“No. It wasn’t something she could have accepted.”
Helena reached out, squeezing his hand. She couldn’t imagine having to hide such a big part of yourself that way. She wondered if he felt like half a person.
“You have a good heart, Helena.”
She laughed. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Do you think it’s a secret?”
“I understand how people see me. Lark is the touchy-feely one. She’s wisecracks and wild-colored hair. I’m the cold, logical one.”
He harrumphed. “She’s certainly touchy-feely, as you say. But she’s got her share of cold logic and you have your share of warmth and compassion. I see how you are with your people. You risk your life for them daily. Others see it as well.”
She shrugged, uncomfortable. He changed the subject.
“What do you think of Lark and Simon?”
“As a couple?”
“Yes.”
“I like Simon. He seems to adore my sister. She doesn’t let him run her life. He’s strong and able to protect her, but he lets her do her own thing. She needs someone like that. She’s happy and so I’m happy.”
“It’s good that you are so close.”
“We’ve had our rough spots, trust me. But I love my sister and would do anything for her. It keeps me going. I hate that she’s in Seattle. It’s been a good move for her, though.”
“She’s been hugely integral to strengthening the Owen hunter team. She credits you often with things she teaches to her people.”
“We ran this squad for years. Were raised in it. She’s good at what she does. The best, really.”
“Hm. She says the same about you, and from what I’ve seen, she’s right.”
“I’ve made mistakes.” Her tone was laced with regret. He knew there were things unsaid. He had a level of intuition he knew he got from his mother, who was a high-ranked demoness. As much as he wanted to poke at her to get her to reveal her hurt spots, he realized it was wiser with Helena to let her come to it in her own way.
“You were engaged once. It didn’t work out. Tell me about it.”
“‘Didn’t work out’ is a pretty way to put it, I suppose.” Her phone rang and she answered quickly.
“Jaansen.”
She thought she could avoid the subject. Faine wisely kept his snort mental as he continued to drive. She was silly to think so. He could wait. He was good at it. Trained to wait for the perfect opportunity to pounce and disarm his prey.
He’d grown to know her over the months they’d traveled around, guarding Molly and the others. He was four hundred years old and he knew when a female interested him on more than just a friendly level.
She looked at his mouth longer than was necessary. Her pupils got larger when she stared at him. Her pulse sped and her skin warmed. The aroma was enough to bring his beast to the skin every time. She wasn’t the only one interested.
He wanted to know Helena better. A lot better.
And so he’d wait.
ONE of her San Francisco hunters waited for her as they entered the Sacramento offices of Clan Gennessee. She nodded once and the hunter relaxed. Slightly.
“Caspar, good to see you. You know Faine.”
They’d made the nearly six-and-a-half-hour drive in five and some change, even after stopping for lunch. He loved driving. Didn’t do it much in Lycia, but here he had a sleek, powerful machine. The straight shot from Los Angeles to Sacramento gave him an excellent opportunity to drive hard and fast. It was nearly as good as sex.
Nearly. Faine kept his focus on Caspar and tried not to think about sex. With Helena.
Caspar nodded seriously at Faine and turned his attention back to Helena.
“We need to get up to speed here. I’m going to get changed and then head over to Senator Sato’s home. We’re meeting there instead of his office. He’s concerned about leaks and security issues at the capital offices.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be working on the schedule then. Just come by when you’re ready and I’ll drive you over.”
Faine would wait to disagree with that until they were alone.
Again that nod before she headed upstairs, he followed in her wake. The office building was three stories and held workspaces along with several apartments and a central kitchen. It was where they’d be staying in Sacramento. The last time they were in town, they’d stayed at a hotel, but Helena had decided to keep them at the Gennessee building. All in one place. All locked down like a fortress.
Faine approved. Especially after they’d gone through several checkpoints and he’d noted snipers on rooftops.
“Faine, you can take a few hours’ downtime if you like. I’ll take Caspar with me.”
He simply looked at her. “Let me unpack my things and get the other stuff from the trunk inside. Then we can
“You’re very stubborn.” She unlocked a room and he decided to take the one across the hall. “I’m going to shower and get ready. Meet you out here in forty-five.”
He paused, touching her arm. “If I’m stubborn I could take lessons from you. You’re the one who needs downtime. At least eat.”
Her smile was pale, but there. “Tosh says there’ll be dinner served at the meeting. Shifters will be in attendance so you know it’ll be a huge spread. You really don’t need to come. I’m capable of protecting myself.”
“You most certainly are. But I’ll be there. Protecting you while you protect everyone else. That’s how it works.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back. “See you in forty-five.”
HE’D kissed her forehead. It was . . . startlingly tender. Not patronizing, though she nearly wished it had been. She could have easily resisted patronizing.
The phantom of his touch remained on her skin as she got out of the car at the airfield where the plane carrying Molly and her team had just landed.
She greeted Molly as they got off the plane.
“Just a gentle hug.” Helena smiled. “The bruises are fading. Too bad, you looked like a hard-ass with them.”
Molly grinned. “I did?”
“Totally.”
“You can sign my cast with prison graffiti then. You know, for effect.”
Helena chuckled. “Gotcha. Though I’ll have to look some up on Google. Wouldn’t want to do something that looked tough but really meant,
“I’ve missed you. You look tired though.” Molly’s smile faded into a concerned frown.
“Let’s get you in the car. You can keep lecturing me once we’re behind bulletproof glass.” Helena led them the few feet from the plane to where the cars waited. Faine stood at the door, bowing slightly when he saw Molly. Her friend smiled back, tiptoeing up to kiss his cheek.
Gage shook Faine’s hand and clasped his forearm before sliding into the car next to Molly. “Faine will ride with you. I’ll be in the car just ahead.” She closed the door and moved to the car in front, leading them all from the airfield and back to the Gennessee building.
