“Worry not, lass. I’ll not let anyone harm you.”
My finger traced the raven’s wing that spread from his arm to his chest. “You would die for me?”
“That’s what heroes say, and I’m no hero.”
“Then what are you saying?”
He lifted my chin with the crook of his finger. “I’ll slay for you. Any man or woman who tries to end your life will answer to me.”
Those weren’t empty words. Christian had killed hundreds for Lenore.
“I’m not asking you to kill for me. I’m not asking you to do anything but… rub my feet,” I said on a stretch.
A crooked smile appeared. Christian kissed the tip of my nose before sitting up. “It looks like I’m not the only one who got my fangs into you,” he said, running a finger over a swollen mosquito bite.
“Apparently your blood wasn’t strong enough to heal the itch. What kind of Vampire are you?”
He pressed his thumbs into the arch of my foot and stroked all the way to the ball. “The kind who can make a woman orgasm from a mere stroke of his hand.”
I rolled onto my back so he could get a better angle. “Some days I wonder if I’m cut out for a job like this.”
“You pull your weight.”
I looked up at the ceiling where shadows danced. “That’s not what I mean. I’m not used to going to a job unarmed. If I didn’t work for Keystone, I would have taken on those bears. Every last motherfucker. Even if it killed me. We couldn’t even do that. Viktor’s expecting an investigation, not a body count. I’m going to screw this job up someday. Big time.”
“I’ll not lie,” he said, massaging my toes. “Going clean isn’t easy. I struggled with it for years when I worked as a guard not to kill the person I was guarding or their numpty companions.”
“What kept you from it?”
He rested my foot on his shoulder and rubbed my calf. “I suppose a desire to do something good in this godforsaken world. It’s an honor to guard another man’s life.”
“So you thought every life saved would make up for one you took?”
He kissed my ankle, his beard tickling my leg. Christian kept his eyes on mine even though I was half naked and open to him. “You’re fighting against instinct when you have rules to abide by. Once you master self-control, you’ll make the right choices in every situation. Even if it’s one that breaks the rules.”
“So I should have taken on the bears?”
He laughed darkly. “I didn’t say that.” Christian rested my leg next to him and slid over me, his nose touching mine. “You have to weigh all the risks and choose your moments wisely. Sometimes that means taking a rain check. An immortal learns patience, and the earlier you master that trait, the better it will serve you. These are things I can teach you.”
I kissed the corners of his mouth. “What else can you teach me, Poe?”
“Fetch me a candle, and I’ll show you.”
Chapter 11
Because we had a long list of names, Blue and I decided we’d cover more ground by splitting up over the next few days. The booked appointments and locations made it difficult to question more than a few people a day, so that would shave our time in half. I handled the rogues, and since Blue had more experience with animal groups, she managed those. After our recent fiasco, we both agreed not to go alone, so we took our respective partners.
I wasn’t sure who wound up with the shorter end of the stick. Blue and Niko had a serious confrontation with a family of tigers who thought the higher authority was trying to confiscate their land. Yesterday Christian and I met with a bodyguard who lost his brother. The conversation was going well until I asked if his brother had any enemies. He got fidgety, Christian tried to charm him, and all hell broke loose when he shot us with a semiautomatic pistol and fled. As much as I wanted to chase his ass down and return the kindness, I let him go. Sunlight healed my wound, and Christian’s bullets popped out a few minutes later on their own. He was more peeved about the holes in his shirt than he was about getting shot.
Christian glared at me as we entered the club.
I smiled. “I don’t know why you’re still upset. Most of your clothes have holes in them.”
“Aye, but that one was new and expensive.”
“Shouldn’t have worn it on the job,” I said, pulling the door open.
The evening crowd was dancing as if it were their last night on Earth. The tables were full, and thirsty patrons encircled the oval-shaped bar.
“You’d think she would have picked a more discreet place to talk about the death of a loved one,” I said quietly.
I loved that I didn’t have to yell over the music with Christian. But that also meant not muttering smart-ass remarks under my breath, which I had a tendency of doing.
A flirty Mage flashed up and blocked my path. “Can I buy you a drink?”
Christian shoved him across the room. “No.”
I nudged him as we kept walking. “That’s one reason I hate flaring in a Breed bar. I understand why we have to do it, but then I have to deal with all these light-horny bozos who just want to bind with me. No, thanks.”
Christian’s hand rested on my lower back. When we reached the bar, I scanned the patrons, searching for our fourth and final appointment.
“How will you know if she’s here?” Christian asked.
“She said she’ll be in a red leather jacket at the bar.” I found myself standing on tiptoe and leaning over to look at everyone’s attire.
Then I spotted a pretty brunette with bright-red lips that matched her jacket. As I signaled to Christian that I’d found her, a redhead grabbed his ass and didn’t let go. I nonchalantly wrapped my fingers around her wrist and gave her a sharp electric jolt before moving on. Christian must have heard the gasp, because his head turned, but I tugged him forward.
“Are you Harper Nichols?” I asked the woman.
She slowly turned on the stool, her black skirt riding above her knees. Harper wasn’t young, but she wasn’t old either. In human years, she looked to be in her forties. “You’re from—”
“Aye,” Christian said, cutting her off so she didn’t announce to everyone in the bar that we worked for the higher authority. Nothing would clear out a room faster. “Did you reserve a private room?”
“No need,” she said, rising off her stool. “Follow me.”
When we reached the far end of the club, Harper chose a corner booth and took the bench against the wall. I didn’t like having my back to people, but I reluctantly sat in the chair across from her, Christian to my right.
Harper set her white wine on the table and took off her jacket. “I know you asked to meet privately, but I don’t know you. A girl has to protect herself. Would you like to order a drink first?”
My mouth watered at the idea of tequila sliding down my throat. “No, we’re good.”
“Fetch me a pint, lass!” Christian barked at a waitress.
I glared.
He rested his arms on the table. “I’m not the one driving.”
After the waitress swooped in with a glass for my thirsty partner, I began the interview. “You know the reason we’re speaking. I think I explained everything on the phone. It wasn’t easy to find your number.”