Page 33 (1/2)

She slid sunglasses over her golden eyes and rounded the hood "I’ve got your back, babe And your fine ass, too"

He couldn’t help but look twice, then stare She earing one of the sleek, sleeveless black bodysuits that looked like wet paint applied directly to her skin Black leather boots covered her fro loosely down her back For the first ti necklace she’d picked up thathiht of his desire for caffeine--a desire she didn’t share--touched him But the necklace touched him more It was an elaborate col ar of peridot around her neck, a color she said reminded her of his eyes

The nonchalance hich she’d told him about her selection didn’t fool hi black in an unmistakable way No one couldshe associated with his had been a si a picture in his head of a ruby-haired, sapphire-eyed, peridot-winged angel with pale-as-a-pearl skin I he could have seen her that way Then he’d pul ed her close and kissed her until she went lax in his ars The angel she’d been was in the past It was the vael with a warrior’s soul The woman who’d suffered brutality at the hands of deer and fiercer than ever

"Micah’s always going to be a proble the fit of her katana scabbards "Or more accurately, what I did to him and what you did to hisbecause of me"

He didn’t deny it There was no point

"I’ers with his "Not that I did it, because under the circuain But I’ you trouble now"

The video screen beside the door flickered, and a stern male face appeared "Who are you? And what do you want?"

Since the feed was closest to Vashti, she approached it first "Your Alpha is here to check the place out A elco wouldn’t hurt"

Elijah sighed "Vashti"

"What?" She strol ed over to hi a party of a half-dozen armed lycans--five males and one female Vashti looked down at theon her chest A wicked ss

"Behave," he ad forward "Lower your weapons She’s with me"

"She’s a vampire," the tal , tawny-haired lycan in the middle said with a scowl

"Cute and observant," Vash purred "I’m sorry I left the Scooby Snacks back at the hotel"

The lycan’s aim lifted to center lasses off his face "Ah, but clearly his hearing is defective I may need to put him down"

"Can I watch?" she asked sweetly

The dark-haired lycan next to Trigger-Happy holstered his weapon and came forward His nostrils twitched, and one brow rose as he looked back and forth between Elijah and Vashti "Interesting"

Vash’s grin widened "You have no idea"

The lycan extended his hand to Elijah "I’e"

Vash stepped closer, clearly protective "Why send a er when he can take care of it himself? Your Alpha takes the hands-on approach"

"We have a hierarchy here," Trigger-Happy said tightly "You’l respect it, or you can find another outpost to shelter you"

She shook her head "Definitely no treats for you"

Trigger-Happy took aim

In the time it took for Vash to pivot out of the way, Elijah shifted and lunged He knocked the blond down and ripped his throat out in one fluid move crouch, prepared to attack again…only to find three of the lycans nursing bleeding trigger hands and one of the idly trained on the ground Vash held Paul’s pistol in one hand and the back of his neck in the other, her arround

Elijah shifted forms and walked toward his discarded clothes, ad hilared at the fe You see any part of your Alpha but his face and you won’t live to regret it"

He pul ed on his jeans first, for Vash’s sake, then used his shirt to wipe the blood fros," he said to the group at large "But I won’t tolerate disobedience or threats of any kind against Vashti Are we clear?"

Two of the males shifted foritation The snarl he shot theet up"

Vash released the htened, raking Elijah with a sweeping glance "I’ve never seen a lycan shift so fast"

"Betcha never seen a lycan who’s nailing a vampress either," Vash said "Syre’s second, no less It’s a whole neorld"

Elijah arched a brow at her "Didn’t I tel you to behave?"

"I don’t take orders froive her any more ammunition "I need access to your data center, Paul"

"Yes, Alpha" Paul gestured through the gate "I’l show you where it is"

Elijah was deep into working on the data when Vash’s cel phone rang Excusing herself, she stepped out to the hal way and answered,a smile when Syre’s face appeared on her iPhone screen

"Vashti," he greeted her "How are things faring in Huntington?"

"I don’t know yet They’re digging for the goods now"

"What is that on your neck?" He frowned "Is that…jewelry?"

She flushed "Yeah What’s up?"

"Have things s hiet that out of the way

Syre’s ss "Excel ent"

Her fist clenched at her side, herthe fork in the road ahead and the decision she’d soon be forced to make between the two most important men in her life

"Can you speak privately?" His s her hackles rise

"Not yet" Vash glanced up at one of the lycans on guard duty in the hal way "Nearest soundproofed rooaze cold and hard "Two doors down on the right, bloodsucker"

"Thanks, Fido"