“Are we going to your room?” Already galloping, my pulse skipped a beat.
“Maybe one day,” he said in an absent sort of way, as if promising himself a treat for good behavior. “For now, I have something I want to show you.”
Through the apartmentlike complex, which was as institution-pale as upstairs, we strolled. He knocked on a bland door in passing, and I understood he meant that was his room should I ever need to find him. The unspoken permission to visit when I wanted, as unlikely as the opportunity was to arise, tied my heartstrings into confused knots that tangled up my feelings for the complex man beside me.
We toured until we hit another door, this one less institutional in its design, meant for guests instead of patients, and he pushed through, holding the way open with his back.
“Welcome to the night garden.” He swept out his arm in an invitation I couldn’t have resisted if my life depended on it. “This section is closed for renovations. We won’t be interrupted here.”
I hesitated with my foot hovering above the threshold. A few days ago, I had taken a bold step from my comfort zone and been punished for it with fresh nightmares to add to the old. Now I wavered on the precipice of yet another brazen choice, one that promised a reward for my bravery.
I made my choice, and when grass tickled the arch of my foot, I couldn’t get my other leg out fast enough. I was a creature of sun and sand, wind and waves. There was none of that here, not tonight, but the moon was the same pale friend that glittered across the water when the pod breached to savor the starry nights, and that kinship was enough to send hot tears scalding down my cheeks. The longing for home, for family, was so piercing, I gasped from the ache.
“We don’t have much time before the guards make their rounds.” He offered me his hand, and I took it. “Careful. It’s muddy through here.”
We left the bland institution behind to embrace the richness of the outdoors, the pops of colors in the night-blooming flowers cheering me more than words could express after the monotony of my room. Joy was champagne in my veins as we raced through a hedge maze until we wound around to its heart.
“What happened?” Not a single cloud smudged the sky. It was as clear as a bell. “Did it storm earlier?”
“A pipe burst.” He indicated strands of yellow caution tape marking off the area with his chin before lifting it for me and ducking under it himself. “Repairs are scheduled for tomorrow. Once the backhoe arrives, the grounds crew will get to work.”
By the time our feet hit the muddy pavers, our cuffs were stained with muck and our pants waterlogged up to the knees. We must have resembled drowned rats escaping a sinking ship as we sped around the corner then skidded to a standstill in front of a massive water feature I had only ever glimpsed out of windows.
The base must have been twelve feet in diameter with each of its three tiers growing daintier until a delicate sculpture of a nymph caught mid-twirl graced the top.
Carter approached the beveled edge and sat, reaching behind him to wet his fingers so he could splash water on my face. “Hop in.”
“Are you crazy?” A laugh startled out of me. “I can’t just swim laps in a fountain. People will notice.”
“We have a little while left.” He kicked off his boots, rolled up his pants and swung around to wet his feet. “If you keep quiet.”
“I don’t know about this.” The base was thigh height, and Carter was soaked up to the bend of his knees. “It can’t be more than two or three feet deep.”
“Deeper than a shower,” he pointed out.
What could I say to that?
Joining him at the edge, I sat close enough our elbows brushed, and eased my legs over the far side, not bothering to roll up my already soggy pants. The cool water lapped at my calves, slid between my toes, and my eyes closed on a moan. “This feels good.”
“You know what would feel even better?” His warm breath caressed my ear, and his knee bumped mine.
“Hmm?” Blissed out of my mind from the liquid caress of so much water after having to content myself with fifteen-minute showers for so long, I missed the warning signs until it was too late.
“This.”
Carter scooped me up into his arms, pinning me against his chest, and sat down in the basin with a splash. Water rushed up to my shoulders in a cool slide that raised chill bumps, then he lay back until the waves sloshed over our heads. Bubbles fizzed over my face as I laughed from the sheer delight of being submerged. The faint chlorine tang did nothing to lessen my happiness, though I missed my glorious pink-and-gold fan of a tail with a piercing ache that skewered my heart.
When I stayed down long enough his body stiffened beneath mine, his lungs struggling in the long minutes that passed, I sat upright and hauled him with me. He came up coughing.
“I thought I was about to become a cautionary tale there for a minute. The man who drowned searching for mermaids in a fountain. What a legacy.” His arms locked me against him before I could float off his lap. “How long can you hold your breath?”
“Forty-five minutes or so.” The scent of his skin, damp and clean, enticed me, and I relaxed against him. “Usually I have gills, so it doesn’t matter, but I practice freediving too.”
“Smart.” He trailed his fingertips up and down my arm, chasing the gooseflesh that rose in his wake. “I wouldn’t want to be dependent on magic to survive at some of the depths merfolk go either.”
“Exactly.”
A bubble of contentment encapsulated the moment, but curled against his warmth and basking in the wonder of his gift, I wanted to give him something in return.
“When you asked if I was going to work for the conclave after this, I wasn’t one hundred percent honest with you.”
“Does that mean you might go back after all?” His stroking hand closed over my arm. “Give topside another chance?”
“No.” I turned my face into his chest so I didn’t have to see my reflection in his water-speckled lenses when I admitted, “I can’t go back. I’m blacklisted.”
No questions asked, he held me tighter and dropped a kiss onto my hair.
“I was afraid of everything when I first came out of the water. Humans are bottom of the food chain, and I had no idea what I was doing. I landed the consulting job based on the recommendation of a friend. His family loaned their services to the conclave in his region, and it paid well, so he smoothed the way. I was willing to travel, so they snapped me up quick.”
His caresses resumed, and I burrowed until my lips brushed the damp fabric of his shirt while I spoke.
“I never told them I was a changeling. I let them believe I was a mermaid.”
“That doesn’t seem so bad.”
“That’s what I thought too.” A raw ache throbbed across my soul. “But I was wrong.”
His lips traced my hairline, offering a comfort I didn’t deserve. “What happened?”
“I got called in to haul a body out of a sinkhole not too far from here. They’re massive and deep and filled with water. It should have been a straightforward job, but it wasn’t. A pod of freshwater mermaids—freshies—had claimed the territory as a breeding ground.” I noticed my hand fisted in his shirt, anchoring me to him. Any safe harbor in a storm. No, that wasn’t right. I could have shared this story or any of my others long before now, but the words wouldn’t come. This, now, with Carter, it felt right. “They were gone for the season but left a kraken to guard their nurseries.”
“A kraken?”
Another time I might have laughed at the startled wonder in his voice. “Stranger things have happened.”
Not that I could name any offhand.
“Sorry.” Another kiss, this one pressed to my forehead. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
The break gave me the strength to continue. “A mermaid could have outswam it, could have used pressure points to disable it. I didn’t stand a chance.” I drew in a shuddering breath. “One of the officers on scene was killed when the creature atta
cked. The marshals thought they had sent in the right consultant for the job, and my lie cost a man his life.”
“Oh, Pinks.” He rocked me in his arms. “I’m so sorry.”
That he didn’t placate me, didn’t shift the blame that belonged on my shoulders, eased the knot of tension in my gut. The death might have been accidental, and I might not have been able to save him even if I had been born with a tail, but the guilt was mine to own. Moving forward might be impossible if you clung to the past, but the past had a way of repeating when you dodged the credit for your mistakes.
That’s why whenever a teeny, tiny voice whispered in my ear that maybe I deserved what he had done to me, that I was the recipient of karma, I never shushed it. Maybe one day I would. But that day was not today.
“Come on.” He nudged me off his lap while he stood then hauled me up too. “We should get moving.”
I dragged my feet on the way back, not ready to end the night. The air conditioning had my teeth chattering the second I stepped inside, and I flicked my toes in the puddle I made standing there while Carter shut the door and secured it from our side.
“How am I going to hide this?” I pulled on my shirt, which molded to my breasts and stomach. “I’ll leave watery footprints.”
“I have those bases covered.” He smirked at his wit then shoved open one of the guest room doors. “There’s a spare set of clothes at the foot of the bed. I borrowed them from laundry. Leave your wet clothes, and I’ll make sure they get back to you.”
“How did you know I would need them tonight? You didn’t know I would call you.” I checked the labels, impressed he was only off by one size on each. “I didn’t even know I called you.”
“I’m a planner.” Head down, he scuffed his foot. “It takes time to move things in a way no one notices. I was getting the pieces together in case maybe one day we got the chance to do this.”
I crossed to him, rested my hand on his chest and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re something else.”
“Was that a compliment?” He fished for another.
“What do you think?” I shooed him out then closed the door and changed clothes. The pants were too tight and the top too large, but they fit well enough to get me back to my room without raising any eyebrows. I stepped out and found Carter had changed too, back into scrubs. He must only have the one uniform, and it was soaked. “I’m ready when you are.”
The return trip to my room passed in a blink, and Carter evaded the guard we encountered without resorting to magic. A swipe of his card opened my door, and he held it open for me.
“This was the best night I’ve had in a long time.” It felt like being dropped off after a date, minus the intimidation factor of Carter having to square off against Dad. “I’m glad you came for me.”
“Anytime.” His arms came around me, hauling me into an embrace, and his lips found my ear. “Do you trust me?”
Perhaps it should have taken me longer to arrive at my answer. “Yes.” Or maybe I had known that for a while now.
“I want to kiss you.” His teeth grazed the shell of my ear. “Can I?”
Leaning back to better see his face, I used my pointer finger and pushed his glasses on top of his head. Holding those mercurial eyes, I let him see I was here in the moment with him. “Yes.”
He lowered his head slowly, giving us both time to change our minds. Fixated on my mouth, he brushed his lips over mine. Warm and hesitant, the kiss left me tingling. All too soon, he withdrew with a pained masculine groan that sparked heat in my abdomen.
“Enough.” Eyes wide, light splashed across his flushed cheeks. “More is…not safe. Not yet.” Reeling me against him, he pressed damp kisses against my temple to lessen the reprimand. “I won’t hurt you. You’re safe with me.”
On a bare whisper he spoke the promises to me, and I heard the razor edge of his resolve.
“I meant what I said.” I reached up and cupped his cheek. “I trust you, Carter.”
“You can’t say things like that.” A half-cocked smile bent his kissable lips. “I might start believing them.”
“You wouldn’t fight your nature so hard if you didn’t want to change. I trust that you’ve made it this far and that you wouldn’t have sought me out if you believed I was in any danger from you.” I pressed my hand over his heart. “You’re good where it counts. Our past mistakes don’t define us. I have to believe that, which means I have to believe in you.”
“I won’t let you down,” he vowed. “I will protect your trust.”
“I know you will.” I shoved him out the door. “See you later.”
“Tomorrow?” He gifted me with one last glimpse of his eyes before lowering his shades.
“Tomorrow.” I bit my lip. “Bring two cups with you, and fill one with water.”
Curiosity piqued, he cocked his head. “Do I get to know why?”
“Not yet.” I made a shooing gesture. “Night.”
He closed the door, and I listened for the lock to engage before clearing off my bed, the construct having disintegrated the second I stepped foot in the room. To avoid hearing a speech on tidiness in the morning, I stuck my clothes back into their drawers and replaced my towels in the bathroom. Except for one that I kept out to towel-dry my hair. I couldn’t do anything about the chlorine smell. I was too tired to shower, and I didn’t mind the reminder of how I had spent the night. Happy as a clam, I dropped onto the bed and crawled under the covers. I don’t remember falling asleep, and I don’t remember dreaming.
That last part cemented its status as Best Night Ever.
In a mental institution at least.
Chapter 9
I greeted the day with sick anticipation that had me pacing my room before dawn. I had frolicked the night away with a guy who was little more than a ghost, and I hadn’t heard a single agonizing note, hadn’t experienced a gut-deep tug…except toward Carter.
Two deaths in two days. A third should have followed. That it hadn’t gave me dangerous hope.
Killers liked patterns. I knew that from personal experience.
Breakfast rolled around, and the same guard from the day before greeted me. Burdock was the name sewn onto her uniform. “Hello again, Ms. Bevans.”
“Hi.” I pivoted on my heel and zipped right to her, the words tumbling over my lips in staccato demand. “Was anyone else hurt last night?”
After a lingering examination of the hall, where she ruled out any potential eavesdroppers, she leaned close. “Keep your voice down, ma’am. There’s no need to cause a stir.”
“Please.” I linked my hands at my chest as if in a plea. “I have to know.”
“The situation is under control,” she assured me. “You have nothing to worry about.”
Hope sparked within me. “Does that mean you caught the person responsible?”
“Not yet.” She pinched her lips together. “Let’s head to breakfast. You’ll feel better once you get something in your stomach.”
A second guard shouted, and Burdock barreled down the hall to assist with Cho, who screeched and raked her nails in the air, almost slicing the other woman’s face before she was restrained. As I passed, Cho made eye contact with me and winked.
What was that all about?
Ignoring the disturbance—and there had been plenty of those this week—I kept heading for the chow hall. I didn’t need to hear the distinctive clatter of Troya’s hooves for my spine to ice over at having sensed the danger at my back.
“You two went out.” She kept pace, her toes bumping my heels as I walked. “Did you have fun?”
Annoyed at her attempt to stain those memories, I snapped, “Jealous?”
“Of you?” She scoffed. “You’re nothing. Why would I be jealous of nothing?”
“Whatever you say.” I forced my hands to unclench at my sides. “Whatever helps you sleep alone at night.”
Yeah, it was a cheap shot. I was being petty. But I was tired of her shallow attempts at marking territ
ory that I had claimed.
Ignoring the subtle growl raising the hairs on my nape, I entered the food line and grabbed my tray. The sausage patties reminded me of the burritos Carter had smuggled me, and I grinned. Betty stood and waved me over, and the smile fell off my face. I had been so busy needling Troya, I had forgotten to plan the logistics of eating breakfast.
“I put out feelers,” she said, palming the orange off my tray. “You were right. Two males from the west wing M dorm got their hearts ripped out. One in his room and one in laundry. Just like you said.”
“It was quiet last night.” I dug into my eggs before she decided those looked tasty too. “Maybe it’s over.”
“Or maybe it ain’t.” Advika bit into her biscuit. “It happens sometimes. Not always the heart, last time it was the eyes, but usually the guys are targeted.”
“What do you mean?” The fork slid from my hand. “This has happened before?”
“There are a lot of crazies here.” Betty elbowed Advika, who started peeling the orange for her. “A lot of dangerous fae. A lot of broken supernats. There are things that prey on the weak and the willing, things that don’t need doors or windows to get in, and we’ve got plenty of prime meat here.”
“That’s why the men and women are segregated.” Advika passed over the fruit. “It’s not so much fear of anyone knocking boots—” her laugh hinted that sex was an unstoppable force, “—so much as we tend to prey on the opposite sex.”
“You think the killer is female?” The crazy amount of strength required to punch through a person’s chest and rip out their heart was negligible when dealing with predators of this caliber. “How is she getting out? Accessing the other dorms?”
“Orderlies are given enough rope to hang themselves.” Betty stared past my shoulder and wiggled a pinky at someone. I glanced back and right into Troya’s seething face. “They get all kinds of access we don’t.” Sucking her fingers clean, Betty reached for another slice of fruit. “Some folks in here are mighty good with glamour.” Betty vanished the slice and bit into air, except juice dribbled down her chin. “There are ways to get around if you know the right people.”
Dog Eat Dog World: Limited Edition Bundle (Black Dog) Page 159