Soraya

 

I blinked, rising to my feet and Drax became amused. “What?” I asked unsteadily.

Mirois also looked stunned, while Stalissa and Lhambo looked at each other. “Cleared?” Mirois demanded. “When was this decided?”

“This morning. I’d spent sufficient time with Dez and the others on the ground to get the whole story. Manzul, Seng, and Finnick were in Boston on my orders – I sent them in after Lafi started fibbing on her reports.” My cheeks went warm. “I knew Lafi wouldn’t lie without good reason. And Andrei was already there.

“So, it made sense they team up and investigate the vigilante. Only they wound up aiding him as well because Lafi is right.” His voice suddenly became crisp. “The Shifters of Anubis would have been in a very bad spot if not for Desmond Devoy. Imagine, Mirois, those criminals on the loose, with either Lafi or Devoy as leverage. What a nightmare.”

“But…” Mirois started to say and I stared at her in surprise.

“You have seen the footage, haven’t you, Mirois?” Drax asked, his voice suddenly cold. “The film retrieved by the smuggler that Desmond brought to us – shifter, hybrid and inanis alike being collared. If we hadn’t known about that – we would have been blindsided.

“Never mind the fact that this man sitting in front us managed to pull one apart with his bare hands to save the life of one of our most valuable agents.”

His voice rang through the room and silence fell.

“And they still would have been making money through FP,” Lhambo commented after a moment. “What a good thing Drax recommended pulling Lafi out to investigate this.”

“I agree,” said Stalissa. “But I’m not sure about Drax single-handedly making this decision.”

“Neither am I. Why are we here if that’s the case?” Mirois demanded.

“You asked,” Drax said, glancing over at them. “But you do know, according to our own protocols, since Lafi was working this assignment under me, I could clear the charges without consultation. If we were charging him, then we would need a full council.” He gave them a wolfish grin and silver danced in his eyes. “Why else would there be empty chairs in here?”

A strange tension had filled the room. I'd never seen the Heads come so close to fighting in front of people. Usually, they eschewed informality to show an unbroken line of support.

This had temporarily distracted me and then it hit me again.

“Dez is free to go?” I asked and Dez looked up at me, smiling. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “You bastard, you’re going to pay for not telling me.”

“I couldn’t,” he whispered back. “Drax insisted on it.”

“There’s more,” Drax said and I whipped my head around, shoulders tensing as I laid a hand on Dez’s chest, as though to protect him from what was coming. “Lafi, most people in love have the edge taken off of them,” he nodded at Piper who went pink, “not increased ten-fold.”

“More?” Mirois asked.

“Yes, I want to make a recommendation that Desmond Devoy become a Shifter of Anubis. We can fast-track him through the training.” His eyes flickered to Mirois’s stony face. “Problem?”

Mirois seemed to be struggling to come up with a response and I wondered at that. Perhaps she didn’t care for the high-handed way Drax was handling things, but I couldn’t be more grateful.

“It was Andrei’s idea and you trust him, right?” Drax asked, still staring at Mirois.

She let out a huff. “I’ll consult with him and let you all know.”

“Well, I did tell Dez he had time to think about it,” Drax replied with a lazy grin.

“It’s all very irregular, that’s all, Drax,” Mirois said slowly. “That’s not like you.”

“Nothing is ordinary about our world anymore thanks to the TLO,” Drax said, abruptly standing up. “A King Cheetah sits in front of us. We never thought there'd be another.” He inclined his head. "Dez, it has been a pleasure. Thank you for your patience.”

“Thank you, Drax,” Dez said, inclining his head as Drax swept by.

“Come on, old friend,” Balt said, appearing at our side. “We’re taking you out – anywhere you want. On us.”

Piper was at his elbow and the small, satisfied grin on her face as her eyes flickered from me to Dez made me laugh. “Told you so,” she said in a loud whisper to Balt, who shook his head.

Everyone else was swarming Dez now, hugging and exclaiming over him. Then, they began moving towards the exit, but I paused to glance back at the Heads.

Lhambo and Stalissa were in conversation, their faces relaxed and smiling. But Mirois was pensive, her eyebrows knotted together and hands under her chin. I went to say goodbye when she stood up, pulled out her phone and marched from the room.

What was that all about? I wondered as I left the room and joined the crowd in the hall.

“You’re welcome,” said a voice in my ear. Turning, I saw Andrei standing there, looking supremely pleased with himself. “Nothing to worry about. I don’t make promises lightly.”

“Did you know he was cleared of charges this morning?” I demanded, raising my fists.

Dez was there and grabbed my hands. “I told you, Drax wanted us to keep it quiet.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Don’t know,” Andrei said. “Balt’s paying, so let’s go eat.”

We somehow managed to get a table at Dez’s favorite Italian restaurant downtown.

Sitting next to Dez, I couldn't stop looking at him, watching as he ate, laughed, and talked. His arm was draped over my chair, fingers clasping my shoulder and he didn't let go.

I was so happy, I almost forgot to eat.

At some point, near dessert, the conversation turned to joking about relationships and Balt was teasing Dez on holding back when it came to his knowledge about women.

“No,” Dez protested. “Soraya is different.”

“That’s for sure,” Andrei said, smirking at me. “But Balt, trust me, I saw this all happen. This man sitting in front of us might be on my level of smooth operator now, but it wasn’t like that a few weeks ago.” Dez gave him a look and Andrei laughed. “What?”

“To think I stuck up for you with Soraya, what was I thinking?” he asked.

“Aw, come on, you know you were making a royal ass of yourself, King,” Andrei said.

Dez turned and looked at me. My heart fluttered under his solemn but sweet gaze. “I was falling in love,” he said, “In fact, I might still be.”

Isla and Kesari melted into each other, and chorused, “Aw!”

“Damn, now that’s pretty smooth, I think Balt might right,” Kai chortled.

“You do make an ass out of yourself,” Roy admitted and Kesari laughed.

Poking Roy’s shoulder, she said, “I can vouch for that.”

Isla leaned into Kai and smiled. “Me too.”

“Must be a Weslark thing,” Andrei said with a yawn, stretching his arms out. “That’s not me.”

“Not yet,” Kesari said seriously, leaning forward and cupping her chin in her hands. She was gazing at Andrei. “Not until you fall in love.”

I laughed at the startled, almost wary expression that appeared on Andrei’s face at Kesari’s words. He was staring at her, unable to come up with a retort under her earnest gaze.

Everyone else began laughing too, Dez’s warm in my ear.

Roy threw an arm around Kesari. “This is why I love you. Only you could tongue-tie Andrei Zima. Look at him, he’s about to pass out.”

Shaking himself, Andrei let out a bark. “You had me for a second, yeah, but sorry, Kesari. That will be the day hell freezes over – I’m always cool, kid.” He winked at her. “Eye of the tiger.”

“Careful what you wish for, Andrei,” I said, smirking at him. “The universe has a way of making you eat your words.” He raised an eyebrow over at me. “And no one has more to say than you, right?”

Andrei looked discomfited at that, causing another round of laughter. The conversation ebbed away as Piper asked Dez about his glasses.

Touching his face, Dez laughed, “Actually, becoming a shifter fixed my eyesight.”

All too soon, we were leaving and standing en masse in the parking lot. Andrei and Roy were rough-housing when his phone rang and Andrei stepped away. Instantly his face changed.

The camaraderie and easy laughter were instantly stifled.

Andrei hung up and drew a hand across his face.

“What is it?” Piper demanded.

“A message from the TLO sent to the Shifters of Anubis.” He paused. “From Frost.”

“What was it?” Kai asked, pulling Isla closer to him.

“They sent forth men to battle,” Andrei said slowly. “But no such men return; And home, to claim their welcome, Come ashes in an urn.” His green eyes were dark as pine. “And she sent along Crane’s ashes – somehow she got the body from the Order in the last week.”

“No one knew a body was missing?” Kesari asked, horrified. “It’s like with Hunter.”

“I have to go,” Andrei said. “The Heads are reassigning me. Be well, everyone.” Then he reached out and pulled Kesari and Roy into a rough hug. “Watch out for each other.”

I moved closer to Dez, all of us watching as Andrei strode away.

“She’s always one step ahead,” I sighed. “Will this ever end?”

“It will,” Dez said in a strong voice, though his voice was a low murmur meant only for me. “Look around. You honestly think she stands a chance against this?”

My eyes went to Kai and Isla. Her arm was around his waist and his arm was around her shoulders. Both of them were poised and upright, looking at each other and talking softly.

Kesari and Roy were holding hands, watching after Andrei, then Kesari said something to Roy that made him smile down at her.

And Piper was leaning into Balt’s chest, her chin raised, eyes blazing, while he wrapped his arms around her and set his jaw.

I smiled at Dez. “You’re right. As much as she tries to pull us apart, we come together.”

“Exactly. Her tricks and machinations can only take her so far. The TLO reckoning is coming,” Dez said, his gaze distant. “And I hope to be there when it does.”

“Only if I’m there,” I said and he laughed, his gaze clearing as he looked down at me.

“That’s a given,” Dez said, a smile tugging up into his cheek as leaned down to kiss me.

 

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