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“I think Commander Sylven’s office is this way,” he said, pointing. “Come on—I’ll show you some of the Mother Ship as we go.”
“Thanks.” Mia flashed him a rare smile and Sev gave her one back. He valued this emotional connection between them. Even a few months ago it wouldn’t have happened and Mia would have insisted on getting down from the shuttle herself instead of accepting his help.
He wondered if the growth in their personal relationship was because she’d finally lost the dead weight around her neck—her ex-husband, who was a complete asshole in Sev’s opinion. It felt like things had shifted between them the night she’d signed the divorce papers…
But maybe not. At any rate, he needed to concentrate on getting them through the vast maze that was the Mother Ship in order to make their important meeting on time.
“Come on,” he told Mia. “This way.” And off they went.
TWO
MIA
Mia walked as fast as her short legs could go, noticing as she did that Sev was considerately shortening his stride so she could keep up with him. He was a good guy, her tall partner—and surprisingly emotionally intelligent for a male who looked like a seven-foot-tall demon come to drag you down to the depths of Hell itself.
They got second glances everywhere they went—first for Sev’s frightening appearance and second for the immense—almost ridiculous—size difference between the two of them.
Mia knew she looked like a kid beside the big Kindred—several times people had even hesitantly asked if she was his daughter. Which made no sense, since they looked nothing alike, and she was usually dressed in a severe black or navy-blue pantsuit with a badge in her hand. But first impressions were hard to shake and her youthful appearance didn’t help. It was the damn freckles that did it—they made her look much younger than her real age, Mia thought ruefully.
At first the constant misunderstandings had made her angry—as if she didn’t have enough trouble being taken seriously as a police person and a detective! Then they just made her tired—why were people such assholes? Now she didn’t even care anymore. Let people think what they wanted—despite their extreme size difference, she and Sev made an excellent team. They sometimes even used their looks to their advantage when they were working a case.
Most recently, they had busted a kiddie porn ring and had brought down a lot of assholes who were preying on under-aged teens. Mia had dressed up as the bait and Sev had been waiting in the weeds to catch the perverts that set up visits online and tried to meet with her.
The moment they made contact, he was on them—To Catch a Predator style—and not a single one dared to run once they saw him. In fact, several had mistaken him for the actual Devil and had fallen to their knees, blubbering in fear and begging not to be dragged to Hell for their reprehensible behavior.
Mia had enjoyed these reactions more than she cared to admit. But with her background, taking down abusive, controlling men was extremely satisfying.
Speaking of abusive and controlling, her divorce was being finalized today, she remembered, and a feeling of satisfaction rolled through her. It had been a long time coming, since Michael hadn’t wanted to sign the papers. He still couldn’t understand where the sweet, submissive wife he’d married had gone to and how a tough, no-nonsense police detective had taken her place.
Which was too damn bad for him, Mia thought as she hurried along the metal corridors, not wanting to be late. But divorcing Michael was severing the last link with her old life—an action she was happy to take. She was going to consider this one of the happiest days of her life—providing the mysterious meeting with Commander Sylvan went all right.
She wondered again what it was all about. Well, they ought to find out soon—according to Sev, the Head of the Kindred High Council’s office was just ahead.
THREE
SEV
“Thank you both for coming, Detective Deen, Detective Severith.” Commander Sylvan nodded at them both as they settled in chairs across from his desk. He was a Blood Kindred and had the double set of fangs and cool demeanor to prove it.
“Thank you for inviting us,” Sev said, nodding politely. “How can we be of assistance, Commander?” Though he was technically employed by the Tampa PD, his first loyalty was always going to be here, with the Kindred Mother Ship.
“Yes, what can we do for you?” Mia asked, lifting her eyebrows and folding her hands on her lap.
“I have a special assignment and I think the two of you might be perfect for it.” Commander Sylvan steepled his long fingers on his desk. “If you think you’re up for it, that is.”
“Sounds like a challenge,” Sev remarked.
“Oh, it will be.” Commander Sylvan nodded. “And it’s off planet too, so I need to know if either of you have a problem with that. Any family you’d be leaving behind? Because this will probably be an extended mission.”
Sev shrugged.
“No—no family here on Earth. Though my parents are still back on my home world.”
“I don’t have any family either. Or at least, none that I speak to.” Mia’s voice was tight and her shoulders were hunched. She got this way whenever her family came up in conversation—Sev wished he knew why. All he knew was that she was estranged from her parents and siblings for some reason, though she had never given him a reason for the estrangement.
“And do either of you have mates or potential mates—what the humans call fiancés?” Sylvan probed.
Sev shook his head. Originally, one of his reasons for taking a job down on Earth had been to finally connect with a mate. Since his kind of Kindred didn’t usually Dream Share with their mates before meeting them, it had seemed like a good way to find someone.
