rose slightly. “What did you have in mind, exactly?”
“You seem to be well versed in security, so your skills might be helpful to me from time to time,” she suggested tentatively. “I may need for you to check into concerns within the pockets of territories that I plan to claim. There may also be times when Caleb might need some additional assistance in the area of personal security.”
He adopted a slightly amused expression. “Somehow, I think your mate may not be pleased to hear that right now.”
“Very true, I’m afraid,” she admitted. “But I preside over matters concerning his security, either with or without his acceptance. And not everything has to be done so overtly or even within his spectrum of awareness.”
The large-framed vampire seemed intrigued by that statement. “Would I need to take orders from Caleb?”
Katrina’s eyes narrowed. “Within reason, of course, though never when they countermand my explicit instructions. But no matter the instructions, one rule is paramount: he must be protected or defended at the expense of any other objectives.”
“Your mate means a great deal to you,” he observed respectfully.
“He’s everything to me,” she stated flatly. “Above all other concerns, goals, or interests.”
Devon nodded with comprehension, but frowned with some confusion. “I think I get the picture. Now, pardon me if what I’m about to ask seems odd. But if that’s true, and if he likely hates me right now for attacking him, why am I not dead already? Though, not that I’m complaining or anything, you understand.”
Katrina fell silent as she considered his pertinent question. “You might be surprised to learn I don’t have a precise answer for you on that right now. However, rest assured that I’m prepared to reconcile any incongruities in my logic as I deem necessary,” she stipulated.
The broad-shouldered vampire appeared slightly unnerved by her statement and arched an eyebrow in surprise.
“Suffice to say that, in all honesty, I thought there was something about you that merited further investigation,” she continued. “And yet, your continued longevity strongly depends upon your sense of personal integrity and in not proving me to be mistaken in my leniency.”
His eyes widened. “Just before you arrived tonight, I checked my email, and I had received a message from another vampire who explained she had been seeking me out to perform a background check on your behalf. I believed her only because of the warning in her message.”
“Warning?” Katrina asked with an arched eyebrow.
Devon nodded. “Yes. I thought it rather strange, because her message emphasized you were an alpha. She suggested you’re quite experienced at killing both humans and vampires. She recommended I accept any reasonable offer made to me and stated that if I weren’t on my best behavior for our meeting, I probably wouldn’t live through the night,” he recalled warily. “She also had a nickname for you,” he added with a hint of amusement.
Katrina’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Oh, really?” Just who the hell is meddling in my business now?
“She said you were ’a red-haired bitch’ when you get angry,” he replied soberly.
Her expression turned steely. “And just what was this vampire’s name, precisely?”
“Ah, yes. It was Paige,” he replied.
She froze in place, though nearly wincing from the revelation, and slowly shook her head. I’m so going to strangle you, my little blonde-haired friend.
Devon still seemed wary. “Is this Paige legitimate?”
She returned a half-smile and confirmed, “Oh, she’s legitimate all right.” Legitimate pain in the ass sometimes. But one of the dearest, best friends I’ve ever had.
“So, as to an agreement between us, then?” he pressed.
Katrina’s expression turned serious again. “Only if you agree to my terms: defend and protect Caleb, address any concerns within my declared territories, and maintain loyalty to our agreement for the agreed duration.”
“What duration did you have in mind?” he asked carefully.
She wondered what was both fair and reasonable for nearly killing her mate. Just the thought sent a wave of nausea through her, and she cursed herself for trying to assign a value against Caleb’s life. “What do you think is reasonable?” she countered.
He seemed surprised to be asked and frowned as he fell deep in thought. Finally, he shrugged slightly and offered, “Ten years?”
Katrina realized how youthful in both mindset and lifespan the vampire sitting before her really was. Ten years was like the blink of an eye to most vampires. But he had barely been turned for forty years, so he was still thinking in finite human terms. It would have seemed amusing had the