Page 2 of Fallen (Designation #2)

LEVIATHAN

I always knew my luck would run out at some point but I didn’t think it would end up with a young shifter in my truck, let alone one with a gaping hole where a unicorn horn tore through him.

His face, frozen in terror, is hauntingly familiar.

A former client, someone I tracked down a cheating ex for.

“Lev, breathe,” Amand purrs as he steps up beside me, placing a warm hand against my back. His sea-glass eyes are darker than usual, the muscles in his jaw tightening as I realize he’s just as pissed as I am.

“Breathing’s overrated,” I mutter, trying to bring humor to the situation, but my voice cracks. A tingle beneath my skin has me sighing, my magic threatening to blend me into the rusted paint of my truck. Great . Nothing says “professional investigator” like vanishing mid-crime scene.

Gerard is still a few feet off, Rowan beside him as he shouts into his phone at someone.

Something about the fact that this is ‘our’ scene.

With as many people who don’t particularly like me at the station, I doubt they’ll just let us have this one.

Still, I watch as the muscles in Rowan’s neck and shoulders constrict, veins just beneath the skin boldening.

My traitorous body responds as his brown eyes flick to me, a possessive edge in his gaze that makes my stomach do a weird flip.

Not the sexy kind. Okay, maybe a little sexy, but mostly it’s the “I’m in deep shit” kind.

I shake my head, trying to focus on the issue at hand.

The police will be here at any minute, which means I don’t have very long to gather what I can from the body.

I force myself to lean closer to the shifter, ignoring the way my gut churns.

Yet again, my magic can only help in situations like this; the ability to smell someone’s magic signature an ace rather than a hindrance.

I inhale deeply, wincing at the blood’s coppery tang riding in the air, but there’s something else.

I’ve never caught it before but I can only assume the metallic, mysterious edge to the scent that comes from a unicorn.

The problem is that twisted in all of this magic is a familiar note, faint but still there, tugging at a memory I can’t quite grasp.

It’s a combination of pine and musk, a hearty, earthy scent that brings back hazy parts of my past.

If only I could remember who that scent belonged to.

“Anything?” Amand asks, his hand sliding to my hip and squeezing softly.

I shake my head, frustrated. “Unicorn, definitely, I think that’s what that is. But there’s… something else. I know it, but I can’t place it.”

Rowan hangs up and strides over to stand on my other side. “Police are on their way. Maybe ten minutes and they’re gonna want to talk to you, Lev.”

“Fantastic,” I deadpan, stepping back from the truck. “Nothing screams ‘innocent’ like a dead guy in my front seat. Should I just burn the damn thing?” Another joke but for some reason, they aren’t hitting the right way in the last five minutes.

Amand’s lips twitch as he exchanges a look with Rowan. “Not a bad idea,” he says, his tone so serious I almost believe him.

“Burn it,” Rowan agrees, grinning down at me with all the desire I’ve been trying to ignore. “We’ll get you a new one. Something that doesn’t look like it’s held together by duct tape and spite.”

I glare at them, but the banter eases the knot in my chest. “You’re both hilarious. Remind me why I moved in with you?”

“Because we’re irresistible,” Amand purrs.

He winks, a slow smile spreading across his lips that has heat swirling around in my belly.

I fight my own smile, still trying to come to terms with how I ended up with mates who are biologically designed to kill me.

Even so, my body wants them. I’m still not sure if it’s love or biology screwing with me, but right now, I’m grateful for their presence.

Before I can throw back my own retort, my magic suddenly glitches.

One second, I’m standing there; the next, I’m half-faded, my skin mimicking the gravel under my feet.

Amand’s hand tightens on my shoulder, snapping me back to visibility.

If they grab me fast enough, I can usually stay present.

The problem is actually catching me as it happens.

“Fuck,” I mutter, rubbing a hand down my face.

“This Chameleon shit is gonna be the death of me.”

Rowan chuckles as he drags me into his side and presses a kiss to my temple. “It’s cute. Like you’re playing hide-and-seek with the world.”

“Cute?” I scoff, but leave it alone, leaning farther into his side so I don’t accidentally disappear again. Things are fucked up enough right now that I don’t need to explain that to the cops.

Amand’s about to say something, that wicked grin on his face telling me it would be something dirty as fuck but he doesn’t get the chance to.

Two black SUVs swerve into the parking lot. One of them is branded with the police department’s insignia, the other from the medical examiner’s office, suspiciously branded with Essence PI’s logo. I usually would call my own people but this is a little too public.

However, I now have more questions. I twist around to meet Gerard’s gaze, wondering how the fuck he got his logo on the city’s car. He mouths ‘connections’, which just means he's got a contact somewhere on city payroll.

I’m not sure I want to know the how.

Two officers spill out of one vehicle, the other car unloading a cleanup crew that’s all business. I recognize the medical examiner but not the others.

A woman with a clipboard approaches, her eyes narrowing at me.

“Leviathan Dubois?” she asks, her tone clipped. “This your vehicle?”

“Unfortunately. I didn’t order the corpse, though. Can you guys, like, expedite this?”

Maybe that’s insensitive but I kind of want to dig into this killer unicorn business and I can’t really do that with the shifter in my car.

She doesn’t smile, just jots something down. “We’ll handle it. Stay out of the way. Once the medical examiner grabs what he needs and the police clear the scene, we’ll be able to clean up the car.”

The crew gets to work, taking several pictures before they extract the body as I step back a little further, mildly aware of the police officers approaching Gerard first. That’s when it hits me—where that earthy scent came from.

Silas. My ex from college, the panther shifter who charmed his way into my life and then broke my heart

It doesn’t make sense that he’d be involved with something like this. Silas was a manipulative asshole, but a murderer? “Lev?” Rowan’s voice pulls me back, and I open my eyes to find him watching me, concern etched into his features. “You’re doing that fading thing again.”

I glance down, cursing when I see my hands blending into my jacket. I focus and will myself solid. It works, mostly. “Sorry,” I mutter.

Gerard nods to us, the officers moving toward the vehicle and subsequently me. It’s just my luck that they’re ones I know. After Vince’s betrayal, we haven’t spoken and I’ve made every effort not to step into the precinct.

Deep growls erupt on either side of me, Rowan stepping in front of me as if he’s going to protect me from them. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. As hot as protective Basilisks are, they’re also annoying.

I push Rowan out of the way and manage a smile when the petite Fae officer meets my gaze.

She’s always been a little skittish but she’s never been wary of me.

I’m not sure when that started. I nod toward the car.

“Found it like this. Not sure what’s going on.

” I leave off the part where I know the shifter because it’ll only be a matter of time before someone thinks putting me in protective custody is the best answer.

Her obnoxious partner who is 100% a bastard, fucking Detective Chad , struts over, his chest puffed out as if he’s going to make some revelation about this case in the next few seconds. “Dubois,” he sneers. “Why am I not surprised you’re mixed up in this?”

“Because you’re predictable?” I quip, and Rowan lets out a low growl, stepping closer to Chad.

The detective flinches, and I have to bite back a grin.

It was a little stupid before how possessive they were but I’ll enjoy it if they can make Chad freak the fuck out.

He deserves to be brought down a peg or two.

Avery shoots Chad a look, then turns back to me. “We need a statement, Lev. And we’re gonna have to impound the truck.”

“Impound?” I groan, throwing my head back.

“Come on, Avery, this thing’s barely roadworthy.

” I don’t have any sentimental attachment to the rickety thing but it has been mine for so long, it’ll be sad to see it go.

Not that I’d ever be able to drive it again.

Not after seeing that shifter in the front seat.

I’d never be able to clean it well enough without still catching the shifter’s faint magical signature and remembering what happened.

Avery just nods as Gerard finally approaches us.

I’m sensing that there’s a certain transfer of power happening beneath our noses.

Gerard clears his throat and manages a small bow to Chad and Avery that seems out of place.

“I’ve spoken with the chief of police and he’s allowed us to take this case.

Because it is of the supernatural variety, Essence PI will be taking the lead and then involving the police as needed. ”

I had absolutely no idea Gerard had that kind of power.

Avery raises an eyebrow but nods again. “Fine. But we still need his statement.”

“Tomorrow,” Gerald states, no room for argument in his tone. “He’s had a long night.”

Chad mutters something under his breath, but Avery just sighs and gestures for him to back off. “We’ll be in touch, Lev.”

Once again, I’m not really sure what to say to fill the space, the medical examiner and cleanup crew still working on my truck. Gerard just waves and walks toward his car, leaving me with my men. We walk back to the condo in silence, a million questions running through my head.

Is the unicorn after me? Is he just trying to make a point? How the fuck does Gerard have that much pull?

Chad’s voice cuts through, dragging me back to reality. “Dubois! Don’t think you’re off the hook!”

Rowan stiffens, a growl rumbling in his chest, and before I can stop him, he stalks toward Chad.

The detective takes a step back, his hand hovering near his holster, but Rowan’s faster.

He grabs Chad’s collar and lifts him an inch off the ground, his fangs making a rare appearance before disappearing.

“You don’t talk to him,” Rowan snarls. “Ever.”

I should stop this but the fear in Chad’s expression is hilarious. When Rowan roughly shakes Chad, Avery reaching up to stop my mate, I realize that something worse is going to happen if I don’t step in.

“Rowan!” I yell, jogging over. “Put the idiot down. He’s not worth it.”

Rowan glares at Chad for another second, then drops him.

Chad stumbles, his face red, and I grab Rowan’s arm, pulling him back.

“Chill, snake boy. I can handle myself.” I pull him back toward the condo, waiting until we’re inside to spill the beans.

“Okay, so we have a problem. I recognized one of the shifters in the pictures that Gerard brought over, right? Well, the guy in my truck was someone else I did a job for too.” The brothers frown as I drag a hand down my face.

“I caught the unicorn’s signature, I think, but there was another scent.

My ex from college. Silas. But it can’t be him.

He was a panther shifter, not a unicorn.

” I plop down onto the couch, Amand following.

Rowan sits on my other side, his arm brushing mine. “You sure? People hide shit, Lev. Especially shifters.”

I nod, but doubt creeps in. Silas was always cagey about his past. Could he have lied about his designation?

“That’s what I’m worried about. Aside from the fact that I don’t really want to deal with him again.

” Both Basilisks sit forward but I’m not entertaining that right now.

No way in hell am I going to spill that Silas broke my heart.

So, I just stand and head toward the bedroom, throwing back at them. “You coming or am I sleeping alone?” The words are barely out of my mouth before Rowan has me over his shoulder, charging toward the bed.