Song of Flight Page 3

  I circled the boat a few times, and my sharp eyes easily spotted the lust, awe, and desire in my Lisa’s eyes. I lowered slowly, and with an exercise of will I landed on the water, and demanded it hold me up. I shifted back human, and had the water rise up in a column and bring me toward the boat, which I stepped onto. I was also completely dry.

  Well, not completely, but the wet part had nothing to do with sea water.

  Lisa said softly, “I haven’t shown you the cabin yet.”

  I grinned, what a marvelous idea.

  After a quite thorough inspection cabin’s bed, lasting several hours, we ate a meal and I tried a few other things. My private communications idea worked perfectly. I also learned I could fly in human in form, and also bring Lisa with me. It was less flying than being carried around by my element, but the same thing when it came down to it. A few other things as well, but mostly extensions of what I already knew I could do.

  I imbued one of my razor-sharp metal blades with a mono-blade of water molecules that could cut through just about anything. I was pretty sure I could enchant it as well, so it was a permanent effect and not just maintained by me directly, but didn’t, because that would be felt by mages and others that could sense magic. I had to be careful, even around Tony my own employee. The last thing I needed was for anyone else to find out I was half dragon. Walking around with a bunch of water magic enchanted items would be a dead giveaway.

  It was a fun day, I got to play with my power where it was most intense, fly, do magic, and love on my Lisa. It was a perfect day off, and I was more than energized and ready for our first day on the job the next day when we opened. I just hoped we’d find business. Lisa had advertised, and handled that end of things, I imagined she must be good at it.

  Chapter Five

  “We’re going to be late,” she spanked me.

  “Nope,” I said, “We’re already at the office.”

  She snickered, “Get out of bed.”

  It wasn’t my fault, I was absorbed in my latest book and didn’t want to put it down. After I’d woken her up in the usual way, with my tongue, I’d gone back to it after she’d gotten in the shower. Grudgingly, I took the coffee from her other hand and got up out of the bed.

  She smirked, “Shower, I’ll cook your breakfast.”

  She always cooked for me, no doubt to regulate my blood’s flavor to her taste. I wasn’t going to argue, it was a double win, she spoiled me with fantastic food, and made me extra tasty for herself at the same time. She also seemed to enjoy cooking, and I was never all that thrilled about it.

  I waited until I was halfway across the room, and then hummed a few notes under my breath for a little revenge for the spank.

  I giggled, when she gasped, and then I escaped into the shower.

  It felt good to pull on the skin-tight full body armor. I could feel the strength of the magic in it, and decided Tony did a good job on the enchantments. I slipped a dark blue blouse on, and a creamy white pair of pants and blazer suit that hugged my curves almost as tightly. After slipping on my calf high black boots, I armed up with several silver and iron knives, as well as my sword across my back. I put on two nine mils, one loaded out with silver, the other iron, and I finally felt fully dressed for the first time in almost a month.

  Lisa smirked, “We don’t have a job yet.”

  I shrugged, “That didn’t stop you from loading for bear.”

  She was in a similar outfit, just black with a red blouse, and had her armor on too. She just wasn’t loaded down with weapons, except for her sword and one sidearm.

  “Just saying. We’re late, let’s not give our employee too bad of an impression on the first day, shall we?”

  I grinned, “Just keeping it real, and setting his expectations. I like his wards, they’re comfortable.”

  Everyone’s wards felt different, his were strong, but they had a light touch. I didn’t feel like I was being groped gratuitously by them, more like a gentle caress on my back. To be fair, we owned the building, and he had our presence to set up the wards with. It was different with Harold’s home, where’d we only had temporary access, and the wards weren’t built around us.

  We left the apartment, and then took the stairs down to the first floor.

  “Go for it,” I gave her the honor.

  She smirked, and then unlocked the front door. We were officially open for business.

  Now… we just needed a job. I grabbed a coffee, and I sat in my office. I didn’t like it any better than my desk when I worked for Brent, and I hoped it wouldn’t take long. Surely, someone needed killing in a town this big… or assistance, whatever.

  I was flexible.

  It was a couple of hours later when Tony asked us to meet him in the main conference room. When I walked in his eyes glazed over for a moment, and I just let him look his fill without comment. It was easier that way, and less awkward in the long run. Sometimes I hated being a siren, but it was what it was, and wasn’t going to change. Plus, I’d rather be eye candy, than glared at by a female office manager, so I’d deal with it. I’d also be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that enjoyed it, I was a complicated person. He finally tore his eyes off me when Lisa joined us, and we both sat down at the table.

  I ignored the scent of his arousal.

  In truth I kind of liked it, but it was more than a little bit shallow, and the looks had nothing to do with who I was, just what I was. I far preferred the meaningful looks I got from Lisa. Point was, the attention from men was flattering, but I didn’t get arrogant over it.

  “What have you got?”

  Tony cleared his throat, and he managed to look at my eyes and face instead of my bountiful rack, which was definitely impressive. It would take time, but he’d get used to my presence eventually. There’d always be a sexual tension there, but it would lessen a whole lot. I hoped.

  “Your advertising must have been effective, a lot of people have called about your discount grand opening schedule, mostly in interest of getting their place warded. I told them I’d get back to them on scheduling it, since you haven’t hired for that yet?”

  Lisa said, “We’re working on it. So far no one has been a good fit.”

  Tony nodded, “I might know someone, but he can be a bit… abrasive? He’s kind of an arrogant ass, an elven mage. But he’s competent, not only with wards but field work.”

  All elves were arrogant, even the weak ones.

  Lisa grunted, “Alright, have him send a resume and set up an interview for tomorrow, if he’s interested.”

  Tony nodded, and said, “I also got three other calls. One mage wants us to check out her husband, who she suspects of infidelity.”

  I rolled my eyes, “We have to do normal PI type work until we can get some contracts to go after skips, execution contracts, and protective details, but we’re not doing that type of stuff.”

  Tony nodded, “The second wanted to hire us for an armed escort for one of their couriers, but I got the sense they weren’t being honest. The third call I got was from a young female mage, Amber, who is apparently being stalked by her ex-boyfriend Devon. Devon’s a wolf shifter, part of the local pack and ranked in the middle.”

  That wasn’t much better, but I’d much rather protect someone from an asshole than stake out someone’s husband to get proof he’s diddling around on her.

  “Number three sounds like a winner. We don’t need to accidentally find ourselves on the wrong end of the law, so two is out as well.”

  Lisa nodded in agreement, “Ari is right, I know we didn’t discuss it, but we need to keep out of anything that looks too shady if we want government approval to be contractors.”

  My cover name still sounded weird coming from her mouth.

  Tony said, “Alright. I’ll get a file started and send you everything I know, and call Amber back to accept the case.”

  “Good.”

  Tony got up and walked out.

  Lisa waited until he was out of earshot.

  “He’s got it bad.”

  I nodded, “I’ll get to know him, over the phone or videoconference, that should help settle him.”

  In theory anyway, the more he got to know who I was, the less what I was would dominate our working relationship. Though it would never completely go away for him.

  He’d always want to fuck me. Crude description perhaps, but that’s exactly what it was, pure lustful desire.

  Lisa nodded, “It might make it worse.”

  I tilted my head thoughtfully. It was possible I supposed, that he could fall for me if we got to know each other, and then want me on multiple levels, but that was farfetched. I’ve never actually had that happen to me.

  “I doubt it.”

  In my experience the lust any man had for my siren side would preclude a true connection much past a casual friendship. Plus, the knowledge I had to feed, jealousy would short circuit any type of serious feelings a man might start to feel for me. Of course, I didn’t need to feed anymore, not with Lisa, but I was still a siren and racial stereotyping was a thing.

  Lisa smirked.

  “What?” I asked.

  Lisa shrugged, “I don’t.”

  “Why?”

  She smirked again, “Because you aren’t a bitch anymore.”

  I blushed, “Love you too.”

  That… could that be right? Had it been my abrasive personality and not my siren side that stopped any men from truly falling for me when they got to know me? That could be a problem, if he wants me with both his heart and his dick, it could lead to obsessive behavior.

  She grinned, “I just hope it will work out, he’s just about perfect for the job.”

  “Me too, sorry to be such a pain in the ass. Let’s face it, as an employer I’m an HR ni
ghtmare.”

  Lisa giggled.

  She winked, “You’re worth it. We going to talk to Amber? Or go threaten Devon first?”

  “We’ll decide after seeing the file.”

  If I didn’t have any questions, I saw no reason to subject Amber to my presence. Threatening Devon was also a good strategy, it would push him into backing off, or into making an aggressive move. Either way, we’d fix the problem a lot faster that way.

  Chapter Six

  It was about a half an hour later and we were discussing the case in Lisa’s office.

  “Tony did a pretty good job gathering information. Amber’s nineteen, light blonde, brown eyes, and starting college. She lives at home with her parents, quite curiously her father works for Carol Martin in some capacity. I guess she doesn’t want him to know about her indiscretion. From what I’m reading, ex-boyfriend might be an exaggeration. They had two dates, and the second one crashed and burned when he got aggressive, and she bailed.”

  Lisa asked, “Define aggressive.”

  I shrugged, “It doesn’t really say, just that he’d been demanding and emotional, there’s no mention of an assault, just intimidation and stalking. Since then he’s been harassing her, following her, and even crashed and made a scene when she tried to date someone else. Probably why the cops won’t do anything about it. We have a trace on her phone, and she’s at home right now. Her parents are very well to do, and well connected.”

  She nodded, “What do we know about Devon?”

  “Not much from her side, she met him at a night club where they exchanged numbers. All she really had of him was his first name, number, and a rough description. Tony was able to track down more through his phone number. Devon Nichols. Thirty-one, six foot three, black hair, gray eyes, chiseled face. He works at a boat sales and maintenance yard owned by his alpha, Jared Cane. His address on the edge of the city is also owned by his alpha. According to his phone, he’s currently at work.”

  Lisa nodded, “So, talk to Amber, or go start trouble? It might be easier if we don’t get the whole pack involved.”

  I snorted, “Less fun too.”

  She glared at me.

  I laughed, “I’ll behave, mostly. We’ll just go talk to him, maybe push a few buttons.”

  Lisa nodded, “I’m itching to get back out there too, but let’s not be sloppy.”

  I gave her a mock hurt look, she wasn’t buying it. My scent was probably a little too excited, and I took a deep breath.

  “Seriously, I won’t break the rules, I’m just jazzed.”

  I really wouldn’t, I wouldn’t put Lisa in danger just for a little extra excitement, our job was dangerous enough as it was.

  She nodded, “Let’s go,” she said, as she checked her load out.

  I did the same, but I was already sure I had mostly silver magazines. As usual I had at least one loaded with iron just in case we ran into an elf. Granted, the chances were low on a shifter case, but it would definitely happen if I didn’t have the iron magazine with me. Murphy’s law.

  We left the building and jumped in the car. As usual Lisa drove, she could be a bit of a control freak when it came to our transportation, and I had never cared. She pulled out, and we headed for Cane’s boatyard, over by the docks.

  The scent of the gulf and clarity of the Earth’s song was as always, more intense right on shore. We studied the building before we got out of the car. The excitement of being out again had cleared, as my game face lowered, and I felt my head clear. It was just something I did automatically, I was zoned in and paying attention.

  “I only hear four shifters in there, all wolves and all men. Two in the building, two behind in the yard.”

  Either it was a very small sausage fest pack, or they didn’t all work there. That was one other thing about moving cities, we didn’t really know all the players yet. We knew there were only about twenty vampires in the whole city, and that they reported to the San Antonio council, but we didn’t know if they were all together in one coven or not. We knew even less about the shifters, elves, and mages in this town, with the exception of Carol Martin and her company which we had researched. It was something we’d have to remedy, before our ignorance bit us in the ass. There’d be packs, prides, loners, mage groups, independent mages, and any number of other options.

  We’d get access to all that census data, and more, if our approval to be a government subcontractor came through. Until then we’d have to develop contacts of our own.

  Lisa studied me a minute, and nodded, “Let’s go start trouble.”

  I could scent her relief, had she thought I lost my mind and edge? I just hadn’t needed it the last month. I’d have to get revenge later, when we were in bed.

  We exited the vehicle and walked toward the building. Neither of us looked as well armed as we actually were, but the swords on our backs were something we couldn’t hide. It was normal enough in our world, and more likely to give them pause rather than start a fight.

  We walked inside the building like we belonged there, and we saw the two men chatting in an office. Neither one of them looked like the description provided, so we just kept going through the showroom and out the back doors into the yard. I was sure their shifter senses had noted us, but they didn’t stop their conversation or even look at us, which was odd. Their songs and scents led us right to them, I was almost used to the latter now, but not quite. They were both working on a boat that was raised in a cradle, so they could get at the hull with their cleaning and refinishing tools.

  I could have tracked them with my water magic as well, I’d gotten pretty good at it, but I’d decided it was reckless to use it unless we really needed it. It didn’t take much magic, but a sensitive mage could still pick it up.

  Lisa asked, “Devon Nichols?” with a voice that was just a little breathy, but mostly professional. I could only assume she was baiting a trap.

  Devon turned his head, and then narrowed his eyes as he looked over the both of us. Both checking us out and measuring our threat level at the same time. It was just something shifters did, the second part at least, the first part was about him being a man, and Lisa and I being attractive. More than that though, I was getting an unpleasant vibe from him, despite his cheery demeanor.

  “What can I do for you ladies?” he asked in a gravelly confident tone, that would be more natural in a club. I heard that confident tone and lilt every time a guy tried to pick me up.

  Lisa said, “Amber thought we should have a discussion. Can you tell me what’s going on there? Oh, how rude of me. I’m Hannah Camden, and this is my partner Aria Jones, of Camden and Jones Security.”

  Devon scowled, “Get out.”

  His buddy snickered.

  Lisa tilted her head, “So, I assume since you won’t tell me your side, she’d been truthful that you’re a pathetic stalker that won’t leave her alone?”

  Devon’s buddy said, “You heard him, leave. This is private property.”

  Both of them jumped down to the ground, and they looked angry.

  Lisa nodded, “We’ll go, but before we do, I’d like to warn you. Stay away from Amber, or you’ll be seeing us again.”

  Devon growled, “That bitch is crazy. Leave, before we make you leave.”

  We exchanged glances, and then walked away. We didn’t talk until we were back in the car and driving away. Shifter hearing was excellent after all.

  Lisa asked, “What do you think.”

  I replied, “He’s guilty, or he would have denied it. He also felt off to me.”

  “Agreed, his scent was off. Probably why he’s after a mage, no shifter or vampire would date his ass.”

  I smirked, “What now?”

  Lisa smiled, and teased, “Your favorite part of our job.”

  I sighed, right. Time for a stake out. I really hated stake outs, but not as much as paperwork. We could stand off, and track phones, but we couldn’t count on the idea Devon wouldn’t be smart enough to leave his phone behind.

  “Do you think we pushed him hard enough?”

  Lisa smirked, “No doubt, he’s pissed Amber got us involved. He’ll be driven hard to establish dominance with her fighting back.”

  I nodded, it probably wouldn’t have been enough for a human, but an unbalanced shifter? Shifters were violent, I guess I would know…