“Hey, it’s okay. You’re here with me, and safe. And you got to punch her in the tits. I’m proud of you for doing that,” I soothed. It had been amazing to see her do that.
“I did, didn’t I? It felt good. Also, my brothers are idiots.” She pressed her face back into me.
“You don’t ruin everything,” I whispered. “You are my perfect princess peaches, and I’ll love you to the end of the universe. I don’t understand why she’d risk everything to come after you like that.”
“I do.” Her voice was a whisper. “First, she’s used to getting her way. Second, she’s fueled by the one emotion even stronger than love–hate.”
That seemed stupid, to come to a world that wants to execute you just because you hated someone so much that you couldn’t stand the idea of them being happy.
I hugged Grace tighter, sending all my love through the bond, trying to heal her with my soul.
“Hey, who are you and why are you here?” an agent demanded as a bunch of people approached us.
“This is now our investigation,” someone stated. “The building is locked down. You all need to report to the main conference room.”
They all smelled weird and looked like Agent Weigmier.
Oh shit. The fucking Temporal Authority was here.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Grace
“You’re not taking me away.” I held onto Wes. “My pack and I are innocent. I thought she was dead. I had no part in this.”
“Are you Dr. Grace Ellington?” a female voice inquired. “I’m Jira. You’re going to be okay. Just come with me.”
My arms tightened around Wes. “He comes with me.”
“Oh, is this Fade? Hello, Fade.” Jira’s dark hair was in a pixie cut. She wore a dress, not a uniform or a suit like Agent Weigmier.
“I’d like to stay with her.” Wes didn’t let go of me.
“Dr. Ellington, your family isn’t under investigation. In fact, you have helped us solve several questions that we’ve been asking since the incident you were involved with back on world 1218,” an agent said.
I couldn’t remember her name, but I recalled her vaguely from my time at the Authority.
“Go with Jira,” the agent said. “It will be okay.”
“I’m with the Precious Population Protection Protocol unit. I work a lot with Alister. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.” Jira gave me a soft smile.
Alister? Who the fuck was Alister?
“It’s the cat, right? The cat’s name is Alister?” It’s all I could think of.
Jira blinked. “What cat? I was speaking of Agent Weigmier.”
“His first name is Alister?” Wes chuckled.
Agent Weigmier had a first name?
“Please?” Jira pleaded.
I noticed she had a tote bag and wasn’t dressed like the others. Wait, there was one other person not in a uniform or a suit, who also had a tote bag. She spoke to a sharp-featured, uniformed woman with blue eyes, black hair in a bun, and vampirically pale skin. Huh. I didn’t remember people like that from my time at the Authority. Though the woman with a bun reminded me a little bit of Gloria in processing.
“Will I be returned to Wes?” I prodded. It was probably better to cooperate than resist.
“Yes, I just need to talk to you about some things.”
