Page 84 of Nightshades

Shrugging his shoulder, he hurries to catch up to Jake.

That leaves me all alone until Lula gets here.

Bright yellow crime scene tape creates a border around the outside of the jewelry store, warning everyone to stay away, but the scent of that old man’s blood calls to me, especially when fear still hangs heavy in the air.

I roll my eyes when thunder rolls above, the clouds darkening again, and rain threatening to fall.

Again.

There are two places on my body I like wet. My mouth from eating my mate’s pussy and my cock from when my mate comes on it.

Making sure no one is around to see me, I’m inside the jewelry store before the next flash of lightning strikes.

“Messy,” I snarl in disgust when I see the mess this amateur made. They didn’t even take all of the jewelry. What is the fucking point of robbing someone if you don’t take everything?

I squat, picking up a large diamond ring that would look beautiful on Lula’s hand. The shape is familiar, but I can’t remember the word off the top of my head. It’s almost like an oval, but skinnier, and the ends are pointed. Black diamonds frame the main one that makes me think Lula would love that part the most—hopefully because they remind her of me.

Seeing as the place was robbed already, I tuck the ring in my pocket, kicking the dead guy’s leg.

To make sure.

I sniff him, trying to understand the heavy scent of fear that still lingers. It doesn’t belong to Harold. This smell belongs to the killer. My mouth waters at the excitement of finding the suspect. Lula might be proud of me if I do.

I’ve never had anyone be proud of me before.

“Shade.” Lula’s voice has my skin reacting, thousands of pebbles arising on my skin, my cock twitching from the panic and worry clinging to her throat. “What are you doing here?” She grips my arm and tries to drag me towards the back of the store. “You can’t be here right now, Shade. What if Jake sees you? You’re at a crime scene. Anything you’re doing could be disrupting it.”

“I have the scent of the person who did this.” I try to whisper, but my voice is too deep, and it carries. “I can find them. I think they’re still close too with how strong their fear is.”

Lula holds my hand, which is unusual for me. I don’t hold hands. I never have. It seems intimate and important. I don’t understand why people do it, but her palm against mine soothesthe violence inside me, as if it’s a baby that needs to be put to sleep.

“Okay. Go. Let me know somehow that you’re okay. They have a gun, Shade, and they could hurt you?—”

Picking her up, I silence her with a kiss. She sighs against me, relaxing when our lips meet, and her palms skim up my bare chest.

“You are real,” she whispers into my mouth.

I lean back, curious as to why she would think I wasn’t.

“Last night is a blur. I thought maybe you were a dream. I couldn’t decide.”

“Very real, Lula. That bite on the back of your neck means something.”

Her hand flies to her neck, gasping when her fingers trace the indents of my teeth. “Because I’m your fated mate.”

I nod, remembering the conversation I heard her having with Caden as he explained mates. It made more sense to me when I heard him tell Lula the importance of mates. Everything inside me clicked due to the massive possessiveness I feel for her. The way I need her builds into a dangerous emotion in my chest—similar to rage.

It’s consumption.

“Is the damn forensic team not here yet? Harold’s body needs to be taken to the morgue. He doesn’t deserve to be lying in his own damn store for so long.”

Lula’s eyes widen. “It’s Jake. You have to go. Go! Find them.”

“If I find them, I’ll kill them.”

“I don’t care. You do what you have to, and one day, I’ll help you get what you need.” She places her palm on my chest again, right where my heart beats, and I grunt, my skin reacting to her once again.

“You’re cold,” she whispers, dragging her finger across the expanse of my chest.