Excerpt of Temporal Shift by Nina Croft

“I see time, the past and the present, glimpses of possible futures.”

“Of course you do,” Devlin muttered. She was obviously not quite right in the brain. That was no doubt why she needed a protector. Her lips twitched. So she found him funny, did she? “What is it you want with us?”

“I need you to help me save my people. And…” She cast a quick glance at her companion and her lips twitched again. “And I want you to be my lover.”

Had he heard her right? “Come again?”

She stared into his eyes, and he couldn’t look away. “I’ve seen us together. In the future we are lovers.”

Someone snorted. Devlin finally tore his gaze from her to where Rico lounged in the open doorway. “Your reaction wasn’t very flattering, Starke. I’d take her up on the offer if I were you. You’ve been a little tense lately.”

“Fuck off,” Devlin snarled. He didn’t mind a quick post-fight shag, but he wasn’t signing on to be anyone’s preordained fucking lover. No way. Anyway, he didn’t make love. He had sex.

And did she really believe that crap?

She was staring at him expectantly. Just what exactly did she want him to do? He glanced at Thorne, who stood beside her, an expression of resignation on his face. Maybe he was used to her making outrageous statements. Maybe that was why she needed a protector, because she threw herself at any and every available man. She’d fixed on him because no one else was available. That was all it was. Maybe that’s how the two of them worked. She drew in the men, lured them into a sense of security with that lover crap and then they…

Then they did what?

He had no fucking clue.

“It’s true,” she murmured. “In the future, we are lovers.”

What was he supposed to say? He had no clue about that either, so he kept his mouth shut.

Rico had no such problems. “How long in the future?” he asked, strolling into the room.

Saffira turned to him, her eyes wary. “I don’t know.”

“Is it likely to be anytime soon?”

She shrugged. “The future is not set.”

He turned to Devlin. “You might want to go wash up, just to be prepared. You’re a little…” He nodded at Devlin who glanced down at himself. His clothes were stained with blood from where he’d knifed one of the flying things.

Rico was trying to wind him up, and he refused to be wound. “Can we get back to the fucking point here?”

“Good idea, lover boy,” Captain Tannis said as she entered the room with Callum at her back. “Let’s get to the point.”

Callum followed her into the room and seated himself on one of the huge chairs specifically designed with wings in mind. “Why don’t we all sit down and we can find out what else our visitors have to say aside from the fact that she wants to screw Devlin. Which is a little worrying.” He studied Saffira, his head cocked to one side and a small smile on his face. “She doesn’t look deranged.”

“Ha, ha,” Devlin said and flung himself on a chair opposite.

Rico took the seat beside him and pulled a flask from his inner pocket. “Here.” He handed it to Devlin. “You look like you need a drink.”

Devlin unscrewed the top, took a large swallow, and nearly choked. He wasn’t used to Rico’s whiskey yet, but it did have a soothing effect on his nerves. Taking another gulp, he settled back in his chair, let the warmth wash through him. His gaze strayed to the girl. She was extraordinarily pretty with that red hair and creamy skin. Perhaps he should just accept it, go with the flow. Who was he to argue against fate?