Psy & Changelings 06 - Branded by Fire

the flights that came in around the time of Nash’s abduction,” Clay said. “Teijan has his people on it twenty-four/seven, but whoever they are, they’re being very careful. No clue as to where they’ve set up base yet.”
    “We’ll find them,” Lucas said, eyes grim. “No one makes trouble in our city.”
     
     
    The night after his frustrating call with Mercy, Riley was antsy. It was tempting to blame it on his day—DarkRiver and SnowDancer had both upped their already visible presence in the city in silent warning to the Alliance, but they weren’t any closer to running down the operatives. Since he’d just come off a full day shift in the city, it would’ve been easy to lie to himself.
    But that wasn’t who he was. “What would you say if I asked you a hypothetical question?” he asked after giving Hawke his report.
    Hawke’s eyes gleamed. “That there are no such things as hypothetical questions.”
    “That’s what I thought.” He lapsed back into thought.
    Hawke stared at him. “I can answer your hypothetical question, though.”
    “You don’t know what it is.”
    “I know you’re jumpy as hell for Mercy. Go find her. Get naked. The end.”
    Riley looked at his alpha. “That’s your pitch to women? Let’s get naked?” He snorted. “No wonder your balls are blue.”
    Hawke gave him a one-finger salute. “Go take care of your own balls.”
    “Maybe I will.” He got up. “I have an answer for you, too.”
    “I don’t want to hear it.”
    “Too bad. Lieutenant privileges.” He put his hand on the door to the office. “I know why your balls are blue.”
    Silence.
    “Whatever the hell is happening between you two, make a note that several different men, me included, will kill you if you touch her. She’s not ready.”
    “I don’t know who you’re talking about.” Hawke’s voice remained unconcerned, but his hand was squeezing his pen so tight, he’d probably shattered it.
    “But none of us will kill you for spending time with her.” He pulled open the door. “Track her down, taunt her into a sparring session. It’ll get you skin-to-skin contact.”
    Hawke’s eyes were pure wolf when they met Riley’s. “I don’t think so.”
    Riley looked at his alpha and gave a slight nod. “Yeah, I see your point.” A little contact would only enflame the wolf. “You need to draw some blood?” It was an honest offer, wolf to wolf, frustrated male to frustrated male.
    “Not yet.” Putting down his mangled pen, Hawke shoved both hands into his hair, leaving a streak of bright blue ink on the pale strands. “You’ll find me when I do.” He sounded disgusted.
    Riley shrugged. “It’s my job.” Being the senior lieutenant was about more than responsibility to the pack. It was about responsibility for the alpha as well. With Hawke unmated—and likely to remain so—Riley had to make sure the other man never went too close to the edge. Hawke, in turn, kept a watchful eye on him, too.
    Now the alpha raised his head. “You’re so fucking calm you fool everyone else, but don’t fool yourself, Riley. You’re in no better condition than I am.”
    Leaving Hawke to his own demons, Riley got changed into workout gear, found an empty training room, and began to go through his usual sparring routine, but without a partner—he was in no mood to hold his punches. Hawke could’ve taken him, but his alpha already saw too much. He didn’t want to betray anything else.
    “Riley?”
    “Go away.” He’d heard Brenna enter, had decided to ignore her.
    But Brenna had never been easily dissuaded. “Drew said you’re not sleeping well—that you were up most of last night.”
    He went through a vicious series of moves and ended a foot from her, breath calm, eyes furious. “Drew has a big fucking mouth.”
    “Yeah, tell me something I don’t know.” She grinned, but there was worry in those magnificent eyes she’d turned from a scar to a badge of courage. “Riley, is this . . . I . . .”
    Scowling, he closed the distance between them to cup her cheek. “It’s not about you.” Her hurt haunted him, but he wasn’t going to put that weight on her back. That was his cross to bear. “I’m not sleeping because I want sex.”
    Her mouth dropped open. Then she went bright red. “Too. Much. Information!”
    Satisfied at having distracted her from the past, he raised an eyebrow. “You did ask.”
    “Argh.” She rubbed at her temples. “Am trying to erase image from