Chapter 10

I reviewedthe file on my desk. Even though it was wasteful, there were times when I preferred paper.

Sage Starburst Isaacs had an impressive pedigree for working in a dusty storeroom, cataloging Talia's photos.

Daughter of the artist Judith Isaacs, she'd traveled extensively while her mother had chased her muse. After her mother's death, Sage enrolled in a boarding school in Connecticut. Then, she'd gone on to well-respected universities, studying Art History.

What the fuck was she doing locked away in the storage room, sorting Talia's photos?

Sig entered my office. "You look perplexed?"

"Don't I always?"

"Was that a joke?" He dropped into the chair across from my desk. "What are you reading?"

"The file on the human." I shoved the file across to him.

Several minutes later, he closed the file. "She's always been a shit-stirrer."

"Meaning," I growled. My wolf rose to defend the human.

"Easy." Sig took my change of mood in stride. "Talia always finds a way to poke. This time, she's brought a human into the manor. We'll be kept busy ensuring Miss Isaacs is safe and make sure that she sees nothing out of the ordinary for a human."

"She's devious." I shook my head as my wolf relaxed, knowing he had not been talking about Sage.

"She is," he agreed with a slight grin. Then he turned serious. Tapping the files' cover, he said, "This one is intelligent. We can only hope she keeps busy with her job and will be gone soon."

I covered the growl that rumbled in my chest by clearing my throat.

"I knew I'd find you both in here." Talia strode into my office without bothering to request permission. She took the seat next to Sig.

"Your timing is impeccable." I had questions.

"You've been busy." She glanced at the file on my desk.

"I spoke with Lueken," I began. "He admitted that you went through the appropriate steps after announcing you would have a guest."

"Then why didn't he tell us?" Sig asked.

"She isn't a threat," Talia said. "I told him that I would be responsible for her. So far, she works and sleeps. I think she's only been outside for half an hour in the courtyard."

"Without an escort?" Sig asked in a tight voice.

"She's seen a few wolves and didn't freak out." She rolled her eyes at the male sitting next to her. "I told her that they are heartier than dogs."

"She believes that?" Sig's cheeks were getting red. A sure sign that this would rapidly become a showdown between the two.

"Which wolves?" I asked impulsively.

"What?" Talia turned her attention to me.

"Who approached her?" I asked slowly. I didn't know why this mattered to me.

"Nobody important," she said with a wave, blowing off my question.

"If they have access to the courtyard, then they have a modicum of importance." I wanted names.

Talia's put-upon sigh was dramatic as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Let's see." She closed her eyes as she recalled. "The second or third son of Petrov and the daughter of the one that always needs to blow his nose."

"Kemper Petrov and Eloise Morneau," Sig supplied.

"It was people like that. Nobody noticed Sage, really."

The male must've been blind. Sage was a beautiful woman.

"What excuse did Lueken give?" Talia suddenly seemed focused. "He's probably thrilled to hear I'm getting into trouble."

"You aren't in trouble," Sig said with an arch of his eyebrow. "He didn't tackle you."

"Well, now we know you can apologize with a sweet gesture," Talia told me.

"What gesture?" Sig pressed. He hated it when Talia knew something he didn't.

I felt tongue-tied. I couldn't explain it. I only knew that upon waking, I had wanted to do something to apologize.

When I didn't answer, Nataliya did it for me. "He sent Sage two dozen roses in the crystal vase he brought back from Ireland."

Sig's smile was huge, showing his sharp teeth. "Nice."

"I could have seriously injured her." I shifted uneasily in my chair.

"I think there's more," Talia sang the words.

Sig looked from her to me. "Is there?"

"Gah." I threw my hands up in the air. "You two are so difficult."

"Did you catch that he didn't answer?" Talia asked Sig.

"He hasn't had much sleep. He's a little off his game." Sig's grin told me that he enjoyed my current discomfort.

"Lueken is aware that I am displeased that we were not notified of the visitor. He will endeavor not to let it happen again." I hoped the subject change would make them stop discussing my gift to Sage.

"He thinks that humans are stupid like sheep. I'm sure that played a part in his keeping the report from us," Sig opined.

"He did ask how big her breasts were when I called to make my request," Talia recalled.

"He did what?" I roared.

"It was uncanny. It was like he knew that she has great boobs." Talia was playing with me.

"Do you think he has met her before?" Sig asked.

"No." Talia shook her head.

"Doubtful. I doubt Lueken knows anything about buying fine art," I said.

The odds were high that Lueken was being an ass, but we were careful. None of us believed in coincidences. It was not out of the question for Anton to rile other members of his inner circle to try to murder me.

He couldn't accept that I didn't want his job.

I had stopped defending myself over a century ago.

Anton believed only what he wanted to be true.