Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,35
far more interest to various groups across the world than the pack had ever realized. The majority of those groups had little to no information about Naya, knew only that she existed. But Lucas wasn’t about to take chances with the life of his cub. “That curiosity is only going to grow and”—his jaw tightened—“some bastards will see her only as a political pawn to exploit.”
Sascha nodded jerkily, but her words surprised him. “Nothing that stifles her, Lucas.” Her eyes had bled to pure obsidian when he first began to speak, and now they gleamed with midnight-blue lowlights as she fought her emotions. He didn’t know if all cardinal eyes did that, or if it was limited to the empaths, but the effect was hauntingly beautiful.
Panther and man, Lucas loved Sascha’s eyes in every one of her moods.
“Nothing that cages her,” she reiterated.
“I promise.” He knew Sascha was thinking of her own childhood, of how her abilities had been crushed and stuffed into a box. “The physical security around her won’t change much at all.” He’d called a meeting of his sentinels that afternoon, with those not in the city attending via the comm, asked their opinion on the most efficient way to protect the pack’s cubs without harming their wild spirits.
“We’re going to embed more warning sensors in and around our territory,” he told Sascha. “That’ll have an impact without affecting Naya’s independence or that of any other cub in DarkRiver.” In Naya’s case, the danger level had risen the instant she began to shift and became more mobile. “I’ve also asked Dorian and Emmett to liaise with our mechanics and make sure all the pack vehicles are as secure and as tough as they can be, and we’re going to quietly up the security presence anywhere our children congregate.”
“If they can’t get Naya, they might try for another cub,” Sascha whispered in realization. “Because of us and what we represent, because of the power DarkRiver has in Trinity.” But though white lines bracketed her mouth, she didn’t panic. “We need to let all our friends know, not just the Rats and SnowDancer. The more eyes looking out and ears that are listening, the better our chances of catching any attempt before it goes far.”
DarkRiver had long thrived in isolation, like the majority of changeling packs, but that time had passed. First had come the wolves, then friendships that slowly connected them to Psy, humans, more changelings. “The falcons have permission to overfly our territory and might spot suspicious movements.” Lucas frowned in thought, rubbing his thumb over the side of his mate’s neck as he cradled her nape. “Who else?”
Together, the two of them made up a list and decided which one of them would talk to which party. He knew it was possible they were both overreacting, but that was significantly better than taking no action when innocent lives were on the line.
Sascha made him coffee afterward, herself a hot chocolate. It was her comfort drink of choice, but what soothed her most was to go into the nursery and look in on Naya. Lucas went with her, his own panther needing to see their cub safe and snug and curled up happily in her crib. “Damn it,” he muttered. “She’s hugging that stupid wolf to her chest.”
Sascha’s shoulders shook, the stars returning to her eyes. Baring his teeth at her, he pretended to pounce. She jumped then ran out of the room. His panther immediately sat up in interest and the chase was on. Catching her in the next room, he threw her gently on the bed before coming down over her. “Mine,” he said, his lower body pressed to hers.
The smug statement was of the predator he was. But this predator loved the woman he held captive, would never harm her.
Stroking her fingers through his hair, Sascha said, “Something else happened, didn’t it?”
He dropped his head for a minute, allowed her to pet him. Then, as they lay tangled, he told her about the letter the boys had found, about the imprisoned, tortured water changeling. His hands fisted against the textured white sheets on their bed. “This is the first new piece of information we’ve had on BlackSea’s vanished members since the capture of the human CEO, and it’s a call for help from a woman who’s probably already dead.”
Sascha shook her head. “There’s always hope. No one thought Brenna would make it and look at her now.”