Covertly backing toward the counter behind her, Angela sought to distract the intruder.

“How did you get in?”

“Serra gave me the security codes during our short, but highly memorable affair last year.” A smile of pure male appreciation curved his lips. “Mmm. I love psychics.”

“Yeah.” She wrinkled her nose as she put her hand behind her to search for the knob of the drawer. “TMI.”

He folded his arms over his chest, watching her with an amused gaze.

“The knife drawer is on the other side of the sink,” he informed her. “Of course, I seem to remember there was a rather lethal rolling pin just behind you.”

Busted.

With a sigh, Angela gave up her furtive attempt to find a weapon and instead settled for a frustrated glare.

“I suppose you’re another Sentinel?”

“I am.”

“You people should really learn it’s not nice to sneak up on others.”

He shrugged. “Old habits die hard and I have to admit I wanted a chance to check you out before we were formally introduced.”

Check her out?

That sounded . . . borderline psychotic.

“Do I need to get a restraining order?”

He chuckled at her obvious unease. “You can’t blame my fascination,” he said.

“I can’t?”

“I’ve known Niko for a very long time and never in all those years has he allowed anything or anyone to interfere with the hunt.” His gaze skimmed back to her bare legs. “Not even a woman.”

She flinched. Okay, maybe he did know Niko. At least enough to realize that Niko would do anything to catch his prey.

Still, that didn’t mean he was there as a friend.

“Don’t worry, Niko’s record remains intact,” she assured him wryly. “I was the bait, not the interference.”

The intruder arched a startled brow. “He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“I’m here because he called Wolfe to say he was handing off his hunt for Dylan,” he said, a mysterious smile curving his lips. “He wanted me to take his place.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“I’ve learned that assumptions can be dangerous things,” she countered.

“Ah. Fair enough.” He studied her with a steady gaze. “He asked me to take over the hunt because he wanted to concentrate on protecting you.”

Niko had hinted that he intended to put aside his need for revenge and concentrate on her, but she hadn’t truly thought he would allow someone else to take command of the hunt.

“Oh.”

“That’s it?” the man challenged. “Oh.”

She blinked. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.”

He appeared unimpressed with her reaction. “Did he tell you about the Sentinels that Dylan murdered?”

She licked her dry lips. He was clearly searching for a response from her, but as always she was oblivious to the nuances of his meaning.

“He said they were friends.”

“A hell of a lot more than friends,” Arel growled. “He practically raised Fiona. She was like a daughter to him.”

Angela’s heart twisted in sympathy. She was beginning to understand Niko. It wouldn’t be enough that he would mourn the loss of his friends. Especially one he’d felt responsible for.

He would blame himself for their deaths.

“What do you want from me?” she demanded in thick tones.

“I want you to understand just what Niko is sacrificing to stay with you.”

“That’s enough, Arel,” Niko warned, leaning against the doorjamb wearing nothing more than a pair of faded jeans and a dangerous scowl.

Chapter Eight

Niko folded his arms over his bare chest, his eyes narrowed.

If he had been in a rational frame of mind, he might have appreciated Arel’s loyal attempt to protect him. It was, after all, what friends did. But there was nothing rational in his feelings for Angela, and he wasn’t about to allow anyone to threaten her.

No matter how well intentioned.

Easily sensing the tension, Angela cleared her throat then began edging toward the doorway. She didn’t need her genius-level intelligence to realize that it was time for a strategic retreat.

“I think I’ll go take a shower,” she muttered, giving a tiny gasp when he grabbed her by the waist and claimed a possessive kiss before allowing her to scurry away, his gaze never leaving Arel.

With a roll of his eyes, the young Sentinel lifted his hands in defeat.

“You’ve made your point.”

The words were casual, but Niko was well aware that having accepted Niko’s commitment to Angela, Arel would fight to the death to protect her.

It was the way of Sentinels.

“Have you eaten?” he asked, moving to lean against the countertop.

Sentinels burned calories at an accelerated rate, which meant they were always hungry.

“Yeah, I hit a drive-thru before leaving Columbia.” Arel’s expression hardened. “Tell me about your meeting with Dylan.”

Niko grimaced. “She’s not going to be convinced to turn herself over to the Mave.”

Arel shrugged. “Good.”

“She was one of us.”

“No. She never allowed herself to accept being different,” Arel said. “She was a time bomb just waiting to go off no matter how hard Wolfe tried to diffuse her bitterness.”

Niko couldn’t argue. Wolfe had done everything in his power to reach the hostile young woman, but she’d never been capable of accepting that she would never be normal.

“A damned shame.”

“It will be more of a shame if she gets her hands on your scientist,” Arel pointed out.

“That’s not happening.” His expression held no compromise. He would do whatever necessary to protect Angela.

Arel paced toward the windows overlooking the pool. “Do you think Dylan’s still in the area?”

“Yes,” Niko responded without hesitation. “She won’t leave until I get Angela out of here.”

There was a short silence before Arel turned back to study Niko’s grim expression.

“Would it be possible?”

“What?”

“Could Angela alter Dylan’s DNA?”

“Maybe.” Niko hadn’t given it a lot of thought. His fascination with Angela had nothing to do with her rare talent. “According to Calder, her manipulation of cells, or whatever the hell it is she manipulates, is still small and random, but he has hopes that once she fully embraces her talent she’ll be able to offer hope to high-bloods who suffer from mutations that are killing them.”

“Our very own Dr. Frankenstein.”

“Careful,” Niko growled.

“It wasn’t an insult,” Arel hastily assured him. “Just the opposite. Think of the potential benefits of having her work with our scientists. She could save hundreds if not thousands of lives.”

Niko shook his head. “It’s too early to know how far her skills will develop. Or even if she’ll be willing to accept her gifts.” He deliberately held his friend’s gaze. “It will be her decision. I won’t have her bullied into giving more than she’s willing to offer.”

“Not even if she can help your family?”

“She is my family.” Niko straightened, his gaze challenging. “Any argument?”

Arel gave a sudden laugh. “Niko, if I ever find a female who lights up like a neon sign just because I walked into a room I intend to do whatever I have to do to keep her.”

Niko stilled, ridiculously pleased by the soft words. “A neon sign? Did she?”

Arel shook his head in disgust. “Wipe that smug smile off your lips. There had to be one woman in the world crazy enough to fall in love with you.”

“I only need one.”

“Good God. How the mighty are fallen.” Arel hissed as the sharp sound of an alarm pierced the air. “What’s that?”

Niko was already headed into the living room, moving to stand directly in front of the line of monitors.

“Someone just broke the perimeter.”

The men frowned in unison as they studied the thick woods that surrounded the house.

“Nothing,” Arel muttered as Niko manipulated the cameras to do a complete scan of the area. “Not even a stray dog.”

“It has to be Dylan,” Niko ground out.

What the hell was she doing? She had to sense that Arel was in the house. There was no way she could hope to overpower two Sentinels.

Not without help.

“Or a distraction,” Arel stated the obvious. “You stay here and I’ll try to flush her out.”

Niko nodded in agreement. As much as he wanted to be on the hunt, his heart was firmly committed to protecting Angela.

Of course, that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about his friend.

“Arel,” he called as the younger man opened the door and stepped onto the front porch.