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When the demon and succubus reached their crescendo, you would think that the Earth’s core would split from the kinetic energy. But finally, the tension drained, and I sat there sweating, shaking, and pissed.
It was probably only fifteen minutes, but it felt like an eternity before he returned, this time alone, wearing a black silk robe and smelling of coitus galore.
Immediately, I attempted to hand him the eye I recovered from the library, but he shook his head no. “Go home, put that somewhere safe. I’ll call you when I need you.”
This pissed me off more. Thorn brought me here, made me wait while he fucked his bimbo, and now he was sending me on my merry way?
“Are you kidding me?” I fumed, unable to restrain my ire.
“No,” he answered flatly.
“Wait, what? Did you seriously bring me over here just to have me witness sex with your—”
Thorn crooked an eyebrow.
“... to send me away? And with an item I’m sure the wolves would like to get their claws on, no less?” I huffed. “I thought at least you’d have my next objective for me. I’d like to get this thing out of me as soon as possible. Your mark too. I’d like to get that gone, too.” I point to the bedroom where Samara must be resting her feminine wiles. “For obvious reasons.”
“I’m working on your next job.” He chuckled. “Nice to see you hungry for work though. And I wouldn’t worry about the wolves. They won’t be a problem for you tonight. I’ve got someone watching your place for you, but you’re welcome to stay at the safe house if you prefer.”
I gaped at him. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m no one to be trifled with, and since you seem to have trouble remembering this part, I’m the one who keeps saving your ass.”
I cringed at that. Whenever I do something right, I open my mouth and lose any good grace I’ve earned from him. I take a breath.
“No, I mean, who are you to keep me safe from the pack? Who am I working for?”
“I told you my name. You said you like research, why don’t you take a little time to brush up on all the preternatural clans at work in Baton Rouge. You used to belong to the bayou. Now you belong to me and the Underworld.”
“Oh.”
Oh, fuck.
The pack has been fighting mysterious Syndicate preternaturals for generations. Now I’ve gone from being inconveniently exiled to working for the enemy. Somehow, I don’t think Thorn realized how much protection I would need. Not because of who I am, but because of who he is.
With a heavy sigh, I stand to leave. I’ve had enough tonight. He won’t like hearing that bringing me in was the worst mistake he could’ve made, and I don’t want to die to save him the trouble.
“Goodnight, Thorn. I’ll see you when I see you, I guess.”
“Goodnight, Elena. Don’t get yourself killed. You still owe me that artifact in your chest.”
I rode the elevator down, feeling my spirits drop along with it. I won’t be safe until this thing is out of me. At least I know I have a room in the safe house. They’re going to get to know me extremely well.
11
The warehouse’s night shift guard activity was more intense than the day’s. The gang carried double the number of weapons than the daylight crew did. Friendliness had left the building as security displayed a gruffer and more professional demeanor.
Thorn had insisted my former pack was not a problem, but he made sure they lacked the opportunity to become one.
So this is what it meant to work for a Syndicate.
An unfamiliar woman stood guard duty at the stairs' base with an AK-47 hanging from a strap on her shoulder and pointed to the ground. She nodded as I passed, leaving me to wonder if Thorn had added me to the official employee roster. Given my demonic partnering agreement with Thorn, that idea sparked my anger, but I stifled the urge to storm to his office and headed to my room.
My room.
It felt strange claiming this place as my own when I first viewed it as a prison. But with this new magical connection with Thorn, we seemed magnetically drawn to each other.
Truthfully, it's been a long time since I felt like I belonged to anything or anyone. I've been stuck in exile since Kye chucked me from the pack, but I'm unsure belonging here is better than being alone.
