Demon Forged

it, so Irena asked, “You find that funny?”
    Unease immediately replaced Wren’s humor, as if she were surprised that her response had been read. “Only because I know myself.”
    “You prefer women?”
    “I prefer nothing at this point in my life.”
    “That’s a preference I should have had at every point in my life,” Taylor said dryly, drawing a slight smile from Wren. “So you haven’t even thought about it?”
    “He’s my employer, detective.”
    Annoyance colored Wren’s voice—which, Irena thought, meant that she’d warmed to Taylor. Wren hadn’t shown any emotion up to that point.
    “And you are loyal to him?”
    “I take pride in doing my job well.”
    Irena narrowed her eyes. Pride wasn’t the same as loyalty.
    Taylor mulled over Wren’s response, before she finally asked, “Have you witnessed unusual behavior?”
    Wren’s eyebrows lifted. “Such as?”
    “Odd waking hours, meetings with shadowy figures.”
    There was a flash of recognition in Wren—and humor again as she said, “He is a politician, detective.”
    “Yes, an up-and-coming one. Did he have any affairs?”
    “I am not aware of infidelity. On either side.”
    “Would you cover for him if your job demanded it?”
    Speculation tugged at Wren’s psyche. She’d realized that they suspected her employer, but again there was no apprehension or smugness. Irena would have expected those emotions if Wren knew of her employer’s involvement.
    If he was involved, she reminded herself.
    “I would cover for many things,” Wren admitted. “My contract requires me to maintain my employers’ confidence except in the event that I witness him breaking the law. I am not in conflict at this time, detective.” Wren checked her watch. “And I must leave in five minutes to pick up my employer.”
    Taylor pulled a card from inside her jacket. “If a conflict ever comes up, I’d appreciate a call.”

    Irena waited until they were back in the car. “She doesn’t know what he is.”
    “Are you positive?”
    Despite Taylor’s question, Irena thought the detective had already come to the same conclusion. “It’s difficult to be sure. I feel her emotions, but don’t know her thoughts.”
    “And her emotions were . . . ?”
    “Each time I moved quickly, there was no comprehension in her. She doubted, and she worried.”
    “Why would she worry if she didn’t have something to hide? Did she recognize you as a Guardian?”
    “The worry felt more self-directed. Perhaps she thought she was imagining things, and unable to perform her duty.” Wren’s dedication to her job had been genuine. Irena frowned. “When you told her that I was with Special Investigations, she was suspicious. I wondered if she knew Guardians worked with SI, but her later response suggests that it was SI itself. Perhaps she was not familiar with the division.” Special Investigations had been established after Wren had left the CIA. “Or perhaps she could see that I am not a federal agent.”
    “No offense—but no one with Wren’s history would ever make you for one,” Taylor agreed. “So do we tell her the truth about Rael?” When Irena didn’t respond, she went on. “Someone like that—someone with the kind of training I suspect she has—if Rael gets his claws in her, traps her in a bargain . . . she could do some damage, all in attempt to save herself.”
    “Yes. But that will be her choice.”
    The detective’s jaw set in a stubborn line. “She’d make a better choice if she had more information.”
    Not always. Some humans would take the easiest route, no matter who it hurt; others would do what they felt was right, no matter how it hurt them. Some humans, upon discovering demons, had tried to turn that knowledge to their own advantage. Not everyone hated evil.
    And guessing what Wren would do was impossible. “Perhaps we should wait until Savi gives us more information about her.”
    Taylor pushed her key into the ignition. “It’s your call.”
    “No. It is not. If you choose to tell her, I won’t try to stop you.”
    Taylor’s hands clenched. She looked toward the house, and Irena felt the detective’s need to head back, to tell Wren everything.
    Perhaps because she recognized something of herself in Wren. Perhaps because Wren was in a delicate position. Or perhaps just because Wren was human.
    How difficult had it been for Taylor to maintain this secret for two years?
    “Telling her now will make her vulnerable,”