Not his mate. Fuck. Cody licks the stray droplet from Simon’s chin.
Shivering beautifully, Simon presses his cool forehead to Cody’s heaving chest. “Thank you.”
“Any time,” Cody says, and means it.
They drape together, warm and exhausted, all but post-coital. Staying here forever would be nice. Cody’s still hard, but his arousal isn’t urgent.
Eventually, Simon shifts his weight back. Cody can’t help his small growl of protest, but he reluctantly loosens his grip.
Simon stands with new, fluid grace. His pajama shirt is askew, exposing one pale shoulder, but he looks regal. Every shadow in the kitchen is part of his raiment.
“Want to see a magic trick?” Simon asks with a flourish.
A ribbon of fire blossoms above his hand.
Cody nearly knocks his chair over jumping to his feet. The brief jolt of fear isn’t a werewolf thing. Anyone would have a reaction to surprise fire. But Cody’s instinct quickly scatters into wonder. “Holy shit. You can—you have magic?”
Firelight dances across Simon’s pale face. His eyes are bright blue-green again, his hunger sated. “The shadow-gift grants myriad powers, especially when a vampire is sired with ancient blood. Tania could turn into a swarm of bats. Francisco could vanish into fog.” With a showman’s smirk, Simon snaps his fingers. The flame vanishes. “I have fire.”
Darkness deepens across the kitchen.
“Wow,” Cody says again. “I’m guessing you’re feeling better.”
In a blur, Simon stands beside the fridge. One heartbeat later, he’s in front of Cody again. “What are you thinking?”
A million things. Relief that Simon is strong again. Pride in having helped. Cody wants more magic tricks, more showing off, more cold touches. He wants to learn how to paint better, to try and capture the light and shadow of Simon’s face. He wants to bend Simon over the kitchen table and demonstrate exactly how impressed he is.
One sharp thought pushes above the rest. “You’re amazing,” Cody says. “No wonder other vampires are scared of you.”
Sunlight. Wooden stakes. Fire. Not many things can harm a vampire. Simon must have been quite the threat during treaty negotiations.
Simon gives the particular smile that Cody is starting to recognize as sad. “Francisco was much more popular at parties. No need for fog machines. Enough about the magic, though.”
Slim fingers trace a possessive caress over Cody’s lips, not quite pushing into his mouth. Cody’s never been so sensitiveto touch before. When they part, Simon’s fingers are wet with remnants of blood.
“You say you aren’t a detective,” Simon says—and slowly licks the blood from his fingers.
Cody swallows hard. “I’ll be anything you want me to be.”
“Good answer.” Simon’s grin turns devilish. “Tomorrow night, before Dima gets here. You and I have a crime scene to inspect.”
Chapter 27
Simon
Simon flits from room to room, shedding sparks with every snap of his fingers.Snaplights the sconces in the private parlor.Snaplights the bathing chamber.Snaplights the coffin room, andsnaplights the closet that’s almost as big. Obedient flames dance on their perches, illuminating Simon’s coffin.
The poison is cured. Blood sings in Simon’s cold heart, flickering hot as a flame itself. Simon feels alive with power—and gratitude. The taste of fresh blood and warm skin, the feel of strong hands caging gently around him. The sheer wonder in Cody’s dark eyes…
Simon had to flee downstairs fast, before anything irrational left his lips.
Like asking what the werewolf mating bond is really like. Cody wouldn’t know. He’s been alone for years—just like Simon. If Cody had a mate, he wouldn’t fear his own nature.
How strange that a werewolf would trust a vampire above his own instincts. Cody doesn’t fear Simon’s nature anymore. He offered his blood. Reveled in Simon’s magic. If Simon had asked for more, Cody would have given it, because he trusted Simon not to ask for too much.
Just like Simon trusts the evidence before him. Cody didn’t kill the stranger in the woods.
Even if Cody had killed someone, Simon’s sure there would be a good reason. But that line of thinking seemed unlikely to comfort Cody, so Simon refrained from mentioning it.
