Chapter 26
Afew days after their return from Monaco, Sam sat in his office, reviewing the latest intelligence reports from Germany when Barbara buzzed through on the intercom.
“Alpha, there’s a Mr. Taren is here to see you.”
Sam’s inner lion stirred with interest. The Golden Jackal had finally arrived. “Send him in, Barbara. And hold my calls, please.”
“Of course, sir.”
The door opened moments later, and Seth walked into Sam’s office with the kind of presence that demanded attention.
He was tall, perhaps six-four, with golden-brown skin that spoke of Middle Eastern or North African heritage, dark hair that fell just past his collar, and eyes that were an unusual amber-gold color.
Striking was the word he’d heard some of the females use, though devastatingly handsome was another comment he’d overheard once.
Seth wore dark jeans, a leather jacket over a simple black shirt, and moved with a predatory grace that marked him as shifter even before Sam caught his scent.
Jackal, definitely, with undertones of something wild and untamed that suggested he spent more time in his animal form than most modern shifters did.
“Alpha Kinkaid,” Seth said, his voice carrying a faint accent that was hard to place. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Seth.” Sam stood and offered his hand. “Call me Sam. And thank you for coming. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”
Seth’s handshake was firm and brief. His amber eyes swept the office, taking in potential threats with the automatic assessment of someone who’d survived by always being cautious. “Nice setup you have here. Very different from where we first met.”
“Afghanistan was a long time ago,” Sam said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “Different life, different priorities.”
“But the same core principles, I think.” Seth settled into the chair with deceptive casualness. “You were always a good soldier, Sam. Fair, competent, and you didn’t treat the locals like they were disposable. That’s rare.”
“You remember all that from a handful of encounters?”
“I remember everything that matters.” Seth’s smile was slight and didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s how I’ve stayed alive this long.”
Before Sam could respond, a soft knock at the door preceded Claudia entering with a tray bearing coffee and tea. She’d insisted on being present for this meeting, wanting to meet the man who’d eliminated Kettering and was working with Mark and Nick in Germany.
“Mr. Taren,” Claudia said warmly, setting the tray on the coffee table. “I’m Claudia. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Seth rose immediately, his entire demeanor shifting to something more courtly. “The honor is mine, ma’am. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Does it?” Claudia raised an eyebrow as she poured coffee. “I wasn’t aware I had a reputation.”
“The mage who destroyed Adolf Schwarz?” Seth’s amber eyes gleamed. “That news traveled through the supernatural community faster than wildfire. You’re something of a legend now.”
Claudia blushed and handed him a cup. “I’m just a mage who got lucky.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Seth said seriously. “Schwarz was centuries old and had consumed hundreds of mages to fuel his power. Taking him down required skill, courage, and considerable strength. Don’t diminish your accomplishment.”
Sam felt a surge of pride at Seth’s words and the way Claudia’s blush deepened. His mate deserved to hear praise for what she’d done, even if she was too modest to seek it.
They settled with their drinks—Seth choosing tea, which surprised Sam—and an expectant silence fell over the office.
“I suppose you want to know about Kettering,” Seth said finally.
“If you’re willing to share,” Sam replied. “Nick said it was clean and undetectable, but I’d like to hear the details, if you don’t mind.”
Seth took a sip of his tea, his expression thoughtful. “It was interesting. I’d gone to the hospital late at night, after visiting hours, using faked credentials that got me into his room without question.”
“And he was still in the coma Claudia induced?” Sam asked.
“Initially, yes. I stood there for perhaps five minutes, watching him breathe, considering the best way to handle the situation.” Seth’s gaze grew distant.
“I won’t lie. I was uncomfortable with the idea of killing a defenseless man, coma or not.
My code doesn’t sit well with that kind of execution. ”
“But you were going to do it anyway. Because of the threat he represented.” Claudia’s tone was knowing.
“Yes. Sometimes, necessity overrides preference.” Seth set down his teacup. “But then, fate intervened. Kettering woke up.”
Sam straightened in his chair. “He woke from a magical coma?”
“Apparently, your mate’s spell wasn’t designed to be permanent,” Seth said, glancing at Claudia. “And, I think Kettering had his own magical reserves that finally managed to break through. Either way, his eyes opened, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.”
“What did he do?” Claudia asked, leaning forward.
“He recognized me immediately. Knew exactly what I was there for.” Seth’s expression hardened. “And he started chanting. Low and fast, in a language I didn’t recognize but knew was dangerous. Dark magic, the kind that smells like rot and tastes like copper.”
“He was trying to summon something,” Sam guessed.
“Yes, I believe so. He was summoning some kind of entity or curse to attack me.” Seth’s hands clenched briefly before relaxing.
“I didn’t give him the chance to finish.
I ended it quickly and made it look like the coma had caused complications.
The medical examiner ruled it natural causes related to the initial collapse. ”
The office was quiet for a moment as they processed this information.
“How do you feel about it?” Claudia asked gently. “About how it ended?”
Seth looked as if he hadn’t expected that question. “Better than I would have if I’d had to kill him while he was unconscious. At least he was awake, aware, and actively trying to harm me. That makes it combat, not execution. My code allows for that.”
“Your code,” Sam said carefully. “Nick mentioned you have a specific set of rules you live by. Can you tell us about that?”
Seth was quiet for a long moment, his amber eyes studying Sam intently. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision.
“What I’m about to tell you stays in this room,” he said. “Mark and Nick know, but very few others. My effectiveness depends on people believing I’m something I’m not.”
“You have our word,” Sam said, and Claudia nodded agreement.
Seth stood and walked to the window, looking out over Houston’s skyline. “I’m a sworn servant of the Light. Have been for the past decade, though I served it unknowingly for years before that.”
Sam’s eyebrows rose. A servant of the Light was serious business. He wasn’t just someone who generally fought on the side of good, but someone who’d actually taken vows and been accepted by the Light.
“That’s unexpected,” Sam admitted.
“It’s meant to be.” Seth turned back to face them.
“I cultivate a reputation for being morally gray at best, a mercenary who puts his own self-interested above all else. People think I’m in it for the money and that I’ll work for whoever pays the most. That reputation lets me infiltrate places and organizations that would never accept someone known to serve the Light. ”
“You’re a spy,” Claudia said with dawning understanding. “An undercover operative for the Light.”
“Among other things.” Seth’s smile was sharp. “The cause of good needs people willing to walk in darkness, to do things that can’t be done in the open. I’m one of those people.”
“Does that include the CIA bounty on Kettering?” Sam asked.
“The CIA doesn’t know my true motivations.
They think I’m just a very effective mercenary, willing to take on difficult contracts.
” Seth returned to his chair. “But yes, I make sure the contracts I accept align with my code. In Kettering’s case, the CIA wanted him dead for geopolitical reasons.
Our side of the conflict between good and evil wanted him dead for enabling atrocities against your people and many others. Same target, different motivations.”
“And the money?” Sam asked.
“Goes to fund my operations and help people who can’t help themselves.” Seth’s expression was matter of fact. “Servants of the Light aren’t required to be poor, just to use their resources wisely.”
Claudia was looking at Seth with new eyes, and Sam understood why. The man was more complex than he appeared. He was a warrior who served the Goddess while pretending to serve only himself, using deception as a tool to fight evil from the inside.
“Why tell us this?” Sam asked. “If your effectiveness depends on secrecy.”
“Because you’re going to want to hire me,” Seth said bluntly. “And I’d rather you know who you’re really dealing with before we discuss terms.”
Sam couldn’t help but smile at the man’s directness. “Actually, I was going to ask if you’d be interested in investigating what happens to Kettering’s properties. The castle in Germany, specifically. There’s bound to be a power vacuum, and I’d like to know who fills it.”
“Mark Pepard already asked me to do exactly that,” Seth said. “Kettering has a distant cousin who’s set to inherit. She seems to have had no connection with him. He, or his mage friends, eliminated all the more closely related heirs in the years after his father died.”
“Do you think she knows anything about his operation or proclivities?” Claudia asked.
“I’m not sure. That’s why I’m going to Germany to see what I can discover.
I do know that she’s about to inherit a castle she can’t really afford to maintain and a legacy she may not understand.
If she’s clean, I hope to help her with that.
If not, I will report back before taking further action, if at all possible. ”
“Report back to who?” Sam asked.
“Mark, since he already paid my retainer, and he’ll share with you.
That’s what he said to tell you, since he figured you might ask.
” Seth’s amber eyes were steady. “Sam, I want you to understand something. I’m not for hire in the traditional sense.
I don’t take every job offered, regardless of payment.
I only accept work that serves the greater good. ”
“Which is what I do as well,” Sam said.
“Exactly. The Venifucus is a threat to everyone. Taking them down, preventing them from regrouping, stopping them from acquiring new resources serves everyone’s interests who wish to continue our lives in peace.
” Seth stood. “So yes, I’ll investigate the Kettering heiress and the castle.
I’ll make sure the property doesn’t fall into the wrong hands or under the wrong influences.
And I’ll keep Mark, and you, informed of anything relevant. ”
Sam stood as well, offering his hand again. “Then I think we understand each other.”
“We do.” Seth’s handshake was firm. “And Sam? For what it’s worth, I’m glad you found your mate. Claudia is formidable, and you two together are going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
“We’re certainly going to try,” Claudia said with a smile.
Seth moved toward the door, then paused. “One more thing. If you ever need someone to do the jobs that can’t be done in the light of day, call me. I don’t help everyone, but I help people who fight for the right reasons. You two qualify.”
“I’ll remember that,” Sam said. “Safe travels, Seth. And thank you for handling Kettering.”
“It needed to be done.” Seth’s expression was unreadable. “The world is better without him in it.”
After Seth left, Sam and Claudia stood together at the window, watching the Golden Jackal climb into a nondescript sedan and drive away.
“He’s not what I expected.”
Sam pulled her close. “I’m glad he’s on our side. Having a warrior of his skills and adaptability working against the Venifucus is a significant advantage to our side.”
“Do you trust him?”
Sam considered the question. “I trust that his interests align with ours. And I trust that he operates by a code, even if that code is more complex than most people’s. That’s enough for now.”
“Fair enough.” Claudia leaned into him. “So, what’s next for us?”
“Next, we survive our mating celebration tomorrow night. Then we continue strengthening the Clan’s defenses, work with our allies to combat the Venifucus, and build the life we promised each other.” Sam pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Simple, really.”
Claudia laughed. “Nothing about our life is simple.”
“No,” Sam agreed. “But it’s ours. And that makes it perfect.”
They watched the sun set over Houston, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new responsibilities, new threats to face.
But they’d face them together, as mates, as partners, and as two people who’d found something rare and precious in the midst of danger.
Somewhere out there, Seth was driving toward his next mission, a servant of the Light disguised as a mercenary, fighting battles in the shadows so others could live in peace.
The world was complicated and dangerous, and full of threats both mundane and magical.
But it was also full of allies, people willing to stand against the darkness, and hope that good would ultimately triumph over evil.
Sam pulled Claudia closer, and her magic twined with his, their bond solid and unbreakable. Whatever came next, they’d face it together.
And that was all that mattered.