"Ian could recognize shifter mate bonds." Rodric smiled slightly. "Not exactly a useful power in particular, but it did make it easy for him to find his mate in the human world. It was why he left Griffin Island, you know."
"And what about you?" Lucy asked.
"Me? Oh, that's more complicated." He touched her hand lightly. "It's a simple yet useful power. I compel people to do what I want."
Lucy stared at him. "You—what?"
"It never seemed to work on you. And it didn't work on Ian; I theorize that it doesn't affect family. It's most effective on other shifters, as it turns out." In the same perfectly calm voice, he said, "Eren, come to me and await orders."
Eren tensed, waiting for some kind of compulsion to come over him.
Nothing happened.
His bear said,I do feel something. Like a little bit of a tug. But it's not hard to ignore.
Tell me if that changes, will you?
Will do,said his bear.
Eren carefully took a step forward, playing along.
Absolute dismay spread across Lucy's face. It was all Eren could do to keep his face still and not react. He didn't dare meet her eyes; he knew that would give everything away immediately. One of the things he loved best about Lucy was her inability to conceal what she was thinking, but it wouldn't be an asset when they were trying to con somebody.
Eren, on the other hand, had a lot of experience at self control. It hadn't always worked out the best for him, but he now realized that the lessons had taken hold more deeply than he had known. He stood beside Lucy's shoulder at parade rest and said nothing.
Smiling a little, Rodric turned to look down at the papers, completely at ease now that he thought he was in control of the situation. "Eren, there is a pair of handcuffs in that cabinet. Get them."
Eren obeyed. The handcuffs were heavier than regular ones. Strong enough to contain a shifter, he thought.
"Eren, please," Lucy cried. "Don't do this."
"Now tie her to a chair. We'll worry about her later."
Eren made his move.
Not toward Lucy, but Rodric. He pushed Rodric into the nearest chair, and before the man had time to recover from his shock, Eren whipped the cuffs out.
Lucy cried out and then snapped into motion. She held Rodric's arms behind his back so Eren could cuff him securely, winding the chain of the cuffs through the back of the chair so he was attached to it.
"What? How?" Rodric stammered. "You can't do this. Stop it immediately. Stop! Hold! Stand still!"
"My powers don't work on Eren either," Lucy said with satisfaction. "Because he's my mate. You said it doesn't affect family, and he'smyfamily." As soon as her uncle was secured, she threw her arms around Eren and kissed him soundly. "You were very sneaky. I totally believed you."
"Sorry about having to trick you." Eren took her in his arms and kissed her again. She melted against his mouth. "I wasn't sure if he had more guns, and I didn't want to put you in danger until I could get the upper hand."
"Good thinking." She turned to look at her uncle. "Well, Uncle Rodric, maybe we need to reopen negotiations again."
"You already signed the paperwork," Rodric growled.
"You're right," Lucy said calmly. She folded her copies of the papers and tucked them into her jacket. "And honestly, even though you were going to double-cross me, I don't feel any need to change the terms of our arrangement. What I don't know is what to do about you and your power."
"We can make sure he can't talk," Eren said, looming over him.
"Sit down!" Rodric spluttered. "Stop!"
It was clear that he was so used to giving orders and having them obeyed that he had no idea how to handle this situation.
Lucy was now searching the drawers of the desk. "Aha!" she exclaimed, waving a folded object in the air. "My passport! Iknewyou were too much of an egotist not to have it with you. At last I can finally prove who I am and get a proper job and all of that."