twenty-nine
Hearing my name popped my eyes open. I’d been enjoying my perch, wrapped tightly in Thurl’s warm arms, his fur soft against my cheek. The indistinct murmur of voices soothed my sleepy brain.
“Now, about Jade…”
That got my attention. “What about me?”
Thurl’s arms tightened around me. There were two new people in the hall. One was a wide, bulky man whose eyes were intense. I would never want to meet him in a dark alley. The other was lanky as he slouched in his chair, fingers tapping on a laptop. He had the appearance of someone at ease, but there were tension lines along his muscles. Black ink peeked from beneath his sleeve and above his collar.
“Jade, this is Zeus, owner of Superhuman Security, and their resident tech expert, Bull.”
Bull nodded without taking his eyes off his computer screen, but Zeus’s eyes took on a warmth I didn’t think possible.
“Miss Massey, Thurl asked us to look into the organization troubling you.”
I craned my head up and pulled Thurl’s muzzle down so I could look him in the eyes. “You did?”
He nodded. “I will use every resource I have to keep you safe.”
Wow. That was refreshing. I wasn’t used to men acknowledging they needed help, let alone asking for it. But then, these weren’t exactly men, were they? I managed to school my expression into something serious. “What did you find?”
“Silver Fang is an up-and-coming organization in Damruck’s underworld. I think they see the loss of The Level’s leadership as an opportunity. The man you witnessed committing murder is the leader of Silver Fang—Adrian Vale. Respectable businessman by day, he’s known as cunning and charismatic, with a sharp mind and predatory instincts. His nickname is The Wolf because he’s a calculating hunter.
“I can’t figure out why he would be on the street, dressed as a thug, doing wet work himself. He has plenty of assassins in his employ.”
“Yeah, I think I met one.”
That brought Bull’s eyes to mine. “You did, but he’s—“
“No longer a threat.” Thurl’s chest rumbled with his words.
They didn’t blink at the pronouncement of the man’s death, so either they already knew or didn’t care. I wasn’t sad he was gone, but I winced. “Did he have family?”
Thurl’s cheek rubbed along the side of my head. “No kitten, he did not.”
I didn’t question him further. He’d never lied to me, and above that, I wanted to believe him. I turned to Bull. “So what do I do now? Wait until they arrest him and testify?”
Bull was shaking his head before I’d finished.
“They won’t arrest him. He’s too insulated.” He sat back in his chair, his fingers still for the first time. “Come to think of it, that could be why he was cosplaying a thug. He’s known for having a posh, elegant image. It will be hard to convince someone he would slum it.”
Zeus stepped forward. “The best course of action is to remain here, under the wyrfangs’ protection.”
“I can’t stay here forever. I have a job, a house…” My eyes blurred until all I could see were the dancing red motes of light.
Thurl’s arms tightened around me again. “Please. Let me protect you.” He looked around the table at the others. “Let us protect you.”
“Of course I will. I’m not dumb. I’m not about to run off somewhere by myself. But it’s not like you can be with me twenty-four/seven. I have a life.”
“You do,” Zeus nodded, “but our recommendation is that you remain with them—yes, twenty-four/seven—until this is over.”
I pushed my glasses back up my nose. “When will this be over? You say they won’t arrest this man. You say he’ll be able to wiggle himself out of my testimony. So when will it end?”
Everyone fell silent. I let it linger for a beat. “Right. So there has to be a compromise.”
Thurl’s voice was more growl than anything. “I will not compromise with your safety.”
I curled my hand around his neck. “I don’t want you to.” I sighed and looked around the room. “There has to be another way.”
“There is.”
When I looked at him, Zeus had transformed into something dark. Menace rolled off him in waves. I clutched at Thurl’s forearm. He might be there to help me, but he was frightening.
“You’re going to kill him?”
He chuckled, but it wasn’t a sound of mirth. “No. I wish we could, but the council wouldn’t go for it. Not when there have been so many other, higher-profile problems lately. But…” he paused to look at Thurl. “If Thurl will allow it, I can assign a Superhuman Security operative to your detail.”
I heard the rumble deep in the chest I leaned against, but before he could speak, I sat up. “I am a grown woman who can make her own decisions. I don’t need his—or anyone’s—permission.”
Everyone in the room was shaking their heads. It was Kragen who leaned forward and explained.
“It’s not about permission, Jade. You are Thurl’s mate. That bond is instinctual and overrides everything else. To see another protecting you,” he sighed, “it could be problematic.”
I stood up so I could look at Thurl properly. I studied his blazing red eyes. “He can handle it.” It wasn’t a proclamation, but it wasn’t a question either.
He stared back at me. “Yes.”
Zeus cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to pry, but have the two of you bonded?”
I was reluctant to answer him. I’d like to have kept our bond between us, at least for a little while longer. I could feel Thurl looking at me, waiting for me to decide. I pursed my lips. “Yes. We have the tether. I assume that’s why you’re asking?”
He nodded. “The wyrfang bond, as I understand it, allows either of you to track the other. It means we won’t have to worry with a physical tracker for you. As a precaution, of course.”
I snorted. “Of course.”
Relief that there was a solution to my predicament that didn’t involve me hiding in my own shadow flowed through me. His big hand found the small of my back, warm and reassuring. It was crazy how quickly I’d grown used to his casual touches.
“Then it’s settled,” Zeus said, in a voice that was half-order, half-suggestion. “I’ll assign someone, discreetly, who can watch your back when Thurl can’t.”
Thurl’s arm tensed against me, but he didn’t argue. I glanced up at him. There was a flicker of conflict in his eyes, like two voices in his head were battling it out. Still, he nodded.
Kragen leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Is there any chance you could find something—evidence, old ledger entries, or a whistleblower testimony—to link him solidly to Vale’s illegal dealings? We could approach the council with something compelling enough to force their hand.”
I perked up at the good idea.
Bull shook his head, the muscle in his jaw working in annoyance. “He’s too careful. I’ve been searching since Thurl first asked us to poke around. His digital trail is squeaky clean. Anything that might incriminate him is deeply off-book or locked in an analog file, if it exists at all.”
I sank into the seat next to Thurl, adjusting my glasses. “So testifying is pointless. The cops can’t nail him, and without solid evidence of his wrongdoing, Society can’t help either. Great.” I tried not to sound completely defeated, but the frustration leaked in anyway.
Bull gave me a lopsided grin. “I’m good at what I do. Given time, I’ll find something.”
Zeus exhaled, the sound slow and rumbling. He was still standing, arms crossed. “In the meantime, you’ll have a bodyguard who will protect you when Thurl can’t. We’ll secure your house. Make it look lived in, lights on timers, a caretaker going in and out. If Vale’s men are watching, they’ll see normal movement, but not you.”
“I don’t like that idea. My friend Emma was attacked feeding the cats because they thought she was me. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
Zeus smiled. “I’ll ask River to housesit for you. If anyone else tries to pull a stunt like that, she’ll get a kick out of it.”
I didn’t quite understand, but from the way Bull chuckled, I guessed this River could handle herself. “What about my job? I can’t abandon my kids.”
“Returning to work makes you vulnerable and I can’t advise it. I have a feeling the detectives will call you in soon. Let’s see how that goes, and we can reassess.”
“Until then, I’m hiding?”
Zeus’s voice gentled. “In my line of work, when the threat is big enough, the best thing to do is disappear for a while.”
“For now, it’s the wisest move,” Kragen added sympathetically.
I swallowed. It wasn’t like I wanted to boldly walk down the street, daring these criminals to come at me. But being locked away made me feel like the walls were closing in. Thurl’s hand slid up my spine. The warm pressure of his palm was comforting in a way I couldn’t quite put into words.
“As soon as we have new intel,” Zeus continued, “we’ll regroup. Until then, Jade, I’m afraid you need to be patient.”
I pursed my lips, but I had to admit it was probably the safest course. “Alright. Do I get to know who this bodyguard is, or is that a surprise?”
A strange smile tugged at Zeus’s mouth. “I have someone in mind: a new recruit who’s been making waves in the company. She’s ex-military, specialized in close-quarters protection, and she won’t take up a lot of space in your personal life—unless you need her to. Best of all, she’s not about to poke Thurl’s territorial instincts.”
My eyes flicked to Thurl. His gaze was fixed on Zeus, no small measure of concern in his expression. “How soon can she start?”
“Immediately,” Zeus answered. “I’ll give you her contact information. If at any time you need or want to leave the compound, call her and she’ll be here.”
Bull glanced between Thurl and me, then turned the laptop so that I could see a map of Damruck. “We have your work address, your usual routes, and your gym. Did I miss anything?”
I coughed. “You know about my gym membership?”
Bull’s brows rose. “We like to be thorough.”
“I’ll say. I haven’t used it once.” I appreciated the thoroughness, given the circumstances. “I guess you should add Big Muddy’s. I go there way too often.”
Bull smiled. “Best burger in town.” He typed something quickly. I watched new pins populate the digital map, each one representing a location I frequented. The cluster was bigger than I’d expected—my routine felt so small, yet seeing it all on the screen made me realize just how often I moved around the city. Work, errands, meetups with friends, daily life.
Thurl’s hand wrapped around mine. “You won’t lose any of it. This is just… a time-out.”
I squeezed his fingers. “I know.” I looked up at him, letting some of my frustration, my fear, flicker through. “It’s just hard.”
“You’re not alone,” he murmured, voice so low it was almost a rumble. “Even if I can’t be by your side every second, the bond will let me know if you’re in danger.”
“And we’ll be there,” Kragen added. “All of us.”
I managed a smile. Maybe I wasn’t so helpless after all. Surrounded by Superhuman Security, hulking wyrfangs, and a mate bond that literally let him track me, I might be the safest I’d ever been—even if it felt stifling.
Zeus pocketed his phone. “Luna’s up-to-date and she looks forward to meeting you.”
“Do you need me for anything else? I think I’d like to go home now.” Despite having slept more than usual, exhaustion settled in my bones.
“Try to rest,” Zeus said, his eyes sympathetic.
Without asking, Thurl scooped me into his arms again and strode from the common hall.
I looked up at him, marveling at the strength surrounding me with such gentleness. “Thank you. For protecting me.”
“You are my mate.”
It was a matter-of-fact statement and he seemed to think that explained everything. “Right,” I said softly. “And who protects you, Thurl?”
He skidded to a halt, his muscles bunching where they held me. “No one has ever…” His chest rose and fell with a deep breath. Then his head shook as if to clear it. In a low voice, he answered, “You do, kitten.”
I understood. I couldn’t protect him physically, but he didn’t need me to protect his body. He could do that on his own. What he needed was someone to protect his heart. His soul. He had been through so much, experienced so much trauma, and despite the claws and horns and deadly power, he was vulnerable.
I knew without a doubt he would protect me. And I was determined to protect him right back.
Because from here on out, there was no me or him. There was only us.
The next morning I woke warm and happy in Thurl’s arms, the smell of bacon and eggs permeating the room. “Mmm. Nanna’s made breakfast.”
He shifted and I felt his cold nose against my neck, then his warm tongue as it flicked and trailed over my collarbone.
“Are you hungry?”
I stretched and realized I was naked beneath the covers. I didn’t remember getting naked. Thurl’s tongue wrapped around my nipple and I moaned.
“I’m getting there.”
He chuckled and scraped his teeth along my stomach. My clit pulsed and I rubbed my thighs together. Even though talking with Zeus and Bull yesterday exhausted me, Thurl showed me the fastest way to get my brain to shut up was for him to lick me. That forked tongue could do wicked things and I was addicted.
My skin lit up as he made his way down to where I wanted him most.
“Breakfast is ready, you two!”
For an eighty-year-old woman, Nanna’s voice was loud.
“Just a minute!” I yelled back at her, my breath sucking in when Thurl’s tongue found my clit.
“It’s going to get cold!”
I groaned. Thurl chuckled, nipping my inner thigh.
“We’d better go before she comes to get us.”
I wouldn’t put it past her, and Thurl had already gotten up, abandoning me still spread eagle on the bed. I groaned in frustration. “Fine.”
Just as I stepped into the kitchen my phone rang. Detective Chambers’ serious voice greeted me.
“Jade, I’m glad I caught you.”
Had he been trying to reach me? I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the notifications, but I didn’t see any missed calls or voice mails.
“We need you to come to the station this afternoon,” he continued as I put the phone back to my ear. “The district attorney wants to meet with you about your statement.”
“Um, okay. What time?”
“Does two work?”
“Yes, I think that’s fine.”
“I can send a car for you—“
“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll have a friend drive me. I’ll see you then.”
“Take care, Jade.”
“I will.”
I hung up and faced Thurl and my grandmother, who both stared at me with worried expressions. “Detective Chambers says the D.A. wants to talk to me. I’m going in at two.”
I kissed the side of Thurl’s muzzle when he started growling. “I’m going to text Luna and tell her to pick me up.”
He dipped his chin, but I could tell he wasn’t happy. Nanna took his hand and led him into the kitchen, telling him she needed help to bring out the dishes. In minutes, the house was once again full of wyrfangs, and I was grateful for the distraction.
Luna was a short, curvy woman with a bright smile and shoulder-length black hair. Her brown skin was flawless and her deep brown eyes sparkled with mischief. She stepped away from the black SUV she’d driven to the compound, her hand outstretched.
“Hi, you must be Jade. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Luna, but the boys call me Trouble.”
I laughed and shook her hand. “I’m sure they do. You’re gorgeous.”
Her eyes widened and skittered away. “Oh, thank you, but that’s not the kind of trouble I’ve ever been known for.”
She was blushing, and so was I. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’re … I just meant that …” I stumbled to a stop, not sure how I could dig my way out of that hole. I shook my head and decided not to try. “Sometimes my mouth says things before my brain tells it not to.”
She snorted and it put me right at ease. “Now that, I understand.” She tilted her head to the car. “Get in. We can talk on the way.”
She didn’t seem fazed by Thurl standing behind me. I gave him a hug and whispered reassurance that I’d be fine before getting into the passenger seat. I watched him in the side mirror as we drove away. Before we disappeared, he gave a small wave.
I didn’t realize how much of a security blanket he’d become until I could no longer see him and my anxiety skyrocketed. I picked at a loose thread on my jeans and tried to tell my brain to settle down. Luna’s voice made me jump.
“They are really impressive, aren’t they?”
It took a minute for me to catch up. “The wyrfangs? Yes, they are.”
“Is this the first time you’ve been apart since you bonded?”
Cripes, crackers and crickets, did everyone know? “Yes, it is. Will I always feel like this?”
She looked at me in surprise. “I have no idea. Fated mates have only just started happening again.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot.”
She nodded and we fell silent for a while.
“Can I ask you a question?” Her voice was timid, which didn’t match her appearance at all.
“Of course.”
“What’s it like? Having a fated mate?”
I laughed. How could I possibly answer that? “Well, I’ve only been one for about a week, so I’m no expert. But it’s like having part of yourself walking around outside of your body. I know people say that about kids, but this is different somehow. When I’m with him, there’s a sense of peace, of rightness, that I’ve never felt before. I was terrified of being tied to him forever, but now that I am it seems silly for me to think there was ever another choice.”
She nodded and parked in front of the police station. “Thank you. So many of us never dared to dream about finding a mate. It’s been so long… but now there’s hope.” She grinned. “And a lot of questions and nerves to go along with it.”
I smiled back. “I can imagine.”
Her face went serious, like a switch had been flipped. “While we’re in there, don’t go anywhere without me. We’re just friends, and I’m there to support you, but I’m your security blanket in Thurl’s absence. Don’t let them separate us.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
I couldn’t imagine Detective Chambers or his partner trying to separate us. They’d both been nice to me. Her presence seemed to keep the panic beneath the surface, but as we walked through the front door I felt my muscles tighten.
Luna grabbed my hand. “You got this.”
“Okay.” I focused on breathing as we made our way to the detective’s floor. Chambers was leaning against a nearby metal desk when we stepped off the elevator.
“I’m glad you brought someone with you this time. How are you?”
“About like you’d expect.”
He mock grimaced. “That good, hunh?”
“How is Emma?” I talked to her on the phone, but hadn’t been able to see her since her attack, and I felt awful. She assured me she was fine, but it was still my fault she got hurt.
I tilted my head when a blush spread across his cheeks. “She’s good. I’ve checked in on her a couple times. She’s a strong lady.”
When I wasn’t knee deep in shit, I’d have to ask her why the detective blushed.
He led us into the same spare conference room I’d been before, but this time, there was another man besides Detective Drake. Balding and somewhat round, his face held a world-weary expression but he smiled as we walked in.
“Ms. Massey, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Bradley Laurent, the district attorney here in Tayki county.”
His hand was slightly clammy and I resisted the urge to wipe my palms on my jeans. “Not an assistant, then?”
He shook his head. “This case deserves my attention. Please, have a seat.”
We sat, and for the next hour and a half, I answered questions. Laurent was no nonsense and seemed competent enough. The hope that Vale would be arrested—so thoroughly smashed the day before—started coming back to life. Surely this man wouldn’t just let him walk.
As the interview drew to a close, he sat forward.
“One more thing, Ms. Massey. How is your eyesight without your glasses?”
“Dismal, but I was wearing them that night.”
“And you’re sure you can positively identify the man you saw?”
“Yes. Like I told Detective Chambers, I don’t believe anything is one hundred percent, but that is the man I saw that night.”
“There wasn’t enough light for him to see you.”
“No, but I was next to a dumpster at the end of the alley, and he was at the entrance where the streetlights were.”
“I see.”
He stood and I followed suit. We shook hands. He thanked me for my time, and then he left. To be honest, it was a little anti-climactic. I thought maybe he would tell me they were going to arrest Vale right away on the strength of my witness statement. Maybe that only happened on TV.
I excused myself to go to the bathroom before we left. Luna followed, but stayed outside the door of the small, one-toilet restroom. The actual toilet was enclosed in a partition, with the sink beside it, which seemed weird, but I guess it was so if someone was peeing another person could wash their hands.
As soon as I pushed open the door of the partition a dark shape flew at me, slammed me into the wall and pressed their forearm into my neck. I struggled against their hold, but they were strong and I started seeing stars. I tried to yell, but couldn’t. In a desperate attempt to make any noise at all, I swung my leg to the side and hit the enclosure door, causing it to thwack against the wall.
I slid to the floor when the pressure left my neck. Luna fought with my attacker in my peripheral vision, but it wasn’t long before she knelt in front of me. She turned my head from side to side as I winced.
“I don’t think there’s any serious damage. You’ll have one hell of a bruise, but you’re breathing. How’s your eyesight?”
“Blurry.” At some point, my glasses had been knocked off my face. Luna retrieved them and slid them on.
“How about now?”
I nodded. “Good. Fine. No more black spots.”
I didn’t notice the other people crowded into the bathroom until I looked up. Detective Chambers held the elbow of my attacker—a woman now that her hood was down and I could see her face. He shouted questions at her without waiting for an answer.
“Who are you? How did you get in here? Who sent you?”
The woman laughed, a manic sound that chilled my blood. Her eyes were wide, and her arms strained against the restraints. Before I registered what was happening. she’d broken free of his hold and slammed her head into the side of the sink. She managed another two hits before Chambers and Drake pulled her out of the room.
I stared at Luna in shock.
She shook her head. “Drugs.”
I nodded, struck mute by all that happened.
She stood and tugged me up with her. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“I still need to pee.”
She laughed and tugged me behind her. “We’ll find you another bathroom. And this time, I’m coming in with you.”