Page 20 of Darkhan

None of it made sense, but Harmony had convinced herself this government group had come to deliver the ultimatum of him leaving the country or being chained in some unnamed dungeon by the time she made it to the main floor. Her heart beat wildly and she wanted to simultaneously launch into a rage at the people who’d violated their safe space and just curl up and cry over a loss that hadn’t technically happened yet.

She was both relieved and concerned to discover Zeno had not let their intruders past the entryway. He stood with his bare back to the open space of his own home, arms at his sides, facing the people whose profiles she could barely see and therefore barring their path. From her angle, it looked like they’d brought some kind of large package or suitcase with them, which was set on the floor.

“I understand you have to investigate those claims,” Zeno said, his voice firm, “but considering my history with the SRA, Iwould have expected a bit more consideration.”

Harmony frowned, slowing her pace in the hopes she could glean information before she was spotted. Was she supposed to stay out of sight? Zeno probably would prefer that. But she couldn’t, not for this. She just wished she knew what the hell the SRA was.

Someone scoffed and a male voice snapped, “Given your history with us, we would have expected you to know better than to abduct a human girl.”

Harmony faltered at the same time as Zeno’s low growl rumbled through the room.

“As I told you, I have abducted no one.”

The person Harmony had gotten the better glimpse of when she’d made her descent shifted his weight and asked, “Is that why she looks like she’s trying to sneak by behind your back, with a giant bruise on her arm? Because shewasn’tabducted?”

A strange combination of embarrassment, shame, and anger rushed through her all at once, heating her blood and her skin, and Harmony squared her shoulders. She heard Zeno start to speak, but she talked over him. “Maybe I just didn’t want to be seen by a couple of judgmental strangers who decided to barge in while I was improperly dressed.” She stomped up, her bare feet slapping on the hardwood, until Zeno’s hand turned outward as if to stop her from continuing forward. Though she’d never planned to walk past him in the first place. She only wanted line-of-sight for when she gave a piece of her mind to these two and whatever badge they carried. “Are you really accusing Zeno of kidnapping me? Do Ilookkidnapped?”

The leaner of the two, the one Harmony hadn’t seen as well, raked a briefly critical gaze over her before staring her straight in the eyes. “You look distressed. Vulnerable. Taking advantage of a young woman like you would be easy for someone like him.”

Zeno made a low rumbling sound that felt like a warning. “Harmony is in no danger from me. She can leave at any time of her choosing.”

The other male released a tired exhale. “Miss Lace,” he said, “if it’s true you’re free to leave, then help Mr. Darkhan’s claim and agree to come with us back to the office.”

Harmony felt her brows leap up her forehead. “Excuse me? So, God forbid Zeno take me against my will, but it’s perfectly okay for the two of you to blackmail me into going who-the-heck-knows-where? In case you didn’t realize, blackmailing someone to come with you is basically kidnapping them.”

The leaner male grunted and cut a glare up at Zeno. “If we find out you coached her—”

“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Harmony exclaimed, her exasperation bursting from her. “The only thing my parents probably did right was teach me not to just go off with every stranger who asked me to come along with them. Why does that have to be Zeno’s fault?”

“I think you’re misunderstanding this situation,” the tired one said. He raised a hand as if to pacify her. “We aren’t attempting to kidnap you, Miss Lace. You’ve been reported as abducted by a dragon-type shifter matching Zeno Darkhan’s description. We need to have a conversation with you, apart from Mr. Darkhan, to get your side of the story.”

Harmony folded her arms across her chest. “We can do that here. Zeno has an office he can lend us. He’ll sit in another room.” It wasn’t like she’d asked and she was certain none of the quicker options appealed to him, but of all the ones that felt like compromise, this was the angle she was willing to abide by. For one thing, she was decently covered, not dressed for going out in public.

“For a lot of reasons, that wouldn’t work,” the same man said, as if explaining a problem to a whining child.

“And you see no problem with attempting to force her to go with you?” Zeno challenged. His tone was hard and even, like steel.

Both unnamed men looked up at him for a beat, and again the leaner one with the attitude spoke first, directing his words back to her. “Tell us about that bruise.”

Harmony narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s a long and personal story. Tell me who reported me as kidnapped.”

“Not here.”

“Then maybe you’re just full of lies,” she snapped. “Zeno said you were some kind of government group, but you haven’t even identified yourselves and you’re trying to drag me out of hereobviouslyagainst my will. Or what, do you think I’m so fabulous an actress that my attitude is a bluff?”

For the first time, both men looked, if only briefly, taken aback.

In their moment of seeming shock, Zeno said, “You are welcome to use my home, as Harmony has offered, but make no mistake. The moment you lay a finger on her with the intent to force her to your will, I will become hostile.” He motioned to the items on the floor, drawing Harmony’s attention to them for the first time. “And I expect to receive those back in pristine condition, or a full financial reimbursement. As you can see, Harmony needs clothing. Those are for her.”

Her arms fell to her sides as she struggled not to gape. There were two bags, both clearly full, bearing recognizable logos the likes of which she had never imagined touching. The bags were banded shut and had been wrapped together in a thin layer of bubble wrap, making the set appear from a distance like a singular large package. For a moment, as she stared, she felt confused.

Then she remembered the perplexing thing he’d said in the laundry room upstairs and understanding slammed into her,as well as another rush of embarrassment. Harmony dragged in a breath and craned her neck to look up at him. “Did you—”

He met her gaze, and though his lips remained firmly anchored in a frown, his eyes warmed. “Anything I got wrong can be returned or donated. It’s just to get you started.”

“Started on what?” the leaner man, who stood closest to the bags that apparently were meant for her, said. “The new life you plan to whisk her off to?”

Harmony turned her frown outward once more. “What is the matter with you? Is this what you do, barge into people’s homes and bully them into cowing to you? Because trust me, Nameless Fake Government Guy, I have had it up tohere”—she raised her hand as high as she could reach and still keep her palm flat—“with that antiquated, bullying bullshit.” She drew a breath to say more, but the other one spoke up again.

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