“He’s been babbling on about Zophiel,” Milliner told him. “She is the most radiant woman in the world. She’s the gods’ faithful spy and the Angel of Divine Justice. She’s his ‘mistress’ in the kiss-my-boot sense of the word. He claims to serve her through sacrifices of pleasure and pain.”
“If pain gets him off this might be a waste of time.” They turned onto a wide corridor then took a lift to the ground floor. Buzzes and bangs from the construction crew echoed in the distance, but the main lobby and adjacent offices had required less restoration. “Is it possible that Zophiel is simply Nehema’s sexual persona?”
Tias seemed to consider the possibility but Milliner shook his head. “Nehema is well into her fifties and definitely not ‘the most radiant female on earth’.”
“There are many mistresses you would never recognize as they walk down the street.” Tias paused and pivoted so she could see both Roberto and Milliner. “Part of the appeal of the BDSM Lifestyle is allowing yourself to be immersed in the fantasy.”
The voice of experience? “Either way, does this bring us any closer to stopping the Abolitionists?”
“We aren’t the only ones interested in finding Nehema,” Tias reminded them. “I say we wait her out and let the Therians take care of her as soon as she strikes again. She is a far bigger problem for them than for us.”
“I don’t care if she’s dead or just out of commission as long as her antics stop,” Roberto agreed. “We can’t afford any more setbacks.”
Milliner crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “Well, I want a permanent solution to the situation.”
“Of course you do. You’re the one who started this pissing contest in the first place.” Tias faced Milliner, her stance every bit as adversarial even though her head barely reached his chin. “If you hadn’t snatched three of her rescue puppies right out from under her nose, she wouldn’t have blown up our supply convoy.”
“They were feline shifters, not wolves,” Milliner grumbled.
“An irrelevant detail.” She waved away the subject with one elaborately manicured hand and looked at Roberto. “How is Devon adjusting to her new surroundings?”
“I gave her a roommate this afternoon, so she’s not very happy with me.”
“You did what?” Milliner preferred to be involved in every decision no matter how small. Anything that transpired without his input was unacceptable. Roberto hated his micromanaging, but his contacts were irreplaceable.
“Delta team was watching the wolves’ clubhouse, as we agreed, to gauge the fallout of Nate’s decision.”
“There won’t be any fallout,” Milliner argued. “Nate’s too smart for that.”
Roberto shook his head. The alpha wolf’s leadership style was so much like Milliner’s own that Milliner idolized the ruthless wolf. “His eldest son was about to challenge him and half the pack knew it. Suddenly the son is sent on a suicide mission from which he barely escapes. None of that sounds suspicious to you?”
“The pack hunters executed Bruce Fitzroy because he was an embarrassment to the pack. Nate had nothing to do with it.”
Roberto scoffed. “If you say so.”
“What does this have to do with Devon’s roommate?” Tias prompted.
“Dhane, the youngest son, spent most of the night sulking outside the building. Delta team’s leader contacted me and asked if we had any interest in apprehending the boy because he was practically begging to be snatched.”
“Go on.” Tias had likely guessed the ending. She was generally three steps ahead of everyone else.
“He’s a Therian male in his sexual prime from an elite bloodline.” Roberto grinned at Milliner, knowing there was no argument for that statement.
“So you gave him gen three and locked him in with Devon?” Tias sounded incredulous, not impressed. “They are from warring clans. They will tear each other apart.”
“Or they’ll create an incredibly powerful child. Devon knows sex is the only thing that will keep him from shifting and she knows if he shifts she’s dead. I think she’ll spread her legs rather than offer her throat to a ravenous wolf.” Roberto shrugged with far more nonchalance than he felt.
“What if he defines her?” Milliner’s voice rang with challenge.
“He can’t.” Tias waved away the general’s concern. “She has to be injected with the counteragent before her body can finalize her metamorphosis.”
Milliner was a soldier, not a scientist. He’d never fully understood the extraordinary potential Devon presented. Rather than try to explain it all to him, again, Roberto pointed out, “You’d already sanctioned her disposal. What did we have to lose?”