Chapter 20

TWENTY

“ T he lab,” Asher managed, though stepping away from him took considerable effort. “We need to assess the damage.”

The laboratory level was a mess of scorched equipment and scattered data feeds. Asher moved immediately to her main workstation, Talon close behind.

“The wards need upgrading,” she said, studying the readouts. “They’re not designed for electrical integration.” She faltered as his hands slid up her spine, making concentration nearly impossible.

“Focus.” But his voice had roughened as she leaned back into his touch.

“You first.” She turned to face him, letting sparks dance between them. “Unless you’d rather analyze security protocols?”

His response was cut off by new alarms. Multiple screens lit up with energy signatures.

“More forces incoming,” Levi’s voice crackled through comms. “Though Lori’s handling the east wing with terrifying efficiency.”

“We should help,” Asher said even as Talon’s hands tightened on her waist.

“We should.” But he made no move to release her, his eyes pure gold as he tracked every shift of her expression. She felt his dragon’s growing need to claim, to mark, to make absolutely clear that she was his.

“Later,” she promised, stretching up to brush her lips across his jaw. Satisfaction flooded her as he shuddered at the touch. “After we deal with your brother’s next temper tantrum.”

His growl rumbled through her chest. “Hold you to that.”

They turned their attention to the laboratory data, though Talon kept one hand at her waist. Each screen showed different aspects of the attack – energy signatures, breach points, power fluctuations.

“Look at this.” Asher pulled up a frequency analysis, trying to ignore how his thumb traced patterns on her hip. “The way their weapons interact with shifter energy – it’s not random. He’s studying specific responses.”

“Targeting you specifically,” Talon noted, his grip tightening. She felt his dragon’s protective fury rise.

“Maybe.” She zoomed in on one reading, electricity crackling around her fingers. “Or maybe...” She trailed off as Talon pressed closer, his scent wrapping around her. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

“Doing what?” But his smirk said otherwise as he reached past her to adjust the display, deliberately brushing against her.

“That.” She turned in his arms. “Using proximity to throw off my concentration.”

His eyes blazed gold. “Is it working?”

Before she could respond, new alerts flashed across the screens. Energy signatures pulsed at the perimeter, setting off multiple warnings.

“They’re moving again,” Levi reported. “Different pattern this time – I think they’re testing your combined powers.”

“Show me.” Asher refocused on the data, though she didn’t step out of Talon’s embrace. Her powers hummed stronger with him close, their energies naturally aligning.

The tactical display showed attack formations shifting, adapting to their earlier responses. Each new pattern seemed designed to probe their defenses, testing how their powers worked together.

“He’s learning,” she realized, fingers flying across keyboards. “Every time we fight, he’s gathering data on how our abilities combine.”

Talon’s chest rumbled against her back. “Then let’s show him exactly what we can do.”

Lightning arced between them as if in response, connecting with his fire in a display that made nearby equipment spark. He seemed satisfied at their perfect resonance.

“The wards first,” she insisted, though turning away from him took considerable effort. “We need to?—”

His lips brushed her neck, exactly where the mate mark would go. “Need to what?”

“That’s not fair.” But she tilted her head to give him better access, electricity crackling around them. “I’m trying to work.”

“So work.” His voice had dropped to a register that made her knees weak. “I’m not stopping you.”

“You’re not helping either.” She managed to pull up ward configurations despite his continued attention. “Unless distraction is your goal?”

His low laugh vibrated through her chest. “Always so perceptive, mate.”