Shaking his head again, more vehemently this time, he turned his eyes on her, pleading. “Please, Chuck, no. I just need to lie down. I’ll be okay. I can’t go to the hospital. How are you going to explain me being here? Or the missing dog? You don’t understand. They’re after you!”
The crashing of feet trampling the underbrush caught his ears, and he shifted back to his canine form, laying his head on her lap and whining low in his throat, begging her to listen.Please, Chuck. I need to protect you.
“Okay, Malachi,” she whispered as the others neared. “Only because I trust you, but you’re going to explain this when we get home.” She glanced at the body. “Shit, I need a better excuse for shooting him than my dog told me to.”
Got you,he gasped. He concentrated and formed a long, wicked knife from the ether, then dropped it in the dead demon’s hand. It was shaped like one of his nasty talons and should match the wound in the other man’s throat. He flopped back, exhausted.
Chuck’s astonished gaze flitted between him and the knife. “A lot of explaining,” she declared, then turned to face her peers. “I’m okay!” she reassured. “Had to take him down. He hurt Malachi!”
“Son-of-a… Chuck! Are you sure you’re okay?” demanded the lieutenant. “Oh damn, what happened to Malachi?” His eyebrows were bunched in concern, and there were deep furrows around his mouth as he frowned hard. “Do we need the vet?”
Malachi made a brave show of standing, trying hard to keep his legs from wobbling. He gave a lighthearted woof to prove he was okay while each breath felt like glass shards slicing through his lungs. It was becomingclearer he might have a broken rib or three. Not that he would admit as much here. He just needed to sleep, and his demon powers would heal it.
“That’s our suspect. Malachi tracked him, but the bastard tossed Mal into a tree after stabbing that other guy in the throat. He came at me, and I tagged him on the shoulder, but he kept going. Had to take him down.” Chuck’s report was delivered in a flat monotone, no emotions revealed, but her aura was laced with fear, doubt, and regret for having to lie.
The lieutenant studied them both, then nodded. “Get him checked out, then I need a full report. You understand there will be a review of this before you can resume normal duties, but you guys probably need the rest anyway. Good work, Chuck, Malachi. You’re quite the team.” With a stiff nod, he began barking orders to the rest of the officers and had their forensics team set up to collect evidence.
Leaning down to his ear where no one else could hear, Chuck asked, “Mal, can you make it back to the car? Or do I need to carry you?”
Concern for him was streaking her aura now, overriding her guilt at lying to the others. Malachi knew he should be happy; he was corrupting her as he should be. But it was a hollow victory because he didn’t want to hurt her. Or dim those colors. Sighing, he leaned heavily against her legs.I can make it if we go slow. And I’m going to need to get back to human ASAP.
One short nod and Chuck rose. “Gonna take Malachi outta here, get him checked,” she mumbled to the others.
A distracted, halfhearted wave was the response, so she moved back toward the field, slowly making her way to her vehicle.
“Chuck!” came the lieutenant’s voice. “Let me know what the vet says, okay?”
A feeble, “Will do!” slipped from her lips as she glanced at Malachi from the corner of her eye.
He could see she was biting the inside of her cheek, trying not to laugh at the idea of taking him to the vet.No,he advised firmly,we are not going to the fucking vet. Do you know where they’ll stick the thermometer?
Handcuffs and Collars Optional
In the car, Malachi winced and let out an involuntary whimper as he jumped into the back. He turned and noticed Chuck’s forehead scrunched in concern. Her lips were compressed into a thin line, and she shook her head. Holding up a shaking finger, she ran to the front seat and grabbed a coat and blanket she kept in an emergency pack. She hurried back and created a cushion for him to rest on. With a heavy sigh, he sank onto it gratefully.Thanks, Chuck. That helps a lot.
With a silent nod, Chuck closed the compartment and scurried to the driver’s door before climbing inside. She started the vehicle, then just sat there, staring through the windshield.
Malachi gazed at the back of her head, puzzled, until he heard a small sniffle. Alarmed, he raised up slightly.Chuck?he called softly,Are you okay? What’s wrong?
Spinning to face him, a tear trailed down her cheek as her eyes trailed over him. “What’s wrong? Malachi, you’re injured! I let you go in alone because you wanted to protect me, and you gothurt.I shouldhave come with you. I should have protected you! You’re my partner, and it’s my job to keep you safe. You were injured on my watch. Dammit… Mal… I’m so sorry.” Another sniffle and deep breath as she tried to hold back the tears.
She’s crying over me? Because I got hurt?Malachi thought with wonder. No one had ever cared about him like this, and he wasn’t sure what to do. It didn’t make sense. She was a cop, part angel. He was a demon, part incubus. They should be at war, hate each other. But he could see fear and guilt in her aura. Even more wondrous… were the streaks of red now flitting through her glow. He wasn’t quite sure what it all meant, but he knew she felt strongly enough about him that it pained her when he’d been injured.
Chuck,he called quietly,it’s not your fault. I knew what I was getting into. I knew that guy was dangerous. Be honest, what would have happened if you’d been thrown into a tree? I have some abilities… like Glenda. I’ll be okay. It hurts now, but I just need to rest, and I’ll be alright. He would have killed you, Chuck. I… I couldn’t live with that.
She shrugged hard then shook her head vehemently. “But I can’t live with you getting hurt either!”
Blinking, Malachi shimmered to human form and stuck his hand through the small window, gently running his fingers over her cheek. His breath caught when she closed her eyes and leaned against his palm. “Chuck… Kelly,” he whispered. He opened his mouth to say more, but a sharp rap on the window had him snatching back his hand and shifting to canine rapidly.
Startled, Chuck quickly turned and rolled down the window. “Hey, Jax, what’s up?” she called cheerfully, trying to clear her throat discreetly.
“Chuck, I heard you and Malachi had a scuffle with our suspect,” Jaxon explained slowly, peering behind her. “Who’s in here with you?” His eyes were squinted, trying to see in the dim interior of the vehicle.
“Who’s… what do you mean? It’s just Malachi and me. He got a little banged up, so I was just making sure he was comfortable before I took him home. He’s moving kind of slow, but I think he’s going to be okay.” She tried to smile convincingly to make her point.
Jaxson smiled back. “Yeah, weird. I could have sworn you were talking to someone.”
“I was. I was talking to Malachi, reassuring him and such. It’s good to talk to your partner; it helps build that bond. And strengthen the partnership. I mean, that’s what the trainer said, not sure how much I buy into that. But it seems to help. We are pretty in tune, you know.” Chuck stopped with a slight grimace, realizing she was babbling and overexplaining.
