A shaky smile alights on his lips.
I work my jaw to keep from grinding my teeth, from telling Colburn to stick him with anyone else. Arcayos being with someone else is too dangerous.
“No, sir. I have to get used to it sooner or later, and better him than someone like Max.”
He sits back. “All right. Well. Gift, horse. Hawk says he can start today, and there’s lots of work to be done, so…” He stands, and so do we.
Arcayos accepts a handshake. The Captain winces.
“Good grip.” He flexes his hand. “We could use a good, clean cop like you on this force getting the job done.”
“I’ll try not to let you down, sir.”
Jesus, he’s so charming it’s ridiculous. Colburn’s eyes light up, and I hate the pang of jealousy that pricks at me. He’s looking at him like he belongs here.
The captain opens his drawer and takes out a shiny new badge. “Take him downstairs and get him his firearms,” he says to me. “And ask Louie or Ryan to come in here when they’ve got a minute and fix whatever I did to this computer, would you?”
“Yes, sir.”
My boss smiles and gives Arcayos another handshake. “Welcome to the force, Hawk.”
Lord, please, please, give me strength.
14
Welcome to the Squad
I will not lie. Leaving Captain Jonathan Colburn’s office, it is difficult to keep my silence. I make no effort to keep the grin off my face while walking at Cassidy Morgan’s side.
How did the captain put it? I’m in.
What better way to protect her or help her find her sister than to be her partner?
Her partner. I’ll be with this perfect tigress of a woman, working at her side all the time. Ah, sweet, sweet victory.
I glance at the shiny gold badge in my hand and run my thumb over the coat of arms. Excitement crackles in my veins, momentarily eclipsing the high that is still careening through my system.
Holding this badge, I feel exactly like I did when the Goddess slipped the Ak’tar around my neck. Humbled and almost painfully aware of where I came from.
Except I didn’t earn it this time. I didn’t do anything to deserve being one of Earth’s heroes.
The smile slips away, along with the drugged rush that’s been electrifying my blood since that interview started.
I didn’t tell Colburn a single lie, only withheld the truth. But all of this, everything I’ve done today, is a lie. The man protects this city, just as I do. He’s hunting me as a killer, and I am masquerading as one of his men.
I can just imagine Va’halzoret shaking her head as she watches me through her Prism, her window into the Earth world. Telling me there is a better way, that I should have found a way to hide myself without tricking my way into a badge.
Beside me, Cassidy—it’s just Cassidy—looks tense. Her fists are tight, her back ridged. Fear trickles along the Mating Bond that tethers her to me.
My heart grows heavy, and I resist the urge to drag my mate out of here and call the whole thing off. No. I don’t belong here any more than I deserve to wear the Ak’tar, and I loathe that she’s afraid, but this is the only way.
It takes all my effort not to lay my palm on the back of her neck to soothe her. I am not her lover now, not her mate, and not her… boyfriend. I am Haakon—Hawk—Gunderson, her human, newly hired partner.
As we head toward the large squad room we passed through on the way to the captain’s office, her considerable breasts rise on a heavy breath. Her fingers stretch out as she forces her hands to relax.
Then her strong features… reset themselves… slipping into a well-practiced, casual expression. A ghost of a smile that offers approachability, yet gives away nothing. Friendly, but not too friendly. It’s a mask I know well. It’s the same one I wear whenever I’m in human form.
Resisting the urge to dominate the situation, I say nothing, letting her take the lead. This is her house, her business. She may be a woman, but I am the new blood.
As they say, when in Rome…
In the squad room, she doesn’t speak, going over to her desk and leaving me to follow. The eyes of every officer in the room are immediately on me. Curiosity alights in every gaze. They’re waiting for her to introduce me, but she doesn’t.
Fighting off a chuckle, I clip my new badge to the waist of