Thursday. Ill have Evan get with Mias people on getting you all flown out. Mia was the pilot, a shifter, whod been helping out. I tried to convince Sato to fly with us, but hes insisting on commercial air travel so Ill accompany him back to DC Wednesday evening.
As will I.
Faine hadnt insisted. Hed simply not taken any other idea seriously. He would be at her side. It was his job and that was that. It had been . . . reassuring. Just knowing she had someone at her back had made the situation slightly less unbearable.
I dont like it. Youre not safe. Gage brushed a thumb through his beard.
No. Im not. But thats the point of a guard, Gage. You know it. Hes even less safe. I was able to convince him to go first class at least. Well take up the whole section, which I like.
You cant take a weapon through security.
As Im a senators guard, I can. But its not worth all the hassle, and you know there will be hassle because Im a witch. But Ive got Faine. Hes a weapon. And my magick. The funny thing about magick was that it was a hell of a lot stronger when a witch flew. Something about the atmosphere being thinner. She didnt know all the whys of it, just that while she was on that plane she didnt need a handgun. Shed be stronger than anyone else on board.
Ill speak with him about flying on one of our planes from now on when I see him. Molly looked at her notes a moment.
Hes not going to agree. It will look bad, like hes in our pay or something. Hes got enough to deal with.
You seem to know him pretty well. Gage lifted a brow.
He likes her. Faine lifted his own in Gages direction and the two shared a look.
Hes a man with principles. Its logical. Also, its sort of my job to know people.
Molly snorted. It seems that many men are not entirely reasonable when it comes to Toshio Sato.
Why? Because hes hot, intelligent and powerful? Helena laughed and Molly joined in.
Come on. Our tea has been consumed. Helena, you need to rest. I know Molly does too. Lets get to bed. Tomorrow is a long day. Gage clearly wanted to be done with the subject.
And bed sounded really good, so she allowed it.
They all headed back to where the rooms were, Gage and Molly disappearing into theirs. Faine continued to walk her to her door. He knew she didnt need it, heaven knew she was utterly capable of protecting herself.
And yet.
He liked being around her. Liked watching over her, even if to just remove a tiny bit of the weight she always seemed to carry for everyone else.
She opened her door and he leaned against the jamb. Startled, she looked up at him, smiling nervously. Thanks for your help today. I got a lot of work done because you did all the driving.
Its my job. But it was also my pleasure. Do you plan to work out tomorrow morning?
She nodded. Ill get up at six or so. Theres a workout space here. Ill run a few miles on the treadmill and then hit the shooting range. She lifted one shoulder.
If you dont mind, come get me. I need to work out as well.
Sure. And we can leave from there. If you like, I mean. Since youre on my personal detail. Itll be good to have you with me. Just the sight of you will keep the violence-on-a-whim people back. Her smile was genuine and maybe even a touch flirtatious.
Hed shifted closer and she hadnt moved back. The tension between them heated, simmering as the scent of her blush reached his senses. She licked her lips and the scent of loam and fur rose.
Her eyes widened and she faltered a moment, and Faine knew his control had slipped. But shed talked weapons, praised his size and then licked those damnable lips. A Lycian could only take so much.
My beast. He pondered whether he should continue. If he should explain to her how much the warrior she was called to him. She was so very strong, and yet, frayed at the edges. Fragile at times. Which was even more irresistible.
Oh. She blinked several times. Should I be worried?
He bent, brushing his lips over hers, savoring the heat of her before he stood again, taking a step back. Not for your safety. Good night, Helena. Ill see you in the morning.
He left her there, but not before he caught sight of the way she pressed her fingertips to her lips.
* * *
SHE woke up without an alarm, at six. Pretty much the same way she had most every morning of her adult life. She lay in bed awhile and thought about her day. It was her way of meditating, of getting herself organized for the hoursand the challengesshe faced.
The meetings would be stressful because the state capital was so crowded. Mainly it was state business handled there. Sato had a senatorial office near the capitol building where he met with his constituents and held meetings. But due to the insanity of the security concerns, his people worked with the state folks and theyd let them use their conference spaces, even for federal issues. Of course the hearings they were going to dealt with State of California business, so Sato would only be there if they needed him to speak on federal issues.
It was mind-blowing, all the different local, county, state and federal issues they drowned in. So many different egos to soothe, everyone had their own turf, their own rules to adhere to, their own processes. At least all Helena needed to do was be sure no one got hurt. All the politics were Mollys problem.
She pushed out of bed. A hard workout would help cut through some of the stress burning through her muscles. Shed run and lift weights and shoot at things and then shed shower. By the time they needed to head over to Satos office to pick him up, shed be in a better mental space for all the things shed need to do that day.
She got dressed quickly, dealing with her hair, securing it in a ponytail after shed washed her face and brushed her teeth. Her sneakers were on and she headed across the hall to knock on Faines door.
Faine.
Hed kissed her. Had gotten up in her face and kissed her. Her mouth still felt the touch, the brush of his lips against hers. The dirty truth was that shed been hot for Faine Leviathan from the first moment shed seen him. He was everything shed never known she found alluring in a man.
Shed been standing with Lark talking about the hows and whys of a speaking event with Molly and hed come around a corner with Simon. The two were clearly brothers, both dressed quite nattily in suits. But Faine was eleven thousand kinds of delicious. He moved in a long lope, and yet there was a predators grace in him. People got out of his way, probably without even realizing it. Hed smiled as Simon had spoken, and then his gaze, which had been taking in the surroundings, had landed on Helenas and it shocked her to her toes.
It had only deepened the longer she knew him.
Cocky. Self-assured. He knew what he wanted and he simply considered it his due when he got it. He was a badass with his fists. Shed never seen him shift, but she had the feeling he was a big ol beast then too. He was gorgeous and his voice was a low, gravelly rumble she felt in her gut every time he spoke.
He watched her, shed noticed, like a predator watches prey. Not the same way the human separatists watched her. It wasnt that he thought less of her in any way. But like she fascinated him and he was taking down everything she did for when he decided to run her to ground.
She bet he was the type to bite a girls neck to hold her in place when he got her into bed.
A flash of heat raced over her skin at the idea.
So of course, thats when he opened his door. Well, good morning to you, Helena. One of his brows went up like he knew shed just been imagining him naked and sexing her up until she passed out.
She blew out a breath. Morning. Ready to run?
Yes, I am.
Chapter 6
THESE things are not allowed in the hearing room. A burly human maleobviously a private guard of some typeblocked her way.
Theyd spent the day before in one meeting after the next all over the capitol complex. That day they ventured into a town-hall-type space near Satos Federal Building office.
So this joker, with his prison white-power ink and his permanent scowl that said more about his lack of intelligence than his toughness, had no business at all stopping her entry to any public space.
Tosh was right behind her, Sperry on his other side. Fanned out in the hallway was the rest of the group with their various guards. It was monumentally stupid for this guy to think he had any chance at all of stopping them.
Helena ignored him, moving to go around him. And he made the mistake of touching her. I said
She grabbed his wrist, twisting and bending it, levering his arm, forcing him to his knees. She leaned down, getting close enough to say in a low tone, laced with magick, I dont give a fuck what you said other than, Please let me get the door for you, maam.
He began to grab for a weapon and she bent his wrist harder. Just a bit more and shed break something.
I wouldnt recommend that.
Get off me, bitch.
Helena kept his wrist, though other security had begun to gather around. Harsh, whispered orders were being given all around her but she put all her focus on this asshole at her feet.
One thing she noticed more than anything else was the presence of a handgun at his back. Shed had to go through a full-body pat-down and a metal detector. So how was it this asshole had a gun?
Why does this man have a weapon? Straightening, still keeping her tight hold on him, she managed to ask this calmly, feeling anything but.
You need to let him go. Now. A police officer approached.
She remained exactly where she was, keeping her body between the approaching cop and Senator Sato. My name is Helena Jaansen and I am part of Senator Satos security detail. This man accosted me as I attempted to enter the hearing room. Im going to need one of you to come and take his weapon before I let him go. For the safety of myself and the people Im guarding.
You dont give the orders here, witch. The cops lip curled and she narrowed her gaze at him for a moment.
Helena centered herself, connecting with her magick, spooling more up from the earth beneath her feet. This isnt going to end well, Officer. Now. You can do your job, or I will break this mans wrist, and even if you shoot me, my people will take out every last one of you in this hallway. And for what? Im not letting this man go. Hes got a weapon and Im protecting a United States senator. Once you have taken his weapon, I will happily let him go.
She caught Gages attention and he had the same readiness about him.
It was Tosh who spoke next. Pulling all his authority around himself, but keeping himself behind her, which was very smart.
Officer, youre going to need to help Ms. Jaansen immediately. Remove the weapon from the gentleman on the ground, pat him down and then you may take him into custody.
The cop sighed, but moved to obey, removing the gun. Helena let go of the wrist of the guy on the ground and he tried to lunge at her. But she was prepared and far more than a prison thug in the pay of asshole bigots.
Feet solidly planted, her balance braced for trouble, she cocked her fist and gave him a solid right to his mouth, sending him sprawling as she neatly stepped back.
Ill give you another if you move even a tiny bit. She didnt take her attention from the guy on the ground but she addressed the cop as more streamed into the hallway. If I were your boss, youd be sitting out the next few weeks on administrative leave as you went through the process of getting fired. Youre sloppy. Sloppy gets people killed.
I dont need any advice from you.
Please. She rolled her eyes as the cop got the other guy in cuffs and hauled him to his feet. Of the two of us, only one is good at their job. And its not you. I hope you think your stupidity can protect you, because your piss-poor training sure wont.
She glanced back at her people and then headed into the room where it was already standing-room only.
* * *
THE following day, Tosh smiled at the sight of Helena coming back into the room. Thank you for all your help this trip. I hope DC will be calmer.
Delilah laughed. I doubt that. But, Helena, I believe you scared a few years life from that one cop in the hallway earlier. Nicely done.
The sound of that laugh did things to him. Hed been working closely with Delilah Sperry for months now. Even before he knew she was a werewolf hed been attracted to her. She was long and lean with keen eyes that missed absolutely nothing. Her hair was a tawny gold and she often had it back from a face that managed to be delicate and bold all at once.
Theyd danced around each other for a few months now. Tosh had been so busy at what felt like every single moment of his waking day, hed told himself it wasnt the time.
But the heightened danger had only sharpened his hunger for the delightfully sexy, canny and powerful Senator Delilah Sperry.
He should have been scared. If hed have been one of my people Id have busted him back to cleaning toilets. We did meet with his boss later while you two were in another meeting with Molly. He apologized for the past two days worth of unpleasantness from his officers. Helena took the glass of water his assistant handed her. Theyre short-staffed like everyone else. But he was a good man and I accepted his apology. Theyve got their own problems in the ranks, I suppose.
Helena was distracted. And exhausted. Tosh saw it around her edges and hoped the way Faine stared at her meant the wolfwhatever he waswould see to it she got some rest.
I appreciate you handling that. Ben was just singing your praises earlier today. Delilah spoke of Ben Stoner of the Great Lakes Pack and her own Alpha, as she hailed from Chicago. We appreciate all the effort the witches are putting into this. Youre smart and strong and were proud to be protected by you all.