Page 46 of Guarded By a Monster

“No longer a threat.” Thurl’s chest rumbled with his words.

They didn’t blink at the pronouncement of the man’s death, so either they already knew or didn’t care. I wasn’t sad he was gone, but I winced. “Did he have family?”

Thurl’s cheek rubbed along the side of my head. “No kitten, he did not.”

I didn’t question him further. He’d never lied to me, and above that, I wanted to believe him. I turned to Bull. “So what do I do now? Wait until they arrest him and testify?”

Bull was shaking his head before I’d finished.

“They won’t arrest him. He’s too insulated.” He sat back in his chair, his fingers still for the first time. “Come to think of it, that could be why he was cosplaying a thug. He’s known for having a posh, elegant image. It will be hard to convince someone he would slum it.”

Zeus stepped forward. “The best course of action is to remain here, under the wyrfangs’ protection.”

“I can’t stay here forever. I have a job, a house…” My eyes blurred until all I could see were the dancing red motes of light.

Thurl’s arms tightened around me again. “Please. Let me protect you.” He looked around the table at the others. “Let us protect you.”

“Of course I will. I’m not dumb. I’m not about to run off somewhere by myself. But it’s not like you can be with me twenty-four/seven. I have a life.”

“You do,” Zeus nodded, “but our recommendation is that you remain with them—yes, twenty-four/seven—until this is over.”

I pushed my glasses back up my nose. “When will this be over? You say they won’t arrest this man. You say he’ll be able to wiggle himself out of my testimony. So when will it end?”

Everyone fell silent. I let it linger for a beat. “Right. So there has to be a compromise.”

Thurl’s voice was more growl than anything. “I will not compromise with your safety.”

I curled my hand around his neck. “I don’t want you to.” I sighed and looked around the room. “There has to be another way.”

“There is.”

When I looked at him, Zeus had transformed into something dark. Menace rolled off him in waves. I clutched at Thurl’s forearm. He might be there to help me, but he was frightening.

“You’re going to kill him?”

He chuckled, but it wasn’t a sound of mirth. “No. I wish we could, but the council wouldn’t go for it. Not when there have been so many other, higher-profile problems lately. But…” he paused to look at Thurl. “If Thurl will allow it, I can assign a Superhuman Security operative to your detail.”

I heard the rumble deep in the chest I leaned against, but before he could speak, I sat up. “I am a grown woman who can make her own decisions. I don’t need his—or anyone’s—permission.”

Everyone in the room was shaking their heads. It was Kragen who leaned forward and explained.

“It’s not about permission, Jade. You are Thurl’s mate. That bond is instinctual and overrides everything else. To see another protecting you,” he sighed, “it could be problematic.”

I stood up so I could look at Thurl properly. I studied his blazing red eyes. “He can handle it.” It wasn’t a proclamation, but it wasn’t a question either.

He stared back at me. “Yes.”

Zeus cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to pry, but have the two of you bonded?”

I was reluctant to answer him. I’d like to have kept our bond between us, at least for a little while longer. I could feel Thurl looking at me, waiting for me to decide. I pursed my lips. “Yes. We have the tether. I assume that’s why you’re asking?”

He nodded. “The wyrfang bond, as I understand it, allows either of you to track the other. It means we won’t have to worry with a physical tracker for you. As a precaution, of course.”

I snorted. “Of course.”

Relief that there was a solution to my predicament that didn’t involve me hiding in my own shadow flowed through me. His big hand found the small of my back, warm and reassuring. It was crazy how quickly I’d grown used to his casual touches.

“Then it’s settled,” Zeus said, in a voice that was half-order, half-suggestion. “I’ll assign someone, discreetly, who can watch your back when Thurl can’t.”

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