Bound to Shadows

Chapter Nine

Quinn was leaning against the side of a black Porsche when I arrived at Essendon airport. He was dressed casually—in blue jeans and white shirt with the sleeves roughly rolled up—but casual on that man was as hot as hell.

But it meant we weren't going anywhere flash, so it was just as well I'd opted for a summery look rather than a glam one.

I parked beside his car, then walked around to him. His arms wrapped around me and drew me close, his kiss warm and welcoming.

"Hmmmm," I said, after a while. "That was nice."

"It was," he agreed, dark eyes shining down at me. "And you look very pretty."

"Thanks." I looked past him, studying the black rooftop. "What happened to the red Ferrari? I was rather partial to that one."

His sexy grin had my knees going all weak and funny. "Or partial to the things we did in it?"

"Damn right."

He laughed and let his grip slip down to my arm before entwining his fingers through mine. "The six-month lease was up," he said, leading me toward a waiting helicopter. "I decided a change was in order so you didn't get bored."

"Not even I could get bored with making love in the seat of a red Ferrari."

"Ah, but if you've never made love in the seat of a black Porsche, how do you know you won't like that better?"

I grinned. "And to think I used to believe you were a staid old vampire when it came to sex."

"Not staid. Just not too adventurous until I know and trust my partner." He hesitated, and his expression became a little more serious. "I talked to one of the councilors. He reluctantly agreed to a meeting, but only under certain circumstances."

Having to meet set conditions was annoying, but I guess I could understand his caution given someone out there seemed intent on wiping out the Melbourne council. "And what might those circumstances be?"

"That it happens tonight, and it takes place somewhere outside of Melbourne."

Disappointment fluttered through me. But I could hardly complain about our dinner date being compromised when I'd asked him to arrange this. "So why his rush?"

"Because many of the remaining councilors have decided to high-tail it out of the state until this has all been sorted out."

But not Dante, I bet. He just didn't seem the type that would flee at the first sign of trouble. "A mass evacuation might only succeed in driving our killer underground."

"A point I argued when it was mentioned. His retort was that he preferred his head to remain attached to his body."

"What is the greater council saying about it?"

"I doubt they know just yet, but they wouldn't approve." His gaze swept me, a heat I felt rather than saw. "You look tired."

"I am a little," I admitted. "It's been a stressful few days."

"Work wise? Or is there another reason you're stressed."

It was lightly said, but we both knew what he was really asking. Just as we both knew if I gave him the answer he was seeking, it would spoil our evening.

"Working on two cases that have the potential to blow up in my face is reason enough to stress," I said, honestly enough. "And you said you didn't want to know how things might—or might not—be progressing with Kye."

His smile was rueful. "I'm discovering that not knowing is almost as hard as the knowing. It appears I have a very vivid imagination when it comes to you and that wolf."

I stopped and swung him around to face me. "When I do something with Kye, it'll be because I have to, not because I want to. Fixate on that—and the fact that you have my heart—rather than anything else."

"Easy for you to say." He leaned forward and kissed me again, softly and quickly. "I fell in love with a werewolf once before, and she broke my heart when she met her soul mate."

"But as you keep reminding me, I'm half vampire. The two halves of my soul have very different needs." I touched a hand to his face, letting my thumb brush lightly over his sun-warmed lips. "And I don't want to think about Kye any more than I need to, so can we please get into the helicopter and get something to eat? I'm starved."

He laughed, and the tension in him eased as suddenly as it had risen. He tugged me forward again. "Just as well I ordered a large picnic basket, then."

"So where are we going?" Not that I really cared given no matter where we ended up, I'd still be in the company of a seriously sexy man.

"A friend of mine owns a large plot of land in the Mountain Bay area, and it has views right out over Eildon dam. It's stunning at sunset, and perfect for a picnic."

"Lovely."

"If everything goes according to plan, it should be." He stopped next to the helicopter and helped me in, then climbed in beside me. After making sure my belt was done up right and handing me the ear protectors, he signaled for the pilot to take off.

I might still have my stupid fear of heights, but it was an exhilarating ride none-the-less—even if I spent half of it with my eyes squeezed shut. And I was damn glad when we landed safely and I was able to get out onto solid ground.

The view made it all worthwhile.

His friend's property was situated on a hill, and had stunning views right across the water and the mountains beyond. And the silence—it was almost eerie after having grown so used to the constant hum of the city.

Quinn grabbed the picnic basket and a blanket from the back of the helicopter, then walked down the hill a little. I took off my stilettos and followed him. As he spread the blanket over the grass, the helicopter took off.

"It's going to pick up Leon," he said, obviously noticing my surprise. He glanced at his watch. "We have just over an hour to eat and chat."

Which is exactly what we did. I even remembered to ask him about Risa.

"Certainly." His response was so quick I raised my eyebrows. He smiled. "I sensed her power the very first time I saw her. She needs training, and there's few enough of us around these days to do it."

"You told me the Aedh were extinct."

"I lied."

Surprise, surprise. "Bet you didn't think it would come back to bite you on the butt."

"The minute I saw Risa, I knew it would." He shrugged, then gave me a cheeky smile that wiped away the wisps of my annoyance. "The priests no longer exist. The Aedh do, however, although they are scarce and scattered. But there have always been more males than females, so there are more of us half-breeds than full-bloods."

"So why don't the fathers hang around to teach their offspring?"

His smile was almost cold. "Because the Aedh are not human in any sense of the world. Family is an alien concept to them. They sow their seed, then leave. It is done out of necessity rather than desire."

My eyebrows rose again. "Necessity?"

"When the Aedh's life span is coming near its end, they become fertile and will breed. If there is no female Aedh available, they find another source."

Meaning anything female, human or non-human, obviously. "So if the dads don't hang around, how do their offspring learn? How did you?"

"The priests used to gather the offspring to raise and instruct. While they are no longer around, there are still teachers. Most are half-breeds like myself."

And yet his dad had been a priest, so he'd not only known him, but his sister. I frowned. "If your dad was at the end of his lifespan when he conceived you and your sister, then how did he teach you?"

"Because an Aedh's lifespan can be measured in centuries, not mere years. I was ten when he died. The other priests taught me after that." He hesitated. "It is quite possible that Risa will live for several hundred years, although the human part of her will ensure she ages normally until she hits her mid to late twenties."

Then Risa was one lucky girl. Imagine being naturally stuck at that age? Humans would kill for that sort of DNA. "So why haven't the Aedh teachers been in contact with Dia?"

"Because I'm here, and it falls to me."

"Meaning Aedh don't trespass on another's patch?"

He hesitated. "There are other half Aedh in this city—I believe there might even be a few full bloods. But I am the oldest, and I've trained as a priest. The task is mine."

Huh. And here I was wondering how he'd cope with the possibility of a child in the house, and all along he'd been waiting to step into Risa's life to help raise—and teach—her. "Will Dia ever find her Aedh? Or is he more than likely dead?"

"That I can't tell you." He motioned to the plates in front of us. "How about you concentrate on eating rather than giving me the inquisition?"

I'd rather keep asking questions, but I knew him enough to realize I wasn't going to get any more out of him right now. So I did as he asked. Once the food was gone, I filled my wine glass and rested back against his chest, watching the sun fill the sky with ribbons of red and gold as it set over the hills. It was one of the most peaceful and restful moments I'd had in ages.

So, naturally, fate threw a spanner in the works.

The sharp ring of the sat phone made me jump. "Someone has less than perfect timing," I muttered, scooting away from Quinn so he could dig the phone out of his pocket.

He glanced at the number, then said, "It's Jacques," before answering it.

Jacques was the helicopter pilot. I frowned and glanced at my watch. It was nearly nine, so ideally he and the helicopter should have almost been back here by now. Maybe our reluctant councilor had decided to back out of the arrangement at the last moment.

Quinn made a few short sharp comments, then hung up.

"What's wrong?" I asked, even though I had a fair idea from listening to his side of the conversation.

"Leon just became the victim of a drive-by beheading." His voice was grim. "Jacques saw the attack and immediately called the Directorate, but it happened so fast he wasn't able to help the councilor out."

I raised my eyebrows. "If it was a vampire who took him out, then we're dealing with someone fairly old. The sun isn't fully down yet."

"Jacques said it was definitely a vamp who killed Leon—his skin went pink when he opened the side door of the van. There was someone else driving, but he couldn't see who." Quinn shoved the phone back into his pocket. "From what I can gather, the vamp wasn't in the sunlight for long."

"But hacking someone's head off with a saw isn't quick."

"The killer used a sword, not a saw. Apparently Leon was walking towards the helicopter when the van appeared. He jumped out of its way, but the van stopped. The next thing Jacques saw was Leon on the ground and the sword swinging. Jacques got the plate number."

Which was probably useless, given the van would more than likely be stolen or rented. And the renter would no doubt have used a false ID—unless he was a complete moron, but these killers seemed way too intelligent. "If he was taken just before he climbed into the helicopter, that suggests he was already being watched."

"Or that they're monitoring phone conversations and knew about the meet." He drained his wine and glanced at his watch. "Jacques is only five minutes away. I wouldn't mind betting Jack will call soon."

That was a bet I wasn't about to take. The clatter of the approaching helicopter began to invade the serenity. Quinn rose and offered me a hand. I clasped his fingers and let him pull me to my feet.

"You know there's no chance of any of the councilors agreeing to talk to you now," he said, tugging me closer then wrapping his arms around my waist. "I very much doubt they'll even talk to me after this."

I knew one councilor who'd be more than willing to talk to me, but I had a fair suspicion Dante would require payback of the sexual kind, and I really didn't want to indulge him that way. There was something about the man that irritated me. But maybe it was just the fact that he used his sexual glamor without restrictions while we werewolves were threatened with all sorts of punishments if we even flirted with the idea of using our auras.

I wrapped my arms around Quinn's neck and pressed even closer. His body was warm and hard against mine, and despite my tiredness, a little part of me wished we'd done more than simply eat and talk. "Why would the councilors refuse to talk to you? It's not like you murdered Leon or anything."

"No, but the mere fact he took my call, and then a few hours later winds up as the next victim, will spook the rest."

"But how would they know about the call? And why would they think you're involved anyway?" I shook my head at the thought. "I guess, given the situation, that they'd be viewing molehills and seeing mountains, but surely they'd realize a cazador could probably find less obvious ways of killing."

He smiled and pressed me a little closer, so that I could feel the smallest of muscle movements. It was a very pleasant sensation. "Most of those on the Melbourne council don't know my history. Only those on the greater council do."

The clatter of the helicopter was louder and, over his shoulder, a black speck was becoming visible. My brief time of peace was coming to an end, and right now I resented that.

I hated the thought of having to go back to the long hours of investigation and the freaks that killed. But most of all, I resented having to go back and face Kye.

Because I very much doubted he'd wait until tomorrow lunch to see me again.

I pushed the tremor that was part anger, part anticipation aside, and said, "You're not going to get into trouble with the greater council for helping me out, are you?"

His smile was warm, yet there was something very cold in his gaze. It was a quick reminder that my luscious, warmhearted vampire was a very old—and very dangerous—being. "There is only three who would—or could—reprimand me. And given the situation, I doubt they would dare."

I didn't think it was the situation that would stop them. It was more likely the man. Or rather, what he'd once been.

He leaned forward and kissed me, his lips still gentle. Like all the other kisses we'd shared tonight, it was a sweet thing, yet oddly filled with emotion. And while it lacked the instant burn of desire, that very fact was oddly comforting. We'd gone beyond mere lust, and these kisses reflected that.

The helicopter landed, creating a whirl of wind that tore at our hair and clothes before the blades slowed down. Quinn gathered the basket and blanket then escorted me to the bird.

We'd barely even landed in Melbourne when my phone rang. Surprise, surprise, it was Jack.

"I know about Leon's beheading," I said, shivering a little as I stepped out of the helicopter. A sea breeze was coming in off the bay, and even through Essendon airport wasn't actually any where near the sea or the bay, the temperature still seemed several degrees cooler than it had been up in the hills.

"Well, fantastic, but I'm not ringing about that."

"Then what's the problem? Not more dead women?"

"No, thankfully. It's the watch you put on Vinny."

"Has it turned up something?" I watched Quinn walk towards the car and throw the basket in the front seat. Half of me wished he'd throw me there instead and take me somewhere well out of phone range.

It wasn't so much that I was tired of the job, just that I was simply tired. Now that the night had swept in, it seemed to have gotten worse. I needed to sleep, and yet at the same time, I feared it. Or rather, I feared dreaming again.

Feared that it might just mean the bonds drawing me to Kye were getting stronger.

"No, nothing's happened over at the emo camp," Jack said, "but I'm pulling guardians off all non-essential duty and bringing them in for a debriefing on these killings. The number one priority of the night shift is now the search for this killer, so Vinny has lost her watcher."

At least the three of us on day shift had escaped the debriefing. For tonight, any way. "So if I want the watch, I have to do it myself?"

"I'm afraid so. Sorry, Riley. I know you're due to go home, but we've really got to find whoever is behind the beheadings."

"What if there is a connection between the two sets of murders?"

He paused, then said warily, "What makes you think there's a connection?"

Oh, shit. I hadn't put in a report yet, so he didn't know. And Cole couldn't have mentioned it, because all I'd actually told him was that one of them was a vampire. "Cole's initial report mentioned me talking to the soul, right?"

"It was mentioned in the notes." His voice was full of censure. "I've been waiting for your report, however."

"I was going to send it in from home." Which was a lie, and we both knew it. Truth was, I'd totally forgotten about it.

"I would suggest you do it ASAP."

"I will." After all, I had to do something to keep myself awake during the watch. "But the thing is, the soul mentioned the fact that the vampire doing the beheading didn't smell like an ordinary vampire. I don't know how many different types of vampires there are, but I figure it's unlikely to be a coincidence that we possibly have emos involved in two different types of murders."

"We're not certain emos are involved in the murder of the women."

We weren't certain of anything on either case right now, and that was damn frustrating. "But given the circumstances, it's the most likely."

He grunted—whether in agreement or not was anyone's guess. "Emo vamps tend to live in clusters, not as single entities like us blood vamps do. They even tend to feed as a group."

"Which doesn't mean we can't have a rogue, or that Vinny doesn't know about it. Which is why we need to keep the watch on her, boss."

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, you take over the watch for a couple of hours while I debrief everyone, then I'll send out a replacement so you can get some rest. But I want that report in on my computer before you go home."

"Done deal."

He grunted and hung up. I shoved my phone into my purse and gave Quinn a half smile. "I'm back to work, I'm afraid."

"I heard." He gave me a hug then kissed the top of my head. "I can cancel my night out and come along to keep you company, if you'd like. At least I could keep an eye on things while you grab some sleep."

It was tempting. So tempting. But I really didn't want to get Quinn involved any more than he already was, if only because that risked bringing him in close proximity to Kye. And he'd already warned me that would not be a good thing.

So I simply smiled and said, "I've only got to last long enough to type the report. By then, Jack will have finished his debriefing and he'll send out a replacement." I gave him a long and lingering kiss, then sighed wistfully and added, "Go enjoy yourself. I'll see you tomorrow morning sometime."

"Just be careful out there." He hesitated, and his sexy grin flashed, making my stomach flutter. "And try not to dream about sex again. You really do need to sleep."

"You're just afraid of me having too good a time without you. "

His grin faded a little, and I suddenly realized the deeper implications of what I'd said. "Quinn—"

"It's all right," he said gently. "Go to work. I'll see you later."

I went. I found a parking only a couple of spaces down from where I'd been earlier, then flipped the rear-view mirror up so the headlights of passing cars didn't shine into my eyes and wreck my night vision. After a quick look around to make sure I wasn't going to shock anyone's sensibilities, I changed into the jeans and sweater I'd left in the car earlier. The stilettos I left on. Given where I was and what I might be chasing, they just might be useful.

Typing up my report took all of half an hour. I forwarded it on to Jack, then settled in to wait. Nothing much happened. A dozen or so of Vinny's blonde haired, ghost-like hatchlings drifted in and out of the building, haunting the fence lines of the surrounding buildings and more than likely siphoning the emotions of those within. Nothing I'd classify as interesting happened, however, and before long my eyes started to get heavier and heavier. Opening the window and letting the cooler night air in didn't help any.

I'm not sure what exactly jerked me awake. The night was still and no cars had driven past for a good ten minutes. I sat up a little straighter in the seat and rubbed at my eyes, blinking almost owlishly at Vinny's building. The hatchlings had disappeared. While lights twinkled on the upper floor, the rest of the building lay in darkness. No one moved and the night was quiet.

And yet…

There was a presence. I couldn't see it, couldn't smell it, but it was there. It tugged at my senses and teased my memories—an itch I couldn't quite scratch.

I frowned and climbed out of the car. The air was crisp and cool, and the breeze drifting in from the direction of Vinny's building was thick with the scent of vampire. It wasn't them I was sensing. It was something else.

Someone else.

I locked the door then shifted shape and took to the sky in my seagull form. Given I wasn't sure what it was I was sensing, it seemed the safer bet. I might be able to wrap myself in shadows, but that didn't hide my body scent or body heat, and I couldn't risk one or the other being discovered. And most supernaturals tended not to look skyward for shadows.

I drifted around the building, trying to pinpoint the location of the odd sensation. I didn't get much more than the fact that it seemed to be coming from the heart of Vinny's building. I wheeled around and headed for the nearest tree, perching on one of the bigger middle branches where a gull's webbed feet could rest more easily.

I'd barely landed when that odd sensation got stronger, burning across my skin. It felt like the heat of lust, but it was almost as if there was some sort of screen between me and that sensation; I could feel it, but wasn't affected.

Of that, I could only be glad. I'd felt that sort of heat once before, and there had been no protecting screen that time…

My thoughts froze. I had felt that sensation before, and on more than one occasion.

The first time had been in Vinny's den, when she'd tried her emo wiles on me.

And the other times had been in the last couple of nights, in the dreams that had plagued me.

It wasn't Kye causing the restless, unbridled lust that disturbed my sleep and drained my strength. It was an emo vampire, somehow feeding from me from a distance. No wonder I felt so goddamn tired—it wasn't lack of sleep, but rather the energy I was losing through dreaming.

Whether the vampire responsible was this stranger or someone else, I had no idea, but I sure as hell was going to find out. And stop it, before it killed me.

Like it had more than likely killed those other women.

The sensation sharpened and, a heartbeat later, a man stepped out of Vinny's building. He was tall and lean, with dark hair and sallow-looking skin. But he moved with a predator's grace, even if his hands were shoved deep into his pockets and his shoulders hunched.

He walked across the pavement and disappeared down a side street. I took wing, following him from a safe distance, not wanting to chance the fact that an emo wouldn't sense me. I had no idea what they were capable of, and while blood vamps usually couldn't sense the heartbeat of a gull this high up, I had no idea if an emo vamp would have similar restrictions when it came to sensing emotions.

He swung into another street, his strides purposeful and long. A vamp who was sure of himself, despite the outward image he was projecting.

He went down another side street and climbed into a blue four wheel drive. I dipped low enough to memorize the plate number, then continued to follow the car. He didn't flatten his foot, so it was easy enough to keep up.

I wasn't entirely surprised when he parked two streets away from Dante's. The threads twining together our two separate murders seemed to be getting thicker and stronger.

I fluttered down to the pavement, shifting several feet from the ground and landing somewhat awkwardly, running forward before gaining my balance. At least I didn't land on my nose—that had been a common feature in the early months of my learning to fly.

My sweater survived the experience—or at least was still wearable—but my bra was, as usual shredded. I pulled it off and wished I could find a brand that actually survived the shift into seagull form. Or that Jack would approve my request to start charging the cost of replacements to the Directorate. They were destroyed in the course of my job, after all.

I dumped the silky remains in the nearest bin and followed my quarry. He headed straight for Dante's and went inside, but I stopped in the shadows a street away. I didn't want to confront either Dante's or its owner right now.

And maybe I didn't have to. Not if Kye was here, watching and waiting for his target. I might not want to see the bastard, but I'd damn well use him if it meant an end to these cases.

I turned on my heel and walked away from the building. Kye would be using the latest technology, which meant he wouldn't be close, as the receiving range on spy equipment these days was incredible.

Like most of Melbourne, the streets in this area were set out in neat little squares. I walked around them, gradually widening the search. I was a good five streets away before I felt the familiar tingle of his presence.

I stopped, scenting the night, trying to pinpoint his position. The air held little more than the smell of an oncoming storm, but it didn't matter. My soul knew where he was—all I had to do was let instinct run free.

And that was something I didn't want to risk.

I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Fully unleashing the wolf to find him would be dangerous. Her hunger for him was stronger than ever, and once I released control, I feared I might not get it back.

The simple fact was, the two parts of me were at war. And no matter which part won, I would lose.

I gnawed lightly at my bottom lip and walked forward, trying to pinpoint his location without actually unleashing the hunter. His presence was elusive—awareness of him might burn at my skin, but it just wasn't strong enough to grab and pin down.

In the end, I had no choice. It was either go into the club and face Dante, or unleash the wolf and face the man who might well destroy everything I held dear.

It said a lot about my distaste for Dante that the second of those two options seemed the better one.

I took another deep breath then shifted into my wolf form. Instantly the air came alive with a myriad of delicious scents that teased my senses and made my soul want to hunt. And the most delicious one of all wasn't actually a scent, but rather the pull of one wild soul to another.

I turned and trotted down a side street. Three houses down and I'd found him.

I shifted back to human form, then pushed open the front gate and walked up the steps. The door opened before I neared and he was standing there, his shirt and jeans undone, revealing the flat muscular plains of his stomach and tantalizing glimpses of pubic hair. I stopped, staring at him, neither of us saying anything. But his eyes were wild and hungry. The hunter in him was free; as free as mine.

As hungry as mine.

I took two steps and was in his arms. His arms went around my waist as his lips crushed mine, his kiss fierce and bruising and passionate. I groaned deep in my throat and tore off his shirt, letting my hands explore the heated expanse of his skin, reveling in the way his flesh leapt and twitched under my touch. He pushed me back against the door frame so hard I grunted in shock and pain. It turned to a gasp of pleasure as his hands thrust under my sweater and flicked my aching nipples.

He chuckled low in his throat then grabbed the edges of the sweater, hauling it over my head and roughly tossing it to the floor. Then his mouth was on my breasts, alternatively kissing and nipping, making me shudder, making me burn. I threw back my head, enjoying the sensations shaking my body, wanting it to last and yet wanting more of him. All of him.

I slid my hands down his sides, then gripped the waist of his jeans and boxers and thrust them down. He kicked free of them, his mouth moving from my breasts to my lips, his hunger even more fierce as his hands fumbled with the button of my jeans then pulled down the zipper. My jeans and panties quickly joined his on the floor. He pressed his body hard against mine, until it felt like the heat and hardness of him was covering me as securely as a blanket.

Then he opened his eyes, and for one brief moment our gazes locked. And deep beneath the hunger in his golden eyes, deep beneath the heat that made them glow like fire, there was both anger and determination. And a need just as intense.

Heaven only knows what he saw in my eyes.

He grabbed my arms and thrust them above my head, holding them secure in one large hand while he lifted my butt with the other. Then he rammed himself into me, and it felt so good I slammed my head back against the wall and howled.

This was no gentle mating. His movements were hard, rough, his body pummeling mine, hitting the right spot again and again, until I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, could only feel. And oh god, it felt good. I came, hard, a scream of pleasure tearing itself from my throat and sounding suspiciously like his name.

He came just as hard, his body jerking as his seed shot into me, his face twisting as if in agony.

Then it was over, and the pleasure began to fade, until there was nothing left but sweat, the battle for breath, and the horrid realization that no matter what excuses I'd given myself, I'd come here for this.

I might blame the wolf, but the wolf, like the vampire, wasn't the sum of me.

And if there were two parts of me at war, then it wasn't the wolf and the vampire, but rather heart and soul.

Right now, locked in this man's embrace, I wasn't sure which part of me would win.

Or which part I wanted to win.

And that was a scary thought.

"Well," he said, amusement briefly touching the corners of his eyes as he tucked a stray strand of sweaty hair back behind my right ear. "That certainly gave the neighbors something to talk about."

I glanced across the darkened street, and saw that we did indeed have watchers. Normally I wouldn't mind, but for some weird reason, this time I did.

Maybe part of me was ashamed of my actions.

I pressed my hands between us and pushed him away. He resisted for a moment, then smiled and stepped back.

"Why are you here?" He turned around as he spoke, stepped over our clothes and walked naked down the hall.

My gaze drifted to his butt, then I shook my head, grabbed my clothes and followed. "Do you still have your bugs in at Dante's?"

All the doors were open, but aside from a bed in one of the rooms, the house was practically empty. There wasn't any form of security equipment that I could see.

"Yes, but it's not set up here. Why?" He pushed open a door and walked in. I followed, my gaze sweeping the small basic kitchen before coming back to Kye, drifting down the muscular V of his back before coming to rest on his well toned butt. I clenched my fists against the sudden need to touch him.

"Because a suspect I was following went into Dante's, and I'd prefer not to go in after him."

He paused in the middle of making coffee and looked over his shoulder. "Why are you reluctant to go into Dante's? You're many things, Riley, but a coward isn't one of them."

I crossed my arms and leaned a hip against the counter. "I don't like Starke."

He raised an eyebrow. "I would have thought not liking someone was something of a career hazard for guardians."

"And I make it a habit of avoiding the ones I dislike if there are other options available."

He returned to his coffee making. "So that little dance out in the foyer was a way of softening me up?"

"No, that was out-of-control need. I'll do my best not to let it happen again."

He laughed—a sound so cold and harsh that a chill ran down my spine. "We are destined to be one, whether we like it or not."

And he didn't like it. Not one little bit. At least we had that in common. "If you're so intent on fighting this, why keep insisting that I come to you?"

He looked over his shoulder, his locking on mine. There was something very chilling in those warm amber depths. "Because to control it, I have to face it. So here I am—and here I will stay—until I have a leash on this. On us."

Oh god, oh god… I didn't have the strength to keep on fighting this. I couldn't. Not when I hungered so. "The bonds that bind us only grow stronger the more we are together. It would be better if you simply left—"

His hand crashed down on the counter top, the force so great he cracked the stone. "I will not retreat from this. I will control it."

All I could do was stare at him. This man really was crazy.

After a moment, he turned around and offered me a coffee cup. The explosion of anger might have gone, but the embers of it still burned in his eyes.

I clasped the cup and took a sip. The rich scent of hazelnut teased my nostrils, and that only succeeded in increasing the turmoil.

"I have several jobs at the moment, so it gives me time to concentrate on this." His gaze came to mine again and the sensible part of me trembled. Not in fear of the man, but in fear of what I saw there. This wolf might want to control both the situation and me, but he had no intention of actually letting go. "And while I am here, I will have what is mine."

"I will never be yours, Kye."

"If I reach for you now, you would be mine for the taking. We both know it, Riley."

He was right. As much as I might want to deny it, as might as I might fight it, he had my body and he had my soul. But he did not have my heart. That I would protect against his assault with my life itself.

I sipped my coffee and said nothing. After several minutes, he smiled. It was a twisted, bitter thing. "What time did your suspect enter Dante's?"

I glanced at my watch. "Twenty three minutes ago."

His gaze narrowed a little. "Was he a dark haired man with a hunched demeanor who walked like a predator?"

"Yes." I hesitated. "I thought you said your surveillance equipment wasn't here."

"It isn't. That doesn't mean I can't access it from here. Phones can do amazing things these days."

I guess they could. "What made you notice him?"

"The mere fact he didn't look like the usual type of customer Dante pulled in."

"So you can supply me with a photo of him from your system?"

"I can do more than that. I'll pull up his information." He paused, considering me. "But if you want it, there is a cost."

I snorted softly. "Like I was expecting you to give me something out of the goodness of your heart."

His grin was fierce. "I have no heart. You'd do well to remember that."

"Oh, trust me, I do." I shoved the coffee on the counter top and crossed my arms. "What's your price? Another fuck?"

God, the mere thought had me trembling in anticipation.

Fate needed to be shot.

"Yes and no." His voice was flat, and yet there was an odd hint of amusement teasing his mouth. It made me want to kiss him again, and I hated that. Hated myself for wanting it. "I want you to stay with me."

"What?" I stared at him for a moment. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Maybe because it's the last thing you actually want. Or maybe because I want your vampire to understand just what it's like to know that his mate is in the arms and the bed of another."

He was a bastard. A bastard.

Although that wasn't exactly a new revelation.

"I'm not spending the night with you."

"Then you don't get your information and you risk more people dying."

"Maybe I'll just call the Directorate and confiscate your entire system."

"And maybe I'll just call the man following your brother's mate and give him the go ahead for a little target practice."

Anger and fear surged in equal amounts and I lashed out. Though I moved with vampire speed, he moved almost as fast, and the blow barely even brushed his chin. Even so, there was enough strength behind it to send him sprawling backwards.

I stepped forward, wanting to finish it, wanting to punish him for everything he was putting me through, but somehow I got the urge under control and stopped several inches away, my fist clenched and body shaking with fury.

"You ever threaten him like that again—"

He rose and the force of his anger hit me like a ton of bricks. It was all I could do not to step back, to remember this man was just a wolf and didn't hold half the threat of some of the other foes I'd faced.

But as I met him glare for glare, he seemed far, far worse.

"I am your soul mate," he said flatly. Coldly. "I will do whatever it takes to possess and control what is mine. And if it means destroying everything you hold dear, then that is precisely what I will do."

"But you don't want me. You don't want this." My voice rose, until I was almost shouting at him. "So what is the fucking point?"

He smiled again. Once again, it was a cold and harsh thing to behold. "The point, as I have already said, is the fight. It's winning out over base emotion. It's being in control."

I stared at him for several seconds, thinking nothing, feeling nothing, my mind seemingly frozen and his words echoing around in the emptiness of my thoughts.

I was never going to win this fight, because the mere act of fighting was what he wanted, what he enjoyed. No matter what I did, I was going to lose.

If he wanted control, then I'd give it to him.

Or at least, give him the illusion of it.

I stepped back, turned around, and picked up my coffee. "Fine," I said. "You win. I'll spend the night with you."

Surprise flickered through his eyes. "Really? You're giving up, just like that? Somehow, I'm not quite believing that, Riley."

"I don't care what you believe." I rubbed my eyes and suddenly felt a hundred years older. "You want me, you can have me. It's as simple as that."

He raised an eyebrow, the disbelief still very evident, then he held out a hand. "Fine. Come with me now."

I hesitated, then placed my fingers in his. His grip was warm, fierce, and—God help me—a tremor of anticipation ran down my spine. He smiled, obviously sensing the hunger I just couldn't control, then led me from the kitchen, back down the hall and into his bedroom.

Where we made love, again and again, until our bodies were spent and our wolves sated and all I wanted to do was cry.

But I managed to place the tracer at the base of his neck, just near the hairline as I'd been told, so at least the night was not a total waste.

When we finally slept, it wasn't wrapped in each others arms, but apart—a physical sign of a distance that would never be bridged, no matter how much fate and our souls might wish it.

When I woke, I was alone.

I lay in the bed with the sheets twisted around my body, listening to the silence, drawing in the air.

Kye wasn't here.

Hadn't been here for several hours, if the fading aroma of him was anything to go by.

Part of me wanted to hope that by giving in, I'd won the war, but I knew that would be a false hope. Kye hadn't believed I'd meant what I'd said, so he'd be back. And probably when I least expected it.

I untangled the sheets from my legs and sat up. Despite the long hours of intense and often rough sex, I felt refreshed. Maybe because when I finally had slept, I hadn't dreamed.

I glanced around the room, noting for the first time it had little in the way of comfort. Beside the bed and a small, somewhat moth eaten armoire, there was little else in the room. No personal knickknacks, no paintings or mirrors, no clothes lying about. I frowned and walked across to the armoire. It was empty.

A walk through the rest of the house gave the same result. Kye hadn't just left the bed, he'd left the premises—lock, stock and decent coffee.

I cursed myself for being an idiot and trusting that he'd actually keep his half of the bargain, and stalked into the bathroom to catch a shower. There was no way I was leaving this house reeking of him.

And there, resting on the top of a clean towel that was sitting next to the basin, were several sheets of paper. A quick glance at them revealed not only a printout of my suspect, but what information Kye had found on him.

I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or amused.

I had my shower and got dressed, then grabbed the papers and headed for the front door.

Only to run straight into my brother's chest.