The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12)

by Kristen Painter

  She didn’t immediately respond.

  Titus looked at Cruz. “We don’t need EMS as much as we need someone who can analyze whatever we were dosed with. There was magic involved in this. Or witchcraft. Or both. Anyone who can take down a valkyrie, and keep her down, knows what they’re doing.”

  Cruz nodded. “Yes, sir. We’re actually working on—”

  A voice shouted up from below. “Titus?”

  Titus answered, “Up here, Hank.”

  “How’s my deputy?”

  “Not awake yet. And I’m good, too, thanks for asking.” Titus got to his feet, using one of the trusses for support, careful to avoid nails this time. “I’ll bring Deputy Blythe down.”

  “Sir,” Cruz began, “with all due respect, you don’t look—”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m—” The ground beneath Titus’s feet canted like the house had slipped sideways. The blackness returned and slid over him before he could get another word out.

  Mechanical beeping and the smell of disinfectant woke Jenna. She opened her eyes, a little blinded by the sudden light. She blinked twice before her eyes focused on the concerned face of her sister.

  “You’re awake,” Tessa said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I just went ten rounds with a berserker.” Jenna rubbed at the throbbing in her head. “Where am I?”

  “The hospital.”

  Jenna looked around. Okay, that should have been obvious. There was no mistaking this room for anything else. How long had she been out? But more important… “Where’s Titus? He was hurt too.”

  Tessa’s smile widened ever so slightly. “He’s in the next room.”

  “How is he? I think he took more of the blast than I did.”

  “He’s doing all right. Do you need anything?”

  To see Titus. In fact, the desire was almost overwhelming. So much so, it made her uncomfortable. Why should she care so much? She shouldn’t. And yet, she did. Eagerly, she changed the topic. “Just for my head to stop throbbing. How long was I out?”

  “A few hours. Mom’s been trying to reach you. One of your friends from your time in the service called her, looking for your number to get in touch with you.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know. But I didn’t tell Mom the reason you weren’t answering your phone is because you’re in the hospital.”

  “Thanks.” Tessa was a good sister. “Did they find out who was responsible for that bomb? Do they know what chemicals were used on us?”

  Tessa shook her head. “They didn’t catch anyone yet, and they don’t know what was used to drug you, but samples were taken for analysis. In fact, I brought you some clothes because your uniform has to be cleaned before you can wear it again. It’s all covered in that stuff. Your Kevlar vest was okay, though.”

  “Thanks.” She looked down at her hospital gown. “What did you bring me to wear?”

  “A pair of my yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I didn’t have time to go by your house.”

  “Okay. Who’s analyzing the samples?” Jenna sat up a little, but it took some effort, which bothered her. She didn’t like feeling weak, and she was ready to put this whole episode behind her. “Because I’m pretty sure there was magic involved in what happened to us.”

  Tessa put the bed’s remote control in Jenna’s hand. “Here, use this to adjust your position. Everyone seems to agree that magic, and probably witchcraft, is a factor. I know one of the samples was sent to Alice Bishop.”

  Jenna exhaled. “Good. Alice should be able to figure it out.” Not only was the woman the most powerful witch in town, she was also the oldest, most experienced witch. It was her magic that imbued the local water so that it clouded tourists’ minds to the fact that real supernaturals walked among them.

  Alice was the OG of witchcraft in Nocturne Falls.

  A knock on the door was followed by a doctor coming in. “Hi there, I’m Dr. Navarro. How are you feeling?”

  Jenna shrugged. She knew Dr. Navarro was human but that he’d recently been clued in to the reality of Nocturne Falls. In other words, he probably knew she wasn’t just a sheriff’s deputy. “I have a headache, but that seems to be it.”

  “We can get you some heavy-duty Tylenol for that, but with your metabolism, I’m not sure it would be effective.”

  “I’ll be all right. When can I get out of here?”

  “Whenever you’re ready. All your vitals are normal, so we have no reason to keep you. I would strongly suggest you rest for the next day or two while your system rids itself of the chemicals you inhaled. You might have some short-term memory loss, but we expect that to disappear quickly.”

  Rest wasn’t really her thing, but she wasn’t going to tell the doc that. “Short-term memory loss, huh? That’s interesting. Do you know what any of the chemicals were yet?”

  He nodded. “We did find trace amounts of pentothal in your blood work. It’ll be a few days before the rest of the labs are back.”

  She frowned. “Truth serum?”

  “That’s one of its uses. It’s also a powerful sedative. We’re pretty sure that’s what knocked you both out.”

  “Wow. Anything else?”

  “Nothing yet. We’ll be sure to let you know when the rest of the labs are back.” He smiled. “You’re officially discharged. But remember, a day or two of rest. And if you start feeling unwell again, please come back. I know you’re physically stronger than most of my patients, but I’m serious about the rest.”

  She nodded. “Thanks. I will. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  “All right. Have a safe trip home. An orderly will be in shortly to take you downstairs.”

  Jenna held up a finger. “Just a second. Why do I need an orderly to take me downstairs? Are we talking wheelchair?”

  Dr. Navarro nodded. “It’s hospital policy.”

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen, so you can save him the trip.”

  “Jenna.” Tessa’s voice held all the signs of an imminent scolding. “It’s hospital policy.”

  “I heard the man, but I’m a sheriff’s deputy. What are people going to think if I get wheeled out like an invalid? They need to have confidence in me.”

  Dr. Navarro crossed his arms and gave Jenna a look that said he wasn’t about to give in. “Maybe those chemicals affected you more than we realized. Maybe an overnight stay for observation is in order after all.”

  Jenna sighed. “Bring me the wheelchair.”

  Jenna thanked the orderly who’d wheeled her out, then got herself into her sister’s car. Her headache seemed to be lessening. She felt pretty good. Especially because the hospital was now behind her. “Thanks for giving me a lift. Wait. Where are we going?”

  “Your house. I guess that short-term memory loss is kicking in,” Tessa said as she climbed behind the wheel and put on her seat belt. “And you’re welcome for the ride. That’s what family is for.”

  “Speaking of, how’s Sebastian? Still grumpy?”

  “He’s not grumpy.” Tessa started up her Mercedes SUV, a gift from the man himself on their one-year wedding anniversary. But Jenna wasn’t jealous. On the contrary, she was ridiculously happy for her sister. And she really liked Sebastian. After all, he was the reason her sister had stayed in Nocturne Falls. “He’s just a serious man.”

  “Which is why you’re so well matched.”

  “I’m not that serious.”

  “You can be,” Jenna said. “You’ve actually lightened up a bit in the last year or so.”

  “Thanks.” Tessa’s sarcasm was thick. “You’re not exactly a barrel of monkeys, you know.”

  “Please. I’m a freaking delight.”

  Tessa snorted as she drove away from the hospital entrance. “Sure, if you think going to the range or drinking some beers is a good time.”

  “Everyone should practice their range skills. And excuse me for not liking fancy drinks.”

  Tessa smirked. “Wine is not a fancy drink.”


  “It is when it’s five hundred dollars a bottle.”

  “Sebastian has good taste. And as far as range time goes…” Tessa shook her head. “We’re valkyries. We have magical swords permanently etched into our backs, ready to be called forth and made real whenever we need them. I don’t know about you, but I’m good.”

  “I’m a sheriff’s deputy. Range time is mandatory.”

  “I know.” Tessa stopped at the parking lot exit, looked both ways, then pulled out.

  Pain immediately shot through Jenna’s gut. She clutched at her stomach, bending over at the sudden onslaught. “Owww. Holy Loki, that hurts.”

  Tessa pulled over. “What’s wrong?”

  The pain intensified, leaving Jenna almost unable to get the words out. “I…don’t…know. Bad pain. Bad.”

  Tessa whipped the SUV around. “I’m taking you back.”

  “No…okay.” Jenna groaned, still bent double by the stabbing, searing whatever-that-was happening in her middle. It felt like someone was trying to tear her insides out with a claw hammer.

  For a librarian, Tessa suddenly had the driving skills of a Formula One racer. She screeched to a stop in front of the hospital doors they’d just come through, jumped out of the car, and ran around to Jenna’s side. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”

  But Jenna’s pain was gone. She straightened. “I think I’m okay now. Maybe, um, it was just…gas?”

  Tessa’s look said no explanation was going to stop her from getting Jenna back into the hospital. “Out of the car, then, and you can walk in under your own power.”

  “I’m good. Really.”

  “Do not make me carry you. You know I can.”

  She could. Valkyries were incredibly strong. “You can’t leave the car here. What if there’s an actual emergency?”

  “This isn’t the emergency entrance.” Tessa hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “Inside.”

  With a sigh, Jenna undid her seat belt and got out of the car. “Fine. I’ll wait for you while you park.” No way was she letting Tessa leave her here. Jenna wanted to be home. Whatever pain she’d felt in the car had to be some residual thing. After all, it had gone away almost as quickly as it had shown up.

  She walked through the sliding doors to wait on Tessa.

  Just then, an orderly came through the lobby. “Is there a Jenna Blythe here? Jenna Blythe?”

  She lifted her hand. “I’m Jenna Blythe. What’s going on? Did I forget something?”

  “No. Dr. Navarro would like to speak to you again.”

  She made a face. “He could have called.”

  “He tried. Please, if you could just come upstairs with me.” The orderly held his hand out toward the elevators.

  “As soon as my sis—”

  “I’m here,” Tessa announced.

  Jenna turned to see her. “Apparently I have to go see Dr. Navarro again. Also, do you have my phone?”

  “Because of the pain you had? They’re really taking this seriously.” Tessa dug in her purse. “And yes, I have your phone. I meant to give it to you.”

  The orderly’s brows rose. “Ms. Blythe, did you say you had pain? Was it in your abdomen?”

  Jenna took her phone from Tessa, nodding as she looked at the orderly. “Not long after I got in the car to go home.”

  The orderly seemed pretty interested in that. “We need to get you up to Dr. Navarro immediately.”

  “Lead the way,” Tessa said, looping her arm through Jenna’s.

  Jenna frowned at her sister. “You seem pretty eager to get me examined again.”

  “I just want you well, sister dear.”

  They went with the orderly, who introduced himself as Chuck, back to the floor Jenna had just been on. At the nurses’ station, Chuck had Dr. Navarro paged.

  The doctor arrived a few minutes later with a worried smile on his face. “I’m very glad to see we got you back. There appears to be a complication we were unaware of.”

  That caused a slight moment of panic in Jenna. She didn’t like complications. “What’s that?”

  “Severe abdominal pain.”

  Tessa gasped. “She just had that. Just as I pulled out of the parking lot. She was doubled over.”

  Dr. Navarro nodded. “Chief Merrow experienced the same thing. Probably right around the same time. We don’t know what’s causing this, so we’d like to run a few more tests.”

  Jenna’s jaw muscles tightened up. “What you’re saying is you want to readmit me?”

  “Yes. At least until we can get the results of these new tests.”

  She got angry, and she wasn’t sure why. It was all very logical. If there were complications, what other choice did they have but to try to figure them out? And yet, something was ticking her off in a way that made the sword lying against her spine tingle with the desire to taste blood.

  And when Helgrind wasn’t happy, neither was Jenna.

  Then it came to her like a swift kick to the backside. “I need to see Titus.”

  The day Titus had been in the car accident that had nearly killed him, he’d been pretty banged up and plenty bruised. But shifters healed fast and had a high tolerance for pain, so he’d gotten through it.

  Whatever had happened to him up in that attic was nothing compared to that day. And yet, he was grumpy and irritable, and the pain he’d experienced a few moments ago had felt like someone was trying to cut him in half.

  Maybe that’s what was making him so mad. Pain, with no real reason or explanation, seemed unfair. But then, life was unfair. Proof of that was him in this hospital bed when he should have been at the station, taking care of—

  Three quick raps on his door interrupted his line of thought. “Come in.”

  He expected Dr. Navarro.

  Instead, Jenna walked in.

  It was like the clouds had parted to allow the sun through. And what a lovely sun it was. He smiled. “Hey. How are you doing?”

  She smiled back. “I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

  Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, she was wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt, and she looked beautiful. But then, she was beautiful, so her outfit made no difference. He took a breath, much happier than he’d been a moment ago. “I had some pain earlier, but I feel all right now.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Me too. Apparently, we had it at about the same time. I was discharged, but the pain is why I came back. Dr. Navarro wants to readmit me for some more tests. You too?”

  He nodded. “Same. And I’m ready to be out of here.”

  “Yeah, I’m not a big fan of hospitals.”

  “Who is?”

  “Right?” Jenna sighed. “I just sent my sister home. I figure there’s no point in her waiting on me when I have no idea when I’ll be able to leave.”

  “Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.”

  She stared at the railing on the side of his bed, looking very much like she had something else to say. “I’m sorry you got dragged into all of that at the house.”

  Apologies couldn’t be easy for her. That she felt compelled to give him one meant something. “Hey, we were both doing our jobs. And injury comes with the territory.”

  “It does.” She smiled again, but it wasn’t as bright or as wide as the one she’d walked in with. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “You too.” He pushed himself a little more upright in the bed, a fleeting image of something dark and shadowy speeding through his head. It was too quick for him to grasp, but it left him with a question for her. “You have any idea who might have done this?”

  “No. Not a clue. I need to talk to Hank. See if they were able to recover any prints off the box or—”

  “Did I hear my name?” Hank strode into the room and closed the door behind him. “Glad you’re both here. How are you doing?”

  Titus answered first. “Well enough to be home.”

  “Same,” Jenna said. “Except I’d prefer to be back at work.”

  “About th
at,” Hank said. “I have some news.”

  “Good or bad?” Titus asked.

  “Yes,” Hank answered.

  “Whatever it is, it’s better than no news at all.” Jenna’s brows lifted. “What did you come to tell us, Sheriff?”

  Hank took a breath and pulled out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times, bringing up what looked like a long text message. “Alice Bishop completed a partial analysis of the powder sample we gave her. There was definitely witchcraft involved, but not any kind she’s familiar with.”

  “And pentothal,” Jenna added. “That was involved too.”

  “Truth serum?” Titus looked at her with surprise.

  So did Hank. “Who told you that?”

  “Dr. Navarro,” Jenna said. “I guess he hasn’t had a chance to share that with you. He thinks it’s what knocked us out. And it could cause us some short-term memory loss. Anyway, what else did she find?”

  Hank glanced at his phone again. “There were a few elements Alice has yet to identify. The pentothal is probably one of those, since it’s of human origin, and she’s focused on the organic components. But what she has found so far includes rue, gold, ground rose petals, and mugwort, to name a few. Seems it was a whole cocktail of ingredients, none of which means much to me, but the bottom line from her is the bomb had a lot going on. More than one spell. As best she can tell, it was a love potion and a binding spell.”

  “A love potion?” Jenna blinked but didn’t make eye contact with Titus. “That’s random. Except…I’m sure Pandora Williams is the listing agent on that house. I’d like to talk to her, see if she has any ex-boyfriends that might be up to a stunt like that.”

  “Because of the love spell?” Hank asked.

  “And the binding spell. That’s a pretty stalkerish combination.”

  Hank nodded. “That it is.”

  Titus didn’t feel especially in love with Jenna, but he also couldn’t remember why he’d ever thought she was annoying. He frowned. “You think Pandora’s in trouble?”

  “Could be.” Jenna looked at Hank. “Maybe we should get someone over to her office. Verify she’s all right and hasn’t had any unwanted visitors lately.”