Page 60 of Sparks Flying

“Are you going to answer it or not?”

I took a breath first.

“Shit. It’s a video call.”

“Go ahead and take it.”

I did, plastering on a smile for my boss’s benefit and keeping the camera just on me.

“Hi Patrick.”

“Just checking in on you. How the feck did this happen? Doc doesn’t seem to know what we’re dealing with exactly. Are you feeling okay?”

Dean’s hand slid up my thigh, causing me to squeak out a “Uh-huh.”

“You look a little flushed. We should report this back to Doc.”

“He’s already running some tests. I don’t think we need to bother him any further today.”

“I know you’ll be tied up for the next week, at least. I’m not even sure we’ll still be needed here that long, but don’t worry. I’ll have a plane here ready to take you home when you’reable. Would you like us to keep you informed on what’s going on with the mission, or prefer to just rest?”

“Of course I want to know what’s going on, all of it.”

He chuckled. “I suspected as much. Security looks tight here. Dean’s done a wonderful job implementing some of our earlier recommendations.”

I couldn’t help it. I beamed with pride when he complimented my mate.

“Archie has set up a few new cameras. We really haven’t found anything concerning beyond what we already knew and discussed previously. But. . .”

“But what?”

“Latest reports out of Australia are not looking good. We found a tribe completely massacred. Two more are currently missing, though they could have gone into hiding.”

“How’s Lachlan handling it all?”

Lachlan was our resident psychologist. He provided therapy to anyone on Westin Force and to those who needed it from Westin Pack. I had a few sessions with him myself. He was a good man, and a dingo. With the dingoes being targeted, I worried about him.

“Lachlan has gone AWOL. He found his mate amongst one of the tribes there, and it is feared that she’s been captured. Needless to say, he hasn’t handled it well. The number of my men that go off on missions and find their true mates is staggering, and an enormous pain in my ass.”

Not just your men,I thought, but kept to myself.

“We believe we have an inside lead, though, and we’re checking into that. We all know that being here is just a precaution. I still fear the ravens hold the biggest risk with the Collectors’ love of witches.”

I hadn’t really considered that Dean was a witch. I hadn’t seen him use any powers or anything, unless his gift was kissing, because Lord knew that man could kiss.

“Bailey? Shit. You’re zoning out on me again.”

I shook my head. “Sorry.”

“You need to start keeping track of these episodes. Maybe it will help Doc figure out what’s wrong with you. I’m going to have Micah look into things with fresh eyes, too. I’m worried about you. We all are.”

“I’m okay,” I said, feeling embarrassed when I knew it was just the mating bond.

I’d never had problems with focus before, so it was a little unnerving to be reminded of how I kept drifting off in mid-conversation. I totally blamed Dean. This was all his fault. Every single time someone pointed out my distraction, I was thinking of him.

“Your face is all flushed again. Get some rest and try to take it easy. We’ve got everything here under control. I’ll check in on you again tomorrow.”

“Thanks Patrick.”

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