug? A kiss? A better hotel room where ‘something’ might happen?
That seemed to be the farthest thing from Todd’s mind. “You need to get back into his personal accounts. Find out who he’s contacted and what information he’s shared with them.”
“Why? Can’t you just ask Griffin, Ghost, and the others? I’m sure they’d tell you.”
“These are people who cooperated with a senior Fang,” he sniffed.
“They didn’t know that. Until now, no one knew who Nemo was.”
“That’s not a safe assumption.”
“Todd,” she sighed, “none of those letters gave any indication of treachery. Ghost and Griffin? We have no reason to doubt them. Just ask.”
“How about you just do your job?” he countered. A sharp rebuttal that stung. Savannah felt the last traces of her joy fade away.
“I am doing my job.” When her handler got in moods like this, it was hard to avoid rising to his insults. “However, it was a freak accident that gave me access to Beaumont’s private computer. I doubt I’ll be that lucky again.”
“Make your own luck.”
That was so not helpful. “It will be extremely dangerous.”
She winced as he gave a harsh bark o
f laughter. “If you want a safe job, you should be flipping burgers at McDonald’s.”
“I just think−”
“No one pays you to think.” His words hit her like a slap to the face. “That’s my job. I’m your handler, remember? I give the assignments. You carry them out.”
He thought her an idiot? A mindless drudge following some man’s orders? Did he have any idea what it was like to work undercover? The constant wariness it required, the ability to lie and improvise at a moment’s notice? Not to mention the acting! One slip, one ‘out of character’ reaction, and she was dead. How dare he call her ‘stupid’?
Even as her temper stirred, though, doubts assailed her. What did she expect? He was a Shifter, she mere Kin. Of course, he was in charge. No one in the First Flight or Shifters of the Aegis confided in her. Why, she ought to be grateful that she was any use at all!
In the end, all she said was, “I’ll do what I can.”
“Good.” Without even a peck on the cheek, he headed for the door. “Can’t wait to see your next report.”
“Wait.” He paused, frowning. “Todd, there are two other matters I want to discuss.”
“Well, make it quick. We’ve been here too long already.”
“What do you think about approaching Beaumont directly? His correspondence and behavior suggest he may be looking for a way out of the Fangs.”
“I think that’s an idiotic idea.”
Ouch. Well, at least he made his feelings clear… “If we could turn someone in the Fangs, a senior member like Beaumont−”
“Do you have any hard evidence that he wants to leave the Fangs?”
She thought of that dragonfly. “No, but…”
“Then spare me your ‘woman’s intuitions’,” he sneered. “Jordan Beaumont is a murderous, devious, back-stabbing monster. He’s not going to change sides.”
Todd hadn’t seen Jordan’s face when Lara was murdered, or the rage he turned on her killer. “But if he did−”
“No. It’s too dangerous.”
Now he cared about the risks she took? She could argue… but it seemed Todd was in a ‘mood’ tonight. Contrary and dismissive. No sense butting heads with him. She could make her own decisions without his permission!
“I’m not sure it’s worse than the other dangers I face. Though that does bring me to my last concern. I think I should quit.”
“What?” he yelped. Finally, finally, he stopped edging toward the door like he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t think I should go back to work. Things are getting too hot.”
“Don’t be stupid! You can’t quit now – not when you’re on the verge of uncovering critical information!”
“I’m not learning anything useful about the Aegis or Nemagorix,” she reminded him gently.
“So what? You learned Nemo’s identity! You can’t stop now.”
“Todd, they just uncovered a Darkborn in the secretarial pool. The level of scrutiny I’m going to face will go through the roof. I’ve managed to break into their secure network twice, but a third attempt is too risky. Especially, right now.”
“Risk is your job.”
No love, no feeling, softened that order. Had any man ever sent his lover into danger so callously?
I bet Eddy Adams treated Lara that way.
It was an ugly, unkind comparison. But one her heart embraced.
In the midst of this argument, a picture drifted into her mind. Jordan Beaumont – stepping between her and Lara. Placing himself in the face of danger, to shield her.
Her. His secretary. An expendable, worthless minion.
He had guarded her. She knew that, trusted her feelings. He had protected her and grieved that he couldn’t save Lara as well.
That wasn’t the way a loyal Fang behaved.
Heck, it was better treatment than her ‘boyfriend’ gave her! Todd still waited, tapping his foot with impatience. This was the point where she was supposed to cave, like she always did. Duck her head. Accept her assignment. Run whatever risk he sent her into.
Instead, her eyes narrowed. “Do you even care about me?” she hissed. “At all?”
Surprise widened his eyes – not pain. “Savannah, what…?”
She turned away, eyes burning. Words like hers would stab a lover through the heart. Yet, Todd was merely startled, as if she’d made an unexpected move in chess – not accused him of being unfaithful.
At once, he hurried to her and slipped his arms around her. Pulling her into an embrace she once loved. “Of course, I love you! You know that.”
How many times had he said that? Hundreds over the last three years.
How many times did he show that in his actions?
Not one example came to mind.
“Babe, of course, I love you. And I’m proud of you. You’ve done so much…”
This time, she refused to surrender to his caresses, like she always did.
Lips brushed her hair aside and nuzzled at the base of her neck. Their touch made her skin crawl, and Savannah wiggled free of him. “You’re right. We’ve been here too long. I should get going.”
“Look, I know this is stressful.”
Stressful? Watching a woman she knew get murdered was ‘stressful’? That was an understatement!
“But you’ve made incredible breakthroughs! We just need to stick it out another year or so.”
We. As if he shared the dangers and fears that she did! She ignored his fake concern and blandishments. “Next meeting in two weeks, yes? At the library?”
“Savannah, wait. Please.”
In the doorway, she paused. They had shared too much, loved too much, for her to walk out after such a plea.
Brown eyes wide with contrition, he lowered his voice. Like a man trying not to frighten a skittish colt. “I know this job is lonely and that takes such a toll on a woman. Let me help you. Let me make you feel alive again…”
Once more, she considered that bed, with its faded, stained cover. She inhaled the foul scent of stale smoke. And somewhere down the hall, an outraged streetwalker screeched at the john who’d cheated her.
“I’ll pass, Todd. But thanks.”
Then she turned her back on her lover and walked out.
The first drops of grief rained down upon her as she trotted along the creaking hall. Todd and she were over. They were co-workers, nothing more.
What did that leave her? Distant parents and too few friends. For three years, she’d devoted her whole life to this job.
Time to see it through, then. To the end.
Despite their argument, she’d do what Todd asked. Go back to work and uncover more secrets.
Or die trying.
Chapter 8.
That night, Jordan dreamed. This dream, unfortunately, was nothing like the delirious night of passion he’d ‘spent’ with Savannah. No, these were the nocturnal visions that haunted him. Past crimes and failures. The people he’d turned his back on. The myriad of evils that arose from his laziness and selfishness. The past was an accusing finger, pointing at him. He rarely dreamed but when he did, he dreamed like this. An endless litany of his sins.
Lara Pearl threaded her way throughout it. Watching, lips pinched, as he failed to save his wife. Clucking with disapproval as he woke up from a drunken stupor to the news that his son had died while he wallowed in self-pity.
“You failed me too,” she whispered, as he staggered from one vision to the next.
“You weren’t mine to care for.”
“Still, you failed. Again.”
That, he couldn’t argue against. It was his life, after all. Failure. He failed everyone.
Except Savannah. His secretary was there when he staggered into the office, late. Safe and sound.
And subdued. Her morning greeting lacked its usual cheer and she stared at her computer screen with dull disinterest. Several times that day, he found her gazing blankly into space.
Wha
t do you expect? She watched a friend get murdered yesterday. Don’t be so quick to congratulate yourself on finally ‘saving’ someone. She was forced to watch that horror – because of you.
Something murmured a protest within him, something that might once have been a soul. The same silent yearning that urged him to take her by the hand and drag her out of this place. Call a taxi, rush to the airport, buy two tickets to anyplace that wasn’t here.
If I truly want to save Savannah, that’s how to do it.
But he didn’t. He did nothing. That was his specialty, after all. And when the endless workday finally expired, they went their separate ways. Her, to some empty apartment. Him to his – and those terrible dreams.
Only to return the next morning to the same dull tedium.
He needed to do something. Jordan knew that. If he didn’t, despair would claim him again. Then drink and drugs and the abyss. Yet the hopelessness of it all, the endless darkness, sapped his strength. He couldn’t even imagine a path forward.
Except when he looked at her. Savannah, his sweet, innocent spy. Saving her had been his first decisive act in years. Decades, if he was honest. A threat to her had roused him. Woken the Shifter he used to be. Years of sloth had fallen from him, like rust from a waking robot, and for one moment, he became himself again. The Shifter he was in his youth. A man of passion and action.
Now, that man threatened to fade away once more. Dragged down in the swamp he’d made of his life.
Until he looked at her. Again. As he had all morning. Brown hair warmed by the morning sun. Pale and subdued, yet with a fierce strength. She was his pillar, his hope. With her help, he could pull himself back to his feet.
Oh really?
Jordan snorted at his own romantic delusions. No clean Kin woman would waste her time on a Fang.
Yet some ridiculous corner of his heart insisted he was wrong. Savannah would help him. Why?
…mate…
The voice in his mind startled him. Had his Shifter soul actually spoken?
