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 I love you, Connor said, completely taken with his mate. With her back to him, she hesitated.
 I know. Bedroom? she asked again. Connor s eyes narrowed.
 Upstairs only bedroom on the left. She took headed up the stairs and disappeared behind his
bedroom door.
Connor fought down his anger. His mate had agreed to be claimed but her heart wasn t fully
vested yet. She agreed to the claiming to satisfy the demands her body was making on her. He was
going to have to up his game to get his wildcat to surrender to him completely. He ran a hand over his
jaw and discovered three-day-old stubble. She did have a point about appearance.
He took advantage of the time she was using to get ready to change. He opened the bedroom
door and went to his closet. In the back, hanging on the left were his old suits. He had a naïve hope
that he would never have to wear them again, trading them in for his apron. He should have known
better.
He got changed and stared at the man in the mirror. His shoes were polished and gleamed with a
mirror like surface. His black suit made his designer white shirt look crisp and clean. He decided not
to wear the tie or shave, it gave him a rougher look. Finally he looped his arm through his leather,
over the shoulder gun holster. He opened his gun safe and loaded his weapon. By the time he had the
gun in the holster and his jacket on, his mate was walking out of the bathroom.
Her hair looked dark brown wet, but he knew it would warm up to the auburn color as it dried.
She wore pearl earrings and necklace, simple and elegant, and a simple black dress that fit her curvy
body perfectly. Over the stunning black number she added a gray blazer. She went with a black kitten
heel but dropped a pair of stilettos in a small overnight bag along with a shimmery ivory shrug. He
liked that without even saying anything to each other, they had both planned for any eventuality,
including a high-power dinner with the commander later. He smiled and stalked toward her.
When she looked up and saw him walking toward him, her mouth opened and closed repeatedly.
He raised an eyebrow.
 What? he asked.
 You look completely different. I mean I thought you were sexy before rocking the country look,
but in that suit. Her eyes filled with lust. Showing great restraint, he shook his head.
 Later, honey. Let s hit the road. He winked and couldn t help the swagger he added to his step.
 Bastard. He heard her murmur. He was feeling on top of the world until she said,  Just so you
know. My panties are coming off at some point this evening before we get back. They may or may not
end up in your pocket. She walked past him carrying her bag.
 Son of a bitch. He groaned and she laughed.
* * * *
When they got to the tall corporate-looking building in Brighton, Connor easily maneuvered his
truck through the underground parking garage taking a reserved parking spot. He dug into the console
and pulled out his swipe badge ID. Attaching it to his belt, he got out and went around to open the
door for his mate.
 First stop is the front desk to get you a badge, he said. She smiled and waved a small piece of
white plastic at him.
 I have one from when I filed a complaint about my sister s disappearance. I showed up so often
they got tired of issuing me a visitor s badge. She clipped hers to her blazer.
 Let s go, he said, taking her hand. They walked through the building until they came to a set of
large glass double doors. Using his badge, he swiped to unlock the door and they continued through.
 Whoo-hoo Arkadion, whatcha got there? a male voice called.
 She sure is a hot piece. You sharing? Another laughed.
He clenched his fists and looked down at his mate. He didn t want to assume she couldn t
handle herself, but he didn t want to let this shit go unchecked either. She looked up at him and her
eyes softened. He knew he had made the correct decision.
 Nice to meet you. I m Madison Claybourne-Arkadion. I m sure you remember me from my last
visit, though I find it hard to believe that you two have gone through the sexual harassment training I
recommended. I m sure the council will be interested to hear that, she said, her voice taking on a
sarcastic, hard edge.
 Claybourne? one asked.
 Arkadion? The other stared at her.
 Gentlemen, allow me to introduce my mate. I m sure there won t be any problems going
forward, will there? he asked, letting a low growl rumble through the large open office. All
conversations stopped and everyone turned to stare at him.
 Arkadion, is that you? Who pissed the bear off? an older man s voice asked. Connor watched
as Griffin stepped out of a side room and looked around until he saw him.
 Get your ass in here boy. Bring your mate. Griffin turned and went back into a large
conference room. Connor turned to Madison.
 We have been summoned, he said, grinning. He took her hand and walked to the conference
room. He held the door open and closed it behind them. There were two other men besides Griffin
seated around a large table. Connor eyed Gary Wendall wearily. He had dealt with the Agency
director before, he didn t like the man. The second man was Jeffrey Davidson, the council s most
trusted representative to appear when they could not. He had their complete trust to speak on matters.
He had met Davidson before in passing, so he had no idea why the man was with them now.
Gracefully, Madison took a seat and Connor sat beside her.
 First off, congratulations on your mating. I m sorry to call you away, but we had another body
pop up this one practically on our front door step. It was Stanton. The bastard took out one of our
own, Griffin said, and Connor clenched his fists. He had worked with Stanton. He was a laid-back
lion shifter who had been lucky enough to mate with a rare female lion shifter. They had three cubs.
 Stacy? he asked.
 Grieving. She wanted to know who was working the case and was shocked when your name
wasn t mentioned. She seems to have the opinion that if you had been there her mate would still be
alive. Griffin said watching Connor closely.
 I ve worked with Stanton before, we got along well together. She s right. If you had called me
in before this, he may still be alive. So let s cut the shit, gentlemen. Why in the fuck did you wait
nearly four months before calling me? Not a high enough body count? Connor asked bitterly.
 There is reason to believe that the killer is a vampire. Your loyalties would have been divided,
seeing as how you are living with the blood suckers. The wolf shifter sitting across from Connor
spat.
 Fuck you, Wendall. Gabriel and his coven saved Arkadia this summer by freely donating their
own blood so that shifters would live. My loyalties lie where they have always been, in finding the
truth and stopping monsters, Connor said, barely holding his anger in check. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]