Blue grinned. “Sounds like a man after your own heart.”
I wiped the grass off my hands. “I say we give him a riding mower and a pair of shears.”
Blue shook her head. “If this is how Chitahs court each other, count me out.”
“Aye,” Christian agreed. “If he can’t bring you the head of your enemy, he’s not worth having.”
I gave Christian a long look. He was serious.
Blue captured a lightning bug in her hand. “Viktor has a new assignment for us. He’s looking for you, Raven.”
“I already know about it.”
A faint glow appeared between her fingers. “I thought so. I guess I owe you.”
“For what?”
“For putting my name in the hat.”
I snorted and stood up. “I don’t know what hat you’re talking about. I may have grown up around Shifters, but conducting an investigation with them is another matter. I need someone with finesse in that department. You’re not a wolf, but you know more about Shifters than I ever will.” I glanced up at the dark sky. “I don’t know if it’s a case worth taking, but I owe Ren for looking after my dad all these years. He’s done a lot of good things for us. He helped Crush get clean, and he made sure that I had someone looking out for me while my dad was in rehab. I don’t remember much about it, but when my dad got home, Ren popped in every night to visit. I guess he didn’t want Crush going through it alone. Anyhow, memories like that linger, and it wouldn’t be right to turn him away.”
Blue opened her hand and released the lightning bug. “You’re more like us than you realize. When I met your loner ass, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a girl who grew up around wolves.”
“And I wouldn’t have pegged you for a girl who went around kissing strange Chitahs.”
She glanced back at Matteo’s campsite. “Strange indeed.”
I offered Christian my hand. “Coming?”
“I already spoke to Viktor about the job. I think I’ll enjoy the fresh air for a while.”
I retracted my hand. “You knew we had the assignment and didn’t tell me?”
“Before you get your knickers in a twist, Viktor asked me to keep it private until he spoke with Blue. Thanks for the melon.”
“Hope you enjoyed it,” I said, heading back to the house. “You won’t be getting the other two I’d planned on giving you tonight.”
When we were out of Vampire earshot, Blue glanced back. “What made you want to get in a serious relationship in the first place? This job doesn’t give us that luxury, and besides, you’re always at each other’s throats.”
“We’re Vampires. Of course we’re at each other’s throats. That’s just our way. People who try too hard to please the other are just faking it. You have to do what feels natural.”
“So you like sleeping with one eye open?”
“That’s what keeps things interesting.”
We reached the mansion and entered through the side door, which Blue had left unlocked. Blue didn’t know how tender Christian was in private, how he would softly stroke my eyelashes and tell me about his world travels. Sometimes he just bored me to tears with facts about hippos while rubbing my feet, but those were the things I loved about him. Yet as close as we were, he was still a mystery. But I could see into the depths of his heart. Others didn’t understand our complicated relationship, but outside opinions didn’t matter. Christian gave me everything I needed: companionship, privacy, laughter, friendship, and one hell of a sex life.
Blue rounded the corner and gave me a quick glance. “What’s that grin about?”
“I was just wondering how long that Chitah plans to camp on our property. He might win your heart after all.”
“When pigs fly.”
“He might be your soul mate.”
She traced her finger along the wall. “I have no need for a mate. Keystone is my life.”
Hunter suddenly flew down the stairs and past us, a long string flapping from his mouth.
