pte

At the moment she wasn't exactly feeling companionable and was in fact wondering if he had only befriended her as part

ought to say something, but unsure what would be appropriate. Even with the added height of the stair Russell was

vy lifted an eyebrow, certain that Russell was skirting the limits of w

ll me that my family was being permanently split up, it's hard to think of them doing anything

, often getting stuck between floors, Ivy took to the stairs. She climbed the two flights to her apartment and pulled

as she stepped away from the door. To her surprise it was a small flash drive. She had suspected

back to the door and looked through the Judas hole. She saw Russell standing on her doorstep. On impulse she tossed the fl

s she opened the door and took in the sig

a moment. She found herself very glad her tossing the flash drive made no noise and hadn't required extra steps. Getting caught with unknown

ves began to dance in her belly. She allowe

Albert didn't give you

eps and a paranoid wolf, " Iv

" he told h

f my shoes? I stepped in a puddle and my socks are soaked. I'm getting a serious case of prune foot." Russell smiled and looked around. While caref

y to the now centrally located chair. As she sat down and unlaced her soggy tennis shoe, Russell searched her hoodie for hidden

ves began to dance in her belly. "I'm st

e slipped off a shoe and handed it to him before peeling of her sodden sock. He inspected her shoe and set it down, taking her sock from her as she began working on the wet shoestrings of her other sneaker. It made a sm

said looking from the soggy blue sock dangling from hi

f coffee, " Ivy told him with a shr

t in a second shifter. The man was big and gave off a different kind of energy than Russell did. His dark hair was slicked back from his face and Ivy couldn't tell if it wa

rease. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The two shifters eyed each other and Ivy thought it looked like a dog and a cat sizing each other up before deci

be, so as little as she knew about the packs of the shifter clans, she knew less about them. She was fairly certain

ught out loud. Despite her siblings' opinions, she did occasionally keep her comments to herself. The feline shifter stalked forward plac

down, his gaze somehow feeling like it could already see through her c

ussell said

d countered, still staring at Ivy even tho

walked from the door to here and then turned and

out of place?"

." Russell replied. Ivy wisel

in, have you searched it? It is wi

detail slip. David moved to the vase. He picked it up and searche

t might get broken, " Ivy told them honestly. Russell shook his head a

the floor as he inspected them for anything Albert might have given her. When the petals

e flower petals in less than a minute's time? She was a fire mage. Illusion was more in an Air mage's wheelhouse. He turned the vas

eral large pieces. He poked the shards with his foot. When he was satisfied there was nothing h

annoyed as David walked over to her folded sweatshirt, shoes and socks. He searched the items again, just as thoroughly a Russell had.

be searched, " David sai

took a step back. "Ivy please. It is either me or

y or not when they were searched and who would be doing the searching. Given the thoroughness with which both men had searched her hoodie, she opted for off.

thing hidden. Ivy crossed her arms over her chest, thankful she had at least put on a solid green cotton bra instead of anything lacy. Her actions seemed

nfastened her jeans and slid them to her ankles, neatly stepping out of them. She handed them to Russell and David dropped th

bra any more than her socks had matched each other, but she was pleased she had at least put on a decent pair instead of one of the older items in her underwear drawer. She made a mental note to get rid of anything with holes in it once the men left. S

ssell said sounding half apologetic. Ivy realized he meant to have h

shaking her head and

tain she is clean, " David said. His voice was la

ertain David meant to pat h

ussell sa

d. David frowned and Russell let the corner of his mouth quirk up in amusement before he s

e shirt hides nothi

rd came out as

is hands free. Realizing that David was rapidly losing patience and that this was likely the best deal

ally turn into winter and she had yet to turn on her apartment's central heat. The rest of it she was certain was due to the small pr

down her back and dropped to his knees behind her. He checked out each of her legs and then stood back up. Ivy jumped again as he unhooked her bra and slid it from her shoulders. David laughed and Russell tossed her bra to him. I

his touch was fairly intimate, he was trying to make it seem less as though her were trying to cop a feel which she appreciated. W

e other shifter. He felt warm and somehow comforting at her back, especially as he was placed between her and David. The scent of

is search, hoping it would make it feel less intimate. As Ivy wondered if the cooler temperatures predicted for later in the day would turn the r

covered until she could get dressed again. The relief of not being naked anymore washed over her and she was certain it registered with both of the shifters. She ju

arms holding down the edge of her shirt, hunching over a little to make it seem longer. She had the feeling she was mooning the window beh

" Russell sa

, a teasing tone in his voice.

unting Russell as much as he had enjoyed toying with Ivy. "Of course, I'm sure you did a fine job." There was laughter

able. An objection to being searched could be taken as a complaint against the judgment of the Council. Offering a potential insult to the Shadow Council the day before she was set to meet

t to leave. When he reached the door way, he paused and turned to look at her. He looked her up and down in much the same way as he had a thousan

the heat was gone and he was serious again. "Sorry about the mess." He ran a hand through his d

ind himself. Ivy took a deep shuttery breath and started to shake. She gave herself a moment of reaction time before pulling herself to