His Witch To Keep (Keepers of the Veil) (8 page)

“He’s not the one for you, Serenity. No previous Pleiad has ever been matched to a man who is not druid. It’s not possible. Death reapers are not allowed a family. They walk their path alone. That is part of their duty, at least according to the witch.”

Something deep and dark uncurled itself in her chest. It screamed denial of that edict. It wanted to attack whoever decreed such in order, and to do whatever necessary to make it be possible. This was bad. She forced a deep breath and ignored the ongoing surge of aggression. Alexi’s life must be long and lonely, if his sole directive forced him to kill. No friends. No children. He wasn’t a creature. He was a man. A passionate and overprotective asshole, but just a guy forced into solitude.

Had to stay objective. This was confirmation he couldn’t be her destined. Now she needed help to break the inadvertent bond she’d forged with him more than ever. But she also needed his help with her sister. What a mess.

Sister first. Afterward, she’d deal with Alexi.

She rose. “If you’d excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

As she rose, Bryce asked, “Tell me that creature isn’t your destined.”

She froze. “He’s a man, not an animal or a creature. Like me, he was screwed by the gods into becoming something I doubt he would’ve chosen had he been given an option. Even so, I am well aware he cannot be my destined. Don’t worry.”

“Does he threaten you or protect you?” He had risen to follow her to the door.

She glanced back to him. “Protect.”

“How often has he
protected
you?” Bryce asked.

Her hand on the doorknob, her head sagged. “Many times.”

“Oh, hell,” he cursed. “Did you sleep with him?”

She scowled and yanked open the door.

Matt massaged his forehead and stepped into her path. “This is the last straw, Serenity. You’re not leaving without an escort. You are not doing this crazy shit anymore. We must assume your house is compromised. Eli told me about Liz earlier. We’ll get your sister out of wherever she may be, but you will not deal with this any longer. You’ll go to a safe place until we figure out why someone’s so focused on you.” He blew out a long sigh. “I’ll bet it’s your past in MI6. That job choice was a bad idea. Eli was right.”

“Eli never said that to me.” She glanced to Eli, who remained passed out.

“He wouldn’t. Not to your face. He’s never been able to stop you.” Matt’s face was a giant question mark, silently asking if she and Eli were destined.

She wasn’t getting into that discussion right now. “Is he okay?”

“He took almost all I had to give and he lost a lot of blood, but I think he’s going to be fine.”

She squeezed Matt’s arm. “Thanks for saving him.”

The penthouse’s front door flew open to admit a Viking-esque druid who specialized in telekinesis. Shane. Serenity rocked back on her feet as distaste coiled in her stomach.

Shane nodded in greeting to the men. When his cold steel gaze landed on her, a maniacal hatred simmered in the air between them. Why did no one else ever detect this? He’d been assigned to her protection a few years ago when Eli had followed her into MI6 and was less available for day-to-day oversight. Shane spent more time leering and stalking her than protecting her. She’d volunteered for more away ops to avoid the one too many
accidental
moments when he brushed against her to cop a feel or wandered into her bedroom when she was half dressed. His creepy lust pinnacled in a London pub. He forgot her dossier when he forced his tongue into her mouth, which she promptly bit and then broke his arm. She’d wanted to do much worse. She’d been tempted, but his childlike scream when she popped his forearm provided satisfaction enough. She’d made it clear to Shane if he ever touched her again, she’d kill him.

“I didn’t know you’d be here. I was looking for you. We need to talk,” Shane said to her.

Serenity’s eyebrows shot upward. “About what?” She bit back
asshole
.

Kat appeared at her side, scowling but obviously ready to protect her, if needed.

“I can’t get ahold of Liz. She stood me up two nights ago. That’s…not like her.”

“Right. I forgot you two are sleeping together. Maybe this is her way of breaking up.”
Couldn’t have one sister. So you went for other.
Serenity had tried to warn Liz about him. Liz had flipped her off and yelled something about stealing everything from her.

“Why are you here, Shane?” Matt asked. Serenity recognized Matt’s icy gaze as warning he was pissed. “Why didn’t you knock before entering?”

“Bryce never cared if I knocked. This isn’t your place. I wanted to tell Bryce that I can’t contact Liz. It’s a bonus Serenity is here. I think something happened to Liz. Have either of you heard from her?”

Serenity crossed her arms over her chest and stared meaningfully at Matt. She wasn’t discussing anything with Shane in the same building. The asshole wasn’t getting into her business.

Matt said, “You better go, Shane. We’ll keep our ears open about Liz.”

Shane stalked toward Serenity. “Where is she? Is she in danger?”

“Get out of my breathing space,” Serenity warned.

Shane pleaded, “Please. Tell me she’s okay. If she doesn’t want to see me anymore, then that’s fine. Just have her email me or something.”

Serenity tensed, ready for attack. His distress seemed real, but he was good at deception. She focused to hold her position and not step backward when he towered over her.

Kat said, “I suggest you leave, Shane. Try emailing or texting Liz. You push Serenity and it’ll be embarrassing when she hurts you.”

Kat took a step between Serenity and Shane. She met Shane’s furious gaze and ordered, “Get. Out.”

Shane’s eyes widened. He massaged his head. “Just tell her to call me.” He pivoted and left.

“He’s off Pleiades protection,” Matt said. “I’m not putting him back on duty until he gets his anger issues under control. You okay, Serenity?”

She nodded.

Matt asked Kat, “Did you do your coercion thing on him, sweetheart?”

Kat’s shoulder rose and fell. “Maybe.”

Matt wrapped an arm around Kat’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. He whispered, “I missed you earlier today. A lot.”

She gazed up with adoration. “Missed you, too. My ankles are huge.”

“I told you not to dance.”

Kat frowned. “Don’t you dare boss me around. I didn’t dance, thank you. We had tea and talked. Riley isn’t just my dance partner. He’s my best friend.”

Serenity needed time to think without everyone staring at her. “I need to use the bathroom for a moment.”

Matt’s gaze narrowed, indicating he wasn’t done. He inclined his head up the hallway.

The bathroom was smaller than she’d expected. The fixtures might’ve been more expensive than anything in her whole house, but the small, stuffy space reeked of air freshener and didn’t inspire a long stay. She lowered the toilet lid to sit, scrolled on her cell, and tapped on Dangerous Guy.

Alexi’s deep voice answered on the first ring. “Are you healed?”

The comfort of hearing his voice swept warmth through her, followed swiftly by frustration. Less than fifteen minutes had passed since she’d seen him. She was not a clingy, gooey sort of girl. “Yes. They plan to lock me away and throw away the key. Somewhere safe and likely never to be heard from again.” She waited for his offer.

Only silence met her until he finally said, “You must ask me,
ragana
.”

She gritted her teeth, hating that even in this he’d dictate an order to her. “Will you help me?”

“Yes.”

“Swear to me your plan is not to lock me into some prison.” She held her breath, awaiting his answer.

“Meet me in an hour and a half. Dress black tie. And be a redhead. I assume you can find me.”

Adrenaline and excitement surged through her system. “Pick somewhere safe for me to…pop in.” She hung up. Was he taking her on a date? Or working? A redhead was one of her op personas. She’d give anything to be on an organized mission again. The thrill of a team. His team. She grinned.

A soft knock tapped against the door. “It’s me. Kat. The boys are…busy helping Eli calm down now that he’s awake. Eli is a wreck about you and, well, everything.”

Serenity cracked the door. “Is he okay?”

“He’s worried about you. They’re all worried about you.” Kat cocked her head and frowned. “You’re going to that guy, aren’t you? That assassin who shot two of his own OLM acquisitions team to enable us to escape last year.”

Kat could read her mind. So it wasn’t worth lying. “He’s the only one I trust can help me right now. I’m pretty sure there’s a druid traitor selling me out.”

“Are you sure about him? Alexi, isn’t it?”

She shrugged. “I don’t have many options. I’m not allowing Matt to lock me away. Alexi drives me nuts, but right now…he’s the more attractive choice.” On multiple levels.

“Do you think he might be the one for you?”

“Your mind reading thing is…it’s tough to keep anything from you.”

“I’m on your side. I won’t share our conversation. It’s sisterhood first. Boys second.” She reached through the cracked door and gripped Serenity’s hand. “I’m worried. He seemed so dark. And he wasn’t really that nice to you. He threatened to shoot you last year, and then you fought him. You kicked his ass, but still…”

Kat withdrew her hand and glanced up the hallway.

Yeah, Kat had witnessed one of their more aggressive encounters. He hadn’t hurt anything other than her pride. “I’m not sure of anything other than he keeps saving my life. Today is the third time in the past week. I know we wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t shown up.”

“Please, be careful. I’m here for you. We all are. The girls, that is. Well, I can’t speak for Charlotte. She intimidates the crap out of me. Maybe it’s because she’s so much older than the rest of us. Fair warning…I think the boys will go off the deep end when you leave.”

“Thanks. I just can’t be locked up, which is pretty much where my life is headed.”

Kat snort laughed. “They can’t keep you here just because they want to. You can pop away at will.”

“I wouldn’t put it past them to come up with some ancient spell that puts me in a coma or something. When Charlotte and Bryce join forces…believe me, it can get bad. Can you help them not go too crazy when I leave? I’ll figure out what’s going on with my sister being kidnapped and who the traitor is.”

“Okay. But if you need me, just call.” Kat flashed a tight smile.

She focused on hopping to her alternate dimension.

Chapter Seven

S
erenity applied deep red lipstick and rubbed her lips together. She adjusted the spaghetti shoulder strap of the long black gown and smiled at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The gown hugged her body’s curves yet allowed easy flexibility. And hid weapons. She wanted to entice Alexi. This dress was perfect. She smiled into the mirror.

This was about getting his help to rescue Liz and figure out how to break the inadvertent bond she’d forged with him. Tempting him to take her to bed was icing on the cake.

The shoulder-length auburn wig added elegance and complimented her skin, but her natural red was brighter.

Showtime.

She swiped her Glock off the counter and tucked it into her thigh holster. Anticipation and thrill roared in her blood. She rolled her wrist to confirm on her silver watch that it’d been exactly an hour and a half.

Focusing on Alexi, she transitioned back to his dimension. Immediately, she went invisible and started the silent countdown to vision. She sensed another presence and tensed. Shift blindness left her susceptible to attack.

“It’s me,” he rumbled as if she’d vocalized her question aloud. His large masculine body enfolded her in an embrace. “You don’t have to be invisible.”

“Give me a moment. Can’t see.” She dropped invisibility.

The heat of his body warmed her. “I don’t like that this blindness leaves you vulnerable. I am surprised none of your enemies figured this out.”

“Are you threatening to tell them?”

“They can figure it out for themselves. Just don’t make an enemy of me.” She detected a smile in his threat.

His arousal pressed against her, strong and full and unapologetic. As his addictive scent surrounded and overwhelmed her, she realized she could stay here forever. Her skin tightened, and her nipples ached. Dampness flashed between her legs. Damn it. He was the only one supposed to get turned on. Not her.

“Where are we?” Her voice came out breathy.
Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three.
Vision. She popped her lids open and squinted upward at him. Right into his seductive green eyes.

His gaze leisurely rose from her lips. Heat scorched from his eyes. “Beautiful dress.”

Her heart hammered. “Thank you.”

Self-preservation demanded she move. But she didn’t. His strong arms alluded to a protection and safety she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She liked being wrapped in his heat.

He chuckled, a rich sound she rarely heard from him and suspected didn’t come often. His lips were inches from hers. Her brain again ordered she move backward, but her body disobeyed and pushed her to close that gap between their lips. The war in her head kept her ramrod tense.

“Relax. We’re not doing that…right now. I wouldn’t want to ruin your lipstick.”

Right now. That implied—

She backed out of his arms. The generic, relatively empty conference room provided no details to identify her location. Based on the large panel window and the city lights at night, this was an upper floor of a skyscraper.

Alexi’s humor disappeared as he smoothed his expensive tuxedo jacket. “I have a little business this evening. I thought you might need a break from being the target.”

She bit her lip against a smile as excitement squeezed her stomach. “You needed a woman?”

“I usually work alone but thought you might make this more efficient.” His gaze slid over her. “And interesting.”

Warmth suffused her body. “I’m flattered. Is this prepayment for your help?”

His forehead crinkled and then smoothed over. “You asking for help is payment enough. This is work. Unavoidable. And now you are here.”

“Who are you working for? The OLM? The Russians? I’d like to know who I’m helping.”

He stared at her as if contemplating how much in the know he’d allow. “None of them.”

Either a death reaper thing or a private contract. “Is someone going to die?”

He met her gaze. “That’s what I do.”

“Do I get to watch you kill your target?” She wanted to. Was it wrong it excited her to see him when he sucked the breath or soul out of his evil victims?

“Perhaps. If you play your part well. Give me your cell.” He held out his open palm.

She removed it from her cleavage and handed it over. He popped the SIM card out of the back and smashed it and the phone beneath a foot. She gasped but bit back the string of curses burning the back of her throat.

He tossed the plastic bits into a covered trash can. He met her gaze with a silent challenge and advanced on her. “Someone knows an awful lot about you. Why not assume your electronics are compromised?”

She backed up a step.

“You can’t keep your gun. I don’t want you shooting someone tonight. I will be the only one killing.” His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush to his body again. He backed her against the edge of the conference table and slid the hem of her dress upward, his fingers trailing along the inside of her thigh. She bit back a groan at the erotic sensations. His eyes smoldered with answering heat. She rolled her pelvis against his arousal. He sucked in a sudden breath. With one swift move he unlatched her holster. His fingers disappeared. He stepped away.

“Fine.” Disappointment flared. She detested his control when her heart was racing and her body begged for his continued touch. The fact she couldn’t handle him like she could everyone else in her life pissed her off. Only this man could shake her.

“I’ll give your gun back to you later.” He waved her holster in the air. “Did you bring a bag to put this in?”

She shook her head.

He shrugged and tossed it into the covered trash can and placed her gun inside his tuxedo jacket. She wanted to dive into that trash can and retrieve the holster. She’d spent months searching for one comfortable and easily camouflaged, but she could get another one.

With one hand on the door handle, he held out his opposite hand in a silent order. She took the outstretched hand, mentally promising he’d pay for tossing her holster. He led her toward an elevator. The emblem on the mirrored elevator doors was that of a well-known New York hotel. He released her hand and punched the down button.

“You’re a Greek god’s descendant, too?” she asked softly.

His eyes widened. He met her gaze for an instant and then resumed his stare at the elevator doors. “You must have spoken with Bryce. I know he consulted with Camille a few years ago.”

“Who’s Camille?” She despised the jealousy tingeing her tone.

He turned toward her. His lips tugged upward. “I like you jealous.”

“Who the hell is Camille?”

“The witch Bryce consulted with. She and I used to…we saw each other off and on for a while.”

“A fuck buddy?”

“So crude.” He ran a finger over her scorching cheeks, pausing to touch her jaw and then tracing the chain of her necklace into her cleavage. “Jealousy makes you beautiful.”

She batted away his hand. “Stop being an ass.”

“I haven’t slept with her…or anyone, since you.”

She rolled her eyes. “That makes me feel so much better.”

“Did Bryce warn you about me?”

“You seem to leave a lasting impression on most people that isn’t good.”

His expression darkened. The corner of his lips twitched upward, ruining his attempt at serious. “I am dangerous.”

She shot him a sarcastic double eyebrow raise. Really? “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Why haven’t you been sleeping well for the past few months?” he asked.

She wanted to hit him. Always deflection. Why couldn’t he answer one direct question? “You irritate the shit out of me when you don’t answer my questions.”

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“You’ve been watching me sleep?” That should creep her out. Instead, it thrilled her.

He stared at her intently in silence.

She should evade, but given the stubborn turn of his lips, she wouldn’t win this one. It wasn’t worth the fight. “I’ve always had trouble sleeping in this dimension.” That was true enough. She wouldn’t admit the insomnia had worsened since their night together. Every time she shut her eyes, she dreamed of him.

“Always?” he asked softly as the elevator dinged, signaling its ascent toward them. “You slept well eight months ago.”

“That was atypical.” With him, for the first time since she’d been a teenager, she’d conked out in this dimension for over four hours. She’d attributed it to exhaustion, but with him her brain hadn’t been working overtime to resolve problems and handle nighttime panic over impending attacks. She’d experienced the bliss of peace she normally only experienced in her other dimension. “I slept better before my parents died. Before I was taken.”

His face hardened. “Before the OLM captured you?”

She nodded.

He touched her chin. “You knew no one could get to you as long as I was there.”

Her heart nearly stopped. “But you left.”

“I ensured you were safe the entire time.”

Her heart squeezed to know he’d cared to make sure. But that didn’t make it right. He’d still abandoned her. Naked. “We’re not doing
that
again. I’m not interested. This is about you helping me resolve my problem.”

Alexi pressed into her. Her back hit the closed elevator doors. He lifted her and moved his thighs between hers, pushing the black stretchy dress fabric up to her ass. His arousal pressed tight between her legs, against the thin fabric of her underwear. The ding of the elevator threatened an awkward backward fall if they didn’t move away quickly.

The hardness pressed against the miniscule fabric of her panties rushed anticipation through her body.

“We could go there right now.” He moved his mouth close to hers. Each breath from him tickled her lips. “You would beg me to make you scream.”

She wanted to deny it but couldn’t vocalize out of fear she’d do exactly that.

He whispered, “Don’t ever lie. Not about this.”

She struggled to slow her racing heart and ignore the surge of lust powering through her blood. She managed a small head nod.

He rolled a slow pelvic circle. “Admit you want me.”

Her knees locked around his hips. She rested her hand against his chest. His rapid heartbeat pounded against her hand. His exterior might reflect icy control, but his heart rate reassured her he wanted this just as much as she.

“Admit it.” He pumped between her legs.

Her head fell back with a moan. He kissed her neck.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Not here.” His kissing ended near her ear. He slid her downward against his body and cupped her ass a few seconds longer than necessary. “I am sorry about leaving you in Bulgaria.”

She stumbled away, heart pumping hard. “Why did you leave?”

“I had a Chinese NSB agent getting too close and didn’t want to risk you being linked to me. Even now, we shouldn’t…” He released a frustrated sigh. “Hell, I should not have asked you to help tonight. Do you understand the potential consequences if anyone puts us together?” He glanced at the elevator numbers, which had paused on a lower floor.

She waited for him to continue. God, she loved the excitement of an impending job. She hadn’t been this enthused since she was forced to quit MI6. But ethically she was only able to condone assassination when the victim was evil. She worried this was a contract kill.
That
she wasn’t sure she could do.

He glanced her way. “I have taken as many precautions as possible to avoid you becoming linked to me while here. If I fail, you could be identified as a connection to the Shadow, someone to use as my potential weakness.”

“But you don’t have any weaknesses.”

“I have one.” He glanced at her.

Oh, God. She liked being his weakness.

“Try not to…just be careful tonight.”

“If you’re so worried, then why invite me along?”

“I know you missed this. I wanted…” His gaze darted away.

Her heart flip-flopped. He knew she missed this. “Did you plant the false information on me being loony that got me kicked out of MI6?”

“Shit.” He massaged his forehead.

“You did, damn it. Why? I was good at that job. You know I was good.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” he said.

“Try me.”

He sighed and glanced heavenward. “You are good. But they planned to send you on a mission to South Korea based on bad intelligence.” His tortured gaze met hers. “It was guaranteed suicide for the British agents. I saw no other way to keep you from going.”

The mission in which Eli got his facial scar. “Did you consider actually telling me before destroying my career?”

“Would you have believed anything I said? This was right after Bulgaria.”

She ground her teeth together. “I really want to punch you right now. Maybe even break your nose.” She rolled her eyes upward, seeking calm. “But I won’t because I like this dress.” Was he smiling? She punched him in the chest, enjoying his surprised groan. “You fucked up my life. What kind of asshole does that?”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He glanced at the elevator numbers. “You don’t have to do this tonight. This is your choice. I won’t be responsible for fucking up your life again. You are very good at what we’re about to do, but this is your choice.”

She was on board. “Let’s do this. What’s the job?”

Relief flashed in his gaze.

With a glance past his shoulders, she looked for cameras.

He said, “I made sure nothing can record us. Our target is Thaksin Hashwani.” The elevator doors opened.

She stumbled behind him into the elevator, shocked. “Hashwani? He’s…untouchable. MI6 tried to get a reason to go after him, but they had no more than suspicions about his links to several terrorist plots. He’s politically connected everywhere, and he’s insanely well protected.”

“He’s not a terrorist.”

“Who wants him dead? Who hired you?” She needed him to confide in her this had to do with him being a death reaper, as she suspected. If there was one evil soul that needed to go to hell, it was this terrorist.

Alexi’s face glazed over into an expressionless mask. He gazed at the elevator doors as they descended. “Suffice it to say his time is up.”

“If he’s not a terrorist, then what is he?”