He eyed Seri who had returned to his nail biting. The Nymph’s face was emotionless but pale. His under eyes were a deep purple.
“Why don’t you—” He went to suggest the man take a nap, when a truly awful smell invaded his nose. “—Oh, by the void, what is that?!”
Seri blinked, his blank expression clearing. He didn’t have a chance to answer Severo’s question as, no doubt the source of the smell, let out what he could only describe as a baby war cry of doom.
Severo flinched, his eyes widening in shock as the scream grew louder. Seri was up in a flash, gathering Skya from her car seat.
“What the fu—” Severo started to swear, but a glare that sent a shiver down his spine had him choking on the last word.
“Youwillwatch your language in front of my child.”
“Yes, sir!” Severo squeaked.
He gulped under Seri’s fierce gaze, giving the man a tentative smile of apology. Severo remained caught there until the Nymph finally hmphed and turned away. Severo took a deep breath in and out, and realized his heart had actually started to race.
Had he actually found that hot? Why the hell would he find Seri commanding him hot?
Oh…get it together, Severo, he told himself as he watched the Nymph expertly change a now giggling Skya’s diaper.
Though Seri was smiling down at her, it was strained, the corner of his lips trembling…wavering under the weight of the situation.
Staring at the two, Severo couldn’t help but make a silent promise to do whatever it took to keep them both safe.
“They caught her, and now what?”Preston drawled, eyeing the human standing in front of his desk. “Or do you plan for my Seri to go to jail?” he asked with a stiff smile.
“N-no! Of c-course not!” the man stammered. “The informant you connected me with told me that the agent with her is taking her to the North America headquarters in Kansas, instead of the branch near here. So your people will need to take her before he reaches the headquarters, while my people will make sure the case disappears.”
Preston chuckled, his anger rising as he barely contained his urge to lash out. Morons…the people working for him were morons. “So, let me get this straight. My people need to grab her before they reach the main CEB headquarters. Because, for some reason, instead of taking them to the nearest Bureau branch to us, they are going to the one an hour away? Is that it? And then you’ll just make it all disappear?”
The man shifted on his feet, clearing his throat nervously. “Yes?”
Preston clapped. “Well done, Sheriff. It would really take a braindead subhuman, such as yourself, to think of a plan so ridiculous it shocks even me.”
The Sheriff’s eyes widened. “I… They…”
“Tell me, why do you think this agent, or the Grimm in charge of that location, agreed to let them bring Seri there? Or didn’t you think that far ahead?”
“He was…suspicious of the case.”
“Right, because you and your detective decided the best solution was to frame my innocent, rebellious Seri for murder. The same Seri who was eight months pregnant at the time that I strangled a rather large Cerberus to death. His body, which I had ordered you to get rid of, you instead decided to reveal it.”
“We burned it after!!” the Sheriff cried.
“The evidence that she didn’t do it is CLEAR, no matter how you look at it. Photos alone are enough to prove it! The agent on the case would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to think any of what you said lines up!” he roared. “So, YES, they are taking her somewhere else, because they don’t believe this bullshit. Likely, they’ve already found Leal’s connection to me. So AGAIN, tell me how you are going to make this case disappear?!”
“We… Your informant told me…they already know Leal is connected.”
No shit, he thought. Did this man really think his informant would tell him before Preston?
Preston rubbed his forehead. “Sheriff, let me make myself clear. Carry on with your plan, if you want…but if you fail…prepare to greet Leal in person.”
The Sheriff paled, and started to stammer. “I-I?—”
“GET OUT!” Preston bellowed, shaking his head as the human scurried away.
Humans…so pathetic…weak. Imbeciles, the lot of them. Though many Cryptids weren’t much better—he tsked.
Tapping his fingers on his desk, his hand froze on catching sight of the framed photo on his desk. “Seri…” He sighed, picking up the frame. Preston ran his finger lightly along the curve of Seri’s face. She was so smart…beautiful…but damn was she stubborn.
