Page 10 of Orlando
Liam dropped the hose and took a step back.He didn’t have to ask to know what council she was talking about.He might be human, but everyone knew about the paranormal council.What had Liam done to offend them, though?Especially something that would warrant killing him?
“Well, whatever he did, you can’t kill him,” Orlando declared.
Cynthia was dripping water and looked angry.It was more emotion than she’d shown as she’d been trying to kill Liam.“I have my orders, and you know how that works.”
“You can’t,” Orlando repeated as Cynthia moved toward Liam.
Maybe he shouldn’t have dropped the hose.
“I’ll have to kill you, too, if you continue trying to stop me,” Cynthia said without looking at Orlando.
Liam should’ve run.He should have listened to Orlando, even though he didn’t know the guy.Hell, he should have listened to himbecausehe didn’t know him.Why had he cared so much about not leaving him behind?
Orlando shook his head.“I can’t stop protecting him.He’s my mate.”
* * * *
ORLANDO WISHED HE COULD’VEdone that in other circumstances, but Cynthia wouldn’t stop trying to kill Liam until he was honest with her.She was right—she had her orders, and she needed to obey them.
Orlando hoped that knowing that Liam was his mate would at least give her pause, and he was right.She frowned and turned toward him, and while she didn’t ask questions, he knew she was waiting for an explanation.
He hated doing this the way he was.He’d been shocked when he’d slammed into Liam and had realized they were mates.He wished he could tell Liam as they were sitting on one of the benches, surrounded by plants, but instead, he had to deal with a drenched and pissed-off council assassin who wouldn’t think twice about killing both of them if he wasn’t careful.
What a great way to start the day.
“Your mate?”Liam asked.
He was staring at Orlando.Orlando wanted to give Liam his full attention, but how could he?He was afraid that if he looked away from Cynthia, she’d strike again, and it wasn’t something he could allow.
“Cynthia, please,” Orlando said.“He didn’t know.I didn’t, either.Can you give us a second?”
She crossed her arms over her chest.Even dripping wet, she looked fierce, but then, she’d been one of the best in their program.Orlando hadn’t been surprised when she’d passed the final tests with flying colors and had immediately agreed to sign the contract to become an assassin.If there was one person who could do the job well, it was her.
Which was a problem considering she’d been trying to kill Orlando’s mate.
She stared at Orlando for a second.Orlando had no idea what was going through her head.He hoped that having spent so much time together would soften her toward him, but he couldn’t be sure.
Eventually, she relaxed her shoulders and nodded.“Fine.I won’t kill him until I’ve heard an explanation.”She hesitated, then glanced at Liam, who stood there, feet wet, eyes wide, staring at Orlando.“You should probably take care of him.”
Orlando wanted to ask why he should bother since she was still planning on killing Liam, but he didn’t.He had to trust that she would keep her distance until he was done.
He rushed over to turn off the water, then moved more cautiously toward Liam.They couldn’t have this entire conversation here and now, but Orlando should still reassure his mate that everything would be all right.
Hopefully.
“Liam?”
Liam blinked.“I have to be dreaming.There’s no way any of this is real.First, that woman tries to kill me, and then, you tell me I’m your mate.This can’t be right.”
Orlando quickly checked Liam’s head in case he’d hit it during the fight with Cynthia, but he couldn’t find anything.It was probably just the shock, which meant Liam would be okay.Orlando wanted to take care of him, but he couldn’t yet.
He turned to Cynthia.“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.You know I’ll have to do this eventually.”
“There has to be a mistake.”
“I don’t know, Orlando.The only thing I know for sure is that I was given an order, and I have to obey it.It doesn’t matter that he’s your mate.”
