by JL Madore
Calli giggles. “Shirts still won. Go, girls.”
Doc joins us looking abashed. “Yep. Chivalry did me in too. Wolf. We obviously need to suppress our more gallant instincts when sparring with these two.”
I wink at my mate. “Not possible. Now, should we mix up the teams or rematch.”
Doc laughs at that. “Rematch! One hundy percent.”
Brant
Despite me being the driving force behind tracking our lead and finding the only connection we have with the Black Knight, Hawk all but benches me. When we arrive at the storage units, he orders everyone to park behind the building across the road instead of moving in. It’s bullshit and it makes my bear insane to take orders from him.
“We need to scoop this guy up,” I say.
Standing in a huddle outside our truck, Hawk responds to something he hears on his comm system and looks to the gathered officers. “Two of you to the office for unit verification and intel. Lukas, you’re on the target. I want him tagged. Two more on the roof for observation. I want these fuckers, boys and girls—all of them. Don’t tip our hand.”
Lukas, Hannah, and their crew disperse to carry out the orders from on high.
“And what?” I say, annoyed to be sidelined. “We’re going to sit in the truck with our thumbs up our asses?”
Hawk folds his arms and leans against the driver’s side door. “If that’s what does it for you, go ahead, otherwise, be patient.”
“You’re going to lose him. How many operations have you actually been on? You’re a corporate suit. Leave this to the people trained in the field.”
Hawk scowls. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re not letting your prejudice get in the way of your ignorance, Bear.”
“Fuck you.”
Hawk opens the truck door, leans across the seat and hits the release for the glovebox. When it opens, he pulls out a spare comm set and tosses it at me. “I get that you’re pissed, but I’m far more experienced at this than you. There’s a seventy-four percent higher chance of learning what we’re dealing with if we choose surveillance over interrogation.”
“That’s lame. I know how to get answers from people.”
“Some people, I’m sure. And if it comes down to intimidation and brutality, your muscles and growl will be put to good use. Until then, watch and learn.”
“There are innocent lives on the line.”
“All the more reason to temper strategy with expedience. We’ll get to the source as soon as possible. We’ll learn more from this guy if his guard isn’t up. Be patient.”
Patience is not my strongest virtue, especially when Hawk’s the one leading the band. Still, I can be a team player. I guess he and I resolving differences here is good practice for the whole mating thing too.
“Trust me,” Hawk says, forcing a smile. “You’ll get your chance. We’ll stick with Lukas for the tail and you can stay in the thick of things. For now, it’s brain instead of brawn.”
“And what if whoever is in that storage unit makes us and gives us the slip. Then we have nothing.”
“Not going to happen,” Lukas says, returning from his deployment. He rounds the corner with a weapon that looks like a paintball gun mated with an assault rifle. “I tagged his pant leg and his car. Even if he makes the tail and leaves us in his dust—which he won’t—he’ll show up on our scope.”
“Unless he strips down and streaks through the streets in his gitch,” Jaxx offers.
Lukas concedes that possibility. “But even then, he won’t be able to blend. Streakers generally gain notice.” He turns the screen of the mobile tracking unit and points. “We’re up and rolling, folks.”
“Is he blue or red?”
Lukas makes some fine-tuning adjustments and then shows me again. “He’s the blue dot. I’m red. This handheld unit is synced up with me.”
“Man,” Jaxx says. “Investigations officers get all the best toys. I’ve been bitching to my team leader for months to get better storage straps for the oxygen tanks in my rig. I’m fighting for nylon straps and they get state-of-the-art James Bond gadgets?”
That’s actually true. The spy gadgets and cool guns are one of the reasons I wanted to transfer from being a field enforcer to investigations. The only drawback is that IOs don’t get to bust heads nearly as often as enforcers.
Hawk frowns at Jaxx’s rant. “Well, now you know someone a little higher than management. Write me a report on what’s working in the field and what’s not. I give each department a ridiculous budget to ensure FCO teams have every tool they need available to them. There is no reason why you couldn’t have had new safety straps.”
Jaxx smiles. “Yeehaw, it pays to sleep with the boss.”
Hawk rolls his eyes. “We ain’t sleeping together, feline.”
“Okay,” Lukas says, pointing to the screen. “We’re on the move.”
Hawk opens the front door of the truck and jumps into the driver’s seat. As the engine rumbles to life, he touches the earpiece of his comm and it lets off a soft beep. “Team two, once our target is clear from the site, I want that unit swept from top to bottom. Do the fine-toothed comb routine and find us something we can use.”
Calli
I wake, curled around the thick silver and chocolate coat of my wolf, my arm hooked under his front leg and tucked under his neck. My wolf gets the grand prize for cuddling. He’s like a living body pillow. It’s decadent. Pressing my face against his neck, I breathe in the forest scent his coat always carries and his omega magic feeds my soul.
How did I ever survive without Kotah in my life?
“I love you, sweet prince.”
He shifts back to the man I adore and gathers me against his chest. The magic of his shift tingles across my skin. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the magnificence of it. The whole shifting thing still blows my mind.
“I love you, too, Chigua.”
I smile at his endearment and rub my hand over his navy polo shirt. Chigua… he’s called me that since the beginning. In his family tongue, it means greatly beloved war woman. It is a title of honor for women who exhibit true heroism on the battlefield. I love that he thinks of me that way. It makes me want to live up to his image of me.
“Did you have a good rest?”
I prop up on my elbow and sit my chin in the palm of my hand. He brushes my hair back from my face and the touch of those two fingers against my cheek is so tender my heart melts. “I didn’t realize I was tired, but yeah, I slept.”
“Your body is undergoing massive changes and with all the training, traveling, and sex, Hawk was right to insist you take a nap. We don’t want you depleted.”
“I’d never be too tired for you, Wolf.”
He chuckles and kisses my cheek. “I meant you need to be rested if danger comes knocking.”
“Oh, well, yeah. Knowing us, it won’t be long until the sky is falling once again.”
Kotah’s gaze is a warm caress as he studies my face.
“What is it, sweetie?”
He shrugs. “It’s silly.”
Okay, now I’m really curious. I snuggle back down and rest my cheek on his shoulder, curling my arm over his chest. “Tell me. Silly or not, I want to hear it.”
He presses his lips to the top of my head and breathes me in. Jaxx does that too. It’s a wildling mate thing and it seems to offer them comfort. “When I was a boy, there were a few moments when my family wasn’t cold and dysfunctional.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“They were rare, granted, but in those brief moments, I used to memorize exactly how I felt so I could draw on it later when things went back to being strained.”
“And that’s what you were doing? Memorizing me?”
He lifts my arm to his face and runs his nose against my forearm. It tickles as he draws my scent into his lungs and presses his lips to the inside of my elbow. “Yes.”
“What does that look like to you. What’s important?”
“M
mm… the weight of you, here, laying in my arms. How our scents merge. How the light picks up the highlights your phoenix is adding to your hair. How strong my wolf feels next to you—both lethal and loving.”
“That’s nice.”
“It is.”
“I want to feel like that too. Part of the reason I’m training so hard to shift is so I can feel like I’m strong for you too. I hate that my vulnerability puts any of you in danger. I want our quint to be five strong warriors fighting side by side, not four strong warriors protecting their mate.”
“Don’t worry. Every day your phoenix grows stronger and more skilled—she’s magnificent. When she’s ready to show her full, fiery self, you’ll be the one protecting us.”
“You say the sweetest things.” I lift my head to kiss his jaw. “You are my foundation in all this, Kotah. The subtle strength that gives me faith in everything we’re building.”
I mean for my praise to make him happy. The sadness in his gaze breaks my heart. As the omega, he’s the one who eases us. I have to remember to take better care of him because he won’t do it for himself.
“What’s wrong?”
“With the Prime appointment looming, I’m afraid I’ll lose my place with all of you. I don’t want to fail any of you. I don’t want to be separated from you.”
“You won’t,” I say, sliding my arm back to hold the soul shard that came to him in the Northwood grotto. “You are our spirit, remember. Our very essence. You are the breath we breathe, the subtle breeze to cool off hot tempers, the gale-force strength when trouble arises.”
“And what happens when my duties as Prime take me to the Palace? Who am I then?”
“You’re still you.” I kiss the shard and set it on his chest. “Whether we’re in Oregon or North Dakota or Lebanon, Kansas, we’ll be right there with you. If you think being called to the castle will sever what we’re building, you haven’t been paying attention. Besides, it’s not only me who’s laid a claim. I’ve seen some hot and heavy longing between you and Jaxx.”
Kotah’s chest jiggles beneath me as he chuckles. “I am enjoying exploring that mating bond. Jaxx is…”
As he trails off to think, I supply a few of my own observations. “Sexy and wild and possessive.”
“Yes.”
“A great kisser and a powerhouse fucker.”
The growl that rumbles beneath my ear is sexy as hell. “He’s a very addictive lover.”
“Preach.”
He goes back to running his lips up the inside of my forearm. “Does it bother you, at all?”
“What? You and Jaxx?”
His chin brushes the side of my head as he nods.
“If I remember correctly when I asked that exact question of you at the Bastion, you said, ‘Calli, we are to be a mated quint. You stand here smiling, relaxed, and sated. How can that be a bad thing?’”
He chuckles. “And your response was, ‘Well, it’s not for me, but I want to make sure there’s no tension and that no one feels left out.’”
Man, he slays me. “I don’t feel left out. I get how addictive Jaxx is and think it’s awesome that our mating claim is taking hold on different channels.”
He exhales a deep breath and I realize he was genuinely concerned about upsetting me. Silly wolf. “Speaking of the different channels of our bond, how goes your quest to break through Hawk’s barriers?”
The mischievous sparkle in his deep, chestnut eyes sparks my curiosity. “What? Are you holding out on me?”
Kotah eases out from under me and sits up. “I used one of Mama’s suggestions today. You know how I’m trying to strike a familiarity of touching him, even in the most platonic ways?”
I sit up and cross my legs, nodding. “Yeah, and you’re washing him with ease to soothe his annoyance.”
He nods. “Well earlier, I did the same thing but retreated without hugging him. I played hard to get.”
“And?”
His triumphant smile is far too delicious. “I felt his confusion as I backed away. Part of him was disappointed. He objects to the contact but not entirely.”
“Operation Mating Quint is taking hold.” I hold up my palm and we high-five. “Time to text our broody bird.”
I reach over to the bedside table to grab my phone and Kotah places a hand over mine to pause me. “Maybe you should have some privacy? From what you said, Hawk has something intimate to share with you.”
I bite my lip. “Good point. I have no problem sharing everything with you, but he might consider it a breach of trust. I have to protect what little ground I’ve gained with him.”
“Agreed. I’ll go find my sister. We are supposed to video chat with Raven about palace duties in half an hour. You can give me the broad strokes later and let me know how things go.” Kotah leans in and kisses me before rolling off the bed. “Good luck.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Brant
“Well, I guess crime does pay,” I say as Lukas and I push through the heavy shrub and peer over the stone wall that secures the private estate our bad guy led us to. “This place is even more discrete than the place we’re in.”
Lukas pops a brow. “You consider our mass tribute to steel and glass discrete?”
I chuckle. “No, but your boss does. Long story. So, are we going in, or what?”
Lukas looks up to the dark, dusky sky. “We’ll have the full cover of darkness in ten minutes. I’ll find our entry point and wait. You go back to the truck and get night vision goggles for me and an infiltration kit.”
I have no idea what’s in an infiltration kit, but why bring that up. I’ll figure it out. “Right. Back in a flash.”
As it turns out, a flash is six minutes and I find Lukas perched in the crux of a massive old tree twenty feet from the stone wall.
“You want me up there?”
He shakes his head and steps out into empty air. The magic surge to control his descent makes the hair on my arms stand on end. The guy has juice. I wish I knew how much and where it comes from. Trusting someone in the field demands a level of confidence you don’t achieve by holding your cards close to the vest.
I doubt Hawk and I will ever get there.
“Earth to ursine. You with me bear?”
I blink and shake the cobwebs loose. “Yeah, sorry. I’m good. Here. Is this what you wanted?”
Lukas takes the backpack from me and takes a quick boo inside. “Yep. All good.” He pulls out the set of goggles I tucked in there and secures them on his forehead. “There’s a magical field blanketing the first twenty feet inside the entire compound. The top of the wall is fully amped to blow the top of our heads off. And inside that, the security team has cloaking and are invisible.”
“Holy fuck,” I say, my mouth hanging open. “So, what’s our plan?”
Lukas breaks into a wide smile. “That depends on how adventurous you are and if you’re up for a running leap of faith. Oh… and how far you think you can throw me.”
Hawk
I’m scrolling through the email report of what team two learned at the storage depot when my notification tone for Calli pings. We haven’t texted much since the days and nights I was separated from them while running the Monster Rights Conference last week. What I intended to be a way to keep tabs on what was happening at the palace in my absence became a fun distraction. Bantering with Calli, I found myself enjoying her spark.
In-person, she often infuriates me.
Remote conversations, though, I found… easier.
Close to her, my hunger and dominance weigh in and I lose track of what I want to say and why. Teasing texts and sexting give me the distance I need to stay in control.
“What’s that smile?” Jaxx says from the passenger’s seat beside me. “Did we get a lead?
“What? Oh, no. Calli’s texting me.”
Jaxx nods. “Ah… good. I’m glad she puts a smile on your face. Listen. I’m gonna stretch my legs and grab some fresh air. Take your time.”
The j
aguar bails out of the truck and steps onto the grassy shoulder of the road. It’s almost full dark. Lukas and Brant will soon be able to move in. I take the moment of inactivity and give Calli’s message my full attention.
Workout complete. No sex. Nap over. Well-rested. What now, Sir Barron?
So eager. For a female who fights me at every turn, she’s certainly agreeable when it comes to wanting me to be her Dom in the bedroom. I have a feeling it might be the only place in our mating life where she surrenders herself to my wishes. With her, I’ll take what I can get.
Open my duffle. There’s something in there for you.
A present?
Something like that. I wait while she goes to grab it. Glancing into my mirrors, I check that all is quiet and I’m not going to be killed while distracted.
Okay, got the box. Am I opening it?
I chuckle. I pictured her yanking it open on sight. Points to her for playing the submissive game better than I expected.
Yes. Open it.
A kink kit… lol. Just what I wanted.
Some things you’ll recognize, others might be new. I purchased each with you in mind. It’s a beginner kit, so there shouldn’t be anything there you find too objectionable. Use Incognito and research the ones that intrigue you. Eliminate the ones that don’t.
Homework?
I expect a full report outlining your thoughts and curiosities tonight when we turn in… if you’re game.
Duh… I’m so game. I’m wet just thinking about it.
I shift in my seat and check my surroundings. Night is overtaking the gray of dusk. I can’t sext right now despite my cock throbbing behind my fly. It’s delayed gratification for both of us, Spitfire. Don’t satisfy your need. Let it build. In fact… do you see the black toy that looks a little like a snowman with a silver bottom?
Yes.
Insert it as instructed, turn on the vibration to its lowest setting. I’ll take it from there. Give Kotah the remote and tell him I’ll text him instructions.
Kotah? Don’t you trust me?
To not seduce him and let the pressure off? No. I laugh to myself, picturing her scowl. Consider it a team project. I’ll tend to you as soon as I can get back. Later, mate.