However, I did not doubt for an instant that Sophia’s identification was accurate. If anyone could plot murder with icy precision, it was Dorn.
We’d both been members of the club for years. I’d gone off to fight the Hive and serve Viken, he working as a civil servant, moving his way up the ranks in government. I didn’t know what his title was now, but he’d always been an arrogant ass. I knew he’d have a mark of rank on his body somewhere. He always wore his status like armor, and wielded his influence like a weapon.
He held out his arm for a warrior’s greeting and we locked forearms the same way we’d done hundreds of times before. I glanced quickly to his hand where it gripped my arm and found exactly what I was looking for, a signet ring.
On his middle finger was a large ring, a black arrow on gold, the symbol of a council member from Sector Two.
Fuck. He wasn’t just ambitious. If he’d made it to the council, he had wealth and influence. Connections. He wasn’t just a sadistic ass, he was dangerous. Fuck.
I’d have to kill him.
When all was said and done, when the interrogations were over, I’d have to make sure he was well and truly ended. He posed too big a threat to my mate if allowed to live. I knew the three Kings would agree, worried for their own mate and child. At the moment, I wasn’t a servant of the Kings, I was a man. And this asshole had ordered someone to kill Sophia.
I lifted my gaze from the ring and met his prideful gaze with carefully banked fury. Sophia was safely behind me, but I had no doubt things would become critical the moment he saw her face.
Sophia was too beautiful, to perfect to escape his notice for long. And he was a predictable bastard in one way at least, he never forgot a beautiful woman.
“I see you climbed the ranks to a seat on the council.”
“And I see that you survived war with the Hive.” The voice grated on my nerves, I wondered how Sophia would react, if she would tremble with remembered fear or panic, if the sound of his voice made her heart race and terror invade her limbs.
His gaze flicked to Sophia. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that her hood was not up, that if Dorn took one step to his left, he would see her fully. Turning, I flicked the material up and over her, shielding her from the man’s sight even as I reached behind me and moved her to stand completely behind my back, out of his reach.
The decision to walk away made my blood burn like acid, but I would not face him here, not with Sophia by my side. I refused to place my mate in danger. Now that I knew who he was, he would be dealt with. He was a high-ranking council member in Sector Two, but the three Kings would not allow council politics to stand in their way. Two was my sector, King Lev’s sector. Sector Two was famous for brutal efficiency in its warriors, for men who liked to be in control.
Lev’s fury would equal mine. Neither of us would permit this bastard to live long.
For now, I needed to get my mate as far away from him as possible. For now, I had to tread carefully.
“Yes. I’m lucky,” I replied. “If you’ll excuse us, we are tired. The third floor was as entertaining as I remembered.”
“Of course.” He inclined his head and I gave the couple a brief nod, then took Sophia’s arm and pulled her along next to me as I walked down the street. She was stiff and slow, as if her legs were numb, for I had to tug her along behind me. It was as if Dorn’s voice triggered a deep fear in her, or sent her back into shock. I tucked her under my arm and tried to will my heat, my strength into her small body. “I’ve got you, mate. He’ll never threaten you again, I swear it.”
She shivered in response to my words, but picked up the pace, clinging to my side. Once we rounded a corner out of sight from the entrance, I stopped and turned her to face me. The sky was dark, but the city lights made the street bright. People were about, walking to their homes, their places of work. Their lives. Innocent people streamed past us as I processed the truth.
The VSS had infiltrated the sector councils. The three Kings had feared the movement had recruited spies and conspirators from deep within the government. I suspected this would be the case, but there had been no proof. Until now. Until Dorn.
Leaning down, I looked into her eyes from beneath the edge of the hood.
“Do not be afraid.”
She licked her lips. Only a short time ago, I’d have found that innocent gesture arousing. Now, with her eyes wide with fear and anxiety, I saw it as an outlet of her nerves.
“He…it was him. I…why did you let him go?”
“He won’t get away, I promise. I know who he is now, thanks to you. He won’t escape justice. Breathe, Sophia.” I placed my hands on either shoulder and pulled her close. She melted into me, accepting my protection and strength, trusting me to keep her safe, and my heart swelled with a painful ache I’d not felt in a long, long time. Her faith humbled me, made me feel complete, filled a void in me I hadn’t realized was empty. And I vowed to be worthy, to protect my beautiful little mate to my last dying breath.