understatement. “They’re twenty-somethings—barely adults. Life for them right now is all about fire and passion and wild mood swings. Charity probably doesn’t know if she wants to slap him or wrap her legs around him.”
Steve bent forward, chortling. “I remember those days. Had a girl that drove me mad. The best was when she slapped me as she was wrapping her legs around me.”
Roger smiled. The young alpha and the Arcana had formed a tight bond. Charity had proved that today by, yes, using her damned power to toss Roger through a window so she could get to Devon’s side.
Devon had proved his devotion, too. He’d gone for Vlad. The young alpha must’ve known it would be his death. But he had distracted Vlad long enough for the vampires and demons to lose focus as a group. They’d fallen out of sync, allowing Roger to break through the outer barrier and put a crew around Charity. Without a strong leader giving constant, clear orders, lower-tier demons and younger vampires were mindless killing machines, easier to take down. Devon had tried to sacrifice himself to buy her time, something that had surely saved her. In so doing, he’d also created a win for the whole pack.
It was a big day for that sub-alpha. He’d earned a promotion. It would make him the youngest alpha in history to rise so quickly, beating out Roger by ten months. He’d made that leap in part because of Charity.
Steve gazed at Roger thoughtfully. “You’re sure, then, huh? That stuff she did, that is normal warrior fae behavior?”
Roger nodded slowly. “Except for that ball of…light? Energy? I couldn’t get a good reading on that. No one has heard anything about it. The beta is checking it out.”
Steve leaned back and crossed his ankle over his knee. “Whatever she is, she’s useful. Hacked through a bunch of vamps. Pretty sleek, too. She knows how to handle that blade.”
Roger clasped his fingers together. “That was the first time she’s used it. Her control over her magic is largely instinctual, at present. She’s had no training, and I would bet she hasn’t yet realized her full power.”
Steve’s eyes widened.
Roger nodded. “Exactly. This is just the beginning. Untrained, brand new, she is worth two experienced shifters in battle. Maybe three. If paired with Devon, constantly bucking his natural tendency to dominate, she’ll be even better still.”
“Think she killed that elder?”
“Vlad probably isn’t dead. Burnt to a crisp, surely, but his minions will get him blood fast enough to save him. He’s too old to be taken down that easily.” Roger braced his elbows against the desk.
“Well…” Steve drawled, making a show of twiddling his thumbs. Roger kept his irritation from showing. Barely. “As soon as the warrior fae learn you’ve got one of theirs, they’ll come looking. Luckily, they’ll knock. If the elves find out…well, they don’t knock.”
“Thank you, Steven, for this fascinating glimpse at things I already know.”
Steve grinned. “You’ll have to take her to the warrior fae, eventually. Or else, if you don’t care about forming an allegiance with the fae, you could always let the elves take her. They’d give a handsome reward, I imagine, especially if she’s really an Arcana.”
“If you plan to turn traitor, Steve, I’ll kill you before you can make it to the portal.”
Steve threw up his hands, still sporting that irritating grin. “That’s not what I’m saying, boss. All I’m saying is that the trek from the castle to the Flush can be dangerous. Elves don’t police it as closely as they should. Could be you need someone that is excellent in defense turned offense.”
Roger snorted. “And I assume you mean you?”
“You don’t have anybody better.”
“Why would I entrust her safety to a guy that would drop everything for a nap in the sun?”
“I’ve always wanted to travel the Realm, and I’ve always wanted to bed a fae. This is my chance to do both.”
“Travel the Realm on my dime?”
“All good things to those who wait.”
Roger stared at him for a moment. Steve was right: he was the best in defense turned offense. Male lions, by nature, didn’t put themselves in jeopardy if they could help it, but once they decided to engage, they were a force to be reckoned with. Steve would require a powerful alpha to keep him in line, however. Devon had promise, but he wasn’t there yet.
“Worst-case scenario,” Steve said, “The girl pushes me around, right? She can throw me through a…tree.”
Roger shook his head. “It’s all up