Chapter Six
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“What’s it like working for Connor?” EmmaLee asked as she handed Lexi a glass of Merlot. She then sat on the sofa across from her.
“It’s… good.”
That wasn’t a resounding endorsement. “Is he tough on his employees or something?”
Lexi lifted her wine and smiled. “Not tough, just intense. Connor takes every case seriously. You just have to be around him for a while, and then you’ll know that he is fair and protective of his people. Sam sure adores him.” She sipped her drink. “But didn’t you spend a few weeks with him? What’s your take?”
EmmaLee didn’t like to be put on the spot. Connor would probably hear about everything she said. “He’s definitely the protective type—almost too much so. He never let me leave the house alone.”
“That makes sense. Someone did harm you.”
“Yes, but I could have handled Slater if he’d returned.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Handle him? Like you did the last time?”
She deserved that. “All I meant is that after one of his outbursts, he was always sorry. I never saw him after the last beating though. If he shows up again, it will probably be to apologize.” She held up a hand. “Forget I said that. I’m being naïve, I know.”
Lexi smiled but quickly sobered. “Do you have a concealed weapon permit?”
EmmaLee’s heart nearly dropped to her stomach. “No! I could never shoot anyone.”
“Not even if he were attacking you?”
She sipped on her drink. “I don’t know if I could. Ugh, I understand why Connor worries about me. I’m a wimp.”
“No, you aren’t.” Lexi set down her glass. “Connor is like Sam. When I had a stalker after me, Sam never let me out of his sight, and I felt as if I was in jail—albeit a really nice one.”
She liked that she and Lexi had that in common. “Are all shifters like that?”
“Oh, Sam wasn’t a shifter until we mated. He’s a Wendayan. For the most part, shifters are highly protective, but honestly I think most guys have that trait—at least the good ones do. It’s a man thing, whether shifter, Wendayan, or just plain human.” Lexi laughed. “Then again, Sam and I were fated to be mates, so he was extra careful to make sure nothing happened to me.”
EmmaLee stilled. For a split second she let herself think she and Connor might be destined for one another, but then dismissed it. “Do you know of anyone who has been mated to a human?”
Lexi looked to the ceiling. “Yes. Kalan Murdoch, Jackson’s brother, is mated to Elana. She was a human.”
“Really?” Her pulse shot up.
“Yes, after her parents were murdered, the thieves came after her, so the sheriff’s department assigned Kalan to protect her.”
It kind of sounded like her situation. “This mating thing sounds like the luck of the draw.”
Lexi smiled. “Was it? Or did Naliana have her hand in who was chosen?”
“Ah, yes, Vinea’s sister, the goddess of mating. Has it worked out between her and Kalan?”
“Yes, and they are very much in love. They even have an adorable toddler named Aiden.”
EmmaLee sighed. “That sounds wonderful.”
“And you? Tell me about yourself.”
Ugh. Her life was boring. “I’m a friend of Vinea’s.”
Lexi’s lips firmed, almost as if she wasn’t sure how to react to that statement. “I remember now. It was because Devon and Vinea were on their honeymoon that they asked Connor to watch you.”
EmmaLee wasn’t quite sure how to take her comment. “Were you one of the ones she did something bad to when she was a goddess of the dark realm?” Vinea had harmed a lot of people. After a while, the names became jumbled.
Lexi’s eyes widened. “You were aware of her evil ways—or should I say her former evil ways?”
“Yes. She told me everything—from how she’d tried to kill Missy’s mate to how she had stolen cars. After one of the cars she’d taken was stolen from her, Vinea ended up at the diner where I worked. The first time I saw her, I felt a connection. She had a sad aura encompassing her.”
“Vinea, sad?”
“Yes. I’m sure you know she had been born in the light realm and was then kicked out. For hundreds of years, she had to live as a bad person, hurting a lot of them.”
“That may be, but the first time I met her, Vinea was trying to steal my mate’s powers.” Her lips pinched and her respiration increased.
“Oh, shit. I just put the names to the crime. She tried to steal Sam’s magic.” Lexi nodded. “It was then that Naliana shot her with the light.” EmmaLee didn’t want to spend the night discussing Vinea’s dark days, but she would if it helped Lexi get some closure.
“Yes. If it hadn’t been for Naliana, Vinea would have succeeded.” Lexi’s breathing slowed. “Thankfully, Devon dunked her in Silver Lake, which seemed to be the turning point.” A wistful smile crossed her lips. “When she came back to Silver Lake the next time, she ended up saving my life.”
It was all coming back. “Ah, yes. Vinea mentioned how she’d raced to find the EpiPen in time.”
“Bad memories.” Lexi polished off the rest of her wine. “So tell me what you do for a living, and what you like to do.”
Clearly, Vinea was not Lexi’s favorite topic. “I’m working on my master’s degree. To make ends meet, I waitress on the side.”
“Cool. What are you studying?” Lexi asked.
“The official title is Lore and Legends of the Ancient World, but much of what I study is more than a legend, it’s real—especially when the tales are about men who can shift into animals. Vinea was a goddess, and you certainly can attest that shifters exist.”
“What do you hope to accomplish with your research? Are you planning on exposing us?” While she kept her tone even, it was tinged with fear.
“No! I’ll only discuss what is already written in the literature about shifters. I’d never state that my bodyguard is one or that my best friend was a goddess. Not only would they boot me out for being a kook, leaking firsthand information would scare people.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Then what will you do with it?”
“Defend my thesis, which focuses on dragon shifters.” She held up a hand. “Before you tell me they don’t exist, let me say you might be right. I just like learning what research has been done on them. If they don’t exist, then I can’t harm anyone by writing about them.”
Lexi smiled. “Thank you for not giving the world proof we exist, but it must be so frustrating to know the truth but not tell people.”
EmmaLee shrugged. “It is.”
“How did you get interested in the topic?”
As much as EmmaLee wanted to tell someone the real reason for her passion, she wasn’t ready to dredge up the memory. “Growing up, I was fascinated by witches, fairies, and stuff like that. I was a very curious child. Hell, I still am.”
“Fairies? Do you think they are real?”
EmmaLee almost laughed at the look of surprise on her face. “Witches, or rather Wendayans are real, so why not other types of beings?”
Lexi held up her hands. “You’re right. Who am I to say they don’t exist? If I weren’t a werewolf and a Wendayan, I probably wouldn’t believe in any of it.”
Excitement raced through her. “Exactly. I’m glad you’re open-minded, unlike your boss.”
“Connor doesn’t believe too much in heresay.”
“So I’ve found out.” EmmaLee leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees, then winced and sat up straight. How quickly she’d forgotten about her sore back. “I’m really close to learning whether dragon shifters exist, but Connor thinks I’m quite the eccentric.” Lexi’s mouth curled downward. “You haven’t met one, have you?” Her pulse hammered.
“No, but my brother Ronan is a bounty hunter—a shifter bounty hunter—and he’s made mention of them a time or two.”
“For real?” This was too good to be true.
“Yes. He’s talking with Connor right now. You should meet him. I bet he’d share what information he’s found.”
She grinned. “I’d love that.” Assuming Connor would let her. Her cheer then evaporated. “Connor would have to drive me to the office, and I doubt he’d want me to bother your brother.”
Lexi tapped her foot then snapped her fingers. “I got it. Tell Connor that you need to do research, and that I told you how McKinnon and Associates has access to a lot of databases. If Jackson is free, he could help you. He’s into the existence of other realms and things like that.”
EmmaLee’s throat almost closed up. “Other realms? Are you kidding me? Okay, I know there’s the dark and the light realms, but are you saying other ones exist?”
Lexi planted a hand on her chest. “You need to speak with him.”
There was something she wasn’t saying, but that was okay. EmmaLee would find out from Jackson. All of this was too good to be true. “How far away is your office?”
“Maybe two miles.” Her eyes widened. “You don’t have a car?”
“No. Connor didn’t want me to have a lot of freedom. Given the circumstances I can understand why.”
She nodded. “He lives only a few streets away. Ask him to drive you to work.”
EmmaLee almost laughed. “I think Connor is trying to avoid me.”
She shook her head. “He’s too professional.”
“I still don’t think he wants me around.”
“I doubt that, but what if I pick you up tomorrow morning? It would have to be early since I would have to hook you up with a computer before I start my day. You can do your research there. When Connor comes in and sees you, I doubt he’ll insist you leave.”
EmmaLee wanted to hug her. “That would be fantastic. If I run into Ronan or Jackson that would be even better.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Someone knocked on the door, and Lexi jumped up. “That must be Connor. Remember, what was said here, stays here,” her new friend announced.
She liked Lexi. “You don’t have to worry about me!”
When Lexi let Connor in, it was as if the air evaporated from the room. His facial hair had thickened from not having shaven today, but she liked the rugged look. EmmaLee also appreciated how his tight jeans hugged his ass.
Stop staring. “Hi.” EmmaLee stood, not knowing what else to say.
He looked straight at her—or rather straight through her. “EmmaLee, everything go okay today?”
Given Slater hadn’t shown up, why wouldn’t it have? “Great. Thanks for sending over Lexi.”
Her friend placed a hand on Connor’s arm. “I need to get home.” She turned back around. “Nice meeting you. Hope to see you soon!”
“You too.”
Once the door closed, Connor moved closer. “What did you do today?” His voice sounded forced as if he felt obligated to ask.
“I read. I tried doing some research, but the Internet is spotty here. I got frustrated.”
“The signal doesn’t always reach from the main house. I’ll see if we can hook you up with something better.”
“I appreciate it. As long as you’re here, we should talk.”
“About what?” She couldn’t tell if he sounded afraid or concerned.
“I know it’s only been a day, but I’d really like to be able to get out. I’m a people person. I need to talk to others.”
“You talked to Lexi.”
“That was for maybe an hour. What should I do for the rest of the time? Do you expect me to stay holed up here forever? What if Slater is never caught?” EmmaLee moved closer to drive home her point, and she swore his eyes lightened. “Do you have any evidence he knows where I am?”
He had the courtesy to look away. “No.”
“So why not let me loose? It can’t be fun for your parents to have to watch me all the time, or you for that matter. Besides, I’m not the same person I was before. I am smarter and can protect myself against Slater.” She gave him a finalizing poke in the chest. There. She told him.
A small smile lifted his lips but only for a moment. “Is that right?” He strode over to the refrigerator and retrieved a beer. She hadn’t even noticed his mom had brought any over.
“Yes. Vinea gave me the power to wrap myself in some kind of force field thing that will repel Slater or anyone else who attacks me.”
He thumbed off the lid and tossed back a good portion of the drink. “Interesting. Show me.”
Damn, she figured he’d say that. “I have to be frightened for it to work. Vinea said if I’m threatened this bubble of protection will appear around me.”
One eyebrow rose. “Hmmm. So this bubble wrap is merely speculative? You can’t be certain it will work, can you?”
“Why are you always such a skeptic?” She hadn’t meant her words to come out so sharp, but she was tired of being doubted all the time. It didn’t matter she’d wondered the same thing.
He set down his bottle on the counter and strode toward her. With each step, her pulse rose. She really wished she could get a spell to make her immune to his…his…charms. Not that he was charming in any way. There was just something about him that made her want him. Damn. Heartbreak, here I come.
“I don’t want you hurt again. Is that so difficult to understand?” This time his voice had softened.
“No, but I’ll go crazy if I can’t leave this place.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. You can be free.”
She didn’t believe him. “Free as in I can go where I want?”
“Yes.”
Something was up. “Will you lend me a bike or something?” She couldn’t afford to rent a car. While it would be chilly being outside, she’d deal. If nothing else, EmmaLee was used to adversity.
“I can do that.” He sat down on the sofa and clicked on the television, acting as if they hadn’t had the conversation.
She crossed her arms. “You don’t have to stay, you know.”
He placed the remote on the coffee table and jumped up. “Are you sure?”
From his tone, he was challenging her. “Yes.”
“Then have a good night. Don’t forget to lock your door.”
With that he left.
It took her a few minutes to believe he’d actually walked out on her. Why the sudden change of heart, especially since he didn’t believe she possessed this extra talent? What wasn’t he telling her?
She’d thought about asking him to pretend to attack her to see if this bubble thing would appear, but since she could never be afraid of Connor, it would only prove to him that she was making it up.
EmmaLee paced her tiny living room, trying to figure out why he had caved. For the first time in a long while, she needed a drink.