Sin & Salvation (Demigod of San Francisco #3)(52)

Jack was breathing heavily by the time he’d finished relaying the events, and not because he was jogging. Seeing what Alexis could do had clearly hit the enormous and powerful water shifter at his core. Even though he’d successfully trained with her, he was scared it could happen to him.

“You’ve withstood worse, Jack, and not just from Alexis,” Kieran said calmly. “You’ve trained with me.”

“Yes, sir. I know that, sir. It’s just…she drove him to hysteria. He couldn’t even shift.” Jack took a deep breath. “I’ll get on top of it, sir. If anything, it is a reminder of how big of a help Alexis will be.”

Kieran stood from his seat and walked to the window, looking out. “It can’t be a coincidence that Will Green’s pack is looking for Mordecai directly after Amber was assigned to this case.”

“That’s exactly my thought, sir. The low-level wolf was the lookout. The higher-level wolf was the closest muscle. They were looking for Mordecai as a team, and I suspect they’re not the only group in the area. They can’t be—there is no way they could’ve known we’d be here today.”

“My father still doesn’t know that the breadcrumbs lead to me, or he would’ve wanted Mordecai for himself, if only to see why I bothered fixing him up. No, my father is tossing Green a bone. Or maybe he’s simply tying up a loose end without taxing his own reserves.” Kieran turned from the window as a shock of adrenaline zipped up his body. “How likely is it that the higher-level shifter would’ve alerted Green to Mordecai’s presence before he had the cargo in-hand?”

“I don’t know enough about Green’s pack to make that call. From what I’ve heard, the pack as a whole is deteriorating. That’ll mess with their organization and chain of command. But as I was pulling out my phone to call you I smelled a faint whiff of blood, shit, and wet fur—what a wolf hunting pack smells like. It is impossible for me to be sure, but he might already be organizing.”

Tingles of warning spread across Kieran’s skin. “How many wolves do there need to be to elicit such a smell, generally speaking?”

“At the minimum, half a dozen dirty dogs, and a full dozen decent shifters who have temporarily given in to their animal.”

“How sure are you about this whiff?”

“Fifty-fifty.”

Kieran thought for a moment. He hated to ruin Alexis’s big shopping expedition, but even if she could handle a group of wolves on her own, she’d draw a lot of notice. It was best to keep her under the radar for as long as possible.

“Pull Alexis out,” he said. “Take them back to the house. Tell her I’ll make it up to her. We’ll draw Green out when there are less witnesses and take care of the problem then.”

“Yes, sir,” Jack said. “And maybe you can challenge her later and make a mockery of her magic. I’d love to put some nightmares to rest. The mark’s effect only helps so much.”

Kieran stilled as a soft knock interrupted the quiet of the office.

“The mark’s effect?” he asked, ignoring Jack’s hopeful tone. Kieran doubted anyone could make a mockery of Alexis’s magic.

The knock hardened, the delay too short. Someone powerful and impatient was on the other side.

Only one person showed his impatience where Kieran was concerned.

“I have to go,” Kieran said quickly and terminated the call. He dropped the phone onto his desk and hastened to the door.





Valens



Irritation ate through Valens as the seconds ticked by. He turned to the composed but out of her league assistant, who was, for some reason, not reaching for the phone to see what was holding up his son.

“How long has this door been—”

The wood swung open a little too quickly before slowing, revealing Kieran in a suit befitting his position. At least that much Valens had been able to impress upon his son—the importance of dressing for his station.

“Father,” Kieran said, a trace of anxiety in his eyes. Ah. He’d realized who must’ve been waiting outside and hurried to accommodate someone with higher authority. Which meant he’d originally assumed himself to be of higher authority, and had chosen to show dominance by keeping the caller waiting.

A thread of pride worked through Valens as he stepped forward. Good. His son was learning the importance of dominance and hierarchy. There was hope for him yet.

“Kieran.” His son pulled out a visitor chair, looking at him with raised eyebrows. Valens slightly nodded, then took his seat. Kieran shut the door.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Kieran walked around the desk where his cell phone lay crooked just off-center.

Valens looked at it pointedly. Kieran promptly removed it from the surface and tucked it into a drawer.

Abstract paintings adorned the flat gray walls of the office. A fake plant sat listlessly in the corner, and the desk lacked a clean and proper shine. It was as if his son had no pride in his working environment.

Forcing that issue aside for one of more precedence, Valens crossed an ankle over his knee and leaned back. “I missed your company last night.”

No emotion rolled through his son’s uninterested blue gaze.

Valens hated that look—the look of a spoiled child who’d never known true hardship. It was as if Kieran expected the world to be handed to him, and when it wasn’t, he whined about life being unfair. Youths were so tedious, especially in this day and age. Valens almost wondered if employing someone to run another territory would be better than grooming his own brood. If it wasn’t for his son’s impressive magic, he would without question.