prominence. We are loosely divided by the seven continents, but we coordinate often, and those with larger areas share their burdens with those with smaller areas. For example, the African and Antarctica firms work in tandem.” He smiled, his teeth brilliantly white against the darkness of his skin. “I am responsible for the North American Marks. All twenty thousand of them.”
“Oh my God—Ouch!” She winced as her mark burned.
“Watch it,” the two men said in unison.
“So every one of those people in the atrium are Marks?” she muttered, setting her hand over her arm. “That’s why it reeks like the floor was washed in perfume?”
“Some of the people out there are mortals we do business with.”
“What about you?”
“I am an archangel, Ms. Hollis.”
She considered that a moment, then thought it best to question Alec about Gadara and not Gadara himself. “So I was assigned to your firm because I’m from North America?”
“No.” Gadara’s voice had a soothing, hypnotic quality. The more he spoke, the dreamier she felt. “Usually Marks are transplanted to make the transition easier. It is less traumatic to start a new life when you are not hampered by the old.”
“Why wasn’t that done with me?”
“Because of him.” The archangel motioned toward Alec with an elegant flick of his wrist. “He tried to get you released. When his request was denied, he asked that you be kept close to your family. I suspect he extorted someone somewhere to get what he wanted.”
Eve’s gaze turned to Alec, who looked straight ahead with his jaw visibly clenched. Her eyes stung.
“Quite a sacrifice,” Gadara purred. “Banished all these years and forced to roam. He could have uprooted you to his homeland. I am certain he misses it.”
“Shut up,” Alec rumbled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her grip tightened on his hand in silent gratitude. “What happens now?”
“You work for me. Your resignation at The Weisenberg Group was effective yesterday after a week’s notice. Occasionally, your secular talents will be put to good use, but for the most part, your job is to train to the best of your ability and listen to your mentor, your handler, and me.”
“I listen to my gut,” she said. She wasn’t a believer and thought she should put that out there right away.
“I will not tolerate insubordination,” he retorted.
“Fine.” Eve shrugged. “Just so we’re clear.”
Gadara’s mouth curved in blatant challenge. The predatory expression didn’t suit him. He was far too refined, his voice too cultured, and his words too precise. “What were you looking for this afternoon?”
“A tengu.”
Gadara’s eyes widened. Alec explained. By the time he finished, Gadara was visibly upset.
“I thought you cared more about your novice,” the archangel chastised. “It was not your place to risk her so foolishly.”
“What risk?” Alec snorted. “She’s already been pissed on and threatened twice. There was more risk in doing nothing at all. And I told you, I can’t leave her alone. The Nix knows where she lives.”
“You are her mentor. If you wish to allow your feud with your brother to jeopardize your novice, far be it from me to intercede.” Gadara’s eyes took on an icy glint. “Proceed with your investigation, then. See it to its conclusion, including eradicating the threat.”
Eve frowned.
Alec exhaled harshly. “You want to assign her before she’s trained? No way.”
“It is your choice, Cain. Allow your brother to do his job or you will have to do it for him.”
“This isn’t your call. Abel is the only one who can assign her to a mission.”
Gadara laughed, a deep rolling sound. It was oddly pleasant, considering it wasn’t meant to be. “He is a company man, something you would do well to emulate.”
“You’re both violating protocol.” Alec’s tone was almost a snarl. “I expect that of you, but Abel? He’s never broken a rule in his life. You accuse me of putting her in danger, while Abel is ready to hang her out to dry?”
“It is perfectly acceptable to continue a deviation once it has been set in motion, if proceeding is the only reasonable course.”
“Eve and I didn’t deviate.”
“That is debatable, is it not? I doubt either of us wants to take this upstairs, where we could both face penalties. Better to deal with this on our own, agreed?”
Pushing to his feet, Alec towered over the desk. Although Gadara seemed unaffected, Eve noted the deepening grooves around his mouth and eyes.
Gadara feared Alec. She tucked that information away for future use.
“How is sending an untrained Mark on a hunt the ‘reasonable