Dashing devil 5 bold beg.., p.36
Dashing Devil 5: Bold Beginnings, page 36
Boyd chuckled as he met her accusing eyes without remorse or hesitation. “I have several moral compasses already Laura, but feel free to continue to act as one. I satisfied both Hope and Mindy by laying out the simple facts. Each and every person who attends this event is automatically party to multiple attempted murders. They will have gathered there to watch Changed fight each other to the death—for entertainment… and very few will be first-time attendees. This means that almost all of them are party to prior murders.”
“Not only that,” the big demon pressed on, keeping his tone civil and not returning any of the accusations she’d cast his way, “but most have paid a significant number of credits for the privilege of doing so—which goes towards funding the capturing of more Changed for the next event.”
“There might still be civilians who…” She stopped when he held up a hand.
“The only additional civilians present who are likely to die are the staff, who have and will also be party to many murders and attempted murders. So, while I understand that there is a likelihood of some fatalities during this mission, there will not be a single innocent civilian’s death if I can help it. Only criminals should die if my plan is a success, and hopefully very few of those.”
“Right…” Laura had blanched partway through his explanation. “Context. When you consider a crowd that large, you think ‘I’m sure most of them are inherently good people’. But that doesn’t account for them being gathered to enjoy a literal blood sport.”
She hung her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to accuse you of…”
“Yes, you did.” Boyd cut her off with a charming smile he knew would take any bite out of his interruption. “But that is fine. You understood when I explained my reasoning, just like my other moral compasses did. It’s rare that I run afoul of them.” He paused, eyes going distant for a moment. “In fact, I’m not sure it’s ever happened now that I think about it. But I appreciate them being my compasses.”
“You appreciate me being here then, do you?” Laura smirked at him, not hesitating to seize another opportunity to derail the conversation—again.
“I’ve told you several times that I appreciate your presence on the team.” Boyd shook his head ruefully. “Now isn’t the appropriate time for flirting. Any other questions?”
“Yes,” Laura nodded, trying to hold a serious expression but failing as a smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth before she asked with a wink and deadpan delivery “That must mean that there is an appropriate time for flirting.”
Boyd grinned at the aggressive woman’s antics and shook his head. “I meant did you have any questions related to the plan?” He answered her question with a question of his own, his tone amused but not allowing them to go further off-topic.
“Also yes,” Laura replied with a light laugh before she adopted a more serious expression. “Where will the Astral Osprey be positioned? I didn’t see it listed in the plan.”
“It will be in Glorith City.” It was Boyd’s turn to lift an eyebrow. “We don’t want it anywhere near an event that uses a lot of Powered with perception abilities for their security teams. Everyone will be entering the engagement zone on the sister’s grav-sled this time. We had a hidden compartment added for Silvie and me to burst out of when the time comes. The other teams have been provided the grav-sleds of people who would have attended the event but have already been quietly arrested.”
“But then where will I be positioned?” Laura asked, looking honestly confused.
“Well,” Boyd now understood the confusion, “I suppose you could spend the evening in Glorith if you would like, but otherwise I would imagine you’ll be back here. You aren’t coming on this mission, Laura. I don’t have anywhere safe to put you and we will already have two healers on location. I assume you noted Healing Harmony on the Quantum Guardian’s roster? The NPOs have several Trauma Specialists in their units, as well—ones with much more field training than you have.”
“But…” Laura was apparently at a loss for words and looked scandalized by his response.
Boyd resisted the urge to chuckle at her slightly slack-jawed expression. Previously he had offered no arguments each time she’d wanted to accompany them on a mission—with the caveat that she stayed in the Osprey. The first time he argued against the idea, he did so in a way that left her nowhere to go—resulting in a bit of whiplash.
He waited a moment for her to recover before adding, “Once the balloon goes up, we will be transmitting drone and suit video to Davis in Glorith City. If you would like to stay apprised of events, I’m sure Tink can ensure a feed is sent out here.”
She probably already had one for Granny, after all.
“I would like to…” Laura started, that familiar challenge in her pale green eyes.
“No, Laura.” Boyd shook his head as he cut her off firmly. “Glorith or here. It’s not about your stunt on the last mission. I’ve got nowhere for you in the field—this time.”
Laura scowled before responding. “I’ll stay here, I guess. At least someone can keep Daisy company this time.”
“I’m glad you’ll be with her.” Boyd smiled. “I doubt being alone out here is all that comfortable for her, even if she is invulnerable.”
Laura’s scowl changed at his statement, and she abruptly changed the subject. “Okay, so we have what… twelve more minutes? We can probably finish this game.”
She indicated the board’s opening moves. “So, let’s try this again and see if I can’t figure out where it goes wrong this time. I’ve already moved E-two to E-four.”
“Remember we are taking our time.” Boyd arched an eyebrow but otherwise let the topic rest. “I can take a picture with my datapad, and we can leave the board out between sessions. E-seven to E-five.” He decided to take the gambit this time around.
Eleven minutes later, Laura carefully turned the roaring Boyd figurine onto its side. “No matter what I do, you’ll win in four more moves.”
Boyd coughed into his hand. “Three… actually. But it’s good that you recognize four of the five ways this could go.”
Laura glared at him.
“Next time,” he rumbled as he stood up, “or perhaps in your extracurricular study… I want you to research middle game strategies. You are too focused on reacting to my moves rather than presenting a coherent design of your own.”
Laura nodded and then sat back as her trainer walked out of the study.
“That man…” she started to say, but then shook her head and gave a self-deprecating little chuckle. She’d learned much more than she’d thought she would in only a few days’ worth of matches. Even more surprising, she found she’d thoroughly enjoyed it—except for being reminded at several turns about her egregious error on their last mission.
She picked up the white King. Tinker really had outdone herself.
Idly, Laura traced a fingertip across the flexed arms of Boyd’s figurine. She saw the straining tendons and felt the raised vascularity with its arms thrown wide apart. It reminded her of two things—how Boyd had roared after defeating the Archangel, and how hot he looked when straining under the immense weights he lifted in the gym. Making up her mind, she snagged both the white king and her black rook. She knew just where she would put them. No one would find them on her bedside table in her room attached to the clinic.
Well, no one except for Daisy, that is. Her friend was the only one who ever came into her room—either to visit or to clean. Not that Laura ever left much more for her to do than to dust or change the sheets. Laura turned and snagged the black king, too. Her friend might like to keep that one in her own room.
Chapter 38
Silvie lay upon Boyd, her legs tucked between his with her chest pressed into and warming his abs. The cramped box they were lying in was illuminated by the dim green glow that emanated from the emergency strips that filtered their air. Despite being fully suited, the warm weight of each other's bodies provided some comfort in the confined space. The sound of their breathing filled the small chamber, creating an intimate atmosphere despite the sterile surroundings. Silvie's fingers lightly traced patterns on each part of Boyd's skin she could reach. In this moment, they were suspended in time, alone together in their own tiny world.
His silver-haired love’s voice echoed softly in the cramped space of the box they were squeezed into, her words muffled by the metal surrounding them. "Your armor looks really cool," she whispered, her breath warm against his chest. "But maybe you should consider asking Tink to make the center tasset removable... for practical reasons." Her sweet giggle rang out like a bell, but the surge of arousal he felt over their Bond betrayed the true nature of her suggestion.
Boyd restrained a chuckle, although he trusted when Tink said the box was soundproof and that they didn’t have to worry about being heard. Despite that, his training precluded the risk of exposing their hidden position, and he hushed her softly. He sent his amusement back down their Bond to his silver-haired love and whispered in reply, “I think the shorts alone would be a bit much, my love. Besides, with the tight confines, it’s probably a good thing we have something stopping us from having too much fun. One of us might put an arm or a leg through the side of the box.”
It was bad enough that the small dimly lit space was filled with her wonderful scent, having only the strong but supple materials of their suits between them would only serve to distract him more. To keep Silvie from driving him crazy, Boyd focused on his Bonds with his other loves. Mind Witch, Hopewing, Kitsune, and Tinker were all undercover attendees at the barbaric event they intended to prevent. Fortunately, the Channel sisters had a rather short friend that Raev used as a base to disguise Tinker with one of her illusions.
They all had comm units, but these were currently powered off to avoid any signals being detected. In their place, like last time, Mind Witch had her mental communication net set up. This time it included Hopewing. But even that was currently ‘off’—for similar reasons. An event this large would have plenty of Powered in attendance and the list they had of those that were expected included several Mind Powered. If even one of them heard Boyd’s mental voice in one of the Channel sister’s heads, it would grab their attention—something the infiltration team was supposed to avoid.
Kitsune felt calm and collected, in her element and having a little fun. Mind Witch was feeling a little ill, having to listen in on the thousands of minds around her randomly. She was looking for anything pertinent to their mission, but mostly getting a ton of filth. Hopewing was focused, but a little too much on guard. It was a good thing Kitsune had covered her expression with an illusion, or her face would likely scream to everyone around her that their group was up to something. Tinker was a mess of nerves, but having Mind Witch hold her hand helped—that, and having Boyd send her a constant stream of support down their Bond.
Silvie felt content, which he sensed was because she heard his strong, steady heartbeat with her head lying on his chest like it was. She was also bored, impatient, and more than a little horny—mostly because of the way his fingers teased her neck. They were tucked up under her long silky hair, with his arm wrapped around her back. Boyd traced little circles across the back and sides of her neck and occasionally kneaded her traps through her suit while playing with her silver tresses.
“I think the shorts would be fine, Darling,” Silvie replied innocently. “If anything, I think your fan base would respond well to the change. Oh, I know! We can run a poll in the issue of CosmoHeroic your photo shoot is in. You could have a with and without picture and everything.”
Boyd once again restrained the urge to chuckle at his lover’s antics and forced himself to sigh instead. “I still haven’t agreed to any photo shoots—especially for CosmoHeroic.”
He knew he would… eventually… but part of him wanted to see what Silvie might try and bribe him with if he held out a little longer.
“Darlingggg,” Silvie whined. “They’ve offered you one point five million credits for a single photoshoot and exclusive interview. That’s enough to open an orphanage or to start a scholarship fund for Changed kids, and all for a few photos and answering some cheesy questions in a vaguely flirty way. I know that you're going to say yes eventually, so why are you being such a big lug about it?”
“No reason,” Boyd said, his tone conveying complete and total innocence.
Silvie lifted her head from his chest and peered down at him, the faint glow of the silver flecks in her bright blue eyes more pronounced in the faint green illumination of the strip responsible for filtering their air. The suspicion he saw in her breathtaking eyes and sensed over their Bond told him that he should probably work on his false innocence tone.
He returned her suspicious gaze with his most charming smile.
“So that’s how it is,” she said thoughtfully before releasing one of her bell-like giggles, flashing him a radiant smile, and then leaning down to press a tender kiss to his lips. She let it linger for a moment as his fingers pressed into the back of her neck to hold her in place.
After a long moment, she leaned back with another giggle. “Silly Darling, you know you only have to ask for whatever you would like, and I’ll be happy to do it for you. Any of us would, really. Well… most things.”
“Yeah, I know,” Boyd agreed readily. Then he smirked and added, “but there is something extra special about the things you come up when you are trying to bribe.”
Most of her need to control their sex life had faded when Mindy had removed the confidence booster she’d emplaced five years ago—though she still enjoyed controlling the others. Much of that she had transferred to Raev, who found she really enjoyed being controlled in the bedroom.
The big demon was curious to see what might happen once his angel joined his silver-haired love and him in bed for more than sleep. He expected a reaction similar to fire and gasoline, with Silvie stoking the blaze that was never far from the surface in Hope to a raging inferno. He was a little afraid it might consume them all—especially if his vixen got involved, too.
Silvie’s radiant smile returned, her eyes shining with the pleased amusement he felt swell within her. Her smile transitioned to another thoughtful expression, with her lips quirking to one side.
“Hmm, but what to do? Hope has been giving you blowjobs every morning. Mindy loves to pamper you and Raev is into butt stuff, while Tink likes to give you boob jobs.” She tapped a finger against her soft pink lips before she giggled and gave him her version of his devilish grin. “I guess I’m going to have to get creative.”
Boyd responded with his own devilish grin, but it seemed the time for fun had ended. He sensed a shift in the Bonds with his other loves just before the Mindy in his mind said, ‘We’ve reached the server room and will be entering it shortly.’
***
Stepper was having a great day and she hoped it would only get better. She’d already had the chance to knock out some of the Ascended Coalition’s goons and the mission hadn’t really started yet. Phantom, who was on loan to her team for this mission, got Stepper in with his phasing ability. They’d knocked out the un-Powered guards and then she stepped the rest of her team in. The three security guards that had been manning this security station lay hogtied and gagged in the corner.
Draconis, her second in command, was their heavy for this mission. His red scales should even be able to take a punch from Silver—which they might have to do, if she came out swinging. Stepper hoped he was strong enough to hold her off. Crimson Paw had made her difficult to deal with and, if the myths surrounding him were to be believed, she would only have gotten stronger since Stepper had faced her in Glorith City.
Then there was Regulus. He was pretty much a humanoid griffin and could be an absolute terror in a fight—even if he was the gentlest member of her team the rest of the time. He would help Draconis and her secure the hostages but was mostly around for his roar, as it weakened and disoriented those he directed it against, while bolstering his allies. It should clear the way for their extraction and counter Crimson Paw if he attacked them alongside his lover.
The rest of her team had remained at the staging point with a transport big enough to get the hostages out. They’d been instructed to hold the position if feasible until her return, but to flee if it got too hot. She trusted them to do their job but doubted they would flee, especially not if it meant leaving her and the others behind.
She could hardly blame them. They all craved a stand-up fight against The Authority, and the Ascended Coalition represented the worst of those who maintained the government’s evil corruption. She had planned for and trained scenarios on this exact mission countless times. Breaking up the yearly gathering in which these fuckers forced people captured from the towns and villages she was sworn to protect to fight to the death was a dream she hadn’t been certain she would ever get the chance to fulfill. Even in her wildest fantasies, her hypothetical mission planning had never included Crimson Paw’s participation.
Stepper leaned over the security desk with its built-in bank of viewscreens. She had been tracking the group of four young beauties as they made their way through the halls of the underground stadium. She’d noted how they avoided garnering attention by behaving like they belonged there. It was a simple but effective ploy; no one gave them a second glance, even when they entered a side passage marked as ‘For Employees Only’.
Granny had provided Stepper with a copy of the plan Crimson Paw came up with, which included images of the four women his lovers were disguised as. It was a solid plan, although the priorities differed from what she would have chosen. Getting to the servers to gather information would not have been on her list, nor would their attempt to make arrests. Then again, her people had been at war with the Authority for over three hundred years while Crimson Paw still viewed himself as their lackey, removing the bad apples.
“Be ready,” Stepper said, “it’s almost time.”
