by C. C. Hunter
That night Della couldn’t sleep. She should be exhausted, since she’d been too busy allegedly stealing her dad’s brandy the night before, and had only napped an hour during the day, but her mind kept running on the possibility of finding her uncle. She got out the picture and stared at his face. He looked so much like her dad. They must be identical twins.
She couldn’t help but wonder if the man’s approval would make her feel as proud as her father’s.
It suddenly occurred to her that her cousin Chan might know something about him. Perhaps his mom had mentioned the uncle when her dad wouldn’t? She jumped up and snagged her phone off her dresser and called. She didn’t even worry about the time; considering he was vampire, and living on the edge of rogue, he didn’t try to conform his sleeping habits to match the human ways.
His phone rang and rang. It finally went to voicemail. “Hey, it’s Della. I have something I wanted to ask you. Can you give me a call?”
She hung up, but brought the phone to bed with her. Would he call her right back? She lay there staring at the phone for another hour, remembering he’d tried to call a week ago and she’d never called him back. Finally, feeling too antsy to just lie there, she decided to take a run. Maybe if she wore herself out, she might be able to sleep.
After donning a pair of jeans, she pulled on a top, and then the idea that she might run into Steve had her dashing to the bathroom to comb her hair and rinse out her mouth.
She popped her phone into her back pocket, then quietly opened the window and took off. The night held a chill, but it didn’t bother her. The moon, a silver crescent, hung a little low. A few clouds flickered in the black sky as if begging for attention. She ran to the edge of the woods, looking for a certain bird watching her from above. She slowed down to check and see if her hearing was on or off.
She heard birds calling, a few fluttering feathers in their nests above in the trees. A few crickets sang from beneath the brush, and something, a rabbit or a possum, stirred in the grass about fifty feet away. Her hearing was on. But glancing up, she didn’t see the particular bird she sought. Steve normally chose to shift into a peregrine falcon—because it was the fastest bird, he’d told her once.
As she started to move, her feet still hitting the ground, she maneuvered between the trees, dodging the branches, to spend some of the energy bubbling inside her. She recalled running earlier and finding Chase. Her mind flashed to the image of him playing ball without his shirt on.
She took a deep breath, tasting the air to make sure the panty perv wasn’t out tonight. The only scents she drew in were natural scents: the damp forest ground, and the smell of fall—that earthly smell of the leaves losing the battle to hold on to life, and turning from green to golds, reds, and oranges. As pretty as some people thought fall was, it was about death. And that was kind of sad.
She made the lap through the woods twice—never going into full flight. The large gate to her right marked the edge of Shadow Falls’s property. Her heart thumped in her chest. She inhaled, her nose picking up new scents … animals. A deer moved close by in the woods, its hooves stomping into wet earth as it darted between the trees with grace. Above she sensed a bird. She heard the wings flying over her. Glancing up, she saw the falcon pass in front of the glimmer of light from the moon.
Steve?
She stopped. Watched the bird swing around and land in the tree.
“You following me?” she asked. But her tone lacked any conviction.
She squinted in the darkness and could barely make out the bird. “I know it’s you, so just quit hiding.”
She heard the bird fluttering its wings. Was he mad at her?
In the distance she heard the deer coming toward her, but she ignored that and stared up at Steve perched on the limb. She bent at the knees and leapt up into the tree. Steve bolted back and fluttered his wings as if threatening to fly away.
“Stop pretending,” she said, and when bubbles of energy didn’t start popping off around him as he changed, she remembered running off in the middle of their latest flirtation session on the basketball court.
“Look, I had to go ask Derek about something. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
The bird lowered its head and made a slight noise.
“I’m sorry if it was rude. I didn’t mean to be.”
He still didn’t say anything or start turning.
“Are you mad because I wouldn’t kiss you? I told you I’m not the touchy-feely type. We’re not even supposed to be kissing. We’re not … together.” The bird cocked its head and gawked at her. “Don’t look at me like that. I know I’ve let you kiss me before, but … if you weren’t such a good kisser, I wouldn’t even be tempted.” Suddenly a noise stirred below the tree.
“You and the bird have made out, huh?” a voice said from below.
Della stared at the deer on the ground looking up at her. The deer that sounded just like … Oh, shit! The moon spit out just enough light so that she could see the bubbles popping off around the big buck. Once the bubbles cleared, Steve appeared.
She looked back at the bird. “Who are you?” she demanded. The bird squawked at her.
“I’m pretty sure it’s just a bird. But since you two have been having an intimate little conversation about kissing and all, maybe you should name him.”
Growling, embarrassed she’d been duped by a bird, she dropped down to the ground. As soon as her feet hit, Steve caught her and pulled her into him. His hands, which fit perfectly, felt so firm and yet tender around the curve of her waist. What was it about his touch that just felt so darn right?
“So now you and the bird have a thing going, huh?” Humor twinkled in his eyes, and his brown hair, flipping up on the ends, looked a bit mussed. He wore a light brown T-shirt with some sport logo and a pair of jeans, and he wore them quite nicely.
She placed her hands on his chest with full intent to push him on his ass, but the feel of his skin against her palms sent her embarrassment packing. Suddenly, the desire to teach him a lesson was gone, and she simply wanted to touch him. His masculine chest, warm and with firm muscles, had her wanting to run her hands up to his neck and pull him down for a kiss.
Then the laughter in his eyes and his special spicy scent sealed the deal. It was so damn hard to be mad at him—even when he was poking fun at her. Or not really poking fun, but teasing, in a totally unhurtful way. He didn’t tease to be mean; his teasing even made her feel special.
Too nice, she thought. Steve was too nice.
“You’d better not laugh,” she said, trying to sound angry, but it didn’t come out with any animosity.
“I can’t help it,” he said. “Being with you makes me happy. I waited up half the night to see if you’d come to me. I’m glad I wasn’t wasting my time.”
“I didn’t come to see you,” she said. His words vibrated in her head. Being with you makes me happy. A warm pool of goo went straight to her heart.
Her lying heart. “I was running because I couldn’t sleep.” That was true, she told herself, but she’d thought about him when she’d come out. She’d wanted to see him. And this wasn’t the first time, far from it. At least three times a week she came out at night, and ninety percent of the time she ran into him. Oh, Lordie, she needed to stop counting on him.
He leaned his forehead down on hers. “I don’t believe you.”
“You’re impossible,” she said.
“You’re beautiful,” he countered. “Now what was it you said about the bird being a good kisser?”
She cut her eyes up at him. “Don’t push your luck.”
“I’ve always had to push with you,” he said, sounding a little more serious. “If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”
“I still won’t give you the time of day,” she snapped.
“Yeah, but you just admitted liking my kisses.” His lips brushed against hers.
She pulled back. “I admitted to liking the bird’s kisses.” She co
uldn’t stop herself from grinning. Damn, he made her happy. And that was dangerous.
“I’ll remember that the next time I shift. Any kind of bird you like best?”
Then he kissed her—a soft, sweet kiss that pretty much made her putty in his hands.
She let herself get swept away for several seconds, maybe a minute; then she pulled back, gasped for air, and put her hand on his chest to stop him from coming back in for more.
“We shouldn’t…”
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because I’m not…”
“Ready to commit.” He frowned. “I know, you’ve told me that a dozen times. And I can accept that, but out here, it’s just you and me. We’re not committing, we’re just … kissing.”
“But you know where this will lead and I’m not ready for that either.” She looked away, partly out of embarrassment, and partly because she thought she heard something in the woods.
He touched the side of her face and made her look back at him. “Look, I enjoy kissing you, and if that’s all I can get, then that’s what I’ll take. At least until you’re ready for more.”
“What if I’m never ready and you’re just wasting your time?” she said.
He pulled her against him again. “I think I can persuade you to change your mind.”
“You think you’re that good?”
“I know I am,” he said, and chuckled. “A little birdie told me,” he teased.
She punched him in the ribs.
And right then she heard that noise again. She swung around, lifted her nose up, and got a whiff of another vampire. A vampire and fresh blood. Lots of blood.
Chapter Five
“What is it?” Steve asked, obviously sensing her quick turn to mean trouble.
“Vampire?” she muttered, and took another deep breath, half expecting it to be Chase, the panty perv.
But nope. This scent was different, and she could tell that even with the tangy, fresh aroma of blood mixed in. Human blood. B negative and … another type.
Della felt her eyes grow brighter.
She stared up and barely made out the bloody vampire passing overhead. She half considered going after him or her.
Before she could decide, another vampire scent hit, and this one she recognized. Della pulled away from Steve.
Burnett dropped beside them. He wore only his jeans, and his hair looked sleep-mussed. The man was all muscle and brawn. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Fine,” Della and Steve said at the time.
“Someone jumped the north fence,” Burnett said, giving them a suspicious look.
“I know,” Della said, trying hard not to notice the man’s chest. The camp leader might be old, or at least too old for her, but he could do Diet Coke commercials. “I heard and smelled them. They flew past. I think they’re gone.”
“Yeah,” Burnett said.
“Did you catch the scent?”
“Yes,” she said. “With blood. Two different types.”
Burnett’s jaw muscles tightened. “Human?”
She nodded.
He growled. “What are you two doing out at this time of night?”
Della internally flinched. “I couldn’t sleep,” she said, and since it was the truth, her heart didn’t race.
Burnett glanced at Steve. “I was…” Steve’s heart fluttered with a lie. He glanced at Della and said, “I was hoping she couldn’t sleep.”
Della cut him a cold look, but Steve shrugged. Burnett sighed.
Right then Burnett’s phone rang. He yanked it out of his jeans pocket. “Shit,” he said when he looked at the number. He turned around and took the call. “Agent James.”
The way he answered told Della it was official. She tuned her hearing to listen to the caller.
“We’ve got two bodies right outside Fallen city limits. Looks as if our killer is vampire.”
“Damn it,” Burnett spouted out. “They passed by here. What’s your exact location?” Burnett got the address. “I’ll be right there.” He hung up and faced Della and Steve.
“Do you want me to come?” The possibility of going on a live mission sent a shot of adrenaline through her. This was what she wanted to do, what she felt she was meant to do.
“No. Stay here and keep an eye out. Call Lucas, Derek, Perry, and Kylie and have them join you and Steve, and all of you be on guard. Call me first thing if anyone passes by again.”
Disappointment spiraled through Della. “But I caught the scent, and only I’ll know if it was the same person.”
Burnett sighed. “It’s not pretty, Della.”
“I never was fond of pretty.”
“Fine.” He turned to Steve. “Call the others and you guys patrol the grounds.”
Steve nodded.
“Meet me at the gate, I need to go grab a shirt.” Burnett took off.
Della started to take flight behind him, but Steve caught her arm.
“Be safe,” he said. Della could see the worry in his gaze. Before she knew his intent, he’d leaned down and kissed her again. She kept it brief. As good as it felt to know he cared, it was just another reminder that this thing between them had gone too far.
Nodding, she took off. She’d only gotten a few feet when she caught another scent. A familiar one—Chase. Glancing down, she spotted him in the trees. How long had he been there? Had he been spying on her and Steve? She almost went down to give him hell but knew Burnett wouldn’t tolerate her being late. So she passed Chase by and went to meet Burnett by the front gate.
But later, she and the panty perv would have a chat, and she didn’t expect it to go nicely.
Della told herself she could handle it. She wasn’t a kid. Blood didn’t bother her, it made her hungry. The second time she threw up, she wondered how she could have been so wrong.
But blood wasn’t food when it came with dead bodies. It was ugly. It was emotional. It was death and murder. And that was so wrong.
She felt a touch on her shoulder. Her hearing must be going on the fritz again. Growling, she swung around, angry and embarrassed that someone had witnessed her weakness. Her growl came to a quick halt when her gaze landed on Burnett.
She’d fled from the scene under the bridge and hid behind some trees. Obviously, she hadn’t hidden well enough.
“I’m okay.” She jerked away from his touch. “I just ate too much human food when I was at my parents’.”
He arched an eyebrow, leaving little doubt he’d heard her heart lie, but when she glanced up into his eyes, it wasn’t condemnation she saw, but empathy. That pissed her off even more. “I’m fine,” she snapped.
He leaned in and spoke quietly. “I puked every time my first year working cases like this.” Honesty rang from his voice in the silent night. “Actually, if you hadn’t gotten sick, I would have worried about you.”
His words of comfort had her nose and throat stinging with tears that she’d be damned before she let fall. Unbidden, the image of what she’d just seen sprang to mind. Two victims right outside their car. Their throats torn. Their eyes open wide in horror. And all that blood—like they’d been bathed in it. What they must have felt as their lives were wrenched from them. “How could … how could anyone do that?”
He exhaled. “Sometimes it’s hunger, a recently turned vampire not having someone to help them through the change. Other times it’s a lack of respect for humankind.”
Della inhaled deeply and fought the need to throw up again. “We’re monsters,” she said, not meaning to say the thought aloud.
“No, we’re vampires. And we’re no more monstrous than any other species. Humans included. Good, bad, and evil isn’t species-specific. Don’t you ever question that.”
She blinked, hating that she’d expressed her insecurity to the one person she longed to impress more than the others.
He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. She nodded and looked away.
“Did you get a trace of his scent?” Burnett asked as if he sens
ed her need to change the subject. “Or was it too contaminated?”
Della looked back toward the bridge before facing the camp leader. The glow from the crescent moon reflected off his black hair. His dark eyes still held a touch of empathy, but he was back to being a tough FRU agent.
“I can’t be a hundred percent sure, with all the scents of the others, but I think it was the same vampire who passed over Shadow Falls. There’re traces of what seems like the same scent.”
He shrugged. “Which means you coming here was futile. I’m sorry I allowed you—”
“I’m not,” she said. “I want this, Burnett. I want to be a part of the FRU. It’s what I’m meant to do. I can handle it. I can. Even you said you got sick at first.”
He nodded. “Yes, but … there are easier ways to make a living, Della.”
“I don’t want easy. I want to catch the bad guys. I want to make a difference.” The words rolled off her tongue with honesty and sincerity.
He arched one brow. “You sure you just don’t want to kick someone’s ass?”
“Well, there’s that, too,” she admitted, and almost smiled, hoping that would ease the tension.
“That’s what worries me,” he said with a tone so dead serious that it wiped the half-assed smile from her face. “You’re tough, Della, I know that. But you’re going to run into bad guys who are tougher than you, and with your attitude you’ll end up like our Jane Doe back there. Being willing and eager to fight doesn’t make you a good agent. Knowing how to avoid a fight that you’ll lose, and being able to set your pride aside are better qualities. Qualities you haven’t developed yet.”
She tilted her chin upward and bit back her urge to argue with his opinion of both her toughness and her character. “I’ll learn.”
“I hope so.” He turned.
She reached out and touched his arm. “I want to help work this case. I want to get justice for … them.” She motioned back to the crime scene.
He sighed. “We’ll see.”
“Please,” she said.
“I said, we’ll see. The case won’t start until we get full reports back from the autopsies.”