Page 123 of Sight of Fate

Susan steps forward. “We’ll send out an email when it’s safe to come back, so check your inboxes.”

Teague dismisses everyone and turns toward us. “Call me if you need anything, and don’t let her out of your sight.” He bends down and places a sweet kiss on my lips.

Andros nods. “We’ll make sure everyone is out of the building and catch up with you this afternoon.” The crowd thins out, and he presses a protective hand to my back as we head to the elevator. “Why don’t we go to your office first and gather what you need?”

“Sounds good,” I tell him.

Sam’s waiting in my office when we get there. “The last thing I want to do is leave you in the lurch, but I’m leaving town to be closer to Covey’s place. I don’t want to get stuck here and not be able to reach her. But the good news is the software is ready. I can push it live before I leave.”

“The marketing and promotional efforts won’t be ready until later this week,” I murmur. “Let me ask Teague.”

Sam is leaving town, but she says the software is ready. Marketing and promotional campaigns are still being finalized, though. What do you want to do?

Soft launch. Go live. It’s more important to get the new system out there. We can always promote later.

“Teague says go live,” I tell her, and she lets out a huge sigh of relief.

“I’ll send an email when it’s up and running,” she says.

“Please text me when Covey is safe,” I plead. “I’m really worried about her.”

She smiles. “Will do.”

After she’s gone, I grab my computer as well as Teague’s in case he wants to check anything. Then I turn to Andros. “I’m good.”

As we’re headed to Andros’ office, Aaron comes striding down the hall, anger on his face. “Sam told me the new system is going live today. That isn’t your call to make. Without marketing, we’re going to fall flat on our face. Not that you care, because you’re not the one who’s going to get blamed for the failure. And because you’re their ‘mate’, you can’t be fired regardless of what poor decisions you make.”

Shock holds me immobile.

What’s going on? Teague’s voice comes in clear.

Andros shoves him up against the wall. “Who the fuck do you think you are, speaking to her in that tone? For your information, Teague made the call to go live. But you’re right about one thing; she won’t get fired for making a poor decision, but you will. Get your things and go home. We’ll discuss this with Susan when we return.”

Aaron’s upset about the software going live without the marketing to promote it. It’s fine. Andros is taking care of it.

Knowing Macklin felt it too, I send the information to both of them so they’ll know it’s not a big deal.

Aaron pales and scrambles away when Andros releases him.

I take a shaky breath and hug my stuff to my chest. “He’s the marketing lead on the project. I should have called and told him.”

“Don’t,” Andros grits out. “He could have approached this in a professional manner and asked for more information instead of ambushing you. It’s my fault he’s pissed. He only attacked you because you’re an easier target.” A muscle tics in his jaw. “Let’s go.”

Minutes later, we’re striding into his office, and I plop down into a chair and fan myself. He’s still fuming.

“It’s not that big of a deal. Really.”

His caramel-brown eyes flash with anger. “It’s a big fucking deal. Twice today you’ve been ambushed, and I couldn’t stop either of them.” He paces back and forth, his hands curled into fists.

“You can’t protect me all the time,” I protest. “Nobody can.”

He stops. “Teague and Macklin know when you’re in danger. They hear you through the connection. Feel your fear. I don’t.”

“Do vampires hear each other once the bond is in place?”

“No, but they can feel each other’s emotions if they’re strong enough,” he says, squatting down next to me. “I’d know when you were in danger.”

“Okay,” I drawl, knowing I’m missing something. “We haven’t talked about bonding. Do you want to bond?”