The door opened and her heart stopped. “Logan?” What the heck was he doing in her home country?
He stepped inside, overwhelming the small room with his presence. He’d obviously showered and shaved. His wet black hair curled beneath his ears, and a muscle visibly ticked in his sharp jawline. A dark T-shirt stretched across his broad chest, and faded jeans covered his very long legs to black boots.
Warmth pooled in her abdomen, and she tried to calm her breathing. This reaction to him had to stop, and now. “Why are you here?” Her legs froze in place.
He held up his hand, showing the mating mark.
She swallowed. Once and then twice. “That doesn’t mean anything.” He’d said it could disappear. So long as he didn’t transfer the brand to her, it wasn’t her problem. “You can’t be here right now, Logan.”
His gaze raked her from head to toe. Her nipples tightened automatically. What was he thinking?
“We’ve found some holdings we think belong to your people,” he said, not moving from the doorway. “Would you take a look at the computer?”
She’d do anything to get out of the bedroom. The bed was huge and way too inviting, as was Logan. Just being this close to him again was sending her entire system into overdrive. She knew she should run, but everything inside her wanted to jump into his arms and take him to the floor for a mind-numbing kiss. One that lasted for hours. “I can look.”
“Thanks.” Logan held out a hand, his gaze inscrutable.
She took it, and the brand burned against her palm.
“What do your people know about interrogation and torture?” he asked, pulling her from the room.
She stumbled and then righted herself. He had to be terribly worried about his brother. Why couldn’t they all just talk and reach an agreement without the subterfuge? “Not much, to be honest. Just what we’ve learned from television shows here.” Her need to soothe him was bothersome, but she tried anyway.
He led her into the living room, and she stopped short. The entire north wall across from the plush sofa was wide open, revealing weapons and tactical gear. She shook her head. “No. You won’t need those.”
Ivar looked over from strapping a gun to his muscled thigh. “Right.” He tossed a knife toward Adare, who was tugging a tactical vest with pockets for explosives over his chest.
Logan tightened his hold on her hand. “Look at the holdings we’ve found and let us know where Sam might be. Then contact your people and arrange a meeting.” He led her to the kitchen counter, where a laptop was already open with an impressive list.
She cleared her throat, reading it over. There were too many places Sam could be, and surely the Seven hadn’t found all of the Fae safe houses, anyway. “The only way I can find him is to go back in. You’re going to have to trust me.” She looked up.
Logan’s face was implacable. “Not a chance.”
Chapter 18
Logan stood to the side as Mercy rapidly worked through a series of encryptions and secure sites on the laptop before the screen cleared, went black, and she focused on a face: a male in his midtwenties with short, dark-blond hair, one blue and one brown eye, and rough features. A bruise was barely discernible beneath the scruff on his jaw.
She straightened. “Hi Niall.”
Logan kept surprise off his face. He’d expected the guy to look like an accountant, not a brawler. Interesting.
“Mercy.” The male stepped closer to the camera. “Are you all right? I’ve had soldiers scouring the world for you. Tell me you’re okay.” His voice rose imperceptibly.
“She’s not all right.” Logan edged into camera range, giving Mercy no choice but to move to the side. “Which, I suspect, is what you wanted.”
The male’s eyes narrowed. His chin lifted and hardened. “You suspect wrong.”
Logan let his teeth show. “You allowed a kitten to go after a wolf, asshole.” The more he thought about it, the more pissed off he became. If Mercy had gone after any other soldier, she’d be dead. Very much so.
Niall leaned in. “You’re no wolf, Kyllwood.”
Logan clenched his back teeth to keep from snarling. “If you know what I am, then you know she could’ve died.”
“I told you no,” Niall exploded, facing Mercy again. “Iknewthis was a mistake, which was why I denied your request. But you didn’t listen. As usual.”
Mercy shuffled her feet.
Logan’s shoulders went back. Wait a minute. “You’ve committed treason?” he said softly.
