Shadow's Pleasure: The Shadow Warder Series, Book Two (A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance Series) (13 page)

“Call off the Sicarius, Alexa,” Kiernan said, no longer casual or relaxed. Alexa sent a pointed glance at Sorcha, then back at Kiernan.

“We’ll talk in my office tomorrow. Privately.”

“No. We’ll talk now. Don’t worry about her.” He moved to face Alexa over the granite countertop strewn with the mail and the groceries she’d brought home. Leaning in and lowering his voice, Kiernan said, “Call off the Sicarius.”

“I can’t,” Alexa replied, her voice quieter than Kiernan’s. Sorcha strained to hear. If Sorcha had been human, she doubted she’d have caught more than a murmur or two. Her empathy enhanced her hearing, but not by much. Holding her breath, Sorcha listened as Alexa went on.

“I didn’t make the assignment. Michael did. I don’t have the authority to countermand a Director’s order.”

“Did you find out who it is?”

“Aiden Mackensie,” she said, her voice flat.

“Fuck. Seriously?”

“Yes. Good luck with that.” Alexa flashed Kiernan a saccharine-sweet smile. “I’m not sure Michael himself could pull Aiden off a target once he’s focused. He scares even me.”

Kiernan turned to pace Alexa’s living room, all semblance of relaxed disregard drained away. Alexa and Sorcha watched him move in agitated jerks unlike his usual fluid grace. To Sorcha’s surprise, Alexa turned to her.

“I know he’s hot, but you’re better off finding someone else to hook up with. It just got very dangerous to be around Kiernan. I’m sure he’ll give you money for a hotel or a bus ticket back to wherever he found you.”

“That’s okay,” Sorcha said, imitating the mountain twang she’d heard from the locals near the Sanctuary. Clearly southern, with sharper edges than a drawl, the accent marked her as a human. Kiernan’s eyes crinkled as he hid his smile. “I think I’ll stick with Kier. So far he’s showin’ me a real good time.”

“Your funeral,” Alexa said with a shrug.

“Do you know anyone who’s worked with Aiden?” Kiernan asked as he swung back to face Alexa over the counter. “I don’t. I only know him by reputation.”

“No,” Alexa said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He sticks with the other Sicari. And my impression is that he’s not very social with them either. Aiden finds his targets, takes them out, and drops off the radar again. As far as I know, only the Directors can contact him.”

“Could you? If you really wanted to, could you get to him?” Kiernan asked, eyes narrowed on Alexa, voice still low, only a bit louder than Alexa’s.

“Possibly,” she answered slowly. “But I’m not sure why I would.”

“What do you want?”

“How far are you willing to go?” Alexa asked. Kiernan crossed his arms over his chest and kept his mouth shut for a long moment. From Alexa, Sorcha felt a shift. Irritation was rapidly draining away, replaced by curiosity and a rising sense of possibility.

“I don’t want a Sicarius after Conner,” Kiernan finally said. “Especially not Aiden. Tell me what you want and I’ll see what I can do.”

“You don’t want him after Conner? What about you?” Alexa tilted her head to the side, studying Kiernan.

His jaw set. Sorcha got the feeling that every moment he spent near Alexa was an exercise in endurance. She couldn’t read his emotions the way she could Alexa’s, but everything about his posture and expression radiated dislike.

“You said I wasn’t a target,” Kiernan said.

“Not officially. But as a known associate, Aiden will come after you. For information, if nothing else.”

“Fine.” Kiernan turned to Sorcha, raising his voice to a normal level. “Let’s go, babe. She’s wasting my time.”

Before Sorcha could stand, Alexa cut in. “Wait,” she said. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. But I don’t know if you can deliver what I want.”

“Try me,” Kiernan said, impatience bristling.

“I want a meet with your Mysterium contact,” Alexa said in a whispered rush, as if the only way she’d get the words out was if she said them fast.

“What Mysterium contact?”

“Please. Now you’re wasting my time. I’ve seen your toys. I know you have an in with one of them. I want an introduction.”

“Why?” Kiernan asked, disbelief all over his face.

“I want training. I’m good with spell craft, but I’ve been restricted from working with any of the mages. The Directors feel it’s counterproductive for me to focus on spell craft when I’m a handler.”

“Your father?” Kiernan guessed.

Sorcha felt a rush of sympathy for Alexa. She knew all about interfering parents. The frustration that welled in Alexa at the mention of her father was so familiar it could have been Sorcha’s own.

“Yes. Can you do it?” A gleam of hope shone in her eyes, making her seem younger, softer.

“Maybe.” Kiernan studied her. “I don’t get you. You’ve always had a stick up your ass. Kissing up to the Directors and generally getting in our way. First you give Hannah to Michael, then you turn around and help her escape. Now you want me to set you up to train with a Mysterium?”

“First,” Alexa said. “I had no idea what Michael was going to do with the Shadow. I was just following protocol. Second, I didn’t really have a choice when I helped her get out. What was I supposed to do? Turn her in? For one, she was a mess. Whatever Michael was up to with her, it was bad. And what would have happened to me if I’d called Michael? That lab was hidden for a reason. Do you think he would have patted me on the head and said ‘Thanks’? I would have ended up dead or locked up. Getting her out was the safest thing for both of us.”

“Now that sounds like the Alexa I know,” he said. “In the end, it’s all about you.”

“Fuck you, Kiernan. Just because you’ve never followed the party line doesn’t mean we all want to be rebels. I may hate being a handler, but I love being a Warder. Part of my job is to obey the Directors. How was I supposed to know Michael was going to hurt the girl? What was he doing with her, anyway?”

“He kidnapped Hannah and three other Shadows with the intent to breed a Shadow-Warder child. Hannah got away, but he’s had an adult Shadow female captive for the last ten months, and he’s been raping her on a regular basis to try to get her pregnant. That’s the Director you’re blindly following.”

The blood drained from Alexa’s face, leaving her chalk white. She leaned back against the kitchen counter, head dropped, studying the floor between her feet. Sorcha didn’t have to reach for Alexa’s emotions to feel her shock. Icy fear bled from her pores. When she raised her head, her eyes were haunted.

“You’re sure?” she asked, her voice thin.

“Yes, I’m sure. Hannah was able to talk to one of the girls.”

“Fuck,” Alexa said. Then she looked at Kiernan and Sorcha with a new light in her eyes. “You’re here to rescue them, aren’t you? And her? She’s going to help?” Alexa gestured to Sorcha, still sitting quietly on the couch.

“Never mind her,” Kiernan said. “She’s not your concern. I’ll take care of the Shadows. All I want is for you to see if you can call off Aiden.”

“If I try, will you set up a meet for me?” she asked, the color seeping back into her face.

“How about if you succeed?”

“No. The likelihood of my actually being able to call off Aiden Mackensie is so slight I’m not even going to put myself at risk by trying unless I get a payoff. All I’m asking for is an introduction.”

“Fine,” Kiernan said, gesturing for Sorcha to get up. “If we survive long enough for me to make the call, I’ll connect you with a Mysterium who might help you. But not until this is over.” At that, he took Sorcha’s hand and led her to the door.

“Wait!” Alexa said. Kiernan turned around. “Your phone’s going to voicemail. Did you toss it?”

“I got a new one,” Kiernan said, opening the door for Sorcha.

“How will I get in touch with you?” Alexa asked.

“You won’t,” Kiernan answered.

They left, the door closing behind them. Only a step away, and the lock turned with a decisive click. Kiernan shifted his hand to cup Sorcha’s elbow and steered her to the elevator at the end of the hall. One visit down. A meal and another meet to go. Then they could start hunting.

By the time they got to the restaurant for dinner, Sorcha was starving. Kiernan ushered her through the door of the bar with a proprietary hand on her back. Sorcha was still getting used to his casual touching. Among the other Shadows, it was known that Sorcha was not to be touched. Other than Steven, who people assumed got a free pass because he was her mentor and another empath, no one presumed to put their hands on her. Even her few lovers had been careful. Not a good trait in that particular circumstance. Kiernan had no such problem.

Every time she turned around, his skin was against hers in one way or another. Holding her hand, resting his fingertips on her shoulder, guiding her around with a light pressure on her back or arm. His touch sent tendrils of warmth that echoed with Kiernan’s specific energy signature. Without his emotions pushing into her, distracting her and forcing her to focus on her shield, the spreading heat set her nerve endings alight. It was both addictive and worrisome. Yet again, she reminded herself they had higher priorities than physical contact. And Kiernan was way out of her league.

As if Sorcha needed a reminder that Kiernan was a few steps beyond her, the hostess at the bar put her in her place. With a squeal of his name, the woman threw herself into his arms. Blond and lush with curves, she didn’t hesitate to press her full breasts into Kiernan’s chest and pout up at him, her glossy red lower lip pooched out in a way that would have been ridiculous if she hadn’t been so gorgeous. In Sorcha’s opinion, it was still a little silly.

“Where have you been?” she asked, wiggling in his arms. “You were going to take me out.”

“Julie,” Kiernan said, giving the woman a squeeze before gently setting her aside. “I had to go out of town on business.”

“Oh.” Her pout melted away and she moved in again, trying to ease her way back into his embrace.

Sorcha didn’t know how he did it, but Kiernan angled his body slightly so Julie had to stay a step back without her realizing she’d been blocked.

Smiling, Julie continued to flirt, “So, now that you’re home, we should hook up.”

“Maybe another time, sweetheart. I brought a good friend with me and we’ll be busy the next few days.” Kiernan’s smile was casual and friendly.

Clearly this woman was one who Kiernan had slept with on more than one occasion. Was she just going to accept his brush-off? Sorcha wasn’t surprised when Julie’s blue eyes turned to her, finally registering that Kiernan wasn’t alone. With one dismissive sweep, Julie catalogued Sorcha and wrote her off. She was so transparent, Sorcha didn’t have to reach very far to hear her thoughts.

She’s nothing special. Too tall, boring clothes, not even wearing makeup. I bet she’s awful in bed. A few nights and Kiernan will be done with her. Just like the others. Then I’ll get him back.

At the other woman’s thoughts, a stab of unease went through Sorcha. What did she mean, boring clothes? Sorcha was wearing her new dark-wash denim skirt and a cute, fitted t-shirt. Maybe she wasn’t wearing spike heels and a skirt that could double as a belt, like Julie, but she looked fine. And she
was
wearing makeup. Not hooker-red lipstick and a pound of mascara, but she’d spent a few minutes with her pencils and tubes—a little liner to bring out her green eyes, some blush for her pale cheeks.

After her initial reaction, Sorcha let her defensive thoughts slip away. Julie was right. And wrong. Right in that, compared to Julie’s overblown, obvious sexuality, Sorcha was no match. And, with her limited experience, Sorcha couldn’t compete with Julie in the sexual Olympics. Wrong in her assumption that Sorcha and Kiernan were even together that way. It wasn’t going to happen. Especially now that she was face to face with one of his conquests.

Deflated, Sorcha let herself admit that, in the back of her mind, she’d been thinking about sleeping with Kiernan. Even looking forward to it. The anticipation had been fizzing in her blood, threatening to overflow each time he touched her. Now, Sorcha felt strangely flat. She looked away from Julie’s somewhat vacant smile, barely noticing as Kiernan led her to a high-backed wooden booth. She needed to focus on the mission. She was there to find Caerwyn and the girls, not to hook up with a Warder.

She did little more than glance at the menu. Bar food was bar food. She hadn’t been out of the world long enough for that to change. When she’d worked in the field, she and Keeley had frequented a place just like this one. Relaxed, more bar than restaurant, but with a crowd that mixed young and old. Not a club or a pick-up spot. Just a laid-back place to grab a few beers and a good meal. It reassured Sorcha’s bruised ego that, in truth, Sorcha’s casual clothes and light makeup fit in far better here than Julie’s high heels and red lips. Still, Sorcha’s subconscious reminded her, Julie was the one who wouldn’t be sleeping alone tonight. If not with Kiernan, the hostess would find another target. Most men wouldn’t turn down a night with the very attractive blond.

Too late to hide her drifting mind, Sorcha realized Kiernan had been speaking to her. “Sorry, what?” she said.

“Do you know what you want to eat?” Kiernan asked in a patient tone that told her it wasn’t the first, or second time he’d asked.

“Yeah.”

Sorcha watched him lift his head and lock eyes with a woman across the room. Wearing tight jeans and a tank top with the bar’s logo, this one wasn’t obvious like the hostess, but she had a definite swing in her step as she approached Kiernan. Sorcha tried not to look into her surface thoughts. Eavesdroppers so rarely heard what they wanted to. When the waitress slid into the booth beside Kiernan and smiled up at him, Sorcha gave in to the irresistible tug and dipped her talent into the woman’s upper mind.

Too bad Kier has company. I wouldn’t mind letting him take me home tonight. Oh well, he’ll be back on his own another time.

At least this one didn’t have unflattering thoughts for Sorcha. She hadn’t spared a thought for Kiernan’s dinner partner except that Sorcha’s presence meant Kiernan wouldn’t be looking for a bed partner. The flat feeling became a heavy weight in her stomach. Kiernan had been upfront with her about not doing relationships. Of course he slept with women. And they didn’t seem to have a problem with him spreading himself around.