“Yes, listen to your mate, bloodsucker,” Hugo taunted. Lucien hissed at him, ready to strike the hunter down. “I’m shivering in my boots.”
Realizing this would go nowhere, I stooped down to grab the forgotten gun and shot it into the ceiling. When the attention was on me, I pointed the gun at Hugo. “I’ve shot squirrels that were less annoying. Lucien, go outside so he can stay on topic. If he refuses to answer me, the next blood drawn will be his.”I waited a minute, but no one moved at my command. “Are we going to act like adults today? I’ve already had a shit day so before I play god, perhaps we can put our big boy pants on?”
Lucien stepped away from the hunter to take my side. I felt his lips on my head before they went to my ear. “You’re crazy, but it seems a part of me enjoys that. Try not to kill him before he answers your questions.”
He left the room and the hunter turned disappointed. “I really thought it would take more,” he said. Slapping his hands onto his knees, he leaned forward with a more serious attitude. “Well, I guess since the source of my entertainment is gone I’ll answer two questions. I will answer no more than that.”
“Why did you lure us here?”
“I needed the vampire to bring you. Bryon was becoming useless in that task so I figured poisoning you would be the more productive route,” he answered. His smugness made my hand tighten on the grip of the gun, but I made sure not to move my trigger finger. “It worked and you avoided death by a hair. I’d say a job well done.”
“You purposely didn’t answer fully so my next question would be decided, but I think I know exactly what you need. I wouldn’t have guessed this before, but you need me to find someone for you. Are you also after the killer? The one hunting supernaturals?”
My words caused a reaction of anger and he pointed a bony finger in my direction. “They aren’t hunting shadow bloods! They aresacrificingthem. I have been retired because those in this town with shadow blood have taken to a peaceful life. Agatha was running on animal blood and imported blood packs. Even your mother agreed to hide her true identity from the others and I provided that necklace she had,” he stopped when he stared at the blank area around my neck. “The one you aren’t wearing. Where is the necklace?”
“Lucien took it off so I could find you. Wait, you made the necklace?”
“No, I had gotten it from the body of a witch from back in my active hunter days. Your mother used her magic to bind it to her blood which also flows within you. That was meant for protection. A shadow witch’s magic is unpredictable so it’s best if you remain spellbound,” he explained with a gruff sigh at the end. When I looked at him confused with accusations ready, he ran a hand over his face in exasperation. “Now, all your questions are answered and I graciously answered a third. You will track down this killer and that silver stake you have will be the key. I saw you take the stake from Jeremy Pickens’ chest. The killer used it which means you can still track him. One more body was found in the greenhouse of Chief Dorian. He was just taken off the case, but I know he is not the killer. Dorian is a garden pixie.”
I blinked, my mind trying to imagine Dorian with fairy wings, but couldn’t. Shaking the weird images from my head, I lowered the gun. “Okay, let’s say I know what that means. Who could it be?”
“That’s the thing that confuses me. There are many people in this town that could do this, but those who would are a different matter. I will say, your father was on the list, but I’ve hunted deer with your father. His hands shake when he shoots and this killer has a very steady hand. While the list is small, it’s hard to say who it could be.”
I set the gun back down on his desk before backing away. “We were already going to find the killer. However, you try another stunt like today and you’ll see that where my dad lacks the initiative, I do not.”
Hugo sat down in his chair with an amused chuckle, retrieving his gun. Putting the safety back on, he put it into hisdesk and waved me off. “I’ve had my fun. Worry not about your pet vampire.”
“He is not my pet. And stop calling Bryon pup. It’s weird,” I snapped.
With that I turned on my heel and left the mechanic shop behind. Waiting for me was Lucien in his normal personification of beauty. It honestly pained me a bit that he looked so good. How can someone so handsome be mine?
“It sounds like you got the answers.”
“I would have gotten them sooner if you didn’t react every time he provoked you,” I commented, still irritated from how close I had come to dying due to the squabbling. “It was an idiot move. He was clearly doing it on purpose and you fell into his trap.” He pushed off the wall to appear in front of me.
“Me? The idiot?”
“Yes, you let your feelings get in the way of getting the answers we needed.”
“Don’t you dare pull that card out,” he retorted. I took a step back at the malice in his words. I struck a chord without meaning to, but there was no going back now. “I may not have followed your plan, but you still got the answers you needed. As for feelings, if you find my feelings for you such a burden then just say it! I won’t apologize for loving you not now or in the future.”
Love.
My own cowardness had kept me from it, but apparently not from the man who hated the idea of it. I felt the tears burn my eyes and my heart swelled at the realization that Lucien was fully accepting the bond. I hadn’t imagined him to be the one to say it or even this quickly.
“Lucien, I—.”
When he saw the tears, he was quick to fuss over me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. Is it your wound? I can heal it fully.”
“You said you loved me.”
His eyes widened at my words, then his lips curved affectionately, his thumb swiping at a fallen tear. “Is that why you were crying? That’s no reason to cry, my love. You had me worried.”
I wiped the remaining tears with a small embarrassed laugh. Lucien shed his jacket to place it around my shoulders and pulled me closer so he could kiss me. I melted into him, pulling myself even closer to feel him against my exposed skin. That bonding pull was back with a vengeance and a desire for him. It was as though something had snapped in me and all I needed was him.
Now.
“Lucien,” I finally gasped as his lips moved across my jaw and towards my neck.
