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CHAPTER ELEVEN

Despite Vlad’s reservations on the matter, Yuliy and Delphine decided that the best place for her to be was at his side twenty-four seven. Which was why he was currently watching the super soldier climb the stairs of his penthouse to one of his guest rooms, a suitcase in hand.

Tarang’s tail swished beside him, the tiger’s satisfaction humming faintly through their muted connection.

Vlad shot his familiar an accusing look.

“Would it kill you to pretend that this is a problem?” he muttered.

Tarang ignored him and padded toward the kitchen.

Vlad listened to the sound of Delphine settling in upstairs.

He would have offered to take her things up but he suspected the suggestion would have offended her. Delphine in work mode was even more daunting a prospect than she’d been last night.

It made Vlad wonder if all super soldiers were as cold and detached as she was. Though she’d been a fearsome fighter who could easily take down a group of demons, Serena Blake had carried a hint of softness in her eyes and her words.

Then again, she’s married and a mother.

Memories of how Delphine had looked last night flitted past his vision and tightened his belly.

The super soldier had been anything but cold in his arms.

What she’d said at the end of their meeting at the mansion brought a faint frown to his face as he headed for the kitchen.

“Whoever came after Vlad knew exactly what he was and how to neutralize him. Which means your enemy has dealings with the criminal underworld and the world of magic.” The super soldier had paused, as if carefully choosing her next words. “Do you suspect the Lucianos or the Red Dragon Triad of being involved in this incident?”

“We’ve looked into that and we believe the answer is no,” Yuliy had replied. “Giovanni and Wei Chen may be good actors but it was clear they feared for their sons’ lives that night.” He’d pursed his lips. “Still, we’ll keep that line of inquiry open.”

Vlad was getting stuff ready for lunch when Delphine came downstairs.

“I’m going to sweep the place,” she said, strolling to a stop in the archway. “Check entry points, establish secure zones.” Her tone was pure professional efficiency. She looked at Tarang. “Will he stay visible to me at all times from now on?”

Tarang stretched languidly from the floor and yawned.

“I think we can take that as a yes,” Vlad said drily. He ignored the prickle of awareness coursing down his spine at her steady gaze. “I’m making chicken and bacon Caesar salad. You want some?”

Delphine cut her eyes to the island where he was setting stuff up, interest sparking in her eyes. “I never say no to food.”

Vlad couldn’t help smiling at that.

Delphine cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing.” He stepped over to the refrigerator and took out a couple of items for the salad. “It’s just that I know someone who has an endless void for a stomach.”

“Is it Mae Jin?”

The question made his pulse jump. Vlad’s fingers clenched on the refrigerator door for a second before he closed it.

Delphine didn’t miss the movement.

He kept his tone deliberately light. “Why do you say that?”

“Your voice changes when you talk about her.”

Surprise jolted Vlad once more. No one had ever told him that before.

A sudden stillness came over Delphine. “Are you expecting a visitor?”

Vlad stared, confused by the shift in the conversation. “No.”

A gun appeared in her hand faster than he could blink. “Someone’s in the elevator.”

She moved out into the main corridor, the weapon leveled at his front door in a double-handed grip.

Vlad’s heartbeat accelerated. He snatched the handgun secured underneath the island and joined her.

“You can hear the elevator from here?” he said dubiously.

“I have superhuman hearing.” Delphine cut her eyes to him. “What are you doing?”

“Helping.”

Her eyes narrowed fractionally. “In case you didn’t notice, you’re the one they’re after. Now get behind me.”

Vlad’s face tightened. “What?”

Delphine’s expression grew flinty. “I’m not going to repeat myself, Vlad. Either get behind me or I’ll shoot you in the leg.”

Vlad’s mouth pressed to a thin line. “Is that what a bodyguard is supposed to say to their client?”

“It’s what a super soldier says,” Delphine retorted coolly. A frown wrinkled her brow. She lowered her gun and slipped it back into the holster at her back. “I don’t think it’s the enemy.” She jerked her chin.

He turned.

Tarang had come out of the kitchen and was sitting in the foyer, his tail sweeping the floor as he faced the door. An impatient sound left the tiger.

Vlad clenched his jaw. Had his incubus powers and their bond been intact, he would have felt his familiar’s emotions.

Delphine pulled her cellphone out and tapped the screen a couple of times.

“It’s your friend from last night.”

Surprise jolted Vlad when she showed him the display. It was live footage from the camera on the landing.

Cortes had just stepped out of the elevator.

“When the hell did you hack into my security system?” Vlad asked, aghast.

Delphine shrugged. “When I was upstairs just now.”

The doorbell rang.

“Want me to get that?” the super soldier said.

“No,” Vlad ground out. He marched into the foyer and opened the door.

Cortes grinned at him. “Hey.”

“What happened to texting?” Vlad said irritably.

“I was in the neighborhood.” The Colombian strolled past him, Popo looking around curiously as he hopped down onto Tarang’s head. “So, how’d it go with the—” He froze at the sight of Delphine. “Oh.”

Popo squawked, equally shocked.

Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose. The last thing he needed right now was a busybody sorcerer and his meddling familiar butting into what was already a complicated situation.

Delphine’s gaze found Popo.

“So that’s who you were flicking last night,” she muttered.

Cortes frowned at his familiar. “Why did you make yourself visible?”

“It was the shock, my Enrique,” the parrot said, abashed. “Besides, Tarang says she’s a friend.” He stepped sideways on the tiger’s head and leaned his beak close to his ear. “ Does this mean the incubus got friendzoned by that sexy lad y ? ” he hissed.

Tarang let out a series of huffs and low growls.

“Oh. Is that right?” Popo straightened and leered at Vlad and Delphine. “They made sweet, passionate love all night— ow !”

Cortes had flicked the bird’s beak.

“I can tell you do that often,” Delphine said leadenly.

“I have a callus forming on my finger,” Cortes muttered. His sharp gaze swung between Delphine and Vlad. “Something tells me you didn’t decide to stay over just because you like this guy,” he told the super soldier.

“I’m standing right here,” Vlad snapped.

“I can see why the two of you get along so well,” Delphine said drily.

Cortes arched an eyebrow. “That was a very smart way to avoid my question.”

Vlad sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “She’s my new bodyguard.”

For once, Cortes looked at a loss for words.

“Your bodyguard?” the Colombian said once he’d regained his composure.

“You know, the one Yuliy hired for my protection detail?” Vlad said irritably.

Cortes blinked. He burst out laughing.

Vlad and Delphine frowned as he doubled over.

“Wait!” the Colombian gasped once he could speak again. “So you two hooked up without knowing you ”—he pointed at Delphine—“would be guarding him ?!” He indicated Vlad before collapsing into laughter once more.

Popo cackled where he was rolling around on Tarang’s head.

“How about we pretend they were the enemy and shoot them?” Vlad growled.

“I’m considering it,” Delphine said coolly.