Chapter 6

Richard let out a breath before he got up from his desk. They'd decided to head over to The Joint, which was in one of the next towns over, to case the place for Stan and former king, Gregor. He was glad to have permission to take Amira out on another date, but he wasn't sure if he could keep up the "fake" part of the date. Richard wasn't sure if he could handle being that close to Amira without kissing her.

Not only that, but her assignment was becoming more real to him. She had to be frightened to know that her captor was on the loose. What if they spotted each other—what if Zagan hurt her? He pounded his fist onto his desk.

I'll kill the son of a bitch if he lays a finger on her!

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to protect her from it all. She wasn't fragile—he knew that because of their conversation at lunch, not to mention the very fact that she'd survived Zagan's experiments and become a FUC agent afterward—but his llama-mate sense was strong. That didn't mean he wanted to keep her from the assignment, only that he wanted to be there with her, watching her back like any good partner would do. It had nothing to do with her capabilities. Nothing to do with wanting to be a white knight either. That wasn't why he wanted to protect her. He desired to protect her because she was his. Didn't every suitable mate do that for their partner?

Richard let out a sigh.

Yeah, that was what you did for your mate, but she wasn't exactly his yet. His llama had determined it, but for it to be official, she'd need to agree to it. Agree to be his. And technically, they hadn't been on a date yet because all he did was take her to lunch on her last day working for him. They hadn't developed a strong bond yet. Mainly that was his fault since he'd ghosted her the past couple of weeks. So why did he want her so badly?

A knock at his office door interrupted his thoughts.

"Yes?"

The door opened, and Amira poked her head in. "I'm all caught up, so we can go to The Joint when you're ready."

"I'm all set, as well. Let's head over there now. I'll drive."

"You really don't like giving up control, do you?"

Richard raised a brow. "What makes you say that?"

"This is the second time you offered to drive. I mean, don't get me wrong, because your car is nice, but I can drive us, too, you know. It is my mission we're preparing for. I should be taking the lead, and that usually includes driving."

"True, but I enjoy driving my car."

Amira shrugged her shoulders. "Fair enough."

They drove in a comfortable silence until they reached the parking lot of the restaurant. Amira reached for the handle to open the car door.

"Let me get that for you," Richard said, stopping her. "After all, we are technically on a date, at least according to Stan."

Amira smiled as she watched Richard walk over to her side of the car. He opened the door and offered his hand to her. She took it, and electric heat shot through his arm and right to his nether regions like a firecracker. Once she was out of the car, he placed his hand on her hip and drew her closer to him. She responded by wrapping her arms around one of his biceps.

"Well, don't we look the part?" he murmured in her ear.

Amira smiled brightly as she peered at him from under her lashes. "I must admit that I wasn't keen on the idea initially, but I'm kind of warming up to it."

Richard smiled back. "I'm glad."

* * *

Sam watched from behind the bar as a couple glided in through the door. A shifter couple, he scented right away. The woman looked familiar to him, but then again, he'd seen a lot of faces. These two weren't regulars, though—that he was certain of—which meant they'd be the perfect candidates for the new potion he wanted to try out. They wouldn't be familiar with his drinks, so they wouldn't notice anything strange about enhanced effects.

His boss, Zagan, had big plans in the coming days. He wanted to capture Gregor and experiment more on his royal blood, in hopes of making more potent potions for hybridizing shifters, and the only easy way to abduct the former king of Skyros was to drug him. Last time, they'd used an anti-shifting formula on him and Stan, but it didn't leave them immobile long enough. The new drug they planned to use on him was different. It mimicked the same effects as shifter spirits, and the victim wouldn't remember much during the time they were under the influence. Sam just wanted to test it a few more times to ensure its efficacy.

Sam smiled as the two approached the bar, and he placed a cocktail napkin in front of each. "What can I get ya?"

"I'll have a scotch, neat," the man said and then looked at the pretty thing wrapped around his arm. "And what are you ordering?"

"I'll have a chardonnay, please." The woman seemed to blush under the man's gaze.

The two sat at the bar next to each other. Sam poured their drinks while keeping an eye on them, watching as the woman moved her hand from her date's arm to his upper thigh. He could tell the two were obviously into each other. At least, they were more focused on each other than what Sam was doing. All he had to do was ensure that no one else was watching him add the potion to the glasses. And, of course, that wouldn't be hard, since he was the only bartender today. He quickly slipped the potion into their first round and observed as they sipped their cocktails.

The two were much more interested in each other than their drinks. Not surprising, seeing as they seemed enamored with each other and shifters didn't drink to get drunk, anyway. The beverages they'd ordered were more for social show than for effects.

Despite his offers for another round to urge them to drink up, it took the couple about an hour to finish their first glasses. Sam kept himself from growling. They were taking too long with their drinks. Their shifter healing abilities must be keeping the drug from affecting them. I'll have to double the dose to get any results.

For their second round, Sam poured a little extra of the drug into both of their drinks. This time, it seemed to work because soon the two strangers were giggling and hanging onto each other.

Satisfied the drug was ready for Gregor, Sam forgot about the now-inebriated couple. The only thing on his mind now was the ex-king.