“That’s assuming she even knows about the meeting.”
“Not an impossibility.”
No, it wasn’t, but Kane had told very few people, and he highly doubted that either Archer or Jourdain were openly announcing their plans, so if there was a mole, it was one that would hit close to home. “I’ll talk to everyone, share your thoughts, see if they want to bring anyone to watch their backs.”
“Good. Now. How’s your nose?” Jamie asked with amusement.
∞∞∞
“Today, a shifter, a vampire, and a witch came together to help find a missing pack member,” Kane said in a low voice as he looked at the two other people at the table. “It didn’t matter what they were, only that they could help. That’s what I’d like to see happen more often in the future. I know under the previous regime, segregation was expected, even brutally enforced, but I am not Rodolfo, nor do I agree with how he ran this territory.”
The meeting had been going well, even better than he had hoped. Jourdain had been stiff at first, his features severe, but the food had eased some of the tension in the man’s broad shoulders and hewaslistening. Kane had come here, half expecting the leader of the Order of Witches to shoot down or scoff at every idea that Kane suggested before he could even finish speaking, but the man had been attentive, even leaning forward at a few points with interest.
“I’ve read the files. I know that Rodolfo set boundaries. Shifters were to keep to the bayous, witches limited to the Quarter. I will not be enforcing those boundaries, as far as I’m concerned, there are no boundaries. Live where you want, work where you want, play where you want.”
“And what do you get out of this?”
Jourdain may have posed the question, but Archer Langley seemed just as eager to hear the response, the pack alpha straightening up from his seemingly casual slouch.
“A little teamwork,” was Kane’s reply. “If you know a flood is coming, you don’t keep that information to yourself, even if you think you can hold it back on your own. We talk to each other, help each other when and where we can.”
Archer shook his head. “Your idea looks good on paper, man, but you’re asking us to tell our people to put aside centuries of mistreatment and trust that if we stick our necks out you and your people aren’t going to bite.”
Kane grimaced. “I know I’m asking a lot, and I don’t expect it to happen right away. I don’t believe in miracles, but I believe it starts or ends with us.” He made a circling motion with his hand over the center of the table covered with empty plates and discarded napkins from their dinners. “A friendship between the three of us that begins with a simple meal and a little conversation.”
They talked a bit more after that, keeping it casual, and the meeting had concluded with both Archer Langley and Destin Jourdain giving him a “We’ll think about it,” as their response. But that wasn’t a no, and thus, Kane would take tonight as a win. He had understood going into this that neither one of those men would pounce blindly on his offer of cooperation. He fully expected his sincerity to be put to the test. In fact, he expected both of them would be calling him within the month to ask his assistance on some matter or another – contrived or genuine – simply to see how he would respond. Hewouldrise to the occasion.
And speaking of rising to the occasion… Kane nearly rubbed his hands together with glee at the thought of seeing Sophia again. Checking the time on his phone, he saw he still had fifteen minutes before she was supposed to meet him at the little club he’d told her about that was a mere few doors down from this restaurant. Loathed to keep her waiting, he dismissed the extra people he’d brought with him on the off chance that a certain witch might descend upon them, power limning her fingers and cackling maniacally, and headed out, whistling a cheery little tune and practically skipping out the door.
It had begun to rain, he realized as he stepped out onto the street. A cold drizzle that had pedestrians huddling deeper into their jackets and hurrying their steps to get someplace dry. Kane had always rather liked the rain, so he lifted his face and closed his eyes, taking a second to enjoy the feel of the mist on his skin, and breathe in the cleansing scent before he continued on his way.
He’d just reached the alley between the restaurant and the next building when he felt a tingle down his spine, a whisper of something compelling halting him in his tracks. A woman emerged, tall, beautiful, lush, and that whisper invaded his head, his lips moving to form the words, “My queen.”
“Yes, my love,” she purred as she glided toward him, her arms reaching for him, her fingers touching his face. “I am here.”
She was a goddess, that whisper continued,a vision of loveliness too good for him.But he would make himself clean, make himself worthy to kneel at her feet. He would do anything for her.
Her hands cupped his cheeks and he felt the urge to weep as she pressed her lips to his.He was unworthy.
“Come, my love,” she murmured, taking his hand as another thought whispered through, that he would follow her anywhere. He fell into step behind her.
∞∞∞
Sophia had arrived too early, eager to see Kane again. She’d taken extra time with her appearance, had chosen her most flattering outfit, done her make-up to perfection, and had even managed to fairly reproduce what the stylist had done with her hair the other day. She had to admit, after seeing her reflection in the mirror, she looked damn good and hadn’t been able to wait to show herself off for Kane and see his reaction.
Of course, it had decided to rain which had put a bit of a damper on her mood, especially when she had to cover up her fabulously sexy ensemble with a raincoat, but she supposed Kane seeing her for a few minutes in a bright yellow slicker was better than him seeing her looking like a drowned rat with mascara leaking down her cheeks.
Smiling at a couple that was rushing for the door to the bar to get out of the rain, Sophia checked the time again and grumbled before craning her neck to see if she could spot him. Her heart practically leaped into her throat with joy as she saw him come out of the restaurant. He was dressed in his signature black – black leather jacket over a black T-shirt tucked into black jeans, with equally black biker boots on his feet. He would be a shadow if it weren’t for the number of street lights and lit signage that illuminated his powerful form.
God, he was sexy.
The thought had barely cleared her mind when Kane stopped as if looking for something. A woman stepped out of the shadows, tall, voluptuous, with flawless ebony skin and jet-black curls nearly to her waist that didn’t frizz under the drizzle but seemed to sparkle as the drops became like glittering gems in those perfect curls.
The woman reached for Kane and Sophia waited, her breath locked in her chest, for him to duck away, perhaps with a sheepish grin and a pleasant refusal on his lips. He didn’t. In fact, he seemed to welcome her touch, a look of what could only be described as adoration on his face. Sophia felt her stomach roll with nausea.
And then the woman kissed him, andhe let her. A clicking growl rumbled out of her throat and smoke billowed from her nostrils. Perhaps any onlookers would think it was merely her breath clouding before her in the chill rain, but really, at that moment she didn’t care. Her focus was on Kane as that woman took his hand and led him away.
Sophia lurched into motion.Hell no. They were not leaving together and Kane wouldnotbe leaving Sophia behind. He was hers. She’d grind that woman’s bones into dust and burn that faithless bastard to ash. How dare he set up a date with her and then kiss that woman mere yards from where they were to meet.
