“Some of us, about ten percent, can stop during the process.”
His brows lifted. “Stop? In other dimensions?”
There were so many. Billions upon billions. “Yes.”
His head lifted. Realization dawned. “That’s why we’ve never met many of you. You don’t actually live here.”
“We didn’t,” she said, trying not to sound bitter. “When you morons started messing with dimensions, you caused problems with a very nice paradise we’ve been inhabiting for two centuries. We had to bring our entire civilization back here. Home.”
“I thought you all were from Ireland,” he mused.
“Scotland. The Highlands, to be specific,” she said. The place actually did feel like home. “Until we get the Seven under control, we can’t leave. So, the Seven has to be stopped.”
“You know why we need the Seven,” he said quietly.
“You don’t know what you are doing,” she snapped back. They had no clue. They were like children playing with matches and enjoying the pretty flames.
“Then show us,” he said.
“Not a chance,” she said softly. No way would the Fae leaders allow state secrets to fall into enemy hands.
His nostrils flared, and he studied her for several oddly calm moments. Finally, he spoke. “Why were your own people trying to kidnap you?”
She sighed and clasped her hands in her lap. “Because I disobeyed orders and came here to rescue you. My hope was to get you somewhere safe and warn you. But you’ve screwed that up, now.”
Chapter 4
Logan studied the pretty pixie. In the muted light, her hair looked more auburn than red. She’d shown a lot of heart and courage with her fighting, but it was obvious her skills lay elsewhere. “I won’t let them hurt you, Mercy.”
She drew back, her eyes widening. “You don’t seem to understand.” Leaning forward again, she dropped her voice to a whisper. “We’re enemies, Logan.”
Damn, she was cute. His life was clear-cut with no fuzziness. There existed good, bad, friends, and enemies. A lot of enemies. No gray areas for any of those categories. And this female? She’d risked herself to keep him alive. It didn’t matter that she’d had nearly zero chance of killing or kidnapping him. She didn’t seem to know that fact. That made her an ally and somebody he’d protect in turn. “You didn’t come here to kill me?”
“Of course not.” Even her huff was endearing. “That was a bluff. Like I said, I was hoping to get your attention with the sword.”
Oh, she’d gotten his attention all right. “Why?”
Her lips twisted and she shook her head. “Killing just seems wrong, and I thought I could reason with you.” She rubbed a small bruise along her chin. “And killing is ineffective. Even if we took you out, at some point another hybrid would survive the ritual.”
The female had risked her safety with her own people to give him a warning. This woman was all heart, and every protective instinct he had woke right up. He sent a few more healing cells to the remaining bullet hole in his shoulder. “Your people must have a plan to prevent anybody else from surviving the ritual.” Something that they needed time to execute.
“Probably,” she agreed.
“What exactly was your plan today?” he asked softly.
She straightened. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but as a kidnapper, she sucked. “You’re not a killer, and I’m a nearly impossible target when it comes to kidnapping.” It wasn’t bragging if it was the truth.
“Yet I got you out of the bar and onto the street and unconscious,” she argued, lifting her chin.
Good point. “Using beautiful women as bait is an old trick, sweetheart. Usually there’s an actual assassin or fighting force waiting somewhere in the wings.”
A very pretty crimson filled her pale face. “You think I’m beautiful?”
If she got any cuter, he’d just take her home to his mama and let Fate have her way with him. But his path was a different one, and he knew it. One that didn’t include cuteness or anything sweet. “Yes. Hence…bait.”
She pursed her lips. Then she cleared her throat. “I’ve been considering that. I think maybe they figured out I meant to rescue you, and they let me go, planning for the attack force to come in and finish the job.” She kicked her feet out while mulling it over. “I guess no one realized how well you’d fight. I mean, we had some idea of your skills from our research but witnessing you in action is different.”
