Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(111)

“I understand,” he said.

But did he? Somehow, she wasn’t sure.





Chapter 7


Several hours after leaving wolf territory, Talen had to admit that having the boys in the backseat of the borrowed Escalade eased his mind a little bit. He’d had time to train them since the war had ended, and they both fought well.

Cara relaxed in the passenger seat once again, humming softly to herself. She liked having the boys there as much as he did.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked, taking note of her sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks.

“Much.” She rubbed both hands down her dark jeans, her fingers digging into her knees. “Just fine.”

Logan leaned forward. “A demon mind attack can leave impressions for a couple of days. You’re probably still feeling the aftereffects.”

She nodded. “I think so, too. My head still aches a little bit.”

Talen frowned and leaned over to brush his fingers against her forehead. A slight pounding, a bit of a pain, echoed in his own brain. He drew out her pain, all of it, and allowed his head to hurt for a second before banishing the ache into nowhere.

She smiled. “Much better.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” he asked. One of the greatest pleasures of his life was taking away any pain she had.

She shrugged. “It just started to hurt a little while ago. Not enough to really worry about.”

That was his woman—tough and stubborn. Yeah, she was right about exploring the world a bit, and he could understand her desire to do so since she’d been cooped up for so long during the war. She hadn’t even had a chance to take immortality out and play with it yet. Although, she could lose her head and her life, so she still needed to be careful.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You’re thinking awfully hard.”

“I was thinking of a trip to Africa. That maybe you’d like to visit there.” He could show her the world and cover her back at the same time.

Her smile lit up her entire face. “I’ve never been there and would love to go.”

“Sounds good to me,” Garrett chimed in from the backseat.

“Me too,” Logan agreed.

Talen cut them a look. “You two are heading back to work with the Enforcers until that stupid Apollo drug is taken off the streets. Then we’ll talk about you guys doing some traveling.” He wouldn’t mind having them protect Cara at all times. But first, they needed to see their mission through.

They took the interstate and made several changes until arriving at an innocuous building in downtown Bellevue. Talen parked outside in a no parking area.

“Take the cooler inside to Dr. Brown, get a receipt, and come back out,” Talen said to the boys.

They nodded, and Garrett carried the cooler out of the car and swept the vacant sidewalk with his gaze before he and Logan strode through the glass front door, acting like any other messenger service.

“They look so grown-up,” Cara said, watching them disappear into the three-story brick building.

“I know.” Talen reached out and covered her hand with his. “I called the Enforcers earlier and asked if they could have a few days off, and Kellach said it was fine.”

Cara leaned forward, and her eyes sparkled. “They can come to Hawaii?”

“Yes, but they’re staying in their own room.”

“Totally agree.”

They sat there in comfortable silence for a few moments. The misty day hung around them with the promise of rain.

Cara played with a loose string on her jeans. “I feel like we’re not getting along.”

His hand covered hers. “We’re getting along, but for some reason, you’re pushing me and hard. I don’t understand why.”

She turned, and a smile tickled her mouth. “I’m tired of you treating me like I’m still ill. Like I’m fragile.”

He studied her, those dark eyes knowing, obviously thinking through his response. “You are fragile, but I know you’re not ill.” Sighing, he tugged her closer to him and immediately surrounded her with the scent of male and pine. “You’re also unsettled, and you’re looking for something, and I can’t figure out what it is. It’s frustrating.”

She blinked. Was she looking for something? Her life had been on hold for so long, perhaps she need to think things through. But no matter what, she was strong enough to be Talen Kayrs’s mate, and he needed to realize that fact. “I have a thought to shake things up,” she mused.

He barked out a laugh. “That’s all I need.”

Perhaps that was exactly what he needed. Cara opened her mouth to say so, when a loud boom erupted from the building.

She gasped and scooted over to look out the window.

“Hell.” Talen tapped an ear communicator. “Garrett? Logan? Status now.”

Smoke billowed out from a second-floor window. “There’s fire.” She moved to open the door, and Talen stopped her with a hand on her arm. Her head swiveled. “Let go. The boys are in there.”

“I know.” Talen flipped open the glove box and drew out two green guns, handing her one. “Stay in the car.” Indecision darkened his features.

Heat flared through Cara. “Go help the boys. I’ll start the engine in case we need to run.”