His Witch To Keep (Keepers of the Veil) by Zoe Forward Page B

ran a hand over his face. A stressed smile curved his lips. “I’ve seen you take risks and do shit that makes me want to vomit for days afterward. Nothing rattles you other than your family and that guy. Nothing makes you crazy to inspire jealousy in a man other than that Russian. When you two crossed paths two years ago in Israel, don’t think I forgot you pretended to jump me while we were there. Twice. All to inspire that assassin to be jealous.”
    Her cheeks burned. “I did not do that just because of him.”
    “Come on. I’m not stupid. Afterward in Israel, when he left the area, you were a wreck for weeks. Then last year after that mission in Bulgaria when you were assigned to kill him, which I know you didn’t do…it wasn’t pretty. This outburst could be about Liz, but you just carried out two missions without any one of us the wiser. And now you’re falling to pieces? I got bets on that Russian making an appearance. You think he’s behind all this?”
    “What? No.” And he isn’t Russian.
    “So, what’d he say on the phone?”
    “Nothing.” Shit.
    He flashed a gotcha smile.
    Silence was her only answer to him.
    “He’s texting and calling you now?” He stomped close. He gripped her chin to force her to meet his gaze. “That bastard is on the fucking other side. Russia and OLM. Are you double agenting now or are you fucking him?”
    “Not that it’s your business, but I’m not sleeping with him. And I’m not double agenting. I’m out of all that.”
    “That guy is bad news. What does he want from you?”
    “Forget him.” She bit back a defense of Alexi and jerked her chin out of Eli’s grasp. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “Don’t touch me.”
    “What happened when you went after him in Bulgaria last year?” he asked.
    “Classified.”
    He glared. “I told you not to take that mission.”
    “He has nothing to do with Liz. I have to contact the kidnappers to let them know I have the laptop. They’ll arrange some bullshit scenario to get it from me. Maybe this time an exchange. Doubt it, though. Now that we pulled all their electronics, they’ll be pissed.”
    He released a long breath. “Don’t take this the wrong way. I know you can handle a lot on your own, but we should go to my brother. This puts you, your sister, and the whole Danssaert line in extreme danger. That is the business of my brother, who is now the druid leader. It’s also my business. It’s the business of every one of us Sentry druids. You’ve got to let us do our job and protect you.”
    “Did your brother send you here to babysit me? You know what, I don’t care. The bottom line is planting those monitoring devices was an inside job. It’s got to be one of us. Well, one of you druid guys. None of my witch sisters are into covert shit.”
    “We’d never do this. Never.” His face colored red. “Every one of the Sentries vowed to protect you with our lives, not that you take it seriously.”
    She stepped backward. “I’m not accusing you. I trust you. I’ve never questioned that you’d protect me. I never wanted you to die for me. That never made much sense.”
    “Damn it, you are a Pleiad. There are only seven of you. You are the Keepers of the Veil. You must be here to keep the balance between our world and the world of your goddess ancestors. You know if you die, and there’s no one to carry your line, that the ancestors will cross that veil in anger and…Armageddon.”
    “I never asked to be this.”
    “Well, you are. Get over it. This is the same damned conversation we had in undergrad before you went on that bloody crazy Colorado rafting trip.”
    “Somebody put those devices here. Somebody with access to my house. No one but you guys have access.”
    “Someone got in here. We’ll figure it out. When was the last time you spoke to Liz outside the kidnapping?”
    She shrugged.
    “Were you two arguing again?”
    “When are we not? I think she gets a kick out of