Page 86 of Commanding Flame and Shield
And then he was there, introducing me directly to the target. Senator Jones reached out a middle-aged hand, smooth and pampered, and I took it. Plunging me into the reading, which was too fast and furious to make sense of without actual contact.
When my eyes opened, I found August, his smile simpering, eyes full of amusement. He had seen all of it in my mind.
“You were saying?” A cocky little grin lifted his mouth and sent his eyes glittering.
I sighed, amazed, mind swirling. “How did you…”
“I just…had a feeling that you could see my path clearer. Just knew if it wasmedeciding…that you could do it.”
“How?”
“I dunno. Maybe we’ve worked together before?”
My nod was a mixture of assent and bewilderment. His thoughts shifted over the visions that had played out in front of us.
“You couldn’t see the reading in the vision?”
I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Not enough of it. It was too fast without actual contact. We could try again?”
“At your service,” August’s voice wrapped around the smile that stretched over his handsome face as he flourished a bow, and my heart sung at the sincerity there. He meant it.
Aren’s light blue eyes stared out at the gardens, his great body curled inward as he sat his elbows on his knees. His lips were tight as he contemplated what we laid out before him. What the visions had revealed. He ran a calloused hand over his lightly stubbled jaw.
“You’re sure about this? About his possession?”
A quick nod, mirrored by August to my side. Aren chewed on the inside of his cheek in a rare moment where his inclination to humor was traded for his protective, overbearing contemplation. After a long moment of complete silence, he bobbed his head, and those stone features softened.
“Ally, you feel confident taking this?”
“I do.”
“How many do you need?”
“Just the usual cadre.”
That signature smirk returned to his face and his eyes flitted across the garden to the castle, as though he could see through the stones to the people within.
“What of Brody and his brothers?”
“I don’t believe we’ll need them, but your will is mine.”
The mischief returned to his grin, and he brought his eyes back to mine. “You know they’ll be angry for years if I don’t let them accompany you into Marcus’ territory.” There was an unspoken rivalry between Brody and his two brothers—who August affectionately referred to as The Greek Brothers—and a mirroring set of three brothers by the surname Westerlund, in Chicago. But New York was technically their territory. We’d only sent Bash and Sky because they were needed in that damn hospital for specialty procedures.
I mirrored his amusement, allowing it to show on my face. “All the better if I get bragging rights for a decade or two.”
Aren huffed a laugh. “You know I would come with you, right? If it weren’t for all this bullshit? I've got to stay focused.”
“Of course, Aren. It’s a simple mission. Nothing we can’t handle. And we don’t need Brody.” I rolled my eyes.
“I suppose Marcus and Damien will be more welcoming if it’s just you, anyway. Jason is always happy to work with you.” His smile was all humor as his mind thumbed through all our interactions. Jason had always made his interest in me apparent, much to my chagrin and Aren’s eternal amusement.
“As for August, we will need to protect his identity should anything go sideways. You will go in two groups—you and August, Alec and Fae with the Westerlund coven. You two can scout, and Alec and Fae can act.”
Bowing my head in approval, I gave a quick, “Yes, Sir.”
That bearish grin spread across his face, and Aren flicked his eyes to August.
“You. You guard her back, you understand me? We’ll do our best to shield your reputation from the reality of what you are. But if shit hits the fan,you guard her back.”
