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A burst of energy tickled up Riaz’s spine as he scrutinized the location, and the alpha instantly identified it as a Raeth’s gift at work.
“He’s asleep, tucked up cozily in his bedroom,” Remmus cocked his head. “I can access his phone from here.”
“What if he wakes and he’s one of those people who checks their phone first thing in the morning? Won’t he realize something’s going on and raise the alarm?”
“Nah, just call me Mr. Sandman; I’ve put him even further under. For the next three hours, it’d be easier for him to turn into a mewling housecat than wake up.”
The nip of Remmus’ energy lingered in the air around them, a static electricity that buzzed and burned against his sensitive skin. Gritting his teeth, Riaz blended further into the dense bush where they’d concealed themselves.
They’d deposited Gadriel at the den before making their way here, knowing it’d be harder to conceal three large males than two.
“There’s nothing, Riaz.” Disappointment laced Remmus’ voice. “A curt email from his boss stating his services were no longer needed.” He whistled, long and low. “Hefty severance package that included a strongly worded non-disclosure agreement, though. Our boy here isn’t gonna talk to anyone anytime soon.”
Riaz cursed under his breath and checked his watch. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this, but Drake is probably already asleep for the day.”
Remmus teleported them both back into the den’s great hall. Once more at home, Riaz breathed a sigh of relief to be among his pack.
“Who knows,” Remmus said, “our lovely lady Toni might be able to wake him up.”
Speaking of the sweet and bubbly devil, she appeared to their right with a concerned look. “Wake who up?”
“Drake.”
“We need to speak with him about the plant.” Riaz locked eyes with the strawberry blonde. “They cleared out several hours ago and—”
“Riaz!”
The screech caught him off guard. Riaz turned, frowning, as Renata scurried up to him. “I’m so glad you’ve sent that awful vampire away, that you’ve seen her for what she is! She was—”
“Enough, Renata!” He warned, instantly putting the more submissive she-wolf on the hind foot. “Stop speaking about Cortana like she’s evil incarnate—I’ve had enough of this!”
Tears misted in Renata’s eyes when she recoiled, her features twisting in hurt and bewilderment before she pivoted on her feet and ran sobbing from the great hall in a mess of blubbers and wails.
Good riddance.
Chapter Thirty-One
Guilt weighed heavily on Cortana’s shoulders. She’d lashed out at Riaz even though he hadn’t deserved it. He’d toed the line, and her automatic reaction had been to strike back, no matter how hard. Every venomous word had been a double-edged sword—what hurt him was cast back on her.
Riaz threatened to undo centuries of building a structure to contain the wildness within her. Scheduling everything in her life meant she had control. He’d shown her how to step free of that rigid, dark prison—and she’d had fun for the first time in centuries. It scared her.
She was the coward.
Regardless of her earlier conversation with Toni, she had been overcome with fear over tying herself to someone she could hurt. She had never expected someone to enter her life that could rock the very structure of her existence, like he did. While trying to avoid future pain, she had caused him present suffering. It was clear how much her words had affected him.
It’d be a wonder if he ever agreed to speak to her again.
Cortana’s tears tracked down her face. When Remmus had left her, she’d been alone in her quarters. The silence, full of broken promises, was the loudest it had ever been. The moment she’d opened her laptop, hundreds of emails, missed appointments, and tasks leapt out at her. Where she anticipated finding solace in her strict control once more, she found only a stifling, honor-bound duty.
Her heart was no longer in it, and she knew it. Cortana belonged in a picturesque mountain town, running alongside wolves, and wrapped in the arms of an alpha that challenged her, understood her—and loved her.
She’d slipped out of the House and disappeared into the city streets, walking the now-crowded sidewalks. Before she returned, she’d have to make sure the emotions wouldn’t breach the mask she wore.
By all rights, professionalism demanded she seek an audience with Drake and update him on her failed mission, but weariness had rifled through her bones and her mind was an ambiguous haze.
Tonight, when she’d have her wits about her, she would explain the shameful breech of protocol and where she’d gone so disastrously wrong.
Cortana would explain that the werewolf alpha had welcomed her with open arms, stirred feelings thought long-dead within her, and attempted to woo her with endearing tokens of affection. And then, at every turn, she’d calmly justify why she lashed out at him with sarcasm and spite, throwing his every kindness back in his face, and eventually blowing up at him when he happened to pick up her comb.
