The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,33

step closer, inhaling deeply to fill his lungs with Robson’s scent. “To begin with, the address is spelled so the wards will now allow you to actually see the manor, not just drive past it.”

Robson’s thick eyebrows scrunched together as he held the paper farther away from his body. “More of that witchcraft shit like what happened to me at the shop?”

Marcus’s stomach clenched at the reminder of what had happened, his vision flashing to the sight of Robson dropping to his knees in agony. “That really was an accident,” he said carefully. “I’m not an expert on the craft, but I’m sure Tashmica would be happy to answer some questions for you.”

The unimpressed look Robson gave him didn’t make him or his wolf feel better. Glancing back at the paper, Robson asked, “Why couldn’t you just give this to me?”

That was a fair question and one Marcus didn’t have an answer for.

Jamie cleared his throat. “Alpha Kincaid has been… forcing us to spend time together.”

Robson’s head shot up, frown lines etched into his forehead. “He’s what now?”

Biting the inside of his cheek to try and suppress the shiver racing down his spine at the growl in Robson’s voice, Marcus said slowly, “We had a disagreement.”

Eyes narrowing, Robson looked between them, shoving the paper back into the envelope and sticking it into the back pocket of his jeans. “So you two are… what? Together? Little lovers’ spat that has Kincaid playing matchmaker to try and smooth it over?”

Face heating, Marcus ignored Jamie’s scoffing and shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”

“God, no.” At Marcus’s sharp look, Jamie held up his hands and stepped farther back. “No offense. But no, Deputy. We just both work closely with Alpha Kincaid, and he’d like us to get along better.”

Robson crossed his arms over his chest, eyes darting between them once more. “What was the disagreement over then?”

“Wreaths,” Jamie said, contempt thick in his voice.

Marcus’s spine straightened as he turned to face Jamie. “It was about more than the wreaths, and you know that.”

Jamie threw up his hands as he rolled his eyes. “You’re stuck in the past, Marcus. The pack needs to move forward and embrace changes.”

“Respecting tradition isn’t the same as being stuck in the past.”

“It is when you throw a damn hissy fit over some damn wreaths.”

“It wasn’t the wreaths!”

“Guys!” Robson was suddenly between them, raised hands extended toward him and Jamie but not touching either of them. Robson’s grin was poorly suppressed, and his eyes were dancing with amusement. Marcus wanted to be annoyed that Robson found his argument with Jamie funny, but he couldn’t look away from his gorgeous face long enough to drum up his irritation. “While that was… entertaining, I think we’ve gotten off track. Now, which one of you wants to explain what the hell an alpha is? Or a pack. Or how my sister is involved. Or why Kincaid showed up at her house today. Or what all of this has to do with the dead body at that abandoned house a few weeks back…”

Jamie sighed. “Marcus will answer your questions as best he can. I’m going home.”

A moment later, headlights lit up where they all stood as an old truck bounced down the driveway toward them. The bright light made it impossible for Marcus to see who the driver was. Jamie gave a quick nod to Robson, then turned and hurried toward the passenger side of the truck. When he opened the door, Marcus took half a step forward and inhaled deeply, unsurprised when he caught a whiff of a certain blond hunter.

Robson stepped up next to Marcus as the truck began backing down the driveway once more. “Who the hell was that?”

“Gabriel Morde.”

“He’s a… shifter too?”

Marcus turned to Robson and studied his strong profile in the dim light of the moon and stars. In the last week or so, Robson had stopped shaving and was instead growing out his stubble. Marcus wondered if he planned on growing it into a beard. He also wondered what the dark hairs would feel like against his fingers… or his lips.

“Marcus?” Robson had turned and was fully facing Marcus, their faces suddenly a little closer than they probably should have been.

Ignoring how the slight uptick to the corner of Robson’s mouth made his heart beat just the slightest bit faster, Marcus stepped back to keep his head clear. “Hmm? Oh, no. He’s human.”

The smile dropped from Robson’s face, and he rubbed at the back of his neck,