Page 14 of The Huntress (The Blood of Legends #1)

Chapter Fourteen

CAPTAIN’S CONNIPTION

“C allie! Where the hell are you?” Barrows’s voice came through her smartwatch.

She yelped, not having expected to hear from him on her day off.

“I’m kind of dealing with a family crisis,” she said into the watch.

“Captain’s having a conniption,” Mike said, in a bored tone.

“No one says conniption anymore, Mike.” Callie chuckled.

“From where I’m standing, she’s having one. That your police vehicle is at a last-known suck-fest location? There’s your problem. Like I said, where the hell are you?”

“Shit, she’s here?” Callie faced Gabe, running a caressing gaze up his denim-hugging thighs and T-shirt-encased torso.

He wasn’t doing anything illegal, hadn’t even participated in the festivities, but fear burned in her chest. She couldn’t let any harm befall him. Not on her watch. Not even married an hour, and already her “husband” was in danger. Typical of her.

“Damn straight. Now get your ass here and fix this. Oh, I have your gun and badge. I snagged it before she spotted it lying there on the hood.”

Relief flooded her at those words, some of the tension between her shoulders easing. “Thanks, Barrows. I owe you one.” She headed for the front door.

“Callie?” Gabe arched a brow.

“Sorry, Gabe. My captain’s outside. I gotta deal with this before she summons the SWAT or even worse, the military.”

His brow furrowed, and his expression darkened as if something bothered him, but she wasn’t sure what. That she wouldn’t come back? That shit might reach him down here? She couldn’t say.

He sighed, stepping around her to open the door. “Let me take you part of the way. I don’t want you lost.”

She nodded her thanks at his offer even as she studied his face. Perhaps some other time he’d explain his reticence. For now, she’d deal with Metcalfe, and she did need his help leaving his home. She wasn’t sure where she was, having run like a bat out of hell earlier without taking note of her surroundings. Turn left at tree, right at rock, dive around the third bush? She was a city girl—forest foraging wasn’t her forte.

“How do I reach you?” She smiled at his sudden exhale. So he had been worried about her return. “I’m a woman of my word, Gabe.”

Yes, she was, but despite that, something deep within her commanded her not to walk away from him. She had seen Val, and her sister as a vampire meant Callie’s life would change. There was no way she’d abandon her sister because she drank blood for sustenance.

“This pleases me, Callie.” He flashed a smile, scattering her thoughts. A dimple appeared, making him look more charming. The seductive bastard. Yet she couldn’t deceive herself—he was still a lethal suckblood capable of who knew what.

He strode forward, and her breath hitched . Hot damn. Had she said lethal? Hell yes, he was deadly to her senses.

He scooped her into his arms—a place she was becoming fond of. She locked her hands behind his neck and held on. As if she’d never see him again, she rested her cheek against his chest and inhaled the forest scent of him,.

But a potential consequence haunted her—would she have to give up being a detective when he claimed her? She might have to make the sacrifice to keep Val’s conversion a secret so she couldn’t blame Gabe for it.

He carried her to the edge of the forest. In the dark, the police lights flashed red and blue. Quite a few vehicles were parked. Hers looked odd without the matching lights flickering—gray, devoid of emotion, unfazed. Barrows—with his great bulk—leaned against the hood.

Gabe lowered her feet to the path, and she spun in his arms to press her body against his warm one. He had no right to be so toasty since he was a suckblood. She loved that he wasn’t cold-blooded. That might’ve been off-putting. Then again, there had to be something she could hate. Otherwise, he’d be perfect, and perfect was bad, because she wasn’t, not by a long shot.

“How do I find you, Gabe? It isn’t as if you have a street address.”

He gathered her wrist in his large hand, and with a fingertip, he drew a symbol on her skin, below her smartwatch. A mark she didn’t recognize glowed pale orange. It hadn’t hurt, but his reverent touch made her shiver.

“Whisper my name, and it will pulse as you near me.” He freed her wrist to bury his fingers in the curls at the nape of her neck. “Smear your blood across it, and I’ll find you.” His voice deepened, as if he too, felt this was goodbye.

She sighed—it wasn’t goodbye. It couldn’t be. Who would’ve imagined stumbling after Val would lead to finding a suckblood this sexy? One who’d claimed her to save her from her own stupidity. Holy tamale, she was in a shit-ton of trouble, as per frigging usual. Before, she’d wanted to survive, to walk away, to have justice served, to spare people’s lives. Now, with Val a suckblood, Callie’s career would change. What could she do with her life if it wasn’t in law enforcement? A scary thought.

She needed distance. Her thoughts circled, blurred, weaved until confusion reigned and she had to rely on her instincts and emotions.

She left his arms and frowned, not wanting to deal with her captain today of all days. She was aware that Gabe had allowed her to leave him and his embrace. He could’ve gone all alpha on her and kept her captive. She chewed her lip as she studied his gray eyes and tempting mouth. Now she’d never know if she’d have loved him being all up-in-her-face macho. Her lady bits would. They hummed with an eagerness that made this feel like Christmas Eve.

“I’ll be in touch,” she said with a smirk and left. Each step was painful, with something deep inside of her cursing herself for leaving him.

Whoa. Her instincts sure weren’t happy.

“Devereaux,” her captain bellowed, and she cringed. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Detective.”

Callie fought the snort that promised to get her fired, or at least suspended.

Metcalfe was a woman in her forties with a permanent case of PMS. She managed the precinct by yelling. She was a firm believer that if you wanted her to shut up, you’d do your job and not give her a reason to yell at you. It had worked for her four sons and, therefore, should work for everyone under her command.

It did.

“Nothing to explain, Captain. I’m guarding this spot.” With a wild sweep of her arm, Callie gestured to the surrounding fields. “Got a tipoff about a possible suck-fest and staked out this area.”

“In plain clothes?” The captain glowered at her attire.

Callie forced herself to appear casual and not to twitch under that steely glare. Metcalfe could sniff a falsehood at ten paces.

“It’s my day off, Captain. I had to incinerate my last uniform.” Oh, the perfect excuse . “I’m short for next week.”

“You saw nothing?” Metcalfe flicked her fingers, sending a few vehicles on their way.

Callie tried not to relax her tense shoulders. Any outward sign would tip off Metcalfe. The woman had instincts a beast would’ve been proud of.

“There were a couple of cars filled with stupid women. I could’ve shot them to improve the gene pool, but when nothing was happening…” The lie tumbled out of her with ease. With Metcalfe, some deception kept everyone’s sanity intact.

Her colleagues shuffled their feet, their impatience to leave adding to the tension of the vehicles pulling out. Callie smothered a snort. They all wanted this over with.

“Good. A few women not drained will have to appease the mayor.” Metcalfe twisted her lips in distaste.

“The jackass is on your ass again?” Callie asked, knowing he was. She couldn’t count on all her appendages the number of times her captain had cursed out Mayor Duhamel. Not within his hearing, of course.

“When isn’t he? Regardless, good job, you two,” she said to Barrows, who acknowledged her praise with a wink.

Lazy bastard.

Callie strode to where her partner waited for her. The last police vehicles pulled out, leaving the two of them stranded in the dark.

“Okay, out with it.” Mike raised his face to the starlit sky and folded his beefy arms across his massive chest. His stance was clear—he wasn’t going anywhere until she spilled the proverbial beans.

She took the time to admire the sky. This far out of the city had the stars shining their brilliance with no light pollution to interfere. The kaleidoscope of stars twinkling mesmerized her. It always had her wondering what was out there. All those planets? There had to be intelligent life because there sure as shit wasn’t any on Earth. Then again, if aliens arrived, between the humans, suckbloods, and beasts, this planet would be so fucked.

“Val got converted,” she said, the finality of it solidifying in her mind.

Feelings bombarded her, sharp and painful yet hopeful. The hope was the strange part. It had to do with Gabe more than anything else. She debated telling Mike she’d managed to land face down in a pile of manure. Married, claimed, the Rite of something? None of that made sense to her, never mind how to explain it to Mike. Perhaps easing him into the idea was better…after a few shots of whisky.

She shuffled her feet, drawing unseen patterns in the dirt with the toe of her sneaker. “I also met the tuxedoed man from last night.”

“Shit and shit.” Mike pushed himself off the hood.

She nodded, but Syl wasn’t what she wanted to discuss. “I might have to quit the force over this, Barrows.” Her voice hitched, and she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I can’t be on the force and hunt suckbloods. What if she crosses my path, and I have to—”

Mike’s head shot up. His face was visible, but she couldn’t make out the expressions crossing it.

“You’re not quitting the force, Callie, and Val isn’t a criminal.” He clasped her shoulders, to shake or comfort her, she didn’t know.

She cringed. When he crowded her and dipped his head to maintain eye contact, it meant he had a few words to say to her, and she didn’t have all night to be his good little partner. She wanted to head home, sort through everything that had happened today, and try and understand why she felt this pull to return to Gabe. The need was bordering on obsession.

“We gotta find out what’s so important about that damn canister. Now that Val’s converted, I’m pretty sure they’re going to keep her busy for a while.” He sighed. “She’s not gonna die anymore, Devereaux.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, struggling to escape from Mike, but he held firm. Damn Neanderthal using his strength against her. “Because she’s dead already?” Her voice squeaked, and she cleared her throat. “Not much consolation there, Barrows. How do we explain her miraculous healing when no doctor has survived examining a suckblood? What about family meetings or dinners? Am I on the menu?”

Giving up on freeing herself from his grasp, she cupped his elbows instead.

“Not with Val, Callie. I don’t see her changing who she is just because she has to survive on blood now.”

Damn, she hated it when he was right. Barrows being right shifted her axis.

“Find anything out about Carter?” Mike released her and shifted away, granting her a little breathing room.

“When was I supposed to do that, Mike? While dodging suckbloods and leaping tall trees in a single bound? Or fighting feeders for their sugar daddies?”

He huffed. “That sass of yours is going to get you into trouble one day, my girl.”

“It did, today.” She lowered her chin to her chest as she pondered the cluster-fuck she’d triggered.

None of it pertained to the case which she was no closer to solving. She threw her hands up as she paced out her frustrations. “Carter’s distaste for suckbloods is recent. Something personal must’ve happened because there are no media records of him snubbing suckbloods or a deal gone sour.”

Pausing to rub the back of her neck, she mentally reviewed her files. What stone had she left unturned?

“I do have some news for you. Duhamel’s received another sizable contribution from Floges. Is the mayor campaigning again?” Mike furrowed his brow in concentration.

If it wasn’t on the sports pages of his newspaper, he wouldn’t read it. The man on the front page was all he’d notice.

“Does it matter if it’s election year or not? He’d never turn down any contributions, no matter how rich he is.” She bounced on her toes, eager to finish this conversation.

“Good point. Now what?”

“I’m going home, although, I’d rather head back,” she said, excitement burned along her veins to nestle between her thighs. She prided herself on being honest with her partner at least. He had her back in all things, as she had his.

“Why?” he asked, his confusion clear.

“I met a man.” She couldn’t stop the smile splitting her cheeks.

“A suckblood,” Barrows said, anger hardening his voice. “Are you frigging insane?”

She winced. Sudden light blinded her, and she moaned, shielding her eyes. Mike shone a flashlight in her face. The white circle moved across her body. She ground her teeth. He was searching for bite marks.

“I’m not a feeder, Mike. Want me to strip so you can do a more thorough examination? Did you bring your gloves? Might as well do a cavity search while you’re at it.”

“Don’t get sassy with me, Callista Devereaux. I made your father a promise, and I mean to keep it.”

“Promise? I’m the one saving your ass, like all the time.” She pitched her voice and blessed him with an exaggerated pout.

“Good. As long as I’m taking the bullets, you ain’t getting hurt.”

“Whatever. I’m not drugged. I’m not on any euphoric high.” She winced at the memory of Gabe feeding from her wrist, and she rubbed the skin there, shivering when her nipples pebbled. “I’ve got a way into the suckblood community, and I’m grabbing this opportunity. It’s the only lead I have. I need to find out why Carter has a sudden aversion to suckbloods and what’s in that damn canister.”

“It’s going to get you killed, Callie! Or worse—converted.”

“There’s been talk of getting suckblood recruits. At least you won’t have to retrain a new partner.” She paused. That was an option, a way to stay on the force.

She tapped her chin as she imagined Metcalfe’s reaction to the suggestion. That wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.

Sadness and disappointment warred within Callie, as if she teetered on the edge of a cliff. She could have companionship, her sister—kind of—or she could uphold Dad’s legacy.

“There you go with the sass again. Does this suckblood know what you’re really like?” The affection in Mike’s voice drew her back from a good cry and reminded her that no matter what she chose, she had him, Val, and now Gabe.

“He’ll find out.” She flashed him a cheeky grin, one Mike was partial to.

“Who am I kidding? He ain’t gonna see you coming, sweetheart.” He chuckled.

“Yup, I’m gonna make you proud, Barrows.”

“Now what, you just walk into the dark and find him?” The doubt in his voice mirrored her own.

“Not tonight.” She released a shudder. “I plan to head home and smash my face into my pillow.”

Eager to see Gabe, she was tempted to stumble around in the dark, whispering his name across the orange symbol like an imbecile. Her determination concerned her, and it was for this reason she’d decided to distance herself.

Mike’s face fell. “Would you have walked around like a lost fart? Isn’t that a little dangerous? Like I said, I made a promise—”

“Like I would leave her alone, unprotected?” Gabe said, stepping from the shadows.

She smiled, torn between believing he didn’t trust her and melting into a puddle on the ground. His voice was sex, smoky fires, and the promise of breathless nights.

Damn suckbloods. They could seduce even the most hardened of hearts. With a clicking sound from his fingers, a sconce appeared out of nowhere and illuminated them in a yellow fiery glow.

She studied his long legs in his jeans and the black shirt he’d yanked on earlier, straining across his broad shoulders. She lingered on the dark stray curl that rested on his forehead. His gray eyes were in shadow, but she didn’t mind. He was gorgeous—the mere sight of him standing there snatched her breath and kept it.

“Gabriel de Winter. A pleasure to meet you, Mike.” He held out his hand toward her partner, looking as if he were a businessman greeting someone for the first time.

Barrows accepted the offered hand for a shake. He didn’t squeeze Gabe’s hand in a show of bravado. If he had, it would have cost him the bones in his fingers.

“What are your intentions?” Mike’s fatherly tone had her scrambling for a distraction.

She groaned at his question before rushing to intercede. “You don’t have to answer that, Gabe.”

Saying something was meant to delay the inquisition Mike would bore her to death with. He cared. He’d promised Dad. She got that, but now wasn’t the time. But like earlier, he had his piece to say, and say it he would.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Miss Sass,” Mike said, not looking away from Gabriel, waiting for his response.

“She’s mine for eternity,” Gabe said.

Barrows jerked as if punched. “You plan on converting her?”

“Eventually.” Gabe buried his hand in his pocket, tugging the waistband down, drawing her focus to the taut, caramel skin peeking out. “In the most painless way possible.”

“Shit.” Barrows glanced between Gabe and Callie with horrified awe contorting his features. “I can’t save you from this, my girl.”

“Save me?” She folded her arms across her chest against the cool night air. “Not all monsters hiding in the dark are bad.”

“Monster?” Gabe asked with his lips twitching.

“I’m human, remember.” She grinned.

“You’re not human,” he said, arching her brows upward in surprise.

“I’m not?” she asked, then gave a dismissive shrug. “Gramps said we were fey, but we never believed him.”

“You’re not fey, either.” He tightened his arm, looping her shoulders and pinning her to him.

She liked the comforting weight of it, despite not being used to open affection.

“Crap, this is bad. I’m not beast, am I?” She squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for his response.

Not that beasts were bad. Just that the idea of an animal trapped inside her was hard to wrap her head around.

“Beast?” Gabe asked.

“Shifter.”

It took forever for him to shake his head.

“Zombie?”

She grinned, and he chuckled in the same way Mike laughed at her silliness. “Alien? What else is there?”

“Legend.” Gabe brushed his lips across her temple and tingled her skin. “You’re legend, Callie.”

“That doesn’t sound bad. My sass is legend ary,” she said, spotting Mike’s I-told-you-so expression, not understanding what he meant and not wanting to know.

Being a legend didn’t sound good—like some sort of destiny awaited her.

“Agreed,” Barrows said. “As long as you can keep her safe, then I’m happy to have you guard her on her time off, Gabe.”

“Keep her safe from herself? Is that even possible?” Gabe grinned, his teeth flashing bright against his shadowed face.

“Hey! I’m right here.” She curled her lip in a pout.

She leaned away from Gabe and rested her hands on her hips. She did not need saving or protecting…when would the men in her life realize this?

He reached for her hands and drew her near him again, not letting her off so easy. “I’ll always know where you are, and I’ll always put you first.” His husky voice lowered, like rough velvet caressing her skin.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. Was he serious?

“That’s my cue. I’ll wait in the car.” Barrows held out his hand, and she sighed, wiggling out of Gabe’s embrace to dig in her back pocket for the keys. She took her gun and badge he offered her, then slapped her keys onto his open palm.

She waited until he closed the door, then released a long breath.

“I like him,” Gabe said. “Now what’s this about heading home?”

“I’m tired, it’s been a long day.”

He scowled. “Callie, it’s not safe.”

She huffed. “You haven’t claimed me yet so if I die, it won’t affect you.”

He growled. “You think I’ll allow you to die?” He gripped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his narrowed gaze. “I don’t announce the Rite of Adsumo for any woman. I wanted you since you descended that ladder.”

Her breath hitched, not only from the silver in his eyes but by the strength in his voice.

“Thank you for telling me that. Um, I’ve been on my own for a long time, Gabe. Being in danger is not new to me, but I need time to understand what happened today and what committing to you means to me.” She cupped his cheek, sighing as his warmth traveled from her palm down her forearm. “You saved me and I’m grateful, but as handsome as you are, I can’t make a decision this serious based on sexual attraction.”

“How long will you need?” His voice was hoarse, his shoulders stiff, but his touch on her hips was gentle.

“A few days, maybe more?” She shrugged.

With a flick of his fingers, the sconce disappeared. Plunged into darkness, she didn’t expect to feel his lips on hers. Sweet scales of justice, her heartbeat spiked as he teased her bottom lip with his tongue. He looped an arm around her and gathered her against his chest. She gasped and he kissed her, thoroughly. The sheer taste of him was like the finest of scotch with the darkest of chocolates.

She melted into his embrace, attempting to join this exploration. When she swept her tongue across his, he groaned, deepened the kiss, and scattered her thoughts.

Mike switched on the headlights, and she pulled away from Gabe, feeling like a teenager caught necking on the porch.

“Um, I don’t know what to say.” She inched toward the passenger door. “Call me tomorrow? Leo might have my number.”

“I don’t like this, Callie.” His growl conveyed how much he didn’t like her leaving. He followed her, his hand shoved into his front pockets.

“Gabe, you’ve been without me for centuries, what’s a few more days?”

He paused, and the car’s lights shone on his hopeful expression. “Then you’ll move in with me?”

“Whoa, not so fast. I’ll give you my answer then.” Didn’t he know, couldn’t he see how leaving him was tearing her up inside? That alone was reason enough for distance. It wasn’t natural and normal to yearn for a man she’d met that day.

He clenched his jaw. “No, not liking this.”

“Call me.” She climbed into the car and closing the door had a finality to it. Mike reversed the car, shining the headlights on Gabe. She watched him for as long as she could see him, not daring to blink.

Mike didn’t speak, and she was grateful for the silence.

If the investigation tied the canister to Carter, that would involve Syl, and arresting Gabe’s brother wouldn’t bode well for their “marriage.” Iced pain wrenched her stomach. The idea that she might have to choose between love and the law had her tightening her hold on the seatbelt.

Hope dawned, melting the dread, warming the cold lump in the center of her chest. What if the canister wasn’t tied to anyone in her current case files? She’d walk away as best she could, trusting Leo that it wasn’t a weapon.

She needed to talk to Gabe about the politics involved with the shitstorm she was in and the implications for his brother. Arresting him wouldn’t be easy, if it came to that.

The damn canister better be harmless, or she might have to kick Syl in the balls. Leo too, for lying to her.