Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,37

asked, taking them back to a less emotive topic.

“That person could be a brilliant spy,” Sascha said slowly. “He or she could damage Trinity from the inside by doing things as simple as encouraging dissent or quietly upping people’s levels of aggression.”

“Your designation is far more dangerous than anyone realizes.”

Sascha’s expression held a sudden, taut sadness. “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t figured out the other side of my ability,” she whispered, swallowing hard. “But today, when you told me what some nasty people are saying about Naya, I knew I’d use the dark side without hesitation to protect her. Regardless of any resulting psychic backlash.”

Lucas nudged her over to straddle him, then he tugged her down so he could pet her, kiss her. He’d been there the day she’d worked out the brutal flip side to her ability to heal minds, had felt her terrible sorrow. “Nothing is ever black and white, kitten,” he reminded her, allowing his claws to slice out to touch her skin. “I can use my claws to protect, but I can use the same claws to rip out an enemy’s throat.”

A slow nod from his mate, though her expression remained troubled. “Trinity brings with it the potential for a dazzling future . . . but we have to accept that it also provides a forum for those who want to seed chaos and destruction.”

“Right now,” Lucas admitted, “the Consortium is beating Trinity in the cooperation stakes.” Driven by self-interest, the members of the enemy group were willing to work together against everyone else.

Those who’d signed the Trinity Accord, on the other hand, were becoming lost in the rivalries that had divided the world for so long. Psy against changeling. Human against Psy. Big businesses against small, the list was endless.

“The United Earth Federation is a distant dream, isn’t it?” Sascha’s eyes had once more lost their starlight.

“At least the dream now exists.” By the time Naya grew up, maybe the UEF would be a functioning entity.

“Who knows?” Sascha murmured. “It could be our cub who one day leads that federation.” Her spine grew stiff under his caressing hand.

Aware exactly where her mind had gone, Lucas gripped her jaw, held her gaze. “We’ll keep Naya safe.” It was a growling promise.

“Yes.” Sascha’s tone was resolute. “We will.”

Releasing her jaw to run her gorgeously badly behaving hair through his fingers, he tugged lightly on the thick curls, released them, fascinated by the texture and by the way the strands clung to his skin.

“You are such a cat.” It was a husky statement.

He leaned up on his elbows to flick his tongue over her lips, teasing her into a kiss that ended up with her pinned under him, tall and curvy in all the right places. Setting aside politics and the outside world, he played with the woman who’d begun the wave of change with her very public defection, this empath with her gentle heart and her wild courage.

The scent of her arousal made his cock throb.

“Lucas.” A demanding touch on the back of his neck as Sascha locked her legs around his hips once again, her mouth moving to his throat.

Yes, his mate knew exactly how he liked to be touched.

Just as he knew her every sensual weakness.

Pressing her more heavily into the bed, he slid one hand under her top to cup the lush heaviness of her breast. His panther growled in his chest, full of primal pride that she was his.

A tiny answering growl sounded from the nursery.

Breaking the kiss, they both turned to look that way. The growl came again.

Sascha’s body began to shake as her face filled with laughter. “Someone is not sleeping.”

They waited in hopeful quiet. Five seconds later, just as Lucas was bending his mouth to Sascha’s once more, Naya made an adorable sound that might have been her attempt at a grown panther’s more guttural vocalization. It held impatience and excitement and zero drowsiness.

Dropping his head forward, Lucas nipped at Sascha’s collarbone. “Why did we think having a cub was a good idea?”

Sascha laughed again. “She’s probably hungry. Even if she isn’t, I don’t think we should be strict about bedtime. Not today.”

“No,” Lucas agreed with a nuzzle of his nose against hers. “Not today.” Today, their baby needed a little extra care and attention.

Getting up, the two of them went into the nursery to discover a small black panther trying to shove her head through the bars of her crib. Shaking his head when Naya froze and gave him