Hammer Down: Children of the Undying: Book 2 by Moira Rogers Page B

rebound off the wall before his friend stood next to him, just far enough that he wouldn’t be in the way if Zel had to draw his knife.
    Drake stood there, bristling with the power that made him Rochester’s second-ranked warrior. “Who are you dealing with? Who brought the spy here?”
    Hell had just broken loose.
     
     
    The visitors’ quarters of the Rochester settlement turned out to be the entire basement level of what had once been a hotel. The walls were painted block or concrete, materials that would have been either too hot or too cold above ground, but served well in underground structures.
    Devi’s footsteps echoed through the corridor as she walked from the communal bath to the room she’d chosen, rubbing a threadbare towel over her wet hair as she went. She’d redressed before drying off completely and her clothes, while clean, clung uncomfortably to her skin and twisted and bunched.
    She could have commandeered one of the coarse, thin sheets from the bedding and wrapped up until her skin dried, but she was used to clingy clothes—and worse. Even the small standing tub and paltry ration of water were posh compared to what she usually got on the road.
    A handy reminder that these were unusual circumstances.
    She got another when she turned the last corner and saw Zel standing at her door, his hand raised to the chime. “Hi.”
    He had too much control to jerk his hand away, but from the way he tensed and slowly dropped it, she got the feeling he wanted to. It didn’t make him shy about looking his fill, and the way his gaze lingered made her wish she was either more or less covered. “Devi.”
    She cocked her head toward the door. “Would you like to come in?”
    “If you don’t mind.”
    She’d set the access code first thing, and she appreciated that he allowed her to punch it in and maintain the illusion of privacy. Of course he could override it, and would—if he had to.
    Devi liked that about him.
    “Home sweet home, for now.” She tossed her wet towel over the back of a chair. Making the small, hard bed had been her first order of business, mostly to take her mind off the way the utter lack of personal touches made the room look more like a prison cell than anything else. It hadn’t helped. “Is there a problem?”
    He leaned against the wall just inside the door, his muscular arms draped over his chest. Casual this time, giving the impression of being relaxed and at ease, but everything about him screamed predator, a lazy animal who could nevertheless pounce at any moment. “Not as such. At least, not yet. And I won’t let there be one, but it only seemed fair to warn you that not everyone’s happy you’re here.”
    Devi almost smiled. “I’d be shocked as hell if that weren’t the case.”
    “Things are…” He seemed to be trying to decide how much to tell her. “Unsettled.”
    “As soon as I get something figured out in regards to our fuel situation, we’ll get out of your hair.”
    “That’s part of what’s riling people up. We’re in the awkward position of having a council spy trussed up in lockdown.”
    “And people are wondering what to do with him, and whether you have four more in the visitors’ quarters.” Devi leaned on a rickety table, determined not to let him see her discomfort. “Did I miss anything?”
    “Not really.”
    His eyes were dark, and Devi rubbed her hands over her bare arms. “As far as I can see, there’s not much my crew or I can do about that.”
    “Nothing except sit tight.” His gaze followed her hands as they smoothed over her skin. “There’s only one easy way into this sector, and I’ll have a guard on the door. Someone I trust to defuse the situation if anyone thinks to come and try to talk to you. And I’d like you to meet with my second soon, if you’re willing. If she tells people you’re not a danger, most will believe her.”
    Keeping her mind on business was a Herculean struggle. He still stood with his arms