Enough daydreaming. But still, this was her only opportunity to know him. “In my research, I found you’ve taken many architecture classes through the years.” It was odd for a soldier, such a distinguished one, to have time for a hobby.
“Um,” he replied.
She cleared her throat. “I was just wondering why.”
He sighed. “I like the design elements that go into creating the right space. Light and harmony and the environment. It’s a nice break from hunting and killing.” He shifted his weight, and the water rippled. “Plus, it’s enjoyable to build structures that will last.”
Interesting. She could spend all day delving into his head, but now she had to get back to work. The Fae would find them soon, and she needed a plan to protect them and get free of the demon. “Enough playing games, Logan. I’d like an idea of where I am.”
His eyelids flashed open, revealing those predatory eyes.
She stopped breathing.
“Games? This isn’t a game. You don’t get to know where you are. What you do get to do is start answering my questions. Right now.” Even lazily relaxed, his voice held the command of somebody accustomed to giving orders.
She swallowed over a slight lump in her throat. “And if I don’t?” she whispered.
Chapter 8
Apparently, the woman wanted a clear answer before she decided whether or not to cooperate with him. In his experience, the less somebody knew, the more vulnerable they became. He didn’t want her confident at the moment, but deep down, in a place mercy still lived, he didn’t want to scare her too badly. She seemed to base all her decisions on facts.
It was cute, but he didn’t have time for cute right now. The Fae might be torturing Sam this very second.
“You’ve read records about me, right?” Logan asked, enjoying the feeling of the warm water over his legs. He’d run for hours.
She nodded.
“Then do you really have to ask that question?” Truth be told, he didn’t have an answer for her. During the war, he’d done things that still woke him up in a sweat. Things he’d never cleanse from his soul. But that was over. The war was over. It had to be, and he wouldn’t allow another to start. Not so soon. “Mercy?”
She studied him with those spectacularly soft eyes. “Yes.”
He sighed, the water mellowing him, despite the constant state of arousal he’d been in since he’d met her. He ignored the demands of his body. There had to be a way to reason with her. “Do you have family?”
She shook her head, her eyes sad, and he felt a pang in his heart for her. “No,” she said. “Most of us don’t have family.”
His eyebrow rose of its own accord. “How is that possible?”
She licked her lips and studied him for a moment, obviously deciding what to say. Finally, she shrugged, and small ripples of water spread across the pool. “A long time ago, the Fae tried to move from one dimension to another, and there was a mistake. Nobody knows how, but we lost most of our people. Mainly adults. My parents were among them.”
Logan drew in the information, his gut aching. Poor lost girl—poor lost kids. Why hadn’t they turned to the Realm for help? Of course, that was during the last war, so perhaps going out on their own made more sense. Especially if they had a safe place. “That’s terrible. You raised yourselves?” Sounded like something out ofLord of the Flies.
She nodded. “Um, kind of. There were a few adults left, but mostly, we just lived. Food was plentiful, and there were some elderly survivors who tried to guide us. Sandy, Trina, and I have always been close.”
The two women from the other night. “They left you with me, thinking iron shackles would protect you,” he said, not liking the thought. “Your people need to learn about predators, sweetheart.”
“We are predators,” she retorted. “While I don’t have family, I consider them my sisters. We grew up together, and we had many manuals to learn from.” Her eyes sparkled with challenge. “As well as advanced weapons and equipment. As you’ve already seen.”
Ah. “So your soldiers are young, as well.” Twenties and maybe thirties. No seasoned warriors had tried to fight him yet.
Her chin snapped up. “I didn’t say that.”
She didn’t have to.
He eyed her. “How strong is your fighting force?” Whoever was in charge had let her head into danger too easily. The woman had an analytical mind, and he could almost see it spinning. She was also charming and seemed kind. So far, he’d seen not an ounce of the coldness needed to be an operative in this world. For any species. Instead, she seemed to think things through, make a decision, then jump in with both feet. Spies proceeded with deliberation. “How hard was it for you to create this ridiculous op by yourself?”
Her already stubborn chin seemed to firm even more. “I really can’t tell you that.”
This was getting tedious. The female had been set up to distract him as a decoy for the soldiers, and he didn’t like how well the plan had worked. More importantly, he didn’t appreciate that either she’d been used as a sacrificial lamb, or alternatively, that the Fae were so clueless they didn’t realize how dangerous a demon soldier could be. He continued his train of logic with her. “You said that Trina and Sandy are like your sisters. What would you do to save them?”
