Chapter 23
“Seth is a mercenary with somewhat questionable morals. He’s known as The Golden Jackal,” Sam explained.
“Mark and I have had dealings with him before, and surprisingly, he’s a pretty standup guy,” Nick added.
“Why do they call him The Golden Jackal?” Claudia asked, frowning.
“Because that’s what he is,” Nick said, shaking his head. “I think it’s a dumb name. He’s basically outing himself to everyone, including those who don’t know shifters exist. He tried to tell me once something about hiding in plain sight, but I still think it’s stupid.”
“The man sure is full of himself,” Sam agreed.
“I ran across him years ago in the sandbox when I was still in the Army. The man’s got skills.
That’s undeniable. He’s also got a code of honor that I don’t fully understand, though he plays at being a chameleon, never really committing to one side or the other. ”
“I think that’s changed in recent years,” Nick said.
“My understanding is that he was hired to do some shady stuff a few years ago, and when he realized just what his employers were up to, he and his men staged a bit of a mutiny. Since then, he only takes on jobs where he knows all the players and what side they’re on in the eternal battle. ”
Claudia nodded. “The battle between good and evil.”
Nick tapped a finger in her direction. “That’s the one.”
“Well, if I get a vote, I say we leave it to this Jackal guy,” Claudia said surprisingly.
Sam was a bit more skeptical. “Only if we’re sure he can get the job done. I want the threat of Kettering stopped, permanently, one way or the other. If Seth can get it done, then we might as well let him get the payday, as long as you’re sure he’s working on the right side.”
Nick nodded. “I’m sure about that, at least. Mark had a long talk with him this morning, and Shelly was there. She would’ve known if he was lying when Mark asked him to state his allegiances.”
“Okay then. Problem solved. Can you get in contact with Seth and give him the go-ahead?” Sam asked Nick.
Nick nodded again as he pulled out his phone, tapping out a short message.
“I’ll give him the signal.” Nick made a few more taps on his phone, then put it away.
He looked up at Sam and Claudia. “That’s done.
Now I’ll go fill in Mark on everything that happened.
I’m going to have to tell him about your special ability, Claudia.
I don’t really see a way around that, and my loyalty to him demands that I be completely truthful.
But I want you to know that I won’t tell anyone else, and neither will he.
A gift like yours needs to be protected and kept in reserve for when it’s truly needed.
We both understand that. And we both believe that the time is coming, in the not-too-distant future, when we’ll need every tool in our arsenal and every weapon we possess to combat the evil that has returned to the world. We won’t betray you.”
Claudia bowed her head respectfully. “Thank you for that. I want you to know that I believe in your integrity and thank you for all your help. Knowing you and Mark have had our backs has made the situation much easier for me to deal with and, I believe, much more successful than I could’ve hoped. I owe you one. That’s for sure.”
“Dear lady, I think you’ve got that backwards,” Nick objected with a rueful grin. “It’s we who need to thank you for putting your skill and abilities to such good use in the cause of good.”
Claudia blushed at his words, and Sam was enchanted all over again by his beautiful mate. Talented, powerful, and so humble and gorgeous. How did he get so lucky as to be blessed with a mate like her?
Nick took his leave after a few more farewells and thanks were given, and then, it was just Sam and Claudia. Alone again. The way he always wanted to be, whenever possible.
Sam turned and took her into his arms. “You are magnificent, my love. I’m beginning to think there’s nothing you can’t do.”
She laughed softly and cuddled into his arms. “Then I fear you’re going to be sorely disappointed once you realize there are a lot of things I can’t do.”
“That time freezing thing. Is that something you’ve done before?” Sam asked.
“Just once, during training with Granny Tucker. She said it was an emergency-only skill, and that using it too often could damage the time stream or attract attention from entities we really don’t want to meet. But I think this qualified as an emergency.”
“Definitely.” Sam brought her hand to his lips for a romantic kiss. “Thank you for saving us from what would have been a very public disaster.”
“Thank you for stopping him before he could shoot me,” Claudia countered. “You have amazing reflexes.”
“I’m very motivated when it comes to protecting my mate.” Sam squeezed her gently. “Though I have to say, Nick handled the rest of it remarkably well. Most people would have had a lot more questions, I think.”
“Nick strikes me as someone who’s seen a lot of strange things.” Claudia smiled.
“I’d better text Jacques and let him know not to interfere with Seth, if he shows up at the hospital,” Sam said as he stepped back from Claudia and pulled out his phone.
“Do you think Seth would kill Kettering while he was unconscious?” A shocked look passed over her beautiful face.
“I have no idea,” Sam admitted. “Seth is a strange guy. He lives by a set of rules only he fully understands. He wasn’t raised in the states.
He comes from a part of the world and a species of shifter that’s a bit more savage than what we’re used to with our Western sensibilities.
Only he knows what he can live with, and after hearing Nick’s endorsement, I have faith that Seth is on the right side of things.
Mark and Nick are not easily fooled. Scratch that.
I don’t think those two can ever be fooled. Not when they work together.”
“I don’t really understand the structure of the Jaguar Clan, but it’s clear they work as a well-oiled team,” Claudia observed.
“They may be cats, but they’re a mystery to me, too.
You know how we lions roll. As reluctant as I was to take on the role of king of all lions, once I did, I would never contemplate sharing that burden with anybody else.
At least not in the way that Mark and Nick do.
” Sam sighed and then clapped his hands together, changing the mood.
“Since our schedule has been shot to hell, though thankfully not ourselves, we need to regroup a little bit. Would you like to attend the brunch? I know Maurice packed a killer outfit for you. Might as well use it. Now that the threat of Kettering and his pet mages has been neutralized, we can enjoy ourselves a little bit. What you think?”
Claudia smiled. “Actually, I’d love that.”
The brunch was held in one of the hotel’s most elegant dining rooms, all floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mediterranean and tables draped in pristine white linens. The atmosphere was lighter than the formal balls had been, more relaxed, despite the wealth and power concentrated in the room.
Sam and Claudia arrived to find Mark, Shelly, Nick, and Sullivan already seated at a table near the windows. Shelly waved them over with a warm smile.
“There you are,” Sullivan said as they approached. “We were beginning to think you’d decided to leave without saying goodbye.”
“We wouldn’t do that,” Sam said, holding out Claudia’s chair before taking his own seat. “Besides, Claudia wanted to wear the outfit Maurice picked out for this event. It seemed a shame to waste it.”
“Maurice does have excellent taste,” Shelly observed, taking in Claudia’s elegant cream and gold ensemble. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” Claudia said, settling into her seat. “This whole weekend has been educational.”
“That’s one word for it,” Mark said dryly. He waited until a server had filled their champagne glasses and moved away before continuing. “Nick filled me in on this morning’s excitement. Quite the creative solution.”
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” Sam replied, keeping his voice low. “The situation required immediate action.”
“And now?” Mark’s gaze was steady and assessing.
“Now we let our mutual friend handle the loose ends,” Sam said carefully. “Nick mentioned you’d be taking a trip after the gala concludes?”
Mark nodded. “Nick and I thought we’d do some touring. Germany has some interesting architecture we’ve been wanting to examine more closely.”
Sam understood immediately. “The castle?”
“Among other properties. Our friend has been doing reconnaissance for some time now. He’s familiar with the layout, the routines, and the vulnerabilities.” Mark took a sip of his champagne. “Apparently, the staff situation has been quite unstable recently. High turnover.”
“Blood magic.” Shelly’s expression was grim. “They were using the servants. We found evidence when we were researching the organization.”
Claudia’s hand found Sam’s under the table. He squeezed gently, offering silent support.
“How extensive is your friend’s access?” Sam asked.
“Extensive enough,” Nick said. “The previous security protocols have been, shall we say, compromised by recent management changes. What was once a fortress is now more of a sieve, at least to someone with the right skills.”
“And Seth has those skills,” Sam said.
“In abundance.” Mark’s smile was cold. “We should be able to conduct a thorough examination of the premises. Document everything. Retrieve any intelligence that might be useful for dealing with the larger organization.”
“Marta’s already provided some information,” Sam said. “But physical evidence from the castle would corroborate her testimony.”
“Exactly our thinking.” Mark gestured as more food arrived at their table. “But that’s all shop talk. This is supposed to be a celebration of a successful event, isn’t it?”
“Define successful,” Sullivan said with a laugh. “Most people come to Monaco to gamble and see shows. You lot have been doing something entirely different.”