Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

CATALINA

C atalina had returned to the family mansion in the Garden District—her head spinning from her aunt's betrayal. What the hell was going on? She could make no sense of it. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she set those thoughts aside. Catalina often found that if she put a problem or a puzzle aside, the answers would come.

She had barely set foot inside her home when her phone buzzed. She glanced down to see Riker's name flash across the screen. A rush of heat tingled through her as she remembered their last encounter—fighting side by side at The Thorny Rose, then beneath it and the unexpected intimacy that had followed. The memories chased away the grief and anger she felt from Maeve's betrayal. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Catalina answered.

"Riker," she greeted, trying to keep her voice neutral, but she knew it probably came off as warm.

"Catalina. You got a minute?" His voice was a gravelly rumble, but there was a hint of something softer beneath the usual gruffness.

She frowned slightly. "What's going on?"

"I've uncovered some things. We need to talk. How about dinner? My place, tonight."

Dinner? Catalina hesitated, but curiosity overrode any reluctance. "Dinner, huh? Are we discussing business, or is this some kind of date?"

Riker's chuckle was a low, seductive sound that sent a thrill through her. "Business. And maybe a little of the other. But mostly business."

She bit her lip, the playful banter setting her pulse racing. "All right. I'll be there."

"Eight o'clock. You know the French Quarter well enough. I'm on Dauphine, right by the river. I'll leave the light on."

Catalina hung up, already trying to decipher the unusual weight behind his voice. There was something about Riker she hadn't quite pinned down yet—something that drew her in deeper than she cared to admit. And whether it was his stoic charm or the growing connection between them, she found herself looking forward to the evening.

B y the time she arrived at Riker's flat in the French Quarter, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow over the historic streets. The scent of jasmine and the distant sounds of jazz floated through the air, blending with the hustle of the nightlife. Riker's apartment was in one of the newly converted buildings along Dauphine, boasting high ceilings, exposed brick, and large windows that framed a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River.

When he opened the door, Riker stood before her in casual jeans and a worn T-shirt, his grizzled, salt-and-pepper hair slightly tousled, and that ever-present five o'clock shadow making him look even more ruggedly sexy than usual. Why had she never realized before now just how sexy the man was? Simple: she'd never been impaled on his cock and felt him thrusting deep inside her until the day before. The sight of him in this relaxed setting sent an unexpected shiver of desire through her.

"Come on in," he said, stepping aside to let her enter.

Catalina took in the space as she walked inside. It was simple but elegant—hardwood floors, a leather couch, and shelves lined with books and mementos that gave the place a surprisingly homey feel. The large windows gave an unobstructed view of the river, its dark surface shimmering under the moonlight.

"Nice place," she commented, impressed despite herself.

"I get by," he replied with a smile, motioning for her to take a seat at the dining table, which was set for two with what appeared to be hand-thrown, artisan dinnerware and hand-forged utensils. There was nothing delicate or fragile about his things, but there was an underlying beauty that called to her. "Wine?"

She nodded, and he poured them each a glass of deep red wine before sitting across from her. The atmosphere was casual but charged with a tension that neither of them seemed eager to acknowledge—yet.

"So," she began, swirling her wine. "What's this about?"

Riker took a sip, his gaze settling on her in that intense way he had. "I've been digging deeper into Simon Daltry's background. It's not just political ties and shady connections. He's been linked to a lot of racial and religious undertones of anti-magic extremist groups—groups that want to see the world homogenized in their likeness. They believe if there is anything magical or different, it needs to be wiped out."

Catalina's brows furrowed. "I've heard whispers about those groups. They operate under the radar, but I didn't realize Daltry was involved."

Riker nodded grimly. "They're more organized than I thought. I took a trip down to the Undercity."

At that, Catalina's eyes widened. The Undercity was a place most people—magical or otherwise—avoided unless they had no choice. It was where the outcasts of the supernatural world lived, the ones who didn't fit in anywhere else.

"I saw things down there," Riker continued, shaking his head, his voice rough with emotion. "Magical beings living in squalor, discriminated against, cast aside. People, fae, half-bloods—left with nothing because they didn't fit into the neat little boxes of society—magical, human, or otherwise—had set up for them. It opened my eyes to a lot of things."

Catalina's chest tightened. She'd heard about the conditions in the Undercity but had never ventured there herself. It was a reality most fae chose to ignore, too caught up in their own power dynamics to care. She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.

"And it's connected to the murder?" she asked.

"Yes. I found out Daltry's extremist group had been targeting the Undercity for years. They were trying to force the city's magical population underground, literally. The death of that politician might have been retaliation, or it could be part of something bigger."

Catalina leaned forward, her mind racing as she processed the implications. "I've been following a lead on my end. Glitch Martinez—he's a tech wizard who straddles the line between magic and technology. He helped me uncover something. There's a group, high up in the government and corporate sectors, working on something called Crescent Nexus."

Riker frowned. "I've heard of that. It's a new high-tech development tower. Supposed to be some kind of futuristic hub combining magic and technology. They've been quiet about the specifics, though."

Catalina nodded. "Exactly. But Glitch found evidence that they're using Crescent Nexus as a front. They're experimenting with dark magic—trying to break down the barriers between realms. If they succeed, it could be catastrophic."

The pieces started falling into place in Riker's mind. "So, Daltry's murder, the extremist groups, the dark magic—it's all connected to this Crescent Nexus project."

"Yes," Catalina said, her eyes meeting his. "And from what Glitch uncovered, it's worse than we thought. They're using cutting-edge technology to fuse with dark magic. If they break the barriers, they could unleash chaos—demons, monsters, the kind of stuff that only lives in nightmares."

Riker set his glass down, the weight of the revelation heavy between them. "We need to get inside Crescent Nexus."

Catalina raised an eyebrow. "That place is a fortress. That was my first thought, as well. So, Glitch did a little poking around: state-of-the-art security, magical wards, and probably a lot of very bad people guarding it."

Riker smirked. "Good thing I know a thing or two about sneaking into high-security places."

A wry smile tugged at Catalina's lips. "I suppose we're doing this together, then."

T he Crescent Nexus Tower loomed before them like a futuristic monolith, its glass fa?ade shimmering in the night. The building was a marvel of modern engineering, a blend of sleek technology and hidden magic. As Riker and Catalina stood across the street, concealed in the shadows, they went over their plan one last time.

"Security's going to be tight," Catalina whispered, her eyes scanning the building. "I'll handle the magical wards. You take care of the physical security."

Riker nodded, his muscles tensing in anticipation. "Let's do this."

They crossed the street, moving with purpose as they approached the side entrance of the tower. Catalina extended her hand, her fingers crackling with magic as she began dismantling the ward on the door. It shimmered faintly before dissolving under her power.

"Nice work," Riker muttered, pushing the door open as they slipped inside.

The interior of the building was just as sleek and polished as the exterior, all chrome and glass, with an eerie silence hanging in the air. The security guards patrolling the corridors were no joke—armed with high-tech weapons and possibly enhanced with magical defenses.

"We need to find the lab," Catalina whispered as they moved through the dimly lit hallways. "Glitch said that's where they're fusing technology and magic. If we can get in there, we might be able to figure out what they're doing, and maybe, if we're lucky, throw an old-fashioned monkey wrench into the works."

They moved quickly but cautiously, avoiding detection as they navigated the labyrinth of corridors. Finally, they reached a reinforced door with a digital lock. Catalina set to work again, this time using her magic to bypass the security system while Riker kept watch.

After a tense few moments, the door clicked open, revealing the lab beyond.

What they found inside sent a chill down Catalina's spine.

The room was filled with advanced technology—computers, wires, strange machines humming with power. But interwoven with the tech were elements of dark magic—symbols etched into the walls, glowing runes that pulsed with malevolent energy.

"They're really doing it," Riker muttered, his voice tight with disbelief.

Catalina moved to one of the computers, her fingers flying over the keys as she accessed the files. Her eyes widened as the information flooded the screen. "They're close. They've nearly perfected the fusion of technology and dark magic. If they succeed, they'll be able to control the flow of energy between realms. They could tear open the barriers."

Before Riker could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from down the hall.

"Get ready," he muttered, drawing his gun as the door burst open and armed guards stormed in, followed by the unmistakable stench of sulfur—demons.

The fight was immediate and brutal. Riker shifted into his bear form, a massive creature of raw power as he charged at the guards, swatting them aside with lethal force. Catalina unleashed her magic, bolts of lightning arcing from her fingertips as she struck down demons and guards alike.

The room became a battlefield, sparks of electricity and bursts of magic lighting up the darkness. The guards' high-tech weapons fired, but Riker's thick hide absorbed the bullets, while Catalina's magic shield deflected the attacks.

Together, they fought with a fluidity that came from growing trust and understanding. Riker's brute strength and Catalina's magical finesse combined in a deadly dance, each of them covering the other's back as they tore through their enemies.

Just as they were gaining the upper hand, the air around them shimmered, and a figure materialized in the center of the lab.

It was a malevolent mix of magic and tech—part robot, part shifter, and part something she didn't even want to name. Glitch had found a name they couldn't attach to anyone—Cipher. This had to be him.

The mastermind behind the conspiracy, Cipher was a shapeshifter unlike any Catalina had ever seen. His body was a grotesque blend of flesh and machine, his features shifting and warping with each passing second. His eyes glowed with a sickly green light, and a faint mechanical whir accompanied his every movement.

"You're too late," Cipher said, his voice a metallic rasp that sent chills down Catalina's spine. "The endgame is already in motion."

Catalina stepped forward, her magic crackling at her fingertips. "We'll see about that."

Cipher's laughter echoed through the lab. "You can try, little fae. But the barriers are already weakening. Soon, the realms will merge, and you will all fall."

Before they could act, Cipher's form blurred, and he vanished through the door, leaving only a faint shimmer of magic in his wake.

"Damn it!" Riker growled, shifting back into his human form. "We can't let him get away."

Catalina nodded, her heart pounding as she clothed him with her magic—this was getting to be a habit—and they bolted out of the lab, chasing Cipher through the labyrinth of corridors. The pursuit led them out of Crescent Nexus Tower and into the dark alleyways of the French Quarter.

But Cipher was fast—too fast. No matter how hard they pushed, they couldn't close the distance. Finally, they lost him, the shadowy streets swallowing him whole.

Panting, Catalina leaned against a wall, frustration coursing through her. "We were so close."

Riker clenched his fists, his jaw tight with anger. "We'll find him. This isn't over."

Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips to kiss her fingers. She wondered who the romantic gesture had surprised or comforted more—him or her.

T hey returned to Riker's flat, both of them still buzzing with adrenaline and frustration. The night had been intense, and the weight of the conspiracy hung over them like a storm cloud.

Catalina sat on the couch, her mind racing. "We need to regroup. Cipher might have gotten away, but we know more now than we did before."

Riker poured them each a drink, his gaze lingering on her as he handed her the glass. "We'll figure it out. I believe, together with the people we have on our side, we'll get this bastard and put him down."

There was a pause, a charged silence that filled the room. Their eyes met, and in that moment, the tension that had been simmering between them since The Thorny Rose finally boiled over.

Without thinking, Catalina stood, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Riker set his drink down, his hand reaching out to pull her closer. Their lips met in a fierce, urgent kiss, the kind that came from pent-up frustration, attraction, and the undeniable connection that had grown between them.

The kiss deepened, and soon, they were lost in each other—an unspoken understanding passing between them. This was more than just an attraction. It was trust, respect, and the knowledge that whatever came next, they would face it together.

And for now, that was all that mattered.