“Casting another glamour?” Brett asked with a small smile.
Kylian nodded. “Whatever it takes. We have to find the rogue.”
“If there is one,” Brett retorted.
“It’s the only logical explanation.”
“It would be more logical if he’d struck again. Have you checked to find out if something similar has happened anywhere else?”
“Gid’s supposed to be doing that.” Kylian replied. “Let me give him a call.”
He did. According to Gid, the two deaths in Cleveland were the only ones like them that had happened in the last few years. “The most recent case that I found before these two was in twenty-eleven. By the way, I haven’t discovered any connection between the two victims. The only similarities are that they’re male, mid-twenties, and both moved to Cleveland within the past five years.”
“So if we’re right and it’s a rogue, he’s undoubtedly picking people at random. That will not make it easy to find him. Hang on a minute and I’ll send you photos of the sketches Brett did. Send them out to our people, to see if anyone recognizes him.”
Kylian used his phone to photograph the sketches, sent them to Gid, and hung up. Then he told Brett what Gid had found out. “Which wasn’t anything when it comes down to it.”
“No kidding. So how do we find him?”
“I don’t know, but we will. We have to before someone else dies.”
“Give the sketches to Detective Daniels,” Brett suggested. “You can tell him the truth, as far as possible. We came out here to talk with the witnesses, hoping the person they saw matched the description of a man seen near the scene of the crime in Denver.”
“Let’s talk about this after we find a hotel,” Kylian replied.
Taking a deep breath, Brett replied, “Probably a good idea.”
* * * *
The hotel they settled on was a few blocks from the restaurant. Kylian asked for two adjoining rooms, putting them on the company credit card. When they arrived on the seventh floor and found their rooms, Kylian suggested they use his to finish their discussion from dinner.
While not wild about the idea of spending time with Kylian in what was essentially a bedroom, Brett agreed. He dropped his bag off in his room then knocked on Kylian’s door.
“Have a seat,” Kylian said after letting Brett in.
Brett made a beeline for one of the chairs in front of the window, then when Kylian took the other, he immediately got down to business, saying, “How is talking with Detective Daniels going to lead us to whoever we’re after? If he knows who it is, he’d have arrested him already.”
“I know. Let’s hope your sketches ring a bell with him.”
“Why didn’t he send his own police artist to talk with the witnesses?”
“You’re asking me?” Kylian replied just as his phone rang. He answered, listening for a long moment to whoever was on the other end. He nodded, told Gid where they were staying, said thanks, and hung up. “All right, we don’t have to talk with Daniels. Gid worked fast sending out the sketches, and one of our people recognized the man in them.”
“Are you going to tell me?” Brett asked when Kylian went silent, staring off into the distance.
Kylian nodded. “His name is Nigel Pemberton. He’s a vampire. Rumor had it he took a walk in the sun about ten years ago. Apparently, he didn’t.”
“Walk in the sun?”
“One way vampires who are tired of living end their existence.”
Brett thought about that and grimaced. “Whoever identified him is certain it is him?”
“Yes, according to Gid she’s quite certain. She and Nigel were very good friends at one time. Gid’s let her know what’s going on and told her to get out here fast.”
There was a knock on the door at that moment. Kylian checked to see who was there then opened it. “You remember Ronnie,” he said to Brett. “The man with her is her mate, Cody.”
“Who is not very happy at the moment,” Ronnie said, ruffling Cody’s red hair. “I think he’s a bit jealous.”
“Am not,” Cody replied tartly, swatting her hand away. “Who would be jealous of a vampire, even if he was a friend of yours, back in the mists of time?”
Ronnie laughed. “Eleven years is not that long ago.” She settled cross-legged on one of the beds, with Cody sitting beside her. Turning her attention to Kylian, who had retaken his seat, she said, “I’ll admit I was surprised when I saw the sketches Brett did of your killer. I was real sure Nigel was dead and gone.”
“Perhaps his death was feigned so he could turn rogue without anyone being aware,” Kylian replied.
“Perhaps?” Ronnie rolled her eyes. “I’d say that’s a given. I know he hated…No, not hated. He was quite upset by those vampires who tried to fit in with humans and lead relatively normal lives. He was afraid that eventually they would be found out and then the existence of vampires might be revealed. At his age—he’s well into his six-hundreds—he says he’s seen it happen more than once. Only the humans’ inherent disbelief in paranormal beings kept people from believing it when someone accused one of his kind of being a vampire.”
“I can understand how he feels,” Kylian said. “Perhaps he’s killing humans who have found out. If so, stopping him is not going to be easy, if we can even find him.”
“Why would he start killing now?” Brett asked.
“These may not be his first kills,” Cody replied. “However, they might be the first of this kind since he learned to use his fire gift. That usually doesn’t happen until a vampire is at least six-hundred.”
Ronnie tapped her fingers together. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a house in the area,” she said. “One like the mansion he owned in Atlanta before his presumed death. He did like his creature comforts.”
“In the heart of Atlanta?” Kylian asked.
“Hell, no. On the outskirts with no close neighbors. Like most vampires, he didn’t want humans to catch onto the fact he was never around during the day. So you have to find out where the rich and exclusive areas are here.”
“At least that narrows things down to only a couple thousand houses,” Brett muttered. “That is if he’s kept to the same pattern.”
“As old as he is, I’d be surprised if he’d change it now,” Ronnie said.
Brett shot her a disbelieving look. “If you went rogue, wouldn’t you?”
“Undoubtedly. But I’m not stuck with living only at night and having to hide the fact I do.”
Kylian snapped his fingers to get their attention. “As Ronnie suggested, we’ll start by checking out any homes in wealthy but secluded areas. Ones that changed hands soon after he faked his death. That should narrow things down considerably.”
“How will you find out which ones they are?” Brett asked.
“The information should be public record,” Kylian replied. “It’s just a case of inputting the correct parameters. With luck, Gid should have the information for us in the morning.”
“Do you want us to stick around?” Ronnie asked.
“If you don’t mind. The more help we have the better, and you know Nigel.”
“Knew,” she pointed out. “It’s been a while.”
Kylian was on his phone again, talking to Gid, so he barely nodded at her words. After hanging up, he suggested they all get some sleep. “It will be a long day tomorrow.”
“We can make things a bit easier,” Cody said. “With addresses and using a mapping site, Ronnie and I can get you and Brett wherever we need to be in the blink of an eye.”
“Good idea. We’ll split up, too,” Kylian replied. “You and me, Cody, and Ronnie and Brett. We can cover more territory that way.”
Everyone agreed that would work. Then Ronnie and Cody left to get a room for the night.
“Do you think we’ll really be able to find out where he’s living?” Brett asked.
Kylian shrugged. “It’s iffy, but it’s the only thing we’ve got going for us at the mome
nt. If we don’t, we can look forward him killing more people, whether he remains here or moves on to somewhere else.”
“How will we know if he’s in a house? He’ll be sleeping, won’t he?”
“We’ll go in and look for him. It’s why I want one of the shifters with each of us. As long as they can see inside they can get us in there.”
“Would I be right in thinking the whole coffin filled with dirt, hidden behind a secret panel is fiction?” Brett asked.
“Big time. They live like anyone else, with the exception of sleeping during the day.”
Brett snorted. “Then a couple of the bartenders I knew in New Orleans must have been vampires. They would spend all night working, head home at dawn, and show up again at dusk.”
Kylian grinned. “You never know, although I doubt they were.” He stood, rolling his shoulders. “I’ve been sitting far too much today.”
“You and me, both,” Brett replied. He was very tempted to suggest they pay a visit to the hotel’s fitness center then thought better of it. Seeing him in workout shorts and a tank-top is not what I need right now. This is business and damn it I’m going to make certain it stays that way—if it kills me.
“Do you swim?” Kylian asked. “I’m going to work out the kinks before heading to bed, if you care to join me.”
“I’ll pass, thanks.” If I thought it would be hard seeing him dressed for the gym, it would twice as bad with him in a swim suit. Brett had a sudden vision of Kylian climbing out of the pool, water shimmering on his well-toned body—an image he didn’t need at the moment. He hurried to the door, turning back to say, “Goodnight.”
He caught a knowing smile on in the elf’s face before Kylian replied, “Night. See you in the morning.”
“Yep.” Brett resisted slamming the door closed behind him in his hurry to get away from Kylian. If I was a shifter, or remembered where the hell the door is that Kylian and I used, I’d be on my way home by now. He knew it wasn’t the truth. They needed his help to stop the rogue vampire. But damn it would be tempting, if I could.
* * * *
Kylian watched the door close and sighed. We’d better find Nigel and fast or I’m going to break every promise I made myself to keep my hands off Brett. He scowled as he began pacing the room. It wouldn’t work. Never in a million years. And yet…His thoughts went to his father, who had loved his last and very human wife with all his heart. They made it work, until she died. So did Madlyn’s parents until her human father succumbed to old age.
He stopped in front of the dresser mirror, staring at himself. “Is that what I’m afraid of?” he asked his reflection. “Letting Brett into my life only to lose him too soon? He’s not that old. Only thirty-two. We could have a good life together for…well…another forty years or more?” He pointed a finger at the mirror. “Are you a man or a mouse? Bite the bullet and see what happens.”
Steeling his resolve, because if he didn’t do something this instant he might chicken out, Kylian left his room, walked down to Brett’s room, and knocked on the door.
* * * *
Brett was undressed, getting ready to take a shower, when he heard a knock on his door. “Now what,” he muttered, pulling on his jeans, not bothering with the top button. He yanked the door open, expecting to find out Kylian had gotten some urgent message about the killer that they had to deal with posthaste.
Seconds later he was plastered against the entryway wall, Kylian’s arms wrapped around his neck as the elf kissed him. Shocked, but hardly immune to what was happening Brett kissed him back.
Kylian stepped away long moments later, putting his hands on Brett’s shoulders. “I had to know,” he said breathlessly. “I needed to know what kissing you would be like.”
Swallowing hard, his gaze locked on the smaller man’s face, Brett replied, “And?”
“For a first one, it was pretty damned good. Not exceptional, but then you weren’t expecting it.” He brushed a finger over Brett’s lips. “You didn’t push me away, though, so maybe the next one will be better?”
Brett tried to calm his racing emotions so he could think about what had just happened. “It depends, I suppose,” he replied. “Are you only here because you’re horny and figured I might be receptive? If that’s the case, go jack-off in your own room. I’m not interested.”
A lie and he knew it. He hoped Kylian didn’t. He wasn’t about to get involved with him unless there was more to it than down and dirty sex. Not when he wanted it all—the culmination of what he knew had been developing between them as much as they both had been fighting it. Can it be more than sex? Is he willing to find out? Am I?
“I’m not here hoping we’ll fall into bed,” Kylian said quietly. “I’m here because, in spite of everything we’ve said about how our being together wouldn’t work, I’m willing to find out if we’re wrong.” He grimaced. “If I’m wrong, since I’m the one who keeps pushing us apart whenever it seems as if we might be coming to the point where we want to take the next step.”
“It’s not only you,” Brett replied, tracing a knuckle along the line of Kylian’s jaw. “I’ve been playing keep-away since I moved to Denver, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Kylian smiled wryly. “I sort of picked up on it, but then I haven’t dropped in to visit you, either.”
Brett eased away. Not that he objected to how close Kylian was standing to him, but he needed some distance to sort out his emotions. He paced to the middle of the room, turned, and looked back. “Do you want to try to make it work? You’ll have to accept I won’t be around forever.”
“I know. A few minutes ago I told myself the same thing and decided maybe it didn’t matter. My father loved Emile’s mother enough to marry her. The same with Madlyn’s mother. She married the man she loved even though he was human. I’m not saying I love you. It’s too soon to know. I am willing to take a chance on us—if you are.”
“I am.” Brett closed the distance between them. “One step at a time.”
“Meaning I can’t ravish you tonight?” Kylian replied, a smile dancing over his lips.
“Nope. However I wouldn’t mind finding out if we can improve on our first kiss.”
He cupped Kylian’s face in his hands, pressing their lips together. He felt Kylian tremble as he savored the softness of the elf’s lips when he brushed his tongue over them. A scent which was uniquely Kylian, musky and woodsy, assailed his senses in a delightful way. When Kylian opened to the kiss, Brett stroked his tongue over the edge of his teeth and then probed deeper, relishing the velvety feel of Kylian’s mouth, the touch of their tongues as the kiss heated and they battled for supremacy. Their eyes met, the silver in Kylian’s seeming to sparkle with desire. Brett wondered abstractedly if his were filled with the same need.
He was aware that his body was responding to the passion of the kiss as it deepened. It was all he could do not to drag Kylian to the bed, strip him nude, and make love to him. If we hadn’t said…
“But we did,” Kylian said, sounding remorseful as he broke the kiss. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry but…”
“My shield went down in the heat of the moment,” Brett replied drolly.
“A very heated moment. I do believe we surpassed our first kiss quite admirably.”
“No kidding. I’d say let’s try for a third one, but then we really might end up in bed.”
“Would that be so bad?” Kylian asked, his gaze searching Brett’s face.
“On a physical level it would be fantastic, I think.” Brett took a step back, putting his hands on Kylian’s shoulders. “On an emotional level, I don’t believe we’re ready. It is why I said we’d take things one step at a time.”
“Always practical,” Kylian muttered glumly. Then he smiled. “It’s a damn good thing one of us is right now.”
Brett laughed. “Unwillingly, but…”
“But now, I should leave.” Kylian dropped a swift, warm kiss on Brett’s lips before going to the door. “I’ll see you in the mo
rning.”
“Ready to work, which is why we’re here.”
“Yeah. Let’s hope…No, I’m going to be positive. We will find our killer and stop him in his tracks,” Kylian said adamantly, stepping into the hallway.
“You bet we will,” Brett replied as the door closed. “Without anyone getting hurt,” he added under his breath as he went back to what he’d been doing before Kylian’s sudden appearance—taking a shower. As he did, he thought about what had just happened. Was it a prelude to our being together for the long term? It was if I have anything to say about it. Now I have to pray he doesn’t have second thoughts.
Chapter 9
Kylian awoke smiling. After how the previous evening had ended he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. One he hadn’t even accepted was a weight until he’d made the decision to take things into his own hands and let Brett know he was willing to take a chance on them.
“Now all I have to do is not back down,” he said under his breath as he got up. “So he’s a human. If we care for each other that shouldn’t matter. We’ll live life one day at time and make the most of every moment. Right now, though…”
He got dressed then checked his email. There was a long one from Gid, filled with potential addresses for Nigel Pemberton, although none of the houses had been purchased in that name. He took his laptop down to the hotel’s business center to print out four copies of the list, then called Brett and Ronnie to tell them it was time for them to get up and join him in his room.
Brett arrived first. As he stepped into the room he said, “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Kylian replied.
They looked at each other for a long moment, as if assessing the state of things. Then Kylian kissed him. It was briefer than he wanted because a knock on the door interrupted it.
Brett shook his head as Kylian let Ronnie and Cody in. “Perfect timing…not.”
Ronnie lifted an eyebrow, looking at them. “Did we interrupt something?” She sniffed then winked at Cody. “Yep. Sorry guys.”
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