Federal Paranormal Agency 6 - Leannan Read Free Page A

couldn’t pass up.
    Thomas walked toward the door. With each step he took, the air grew thicker, more potent. As he passed Duncan, Thomas inhaled, pulling the man’s scent deep into his lungs. The mixture of smells invaded Thomas’s head—leather, black orchid, vanilla, and sandalwood— spicy yet soft.
    Mate.
    The severity of the situation hit him hard, like a bullet to the heart. Thomas’s shoulders dropped, all of his energy suddenly vanishing. It’s not fair. He wanted to shout at the sheer injustice, but he couldn’t. Fate hates me. He’d lost his family, and now, he would lose his mate as well. Maybe I’m cursed.
    Thomas put his back against the wall and waited. Duncan closed the door, clicking the lock into place before passing him. Thomas followed along, keeping a few feet between him and Duncan, just in case he needed to make a quick break. They passed the bathrooms along the dim hallway before stepping into the light.
    “Wow,” he murmured.
    The interior of the pub—warm and homey—was the exact opposite of the exterior. It was a pleasant surprise. Turning in a circle, Thomas looked around, taking it all in.
    Dark wood paneling covered the walls, industrial light fixtures hung down from a vaulted ceiling, and there was a fireplace in the corner with a sitting area that included leather couches and overstuffed chairs. The snug wooden booths were complemented with worn leather seats just like the barstools. The bar top of shining mahogany gleamed under the light. The mirror on the back wall clearly reflected all the bottles in front of it. The name of the bar, Temple, painted on the glass was faded, as if it had been there for years. Thomas could tell that this place was loved by its owner and well used by the patrons.
    “Niall,” Duncan called out. “Bring me a couple towels and a dry shirt. The boy’s dripping all over my wood floor.”
    “Right away, boss,” the bartender said.
    “What’s your name?” Duncan asked.
    “Thomas Doyle.”
    “Why don’t you go sit by the fire, Thomas? I’ll join you in a moment.”
    “Okay.”
    Leaving Duncan’s side, Thomas made his way to the other side of the pub. He kept his head down, trying not to draw any unwanted attention from the others. As he passed, a few of the men made whispered comments, but Thomas pretended not to hear them.
    “Looks like the boss brought home another stray.”
    “He’s a cute lad.”
    “Definitely Duncan’s type.”
    Thomas ground his teeth together as jealousy reared its ugly head. How many men had his mate been with? He wanted to lash out but refrained. It didn’t really matter anyway. This was all temporary. He had to keep reminding himself why he was here.
    When he reached the corner of the pub, Thomas put the puppy down on the tiles. He quickly removed his backpack and jacket, hanging them up on the black metal screen in front of the fire to dry. Crossing his arms over his chest, Thomas leaned in close. Warmth instantly surrounded him, the heat from the flames burrowing into his chilled skin.
    “Here.” Duncan held out two towels and a long-sleeved T-shirt. “For you and the beast.”
    “Puppy,” Thomas corrected, taking the towels from Duncan’s outstretched hand.
    “Puppy.” He smiled. Duncan’s whole face seemed to transform, his harsh features smoothing out.
    Why does he have to be so beautiful? Thomas dropped one of the towels and the T-shirt onto the nearest chair and knelt down. He enfolded the soft cotton material around the puppy, rubbing it over his gray and white fur. He left the little guy on the floor in front of the fireplace, the towel loosely wrapped around him. The little thing yawned and closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep.
    “If only life could be that easy,” Thomas whispered.
    He stood up and pulled off his wet T-shirt, hanging it over the fireplace screen beside his hoodie. He snatched the towel off the chair and started drying off. Thomas glanced at Duncan and caught the man