That was like saying people might have a use for opposable thumbs.
“I’ll contact Victoria,” I said.
Naturally, Victoria chastised me for not realizing that Riley Wyld was a dual-talent before declaring that we should take him with us. I refrained from pointing out that her intel hadn’t indicated Riley’s dual-talent status. As much as I would’ve liked to put this on her, Victoria was correct. I should have known. I was more adept than most at feeling other Talents. Simply being in semi-close proximity to another Talent, I was usually able to determine his strength and pinpoint his exact gifts. Of course, I had felt Riley’s immense power, but I’d naively attributed it all to his electrical gifts. Stupid mistake.
A lengthy debate over how best to use Riley’s morphing abilities followed. Ultimately, it was decided that impersonating Jaylen Monroe, who was sure to be present at the auction, was not a good idea. Rather, Riley would take on the image of one of the Poachers’ guards. One who wasn’t so important that he’d need to interact with higher-ups, but important enough he’d be able to gain access to restricted areas. Riley himself provided the perfect solution.
“Monroe’s personal bodyguard, Benji. I know the bloke,” Riley said. “I can copy him easy. And since the auction is at the Monroe’s estate, the real Benji won’t have reason to shadow Jaylen. Unless you want me to, then I can.”
My communicator was in the middle of the dinner table, with Victoria’s holographic, life-size image projecting upwards. The strange candle configuration that served as the centerpiece appeared to be impaling her.
“No. We cannot afford unnecessary risks. Avoid Lord Monroe unless absolutely necessary,” Victoria counseled. She turned to me. “Our Cryptos are still working on the invitation codes, we will have the final details for you shortly. Have your disguises ready and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Agent Lyons will be leading one of the covert teams and Agent Canary the other. But you will all be linked via comm earpieces. Understood?”
“Yes,” we all chorused in response.
After dinner, those of us who were posing as buyers followed Chaz and Viktor to the storage suites to select outfits. Even though Erik was to be part of the backup team, I assumed he’d come with us. But as we were exiting the dining room, he pulled me aside.
“I’m going to skip dress-up time, if that’s alright?” he sent.
“Sure, yeah. You okay?”
Dark circles had formed under Erik’s beautiful turquoise eyes and his complexion was paler than normal. Stress was doing a number on my boyfriend. Victoria’s decision to keep him out of the mix tomorrow was for the best. I hoped she’d noticed his appearance during our group call and would rethink using him as the face of the Created.
“I’m fine, just tired,” Erik admitted. “But I want to talk to Willa. She’s…she’s not handling this well. Maybe if I talk to her…. I don’t know, maybe I can help.”
I stood on my tiptoes and placed a kiss on Erik’s cheek.
“Go. Talk to her. I’ll meet you in our room in a little bit.”
Erik gave me a quick squeeze.
“Hey, Willa, wait up,” he called over the top of my head.
Releasing Erik, I headed in the opposite direction to catch up with the others, who were dutifully following Viktor and Chaz.
The storage rooms were more like storage suites, or dressing rooms at some high-end fashion boutique. Not that I shopped in places like that, but I imagined they were similar.
Racks of gowns, silk shirts, tailored pants, tuxedoes, and a colorful array of dress shirts were arranged around a two-story room with a loft. Shoes lined the walls on floor to ceiling shelves, with a sliding ladder attached to reach those at the top. Chaise lounges and privacy screens were set up on the lower level. A winding metal staircase in the center of the room led to the second floor, where more clothes, vanities, and bathrooms were provided.
“Damn,” Penny whistled, spinning with her arms out like a pinwheel in the middle of the room. “This place is awesome.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But why does she have it?”
“UNITED agents often go undercover. Councilwoman Walburton’s stockroom is one of many such spaces,” Viktor replied. “These auctions are formal events, so please choose wisely and do not take too much time. You all need to rest before tomorrow.”
“What, is he our babysitter now?” I sent Penny.
She smirked.
“Victoria doesn’t trust us.”
Too true, I thought.
Despite Viktor’s orders, we took our time trying on clothes. Well, okay, Penny and I took our time. The guys went straight for the tuxedos and only tried on garments until they each found ones that fit. Catherine, Gina, and Ronnie also seemed disinclined to try on more options than necessary.
Usually girly things like wearing pretty dresses wasn’t my thing. But for one hour, slipping into gowns that weren’t mine, modeling them for Penny’s approval, and discarding those she vetoed made me feel normal. Though Kenly was never far from my mind, I was able to push my personal feelings over the upcoming mission aside. Dare I say, I even had a little fun.
“This one is totally me,” Penny squealed from behind one of the privacy screens.
Henri and Frederick had given up on us and left for some alone time. Catherine and her team, along with Angus, also weren’t interested in watching Penny and I indulge our girly sides. They left shortly before the two guys. Only Brand remained to watch the Talia and Penny fashion show. Oh, and Viktor and Chaz, since apparently leaving us unsupervised went against their better judgment.
“Ta-da!” Penny exclaimed, rounding the privacy screen with her arms held wide, in an invitation to tell her how gorgeous she looked.
Brand caught my eye and gave a dramatic eye roll to indicate how he felt about his girlfriend’s theatrics. I smiled instinctively. Wait. Had Brand and I just bonded? Hellions the underworld over must have been busting out their fur coats.
“I love it,” I declared honestly.
“You look amazing,” Brand told her, standing for a better look. He took her hand and twirled her under his arm. “Really, amazing.”
Blushing prettily, Penny smiled up at him.
“Thanks,” she said shyly, then turned her attention to me. “Tal? Is this a winner?”
The gown was lemon-yellow, and not something I would’ve chosen for her, between Penny’s flame-colored hair and pale skin. But it suited her.
“It’s nice,” Chaz said, from his perch by the door. “It is also the twelfth dress you’ve tried on. This is not your wedding gown, this is not a princess fantasy. This decision is not that difficult.”
Wishing that my eyes would turn into death rays, I glared at him. Maybe we were being silly and childish. But why was it any of his business? Penny needed this levity in her life and so did I. Things had been so crazy for so long, we deserved a break.
Undaunted by my mean face, Chaz stared straight ahead and ignored me.
“You look stunning, Penny,” I said, turning back to my best friend. “And what do you think of this one? Good?”
Plucking at the bodice of the turquoise gown I was wearing, I moved to stand next to Penny in front of the mirror. Erik liked me in purple, since it brought out my eyes, and I usually kept that in mind when choosing clothing. But the jewel tone of my current dress reminded me of him, and wearing it made me feel like he was with me. Since he wouldn’t be in the auction house tomorrow, I liked the idea of having him in spirit. Sentimental, I know.
“You are simply ravishing, darling,” Penny drawled in a decent imitation of a southern accent. Her cover story was something about being an oil man’s exotic wife. Brand was playing her husband.
“It’s late,” Chaz called.
I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, we get it. It’s past our bedtime. Are you going to make sure we brush our teeth, too? Maybe tuck us into bed?”
Penny laughed. Even Brand cracked a smile.
?
??Agent Lyons—” Chaz began what was sure to be a great speech about acting my age and responsibility.
“We’ll be finished in a minute,” I cut in. “Stand down until then.”
Apologizing for my snarky attitude was the right thing to do, particularly since Chaz and his partner-in-babysitting were going to report my every move to Victoria. Sadly, it wasn’t going to happen. I resented being treated like a child when I was supposedly in charge of this mission. It was bad enough that Victoria made me bring Brand along, without my opinion being asked, but having these clowns as her eyes and ears was downright insulting. Unable to take out my frustration on the real culprit, I was working with what I had—Chaz and Viktor.
Still, I hadn’t intended my comment to carry a little something extra. Rude, I was okay with. Manipulating Victoria’s lackeys…yeah, she’d freak out if she found out. But Chaz stepped backwards until his spine was flush with the wall, with Viktor mirroring his position on the other side of the door.
“Yes, Ma’am,” they said in unison.
Brand tsked.
“Manipulating the help, Talia? Really?”
“Whatever,” I waved off his comment. “You hate being watched by them, too.”
Slipping behind a privacy screen, I changed out of the turquoise gown and back into the jeans and tee I’d thrown on for dinner.
“Stay out of my head, Lyons!” Brand called after me, with no real bite to his bark.
“Stop projecting and maybe I will!” I sing-songed back.
“ENVISION WALLS AROUND your brain,” I coached Willa. “Big brick ones. Or steel, even. But you can work your way up to that.”
We were sitting in the bedroom she and Riley were assigned, which looked much like the one Talia and I were staying in. Willa was lying in the middle of the bed, eyes closed, head nestled in a feather-filled pillow. I’d pulled a chair over to sit close to her. Riley, who’d refused to leave his girlfriend alone with me, was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. Honora was silently perched on the window seat, shredding a tissue into scraps. She’d barely spoken on the flight here, at dinner, or since the four of us had been alone.
From her thoughts, I knew she was having nearly as hard a time as Willa with all of this. Honora felt horrible for not protecting Kenly. She worried for their friend, James, who was like a brother to Honora. She thought that being captured by the Poachers, his own family, for a second time was going to be too much for James. That he might break.
“I can’t,” Willa groaned. “It’s just not working.”
Drawn out of Honora’s head and into Willa’s, I decided to try a different tactic. Willa had spent so much time connecting with Kenly in the past twelve hours, and Kenly’s emotions were so strong, that the bond was proving impossible to break.
“Relax, Willa,” I ordered, voice firm and authoritative. “Focus on me. Picture stones. Large, heavy, unyielding stones. Good. That’s exactly right. Now stack them. One by one. Concentrate on each new stone, how it expands the wall. Each stone strengthens the wall. Just one bit at a time, you’re doing great.”
“What are you doing to her?” Riley hissed, suspicion lacing his words.
“She can’t do it on her own. I can help her,” I murmured, not wanting to interrupt Willa’s concentration.
“By manipulating her?” Riley demanded.
“Yes,” I replied shortly. “Now shut up or leave. You’re going to ruin it for her.”
“It’s okay, Ri,” Willa slurred. “Let him. I’m just making a wall.”
Riley opened his mouth to continue protesting, but I didn’t give him a chance. He was standing beneath a recessed light in the ceiling, so I solved the problem quickly. When the bulb suddenly sent faint sparks raining down on him, before going out completely, Riley shut his mouth abruptly. See no evil, hear no evil. There was still a small lamp lit near Honora, and I could see her surprised expression in the soft light.
With blessed silence from the peanut gallery, I slowly helped Willa erect the mental barriers necessary to block Kenly’s emotions. I pointedly ignored Riley’s mental streams about how unethical it was for a UNITED agent to be brainwashing someone. Couldn’t the guy see that his girlfriend was in agony? There had only been brief respites for her, where the connection would abruptly cease entirely. But those moments only tormented Willa even more, because she knew that it meant Kenly was sedated.
With her first real emotional reprieve since learning of Kenly’s abduction, Willa began to relax, her breathing even and low. I hadn’t meant for her to fall asleep, but the energy she’d been using while engaging her Talent for such an extended period of time had cost Willa. She was drained.
Once I was convinced she was asleep, I stood and stretched. Willa wasn’t the only one exhausted. Not that it was anything new—it seemed like I was always exhausted anymore.
Through the darkness surrounding him, I met Riley’s gaze over my shoulder. Even though he was still glaring at me, the hard edges had been softened by relief for his girlfriend.
“You’re welcome,” I said pointedly. “I’m off to bed. See you guys later.”
“Thanks, mate,” Riley said, his gratitude genuine. He extended his hand as I passed by him on the way to the door. “Seriously. You’re bloody powerful, you know? I don’t mind telling you—it’s rather off-putting.”
I snorted, but shook his hand.
“So are you, man. Turning into my girlfriend was a little ‘off-putting,’ but you don’t see me complaining.”
Riley laughed.
“’Night, you wanker.”
“Back at you. I think,” I said, and headed into the hallway.
Talia was sitting on our bed, already dressed in her pajamas. She had on tiny little shorts and a soft tee that was so thin it was nearly see-through. For a minute, I just watched her. She was rereading the intel on her communicator, eyes squinted as if she needed that to help her see better, and hadn’t acknowledged my entrance. A mass of curls was piled atop her head in a messy bun. She alternated between chewing her lip and a thumbnail.
This was how I wanted to see her, not wearing some silly lingerie. It was Talia. Without making any effort at all, without those lacy unmentionables that were impossibly difficult to remove, Talia was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“Nobody likes a voyeur,” Talia sent.
“Would you rather I stare at some other girl?”
She patted the bed, still not breaking eye contact with her comm unit. Continuing to drink in the sight of Talia, I slowly crossed the room to join her.
“No if you want to live to see tomorrow,” she sent back.
“Jealousy? That’s hot, Tals.”
Talia laughed as I slid my arm around her waist and pulled down on the mattress next to me. Even while she continued to read, I pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck.
“You want to see me fight over you?”
Though our banter was playful at the moment, I wouldn’t have joked with her about it a couple months ago. Talia’s temper and her irrational jealousy had once been a touchy subject. Although the occasional flare of jealousy was pretty hot, it had ceased to be a turn-on when those flares became long-burning infernos, directed at anyone without testicles that got near me. Now, I understood it all. Since being infected with the Creation drug, I appreciated how much it screwed with your head. It took any whisper of a feeling and turned it into a roaring monster. She genuinely couldn’t help it at the time.
Since she’d reined in her crazy and was mostly back to the old Talia, I found it endearing once again. My girl had nothing to feel insecure about. Everyone else in the world had ceased to have boobs the moment I’d laid eyes on Talia.
“Nah,” I sent back, trailing more kisses down her neck. “No fighting over little old me is necessary.”
“Really?” she teased, letting her head fall to one side to give my mouth more skin to cover.
“Really.”
Talia twisted in my arms, finally facing
me. I rested my forehead against hers and stared into her eyes, the rich, royal purple irises nearly obliterated by her dilated pupils. Both of our minds were open. In that moment, if she’d bothered to look past the immediate thoughts in my head, she would have seen all of the things I worked so hard to hide. She would have seen the demons lurking in the shadows, ready to jump at a moment’s notice. The metaphorical holes in my stomach, the lining eaten away by guilt over killing former TOXIC Director Danbury McDonough, that refused to budge, even though he had deserved the punishment. He’d meant the world to Talia at one time, and I hated my part in ending his life. But my pity did not end there. I was indirectly responsible for Kenly’s abduction, and if tomorrow’s mission failed, I’d also be responsible for what became of her. The icing on the cake, though, was my guilt over failing Talia, failing to be the man she needed right now. Altogether, it was the darkness that threatened to suck me down within it, and might not ever let me go.
“Stop.” The single word in my mind was spoken as a command. “This is not you. The Erik Kelley that I love does not dwell on shit he can’t change.”
Sitting back, ankles tucked beneath her, Talia levelled her hard gaze at me. Her expression was devoid of the emotion she normally wore on her sleeve.
Great, Victoria is rubbing off on her, I thought absently.
My girlfriend’s icy façade began to crack and I caught a glimpse of what was going on behind the hard exterior. A heart on the verge of breaking. I swallowed hard. I couldn’t lose her. Whether Talia knew it or not, she was the only thing keeping me sane.
I reached for her, but Talia swatted my hand away.
“Do you remember what you told me in D.C.? That first day of placement testing, when I ran off and tried to hide in the hallway?”
She stared at me beseechingly, as if her will alone was enough to make me remember. Talia didn’t need to force the memory. Every second I’d spent with her was ingrained in my mind.
“Do you?” Talia pressed, looking exasperated enough to shake me.
“Yes,” I said quietly, focus never drifting from her eyes. “I told you that I couldn’t help you if you didn’t tell me what was wrong.” Keeping my voice even took a great deal of effort as I spoke my next words. “This is different, Talia. You know what’s wrong with me. You went through it, too. Except—” My temper rose so fast it made me dizzy. “Except, my situation is worse. Exponentially worse.” After slamming my clenched fist into the mattress, I had to grit my teeth to control the urge to hit and break things all around me.