“Hmm.” He kissed her then—finally. Deep and sure with more than a hint of power. Oh, it had been there before, but he’d held back. Now he gave it all, giving her no choice but to take it. Then he released her, leaning back as if time had no meaning. “I was already in this world but hadn’t realized how big it was. Now you’re with me in it, demonness. I’m being as gentle as I can be with you, but you’re going to come to grips with it and soon.”
How had she missed this in him? “What the hell does that mean?” Why was he turning her on and pissing her off at the same time? It was too hard to concentrate.
“You mated me knowing full well what mating meant. I’m just taking you up on the offer.” His phone buzzed and he stiffened, reaching for it on his dresser. “It’s the king.”
She stiffened. “The king has your cell number?”
“Yeah. I called in a favor before he left the other day.” Evan sounded so damn casual about the freaking king of the entire Realm.
Who was this male she’d mated? What had she done? “What favor?”
“I let his woman take my blood and yours.” Evan lifted the phone. “Morning, Dage. What do you have?” His voice was all business, and then he listened, his gaze remaining on Tabi’s eyes. “When?” Those blue eyes narrowed. “Thanks for arranging the meeting.” He ended the call, his jaw hardening.
“What?” Tabi whispered.
The phone shattered in his hand. He looked at it, his brows rising. “Shit.”
She shivered, taken aback. Maybe he was more dangerous than even she’d realized. “We need to work on that strength.”
He tossed the useless pieces toward the floor and looked back at her. “We. I like that. Now you’re learning.”
Irritation mixed with the desperate desire flooding her. This entire situation had gotten away from her, and it seemed Evan had the control now. Oh, she had to do something about that but couldn’t think of the right move. “What did the king say?” she asked.
“The Popovs flew to Indiana yesterday. They’re here now.” He rolled off her to stand.
She sat up, grabbing the covers. Wait a second. They had been getting naked and working out this dynamic between them. Hopefully an orgasm or two would get them on the same track. “What the heck are you doing?”
“I’m going to take care of them. One way or the other. You stay here.” He reached for his discarded jeans.
She jumped out of bed, not caring she was only wearing light green panties. “Oh, hell no.”
Chapter 13
The Popovs weren’t what Evan expected. He sat across from them at Jimmy’s diner in the middle of town, their table at the rear of the local landmark. They were brothers, and they looked like it. What they didn’t look like were demons.
Allen seemed to be the leader of the two, and his black hair was longer than his brother’s and reached his shoulders. He also looked to be an inch or two taller. Both males had reflective topaz colored eyes and a lot of facial hair that wasn’t exactly groomed. Did some demons look like hicks?
Tabi sat next to him, her expression serene but her eyes lively. “Heard you two had some trouble down in Argentina with your factories.”
The younger brother, Lance, leaned forward. “That was you?”
She waved her delicate hand through the air. “Of course not. You know that’s not my style. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it had been Richard Goncharov in an attempt to woo me.”
Allen snorted. “I heard about that. Apparently you didn’t take him up on the offer, and yet I’ll track him down about those factories. Thanks for the tip.”
“He’s dead,” Evan said smoothly.
Lance looked at Tabi. “You?”
“No,” Evan said. “Me.”
The two males turned to study him, although they’d been unobtrusively doing so since Evan and Tabi had sat in the still busy café.
“You’re not a vampire or demon,” Lance said quietly.
“Neither are you,” Evan said.
Tabi jumped. “Didn’t I tell you? Sorry. They’re wolf shifters.”
Wolf fucking shifters? People who actually turned into animals? That only happened on television. How many other species were in the world, anyway? Evan kept his face stoic and his questions at bay. So many questions. “My mate forgets to fill in details sometimes.”
Tabi stiffened. “I’ve been busy.”
Allen’s eyebrows lifted. “Stealing from other people instead of just us these days, have you?”
Evan kept the male’s gaze. “Tabi? Did you steal from these folks?”
“No.” She hopped on her chair, irritation wafting from her that ticked up his spine. Interesting, his body reacted to her emotions, and his hand closed into a fist. “We ended our arrangement before my techs discovered the best prototype,” she finished.
Oh, there was no doubt the female had ended the partnership at an opportune time, but as far as Evan was concerned, that was business. “Well, then. What is it you gentlemen want?”
Lance tilted his head. “Not a shifter or witch. I’ve got it. You’re a fairy.”
Fairy? Evan frowned.
“Yep. He’s Fae,” Tabi agreed. “Most people can’t sense it. Nice job, Lance.”
Fae? Yet another freaking species? What was that about witches? Man, Evan needed to get caught up on this world. Why had Tabi lied? Apparently it was less dangerous for him to be thought of as a Fae than an enhanced human male. Was he really that deadly? Maybe it wasn’t safe to be around him, but he’d always had skills, and he’d tempered them. Could he do so now? “All right,” he muttered. “Let’s get to it, then.”
Allen gazed at him. “I heard your people can no longer travel between worlds. That must suck.”
Worlds? What worlds? Evan’s patience was rapidly shredding. Being in the dark was never a good position. Apparently he needed to sit his smart-ass mate down and get more answers about pretty much everything. “Let’s keep to the subject. What. Do. You. Want?”
Allen blinked. “Half ownership of any company with a stake in the new masking spray. I know you’re close, Tabitha.”
“No,” she said smoothly.
“We won’t take anything less,” Lance said. “Make the agreement, or you’ll be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your probable short life.” His eyes swirled, looking nothing close to human. “It’d be a pity for you to lose your new mate so quickly, Tabitha.”
Evan leaned forward. “The only thing that saves you from a quick death is that you threatened me and not her.” He’d never fought a shifter before. “Asking for half of the business is ridiculous, and you know it.” He looked to his mate at his side. “Is there any agreement you’ll reach?” If she said no, then they might as well forget lunch. He took a drink of his coffee, letting her think it out. This was her business and her decision.
She sat back, calculation crossing her features that was probably the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Smart girls had always knocked him out, and this one was brilliant and cunning—and a little reckless. He could temper the last one so she didn’t get hurt. She twirled her coffee cup. “Well, I suppose we could reach a new deal.”
Allen sat back, distrust darkening his eyes. “Go on.”
“In order to mass produce the spray, I’m going to need several more facilities in the form of production and distribution. You have an excellent pipeline throughout most of the world. You pay me ten billion dollars so I can create the production facilities, and we use your distribution channels.”
“Sure,” Lance said. “For sixty percent of the company.”
“Twenty,” Tabi said, sipping calmly.
God, she was magnificent. Evan sat back to just watch her work, his chest expanding. From day one, she’d fascinated him. The first time he’d kissed her, he’d sank into home. Every new facet of her was fascinating…and his.
Allen laughed. “Not a chance, demonness. We’ll give you no money up front but use our production and distribution syste
ms for half the company. Forever.”
“No,” she said, finishing her drink. “My production facilities, because I don’t trust you not to steal the invention. In my position, you wouldn’t, either. Ten billion up front, and you get a thirty percent interest in the company. That’s my final offer, and you have until tomorrow morning to decide. After that, I go another avenue.” She pushed back her chair and stood.
Evan followed suit, leaving money on the table for all of the coffee. “Thank you, gentlemen.” He pressed a hand to the small of his mate’s back and escorted her from the restaurant, acutely aware of the different atmosphere from the shifters. Hot and angry.
Furious.
* * * *
Tabi held her head up high as she slipped into the passenger side of her own car. “I don’t see why you have to drive.”
He sat and looked at her, starting the engine. “You drive too fast. Way too fast.”
“I like speed,” she protested.
“Yeah, well this is a peaceful place with kids who don’t look both ways before chasing a ball across a street,” he countered, driving out into the quiet main drag.
There was the small town cop she’d crushed on from day one. Thinking of kids chasing baseballs. How was he the same guy who’d dug a grave the night before? “Are you okay about last night?”
He slowed down to let two elderly ladies cross the street toward the Eagles’ Lodge. “Yes.”
“I’m talking about killing someone and then burying his body—outside of the law.” Had she ruined him?
He stopped at the one stop sign in the town, turning to look at her. Full on, blue stare. “He threatened what’s mine. He threatened you. I’m absolutely fine with him no longer being a threat.”
Whoa. Oh boy. Okay. “Is this a new thing, since we mated?” Maybe she should call the queen.
“I was a sniper for a SEAL Team before becoming a detective here as I prepared to die, sweetheart. I don’t like killing, but I will protect my country and now you, with whatever means are necessary.” His broad hands were more than capable on the steering wheel, and the muscles in his forearms flexed nicely. At least he hadn’t broken the car yet.
She studied him. Strong and capable. He was dressed in a dark T-shirt with faded jeans, filling out both with ripped muscles. His body was impressive, and there was no doubt he was intelligent. But his heart, the protective way he had of caring for the people in the town, was what had caught her eye. Even though she’d been in trouble after beating the crap out of those boys who’d tried to mess with her, he’d been sweet and had helped her through the court system.
Her heart warmed.
He took another turn, heading back to his house. “Since we’re talking billions here, how much is enough? Why not go into business with these guys?”
“They’re jerks, and you can never have enough. It’s the only way to stay safe,” she countered.
“You mated me. That’s your way to stay safe,” he said, his voice way too calm.
She couldn’t think. He was sounding more like an immortal than ever, and now what was she going to do? “Money is good, too.”
“Maybe. You hungry? We didn’t get breakfast.”
There he was again, making sure she was all right. It was decent that he’d changed the subject, too. She jumped on it. “Yeah. I don’t suppose you can cook.”
His grin flashed quick and smooth. “You haven’t lived until you’ve had my blueberry pancakes. I’m about to make you very happy.”
The promise went deeper than that, and she could almost touch it. So she backed away. “I’m not one for sharing.”
“You’ll learn.”
She blinked. “What I’m trying to say—”
“I know what you’re trying to say,” he said, pulling into his driveway. “You’ve been alone for a long time and you’ve never relied on anyone. Especially a man. I’ll give you time to work through it, Tabi. But I won’t let you run, so get that out of your head right away.” Even with the threat, his voice remained soft and kind—with absolutely no give.
“If I ran, you wouldn’t find me,” she challenged.
“Want to bet?” he asked.
Definitely. Oh, she couldn’t run right now with her factory, but someday, they were going to play that game. It hit her then. She had started planning with him. How had he done that? Her mind spinning, she stepped out of the car and didn’t feel the threat until it was too late.
A multitude of darts impacted her side, shooting down her legs. “Evan,” she whispered, trying to turn and see him.
His roar of raw fury sounded more animalistic than anything she’d ever heard. So many darts showed on his face and down his torso that she couldn’t count them all. The blue of his gaze, primal and desperate, was the last thing she saw before the darkness pulled her down.
It swirled around her, while nausea rippled through her stomach. The ground was hard and the rain soft. Grunting, she flipped all the way to her back, letting the cool droplets plaster her face and along her body. She couldn’t move her hands or feet. The hum of her vehicle, still running, competed with the rustling wind and strengthening rain.
Good. The stronger the storm, the better.
The drugs from the darts coursed through her body, rendering her limbs useless and her mind fuzzy. Darkness swam in from the edges of her brain, and she fought hard to remain semi-conscious.
Her temples pounded like she’d been punched as her body tried to diffuse the drugs.
Where was Evan? She could only hear the BMW and the rain storm. Finally, she could wriggle her fingers. Then her toes. Preparing for the pain, she blinked open her eyes.
Even though the day was cloudy, the light pierced right to her brain in sharp agony. She moaned and rolled to her side, gagging several times but keeping the coffee down. How long had she lain there? Slowly, painfully, she pushed to sit, accidentally knocking her head against the passenger side door. “Evan?” she called.
Only the rain and the engine echoed back. She pulled the darts out to drop on the ground.
Heaving, her stomach rolling, she curled her hands over the tire and pulled herself to stand. She staggered around the front of the car, balancing herself by holding on to the hood. She reached the other side and found rainy cement. No Evan.
She shook her head, trying to focus. It took three times for her to be able to open the driver’s door, and she flopped into the seat, twisting the ignition off.
A note was stuck to the steering wheel. Taking a deep breath, she slowly unfolded it, her hands shaking. As she read, she forced bile back down her throat. Tears filled her eyes—either from pain or fear, she wasn’t sure. The note was short and to the point.
The Popovs had Evan, and they’d cut off his head within sixty minutes if she didn’t bring the prototype to them. She looked at the clock.
The note had been left more than an hour ago.
Chapter 14
Evan awoke face down on a dirt floor. He turned his head and coughed out dust before sitting up.
“Hello, Sleeping Beauty,” came a low voice.
Evan shook his head, trying to remember where he was. Back in Afghanistan? He couldn’t concentrate. His stomach lurched, and he rolled to the side, coming up to his knees and then his feet. He swayed but remained standing in a perfectly square metal cell—the box kind that’s moveable. He wiped dirt out of his eyes and focused to see Lance Popov on the other side. “Where’s Tabitha?”
“We took you and not her,” Lance replied.
So he was bait. Good to know. “Why the dirt in this metal cell?” he muttered, his teeth crunching dirt he must’ve inhaled.
Lance sat on a folded chair in what appeared to be a vacant warehouse. “It has molecules of planekite in it, just in case. I didn’t think you were a witch, but it never hurts to be sure.”
“Planekite?” he asked before his brain kicked back in. Crap. He probably should know what that was. Grunting, he pulled out the darts to flick toward the sh
ifter.
Lance rolled his eyes. “I know there are several names for the mineral, but we call it planekite. You know what I’m talking about.” He cocked his head. “Or don’t you? I guess if you’re Fae, you have probably been off world for a long time? Until recently, anyway.”
What the hell did ‘off world’ mean? Evan moved to the bars of the cell. “Right. Off world. So—planekite?” He couldn’t quite manage full sentences yet.
“It’s a mineral that weakens and ultimately kills witches,” Lance said. “Guess you’re not a witch.”
“Guess not.” However, hadn’t somebody said that enhanced humans were related to the witches? Nobody had sounded sure. He was feeling weak and his blood was flowing sluggishly, but he’d also been darted pretty heavily. “What was in those darts?” They’d pierced his skin easily enough.
Lance chuckled, the sound echoing around the empty room. There were two large doors and bays, so this was probably storage for vehicles or maybe boats? “Those darts held enough sedative to take down a cadre of vampires. You should still be out and in lala land. I guess you crazy fairies have some gifts I hadn’t heard about.”
“Guess so.” Hopefully enhanced human males had even more gifts. Evan planted his hands on the bars to test their strength. Solid. Pretty solid. “What’s your play here?”
Lance tugged a knife with a jagged edge out of the sheath in his right boot. “Your mate is bringing the prototype here to trade for your life. It’s pretty simple.”
“Is it?” Evan drawled, his faculties slowly returning.
Lance grinned. “Well, maybe not. Your mate is a lying bitch, even for a demonness, so we’re going to get the prototype and kill you both once she arrives. If she arrives. Think she’ll come for you?”
Evan tightened his grip around one of the bars. “I think it’s interesting your brother isn’t here.” Tension rolled through him followed by a healthy dose of anger. “Where is he?”
“You’re not as dumb as you look,” Lance observed. A phone trilled, and he tugged one from his front pocket with his free hand. “Lance.” Then his eyebrows lifted and he looked at Evan. “No shit. Guess you won that bet. See you soon.” He ended the call. “The bitch is on her way here. Guess she does have a feeling or two for you.”
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