Page 77 of Crossed Fates

“Then you’ve not listened to anything I’ve said.”

“On the contrary, baby, I’ve heard every word.” I nipped her neck, then stood to my full height to recapture her gaze. “You don’t want a mate who will tie you down and demand you quit. Well, good news. I’m not that kind of mate. You want to keep working freelance, go for it. I’m not going to hold you back.”

It’d go against every part of me to do such a thing.

Except for in the bedroom. That might be fun.

But in the real world? In life? Hell no.

“However, I would like to know more about your job.” I stepped backward to dampen my hair again, then plucked the conditioner off the shelf.

“More about my freelance life?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“Yeah, like how it all works. You mentioned training with your alpha’s company… uh, KBO?”

“KBO Consulting.”

I ran my fingers through my thick strands, coating my hair with the moisturizer. “Yeah, that. You worked there before Marc recruited you for the gig here, and then you went freelance, right?”

She nodded, a note of pride touching her expression.

“So, what does that mean? You go back and forth between realms, looking for jobs?” I understood what “freelance” meant, just not how it worked for her.

She retrieved the conditioner and mimicked my movements, then said, “Well, Marc shared my contact details with several of his clients back in our home realm. I have a soft spot for taking on trafficking cases, as I’ve mentioned, so I get a lot of missing person files. Usually girls. But I’ve also been trying to establish myself in your world. That’s not been as easy, considering I’m not from here. However, Sapphire kept sending me leads. Including the one that brought me here most recently.”

Which I now know was a total setup,she added in her head.Thanks, Saph.

I didn’t comment on her mental note since it wasn’t meant for me. Instead, I focused on what she’d said out loud. “Why have you wanted to establish yourself here?” I asked before dipping backward to let the shower pour down over my head. Wolf-ear perks allowed me to hear her just fine, even over the rushing water sound.

“Honestly? Because your realm needs me more than my own does. Your supernats are… less robust.”

I snorted. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, for starters, you kill vamps with stakes. Ours don’t die that easily. Ours are also much faster and stronger, can compel, and have a whole slew of upgraded traits.”

Huh. Does that apply to Cassius?I wondered.

Yep, she replied without missing a beat.

Not that I’d been asking her, but it was good to know.

He’s a royal, too. Part of the Vampire Dynasty bloodline. His cousin, Dimitri, is the former king. He was dethroned. It’s a whole thing.

Interesting,I replied, finishing with the water and switching spots with her so she could rinse. “Okay, but wouldn’t that make it easier for humans to survive here, then?”

“Around vampires? Yeah, I guess. But it’s more… your humans are just as dark and dangerous as ours… and I have a stronger skill set to help handle those issues?” She voiced it like a suggestion, but I followed what she meant.

“You think the supernaturals of this realm are too weak to properly protect them.” I tried not to be offended by that.Tried and failed.

“I just acknowledge that I’m stronger, and you all could use my brand of assistance,” she rephrased.

“Uh-huh.” I caught her hip as she finished washing her hair and backed her up against the wall. “You think I’m weaker than you?”

“Well, you’re mortal.”

“Mortality just means I value life more,” I argued. “And I still heal quickly.”

“Not as fast as me.”