in response. “Yeah, but I’m still shocked it’s Ivan. I really thought he was dead. What are your thoughts on how he found us?”
Jon stands, cradling the woman to his chest. He looks over at Rafe, making brief eye contact before replying. “I think it will be interesting to see what we smell up in the room. Let’s get a move on and I’ll share my thoughts when we’re done.”
Hmm… cagey son of a bitch. What the hell were those bastards talking about while I was gone?
Relax, Dria, we weren’t talking against you. Just exploring all angles. Both of us have doubts with your take on things, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
I’m not wrong. Time will tell.
The three of us make it up the stairs and deposit Sheba in her suite in short order. We proceed to the next wing where I use my master key card to unlock the door to suite six for our entry. The blood smell from last night is non-existent now that the rug and padding have been removed.
“Sheeet!” Jon says. “That hole is big. No choice, huh?”
“Nope,” Rafe answers. “It wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure.”
I ignore them and walk over to the window.
“Poor bugger,” Jon continues. “What are we going to do with him? Bury him out in the woods this spring or send him home with Sal’s group?”
Crap, do we have to discuss this now? Why is Jon always so damn kind and sweet? I feel like an uncaring sod because none of that had occurred to me earlier.
Rafe’s loving voice trickles in past my self-flagellation. Cheré, come on now. The blood smell had you loopier than a bird hitting a window full speed. I’ll take care of the details. Don’t I always? Let it go and stay focused on why we’re here.
Aloud he adds, “We’ll talk to Sal and see what he says. He’d be the one responsible for members of his seethe.”
I squat, as best as I can in high-heeled boots without pitching ass-over-tea-kettle, and clear my mind. I’m not a damn Were and I’m not scenting prey, so this could be tricky. Closing my eyes, I try to block out the men’s chatter behind me.
Sheba’s recollections come into sharp focus and I can see the scene unfold from her perspective once again. I bend forward and take a deep breath in. Shades of color bloom behind my eyes; a mix of scents, discernible to only the most sensitive nose, appear like clouds of rainbows.
I match what I’m seeing and smelling with what I recall from my memories of Ivan over eight years ago. It isn’t the same. Perhaps I’m not picking up the same unknown vamp that Jon scented. Only one way to find out.
Rising in one smooth motion, I call out to him. “Jon, come here. Tell me if this is the same scent you picked up outside yesterday.”
He saunters over, giving me a semi-insolent look. “I don’t need to. I can tell from here. Yes, it’s the same.”
My mind scrambles. Could Ivan’s smell have changed during his confinement? What does being imprisoned for years underground and bound by silver do to one’s internal scent? I know I saw the bastard in Sheba’s head, white hair or not. I know Angie was Drew’s wife. Dammit, Rafe saw it too.
I can tell by the looks they’re exchanging that the shock must be apparent on my face and they’ve figured out it doesn’t match my memories of Ivan. I know I’m right and it must be his scent has changed.
Jon cracks a smile sending me over the edge. My power pushes forward and encircles both men in its grasp. The werewolf sways a bit on his feet and Rafe squares himself, ready for what he knows will come.
My voice comes forth in a violent hiss. “Fuck you both and what you’re thinking! I know I’m right. Scent or no scent, that bastard is Ivan.”
Rafe clears his throat. “Relax, baby, we don’t doubt you. But the evidence is different than what you got from Sheba’s thoughts.”
“Don’t try to placate me, you son of a bitch! It’s Ivan! I know it!”
“Could someone have messed with Sheba’s head and fooled you?”
I speak before thinking, the instinct coming to the front before logical examination can raise its ugly head. “No. No one was in her head but Ivan and me. I’m sure of it.”
They still don’t look convinced.
Jon unwisely adds, “Maybe a call to the Tribunal of Ancients is in order, you know, just