by Liz Schulte
I walked back home, deciding to get my car later. Not that I was running away from Sy or anything, but things had gotten too serious and we both needed some space. It would all go back to normal by morning. He was just reacting to the council bringing me in.
He worries because he cares about you, the more reasonable internal voice reminded me. Just like I cared about him—and maybe someday we would be more. Just not yet. There were still things I wanted to do. Adventures I wanted to take and worlds I wanted to see.
“And how is my favorite bounty hunter?” Corbin’s voice purred from just beyond the light in front of my apartment door.
Years of training kept me from jumping at the sound of his voice, even though I hadn’t perceived the vampire at all. “What do you want?” I unlocked my door and went inside before he could answer, leaving it ajar.
He followed me in, movements smooth and measured, like a panther stalking its prey. Even the dim light of my apartment seemed too bright for him. The paleness of his hair and his sharp cheekbones lent to his vaguely threatening appearance, but what truly made him look as dangerous as he probably was were the cold, nearly black eyes that never seemed to lighten. They made him impossible to read, and vampires were temperamental. One day you might be their friend and the next they could try to kill you. That was just the way they were—at least the ones I had known.
“Do you color your hair?” I asked him. The Billy Idol blond had to be fake, and yet I couldn’t imagine him going to the trouble of actually dying it.
His cheekbones became even more pronounced as his lips pulled together. “No.”
I cleaned off one cushion on the couch and took a seat, crossing my legs. “What do you want?” I finally repeated.
“I can’t just come to visit a friend?” he asked flatly.
That was the problem. We weren’t really friends. We had worked together a couple times and he hadn’t betrayed me (unlike the first and last vampire I tried to be friends with), but that didn’t mean we were ever going to hang out. “I’m tired, Corbin. What do you want?”
He slowly meandered around the living room of my apartment, his finger lightly grazing over the piles of junk. “Do you ever clean?”
“Not if I can help it.” I was hardly ever home, and that was how I liked it. Mostly this place was a drop-off point. I’d get back from a job, leave my laundry, and repack before I was on the move again.
“I can tell,” he said lightly.
“Are you offering your services?” I asked, pretending to consider it. “Very well. You can start in the kitchen.”
Corbin finally went still, standing in front of me. “Any news from our mutual friend?”
I rolled my eyes. Thomas. Of course that was why he was here. Once, years ago, I had a fling with a vampire. It was one night, and that stupid night was going to haunt me for the rest of my life. How was I supposed to know that he was trafficking rare races in the Abyss to the highest bidder? All I had done was take a bounty to catch a vampire, and I stumbled onto to the rest with his careful prompting. One thing led to another, and we slept together just before he suffered a fit of conscience and warned me he was leading me into a trap because they wanted a Sekhmet. I did my part. I told the vampires and I told Sy, but I also warned him, making sure he got out before they arrived, because he had warned me. “You know, he hasn’t synced our calendar in ages. Do you think he doesn’t love me anymore? Does this mean we broke up?” I said with mock trepidation.
Corbin didn’t look amused. “You seem to be the only one he comes out for these days.”
I cleaned an imaginary speck of dirt off my brand-new silver-heeled boots. The second time Thomas showed up in my world was just a few months ago, but it was just as disastrous at the first time. “I have only seen him twice in my life. The first time, he wasn’t on the run, and the second he sure as hell didn’t come for me. What do you really want? I thought we were past this.” Corbin spent time following me around, determined I knew more than I was saying, but why would I lie? Especially to save an asshole like Thomas.
“Just following up on a couple rumors. Figured I’d come right to the source rather than chasing shadows. That’s all I do these days.”
If I could have invited him to join me on my case, I would have. Corbin and I worked well together. Despite his flaws, he could handle himself in a fight, and he had follow-through. But the council would probably get their panties in a bunch if I brought him in. “Maybe you should just stop looking for him. Get on with your life.”
He raised an eyebrow and his expression clearly said, “What do you know about my life?” which was a fair point. I didn’t know anything, and we were going to keep it that way. “Well, it was good seeing you.” I stood up.
“Are you coming or going?” he asked. “When’s your next case?”
“Going,” I said. “I just got a new one tonight.”
He nodded. “Anything interesting?”
Was Corbin trying to make small talk? What in the hell was happening to the men in my life tonight? “Doubtful. Things have been kind of dull, but hey, a trip to New Orleans. I’m not complaining. I really do have a few things I need to do here before I get some shuteye.”
He stood vampire still (not moving, not blinking, not breathing) and stared at nothing on the wall. Finally he nodded and let me lead him to the door. “If you hear anything…”
“You’ll be the first to know. Night.” I closed the door and flipped the locks, briefly wondering what Corbin had heard.