His brows knitted and he looked at her. “You are not curious as to why I am—”
“Courting a Vampire after they massacred your family? No. You’re a sensible man, and I clearly see what motivates you, Viktor. You live in the past, and everything you do is to honor the dead or right the wrong. Turning in that Vampire instead of killing him yourself illustrates how willing you are to be better than a man so filled with revenge that he stupidly signed his name on that door. We’re all trying to improve ourselves—some just have better tools to work with than others. I want to help you, Viktor. You’re a powerful man whom many respect. And I love everything you’ve done with Keystone. I see so much more potential in what you can do—whatwecan do together.” She smiled warmly and pinched his chin. “Don’t you dare sulk all day. I need you at your best.”
She planted a lingering kiss on his mouth, and his heart quickened. He was a wolf, after all. Wolves courted women much differently than he had been doing with Lenore. Despite his deepest desires, his heart wasn’t in it right now. While Lenore usually inhabited his thoughts whenever he was around her, too much occupied his mind. As he pulled away, another thought needled him. Why did she want to discuss his future? Keystone was the only future that mattered. Perhaps she expected more from him, such as joining the higher authority. But how would working behind a desk make this world safer? He wished he’d never disclosed his past and couldn’t understand why he’d done it in the first place. That was a story he’d always kept to himself. The tragedy wasn’t a secret to those who had lived here during that time, but no one knew how it had affected him. Viktor had brought death to Keystone.
Lenore’s slender fingers curved around his neck as she kissed his ear.
He cupped her delicate head in his hands. “A woman so beautiful could have any man she wanted. Why is it you choose me?”
She leaned away and began fiddling with the buttons on his vest. “Because you are intelligent, charming, and loyal. But I have to ask you, Viktor, why do you remain at Keystone after such a sanguinary battle? That dreadful place represents defeat. The floors are bathed in blood, and most of the rooms are empty. We’re all sentimental,” she said, flattening her hands on his chest. “But there comes a time when it’s necessary to move forward. What youdohonors your family, not where you live. That place is worth so much money—just imagine how that could finance your organization. You could expand beyond anyone’s imagination. Give it some thought.” She stroked the close-shaven beard on the side of his face and smiled at him. “Don’t let me down, Viktor. I’ve worked too hard to have it all end this way.”
Lenore lowered her arms and branched away. She had placed not only her confidence in him but her whole life. He couldn’t fail her. Viktor had always lived by a code of honor, but suddenly he felt compelled to consider her suggestions about aspiring for more. Perhaps he could not see his potential as clearly as she could. Sparrow was the only obstacle that stood between him and his future.
“We will crush this man. You have my word. I have faith in my people.”
“Do you?” Lenore leaned against the far wall. As the sky lightened outside, it cast a flattering glow on her flawless skin. “Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but how do you put up with Raven’s insolence? Compared to the others, she’s far too young for a job this important. Too inexperienced. Don’t misunderstand me; I esteem her. She’s smart and fearless. But she’s how old? A few years? Age provides us with invaluable experience. I can always spot a Learner, but she doesn’t seem to have any of the traits I would normally see in a Mage schooled on Breed etiquette. Where is her Creator?”
“I cannot discuss personal details of my people.”
“Yes. But you do realize we have files. And there aren’t any on her, even with the Mageri. She wasn’t approved, was she? They haven’t measured her gifts for the books. Aren’t you concerned her Creator might one day come for her? He or she will have every right to do so if she’s as young as I suspect. If she escaped or was illegally made, people will question your involvement. You must think beyond the present. If one day you decide to move ahead, how will you explain having hired criminals? People might even assume you conspired against the Mageri. It’s the little things that can damage your reputation.”
Viktor’s thoughts drifted back to when he’d first heard rumors of this mysterious “Shadow” who was killing the most elusive criminals. Imagine his surprise to find out a woman was behind it, and not for money or notoriety. At that time, Viktor lacked someone on his team with her specific talents. Only Christian was her equal, yet she excelled in baiting victims without difficulty. “Raven is valuable to me.”
“I have no doubt that her position is indispensable, but issheirreplaceable?” Lenore swung her gaze toward the bed. “Keep an eye on her. From what I’ve observed, she acts without consulting you. Just the way she talks in your presence is frankly quite appalling. And what she did at the party—the audacity to purchase your life in front of everyone?” Lenore’s eyes narrowed and lips thinned. “Her impudence was mortifying. You deserve more respect than that.”
Viktor approached Lenore and his fingers lightly grazed her shoulders. “You need not worry about such things. I have her under control. All my people. They are good at heart even if they are not as sophisticated as you are.”
“Someone is here for you.”
A moment later, a knock sounded.
“It’s Blue,” a muffled voice called from behind the door.
“You go,” Lenore insisted. “I need to gather my thoughts.”
Viktor bowed his head before making a hasty exit. While Vampires didn’t sleep, the suppression of their powers had taken a toll on everyone. It was why the team had slept all night almost immediately after going to their rooms.
When Viktor stepped into the hall with Blue, he led her away so as not to distract Lenore. “What is this urgency?”
She kept pace beside him as they descended the musty stairwell. “Everyone’s still asleep. I don’t know if their powers are back. What about Lenore? I mean Miss Parrish.”
“She is recovering.”
“Good. But if we can’t fully protect her, then we might have to stay here a while longer. Mine are back, so I wanted to make myself available.”
They stopped on the fifth-floor landing. Even under the yellow lights, Blue looked especially lovely. Her pale sapphire dress fit her modestly beneath her cloak. But her enchanting French braid made her an entirely different woman. Normally Blue had a strict part in her hair and rarely wore makeup.
She touched his arm. “You didn’t sleep, did you?”
“Nyet. I cannot sleep, my dear.”
“Our bodies don’t require food, so at least we don’t have to worry about starving. But the mind needs rest. We have ten days to decide if we’re going to stay like this forever, join forces with that imbecile, or come up with a plan.” She glanced down the steps and then back to him. “There’s something else. Our clothes stay with us when we shift. They disappear when in animal form, but as soon as I shifted back”—she snapped her fingers—“voilà. Like magic. That makes it convenient. But what if we lose our ability to shift over time? That scares me. Maybe we won’t, but that’s why I’m here now. Whatever you need, Viktor. Whatever you ask.”
When Viktor cupped her cheek as he often did to show his respect, desire stirred within him. Viktor had always felt tenderness for Blue. She looked after his needs, proved a strong asset to the team, and was as loyal as they came. While not a wolf, she knew the Shifter way. They had a natural understanding that the others couldn’t relate to—a bond only shared between Shifters. But ever since the lion attack, something had changed in the way he thought about her. He’d come so close to losing her. Viktor accepted long ago that casualties among his team were probable. That inherent risk came with the job and was another reason he discouraged relationships. Raven and Christian’s pairing worried him. If Raven died, he would also lose Christian. How could one go on working the same job that killed the other? He knew the unrelenting pain of loss. The second time he almost lost Blue, that time from poison, it became evident that he felt something deeper. She could not have felt the same. Blue always kept a professional distance, and she was smart. She understood the sacrifices required of her, and she recognized the perils of relationships. Besides that, they were two different animals and far apart in age.
Yet as he stared into her luminous blue eyes that reminded him of deep waters, he briefly imagined what it might be like to kiss her. Unlike Lenore, Blue’s features were strong yet feminine, her lips full and inviting. Her skin wasn’t flawless but marked with honor and courage. She stood tall and walked with a confident stride. Her fingers weren’t delicate, but they knew how to wield an axe. She always spoke her mind, but never did she complain. Even after the lion attack that left her scarred, Blue wanted to get back to work.
Despite his curiosity, Viktor would never act on such fantasies. He was her superior, and he respected her too much to cross that line and take advantage of her. No man of integrity would violate a trust of power, and if he did, he would not be fit to lead. Viktor’s newfound feelings for Blue were yet another reason he’d been spending more time with Lenore.
