Dakotas cell rung. The Draicon glanced at caller ID, and his scowl softened to a smile. He answered. Hey, sweetheart.
Sienna, the wolfs mate. Shed taken this man of brass and turned him into mush with a simple phone call. A hollow ache settled in Shays chest. Glancing over his shoulder, Dakota whispered, Go take care of yourself, Shay. Youre bleeding all over the place.
He nodded. Tell Sienna I said hello.
When he returned, Lieutenant Commander Dale Curt Curtis, commanding officer of ST 21, sat beside Dakota in the ready room.
Curt? Whats the deal?
His CO snorted. Shows about to start. And I cant do a damn thing about it. My hands are tied by all this red tape.
The door burst open. Senator Robert Rogers walked in, accompanied by his well-groomed wife and a pretty, blonde woman with a tense look and wide, scared eyes. The woman carried a pad and pencil. In the senators wake was a parade of dark-suited aides, two Secret Service agents, Admiral Keegan Byrne and all the SEALs on the Phoenix Force except Renegade.
Its a freaking party, Shay thought humorlessly.
Rogers gestured to the aides and agents. After some protest all the humans left, the aides casting anxious glances at their boss.
As the door closed behind them, the woman sat and flipped open her pad. Rogers escorted his wife to a chair and glared at Curt. I assume these quarters are private so I may question the suspect as I am entitled to under Mage law?
His COs expression tightened. Youre entitled. But this is a military base. My unit. If you deviate from the rules, you leave.
Rogers nodded at the blonde woman. Catherine is my personal assistant. She serves as secretary for the Council of Mages and will take notes for my report to them.
Two MPs brought Kelly in, removed her handcuffs and left. She sat on a gray folding chair near the front. As she rubbed at her wrists, her gaze caught Shays. Shed cut her waist-length hair. The wavy locks tumbled past her shoulders, still the color of a copper penny shimmering in the sunlight. With her heart-shaped face, pert nose and full red lips, she had an alluring combination of innocence and sensuality. Shay felt another jolt of pure sexual awareness. Just like the first time theyd noticed each other on his fathers estate.
She had a figure, yowza, that would knock the socks off a eunuch sworn to celibacy. Hourglass, all smooth curves that tempted a man into tracing every single luscious inch of her skin with his hands, and his tongue.
His cock went instantly hard. Shay gritted his teeth, his breath easing out in a harsh whistle of air. Air. Man, he needed air. He could hardly breathe.
A side door opened, and Renegade strolled in and slid into the seat next to Shay. The SEALs tongue nearly dropped down like one of those stupid cartoon wolves. Day-um. Now I see why you were into her, he muttered.
Youre supposed to be doing laps around the compound, Shay snapped, possessive male urges cranking from mild to overdrive.
Dakota didnt say anything about the outside of the compound, so I jogged around the courtyard. The Draicon wolfs gaze riveted to Kelly. Besides, I needed to check if you still had a pulse. You okay?
Shay felt a flash of gratitude. Yup. Renegade could be a bastard, but he was cool when it came down to it.
Shay stalked toward the rooms front and stood against the wall, folding his arms. He couldnt get involved, but the vulnerable shadows beneath her blue eyes punched his gut.
The heels of Rogerss polished black shoes clicked across the linoleum. In his dark gray suit, with silver edging his short hair, the senator looked urbane and handsome. But beneath the charming smile lurked something nasty, like an oil slick.
Now, Miss Denning. Rogers took a seat behind the desk, steepling his fingers. You kept asserting your innocence before military authorities and the FBI. Without evidence to hold you, they released you.
Rogerss smile darkened. Under human law, you are free to go. But Mage law is not so liberal. As Chief Elder on the Council of Mages, I ask you now, who gave the orders to steal my son?
Kelly rubbed the heel of her hand against her cheek. Im innocent. Sight Finders helps Mage offspring. Were the only ones protecting the children of both Elemental and Arcane Mages.
Dont play the naive card with me, Denning. You were not imprisoned with Billy when the SEALs rescued him. You were lounging by the pool.
Billy will tell youI was rescuing him.
Hes too traumatized to speak. Rogers waved a hand. Where is the nanny who took him? Was she working for you?
Dead, Curt said, his gray gaze steely. My men killed the vamps and both Mage guards on the island. When the Mages died, they assumed their original forms. One was the nanny.
So she was working for you. Rogers turned his attention back to Kelly.
Curt and Shay exchanged glances. No words needed. Shay could read his COs mind. The powerful Primary Mage had little tolerance for a slick politician with a hell-bent agenda.
Curt and Shay exchanged glances. No words needed. Shay could read his COs mind. The powerful Primary Mage had little tolerance for a slick politician with a hell-bent agenda.
What an asshole.
Your organization is a front for stealing Elemental children to drain their magick and enrich your own powers. You would have killed my son had you the chance!
Never! I was protecting him.
Where did you get the knowledge of siphoning Elemental magick? The dark spell books were all destroyed.
Kelly rolled her eyes. Now whos naive? Knowledge isnt contained by a book. Ever hear of our oral history?
Shadows darkened her face. This goes a lot deeper than you realize. The Arcanes behind Billys kidnapping want to kill Phantom Elementals to take over their extraordinary powers and duplicate them. Theyre going to create a Dark Lord.
A few harsh intakes of breath from all the Mages. Alarm filled Shay. Hell, she had to be wrong.
Curt gave her the penetrating look he used to interrogate tangos, but it looked more thoughtful than menacing. There hasnt been a Dark Lord in three hundred years.
Rogers looked uneasy and then scoffed. We have kept close watch over every Arcane through a regular sweep of ID cards. Until now, not one single Arcane has stolen Elemental magick.
Shay shifted uncomfortably. Curt glanced at him. Youre wrong, Senator. There was one twelve years ago. We have no proof, though. He vanished off the radar.
A small, cruel smile played on the Mages lips. I forgot. Your father, Denning. Youre just like him.
I am not my father, Kelly said, fire flashing in her eyes. I save children. Im about justice, unlike you. Just because youre Elementals doesnt make you better than me. Are you going to listen to me, you pigheaded fool? The real threat is still out there!
Really, Robert. Are you going to let her talk to you like that? Mrs. Rogers studied a manicured nail.
Kelly gazed at Rogers without fear. Shay felt a surge of admiration. Same Kelly. Always standing her ground.
Rogers raised his hands, power humming in the room. I will tolerate no disrespect. Especially not from an Arcane. You will give me answers.
The senator sent the energy ball sailing toward Kelly. As it struck her, she cried out and flew backward, hitting the wall.
Shay lost it. All his male protective instincts surged. Senator or not, Rogers could not treat a woman that way. You try talking without a tongue, you bastard...
As Shay lunged forward, ready to leap over the desk, Curt reached out an arm and yanked him back. Waves of calming magick pulsed from the Mage. Steady, Shay. Take it easy, his CO murmured. Not here. Not now.
Releasing Shay, Curt scowled at the senator. I told you, interrogation by the rules. One more violation and Ill toss you out on your ass myself.
Shay struggled to keep a civil tone. Since when did we allow torture? Were better than that.
Theyre both right. Do that again, Robert, and youre leaving the base, Admiral Byrne said quietly.
Rogers laughed. You cant do that. Im a U.S. senator who sits on the Armed Services Committee. Ill cut the funding to your precious team of navy SEALs.
Byrnes mouth twisted. Dont get into a pissing contest with me, son. Youll lose. Im fifteen hundred years old and can reduce you to ashes before you can say defense budget.
Ignoring them both, Shay crouched down by Kelly, who rubbed her side where the energy bolt had hit. A small, charred hole showed in the yellow print fabric.
Their eyes met. A jolt went through him at the intense blueness he saw in her eyes. Shay reached out a hand, clasped hers. An internal shudder raced through him. So warm and soft.
Up close, she smelled great, her delicate floral scent cutting through the ozone stench of energy Rogers had tossed at her.
Shay cleared his throat. You okay?
As he helped her stand, she gave a rueful smile.
Im fine. That jolt works better than a shot of espresso. Maybe I can hire him to roust me out of bed in the morning.
Still the same Kelly, putting up a brave front. Shay studied her face. A bruise shadowed one perfect cheekbone. He touched it and she winced. His temper began to rise.
Those blue eyes, once clear and sparkling as a summer sky, clouded with worry as she caught his expression.
Im fine. I mean it. Thanks, Sam, she said softly.
She brushed off her jeans, nodded at the gray folding chair. By the way, need that? Is it special? Other than for serving as the hot seat for suspects?
Its just a chair, Shay told her, puzzled.
Okay. Let me show you something, Senator.
Digging into her jeans pocket, Kelly retrieved a silver necklace and draped it around her neck. She closed her eyes and extended her slim arms skyward. Earth, earth, earth, water, water, water, fire, fire, fire, air, air, air.
Shays blood ran cold. The ancient chanting spell used by Arcanes to gather power from the elements. But they needed a secondary source to properly channel the power, such as an enchanted staff, a wand or an amulet, and all those had been banned....
The three swirls on the pendant around Kellys neck glowed. White light suffused her body, the energy pulsing steadily. Then she opened her eyes and flung out her hands toward the chair.
KA-POW!
The chair was a mangled, crumpled mess of metal. The little secretary taking notes gasped and stared at Kelly, who calmly regarded Rogers.