“Well, took us long enough,” Jacob says as the four Fae munch on big shawarma plates with fries. “I mean, we were looking for a human in a pile of humans, but still . . . took us long enough.”

“Half-human,” Noah says, eating in efficient, large bites. “Who’s bonded with us.”

“You know the bond isn’t an exact guide. At least we found her,” Cole says. “And trying to keep track of Eve in this realm has proven more difficult than we anticipated. I hate cars.”

Noah sighs, nodding. Whether it’s right or not, all four have admitted that their sexual encounters with Eve have formed a bond with her . . . and even if it’s against the rules, they’re drawn to her like moths to a flame. “Yeah, but look at her.”

Across the street in what is supposed to be a FedEx depot, Eve’s working with a group of men in tactical gear, all of them armed as they talk about something. The only reason the four Fae haven’t charged across the street is because the team, a dozen heavily-armed humans, seems to be led by her. Though how she came to be in a position of power has escaped them all. Eve is supposed to be captured or killed on sight, sold as a violent Para who threatens the stability of the whole human-Para balance. Surprisingly, none of the team seems to question her authority in any way, all listening at attention and not a single roving eye among the lot of them.

The Fae stare at Eve. She’s wearing a black, high-necked bodysuit and boots, and she’s seductive, her hips swaying and making their cocks swell in their pants. They’ve all had a taste of her and yearn to have her again.

Eve dismisses her team and goes over to the back of what looks like a normal delivery van . . . if delivery vans were surreptitiously armored and had armories in the back. Opening the door, she takes out the rest of her gear, strapping it around her body while at the same time accentuating her curves. Dual thigh holsters carry two pistols, while on her wrists, she straps what look like large bracelets.

They finish their food and keep watch. Cole goes back over to the food cart, dropping a silver nugget into the tip cup. When he comes back, Tyler taps his shoulder. “Look.”

Eve’s finished gearing up, having a last-minute discussion with one of the tactical team before he gives her a short salute and walks away. Surprised, the Fae wait until she’s alone before approaching the fence. “Hey, sugar buns,” Jacob whispers, making Eve look up. “Got a minute?”

Eve’s face brightens, a smile lighting up her beautiful face as she sets her bottle of water down and approaches. “Guys!” she whispers back. “Please, give me a second to explain. I’ve got my chance to finish this.”

Cole looks at the group and then turns back to Eve. “What do you mean, you have a chance to finish this? What are you doing? We thought you’d been captured by the government . . . or by your partner. But it looks like you’re in command here. What is going on?”

“Joe’s a good man,” Eve says, glancing over her shoulder. “But guys, I need to see this through. Joe—”

“Is a dirty cop,” Tyler says. “We saw him at a meeting, Marcus’s coven is planning an attack. Joe was there. He’s a part of it.”

“I know. Joe told me all about it,” Eve replies, clasping fingers with Tyler. “Oh, Tyler, Jacob, I know I was wrong, but I had to find Alyssa. I couldn’t stand waiting a second longer. She’s safe now, but Joe was undercover. That’s what this team is for. Marcus’s coven isn’t setting a trap. They’re walking straight into one. And this team . . . we’re going to be the jaws that close on them.”

Noah, who’d been watching the whole team carefully, clears his throat. “There were many there, Eve. This team isn’t enough, I don’t care how trained they are. They’re still human.”

“This isn’t the whole team,” Eve reassures him. She looks him in the eyes, seeing the deep worry in them.

A vigilante truck drives down the street, bold in the daylight. “Jacob, Noah, Tyler . . . secure across the street,” Cole says quietly. “They are looking for four, not four individuals.”

The other three Fae nod, leaving Cole alone with Eve. “I would not trust him, Eve. I was there with Noah. It did not seem an act or undercover.”

“I’ve known Joe for years,” Eve says. “I can read him pretty well. You know, Cole, you’re cute when you’re being overprotective.”

“I am only telling you what I saw. I don’t like this plan, nor that we had to find you ourselves.”

“I had no way to contact you or I would have. And yeah, maybe I had a feeling you’d try to stop me.”

Cole stops, flummoxed for a moment before sighing. “Eve, we’d decided to help you put a stop to this vampire attack, but watching you prepare and go into battle wasn’t part of the deal. As . . . good as you look in that outfit.”

Eve bites her lip, looking down. “Cole, I have to do this. I need you to let me do it.”

Another truck goes down the street, more vigilantes preparing for the night’s ‘fun.’ Eve and Cole glance in that direction before she locks eyes with him again. “The team thinks I don’t know where you are, and you can’t join the operation . . . at least, not openly.”

“We are Guardsmen. We do not sit on the sidelines, Eve.”

“I know. I don’t need our bond to see that,” Eve says. “But can you at least just stay close but out of sight, and if shit goes south, do what you do? After tonight, we’ll go to Lunaria. I vow that.”

Cole clenches his jaw but nods. He understands, even if what Eve wants to do is dangerous. Suddenly, he leans in, Eve meeting him in a kiss through the chain-link fence that leaves them both breathless. “We will watch until it is time to not watch.”

A call for her from the depot punctuates his words, and Cole watches her nod and leave, crossing the street.

“This isn’t a wise idea,” Jacob fumes, barely keeping his voice low enough not to be overheard. “Why did you agree to this?”

“She needs this, Jacob,” Cole replies. “She has a stain on her conscience, even if it’s unwitting. She needs to cleanse herself, not feel guilty.”

“Guilt, my cock!” Jacob hisses. “She popped a thrall who deserved to die. This is beyond what we agreed, Cole.”

“You have borne with it thus far, Jacob,” Cole says. “We’ll stick to the sidelines until she needs us.”

Jacob grumbles for a moment before finally agreeing. “Fine. But I don’t like it.”

Cole nods. “I don’t either, but she needs this. In the meantime, we have some plans of our own to develop. Let us prepare.”