Chapter Five
Ronen couldn’t tear his eyes from Tanner's face. The dim restaurant lighting cast shadows across his angular features, highlighting the dark circles beneath his mate’s eyes.
So far, the conversation had been light, both of them holding back more than they revealed.
Perhaps Tanner could tell Ronen was keeping secrets, but he didn’t think so.
His mate was clearly in distress, and leaving Tanner at the end of their date might be more than Ronen could handle. How could he abandon him to whatever sinister forces might be at play?
Tanner lifted his gaze, spotting Ronen staring. He set down his fork, his meal barely touched.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Tanner chuckled shakily. “I thought I was starving, but I guess I wasn’t that hungry after all.” He glanced away, chewing his bottom lip. “Um, that’s not completely true.”
Ronen set down his fork as well, pushing his plate aside. “You can talk to me, Tanner. I want to help you if I can.”
Tanner leaned forward, but his shoulders were hunched.
“Yeah, so that’s what has me confused. Not that I’m not grateful, but you showed up out of nowhere and just happened to be there right as someone pushed me in front of a bus.
” His mouth quirked in a smile. “And wow. Those are some skills you have. I have no idea how anyone can move that fast.” He met Ronen’s eyes.
“I like you, but I need the truth. Were you there by accident, or were you watching me?”
This was it. The moment when Ronen could try and reach his mate, despite his orders to keep their bond a secret. Tanner desperately needed help, and Ronen couldn’t bear to see him suffering.
Ronen locked gazes with him. “I was watching you.”
Tanner’s eyes widened a bit. He was still closed in on himself, and he glanced around the restaurant as if checking whether anyone was listening.
The seafood eatery wasn’t crowded, and their table was tucked away in the lounge.
No other diners were in the back section, and only a couple of patrons were perched on stools at the bar, chatting and laughing, lost in their own worlds.
“It’s okay, Tanner,” Ronen said. “You can speak freely. If danger was lurking nearby, I would know.”
Tanner shook his head, chuckling again. “See, that’s just it. How would you know such a thing, unless you were in on it too?”
Unfortunately, Ronen had zero experience with humans. In addition to being uninterested in booty calls with them, he hadn’t had any other interactions to speak of. Even though Tanner was only half human, that didn’t make much difference. He wasn’t exactly a Nephilim expert, either.
Ronen folded his hands on the table, choosing his words carefully. Scaring Tanner to the point where he ran into the arms of evil was a genuine concern.
“Do you feel you’re in danger?”
Tanner straightened, his jaw going slack. It was as if Ronen’s one simple question had unlocked something within him, a revelation that made everything else fall into place.
“Actually…” Tanner’s breath hitched. “I do. I’m not safe. I don’t know why I feel that way, or what it pertains to. But that’s the clearest I’ve been about something for a while.”
“I believe you do know what it pertains to, Tanner. But I don’t want to put words in your mouth.”
Ronen kept his body relaxed and his tone even, careful to do all he could to make Tanner feel comfortable revealing secrets he believed he should be keeping.
Tanner slowly nodded. “My work. S-something’s not right there. I can’t tell you what I do because it’s classified. But ever since I started my job, I’ve been getting increasingly sicker.”
Ronen tensed, clenching his jaw to keep from blurting out something in anger that Tanner might misconstrue as being directed at him.
“Sick in what way?”
“These awful headaches, like the worst ever.” Tanner sighed. “In the past week, they’ve become almost unbearable. Also, a wave of nausea will hit me out of nowhere, even when I’m feeling good.”
A flush of scarlet rose in Tanner’s cheeks that was strong enough to notice even in the low light.
Ronen thought it was a strange reaction but pushed it to the side to hear what else his mate had to say.
He didn’t doubt for a second that Tanner being a Nephilim and in the presence of demons all day would make him ill.
However, he needed to know what Tanner’s take was on everything that was happening, how much he was aware of supernatural forces at play.
“Maybe you’re being exposed to chemicals. Is it an industrial facility?”
“It’s not chemicals.” Tanner’s words came out sharp, and he rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, that wasn’t directed at you.”
“I get it. What you’re describing sounds very stressful.” Ronen leaned forward, lowering his voice. “But if it’s not chemicals, what do you think it is?”
Tanner’s fingers twitched against the tablecloth.
“I think... I think it’s the people.” He eyed their surroundings again before continuing.
“There’s something off about them. When they look at me, I feel like they’re seeing something I don’t understand.
And sometimes, when I’m alone in my office, I swear I hear whispers.
Voices that don’t sound...” He winced. “Normal.”
Tanner’s hand shook slightly as he reached for his water glass. He took a quick sip before setting it down again. “Last week, I woke up at my desk with files open that I have no memory of searching for.”
Ronen’s pulse quickened. This was it. Confirmation that Tanner was sensing the demonic presence despite whatever cloaking spells the demons were using. His Nephilim blood was fighting against the dark influence.
“Have you told anyone at work about this?” Ronen asked, already guessing the answer.
Tanner shuddered. “No way. I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but I don’t know what to do. Even though we’re strangers, I have no one else I can turn to.”
Ronen’s chest tightened. Somehow, somewhere buried deep inside, Tanner must be sensing their mate bond.
“Thank you for trusting me.” Ronen offered him a smile, hoping to reassure Tanner that everything would be okay.
“That’s the reason I was watching you. The group I work with has discovered nefarious activities occurring at that location.
” Not revealing all was proving to be a challenge.
“Our intelligence told us you aren’t like them, so it was thought best to keep an eye on you. ”
No matter what else happened, it was clear that Tanner could never return to work.
“Holy shit.” Tanner covered his mouth with one hand before speaking again. “So…so what happened with the bus…” He swallowed hard. “Do you think my fucking bosses are trying to kill me?”
Tanner’s fear rolled off him in waves, breaking Ronen’s heart. He ached to hold Tanner in his arms, to kiss and soothe him, show him he was safe and loved.
“That’s what it looks like, but we want to make sure. In the meantime, I’d like you to meet my colleagues.”
Ronen knew he was taking a big chance by pushing Tanner so fast, but they’d moved past the luxury of taking a slow, cautious approach.
Tanner still fidgeted in his chair, his forehead creasing as he chewed his lip.
Ronen had noticed him doing that a lot, which had to be Tanner’s way of dealing with anxiety.
The more upset Tanner became, the more enraged Ronen was.
The rogues were going to have a mighty price to pay for how they were making his mate suffer.
Tanner cleared his throat. “I know I just said I trust you, but could your colleagues maybe come meet us first? You know, somewhere public?”
Ronen smiled. His mate wasn’t reckless. He was smart, careful. Tanner would make a wonderful father to their children. Ronen stroked his chin. Perhaps he was getting a bit ahead of himself. At this point, Tanner was clueless about his ancestry, let alone his ability to become pregnant.
“Of course. I don’t want you to feel threatened.” Ronen indicated to Tanner’s barely touched meal. “Do you think you can take a couple more bites before we leave? I can contact the team leader while you finish up.”
Tanner regarded his plate. The grilled chicken breast had been picked at, the baked potato ignored, and perhaps one or two asparagus tips consumed.
“I guess I could.” He gave Ronen a half-smile. “I’m actually feeling a little less stressed now that you’re here.”
They locked gazes, the brief connection seeming to convey more than words could.
Each minute brought them closer to the truth of their bond.
It was taking every ounce of strength Ronen possessed to keep from blurting out that they were destined to be together before throwing Tanner across the table and giving him what they both needed.
Tanner began eating but paused after a few bites. His brow furrowed. “I thought you were going to call someone from your team?”
Ronen blinked several times. Shit. While he carried a phone, he primarily used it for human interaction. Most gargoyles were old school, preferring the traditional method of telepathy.
“Uh, right. I’ll be right back.” When Tanner narrowed his eyes, Ronen added, “I wouldn’t want anyone to overhear.”
As he exited the restaurant, Ronen realized his explanation probably sounded suspicious. After all, they’d already been openly discussing everything.
Ronen positioned himself at the front of the cafe, monitoring the entrance to the lounge. He put the phone to his head to appear as though he were making a call, then sent out a mental message to Cassiel.
“Cassiel. You there?”
“Yup. How are things going with Tanner? Any new intel?” She sounded a little out of breath. “I'm flying over the city with Victor now,” Cassiel replied. “We’ve been monitoring the perimeter of the facility. Something’s going down—more activity than usual. Looks like something big is imminent.”
Ronen leaned against the restaurant’s exterior wall, keeping his eyes fixed on Tanner through the window.