"Why would she do something like that?" He growled, obviously upset with where my mind was going.
"Because she loves attention and being targeted by assassins has only garnered the newly found Light Heir a truck load of it. I don’t know Ryder, the Fae are secretive and yet she seems to be loving the limelight of being on the front page of every fucking tabloid in Washington State, in fact Larissa brought in a copy of her having tea with the Governor. So if she was so worried about dying…why is she at the Capitol building having tea in a place easily accessible to an assassin?"
"Enough, she wouldn’t be that careless. You are forgetting that pictures are easily forged."
"That's true Ryder. But she's incredibly excited to be the new Queen-In-Waiting of the Dark Fae and couldn’t ask for more in her new husband who is generous and handsome…her exact words she fed the press last week in Spokane at the Mayor's settee where she had tea with him. Same exact thing she told the Governor."
His teeth ground together as the tick in his cheek flared to life. "Enough Witch."
I smiled, I was back to being just a Witch. Back where I knew what my job here was. "I'd like to try something if we can clear the room and get to a safe distance."
"What do you have in mind?" He asked his eyes still narrowed dangerously. He was touchy about his future bride. So was I. I had forgotten that he was spoken for and yet I'd come close to losing myself in his arms. Easily done since he was Fae and they didn't follow the same rules about marriage as we did.
"We clear the building and try to see if I can make it explode," I smiled impishly crunching my nose at him as several cameras from the others on the scene were going off, taking in every detail of it.
"After the CSI team clears it, you think the dogs missed one?" He asked quietly as he tilted his head as if listening for something.
"If we missed them Ryder, the dogs could have. Something we did at the last two scenes set them off, if I'm right it was magic. Thing is, if I'm right, that means the Vampires have more knowledge of the crime then they are letting on."
"It's possible," Ryder said as we waited for the crime scene unit to finish with their pictures.
When they finally cleared the scene and we had moved a safe distance away, I put up my shield, but nothing happened. I closed my eyes replaying everything I had done inside the other scenes and smiled when I found what it was. Second sight, I'd used it moments before the bomb in the body cavity of the Fairy went off and I had been using it when the one at the Vampire's sad excuse for a calling card went off.
I pulled in just enough power to use it and sent it seeking around the crime scene, nothing happened. I stepped a few feet closer, while Ryder talked to his men and sent it out with a force that would reach inside the house where the bodies lay mutilated.
The house exploded with enough force that I was thrown from the spot I had been standing in and ended up landing on something hard. I coughed as smoke took to the air, making it thick and un-breathable. Noise exploded as my ears started to work again, I tried to sit up but the once solid object gave in as my hands pushed on it and a deep growl sounded next to my ear.
"I hate when you're right," Ryder said inches from my ear as I turned over to find his face close to my own. I'd landed on him. It was becoming an irritating pattern. I smiled brightly. I didn’t mind being right, not at all.
"Thanks for breaking my fall," I whispered not sure if he would hear it over the fire crew we'd called to be on standby as they rushed to stop the fire from spreading while we had waited for CSI to move from it.
He laughed, the sound pressing against my chest where our bodies were fused closely together. "Anytime you want to be on top, just let me know," he said wiggling his eyebrows which was entirely out of character and made him boyishly handsome.
"Pervert, a building just exploded. We should be acting professional," I mumbled already detangling myself from his limbs.
"True and you were right, which means I need to call a Vampire and find out what he knows."
"If nothing else, they know the person who is creating the bombs and it could get us a lead on these sick whack-jobs."
Twenty five
The next afternoon, I helped Larissa prepare her outfit for the Samhain celebration at the Guild. She had picked out a yellow corn silk dress that had an imperial waistline and would make her green eyes pop. She always looked good, no matter what color she wore. Her perfection and her smile were contagious.
"Syn, I wish you would reconsider and come with us tonight instead of going with him. Who cares about the stupid contract? I just wish he would commit to releasing you back to Alden after we figure out who's trying to kill his fiancé."
"What if he doesn’t, what if this was all just an elaborate scheme that we played into? The picture at the crime scene was the same one at the other that you showed me. All of the victims in the files match her description from the tabloids."
"That’s a whole lot of what if's Syn, without any hard evidence."
I sighed dejectedly, she was right. I needed proof, something that was substantial enough to make people understand that something about these murders had to deal directly with Arianna. It could be as simple as the killer had an infatuation with her, but what didn’t make sense was, the fact that the Fairy had been killed, or where a woman would fit in to it, other than some creep being infatuated with the Light Heir.
Speaking of fairies, Malinda walked in with a stack of shopping bags. She smiled as Larissa and I jumped up to help her from where we had been sitting on the bed talking. "Oh thanks! Ryder sent me, told me to tell you he secured an outfit he would like you to wear tonight," Malinda said grinning from ear to beautiful ear.
I bit my lip as Larissa's eyes swung to me questioningly. I knew what she was thinking, hell I was thinking it! He'd bought me an outfit and there were bags filled with shoes and other things as well. "It's not a date!" I blurted causing both women to turn around with beautiful matching smiles. "It's not," I grumbled.
Malinda tipped her head and examined me. She crinkled her nose at my sweat pants and tank top. I waited watching her mind work, yea good luck making me look beautiful—tomboy I could do, deadly assassin, in the freaking bag, but beautiful arm candy? I almost laughed at the thought.
"Ever considered cutting your hair into an actual style?" Malinda said as Larissa snorted from beside me. I tossed her a cool leveled glare.
"What's wrong with the style I have?" I asked feeling self-conscious.
"Nothing, but I don’t think it has been cut in years…and I can see from here it is a few different lengths. I am very good at cutting." Malinda said softly.
"Yeah, so am I," I retorted meaning something else entirely.
"Can I trim it a little? I promise not to touch your bad girl image," Malinda said with a mischievous smile.
I was about to put my foot down when Larissa caught my eye, she looked excited about this and the fact that I was doing something really girly. "Fine," I said before I could think it over too much.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It took Malinda a few hours of primping, waxing and some very painful plucking before she had me stand in front of the mirror she had brought into the room. Larissa stood primped up perfectly herself, but I had done a full transformation.
I had straight hair that had been curled to frame my face. Malinda had put on a light blue eye shadow that made my eyes strikingly electric blue. She'd applied a light blush to my cheeks which gave my face definition and a touch of softness that was usually hidden by the tough exterior I hid behind. My lips had been glossed but she'd left them alone otherwise stating only that they were already perfect.
The dress Ryder had secured was an expensive designer work of art. It came to mid-thigh, leaving my legs and most of my thighs exposed. It had a sweetheart neckline and was sleeveless other than the two straps that flowed over my shoulders and crisscrossed around the back to meet the only other strap that held the back of the dress together. They
also kept the dropped V-line back from showing off my rear.
"Syn, you look stunning," Larissa said fanning her eyes to keep from messing her mascara up.
I smiled at her from where I still faced the mirror, I don't think I came close to matching her beauty, but I was one hundred percent woman right now. I let my eyes drop to the stunning small heels and smiled. They laced up my ankles and had tiny ruby-like jewels that matched the necklace with the twin dragon pendant on it that he'd sent to replace the Celtic one he'd given me days ago.
"Wow Malinda, you managed to make Syn speechless," said Larissa, "You're amazing, simply amazing,"
A knock sounded at the door right before Adam walked in and stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes filled with love for Larissa. "Wow, you look amazing," his eyes swung to me as I watched through the reflection of the mirror, "Holy shit bricks Syn, no way in hell are you going anywhere with Ryder looking like that."
I smiled and crinkled my nose, "It's not a date. It's simply research so I know what to expect from the Fae for the ball."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that and eventually you might buy it. I'm a guy Syn and I'm telling you straight up we don’t take women looking like that anywhere for just research."
"Well it's not like that," I said wondering who I was trying to convince more, myself or him? My smile faltered with the reality of what I was doing and who I was going with came rushing back. I closed my eyes briefly, knowing I was making a mistake by going with him tonight.
"Adam! Get out. You always put your foot in that fat mouth of yours. She is going for research, who cares if she is the hottest damn thing in the club?"
I blinked as Larissa went off on Adam. She thumped her foot as she crossed her arms and waited for him to leave. I knew better, he wouldn’t walk out and leave her upset, he wasn’t built like that. "It's okay, really." I said when Larissa didn’t let up.
"I don’t like her going out with him, not without us as backup baby," he said messing with the suit tie he wore.
Larissa's sternness gave away to a huff of air as she rushed forward and threw her arms around Adam's neck. "I know. Me either but she won't change her mind. Looking like that she could have any guy inside the Guild and we could watch her back."
I snorted, "I'll be fine, if not I'll call you. You two enjoy tonight. We need to let loose once in a while. Just remember not to make a huge show of your newly found feelings tonight, never know who might try and use it against us. Just be safe and have fun tonight."
Adam smiled roguishly, "Right, so I shouldn’t grind my erection into her on the dance floor?"
"Ahh," I held up my hands covering my ears making a show of it, "My ears!"
We all laughed, including Malinda who had been watching us. Adam released his hold on Larissa and stepped up until I had no choice but to turn around and face him. "Be careful tonight Syn, call us if you need us. We'll come," he said before pulling me in for a hug carefully as to not wrinkle the silk dress. "You look beyond amazing tonight, just remember, one call and we're there."
I smiled, "Considering I don’t even know where there is, you're just going to have to trust that I am able to take care of myself for once."
He swallowed and nodded, "We're well aware that you can Syn that's never been in doubt. It's all this shit with Adrian coming back, it has to be driving you crazy knowing he was a few blocks from us this entire time and you're vulnerable right now."
It was my turn to swallow and nod. "You guys remember what I told you earlier about Adrian's reason? I mean it doesn’t change what he did by leaving us, but you guys should know, he's still tapped in to us, our power. I need to release him, just couldn’t do it yesterday."
"Shit, so he's been connected to us this whole time," Larissa said putting her hand over her mouth in disbelief.
"Yes, but I didn’t realize it until yesterday when I knocked him on his ass. He pulled from my power I'd tapped into. He was able to draw power from me." I exhaled a shaky breath and continued, "I'll take care of it, but I needed you guys to be aware of it as well. He's chosen a side and if he ever was against us, well, he'd know our moves before we would."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I walked out of the room with my friends by my side, we'd all be leaving close to the same time and I was as ready as I would ever be. With my heart in my throat I looked down the intricate long stairwell and found Ryder watching us.
He was decked out in a black suit. He was mind blowing in his finery. I had to remember how to breathe as I took the stairs carefully in the heels. He was devastating tonight. His short hair was loose, falling over his ears as he watched me through his perfect bedroom eyes. His hands folded in front of him as the perfect smirk covered his beautiful mouth.
When we reach the bottom of the stairs he came over, his eyes roving over my body hungrily, his wicked sexy grin was blinding compared to the usual cocky air he showed. Tonight it's gone and in its place is a sexy intriguing male who is oozing fuck-me vibes that sent heat pooling to my molten center.
"Syn," he said lifting his grin into a smile as I accepted his arm that he held out for support. "You look beautiful," his eyes slowly slid down my body with naked desire in their fiery golden depths.
"You clean up pretty good as well Ryder," I mumbled before biting my lip as I smiled.
Adam leaned in and whispered in my ear before he and Larissa went out the doors, "It's so a date."
I blushed, turning to watch his retreating back as he turned smiling back at me wiggling his eyebrows childishly over his shoulder. Ryder only laughed as we followed them to the waiting limos outside. I looked at it and smiled. It was black gloss in color and had tinted windows.
He opened the door and we climbed in silently, when we were fully inside he sat across from me, his eyes dangerously sexy as they caressed over me. I crossed my legs and leaned against the seat for support, which I needed in any form I could get right now.
I managed to pull my eyes from his hungry look and watched as we drove away from the mansion. The loud sound of a cork being removed from a bottle made me jump and place both hands on the soft leather seats.
Ryder laughed, "Scared to be alone with me Pet?"
I watched the bubbles flow from the bottle, none of them landing on his crisp freshly pressed suit. "Not at all," I lied.
"You’re a horrible liar and you should be afraid. The things I want to do with you right now…I could think of a few hundred things to do right now that don’t include ending up at the club tonight."
I swallowed and narrowed my eyes on him, "This isn't a date. You promised to give me a time frame for when you would release me from the contract."
This isn’t a date, yeah nice Syn! He hadn’t said anything about it being a date.
"So I did," he said as he reached to the window box and pulled out two champagne flutes and held them in one hand as he filled them before offering me one, which I accepted without a second thought. I needed it to calm my nerves. Or at least, that is what I told myself.
"Are you going to?" I asked prompting a reply from him.
"At the end of the night, is what we agreed on. Until then you promised to relax and not try to control everything. So drink and relax Syn. Loosen up and enjoy the night. Tomorrow we have to continue the search for the killers."
"What is it you expect from me tonight exactly, Ryder?" I asked watching his dangerous eyes flick to my legs.
"The possibilities are endless Synthia."
Twenty Six
We entered the sub-level of the club through an elevator which I hadn't noticed the first time I'd been inside Sidhe Darklands. It had been a short visit and I'd been bordering on hysterical when I'd been here signing his contract. This level was exclusive. Security was thick inside the club tonight as if they were expecting trouble. I fisted my hands at my side as my eyes wandered and took in the assortment of creatures inside the club. It was something out of a nightmare, different branches of the Fae, many kinds I had never seen befor
e, mingling with humans who looked to be here willingly. Of course I looked willing—which was really still up in the air.
"Having second thoughts?" Ryder asked close enough to my ear that his breath fanned my neck.
I turned to look at him as the elevator behind us opened to allow more Fae into the room. One approached us not even trying to hide what he was. He was dressed immaculately, his long hair tied at his nape with a strip of leather. His eyes were red with orange around the irises, his hair coppery red.
"Ryder," he said stopping to bow to Ryder who tipped his head to acknowledge the newcomer.
"Altius," Ryder said dismissing him with a nod.
The Fae moved on without another word as Ryder's men, who had come earlier, moved in around us. Tonight they looked wild, as if they were fighting against something and losing. Zahruk's eyes were wild, his mouth tightened from strain. I was about to ask if he was okay, or if we should worry, when music started up from the stage set up in the front of the small intimate club.
We were moved further in as more and more Fae showed up, each acknowledging Ryder before moving deeper into the club. "You know them all?" I asked turning my head to watch his response.
He smiled wolfishly, his eyes turning to lock with mine. "Why wouldn’t I?" He asked quietly which I barely managed to hear over the pounding music.
"Because most look like they might be from the Horde," I said just as quietly.
His smile grew bigger, "Someone has been doing her homework," Ryder replied his eyes now challenging me to say more.
If he was moving in on the Horde in the King's absence it was none of my business, not unless it caused a war which crossed into my world. Until then, it was his problem. I smiled and let it drop for a moment which only seemed to amuse him.
“Dark Fae consorting with the Horde,” I whispered more to myself, but Ryder heard it anyways.