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  He slowly pulled almost all the way out, leaving her feeling bereft. When he plunged in again and again, pleasure streaked straight through her. She chanted his name like a mantra, his thrusts picking up speed as he pounded his pleasure into her. Then she captured his mouth again, her kiss matching the rhythm of his thrusts.

  Her legs locked around his waist as he rode her hard, until finally he slipped a hand between them to rub his fingertips over the center of her need. She threw her head back and keened her joyous satisfaction. The sweet sound drove him over the edge, and his body poured out his release.

  It took a while for the world to right itself. He loved the feel of Brenna laying limp in his arms, their bodies still joined.

  Unexpectedly, she giggled. “I guess that answers the question of whether you’re all right.”

  He laughed loud and long. When he caught his breath, he told her, “I can’t remember ever being more all right. Damn, woman, you sure know how to make a man feel welcome.”

  He planted a final kiss on her mouth before gently withdrawing from her body. “I still need that shower.”

  “I’ll join you.”

  He wasn’t about to argue. There was a world of possibilities involving hot water and soap-slicked skin.

  Cocooned in the warmth of the bed, Trahern took a deep breath. “You shouldn’t have come out of the room until you knew it was safe.”

  She’d been expecting this lecture ever since Blake had returned, looking grim and cold to the soul. Though he was right, she didn’t regret the frightening glimpse into the hell he lived with on a daily basis. How could anyone live, knowing his life would be full of battles and pain?

  “I can’t promise I won’t do it again.” She looked him in the eye. “And I won’t have you trying to protect me from the parts of your life you think I can’t handle.” She poked him in the chest to emphasize her point.

  He sighed. “Brenna, the Paladins’ secrets have been safe from the outside world for generations. If we were to start broadcasting our existence, there’s no telling what would happen. At the very least, the military would want to get their hands on us. We can’t afford to be defending ourselves on another front. There are few enough of us as it is.”

  “Fine,” she snapped, then scooted as far away as the bed would allow. How dare he lump her in with everyone else? “Keep your secrets from the outside world. But, considering everything we’ve been through in the last few days, I hardly consider myself to be part of that group.”

  He immediately wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him, spoon style. “Damn it, Brenna, don’t twist my words around. I was just trying to say that I’m not used to sharing myself with anyone. Men who have served with me for years don’t know me as well as you do.”

  That admission went a long way toward assuaging her anger. “I’m not asking for more than you can give, Blake, but knowing the truth is what enables me to cope. You don’t have to hide who and what you are from me. Even when you leave, your secrets will be safe with me.”

  The shrill ring of the phone prevented any more conversation. Blake reached over her to pick up the receiver. “Trahern here.”

  Judging by the sudden tension in his body, it wasn’t anybody he was glad to hear from. A few seconds later he slammed the phone down and rolled away from her. The chill in the room had nothing to do with the limestone cavern that surrounded them.

  “Blake?” She put her hand on his bare shoulder.

  His only answer was a heavy silence, but at least he didn’t try to shake off her touch.

  “I can’t help if I don’t know.”

  She moved closer, draping her arm over his chest and sharing her warmth with him. Slowly, some of his tension drained away. After a bit, he finally spoke.

  “Jarvis said Mr. Doe has made progress on your father’s disk and spreadsheets.”

  That was good news, wasn’t it? So there had to be more. She settled in to wait him out. Finally, she gave up and prompted him to speak. “And?”

  Trahern lunged to his feet. “And I have to go take a bunch of fucking damn tests!”

  “Tests? Why?” She held her breath, not sure how to help when he was like this.

  He took a long breath and then another one. “There was an incident back in Seattle, involving a Paladin from outside the region.”

  “What happened to him?” she asked.

  “He turned Other with no warning at all and had to be put down.” Trahern’s eyes held the chill of a winter sky.

  She focused on Trahern. “What’s that got to do with you?”

  In a burst of anger, he kicked his duffle across the room. “Because of him, every time I fight, I have to report to the nearest Handler and let them run tests.”

  “What kind of tests?”

  He started pacing. “The kind, little girl, where they decide whether I’m still human enough to live or if I must die. Right then, right there, no quarter given.”

  Sympathy wouldn’t help him. Temper might. She left the bed to confront her angry, hurting Paladin. “So what are you worried about?”

  Stunned didn’t do the look on his face justice. He stared at her as if she’d just grown a second head. “I just told you what happened to that Paladin in Seattle!”

  “I’m sorry he died, but he’s not you.” Right now she was more worried about the man in front of her. She hadn’t thought that anything frightened Blake Trahern, but obviously the tests did.

  “Died is such a nice, sanitary way to put it.” He glowered down at her. “They held him down, kicking and screaming, as they shoved in a needle of toxins to kill him permanently, the same way they would any other dangerous animal. Laurel Young was the one wielding the needle. It almost destroyed her, too.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “Now, fool that she is, Laurel spends most of her waking hours trying to find ways to hold off the changes that are part of our basic nature. Because one of these days, it just might be her lover who gets the needle.”

  He walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.

  She noticed he didn’t lock it. For the moment, she’d allow him some privacy, but if he didn’t come out soon, she’d go in after him.

  So Laurel Young’s work was the only thing standing between him and that needle he was so afraid of. As well as Brenna herself. She would fight tooth and nail to protect her man, just as Laurel Young was doing. She might not have the medical knowledge that his Handler had, but they did have one thing in common: both of them cared too deeply about the Paladins to want them to suffer.

  And it was time to show Blake Trahern that she meant to fight for him. She knocked, and when he didn’t answer, she pounded louder.

  “Blake Trahern, I need to get dressed, so quit hogging the bathroom. We’ve got to get through those tests so we can find out who killed my father. You can’t do that hiding in there.”

  The door swung open. Blake clearly hadn’t appreciated her last remark. Too bad.

  Brushing past him, she reached for her toothbrush. “So what do you say we get the tests over with? Then we can concentrate on the important stuff.”

  “So your father’s death is more important than mine?” His voice was as glacial as the silvery cold gray of his eyes.

  She looked him over from top to toe and back again, letting her eyes linger in certain spots along the way.

  “You’re talking to the wrong woman if you want sympathy. I can personally testify that you are very much alive. If you’d been any more alive in that bed, I’m not sure I would have survived the experience.” Then she gave him a gentle shove. “Now go get dressed and give me some privacy. While you’re at it, make up your mind: tests or talking to Mr. Doe first.”

  She shut the door behind him, hoping that she’d gotten through to him. Blake would pass their damn tests with flying colors. They’d have a major fight on their hands if they thought they could get anywhere near him with that awful needle. She might be sleeping with the big oaf, but that did
n’t mean she was blind to his faults. He was hardheaded, bossy, egotistical…and so very sweet when she least expected it.

  Maybe he’d had problems with his past tests, when he was alone, but now he had her. He and the rest of his supersecret friends would just have to accept that things had changed.

  Blake closed his eyes and willed his body to relax. A mob of half-crazed Others armed with swords didn’t scare him as much as the tangle of wires that connected him to the fucking machine that beeped and whirred and mapped out his thoughts in squiggles of ink. A soft touch on his hand reminded him that Brenna was sitting beside him, breaking his concentration on all things hateful.

  He still wasn’t sure how she managed to bulldoze her way past the Handler and his boss to get into the room. She’d done it with smiles and assurances that Dr. Young would back her up, and damn if Laurel hadn’t done exactly that. In fact, she had told them that if Dr. Crosby, the local Handler, didn’t allow Brenna into the room, she would go over his head and deny him access to her patient.

  “You’re frowning, Doctor Crosby. Is there some problem?” Brenna squeezed Blake’s hand. Her palm was damp, a sign she wasn’t as calm as she wanted everyone to believe.

  The doctor shook his head. “Not that I can find, anyway. It’s just that these results don’t correlate very well with Mr. Trahern’s previous tests.”

  Brenna immediately jumped to her feet, almost knocking the poor man to the floor as she put herself between him and Blake. For the first time in hours, Blake felt like grinning.

  “Then do them again, Doctor. Blake’s just fine, and I won’t have you and that blasted machine saying otherwise.”

  The doctor straightened his lab coat, trying to restore some dignity. “You misunderstand me, Ms. Nichols. However, I won’t discuss my findings with either of you before I share them with Mr. Trahern’s Handler back in Seattle.” The doctor looked more puzzled than worried. What was going on?

  Trahern joined the discussion. “They’re my results, Doc. You can tell me, and anything you have to say, Brenna can hear.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Have Ms. Nichols disconnect you from those electrodes. I’m sure you can show her how to do that. Meanwhile, I’ll make a quick call to Dr. Young. By the time you come into the lab, I should be ready to discuss the results with you.” He bolted out the door before they could argue.

  “That seemed odd.” Brenna stared at the door. “Is that a normal reaction for a Handler?”

  Blake sat up and started pulling off the electrodes himself. “I don’t know if anything they do is normal or not. But Laurel Young always looked slightly sick when she watched my results come out of that damn machine.”

  Brenna reached over to remove the last electrode. She let it drop down on the bed, then cupped his face with her hand. “Well, it couldn’t have been too bad if he’s letting you walk out of here on your own.”

  Blake turned his face to nuzzle her palm and then tugged her down onto his lap. She giggled, then sighed as he turned his attention to kissing her good and proper.

  She slapped his hand away when he tried to do a little exploring. “Come on, Blake. We’ve got other things to do right now.”

  “Not me.” But he let her escape when she pulled away.

  “Let’s go see what the doctor says.”

  He noticed that she held his hand as they returned to the main lab room. If she drew some comfort from his touch, he was glad. No one else had ever turned to him for comfort. The sensation felt strange, but a good strange.

  The doctor, still on the phone, held up a finger for them to wait. “I’m not sure this is wise, Dr. Young, but Mr. Trahern and his fiancée are standing here. I’ll put you on speakerphone.”

  Fiancée, huh? So that was how Brenna got by the normal security. She was obviously going to bluff it out, gazing at the telephone as if it were the most interesting thing she’d ever seen. He squeezed her hand as they waited for Laurel to explain what had the local doctor’s knickers all in a twist.

  “Trahern, is that you?”

  “Yeah, Doc, it’s me.”

  “Let me be the first to congratulate you on your recent engagement.” There was just enough sarcasm to make her local counterpart give him and Brenna the evil eye.

  “Thanks. I can hardly believe it myself.” He’d pay for that one later, judging from the look Brenna shot him.

  “Let’s hope she knows what she’s getting herself into.”

  “I can speak for myself, Dr. Young. And, yes, I knew just what I was doing.”

  “I suspect that is true, Ms. Nichols—but back to the matter at hand. Blake, it appears that you and Devlin have become a bit perplexing for the Regents. I was reading the tests from here as Dr. Crosby ran and reran the scan, and they’re not only better this time, but they are markedly better. Just like Devlin’s.”

  No wonder Laurel sounded happy. If Bane’s tests weren’t a fluke, then maybe there was hope for them. Blake figured she’d be using him for a guinea pig, too, when he got home to Seattle, but he wouldn’t put up much of a fight.

  “I suspect you have some celebrating to do, Mr. Trahern. And congratulations again. I also suspect your Ms. Nichols has something to do with all of this.”

  Before he could respond, a chill ran up his spine: the barrier again. It wasn’t as bad as earlier, but bad enough. “Gotta go, Doc, but thanks for the good news. I’ll let you know how things turn out here.”

  He was already dragging Brenna along in his wake, hitting the door out of the lab at almost a run. Maybe it would have been wiser to leave her with Dr. Crosby, but the doctor would have his own preparations to make if there was more fighting.

  “What’s wrong?” Brenna asked.

  “The barrier.” It was hard to get even those words out, with the need to fight burning in his veins. “I’ll get you to safety first.”

  “But—”

  “Not now, Brenna. I have to.”

  She planted her feet and dragged him to a stop. “I know that, you nitwit. Let go of my hand and go. Surely I can find my way back to the room by myself.”

  “Even if you could, you don’t have the security codes.” He’d throw her over his shoulder again and carry her to their room and lock the door if that’s what it took. “Don’t get stubborn with me right now.”

  “Fine.”

  They reached the elevator, and he keyed in the numbers that Jarvis had given him earlier. He supposed they were supersecret, but he didn’t give a damn if Brenna did memorize them. The elevator was slow in coming, but it was unlikely that he’d been the only Paladin caught above ground when the barrier dropped. Despite his best efforts, he could barely control the surges of adrenaline in his blood. Those good test results wouldn’t be worth a tinker’s damn if he didn’t maintain until he had a sword in his hand.

  At last the elevator arrived. When they were safely inside, he started counting off the seconds until they reached the caverns below. At the bottom he instinctively shoved Brenna behind him until he knew exactly what they were walking into. The doors slid open to reveal a cluster of Paladins, armed and ready to fight. They turned to check him out. Although he didn’t know half of them by name, they all recognized him from the previous fight.

  “Is the corridor clear?”

  The closest man nodded. “Yeah. The barrier was only down for a few seconds, but it’s weakening again.” His grin turned feral. “If you hustle, you should be back in time for the party.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I can find my own way.” Brenna tried to tug free of his grasp.

  “We’ve already settled that argument.”

  He picked her up and loped down the passageway, knowing that she’d peel a strip off his hide later for embarrassing her. Served her right, for telling the medical staff she was his fiancée. He opened the door to their room and dumped her on the bed. His mistake was in laughing when she squealed. Her temper came boiling out, and she was on him like a tiger.

  For a woman a fractio
n of his size, she packed a mean punch. He jumped back out of reach, rubbing his jaw. “Damn it, Brenna, that hurt.”

  She glared up at him until she realized that she’d actually left a bruise. The fight all melted away as she stammered out an apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  He didn’t help her mood by laughing again. “Yes, you did, and I probably deserved it. But you said you could handle being around me even when the need to fight is riding me hard.”

  The look she shot him was pure disgust. “You just wanted to show off in front of your friends. Well, go on out and play.” Then she added, “And be careful.”

  He yanked her against him for a kiss guaranteed to keep her hot and bothered until he returned and could pick up where he’d left off. “Stay inside. I can’t concentrate if I have to worry about what you’re doing.”

  She nodded, then buried her face against him and held on for a long hug. “I meant what I said, Blake. Promise me that you’ll be careful.”

  “I will, honey. And after this little fracas is over, we’ll concentrate on solving your father’s murder so your life can get back to normal.”

  She looked pretty fragile as he picked out another sword from the closet and left the room. As he pulled the door shut, he had to wonder if he’d ever find the strength to walk away from her permanently.

  Ritter watched the readouts and frowned. Now was not the time for the barrier to go up and down like a damn yo-yo. However, at least he now knew that Blake Trahern was somewhere around here. Not that he’d found out from those two buffoons he’d been paying to find him. No, he’d accidentally stumbled across a medical report on Dr. Crosby’s desk when he’d stopped in for his monthly inspection of the medical facility.

  He couldn’t show any interest in the report, considering how secretive all the Handlers had become with their patients’ records. He could remember a time when Handlers considered themselves to be little better than zookeepers.