Ivory (Manhatten ten) (6 page)

But Angel was right. This wouldn’t win her over.

Ass out here. Now
. Tank’s smile didn’t falter in front of the cameras, but he wasn’t going to wait much longer.

I maneuvered my claws to straighten my lapels without shredding the suit. Deep breath, and I threw myself to the wolves.

Ivory

Camera flashes destroyed my vision. Tank steadied me, and though I hated to admit it, I needed the assistance. Everything in front of my eyes was white static.

I’d thought the worst was over, but Panther finally slunk over to complete the group. He looped an arm around my shoulder as he wedged in between Thunder and me in the back row of the photo line-up.

The cheers ratcheted up a decibel and flashes hit my retinas like one hell of a meteor shower. I didn’t even pretend to smile. It took all I had not to sprint for the car. This was much too much exposure.

A physical threat would’ve been nothing. I’d fight anything that attacked and be glad for the chance to swing my spear. But the press?

Impale a reporter and I’d be in prison with no more of the M-10’s immunity. Even they had to placate the media. It was why I’d agreed to this, but now that I’d seen the level of intensity…there was no way I was going home without a pack of paparazzi. I couldn’t afford to have my face advertised like this.

Panther patted my shoulder, sparking another wave of flashes. “Relax. I’ll be your bodyguard for the evening.”

“How reassuring.” I barely moved my lips.
 

His arm around my shoulder wasn’t reassuring at all. I’d been trying to ignore his body heat, but the more he spoke, the harder that became. Even through his suit sleeve, I felt his tight muscles. Where his palm touched my shoulder…

Goose bumps.

I could run the tundra barefoot. I did not get goose bumps. Never had.

His flesh against mine and I was undone. So much temptation to tear into him any way I could.

A purring noise vibrated from Panther’s throat, and I couldn’t help but respond to the sound with a shiver. His lengthened canines jutted past his smile. Clearly enjoying himself.

My palms itched. I either had to launch a spear or wrap my legs around him and have at it. Both of those were equally damning, and before I snapped, I shot a thought at Tank.
Are we done here?

“Let’s head inside.” Tank’s reply was made aloud to all. It was too soon to relax, but that was one less hurdle.

A hotel representative led us through the lobby and into a conference space. Sandwiched between Tank and Panther, I was close to suffocating.

Folding chairs crowded the floor and started to fill as soon as we passed the door. Tank steered us for a dais where the raised table laden with microphones would put us in full view of all assembled.
 

Food smells wafted from close by, and behind the growing buzz of conversation, I could make out the clank of pans in the kitchen. That would be for the party, and I prayed this little press conference didn’t last long.
 

Deep breaths. I could stay calm enough to make it to the canapés.

Tank and I ascended the steps as the rest of the group was ushered into another room. Apparently it was my moment to shine.

Just glorious.

Of course Panther refused to be pulled away with the others. He grabbed a folding chair and tromped up the steps after us, placing himself on the other side of Tank.

Tank glared Panther’s way and probably gave a matching mental warning, but he didn’t share the words with me. The cat man grinned, with more malice in it than his usual humor. “I called dibs.” Tension hummed between them.
 

I wanted a new seat. Preferably one in the parking garage.

The reporters weren’t quite settled, but luckily the ones who were wanted to get started. Tank lifted a hand, cutting the first wave of questions. “I’d like to keep this brief. Ivory’s involved in an ongoing investigation and we can’t reveal the details at this time. Suffice it to say we’re happy to have her on our side.” A few people chuckled. “We’ll take a few formal questions before the social.”

The reporters jumped from their seats. Loudest was a woman in the first row. “Panther. What’s your relationship with Ivory?”

He leaned forward, giving everyone a front-row view of his elongated incisors. “We’re partners.”

Somehow he injected those two words with so much heat that everyone had an intimate idea of our “partnership”. My blood pounded as the cameras flashed. He wanted me to kill him. That was the only reason he’d bait me like this.

“Do you have a statement, Ivory?” A TV anchor made his voice heard.

Just say you’re happy to be here
, Tank coached.
And don’t mention any plans to leave us.

As if I needed that repeated. Wasn’t that the point of this farce?

“I’m happy to be here.” Far be it from me to go off-book. “And I hope the investigation is concluded shortly.”

There must have been some pecking order among the press, because the next questions shot off without argument. “How do you like working with the Manhattan Ten?”

“It’s too soon to say.” Hopefully I wouldn’t be around long enough to have an answer.

“Why were you working for the airlines?”

That was innocuous enough. “I like to travel.”

“What were you doing on the roof this afternoon?”

“That’s…” Not so innocuous.
 

“Ivory’s powers are connected to the earth.” Tank covered for me. “She uses the outdoors to center herself.”

The reporter wouldn’t be deterred. “Then why on top of the safety railing? You chose a dangerous place to meditate.”

“Her balance is like a cat’s.” Panther cut in before I could think of an explanation. “I’d know.” He shifted his chair so close we touched. Heat from his shoulder and thigh seared my skin. “Anyway, I’m keeping both eyes on her.”

So much for pecking order. The shouts and cameras exploded again.

“Are you romantically involved?” one yelled above the general chaos.

“I’m working on it.” He set his chin on my shoulder.

A droplet of water trickled down from my collar of diamonds. But of course he’d heat me up so close. His blood ran like a furnace.

Being near him was like straddling ice floes moving in opposite directions. I was drawn to him, but getting closer would be the worst thing I could do. I couldn’t be a hero, couldn’t stand the flashing lights, and couldn’t stay under the media’s gaze a second longer.

Not even I could keep that kind of conflict bottled. It had to come out. The ice pooled in my hands, but before I could work the crystals into anything deadly, Tank touched my wrist. In one
poof
the ice vaporized.

As if he weren’t dangerous enough as a mind reader. He could do this? And so easily?
 

I stood, knocking back my chair in a blast that finally silenced the reporters. “I’m done answering questions.” More than anything, I hated being jerked around, and between Panther and Tank, I was the ball in a Ping-Pong match.

No more.

Tank let me go. He couldn’t risk a wrestling contest in front of so many cameras. I strode down the steps toward the exit.

“I guess that’s a no,” Panther called into the mic before jogging to my side. I would’ve blasted him with ice where it counted, but Tank had clamped down, and as much as I reached, no force of will could break his hold. My powers were gone.

It was a game to all of them. How was a media circus going to help me disassociate myself from the Ten? It wouldn’t. They wanted me in, and none of them cared how it would damage my future. The life I’d carved for myself would slip through my fingers like snowflakes. My family would find me.

“Chill.” Panther gripped my elbow and steered me into a darkened side room when I would’ve stormed into the street. His claws were firm as steak knives. “Relax and he’ll give you back the ice.”

“Will he?” I tore my arm away so quickly the claws ripped flesh. The flash of pain spurred my anger. “How kind of him.”

“Fuck.” Panther ushered me deeper into the room—an unused conference space—away from anyone that might wander past. He produced a handkerchief for the streaks of blood on my arm. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Why won’t you leave me alone?”
 

“I want to get to know you.” He dabbed at the gouges, and his claws were gone, replaced with rounded human fingernails.

“Don’t.” I pulled back from his gentle touch. “And don’t bother.”

His eyes hardened. “I’ve seen the real you. When are you going to cut this frigid bullshit?”

“This is the real me.” I’d heard my coworkers whisper it enough: cold, hard bitch. It was the price I’d paid to escape, and the price I kept paying to keep myself in polite society. “And I’m tired of the manipulation bullshit.”
 

“You need us more than we need you.”
 

“Excuse me?” I froze in my headlong rush for the exit.

“Welcome to the shit show.” Panther lifted a re-clawed hand to his face. “I’m about thirty seconds from shifting, but I don’t have to hide it. You stay with us, you can be accepted for what you are. And honestly? Where else could you fit?”

“I have a life. I don’t need this.” For years I’d worked to learn modern culture, to fit in and hide the parts that wouldn’t gel. Now I was supposed to throw it away to live with overgrown fraternity boys in capes?

“How many friends you have in that amazing life of yours?” Panther followed me as I made another run for the door. “None, I’d guess, and as soon as you walk out, you’re spitting on Angel.”

His words stopped me again. “Her I don’t disrespect.”
 

“Who do you think is going to have to deal with it if you run?”

It was an old-fashioned guilt trip, and a good one. I liked Angel. She had an agenda like all of the Ten, but she’d been up-front about it and was doing her best to make me feel comfortable. Plus the size twelve shoes. Those alone were worth a few favors from me.

I sighed, releasing some of my tension. “I’ll go to the party, but I’m done with reporters.”

As soon as I spoke, my fingertips tingled. My powers were back, but Tank may as well have crawled inside my brain the way he was following my impulses. He and I needed to have a discussion.

“Better hurry. They’re already gonna wonder what we’ve been doing this long all by ourselves.”

Fueling those rumors was the last thing I wanted. The way Panther’s skin glistened in the dim light, I might have done something to make them reality if I didn’t get some space from him.

I forced myself to take the steps toward the hum of chatter and the clink of crystal. A drink sounded wonderful.
 

In the ballroom, the social was gearing up. The Ten had splintered, with each hero chatting up a ring of reporters. Annihilator was noticeably alone, but Angel had an impressive circle of male admirers. The anchorwomen had more options, but Steel’s group was largest and loudest, with most of his ladies in fits of giggles from some joke he’d told.

Everyone noticed our arrival, but they seemed to be enjoying their conversations because no one jumped to Panther and me. Maybe they wanted to wait and test my mood. That was wise.

I was still far from satisfied with the situation, but at least the cameras were gone. No more photo-ops or flash blindness tonight. I’d see my opponents coming toward me.

But more fortification wouldn’t hurt. Banquet staff made rounds with appetizer and drink trays. I reached as one neared with flutes of champagne.

An unseasonable frost clung to the stems and I froze mid-reach. The waiter stopped as if his feet had iced over, and maybe they had.

Tall. Blond and blue-eyed. With the hint of a chill.
 

He was one of my people.
 

It had been years, and he’d aged from an awkward teen into a fine-looking warrior, but I dredged the name from my memory. “Kevan.”
 

“My lady Valdís.” The reverent words fell from Kevan’s lips as a low growl built at my side.

“Who’s the penguin?” Panther pushed closer.

Kevan set the tray on the floor, ignoring Panther, his job, the growing crowd, and anything but me. He got down on hands and knees, pressing his forehead to the parquet floor in the deepest of bows.

“Please. I’m not—” Not his lady, and certainly not the woman I had been. I’d abandoned my people and my duties. I neither deserved nor wanted any honors, and I would’ve been a lot less confused if he’d tried to kill me instead of bowing.

With so many curious ears, I couldn’t ask Kevan to explain himself. Not to mention Panther, growling at my side.

And the press couldn’t know about the tribe. They’d be rabid to hunt them down, and my tribesmen wouldn’t hesitate to skewer a reporter or twenty. But how could Kevan be so far from home? And why? I was the misfit for leaving. No one else saw the value in civilization. “Stand, Kevan.”

“My lady.” He rose onto his knees, revealing the tears frozen to his bottom lashes like icicles. “We feared you were taken to the wastes beyond.”