“Sulfralite is a rare mineral that can give the user mind control over any supernatural. It’s only found in the underworld, which means—”
“It was brought here by a demon.” Meredith turned her face toward Silas. “Do you think that’s what was used to make that vampire stake himself?”
Silas nodded. “Yes.”
“Can I speak to you alone?” Meredith asked. She gestured with her head toward the door.
“I’ll be right back,” Silas announced. Every eye stared at him in various levels of shock as he followed Meredith from the room. Down the hall, she ducked inside a small visitors’ room with couches and vending machines. Thankfully, there was no one else in it.
Meredith whirled on him as soon as the door closed. “Do you think the demon Soleil was with last night had something to do with Laina’s injuries? How else would Alex get sulfralite?”
“Anything is possible.”
“You have to talk to Soleil. You have to find out who this demon is. What if he had a hand in this?”
Silas paused. “You’re right. I’ll confront her and find out the truth.”
She nodded. “Can you tell if she’s lying? What if she’s in on it?”
“Soleil is a lot of things, but she’s not a killer. Plus, I’ll know if she’s hiding something from me. It will be awkward to interrogate her, but it has to be done.”
“It’s the only way.” Meredith nodded a few times, then licked her lips and rubbed her palms together. For a moment, he took her in, her warm brown eyes, her fox-red hair, the way the shape of her face reminded him of Wonder Woman, strong and kind.
“Thank you for taking care of me last night,” he said.
“I didn’t mind.”
“I should have kept it together.”
“It was a traumatic night. I don’t blame you for going a little crazy.”
He stepped in closer, close enough that he brushed the front of her blouse. She didn’t back away. “Thanks for coming today. I needed someone, and you were there for me.”
“Anytime,” her voice was thready. He could hear her pulse pick up its pace. Her lips parted on a deep inhale as if she intended to say something. But then she turned like she might leave.
He raised a hand to block her shoulders gently. She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her expression open, expectant.
“You came here for me,” he said, matter-of-factly.
Her cheeks reddened and she shrugged. “I’m your partner. Isn’t that what partners do?”
“You’re not my partner.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
“Because the thing about partners…” He licked his lips. “Partners aren’t supposed to do this.” He kissed her then. The kind of kiss you remember, not because of its carnal dexterity but because it percolates deep inside your soul long after it ends. He dug one hand into her hair and swept her against the wall, his other working under the hem of her blouse and feasting on the warmth of her skin.
Meredith stiffened at first, either shocked or confused by the passion behind his kiss. But soon, her nails dug into the back of his shirt, and she pulled him tighter against her, widening her stance to bring him even closer. She opened for him, and his tongue explored her mouth, his hips grinding into her lower belly. The move elicited a soft moan. A hard aching need overcame him, his wolf begging him for more.
He recoiled when the door opened abruptly, trying his best to look casual and hide the raging hard-on he had for her. Exchanging awkward glances with Meredith, he waited as one of the doctors used a vending machine and then left as quickly as he’d come.
She exhaled deeply when the door closed again. “I guess I’m not your partner, then.”
“I think we better take this non-partnership somewhere more private. Go out with me tonight?”
“Valentine’s again?”
“Six thirty?”
