“No.” Rafe shook his head. “Tonight, by threatening her, they made it my fight.”
It was true. As much as he craved retribution after being played for a fool by Opus in Montreal, this resolve to obliterate the cabal was something different. It went deeper, ran infinitely colder.
His own humiliation was nothing compared to the very real threat to Devony’s life.
“She stays with me.”
Chase’s brows rose in challenge. “As commander of this operation center, I might have something to say about that. And I can assure you, Lucan will—”
“I drank from her.”
“Ah, fuck. Tell me you’re joking.”
Rafe held the bleak stare of his commander. “Earlier tonight, after Cruz smashed a crate of liquid UV in front of me. The burns were . . . bad. Devony wasn’t supposed to take part in the robbery, but she came looking for me anyway. If she hadn’t found me when she did—if she hadn’t given me her blood . . .” Rafe slowly shook his head. “I owe her my life.”
“I see.” Chase studied him, then shook his head. “I’ll put a call in to D.C. I know Lucan will want to hear all of this directly from you. He’s going to want to decide where this goes from here. In the meantime, I need to get boots on the ground to go try to contain what’s left of that UV supply at the warehouse. Aric and his new team arrived earlier tonight,” Chase added. “Looks like they just got their first assignment.”
Damn. His best friend’s daywalker team was already put together. They were here in Boston, and Rafe wouldn’t even have known if he hadn’t shown up tonight.
Although he hadn’t actually been ousted from the Order weeks ago, it still took him aback to realize how life had moved on as if he were gone for good. Until now, he hadn’t realized how much he truly missed being back in the fold, an active part of operations.
Chase got up from his chair. “I can’t say I like what I’ve heard tonight, Rafe, or where things stand with you and Devony Winters. But I’m not going to act like you’re the first warrior to fuck things up six ways from Sunday on account of a woman.”
The sardonic remark gave him more hope than it probably should, but right now he’d take it.
Rafe rose to his feet as well. “Thank you, sir.”
“Go on, get out of here.” The Order elder gave him a frown and a dismissive wave. “Go make sure your female is all right. Be ready to meet me in the compound war room in one hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
CHAPTER 20
Devony couldn’t stop staring.
Tavia Chase was stunningly beautiful. Tall and elegant in her basic black outfit of tailored pants and a fine-gauge knit sweater, she exuded a calm confidence that immediately put Devony at ease. Her face was a study in classic beauty, high cheekbones, smooth skin, and a generous mouth—all of it framed by a luxurious mane of caramel-brown hair.
Carys shared many of her mother’s features and her remarkable beauty, but where Tavia conveyed a steady strength, her daughter practically vibrated with wild, magnetic energy.
For many reasons, Devony was awestruck by both daywalker females, not the least of which being that they were her own relatives.
After introductions in the foyer, the two women had taken her to a lovely guestroom suite in a quiet part of the mansion. They were seated together in a comfortable conversation area of the room, Devony on an oversized upholstered chair, Tavia and Carys perched across from her on a silk-covered sofa.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Tavia asked gently. “I can only imagine how you must be feeling after your ordeal tonight.”
Devony had explained to them about her brownstone being attacked, but even after assuring the two women she was fine, it hadn’t seemed to lessen their concern. They fussed over her, offering food and drink and the full use of the sumptuous guestroom. Carys had even brought her sleepwear and a change of clothes from her own wardrobe. The silk robe and pajamas were as much a temptation as the oversized soaking tub in the adjacent bath.
But it was difficult to think of her own comfort knowing Rafe was somewhere else in the mansion being confronted by another of the Chases, one of the Order’s most formidable members.
Sterling Chase, his former commander.
“I can’t believe you’ve been right under our noses here in Boston,” Carys said. She had also been avidly studying Devony from the moment they sat down. “How did you and Rafe meet?”
“It’s ah . . . kind of a long story.”
“And one for another time,” Tavia said. “I’m sure Devony would like to rest.”
Carys’s expression slumped. “All right, until then. I’m sorry, I just have so many questions for you.”
