38

“Nic.” Kyle stepped inside, a box in his hands, and his face immediately paled. “Uh, shit.”

He covered his mouth and nose with one hand and moved his head to beckon me over before backing out the door.

“What’s up, Kyle?” I glanced at Leia before I joined him in the corridor and closed the door.

His cheeks reddened, something I’d never seen from Kyle, who was one-hundred percent pure soldier, cold mercenary, and always completely unflappable. “I just… I, uh… I didn’t expect her scent to be so…” He squared his shoulders and looked at me, his eyes the usual harsh clarity I’d come to expect. “I’ll be prepared next time.”

“What?” My hand itched as my fingers formed a fist. My mate’s scent had affected him? “She’s claimed,” I ground out.

“But not turned,” he replied, his voice even.

I sighed. For fuck’s sake. Another person to make me feel guilty—like I didn’t feel guilty enough already. And how the hell did every other fucker know this very important detail?

“Is that a problem?” I kept my voice quiet. Leia didn’t have the same hearing capability as the rest of us, but I couldn’t risk her overhearing something I needed to explain properly.

“She... she smells like you. It’s power and it’s also weakness, Nic.” He bowed his head, suddenly submissive. “She’s your weakness, so she’s attractive to every other vampire male who comes into contact with her. If they take her, if they turn her, they can have all of that promise and all of that power for themselves.”

“But why is she my weakness?” I was still growling, but Kyle didn’t so much as flinch. I understood perfectly why she was at risk from others who wanted her power, but no one would challenge me directly, surely? No one under my rule, at least.

Instead, he looked up and met my gaze. “Because she makes you easy to manipulate. You’d do anything to save her life. Anything.”

I glanced at the door. Fuck. He was right. No wonder I’d never tolerated humans. It would only take love for one to bring everything about my life tumbling down.

“What’s in the box?” I jerked my head at the brown package in his arms, shoving aside the words he’d spoken and my conflicting feelings. Deliveries didn’t usually require my personal attention.

For a moment, a frown lingered between Kyle’s brows. “I don’t know. It’s addressed to Leia.”

“To Leia? At this address?” That made no fucking sense. “Why is someone sending deliveries to Leia here? What the hell do you think it is?”

“Well, it doesn’t tick, so it’s not a bomb.” He shrugged. “But my X-ray vision is failing me today, so…”

My office door cracked open. “Nic?” Leia looked out. “What are you doing out here?”

“Kyle brought me a delivery.” I nodded at Kyle even as he took a small step away from Leia. His chest was still, like he wasn’t even breathing.

“Oh.” She nodded at Kyle. “Thank you for New Orleans.”

He nodded back but didn’t speak. Then he passed me the box, and as I stretched my arms out, Leia squealed.

“Oh! It’s for me?” She glanced at me as Kyle and I both froze. “Nic, did you get me a gift?”

I shook my head. “I… I don’t know where it’s from. I don’t know who sent it.”

Her face fell for a moment before she smiled. “Do I still get to open it?”

I glanced at Kyle. Did he think it was safe?

His eyes narrowed for a moment. Then he nodded. “Let me get Jason first. I’ll warn him about…” He cut a swift look at Leia. “Well, you know.”

As he strode away, I ushered Leia farther back into my office so I could put the box on my desk. I set it down carefully, but Kyle had been right—it wasn’t ticking, and I couldn’t sense any humming or warmth. There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger.

Leia seemed to pick up on my reservations. “So, three guys are going to stand around and watch me open a box? Three vampire guys? That’s…” Her gaze raked over me. “That’s a whole lotta muscle for a gift.”

Her heart rate spiked as I rested a hand on her shoulder then walked to stand behind her so I could lower my head and place my lips against her neck.

“We’re just being cautious,” I murmured. The need to please her warred with the need to protect her.

Gifts pleased her. Clearly. I made a mental note to buy her more gifts—I wanted her face to light up that way because of something I’d given her.

Kyle stepped inside my office, and Jason followed closely behind him. He closed the door.

“Shit, Nic. I wish your office had windows. Some fresh air would be nice.”

I tightened my jaw. I was over everyone telling me how amazing my mate smelled, no matter how helpful they intended to be.

Leia grinned as she grabbed the package and tore the tape strip holding the box flaps down.

As soon as they released, I reached for her and pushed her toward Kyle who caught her in his arms and turned her to the wall.

“No, Leia!” My cry came after the copper tang of old blood fragranced the air around us, and Leia gasped as I forced her away.

I pushed the flaps back and peered into the box before covering my mouth with the back of my hand. It was an old, instinctive movement because nothing about death horrified me anymore.

Or very little.

Lettie, the witch, looked back at me, her eyes milky and sightless, her head severed at the neck. It had been inexpertly ripped from her body. Savaged by claws—or more likely, fangs.

The skin hung raggedly, blood vessels and the frayed edges of her trachea visible.

“Get Leia out of here,” I ground out. “Get her safe.”

Jason approached me from behind. “What’s… Oh, shit. The witch.”