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“I'll track it. Just try not to die. These systems are calibrated to your biometrics and I hate reprogramming things.”

As we headed for the tunnel access, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into something far worse than a simple vampire hunt. The image of that creature melting into shadows played on repeat in my mind.

“Hey,” Sean's voice pulled me back to the present. “Whatever's down there? Don't try to be a hero. You see something wrong, you shoot first and ask questions never.”

I met his gaze steadily. “That your solution to everything?”

“No.” His smile was grim. “Sometimes I use explosives.”

As we geared up, Sean paused in his methodical weapons check. “You never did answer my question from earlier. How does a fed know so much about the supernatural world?”

I kept my focus on checking my ammunition, avoiding his piercing stare. “Maybe I'm just observant.”

“Bullshit.” He loaded silver rounds into a modified pistol. “You recognized those wards in the stairwell. You know about ley lines. That's not the kind of knowledge you pick up reading case files.”

“And maybe that's all you need to know right now.”

Sean studied me for a long moment, then shrugged. “Fine. Keep your secrets. Just don't let them get us killed.”

I watched him continue his preparations, noting the stark contrast between our styles. My CITD gear was precise, regulated, everything in its proper place. Sean looked like he'd raided a supernatural armory, strapping silver-edged knives to his boots, loading multiple weapons with blessed ammunition, and pocketing what looked like vials of holy water.

“Overcompensating?” I couldn't help but smirk.

Sean clipped a wicked-looking combat knife to his belt without looking up. “Says the guy with a grappling hook in his coat.”

“Tactical advantage.”

“So's not getting eaten by whatever the hell is waiting in that church.” He checked another blade's edge with his thumb. “But sure, rely on your government-issue toys.”

“They've worked so far.”

“Yeah? Is that why I had to save your ass from that vampire?”

I felt my jaw tighten. “I had it handled.”

“You had shit handled.” He turned to face me fully now. “You were about to become monster chow because you went in half-cocked with no backup and no real weapons.”

“At least I investigate before I start killing everything that moves.”

Sean's eyes narrowed. “No, you write reports while people die. Real effective strategy there, fed.”

“Boys,” Skye called from their command station, not bothering to hide their amusement. “As entertaining as this sexual tension is, maybe focus on the energy readings that are still climbing?”

“Shut up, Skye,” Sean growled, but there was no real heat in it.

I finished checking my weapons, adding Sean's silver rounds to my standard ammunition. Whatever was waiting for us, I wasn't going in unprepared again. Even if it meant using a hunter's tools.

As we moved toward the exit, Skye leaned back in their chair, a knowing grin spreading across their face. “Ten bucks says you two either kill each other or kiss by the end of the week.”

Sean didn't break stride. “Not happening.”

I glanced back at Skye with a quick smirk. “Which part?”

“Get in the damn car,” Sean growled, but I caught something else in his voice, frustration, yes, but also something that might have been reluctant amusement.

Skye's laughter followed us out as the door shut behind us. The sound echoed in the tunnel, a last moment of levity before we headed into whatever nightmare waited at that church.

“Just so we're clear,” Sean said as we reached his vehicle. A black muscle car that probably violated several federal regulations. “You follow my lead in there. No heroics, no federal agent bullshit.”