Chapter Five

 

Lani didn’t take exception to Malachi’s harsh demand, simply asking him where she should store her gear. Inwardly cursing himself for being pigheaded and asking for help earlier, he led the tiny Guardian through his three-story home. She didn’t appear impressed by the luxurious furnishings or awed by the priceless artifacts. If anything, she appeared bored. Did she dislike beings of wealth and influence?

Malachi would understand it if she did. New Age Guardians didn’t join the guild for the money. Theirs was a life of danger and sacrifice. At one time, he’d been dazzled by it against his will. Nearly four hundred years ago, Halflings had had no choice but to join. Since Lani was a full blood fairy, he suspected she’d had no other option left except joining the Guild. A hundred and fifty years of her life would be spent protecting Veilerians and their businesses; if she lived that long.

He wanted to look at her, but concentrated on his steps. He’d never met someone so cold. Her manner, her personality, and her very presence carried a distinct chill. It was as though emotions never touched her. It was odd and discomforting. He couldn’t fight the compulsion, sneaking a peek at her as they rounded the second landing.

Lani wisped alongside him like a shadow, making no sound. She didn’t look at her surroundings as though nothing would dare touch her. The servants they passed didn’t even look at her almost as though she wasn’t there.

He stopped in front of a room on the second floor at the complete opposite side of the house from Tia. He could put Lani on the third floor, but that was reserved for his use only.

“This will be your room,” he told her as he opened the door.

The room was decorated in shades of blue and white. When he’d purchased the mansion two hundred years before, he’d had the usual antebellum furnishings, but had recently hired a fairy to redecorate his home. As a result, it was warmer, more inviting. Not that Lani seemed to appreciate it.

Upon entering the room, she set her bulging duffle bag on the floor. He’d tried taking the bag from her, but she’d refused to give it up. When he heard the distinctive clink of metal, he knew it held weapons and considering the impressive bulges in the canvas, she’d brought an arsenal. Had Lucian told her how dangerous it was to be around him?

Lani walked over to the window across from the door sparing the bed a disinterested glance. Malachi knew the window provided a spectacular view of the back gardens which were currently in bloom. Entering after her, he did his best not to look at the bed. Even though she seemed to be frozen solid, something urged him to touch her, to melt and mold her to his body. Yeah, looking at the bed was a bad idea.

“If there’s anything you need, just ring the bell,” he told her in his best dispassionate host’s voice. “The bathroom is through there.” He pointed out the discreet door tucked in the corner of the room.

She turned around slowly to face him again. The sunlit window behind her emphasized the curves of her body, which were now permanently singed upon his corneas.

“I just ask that you don’t poke around. I have several servants and guests staying here,” he continued. Was Tia a guest or a servant, he wondered. “I’ll give you time to get settled.”

When she said nothing, he nodded shortly and exited the room. Gods help him, but she was the strangest female he’d ever met!

*****

Shade looked at the large bedroom she would be staying in. It was pretty, she supposed. Not really her style as it had actual furnishings in it. She almost smiled. Plush carpets cushioned her steps as she walked to her bag. She didn’t bother unpacking her clothes since she wasn’t sure how long she’d be staying at her target’s home.

It was strange to be given shelter by the being she was supposed to kill. A sharp pain in her chest made her wonder what was wrong with her. She’d never experienced as many physical pangs resulting from her long-denied emotions as she had since seeing the target. He was bad for her, she decided as she chose her weapons. Strapping three daggers to her thighs, unmindful of the pain from her self-inflicted wound, she stood and strapped the retractable blade to her back.

The male was problematic. She could still smell his spicy scent hovering in the air. The strange heat in her belly grew into an ache. Shade frowned down at her body. What the hell was wrong with her? She pressed a hand low on her abdomen. She felt strangely swollen and achy at the apex of her thighs. Then she remembered…

She remembered the feeling from her time with Luther. At one time, she’d exulted in the wickedness of her body’s response to a male, but those days were long passed. How could she feel something similar for the man she had to kill? Especially since his death meant she would survive to become the Overlord’s toy?

They were going to kill her. She knew that just as surely as she knew the Overlord would make it hurt worse than anything she’d ever felt in her life. It would be long and drawn out, perhaps with little rest periods, but it would be a slow death nonetheless.

She could come clean with the target. He was working to redeem himself in The Veil. He’d once been an Eturian general; he knew how their superiors worked. Surely he’d forgive her and help her find sanctuary?

Shade scoffed loudly, closing her eyes. The target would slice and dice her himself regardless of the lust in his eyes. But death on her terms was a lot better than anything she’d get from Luther or the Overlord. If she could, she’d kill all three of them just to gain a little peace of mind. Luther and his lord would be easy, but she had a suspicion the target would be harder to eliminate.

“Kill him,” she said out loud, turning the words over in her mind.

“Kill whom?” the target asked from the doorway. “I hope you don’t mean me.”

Shade whirled around. She hadn’t expected him to return so soon. “You didn’t knock.”

One silky, dark eyebrow rose. He looked thoughtful and dangerous. “I waited downstairs for you for two hours. You didn’t show up, so I came to see what was keeping you,” he answered her easily. “I did knock, but you didn’t hear me.”

Shade felt the blood leave her face, but remained unwavering in her defensive stance. She’d lost two hours?

“I apologize,” she responded in a clipped voice.

“Who are you going to kill?” The target, Malachi-

“It was a phrase,” Shade told the target. She would keep his name out of her mind. “I thought a friend nicked one of my knives.”

He studied her carefully. She knew it was a lame story, but it was the best she could do.

Finally shrugging and releasing her from his intense gaze, the target left the room, leading her downstairs. He wouldn’t stand in front of her, a tactic she used herself never letting anyone at her back. They were on the landing when she heard what sounded like a car crash coming from one of the rooms further down the hall.

Seeing her attention directed that way, the target shook his head. “Just one of my guests watching television. Your room is soundproof so you shouldn’t hear anything,” he told her, smiling charmingly. His white teeth flashed in his dark face, drawing Shade’s gaze. The smile died, but the intensity remained in his eyes.

Her mouth felt as dry as a desert while her hands had begun to sweat. What peculiar phenomena was this? Since it was unknown, she decided to ignore it for the moment. “What are we doing tonight?” She made sure her voice was as deadpan and flat as possible hoping to distract the target from her reaction to him.

If anything, his eyes darkened even more, a tint of red creeping into the irises. It was like watching a lunar eclipse. Beautiful and alien. Logically, she knew demons’ eyes turned red when they were feeling high emotion and the crimson swirling in the target’s eyes suggested he was feeling something. Except what?

White teeth sank into his bottom lip, slowly drawing the flesh into his mouth before releasing it. Shade’s eyes were glued to that moist tissue, riveted by the sheen. Her previously dry mouth watered. Her mind registered the changes in her body absently while her focus remained on the target’s mouth. She’d never really noticed anyone’s mouth before unless she was ordered to cut out their tongue, but even then, she’d never studied one with such close scrutiny.

Malachi felt his cock swell as those green eyes stared his mouth as though trying to figure out what he could do with it. If she gave him even the slightest encouragement, she’d find out first hand. Her own lips were flushing with color, the storm grey flesh deepening to slate, though her eyes remained solemn and cold. So her body felt something even though her mind remained untouched. Never having cared much about a female’s mind, he was startled by the sense of grumpiness the thought roused in him.

Those green eyes rose to meet his, granting him a brief glimpse into endless confusion before going blank again. The urge to move in closer and kiss her rushed forward. He barely restrained the impulse. They had work to do, he reminded himself with one last lingering glimpse of her lips.

“I want to show you where you’ll be working,” he sighed, breaking the strange connection. “This way.”

He continued downstairs with Lani moving silently beside him. She was so eerily quiet he wondered how she acted in bed. No, don’t think about bed, he ordered his libido. Except the thought lingered. Was she silent and intense, or was she free with herself?

The puzzle occupied his mind as they stepped into the great room. Now that Tia was no longer imprisoned in it, Malachi decided to put it to better use. He’d ordered all traces of Tia’s former cage removed and the spot next to his throne was eerily bare.

The fairy shifted next to him, sending a waft of gardenia scented air passed his nose. His cock twitched and he had to clench his hands to keep from grabbing her. She worked for him, which meant she was off limits. For now.