26. Chapter Twenty-Six

"So she can assist you with your wildfire problem."

"My wildfire problem?" Riaz was still confused as to why Cortana's friend would be coming to his den. Did she have some ulterior motive for bringing her here?

"Toni is a Fire Elemental," Cortana frowned. "She's Drake's wife."

Oh.Riaz felt like a fool. The vampire had invited the woman to ensure the den didn't burn—enough to have his wolf leap with joy. It still confused the stuffing out of Riaz. Either way, he was indebted to her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Fido." Patting his arm pedantically, Cortana's face softened. "Shall I give her the okay?"

Riaz nodded, waiting as the vampire tapped out a text on her phone. Once sent, Cortana gazed up at him in silence, searching his eyes.

"When will she arrive?" he asked, grasping for conversation topics now that he'd finally given up his pout. Though he'd have preferred to stay in wolf form, even he had to admit it was a cowardly act.

"Five seconds or so."

Before Riaz could ask, a fissure of air churned around them, and suddenly there were two extra people standing in the small space of Ava's office.

Wolf growling an unfriendly greeting, Riaz instantly went on the defense, pulling Cortana behind him and placing his body between the two women and the intruders. At least, until he recognized them both.

"Toni!" Cortana, immune to his protectiveness, shrugged out of his hold to embrace the woman warmly.

Unfortunately, the other person in the room was a Raeth—and Ava was at the desk directly behind him. He could feel her pulse instantly skyrocket in panic, the whimper in her throat letting him know just how bad her fear was triggered, as she tried to hold it together.

Without casting a glance back at his second, he ushered the guests out of the room while the vampire and her friend reacquainted. The male Raeth, fortunately, was familiar to him—though still unwelcome this close to his second.

Since the other immortal had never been to the den before, he had either teleported to Cortana's psychic signature or his own—it would've been impossible any other way.

"Remmus."

Riaz jerked a chin down the corridor, uncaring that the other man might find him abrupt.

The massive Raeth's seafoam green eyes were hidden behind his customary Aviators, a jovial grin on his lips. He tried to sneak a second glance at Ava, but one growl from Riaz had him disconnecting from her within seconds. Finally taking the alpha's cue, he stepped back down the hall.

Riaz wasn't going to allow anyone to make Ava uncomfortable, regardless of their intent or good nature.

Toni and Cortana talked animatedly behind them as they set out for the great hall, leaving Ava behind, hopefully at peace. Riaz would have to circle back with her after he'd disengaged with Remmus. Taking the other man's forearm in a traditional warrior greeting, he grinned.

"Long time, Remmus."

"Yep. Last time was at Kaien's wedding. That was, of course, before …" Remmus trailed off, his expression pinching minutely before the fa?ade was once more firmly in place. "Anyway, nice digs you've got here. Did Cortana not tell you Toni was travelling à la Raeth?"

"She did not." Riaz led them into the open air of the great hall. "Do you typically function as Toni's Taxi, or is this just your side gig?"

Remmus leaned against the picnic table they'd arrived at, somehow striking a look that screamed both casual observer and deadly assassin in one go. "You know me, I make myself useful, although I generally prefer to be useful to women who aren't attached, if you catch my drift. I can't complain about the view, though."

The Raeth winked over his sunglasses toward the table of she-wolves just a few feet away. All of them were entranced by Remmus, casting him their best sultry looks. Riaz rolled his eyes.

"Mind if I stay a few days?" Remmus asked. "My sovereign told me that if I let Toni get hurt, she'll stop funding my sweets addiction."

Riaz hesitated. While a Raeth was here, Ava wouldn't relax. Given his beta's past, he couldn't blame her, but he also couldn't throw out Remmus when Toni was here to help. Inter-breed relations were important, especially considering the fragile truce among them.

"Of course. I'll have one of the betas get some quarters ready for you both."

They turned their attention to the pair of women beside them. Toni, a bubbly strawberry blonde with doll-like features, was all smiles as she turned to Riaz for a more official greeting.

"Welcome to the den, Toni."

"Thanks!" Another winning smile. "If I go spend a bunch of money in Estes Park, is there a secret pawshake I have to do to get back into the den, or will they know me?"

"There's absolutely a secret pawshake," Cortana said without humor.

Toni was already on the next topic. "I'm ready to go out and try to tame the fires when you are. I'll do whatever I can."

"And it will be appreciated," Riaz replied. "Frankly, though, I'm surprised Drake let you come."

The Elemental rolled her eyes. "He knows it's important, otherwise Cortana wouldn't have called. Besides, he'll be fine for a few days without his scarlet snack."

At the mention, Riaz's blood heated, his gaze stealing to Cortana. From the way her eyes dilated, he could tell her thoughts had strayed to the carnal moment she'd fed on him. When they locked eyes, the world around them fell away, desire drumming through the nascent mating bond that pulsed between them.

Then Cortana was suddenly looking away, hiding behind a smile meant for Toni. "We can get you settled into your rooms. I'll go talk to Gadriel."

Always taking charge of things, the little vampire. The fact that it was his pack didn't seem to register. And why Gadriel of all betas? That ginger menace could keep his charms away from his mate, for a start.

"Of course. You can play dutiful host, Mistress of Shadows. I have to see to one of my packmates."

Spinning without waiting for a response, he strode back toward the offices. Ava was his priority at the moment. He sent Gadriel out with a jerk of his chin as he passed the other man's doorway.

The second he laid eyes on his lieutenant, he knew she wasn't okay. Tension had locked her shoulders, her fingers trembling so hard above the keyboard that she couldn't type. Her eyes, while fixated on the screen ahead of her, were partially misted. She didn't seem to have moved, frozen in terror in the position he left her in.

"Ava."

Softened to the point of pity, Riaz drew her into his arms. The woman buried her face in his chest, curling into his embrace as shudders wracked her body, drawing on his power for calm. His dominance made the wolves in his pack better able to process threats and fear, because they knew someone stronger had their back and would support them.

"I would've been fine if they hadn't startled me." Muffled, her pleading tone tore at his heart. "I just didn't expect a Raeth to be here … in my office. My home."

"I know, sweet."

He gently cupped the back of her head, letting her raw emotion wash over him as he trailed his hand down her blonde locks. For werewolves, touch was essential. Right now, Ava needed it to ground herself, and his alpha wolf would always help.

He still needed to warn her of the oncoming storm. Remmus wasn't going to simply disappear now that he'd dropped off Toni, and he wouldn't allow Ava to be taken by surprise again. Considering what'd been done to her as a child, her frantic response was expected. Sighing, he straightened against her.

"Remmus asked for a room for the next few days, Ava," he said. "His sovereign has requested he watch over Toni while she's here. I will do everything in my power to make you comfortable and ask him to leave as soon as they're done."

She shuddered against his chest, her fingers tightening in his shirt. "I'll be okay now that I'm aware he's around. But after we sort out this plant, I don't want to be on the same turf."

"Understandable. You can take the long scout through the mountains once we've completed this mission."