I chuckled, shaking my head. “I’m an incentive now, am I?”
“The best kind.”
Pushing him away as I laughed, I went to my desk and dug through my drawers. Finding the note, I held it up to him between two fingers.
“If I give you this, you can’t go off on your own and get yourself killed, okay? Use it to gather information only.”
I knew it was hypocritical of me to make those stipulations to him since I was the one who had gone off without telling them last time. But the thought of losing him or any of the others was stronger than any sense of right or wrong.
Tate clasped my hand with his, taking the note into his hand, his mouth pressing to mine. “I promise. No heroics. Just surveillance.”
“Uh-huh,” I murmured against his mouth, wishing that was all they were going to do.
Except I knew the three of them. When it came to me, they didn’t think logically. It was kill first, ask questions later.
I just hoped they were careful enough for there to be a later.
Chapter fifteen
Jack
MykneebouncedwhereI sat in the library across from Tabby the next night. She was talking about something to do with the history of vampire powers. Honestly, I wasn’t really paying attention.
It was hard to think about my powers when all I could think about was what Tate was doing with my note. Had they found who wrote it yet? If so, did they go after them, or did they report it like he promised they would?
Picking up my phone for what seemed like the hundredth time, I checked for any messages from the guys.
Nothing.
Should I check in with them? Would that make me seem like I didn’t trust them? Maybe they needed me? Maybe they’d hit a dead end and weren’t sure which direction to go on their own. Though, with Weaver there — I cringed internally — they had all the information of the Hunter’s Guild and likely the academy at his skinny fingertips.
“Jack?”
I chewed on my thumbnail, staring off to the side at the unlit fireplace. I didn’t want to down the importance of our techs, but they didn’t go into the field. They didn’t know what it was like to be in a life-or-death situation, to have a split second to make a decision that might be the reason you lived or died. Or your comrades lived or died.
Plus, they read everything as black and white data on a computer screen. The world didn’t work that way. People didn’t work that way.
“Jack, are you listening?”
No, I should be there. They attacked me. If we wanted to have a chance at catching them, then we needed bait. We wouldn’t get that with me hiding here in my parents’ house. Though trying to convince any of them, let alone my parents, or Tristen to let me back on campus for this was going to be tricky.
A book slammed against the table, jerking me from my thoughts.
My eyes darted to the sound where Tabby removed her hands from the large tome she carted around, an irritated expression on her face.
Giving her a sheepish smile, I sank down into my seat. “Sorry, did you ask something?”
Untying her hair, Tabby shook her head as she re-wrapped her hair into a bun, shoving a pencil through the center of it.
“Should I come back tomorrow? Obviously, you’re distracted by something else.”
“No, no.” I waved her off with an apologetic look. “I’m good. My mind just wandered is all.”
“Are you sure?” Tabby blinked at me, her one black eye giving off a menacing glint. “I can come back. We don’t want to try to use your powers if you’re distracted.”
“I’m fine. Promise.” Pushing up to the edge of the chair, I tried not to focus on the black eye and only look at the blue one. “We can try.”
Tabby paused for a long moment, her lips pursed. Then she clicked her tongue. “Alright, if you’re sure.” She picked up her notebook once more. “Like I was saying, most vampires don’t have any additional abilities the way your dads do. It’s actually pretty rare for so many vampires with powers to be in one house together. It’s no wonder that their offspring would have those powers, too. Especially, since you aren’t actually blood bound to Antoine.”
