Page 42 of Grave Beginnings

“What? That they are creepy?”

“Most find them beautiful.”

“Well, sure, like a lot of deadly plant species,” I said. “But that sort of pretty comes with baggage, right? Met plenty of pretty men in my life. First time meeting ethereal ones. My nope meter is screaming bignope.”

“Nope meter…” Xavier repeated. “What does your nope meter say about me?”

“Stay the fuck away,” I said. I wished my car had a bigger center console like a lot of newer cars because his energy hissed and spat where our magics were forced to mingle.

“You might be a good fit for the kitten after all,” Xavier said after a long stretch of silence.

Neither of us spoke for the rest of the drive.

14

I pulledinto the parking garage, and drove up to my level and assigned spot. The twins pulled up behind my car, and I almost expected them to jump out and rough me up after blocking me in. But only Red got out, popped open the door, swung the pack onto his back, and grabbed the suitcase.

“Keanan will pick us up downstairs,” Red said to Xavier as Xavier unfolded himself from the car.

They were coming inside? How far did this madness go? They followed me to the elevator. “So, I’m guessing you’re NHVs?” I asked.

The redhead, who I now assumed was Sylas, snorted. “Humans require lots of labels for things that scare them.”

I got in the elevator, followed by Xavier and Sylas. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be, little necromancer.” Sylas leaned toward me. Ivan turned and hissed at him, swiping, nearly catching his nose. “Vicious little kitten.”

“Everyone’s little when you’re a fucking giant,” I said.

Xavier sighed heavily and hit the stop button on the elevator. My gut plummeted. Was this it? He was going to rearrange myface with some crazy, supernatural strength? But he took the handle of the suitcase from Sylas and held out his hand for the pack. “Go wait with Keanan downstairs.”

Sylas glared at him, but the door to the elevator opened, and he stepped out. Xavier hit the door close and the button for my floor again. “Shifters usually prefer ground floor units,” Xavier said as if he hadn’t just stranded one of his goons on another floor.

“I’ll figure out what Ivan needs,” I said.

We arrived on my floor, and I led the way, surprised that Xavier kept back, letting a good distance fall between us and easing the looming doom of his presence. At my door, he lingered across the hall, away from Nikki’s apartment, but waiting for me. “Do I need to invite you in or something?”

A smile tugged the corner of Xavier’s lips. “I am not a vampire.”

“So, I don’t have to worry about mind tricks?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Fuck.

I opened the door and Peanut Butter greeted me by weaving through my legs. Xavier stepped inside and shut the door, staring at the cat for a minute. PB stared right back, as though trying to decide what to make of the strange man.

“My place is only a one bedroom, but it has a small office,” I said, more to Ivan than Xavier. “I’ll set Ivan up in the office. Order a bed and all that. My new job has a pay boost, but my lease isn’t up for a few months yet. I can start looking for something bigger.”

“New job?” Xavier asked. “You’re new to the SED?”

“Been a cop over twelve years,” I answered.

“But not SED. How long have you been variant?”

“Officially, two weeks.”

Xavier stared at me in confusion. “That’s not possible.”