Page 83 of Claimed By the Guardian

Simon turned to her. “Your part is done, Dr. Lu. You’ve solved the medical crisis, but the wolves still have boxes of that poison. Dr. Oltheten merely created the serum. Emory Wolf is the one dumping it into the water supply. We’ve got to stop him.”

“But the police?—”

“Detective Kennedy is the police, and one of us. But I don’t want to send normals against a pack of crazed werewolves who are trying to poison the city. Do you?”

Cecilia’s cheeks colored, and she shook her head. “No, of course not. I just thought…”

“You thought it was over, and it is for you, but it isn’t for us.” His tone dropped to a serious note. “And it isn’t for Hank, either. I’m going to need him.”

She paled and again, Hank wanted to wrap her in his arms. Hell, he needed the comfort, too. The last thing he wanted was to step into another war. He left the military because he was sick of the violence. But Simon was right, there was no one in the city except the Griz who could take on a pack of psycho werewolves.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Cecilia held up her hand. “I get it,” she said, her voice tight. “I don’t like it, but I get it.”

And she wanted no part of it. She didn’t say that last sentence, but Hank heard it loud and clear. And wasn’t that the last nail in his coffin? Because they might have found a way through if she could still have her science. But now she was looking at staying with a man who was steeped in violence. He wouldn’t blame her one bit for blocking him entirely out of her life.

Meanwhile, Simon had no more time for them. He turned to Alyssa and the tablet she held up to him. “Who have we got who can give back up? Where’s Vic?”

Hank turned his back on the conversation, more interested in what Cecilia wanted to do. She’d dropped her hand but her back was rigidly tight.

“You don’t have to make a decision tonight…” he started, but the words froze when she shot him a look.

“Ever try not thinking about something, Hank?”

He had. He was. He was trying to not think about her leaving for the CDC in Atlanta. So he tried a different tack. “Will you let me take you to my home? Will you let me protect you while you sleep?”

Her lips twisted into a pale shadow of a smile. “And when will you sleep? Who will protect you?”

Not a real question, except apparently in her mind. “I’ll be fine,” he said, “as long as you’re safe.” It wasn’t a lie. A very deep part of him knew that to be the absolute truth.

“And if you’re dead in a war? Then who will keep me safe?”

He flashed her a weak smile. “I’m trying not to think about that.”

She chuckled. A sweet, mellow sound completely at odds with her words. “Let’s go. I don’t want to talk about us here anyway.”

Talk about us? Words that struck terror in every man’s heart.

CHAPTER 23

Cecilia didn’t question Hank’s assumption that she’d go home with him. Where else would she go? Her hotel room was wrecked, and the idea of finding another one just left her cold. She didn’t want to be alone; she wanted to be with him. And the minute she stepped into his apartment, she knew this was the place for her.

Zen peace, plants everywhere, and the scent of him clean and strong. His personality and his quiet pervaded everything and that was just what she wanted right then. Well, that plus him with her. Safe, not in a war, and holding her through the night.

Her breath caught at the thought of that, of living here with him. She’d need an office for her work, but his quiet presence would be everywhere and that would fill a well inside her that she hadn’t even known was empty until a couple days ago. Eventually they’d have a nursery for their child, probably at a new place. Somewhere near a park where a little girl could run wild or a boy could jump from trees into his father’s arms.

The image ached in her heart. She wanted it so desperately that her eyes searched out the window for the nearest patch of green. Hank was setting her luggage down next to his bed, but he heard her breath catch. He turned to her, a question in his dark eyes, and she swallowed.

She had to talk to him. She had to tell him the truth about their bonding, but she didn’t want to risk losing him. What if he found out that their bond was fake? That it would disappear in a couple days? Would he wait out the time and then set her free? On paper they had nothing in common, but she couldn’t believe how well she fit with him. When she got intense, he kept her centered. When she was attacked, he kept her safe. When she was afraid, he was there, even in her thoughts. And when magic happened anywhere in her life, it was because he was with her.

What if he took that magic away? What would she do then? Her life before meeting him seemed so empty and dull. She was still fighting her fears when he stepped right in front of her. He entwined his fingers with hers and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s okay, Cecilia. You’re safe here.”

“I know.” He always kept her safe.

“Whatever you have to say, I can take it. It’ll be okay. We’ll figure it out.”

Would they? Together? God, she hoped so.