by Jane Cousins
A cheer sounded and was abruptly cut off. What, in heaven’s name, was that all about? Patricia had just stepped out of the small beverage nook, cup of coffee in hand. Staring down the corridor she frowned. Where had that raucous bout of cheering come from? Walking slowly down the corridor she checked out the meeting rooms. One held people but through the glass door she could see they looked serious and intense. She doubted that brief excited yell had issued from the occupants.
Hmmm, that just left the Cryptozoology Department. Easing open the door, she stepped in. Wincing as several yells, hoots and hollers split the air. The four occupants at the desks, headphones on, were all staring at their screens and talking, yelling and cheering.
“Sorry about the noise level. They’re a little over excited.”
She jumped, thankfully not spilling any of her coffee. Spinning, she glared at Cullen, who was leaning back against a nearby wall. Wearing dark grey trousers and an olive green silk shirt he was looking, for him anyway, rather casual. His black hair was brushed back off his forehead and those jade green eyes were sparkling with amusement.
“Why are they in here?” Patricia recognised the foursome. Not just because they were family, but two were library volunteers. Only one of whom was rostered to work today and should have been busy re-shelving in the Mechanical and Machines Wing. Another loud cry split the air, followed by a string of curses issued by Great-Great-Aunt Jacinta that all but turned the air blue.
“Why don’t we take this outside?” Cullen gestured to the door, following Patricia out in to the corridor, grateful for a brief moment to collect himself. Seeing her was always a little disquieting, as his magic realigned and settled into all the rightness that she projected.
Today Patricia wore a wine coloured wrap dress and navy strappy sandals. Her hair was down, a shiny mane of rich sable brushing just past her shoulders. The chunky gold necklace wrapped twice around her throat completed the outfit. He always found it ridiculously hard in her presence not to smile like a goofy idiot, half drunk, considering the way she both overpowered and calmed his magic.
“What have you gone and done now?”
“Trix, don’t be like that. I’ve just solved your Cryptozoology staffing problems.”
Patricia resolved to keep her mouth shut. Her first instinct was to get huffy, demanding to know what the hell Cullen thought he was doing making grand sweeping changes in HER Library, without consultation. Her next thought was one of gratitude. If he’d genuinely solved the staffing problems with this department, then that would be a big load taken off her plate. Only a small number of staff had cast iron stomachs and the fortitude to work on the field guide updates.
And then there was of course the idea of having sex with him. Things low in her body both tightened and liquefied at the thought. If she rocked the boat too much, well, the opportunity to indulge in one brief fling might disappear along with Cullen when he returned to live in the UK.
“I know what you are thinking.”
Merciful Lady, she hoped not. That would be beyond embarrassing. “Oh?”
“Look. I know their biggest issue is focus. But I’ve got a work around in place.”
“Really?” That lot in there, focused? She’d believe it when she saw it.
“Yes, really. I showed them how to upload their favourite moments and promised that at the end of each shift we’d hold a highlights and bloopers viewing. Voting on the best one. They’ve been glued to their own screens ever since. They are nothing if not competitive.”
Grudging admiration flared. Motivating her relatives through competition, it was a very smart play. “Not a bad idea.” She deliberately laced her words with coolness. “But two of those individuals in there aren’t even library volunteers. And the ones who are, they are only scheduled to work two hour shifts twice weekly.”
“I have a list of eight more retired Enforcers who want, and I quote, in on the action. Just think, instead of trying to convince your least squeamish staff members to work this department, we could essentially farm out the responsibility for updating the field guide to the retired Enforcers. Leon was telling me how good it felt to be really useful again. And by the enthusiasm in there, I think the others all feel the same.”
Damn, it was a very good idea. Okay, she might lose a few re-shelving volunteers, but on the the up side, she wouldn’t have to listen to Leon or any of the others re-count their glory days while they worked at a snail’s pace.
“Okay, you’ve convinced me.”
“Just like that?” Cullen was instantly suspicious. No angry accusations that he was trying to take over. No haughty glares.
“When one of my staff members comes to me with a good idea, I don’t dismiss it out of hand, no, I let them run with it. Own it completely.”
Crap, he knew this would somehow come back to bite him on the ass. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“It just seems to me, Mr – Krell Spawn Campaign Re-enactment Society – President, that you appear to have an affinity for guiding and focusing the older members of our community.”
“You heard about that?” He hid a wince, he had yet to come up with a plan to get out of that position.
“I did. I was surprised, I must admit. With so much on your plate? But then I thought about who I was talking about here and I just knew, given your ability to multi-task, that you would never take on too much. That’s why I know it will be no bother for you to over see this transitional period of the Cryptozoology Department, as you bring the new staff members up to speed and help guide them.”
Cullen kept a bland smile pinned to his face. Damn, she was gorgeous when she was being sneaky. She’d neatly backed him into a corner, and the trap was about to snap shut on his neck.
“It’s all about prioritising what is important in your life, isn’t it?” Patricia matched him bland smile for bland smile. Come on, buckle. She wanted him to state out loud that his mission, his job, was more important. It would be the first step on his road back from burn out.
Cullen knew in that moment that Patricia was right. Because of the situation with Mara, he still had one foot out the door. He would never be able to commit fully to Trix, give her… them, a chance until he had sorted out the mess back in London. But he couldn’t afford to lose an inch of the ground he had gained in easing himself into her world. Sleep was so over-rated. “It is. I agree whole-heartedly. Prioritisation, very important. So, you and the warrior?” Shit, and where did that question come from?
Patricia looked around, they were alone in the corridor. “Warrior?”
“Blonde. Dim. About yeah high.” Cullen pointed at the ceiling.
“Zartel?” Patricia fought not to blush, had Cullen heard about the incident? In this town, with their speed of light grapevine, of course he’d heard.
“Zarty, yeah, that’s the one. So, is it true?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t like she could lie. Great-Uncle Bertram, who had been out in his garden across the street when she’d tossed Zartel out on his big naked butt had taken a photo with his phone. The image was a little blurred but it was pretty clear who it was.
That red hot feeling in Cullen’s gut began to churn and roil. He fought the overwhelming urge to realign all his magic, define Zartel as his next target and immediately go on the hunt.
“I don’t know how this is going affect the high tea for Apep and Cara.”
Cullen did, the doilies were going to be decorated with streaks of blood. Shit, he who usually prided himself on being cool and calm was operating on nothing but pure animal instincts at the moment. Inundated with the desire to protect what was his. His mate. Fuck, deep breath, a yawning empty feeling sweeping through him. An alien sense of loss. And a deeper blade sawing into his chest, a swamping feeling of betrayal. A hundred times more devastating than the idea of a mole at MI12. This betrayal by Trix, it was personal.
“I think our best plan is to try and keep the location and time of the high tea a secret. And if anyone comes around
from the police department asking questions about Zartel’s whereabouts, we play dumb, agreed?”
Huh, what was that?
“If only Great-Uncle Barty could have kept it in his pants.”
Okay, that was quite the tangent. “Excuse me? How does your Great-Uncle Barty have anything to do with this?” Even his highly trained magical information filter could not connect the dots.
“Surely you’ve seen Barty wandering about town? Sans clothes.”
“Sans…? The nude old guy? That’s who you’re talking about?” Cullen’s magic swirled and futilely tried to filter and process, it was a useless exercise. “What does he have to do with you and Zarty?”
“Well, you do know Berry has passed a law banning public nudity within two miles of residential housing? I kind of forgot about that when I kicked him out on Sunday. But he just made me so angry, the arrogance… naked, splayed out on my good sheets, thinking he’s the Goddess’s gift or something. And my poor front door. Breaking in like that… grrr, brainless dolt.”
Zing. Zing. Zing. Cullen’s powers went into overdrive as all the puzzle pieces fell into place. “Are you saying the cops are looking for Zarty with the intention of charging him with public nudity?”
“Oh, wipe that grin off your face. And I’m sure Chief Hughes just wants to issue a warning. But Zartel is Apep’s Head of Security, it would be politically unwise at this particular juncture to upset him, and by extension Apep. So that’s why I’m saying the high tea needs to stay hush, hush. How are the preparations going?”
Shit, the high tea. It was way down his list of priorities. “Good. Everything is coming along nicely.”
Hmmm, she wasn’t sure she believed him. “I’ve asked Cara to spend every second day working at the Annexe. I want her comfortable with the space. Just remember, calm, peaceful. That’s our working motto when it comes to this meeting. Unless you want that glass ceiling coming down on all our heads?”
“No, wouldn’t want that.”
“Why are you smiling like that?” His grin, it did crazy things to her. That liquid heat simmering low in Patricia’s body began to bubble. How could a smile be so joyful yet predatory at the same time?
“No reason. I just like keeping busy, that’s all.” All the roiling in Cullen’s gut had quietened. It hadn’t disappeared completely. He didn’t like the idea of Zartel still hanging around, thinking he had the right to break into Trix’s place, get naked and try to seduce her. Conceited oaf. But he could tell by the look on her face that she had thankfully found the whole episode nothing but annoying.
Hmm, maybe he should step up his subtle campaign to win her heart. Dinner, that might be a good start.
Patricia opened her mouth to invite Cullen out for dinner. He seemed to be in a very good mood. That heat was back in his eyes. Perhaps he’d be up for a hot session between the sheets tonight. Perfect timing, before he captured Mara and got swept away once more back to his old life.
“..”
“..”
“Cullen, we need you in here.” The door to the Cryptozoology Department swung open and Leon’s shaggy head had appeared. “The volume on my headphones is set too low. Jacinta can’t update her screen. And Kale’s seat is wobbling. Oh, hey, Patricia. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Guess you heard the news.” Leon’s smile was all but blinding. “I have a new job.”
“I heard.”
“And it’s all thanks to Cullen. Best thing you ever did was hire him.”
“Hey-”
“Yes it was.” She interrupted Cullen’s protest. Trust her relatives to re-write history. But since she came out of it looking good, she’d take it. “Well, employee. Off you go.”
Jade green eyes met hazel for a brief three seconds before Leon all but yanked Cullen away.
As the door closed behind him Cullen had to bite back on a big smile. They’d definitely shared a moment just then, he was sure of it. The path to courting Patricia had never looked more solid. He was definitely making progress.
Patricia sauntered back to her office, having to bite back a smile. They had definitely just shared a moment. The heated gaze. The sexy grin. Yes, she was pretty darn positive that Cullen was letting her know he would be up for a round of heating up the sheets. Thank the Goddess. She was beginning to feel like a kettle left on the heat too long. She needed some release. And she was finally ready to admit that no man but Cullen fit the bill to relieve all her tension. Briefly. Momentarily.
It would be a Merry Christmas after all, or should that be a Merry fucking Christmas? Which though potentially accurate was a little crude. But that was important. She must never lose sight of the facts. There was no happily ever after in her future. But she was still a sexual, sensual woman. Fifty was just a number.
Hey, maybe this was a sign of how the next chapter in her life should be. An empowered woman. Not looking for commitment, but taking fun where she found it.
Hmm, maybe she wouldn’t be reading on her holiday after all. She could book a stay at some luxury resort where gorgeous men hung out. It was a good idea, but why then did all the tingles under her skin suddenly disappear at the thought?
Because she was getting ahead of herself, that was all. First she had to seduce Cullen. She would be bold, confident. She would need a killer outfit. And there was only one place in the District she would be guaranteed to find it. Time to go shopping, she had a man to love and leave… no, not love, she had a man to shag and leave. A much more fitting description, Cullen was British after all.
Chapter Sixteen
“This place is impressive.” Patricia looked around at the exceedingly large auditorium space. Bailly Prive didn’t just have an exclusive reputation, the school clearly had the money to back up that statement.
Three large chandeliers hung overhead, providing soft light as people slowly filtered in to find their assigned seats, either on the ground level, or up on the tiered balcony.
Huge boughs of golden tinsel criss-crossed the ceiling, sending down a constant light shimmer of glitter, making the air sparkle. Gilt angels decorated the walls, depicted dancing and blowing trumpets. Up on the stage red velvet curtains had been hung, closed currently, the musicale not scheduled to commence for another ten minutes.
“Hmmm, yes.” Cullen made a show of looking around. But he’d seen it all before. He and Elijah had conducted several reconnaissance missions over the last few nights. Setting up a Transportal in the lobby, and getting a lay of the land.
Cullen had supplied all that information to those of his family who had volunteered to attend this evening’s event as back up. His eyes flicking down to his phone screen, scrolling through Elijah’s updates. They’d divided the mission. Elijah and his Enforcers would search the witches’ residences, and the Alpha Elite Enforcer team would conduct a thorough sweep of Elena Carlyle’s estate.
They would be looking for the children, or evidence telling them where the missing children were being held, and hopefully find some indication of why they were needed.
Meanwhile, Cullen and his family of Archers would keep a sharp eye on the coven members and Elena at the Christmas Musicale event.
They were all professionals, but after a long discussion, Elijah and Cullen had deemed it wise not to mix their assets.
“What does the babysitter say?” Patricia used the code they’d decided on in reference to Elijah.
“So far it’s quiet. No new developments.”
“Good.” Patricia smiled and settled back in her comfy seat. It wasn’t good, but she was playing a part.
Cullen had decided since they were arriving at the auditorium via the Transportal, and wouldn’t be passing through any security check points, that there was no point in setting up elaborate fake identities. His cousin, who had infiltrated the school as an employee, had provided them with tickets. Good ones too. They were seated at the edge of a row, four back from the front, slightly to the left of their targets. Thankfully, for ease of surveillance, his suspects were all seated
together.
Patricia absently glanced at her watch, all she had to do tonight was act casual and look like she belonged. Easy to do, given the crush of people attending. They were just one more couple supporting their children’s school tonight. Shifting in her chair, too aware of the heat Cullen was radiating, Patricia ran her hands absently over her crushed black velvet jeans. They fit like a glove and were perfect for tonight’s event, smart casual being the dress code. Better still her ass looked great in them. Always a big plus.
She’d chosen to wear a dark purple scoop neck fitted sweater and black flat ankle boots. Her hair was down and the only jewellery she had on was a pair of discrete diamond earrings and another fake wedding ring. One which she had supplied herself. She didn’t think her heart could take the sight of Cullen producing another ring box and giving it to her. There was something too intimate about the act that unbalanced her, making her heart race.
Cullen was wearing black trousers that he had chosen to pair with a black jumper and boots. His hair was mussed, falling across his forehead and a ready smile touched his lips. He smelled like shaved wood, whiskey and leather. Not unpleasant, but not his usual scent. He’d taken the precaution of masking it a few days ago. Letting it settle into his pores. Ensuring that his nightly reconnaissance trips didn’t leave any olfactory evidence behind to alert Elena and her hybrid nose.
Settling back in his own chair he tilted his phone slightly so he still see the screen, smiling apologetically at the woman sitting on the other side of Patricia, looking aggrieved at the sight of his phone still switched on despite all the signage requesting they be turned off.
“Our youngest is at home with a fever. Don’t worry, it’s on silent, and I’ve switched the light levels to low.”
The woman made some polite noises of understanding and resumed studying the program in her hand. Cullen idly stared at the red velvet curtains, ignoring Patricia, looking like any other couple here this evening. Slightly bored, eager to get this thing started so they could collect their children and get home before the streets got too icy.