When I reached the administrative offices on the top floor, Fergus was already working in his office. I gave a gentle tap on the door to catch his attention and smiled as he ushered me inside.
“Rebecca, good morning. What can I do for you?” He sat back in his desk chair, his finely manicured hands clasped on the top knee of his crossed legs.
“I don’t want to upset you, but I need to ask you something. Yesterday, when you asked me to get that dog out of the graveyard—”
“Oh, yes. Were you able to get him? I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”
“I got him out, but only after I was attacked by Ronan.”
His already pale complexion became ghostly and he sat forward in his chair. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry, I had no idea he was out there.” He spoke quietly, his voice low and his Scottish brogue thicker than normal.
“I’m fine, I got lucky and he was scared off. I didn’t think you had anything to do with it, but I had to ask—I hope you understand.” My eyes had dropped to my hands but as I finished speaking I looked up to meet his gaze.
“Of course, I understand. But I also hope you will learn to trust that I’m a friend. I don’t want to see you harmed, Rebecca.”
“Actually, there is something you could do to help me.” I offered a tentative smile and he gave me a wary brow raise in response. “Could you teach me how to search for a particular artifact? How to track an item via auctions and whatnot?” I held my breath, knowing he would disapprove of my reasons for the request.
He sat for some time, eyes squinted in an assessing manner as his left hand rubbed at his red goatee. “If I teach you how to do this, it would be for work purposes, would it not?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I would have no need to know if there was anything…extracurricular you were wanting to search for.” He tilted his head down, brow arched with implication. If he taught me how to use the museum and auction house sites, I was not to tell him anything about searching for the sword.
“I’m sure I would only need the knowledge for work purposes—finding new exhibits and all.” I held his gaze for a long moment before his chin dipped down.
“How about you put your things at your desk and I’ll show you a few methods.”
I looked at my amazing boss and gave him a heartfelt smile. “Thank you, Fergus.” My words were just a whisper before I ducked out of his office.
An hour later I had taken enough notes to write a book and was excited to try my hand at searching for the sword. Before we wrapped up the tutorial, Fergus imparted one final warning about ensuring that the sword did not find its way into the hands of the Fae. My stomach knotted in guilt at not telling him I was becoming Fae, but I bundled up the guilt and tossed it on the pile. Hopefully the ends would justify the means…eventually.
I rushed back to my desk and began pulling up the sites that Fergus had demonstrated. For the next three hours I completely abandoned my museum work and searched for the sword. I sorted through hundreds of images of swords that had traded hands through auction houses and other means over the past number of years. Either the blades were not embellished or the grip was not wood or the sword was so tarnished and decayed it would not have been of use.
On a whim I began to search for replica swords, thinking perhaps if the Sword of Light had been in pristine condition, it could have been confused with a modern production of an antique sword. I knew how paintings were authenticated, but I wasn’t sure how a collector would authenticate a sword, especially if that sword contained magic that kept it like new.
As the clock crept toward noon, I clicked on an entry at the British Museum in London for a sword stored in the archives. My heart began to pound as I grabbed my phone and pulled up the picture Cat had taken. The rendering was identical to the sword at the museum.
I took a picture of the sword and all its information before jumping up and doing a silent happy dance. The rest of the afternoon I was practically giddy in anticipation of showing Lochlan what I had found. I hunkered down to tackle the work that I had ignored all morning and before I knew it, the museum was closing and it was time to go home.
Stepping outside I found my new furry protector lounging in the cool stone steps of the museum entrance. Since the dog seemed to have adopted me, I figured he needed a name.
“For your bravery in the heat of battle, I hereby dub you ‘Sir Knight, the Protector,’ but that’s a mouthful so we will stick with ‘Knight’ for short.” I gave his head a rub before turning in the direction of home, knowing he wouldn’t be far behind me. He stretched out his long body and slowly ambled after me.
Once we were home I changed my clothes and offered him some dog food. “Come on, you goofball dog.” I fussed at the pouting dog. “This is quality dog food, you’ll like it. Just look at the happy dog on the bag, he’s loving it.”
He sat on his haunches giving me the best puppy-dog eyes a wolf can give until I finally caved.
“Fine! You win.” I grimaced at the smell of the hard food and tossed the food back into the bag. “Guess I wouldn’t want to eat that stuff either.”
He had steadfastly refused to take a single bite of the dog food since I had brought home the bag two days before. Instead he devoured my leftovers and had a particular affinity for sandwiches. I slapped together a peanut butter sandwich and he proceeded to down it in one bite. I figured he had saved my ass, the least I could do what feed him what he liked to eat.
That evening as soon as I saw Lochlan waiting for me in the lobby I grabbed my phone and opened it to the picture of the sword. “Take a look at what I found.” I had a snarky smile on my face, and I didn’t care one bit. I had managed to locate what the mighty Hunt had not yet found and I was going to revel in that accomplishment.
“Care to tell me how you knew what you were looking for?”
Oh, shit.
“Um, no?”
He held my eyes for a long moment in the elevator, a single brow raised in question before acquiescing with a single nod. “I’ll look into it, make sure it’s authentic.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.
When we approached the door to the basement, instead of pressing his hand to the scanner, Lochlan pressed a series of buttons. “Put your hand here and hold it until the beep.”
“You’re adding me to the security system?”
“Just to the basement and gym, don’t get too excited.”
“You were the one who wanted me to move in with you not that long ago. I would have needed access to the place if I was living here.” Not long after we had met, Lochlan had instructed me to pack a bag and move into his apartment. That had not gone over well and he hadn’t asked again, nor had I brought it up because I didn’t know how I felt on the matter.
With my apartment successfully warded and the Hunt unable to determine if there were any more traitors among them, I felt safer at my place. Not to mention staying with him would be a constant reminder that I had molested him in his sleep. I had avoided all thoughts of my dream sex with him and had no desire to discuss the incident or his offer to stay with him.
“But you aren’t living here, so you don’t get access except where I decide to allow it.”
“No skin off my back, I didn’t want access anyway. I’m the sword finder, remember? I don’t need your fancy building to get shit done.”
“That has yet to be verified.”
“I think Watson’s a little jealous, but don’t be upset, not everyone can be Sherlock Holmes.”
“I’ll try to remember that,” he said wryly, a spark of amusement in his eyes.
That night I put all my energy into my training. I felt on top of the world, and considering I was ankle deep in crap, I would take my wins where I could get them.
7
The next afternoon I was at work when an unfamiliar ding sounded from inside my desk. I opened the bottom drawer and pulled my cell phone out of my purse but found no missed calls and n
o missed texts. I hadn’t set any alarms and wondered where the sound had come from when I remembered the burner cell that Lochlan had given me. I flipped open the phone that had been buried at the bottom of my bag.
Lochlan: We leave for London on Saturday.
I had done it! I found the Sword of Light and we were going to pop over to London to retrieve it. How exactly we were going to accomplish that was a mystery to me, but I figured it wasn’t my problem. I was just thrilled to be included. Exhilarated with my achievement, I tore off toward the elevator to find Cat and share the news.
“Cat, I found it!” I shrieked as I hurried toward her desk. “I wasn’t sure but Lochlan checked it out and says we’re leaving Saturday for London to get it from the museum.” I handed her my phone displaying the photo of the sword at the British Museum.
“Is this what I think it is?” Her eyes rounded as she examined the picture inches from her face.
Lowering my head close to hers, I whispered, “The Sword of Light, I found it.” I bit my lip in excitement as she looked at me with astonishment.
“You’re going with Lochlan? Rebecca, you can’t let them have the sword! Helping you is one thing, putting the sword in their hands is another. I can’t even imagine what my family would do if they learned I had helped the Hunt get that sword.” Panic swept over her features and that nagging sense of guilt was back like a stray cat you can’t get rid of.
“They won’t hurt you or your family, Cat. I promise.”
“You can’t know that.” Her cheeks had started to flush and I could hear the anger rising in her voice.
I reached my hand out to touch hers and met her eyes earnestly. “Please don’t be upset. There are bad people out there that need to be stopped and if we don’t, the whole world may be at risk. I know we haven’t known each other long, but please try to trust that I won’t put you in danger.”
Her eyes searched mine for a long moment before she let out a reluctant sigh. “I better get back to work.”
As she walked back to the visitors’ desk I said a little prayer that my decisions didn’t come back to bite me in the ass. If Cat or her family were hurt because of my actions, I would never forgive myself.
On Friday when I walked up to my apartment I found Lochlan sitting on the front steps, elbows on his knees, arms extended. The evening air was unusually balmy and he had rolled up his shirt sleeves, displaying the chords of muscle on his forearms.
For a moment a bolt of panic shot through my system, igniting my nerve endings at the realization that this could be Ronan playing me again. I froze in place about ten feet from him and reminded myself that I was wearing the necklace, Ronan couldn’t fool me again. I concentrated on the man before me but there was no double vision, just Lochlan sitting with his brows drawn in confusion.
“There something I need to know?” His voice was deep and gravelly and it calmed my frayed nerves.
“No.”
“You sure? There’s something growling in your apartment.”
“I’m sure.” My voice sounded tired as I approached where he sat. “What can I do for you this fine evening?”
He unfolded his long legs and stood towering over me on the steps. “You need to pack and be ready to leave for London in thirty minutes.” He stepped down to the sidewalk, eyes never leaving mine. “I have to run to the club, but I’ll be back to pick you up and I will not wait for your ass so don’t be late.” He walked past me and started toward his car.
“I thought we were leaving tomorrow.”
He never stopped or turned around, simply called over his shoulder, “I didn’t want to broadcast my plans in the event there’s still a leak. We get the sword tonight.”
“What if I have plans tonight?”
He finally looked back at me, his eyes narrowed. “Cancel them.” He strode to his car and lithely slipped into the driver’s seat before pulling into traffic.
I stood dumbfounded on my front steps until a whine on the other side of the door caught my attention.
“Oh, Knight, I’m so sorry!” I opened the door for the giant dog who bounded outside. “I bet you’re starving, go do your business and I’ll get you some dinner.” Leaving the door open, I set my things on the kitchen table and threw together a turkey and cheese sandwich for Knight. I cut it diagonally and with a piece in each hand, I sat down on the front steps.
The mountain of white fur trotted to me and sat, eagerly awaiting his dinner. I laid my hand flat and he scooped the triangle into his mouth, downing the food in one swallow.
“And that’s why you don’t get a whole sandwich at once. Do you even have a chance to taste what you’re eating?”
His concentration was entirely devoted to my other hand, which held the remaining half of his dinner.
“All right, here you go.” I turned over the last of the sandwich and he inhaled the food without hesitation. I brought out a bowl of water and watched as my giant protector slurped down gulp after gulp.
“I have to head out of town for a bit, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back, so you’re going to have to be on your own for a bit. I’ll leave your water outside and put a bowl of dog food out for you. Not that you’ll eat it, but it’ll make me feel better.”
He padded to the garden wall and on a loud sigh, plopped down against the brick.
I rubbed his head before hurrying inside to change and pack my things. There was no way I would risk Lochlan leaving without me so I tore through the house and was back outside in record time. Even though I’d only been gone a matter of minutes, by the time I stepped back outside to wait for Lochlan, Knight was already gone.
I texted Ashley but got no immediate response and Lochlan pulled up to the curb, so I threw my phone back in my bag and jogged to the passenger door of a fancy black Land Cruiser SUV.
“New car?” I asked after taking a deep breath of the new car smell.
“Not really, had it a while.”
“How many cars do you have?”
“A few.”
“I want to be you when I grow up,” I said and the corners of his lips curved up in response.
Neither of us spoke again on the short ride to the airport. Instead of driving us to the main entrance, we cut around to the back side and pulled up at a large metal building near a sleek white jet.
“We’re taking a private jet?” I asked in astonishment.
He opened the driver’s side door, but I sat motionless. At my question he paused and turned back to look at me with a smirk. “The Hunt has been around for centuries, longevity affords you the ability to amass a number of assets.”
“You didn’t just charter the jet, you own it?”
I gawked out the window while Lochlan exited the car without further comment and greeted a man who had come over from the building. In the three weeks I had known about the Hunt, their wealth had never crossed my mind. Now that it had been brought to my attention, what Lochlan said made sense. They were never flashy with their money, which I supposed was why I hadn’t put much thought into their financial status.
But why operate a nightclub if they didn’t need the money? Was it just a way to kill time? I loved working at the museum, but if I didn’t have to work, there was a world of things I would rather do than sit at a desk.
Lochlan waved me over and I hurried out of the car and followed the two men up the stairs and onto the plane. The interior was all soft creams and warm wood tones and the understated elegance stole the breath from my lungs. A set of leather chairs faced one another with a glossy wood veneer table between them. Across the aisle was a full-sized leather couch. Past that was another set of four leather chairs, the entrance to a bathroom, and a closed door to whatever was at the back of the plane.
I would never be able to fly commercial again without feeling like a cow in a cattle car.
I followed Lochlan’s lead and sat in one of the leather chairs. My fingers gently caressed the supple leather as my eyes continued to examine every square inch of the cab
in. The man who had joined us had lowered himself into the cockpit and was fast at work flipping switches and talking on the headset.
“Is this your first time on a small craft?”
Lochlan’s words startled me out of my musings and when my eyes flew to his, the amusement in his gaze sent tingles cascading down my arms. I was suddenly aware of the intimate nature of our surroundings and dropped my eyes to cool my rapidly heating libido.
“Yeah, I’ve only ever flown commercial, and coach at that.” My voice shook ever so slightly, and I was sure his sensitive ears would pick up on the irregularity.
“But you’ve traveled before?”
“Extensively. My parents, Mom especially, lives to travel, so we were on the go whenever she could scrape together enough money. I had assumed that was why I looked for a job abroad, that my travel bug itch needed to be scratched, but now I realize there were other factors in play.”
He paused for a moment before responding, his deep blue eyes intent and meaningful. “You’re still you, you know. Becoming Fae doesn’t mean you become a different person.”
Damn he was perceptive. His comment touched on one of my biggest fears and was reassuring to some extent, but it didn’t explain away the changes that had occurred. “When I was a little girl, I had blond hair and hazel eyes. Not until I got this necklace did my coloring change. Plus, the necklace kept me from wanting to take it off and I have no idea how many other subtle suggestions it planted in my psyche.”
“Not removing a necklace and drawing you to Ireland is a far cry from changing your personality.”
“That’s true, but with so many changes and so much uncertainty, it’s hard for me to feel confident about much of anything.”
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