Black Wings, Gray Skies (Black Hat Bureau 4)

Before I stepped in front of his speeding bullet, I had to be certain the Black Hat Bureau was a target worth saving.

Including agents like Marty.

“You’ll do the right thing.” He rubbed his thumb along my jaw. “You always do.”

“You have way too much faith in me.” I nipped his finger. “I might turn supervillain and join him.”

“You won’t.” His eyes flashed, hot and hungry. “That’s not who you are.”

“Anymore,” I corrected him. “I could relapse.”

“And take Colby with you?” He caressed my neck. “Never.”

The reminder of the familiar bond forced me to ask him a hard question. “Will you and I soul bond?”

Already I carried Colby’s life in my hands. I wasn’t sure I could hold his too without dropping one.

“I would have said no.” He traced my carotid. “But your father is half daemon, and he bonded to your mother.” His lips thinned. “With you carrying daemon blood, I would say our chances are higher than theirs.”

“That’s a lot of responsibility to put on another person.”

“The fae part of me will want that,” he confessed. “You bring my daemon traits to the surface, but I was raised by a fae mother with fae ideals and fae instincts.”

“You would be tied to Colby and me.”

And we would be tied to a dae who routinely fought other daemons for his survival.

“It’s a big decision we don’t have to make yet.” He captured my hands. “We can reject it.”

“Does biology work like that?”

“I won’t pressure you into a bond you don’t want.” He lowered his gaze. “Or without Colby’s consent.”

That last bit hurt the most, because he meant it. She and I were a package deal, and I had no right to make decisions that impacted her on a life-or-death scale. She deserved as much say in it as either of us.

Awkward?

Yes.

No adult wanted their future happiness dictated by the whims of a ten-year-old girl, but there you go.

“I’m a lot of work.” I winced, attempting to pull away. “I’m sorry things with me aren’t simpler.”

“Simple is overrated.” He reeled me in against him. “I prefer to put in the work.”

“Admit it.” I linked my arms around his waist. “You stay up at night reading books on perfect one-liners.”

“You’re right.” A chuckle jostled him. “I read eBooks on my laptop but pretend I’m writing reports.”

“That explains it.” I slid my hands to his hips. “I always thought you took reports too seriously.”

“Let me turn on the power.” He kissed me softly. “Then we’ll go home.”

“Home sounds good.” I kissed him back. “No, home sounds great.”

* * *

Big Trouble and Little Trouble waited for us on the porch when we pulled into the driveway.