XXXVI.

Presca stood silently in the narrow alcove eyeing his partner warily. This entire job Vander was acting different. He just couldn't quite put his finger on how. The shadowquip mage still joked and pranked any chance he could, flirted inappropriately with people he really shouldn't putting their mission at unnecessary risk, teased him for any number of reasons mostly to do with his abstinence during the job. Had it not been for Vander's magical signature matching that of the usually overly outgoing and flirty man Presca was used to, he would have since had the man drained of energy and tied to a chair ready for interrogation. But every time he checked the man Vander's life signature gleamed brightly back so whatever was going on had the energy mage on edge.

Had Stilford found out he was looking into finding his cousin, the only relative he had left that hadn't been killed on the Steel Council Member's orders to try and keep him in line? Had Vander been ordered to watch him on some made up excuse of treason or the like?

Presca had already lost his daughter, wife, parents, in-laws, and his deceased wife's uncle by trying to retire then for not executing the orders given to him exactly. He'd thought he'd covered his trail flawlessly each time he deviated from orders getting more and more careful because he just could not bring himself to kill innocent children.

When his daughter had been killed he had to tell his wife why, couldn't let her think that it was her fault that their beautiful girl died by an accident that could have been prevented and blame herself even if it meant he'd lose her.

She hadn't left. It would have been better if she had, she would have been safer, but his childhood sweetheart instead had held him close as they cried out their grief. It took some convincing from his dear Ellen to help clear his conscience putting the blame appropriately on his handler's shoulders. All Presca had done was save a little girl's life, relocating her to somewhere safe after her father's death. The outcome Stilford had wanted happened but the man didn't care. He wanted a weapon to point, a killer that didn't think and Presca lost his own little girl because of compassion.

He shuttered to think where he'd be had he not confessed to Ellen all those years ago, probably the single-minded monster Stilford would have taken great pleasure in ordering about committing greater and greater atrocities try to keep his family "safe".

Presca still didn't know how the man had found out each and every time he had diverged from orders even a little. He knew it wasn't Vander. His frequent partner might act the horny idiot most of the time but he was loyal and valued innocent lives just as much as he did. He'd even caught the Shadowquip mage doing similar things where possible.

No, like protected like when it came to rebelling so he knew it wasn't Vander. He wasn't sure how Vander would act if he'd been fed lies though. Had Stilford finally gotten tired of trying to break him and ordered his death?

Whatever was going on with Vander had the man more than a little distracted and Presca had even caught a look of pain briefly flash in the man's eyes a handful of times.

They weren't friends, Presca made sure to keep up his cold indifference in place to prevent even more people from being in the crosshairs because of him, but they'd been partners more often than not because they worked well together and that created a bond not easily broken. Would Vander be in pain if he really had been ordered to kill him for some made up reason?

Vander was also loyal to Bosco…

Presca sighed internally as Vander finally got the guard to move out to his line of sight so he could drain him until he fell unconscious. This way they could get in, plant the misinformation and out without anyone knowing they'd ever been there.

Then this job would be over and either Vander would kill or warn him there was a hit on him. Those were the only options the energy mage saw his future taking.

"What the hell took you so long?" Presca asked.

"What do you want me to say? Man was dedicated, didn't want to leave his post." Vander's answer was stilted and Presca knew this was it, he was going to die. If there was one person that could beat him in a fight Vander was it, was probably why they'd given him the order.

At least he would get to see his dear Ellen and Rose.

Pulling them both into a small secure closet free from any type of energy Presca pressed Vander to the wall.

"Just make it quick," he said head held high pale gray eyes meeting deep red.

"Oh Presca," Vander purred, "You have the worst fucking timing."

"What?" Now he was confused. Vander looked excited, victorious and also…disappointed?

"After all these years of trying to get into those tight pants…" Presca felt Vander's large warm hands drift over his hips down to his cheeks too shocked and confused to smack them away.

"Now that I won't, you tease me with a quicky? It's just not fair." Vander pouted letting his nose graze along the other man's jaw.

Presca shivered as Vander's hot breath filtered down his collar. How long had he been fighting off this man's advances? Too long for any sane, single, hot-blooded Boscan to be expected to hold out and now that he was ready to die, he was ready to give in. Leave it to Vander to decide to take someone to the heights of pleasure then end it all.

There really were worse ways to go…

"Wait, won't?" Presca asked finally understanding all of what Vander said.

Vander slumped against Presca's firm body so like Freed's if he closed his eyes he could almost fool himself it was true only Presca smelled of citrus and the sea not parchment, steel and nutmeg. Gods he needed to get back to Lucy then hightail it to back to the Rune mage as soon as possible.

"I could ask for you to join us though there would be no quick about it then." Vander pulled away as much as the small room would allow letting his eyes trace Presca's features. He was a handsome man, tall straight nose, high cheekbones and full lips. He was sure Freed and Lucy would appreciate the man and approved if he explained the situation.

Lucy because his little vixen would consider the years of offers to share pleasure an open contract that the man finally accepted. Plus she'd be involved which would be all sorts of inspiration for her writing.

Freed would love the challenge of trying to keep Lucy's attention on him while Vander finally had his way with the energy mage.

Well, maybe not at first but he was pretty sure he could sell them on the idea.

"Wait, you're Promised?" Presca hissed as several things clicked into place. "That's why you've been acting strange? You miss your Promised and can't wait to get home?" That would explain the pained looks, why Vander didn't just fuck the mechanics in Stella so he could sabotage the subterranean ship delaying the Stellan Convoy, and why Vander hadn't just pressed up against this guard and manhandle him into position. Fuck, now that he thought about it not once had he been kept up at night from the sounds of sex coming from Vander's room this entire mission. He'd crack a blue-ball joke if he wasn't so relieved he wasn't going to die today.

"Shhhh!" Vander whispered harshly. "Not yet, not while I'm…"

Vander cut himself off and Presca knew why. As forgiving as Grandance was when compared Stilford, not threatening Vander as along as the mission objectives were obtained, he still wouldn't hesitate using Vander's love against him. Chances were they weren't as protected as the Pradesh family was.

"How the hell do you expect to keep it a secret? Vander you have to let them go. Trust me it'll suck to lose them but better alive and well than dead."

"I…I can't." Vander slumped onto the floor tubbing his chest. Every day the strain got worse and worse. "Even if I tried Lucy and Freed would fight it. We're connected somehow."

Presca eyed the obviously anguished man. It was a new side he'd never seen before and his own wounded heart cried out for him but how could he help? He hadn't been able to save his own family from the Steel Council's death grip; was even now helpless trying to save his cousin.

"You said not yet. Does that mean you have a plan? You should know there are several Bloodhunter's that will stand in your way if the Council even hears a rumor of what you're up to. They have our loved ones." Presca hinted fists clenched. Now that he knew he wasn't going to die he needed to make sure his cousin was safe, first and foremost.

"As soon as I get home." Vander stood again determination filling his eyes. He caught the warning from his partner but also the promised support. If they could secure the hostages they would most likely have the help from the most senior Bloodhunters backing them. That would make things so much easier. "Let's get this finished yeah? So we can move on to more enjoyable activities." Vander smacked Presca's firm ass and smirked at the quiet grunt.

"Bastard," Presca chided with no real heat real hope flaring in his heart for the first time since Rose was killed. If anyone could bend reality to their will it was Vander.

End of Chapter

Sooooo, yeah. I haven't edited so there is bound to be some typos that I will likely correct when I get a new chapter up. Muse is a freaking baby when I'm sick. All they want is to curl up on the couch, drink tea and read. Not even edit but read. I'm just glad I was able to get this down before they threw the proverbial blanket over their head to hide and go to sleep.

Anyway, thanks for all the support! Love, Blas.