“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in unison.

Once the dead intruders were packed up and removed from my bedroom, I looked at my bed and wondered how I would ever sleep in it again. I’d felt safe here. This was my home. How many times had I gone to sleep in that bed without a second thought as to whether or not I would be harmed during the night? Now, even if I placed protective wards around our apartment, I didn’t know if I’d ever feel safe here again. My hands curled into fists. Fucking Jakub.

“Ms. Davenport?” Commander Klebus called from my doorway.

I startled, my hands relaxing. “Yes?”

“The SF would like to offer you and your sister protective custody. Would you like to venture to Boise to stay at headquarters?”

I swear the vamp could read minds. Or maybe it was just the twisting expression on my face as I’d stared at my bed that did it. But Boise?

“Thanks. I really appreciate the offer, but we have a business here. We can’t just up and leave.”

She dipped her head, her short hair brushing her chin. “I understand that, but if your sister’s safety is in jeopardy, and by association yours too, then that’s another matter. However, if you decline to stay at headquarters, the SF can provide two squad members to guard the premises, but I can’t guarantee your safety. If the supernaturals who broke in through your window were using an enchanted carpet on earth, then I do question the extent of their magical capabilities.”

Translation—even two fully trained SF members may not be enough protection against another attack. Like Carlos, Commander Klebus had been gobsmacked when I’d told her about the enchanted carpet, and for good reason. Those didn’t work outside of the fae lands. It required too much magic to power them here on earth, so whoever was pulling the strings with these abductions . . .

They were hella powerful.

I ran a hand through my hair. “We can stay with my friend, Prish—”

“They can stay with me,” the Fire Wolf cut in.

They? He was going to allow my sister to stay at his man cave too? But Portland was even more of a commute than Boise. “Thanks, but we still need to stay local. Our business really can’t be left for weeks on end.”

The commander arched an eyebrow, probably thinking a lover’s quarrel was on the horizon. Oh gods. Talk about mortifying.

She gave me a wan smile. “I’ll leave you to make your decision. The offer for two squad members stands firm. Let me know what you decide.”

“Will do, thanks,” I replied.

The Fire Wolf didn’t make any attempt to leave. He stood tall and brooding-looking as the SF finally cleared out, then he followed me into the living room. His steps remained silent, yet I could feel his energy. It was heavy and dark, matching his mood.

Carlos had lingered, unlike his squad members. He pulled me aside at the front door as the hunter and my sister stood by the couch. Tess began trying to charm the Fire Wolf, but considering the hunter seemed more interested in Agent Orange, who was swimming lazily in his tank, I didn’t think her charms were working.

“You shouldn’t stay here,” Carlos said in a low tone. “It’s not safe.”

I nodded, smothering a yawn. It was almost four in the morning, and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get a full night’s sleep again without something disastrous looming over me.

“I know. We won’t.”

I expected my ex to nod and leave, but instead his head dipped. “The squad was saying that you’re mated to him. Is that really what you told Commander Klebus?”

“I never said that.”

In the living room, the Fire Wolf stiffened. His back was still turned to us, but I knew he could hear everything we were saying despite Tessa prattling on.

“That’s what they all think.”

I shrugged, irritation prickling me. “So? Let them think what they want.”

“Are you saying that doesn’t bother you? To know that the community will believe you’re mated to him?” Carlos sneered the word, letting me know perfectly well how he felt about that.

I crossed my arms just as the hunter began prowling toward us. Yep, he’d definitely heard everything. “I didn’t realize you’d become so interested in what others thought of me.”

Carlos scowled. “Of course I care what people think of you. I care about you.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

But he had to know. When he’d been gallivanting around the world and I’d been here, pining away for him, he hadn’t exactly given two shits about how I was doing or what people were thinking. But that was all water under the bridge now. There was no point in rehashing the past.

“Never mind.” I sighed when the hunter appeared at my side.

“Tala, is this one bothering you?” the hunter asked, his gaze promising retribution.

“Yes, he’s a threat to be eliminated.”

Carlos’s jaw dropped.

“I’m kidding,” I added in a hurry.

Carlos gave the Fire Wolf a withering stare. “You should mind your own business. I was speaking with Tala privately.”

The hunter crossed his arms.

Gods. A pissing match was on the horizon again.

“She’s not your girlfriend,” Carlos added.

The Fire Wolf’s eyes narrowed. “She’s not your girlfriend either.”

“Guys, seriously.” I held my hands up between the two men. “As cute as this little duel is, can we not? It’s like four in the morning, and I don’t know about you two, but I have to work tomorrow.”

They continued staring at each other, but when a push of power exuded from the hunter, Carlos let out a furious snarl and bared his neck.

Yep, one point for the Fire Wolf. He was bigger, badder, and more dominant. Whoop-dee-do.

“You can both see yourself out,” I added.

Carlos shook his head and went out the door, but the Fire Wolf didn’t budge. “You can’t stay here,” he said with a frown.

“As I’m aware.”

“Then where are you going?”

“We’ll stay at my best friend’s house, you know, Prisha? You met her in the Shadow Zone when I tried to hire you to find Tessa, and you told me to fuck off.”

“I didn’t tell you to fuck off.”

“You kinda did.”

He sighed heavily. “Well that was then, and this is now. You should stay with me. I can keep you safe.”

“Where? In your man cave? Don’t you think that’d be kinda crowded?”

“I don’t live there. It’s just a base.”

“So where do you live?”

His jaw locked, and a flash of something shone in his eyes. When he didn’t reply readily, I was reminded that the dude was as secretive as hell. He didn’t even want me, his supposed mate, to know.

Clean break. Once again, I needed to establish a clear boundary.

I shook my head. “Just forget it, okay? We’ll go to Prisha’s. Come on, Tessa,” I called over my shoulder. “We’ll crash at Prisha’s until we figure out what to do.”

“Let me get my things,” she called as she finished feeding our goldfish.

When she zipped back to the bedroom area, I finally faced the hunter again. Blazing fiery eyes met mine.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked mildly.

“Because you’re refusing to come with me.”

“Um . . . ’cause I don’t even know where we’re going. Remember how you refused to tell me?”

“I didn’t refuse, I just—” He raked a hand through his hair.

When he didn’t continue, I arched an eyebrow.

He cursed quietly. “I live in Montana, okay? I have a home there.”

So the area code on his phone was his actual residence. “Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?”

“Because I don’t share that information with many. That location is private.”

Ah, so the big bad wolf didn’t like people knowing his postal address. I got that. He was the scourge of society after all. “Fair enough, but you do know my sister has one of the biggest mouths in the world, right? If you took us there, half of the community would know by the end of the week where your digs are.”