His presence was harsh and cold, but he did not scare Elias in the way the other man had scared him. This man had saved him, had pulled him out of death’s grip, and protected him. “Who are you?” Elias finally spoke.
“Your bodyguard.” He took Elias’ hand once again and helped him to his feet.
“I didn’t know I had a bodyguard.” Elias fumbled with a response. “Thank you for being here.”
The man nodded and gave a small smile, just a lift of his lips that lasted half a second, but it was nice, and it was felt. “What’s your name?” Elias asked.
“Kael.”
“I’d like to go home now, Kael. I need to close up the lab and go home.” He said and started to turn toward the main room, but Kael stopped him.
“You don’t want to go in there, Dr. Vance. Not until it is cleaned.” Kael responded flatly, and Elias looked up at him so tall and so imposing that he made Elias feel small and powerless.
“Yes, of course.” He was feeling off, life had shifted suddenly, and his world was grossly out of balance. He lookedaround, feeling awkward in his own space, and a confusion had settled over him. “Why did he want to kill me? I don’t understand. Were they thieves?”
“Let me get you home, and then we can talk. I need to get you out of here before any more show up.” Kael took him by the upper arm and directed him to the door while keeping Elias’ face shielded from seeing what had taken place in his lab. Elias closed his eyes until they were on the stairs.
Kael quickly swept him up to the garage on the basement level and into a black SUV. They tore out and onto the main street like the devil was after them, and maybe he was. Elias was still shattered by the events, not sure what was happening or how this night would end. He remained still and silent until they pulled into his drive, and Kael cut the engine.
Kael sat quietly for a minute, considering his options. Elias sat next to him, silent and scared, unsure what was going on and too afraid to ask. He glanced over at him, and he was very still, just staring out the windshield at nothing. He ran the last couple of hours over in his mind.
The moment the other assassins showed up, he felt a duty to protect Dr. Vance. It was odd, but he was completely overwhelmed by the need to eliminate the threat. His base instincts drove him to stand between the doctor and those who sought to harm him.
It wasn’t until he got close and bent to take his hand that the reason for his rabid compulsion became clear. The bleach from the previous day had clouded Elias’ aura and muted his scent, but this time, when he got close, his natural aroma came through clearly. Dr. Elias Vance was Kael’s chosen. It was wonderful and terrible all at the same time, and was going to beawkward to say the least. He had to somehow save this man from everyone who wanted to kill him, including Kael’s own boss.
The thought of someone hurting him was inconceivable. Kael had to figure this out. He had to deal with threats to his species and to his beloved. Life had just gotten so much more complicated, but he couldn’t turn his back on Fate’s gift. Dr. Vance had just become the most important person in his life.
He reached over, took Elias’ hand, and held it. Touch was important, he knew that much, and Elias did not resist. He held on, taking the comfort Kael was offering. The silence hung heavy until Elias spoke in a sudden burst, mingling panic with confusion.
“Why is this happening to me? I don’t matter; I’m just a researcher for the Mercier Corporation. No one cares about me. No one cares enough to want to kill me.” His logic was puzzling but somewhat charming in an odd sort of way.
“Come, let’s get you inside.” They went to the back door, and Elias unlocked it in a rush, and Kael quickly pushed him inside, closing and locking the door behind them. Kael was familiar with the house's layout, and Elias did not question him about it or that he knew where he lived. Either he didn’t notice, or he was afraid to ask.
“I’ll make coffee.” Elias instantly began brewing a couple of cups, and Kael leaned against the counter and watched him. He was a man out of his depth and grasping at normalcy, and Kael let him do what he needed to do. He went through the motions mechanically, practicing something that did not require thought or focus.
Kael stepped forward and picked up the two cups of coffee, and then, without a word, turned and started toward the living room. Elias followed and took a seat on the couch. Kael set the cups on the coffee table and sat down next to him, but notclose. Elias stared at his hands and then at the floor, and Kael stared at Elias.
“Why?” Elias asked again.
“Tell me about your research.” Kael prompted him. Elias turned to look at him, searching his face for something, and then turned back to stare at his hands.
“I can’t, it’s a secret. I’ve signed papers, I can’t discuss my current research.” Elias spoke haltingly.
“Who knows about your research?” Kael decided to lead him; their burgeoning bond will make it difficult for Elias to deny him.
“Myself and my benefactor, Orion Mercier, and I, no one else, as far as I know.” He said, then kept his head down, as if ashamed.
“You’ve had a breakthrough, and your results are showing promise. Mercier’s investment is about to pay off.” Kael had watched and knew the status of his research.
“Yes.” He did not hedge or try to deflect and stuck to simple honesty.
“There are people who do not want you to complete this discovery and definitely don’t want you to present it to the world.” Kael took his cup and sipped his coffee.
“It could be life-saving, it could protect and heal, unlike anything before. Why would anyone resist such a discovery?” His tone became heated, but he caught himself and quickly turned away. “I know what I’m doing, everything is coming together as it should, and human trials are near.”
“You’ve used mice as your test subjects?”
“Yes, and I’m almost there.”
