Forbidden: The Union

The woman had the power to turn me inside out with just one look.

“You never stop surprising me,” I told her this morning before leaving her bed. Truer words were never spoken. Here she was, now sitting across from me during an official briefing. Why am I surprised? Because Alex doesn’t work for the PSF, the Preternatural Special Forces. Alex is human.

“Glad you could join us, Agent Renfield.” The director swept into the room.

He was our fearless leader, the one who gave us our assignments. Once upon a time he’d been the founding leader of one of the worlds largest government agencies. He’d led thousands of men over the years and been privy to even more secrets. Now he was a ghost leading a crack team of twelve.

“Sorry I’m late.” I took a seat next to Darius, our newest recruit.

The director moved around to the head of the table. “I was just introducing Darius to Agent Sanchez.”

Darius dramatically unfurled his wings. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Agent Sanchez.”

Alex’s breath hitched. I normally loved it when it did that.

I didn’t have to look at Darius to know that his sky blue eyes were gleaming, his shoulder length golden hair glowing, and his skin radiating with the luminescence of the divine. The preening asshole was predictably pulling out all the stops.

He stood up and extended his hand.

“Likewise.” Alex reached across the table, accepting his offer graciously. She was the consummate professional, the type that dotted every i and crossed every t. She knew policy and protocol. She knew how to handle a gun, how to handle herself, and how to handle every inch of me.

“Nice to have you back, Renfield.” Darius sat back down. His wings snapped back with a flourish and disappeared behind him.

Alex’s eyes widened as she watched a single white feather, tipped with gold, drift down onto the table between us.

I brushed it onto the floor. “You’re molting.”

Darius shrugged. “You know what they say. Out with the old, in with the new.