Chapter 9

By the time we returned for dinner, I was ravenous and horny with a mood rivaling Kennedy's. Michael had glued himself to my back in a protective display only a wolf could think was normal behavior. His scent, the heat of his body, and things afoot we weren't trusted to know about, added to my frustration. I wanted to punch him and fuck him in equal measure and the feeling didn't sit well.

"Abe, you want to blow off some steam before we eat? You seem tense." Kennedy flashed a predatory smile my way. Michael stiffened next to me, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. As a human, she wouldn't hear it, but I sure did.

I wanted to be angry at his bold behavior.

Wasn't.

Shit.

To make matters worse, the thought of sex with Kennedy turned my stomach. Also that dire wolf's fault. Not that I'd tell him. I considered accepting just to piss him off. Couldn't do it.

"Raincheck? I'm famished and still have a headache from all that incense. Don't know how those mages stand it." I squeezed the bridge of my nose for emphasis.

She raised an artfully shaped brow. Didn't call me on my lie, though.

"Your loss. Michael, you game?"

Now, I had to hold back my own growl. What did I care if she had sex with my mate? I mean, that wolf. I didn't. Obviously. I refused to look at him. I also didn't walk away, no matter how much I willed my legs to move. Let them have their tryst.

I still didn't budge.

"I've met my mate," he said, his voice almost a purr. His hand snaked out and rested possessively on my lower back. "There will be no one except Abe from now on."

Had to force myself to keep a satisfied smirk off my face.

Kennedy tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "It's always the fun lays who want to settle down. Shame."

A flash of heat raced through my limbs, and I clenched my fists at my sides to keep from punching her. Not only would that be an exceptionally bad idea, but I liked Kennedy. Usually. When she wasn't murdering everyone she came into contact with. Or hitting on a certain stuck-up dire wolf.

She waved us off and headed toward her suite, leaving us alone in the corridor. I swallowed, the air too thick to breathe. Then my feet miraculously unstuck, and I hurried toward the common area to grab some food. Michael jogged to catch up, his nearness causing my skin to prickle with heat.

"Abe—"

I held up my hand. "Not now. I'm going to grab a bite. Don't want to discuss this."

He stopped, letting me continue on my own. "It won't go away. You get that, right?" he called after me.

I didn't respond.

Didn't mean to be rude, but between Kennedy's rotten mood and being in close quarters with Michael all day, I needed time to regroup. I sighed in relief when I entered the common room and filled a tray to the brim with steak, four types of potatoes, lots of roasted vegetables, and a monster-sized cup of coffee. Other shifters dodged out of my way like I had a contagious disease.

Not helping my mood.

I retreated to an empty table, hoping Michael would stay away.

When he didn't enter immediately, I sighed again and ignored the twinge in my chest. Where was he? Tempted to pull out my phone and use the Find app Kennedy had insisted Michael and I have for the three of us. I'd never used it, though from the moment I'd installed it, I'd been aware I could. But I wouldn't.

I finished my meal in silence, barely pausing to chew. I'd just refilled my coffee cup and returned to my seat when Linc stumbled in, looking like he'd forgotten what sleep felt like. His wings drooped, his glasses sat askew, and he looked even tinier than usual.

Needed to check on him. The guy worked too hard.

I waved him over. Could do with some company, anyway. The other shifters were mostly keeping their distance once news of Michael's and my fated mates' status made the gossip rounds. Couldn't keep anything quiet around here. Since we hadn't completed the bond, I guess they figured Michael would be a little volatile. Maybe it was good Linc wasn't a shifter, or I'd be spending all my meals alone.

I'd never regretted being a shifter—even when my human stepmother hurled insults and fists my way—but sometimes we could be ridiculous. He might as well have pissed on me with the way the wolf shifters acted. I swear wolves had more instincts than brains. Give me a raven shifter any day. We might be collectors of shiny things, but we had some common sense. Usually. Once we got our urges to acquire pretty things under control.

Problem was, Michael was the shiniest of shiny things, and my bird really, really liked all his gestures and gifts. Also, liked that he didn't hide me from Kennedy. Wasn't expecting that.

Didn't matter. We couldn't work. And I wasn't ready to forgive his disdain when we first met. That shit wasn't cool, even if I'd never seen him act that way to anyone else. Hell, that made it worse, didn't it?

Shoving my irritation aside, I smiled as Linc moved my way with a tray holding almost as much food as my own. He wobbled unsteadily, and even the bags under his eyes had bags. When was the last time he slept? He'd almost reached the table when he tipped slowly to the side. Oh, crap.

I sprang to my feet and snagged him and his tray before he toppled. He blinked up at me, his eyes glazed. I helped him ease into a seat.

"Thanks. I'm always so clumsy."

I huffed. "Exhausted, you mean. You need to sleep, man."

"There's been some fresh developments with the sugar factory . . ." Linc froze in place, his gaze riveted over my shoulder. I turned to see why.

Kennedy stomped through the door, the click clack of her heels loud on the wood floor, Michael following behind. Had he returned to her? No, he wouldn't. Would he?

Shit, I didn't care if he did. The burning in my chest meant nothing.

The room took a collective step backward, clearing the path to our table. She rolled up to us like a thunderstorm about to break.

"Linc, did you fill Abe in on the Domino Sugar sitch?"

Linc shrank like a hen before a cobra.

"Not yet. I was about to," he squeaked.

Guess I'd play mongoose.

"What's up? You know something?" I asked.

Kennedy turned her stormy gaze my way. Before she could answer, Michael moved behind me, a steadying presence.

"Sometime yesterday, containers with materials for the new off-loader and conveyor belts went missing."

I furrowed my brow. "Missing?"

Corruption wasn't unheard of at the port, lots of deals in play, but it took balls to steal materials the Roger of Central Baltimore had a particular interest in. Especially because there'd have to be a guy in place to offload the stolen containers. Or someone could've hid them in the stacks. It'd be weeks before they'd be discovered.

I looked at Linc.

He shrugged. "The port authorities are blaming the container ship, since they have no record of the containers being offloaded."

I chuckled, but it wasn't a happy sound. "Bullshit. It's buying them time. No way were they careless with containers meant for the sugar factory. They knew jobs depend on it and heads could roll." Literally, if Kennedy had anything to say about it.

Kennedy's lips thinned as she gripped her large handbag holding more firepower than most military outposts. "Sounds like a plan."

"Slow that roll, sister. Give me a chance to check it out." I could nose around, see what the other dock workers knew. Just because I hadn't worked there in a couple months didn't mean my contacts were stale.

She glared before saying, "That's the idea. You can do that while I see to . . . some other business there. Michael, you'll be with us, too."

I didn't groan, but it was close. Going to be a long night.