by Erin R Flynn
“I do with Sera. You’re just part of the package,” he grumbled.
“I warned you not to betray her, and you did. You are very, very lucky she loves you as much as she does and offered me something I wanted more than to punish you so we kept peaceful. She should have dumped you, humiliated you as you did her. We are queen. We are Alpha. Stop forgetting that or I will win and you will be gone.”
Stop fucking with him and get this over with. We need to protect our family and get the information out of the cartel and save power for tonight.
You are learning. Yes, yes, my priorities are always skewed with anger or passion. You are the calm adult of us three.
We leaned in and gave Galvin a kiss, taking the same small sips before pushing him away so he fell on his ass.
“You demanded, ordered , to be shown what others beg for and can give me what I need, not some sip that did more for you and nothing for me.” I waited until he nodded. “Tiger, show him where I really am on the food chain and how the smart ones ask without insult, putting aside the professional, as this is separate.”
“Yes, Alpha,” he murmured, getting I needed him to do it right and with a bit of flare. He knelt before me, baring his neck. “I offer myself to you for what you need, as you can do what I cannot and make our enemies tell all and keep us safe. Take my energy, as much as you need, and I thank you for the reward of pleasure you give me for my offering.”
“Such a good tiger,” I purred, leaning over and cupping his cheek. She was rude and probed him, learning more than he would have liked since he was a loud broadcaster. Oh yeah, had he been hurt bad and by a lot of people. I didn’t blame him for being as scared as he was to ever be owned. I moved him to sit on his feet, straddling his lap as I kissed him, feeding and feeding more while he had lots of fun.
“Thank you, Alpha,” he panted when I was done. “I am always in your service.”
“Yes, yes you are, my tiger,” I chuckled.
He didn’t flinch at the term this time but didn’t accept it either.
“What does it feel like for him?” Galvin asked, pushing to his feet.
I waited until my siren agreed her show was over, happy we’d embarrassed Galvin that he couldn’t stack up and retreated, keeping the energy going over the interrogation. I nodded for Axel to go ahead and answer, staying on his lap.
“You get a small, dry orgasm, maybe a bit more if she knows you or how far she can go,” he explained, not looking at Galvin, instead playing with the bottom of my blouse as he stared into my eyes. “For me who’s centuries old and stronger than most shifters, she gave me what feels like a sex marathon all in the time she fed. Your human hearts could not endure it and not give out. It’s why it’s instinct for them on feeding.”
“Much like us whereas we know without measuring, as we know who not to feed from,” the councilman added. “It’s instinct just like your body knows when it’s too much or when you’re dehydrated.”
“For me it’s exciting but not like they get,” I said, answering his unasked question. “For me, it’s like the shot of espresso along with the meal you need after the workout and the hydration. Let me be clear though that most do not use this energy this way. Yes, they might make someone spill their guts, but no one screws with the sirens in Europe to risk going before them. They use it as a bit of teasing and show of strength.”
“It’s meant for short spurts,” the councilman added. “She’s basically running full speed when she does this. I’ve seen sirens have a bit of fun when someone’s dismissive of them or insults them like she did you, but it takes more power to put someone like me in line. Still, it’s a few minutes at most. Maybe a sharp flare of power to leave it lingering like leaving a mark of influence on them.”
“That’s more about lust though,” I sighed, snuggling up to Axel. “That’s if someone’s challenged me with glamour or crap and I put a whammy on people to get a bit lusty. This is, yeah, like a long, long marathon.”
“And you barely slept last night,” Axel worried.
“There was a big drain this weekend, and yeah, I didn’t expect the problems yesterday. This friggin’ warlock is seriously draining me.”
“You’re like a kitten when you’re drained,” he murmured, hugging me closer.
“Says the tiger,” I purred, pushing to stand instead. “Corbin should be back with food. Show over.”
He arrived moments later, and we got enough from the warlock by the time I was done eating to give us the bulk of what we needed, the rest we could get from the other four.
Galvin sat next to me as I read my tablet, looking over the medical examiner’s findings on the wolf that was dumped. I wasn’t happy about it, but that wasn’t Galvin’s fault, so I swallowed my annoyance and how tired I was.
“I’m missing why what I did was quite so offensive. I know you can shoot. I know you can do other areas of your job since we’ve tested you. Why was testing this so wrong?”
I thought about that a moment and then went with what an agent had said in Sands’s office. “You don’t shoot people so they know what it feels like when they get shot so they know how to handle it. Sands had people experience a vampire bite to help because it’s easy, doesn’t have to be sexual or on the neck. It crossed the line from getting educated or seeing how a bite feels because it’s sexual.”
“I—”
“Sir, you ordered me to kiss you and give you an orgasm. No matter the logistics, no matter the metaphysical power, you sort of ordered me to please you.”
His face went pale. “I did not mean it like—”
“I know. I know you didn’t. I was human and I get that. My siren and wolf aren’t human and just see the insult. Everything is always more complicated than that, and we both know that. They don’t.” I sighed as I set down my tablet. “Most sirens are born. The guys don’t have this other side, just a stronger, maybe sexier, wolf. Other sirens don’t describe the conflict I do because I was raised human.”
“So you were basically infected with a wolf and a siren instead of just one to adjust to, which is why there’s conflict between three sharing your one body?” He whistled when I nodded. “How do you not get sauced a lot?”
I chuckled. “Maybe when I have time ever. The world is a scary, scary place, and I don’t mean just the paranormal rules or games. We saved some witches from being burned alive. South America is trying to capture any elves they can find because there’s some new rumor paranormal haters have started that elf blood is a better, legal high than any drugs they make. So cartels are hunting them to bleed them dry. There’s too much to do.”
“Immortality sounds nice,” he said after a moment. “Get a bit older and it sounds nice to be young forever.”
“Maybe if there wasn’t such a cost to it. If I hadn’t taken over for Engle or I hadn’t been strong enough to have done it…” I shivered. “You know how bad people can abuse power. We saw it in Memphis. The games are a bit much too, and jumping around them is hard.”
He snorted. “You should come to DC and jump around that minefield.”
I sighed. “I hate politics so no thanks, but even the councilman challenged me today in the hopes of getting one of my vampires. Instead I get twenty of his people if I want them.” He shot me an incredulous look. “Yup, those are the sorts of games that are played. And I’m Alpha, so it’s my job to keep everyone safe. With these games your children could be traded like Pokémon cards.”
“I thought children were off limits?”
“You’re not Alpha, so not always,” I corrected. “But being Alpha means constantly having to watch my back as too many people want Chicago.”
“Okay, mortality and getting old might not be so bad,” he admitted after a moment. He let out a huff. “I wasn’t happy at what you saw.”
I shrugged. “It’s not much fun seeing it either. You’re not a loud broadcaster, so it was my siren picking out and on desires. You wouldn’t believe some of the crap I get with the loud broadcas
ters when they’re agitated.” He opened his mouth to ask for specifics, but I shook my head. “I won’t ever tell anyone what I saw from you. I don’t tell on others either.”
“Good to know.” He glanced around for a moment, sitting with it. “My wife was not happy I was coming and going to the ‘legal whorehouse’ that she wanted me to fight against.” His eyes went wide when I growled. “I know that’s not what your club is, Thomas. My wife is…”
“You want to say something nice like a Southern belle, but there’s no real way to defend her and not imply I’m loose,” I challenged, smirking at him.
“It is a pickle.”
“Your wife’s a prude, and maybe I am loose, but who cares? To each their own. The difference is I don’t judge her for not being into what we are. My people are not whores.” I let out a huff this time. “So what if they show skin? A Kardashian—or maybe a Jenner, I can’t keep them straight—called with an offer to pay them to come to our fundraiser tonight and put our club on the map.
“And it was some insane number for them to fly out and come. That’s whoring. They don’t even perform or like model something. They just come and get free shit and demand to be paid. They use their bodies just like prostitutes. So people look down on me or my hosts, and accepting that is crap. I told them where they could shove their offer and said I’d let them know if the waiting list for tickets opened up.”
“You said that to one of the Kardashians?” Brian checked as he sat down. “Seriously?”
I snorted. “They can shove their crap. Pay them to come? Whatever. The tickets sold out in a few days. It’s about raising money for the environment, not them. If they were worth all their fame, they’d come just to support a good cause.”
“And Simone said?” he teased, laughing when I sighed.
“Yeah, she wasn’t happy with me. That was not the best way to handle it. Apparently there was a politer way to decline.”
“And your penance?”
“She might have told me to walk my butt over a few blocks where Chicago Fire was filming and flirt to get them to come instead. I argued we’d sold out tickets, but she said we could make the room. I went. I flirted. They all asked to come.”
“Are you guys always this much fun?” Galvin asked, glancing between us.
I snorted. He didn’t know the half of it.
“You’ll find out tonight, sir,” Brian chuckled, and I flinched. “Yes, apparently he bought a ticket and knew he was coming and didn’t tell us.”
I shot Galvin a pissed off look that surprised them both. “Sir, in the future, with all due respect, could you not bring my work life into my personal life without warning me? I get it’s a club where we sold tickets for a function, but so does your kids’ bake sales or whatever, and I don’t just show up there. I have some politics I need to play tonight, and I did not intend for the brass at my job to see it.”
“What—”
I shook my head, and he closed his mouth. He followed my gaze when I looked at the councilman before grabbing my tablet and typing so we weren’t overheard.
Politics for paranormals isn’t just wining and dining for votes. It’s a different show of strength with some messed up games of power—not money and influence like humans, but that too—and the councilman challenged me because he wants one of my people. Except the guy doesn’t want to be his, and to make everyone not unhappy, there’s dancing to be done.
Also, not insulting anyone because then they’ll brag how much I have and an Alpha could come next week wanting to take it all. And it would be legal. When the players are thousands of years old, they have thousands of years to excel at the games and get bored a bit too easily. So I’m sorry I got snippy, but if I curb what I would do because you’re there, it could cost me someone I promised to protect.
He read it slowly after I gave him the tablet, nodding and then typing. He handed it back to me and then talked to Brian about some case like he’d signed something for work and we weren’t passing notes in class.
That’s fine. I’m not here to collect intel and run my mouth back to the people above me. I wanted to see for myself what I’m helping Monroe to fight for, educate myself firsthand. Do you need help? What kind of plan are you talking about?
I actually liked him a lot better that he would immediately offer.
Thanks, but this is not the sort of plan you want in on.
He leaned in and read it, waving for me to give him more. I rolled my eyes.
I don’t know what we’ll be doing. Originally we were thinking a bit of slap and tickle, flirting and teasing because the council can be dangerous. But he went bigger. I missed my full moon fun last night, and he’s gorgeous. My siren likes his power and how he respects what I am. For all I know, it’s now going to be me as dessert not caring who watches. I shivered at the idea, liking it and my siren practically giddy at the possibilities.
His eyes went wide, and he shot a glance at Brian before taking the tablet. Really? And the boy scout is okay with these sorts of games? Isn’t he supposed to be there?
I threw back my head and burst out laughing, hurrying to turn off the tablet so no one saw our conversation. I buried my face against my arm and slapped the table, I was enjoying what he said so much. Finally I calmed down and looked at Brian.
“Apparently everyone calls you the boy scout. Even in DC.”
“Why?” he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You too?” Galvin checked, smiling when I nodded.
“I know non-FBI that calls him it. Sands does. Everyone who knows him calls him that.”
“And yet he fits in with a paranormal?” the councilman asked, joining us.
“Don’t make us sound unlawful,” I chuckled, leaning back in the chair. “Alena is one of the most moral people I know. The rules she plays by are her own. We tend to roll that way whereas Brian plays by the rules he’s given.” I met the councilman’s gaze. “Two types of people go into law enforcement, not including the ones who do it for power to corrupt. One, they believe in the system and how it works, fight to keep it working.”
Brian sighed, accepting that, still looking like he was pouting.
“And two?” the councilman checked.
“They’ve been screwed over by the system and get involved to make sure it gets fixed, never hurts anyone again.”
“It’s actually why we in DC think you both work so well together. You’re both sides,” Galvin complimented, smiling when I shot him a look. “I’ve read your file, Thomas. I think anyone who has is shocked you went anywhere near the system that screwed you over so badly with honorable intentions instead of trying to blow it up.”
“That bad?” the councilman asked.
“Yeah, that bad,” I answered, giving him a look to leave it alone.
“Anything good on the wolf murder you were looking over?” Brian asked, cutting in to help me out.
“No, nothing,” I admitted, blowing air through my lips in frustration. “Wounds might be claws, but too much tearing when the body was moved to be certain which kind. Nothing in the database, as the hand with fingerprints was too messed up to get them, and we can’t try for dentals.”
“Why not?” one of the councilman’s people asked.
“Our teeth change slightly after we’re infected,” I answered, glad they were smart and curious. “Born paranormals—it’s too ingrained in them to leave no trace of themselves, so none ever leave dental records or blood samples around.”
“I’ve been alive thousands of years, and never did I know a shifter’s teeth change if infected,” he murmured, looking intrigued. “Sharper?”
“A bit, but mine had started to go back to a bit crooked after years of braces to fix them. After I was infected, I noticed they moved to be perfect. A bit sharper. Whiter and stronger. My eyes changed, and I can eat like a damn horse and never get jiggly.”
He nodded. “A lot of shifters lose weight too, their new metabolism taking care of anything extra and reg
enerative healing fixing some scars or even stretch marks.”
Brian snorted. “She never had any weight to lose. She was always in perfect shape and could do more than most of the guys in our office.”
“And I’m sure you noted all of that as her boss ,” Galvin ribbed him. Brian flushed when we all chuckled at that.
“He’s still a boy scout,” I defended. “He was so damn worried about abusing his position over me, I thought he was going to make me sign an affidavit I really wanted him before he kissed me.”
“Sera,” he sighed, looking like he wanted to spank me.
I rolled my eyes. “Brian, if I gave you any more clues I was interested, I would have had to walk into your office completely naked. You’re a damn boy scout who wanted to make sure to never sexually harass a woman you worked with or cross lines and upset someone. It’s a huge part of your charm.” I held up my hand when he went to argue. “You forget I saw what you really wanted. For years. You’re a damn boy scout.”
“I thought it was only when you touched people and they were agitated?” Galvin checked, glancing between us.
It was funny when we both gave him an incredulous look. “Sir, you’ve worked for the FBI for years. How many of those days were you agitated?” I teased him. “And you touch people all the time handing files, reaching for coffee cups, even sparring or on busts. He never inappropriately touched me or looked for reasons to touch me. He intentionally watched it because he wanted to touch me and thought it wasn’t fair to me.”
“Boy scout, crazy monk type, whatever,” the other guy drawled.
I almost opened my mouth to tell them the story of how we had gotten together but then remembered Galvin was still our boss and didn’t need to know the details. Plus, my undercover work as a call girl had helped me before since I became a paranormal and would help me with whatever plan was going on tonight. No reason to let them know I had acting experience.