Page 81 of Damien’s Mate

They didn’t reply. One of them gave a signal and they fanned out, three to each side of the portal, weapons drawn in what Damien considered to be a most unfriendly manner.

He glanced at Lila. A slight frown puckered her forehead, and he could tell she’d had the same thought he had.

This was not an honor guard. This was an extraction team.

One of the Guard spoke into a communication device—probably in Draken, because Damien didn’t understand it. The swirling mist parted and another man walked through the portal. Older—fifties, if he was a human, although who knew with shifters. Big hairy gray mustache, fancy shit all over his uniform.

Lila inclined her head. “Lieutenant Commander Rodan.”

He gazed around the clearing. “I told you to come alone.”

Damien bristled at his tone, but willed himself and his lion to stay still. This was Lila’s show, and he knew that it would reduce her status in the Lion Guard’s eyes if they knew she’d mated a brand-new, Turned lion.

She looked Rodan straight in the eye. “Actually, sir, you didn’t.”

His brows drew together. He was obviously not used to people contradicting him. “You should have known,” he said. “You will hand over the artifacts now.”

He strode toward her, hand out. He was reaching for the case when Lila said, “I wouldn’t.”

He froze, then straightened up, way too close to her. “Are you refusing to relinquish the artifacts?”

She smiled at him, a smile Damien had seen before—and one Rodan should watch out for. “Of course not,” she said. “It was my father’s greatest wish that they be returned to their proper place. But the case is magically protected, and keyed to my DNA. Security reasons. You understand.”

This time he was the one who growled.

She added, “I will disable the safeguards only in the presence of the Lord High Commander of the Makek-Dur Lion Guard. Until then, if anyone tries to open this case, or it is moved further than a few feet from me… kaboom.”

This was a safeguard Damien and Brandon had talked her into enabling—just in case the person she’d talked to really wasn’t legit. If everything went the way she hoped it would—and they fucking appreciated what she’d done and treated her right—she would never have had to mention it.

The fact that she already had meant she was uneasy. So was he. He wished she wouldn’t go. She should just hand over the fucking case and stay.

But he knew she wouldn’t do that. She’d follow her father’s wishes to the bitter end, and if there was a way to clear her family name, she’d do it.

But he had a bad, bad feeling about this.

Rodan was not pleased—but he said stiffly, “I’m sure the Lord High Commander will be pleased with your caution and diligence.”

“I’m sure.”

Lila had already said her real goodbyes to them earlier, but now she turned to Brandon, thanking him formally for all his help.

Then it was Damien’s turn. Everything in him wanted to sweep her up and take her away before she could go off to fuck knew where with these people he did not trust even the tiniest bit.

What if he never saw her again?

She shook his hand formally, and he murmured, “Come back soon. The Pop Tarts are always waiting.”

He wanted to add I love you, but he didn’t. She knew.

She squeezed his hand and said, “Thank you.” He knew what she really meant.

Then she walked forward. Lieutenant Commander Rodan led her through the portal, and she walked in without looking back. The troops followed.

And she was gone.

Damien stared after her, even after the portal disappeared. His chest felt heavy, and his heart was torn in two.

“I shouldn’t have let her go,” he said. He turned to Brandon and snarled, “I shouldn’t have let her go! They’re going to take those artifacts away from her, and they’re not going to do anything they promised.”