had a fair suspicion Dante would require payback of the sexual kind, and I really didn't want to indulge him that way. There was something about the man that irritated me. But maybe it was just the fact that he used his sexual glamor without restrictions while we werewolves were threatened with all sorts of punishments if we even flirted with the idea of using our auras.
I wrapped my arms around Quinn's neck and pressed even closer. His body was warm and hard against mine, and despite my tiredness, a little part of me wished we'd done more than simply eat and talk. "Why would the councilors refuse to talk to you? It's not like you murdered Leon or anything."
"No, but the mere fact he took my call, and then a few hours later winds up as the next victim, will spook the rest."
"But how would they know about the call? And why would they think you're involved anyway?" I shook my head at the thought. "I guess, given the situation, that they'd be viewing molehills and seeing mountains, but surely they'd realize a cazador could probably find less obvious ways of killing."
He smiled and pressed me a little closer, so that I could feel the smallest of muscle movements. It was a very pleasant sensation. "Most of those on the Melbourne council don't know my history. Only those on the greater council do."
The clatter of the helicopter was louder and, over his shoulder, a black speck was becoming visible. My brief time of peace was coming to an end, and right now I resented that.
I hated the thought of having to go back to the long hours of investigation and the freaks that killed. But most of all, I resented having to go back and face Kye.
Because I very much doubted he'd wait until tomorrow lunch to see me again.
I pushed the tremor that was part anger, part anticipation aside, and said, "You're not going to get into trouble with the greater council for helping me out, are you?"
His smile was warm, yet there was something very cold in his gaze. It was a quick reminder that my luscious, warmhearted vampire was a very old - and very dangerous - being. "There is only three who would - or could - reprimand me. And given the situation, I doubt they would dare."
I didn't think it was the situation that would stop them. It was more likely the man. Or rather, what he'd once been.
He leaned forward and kissed me, his lips still gentle. Like all the other kisses we'd shared tonight, it was a sweet thing, yet oddly filled with emotion. And while it lacked the instant burn of desire, that very fact was oddly comforting. We'd gone beyond mere lust, and these kisses reflected that.
The helicopter landed, creating a whirl of wind that tore at our hair and clothes before the blades slowed down. Quinn gathered the basket and blanket then escorted me to the bird.
We'd barely even landed in Melbourne when my phone rang. Surprise, surprise, it was Jack.
"I know about Leon's beheading," I said, shivering a little as I stepped out of the helicopter. A sea breeze was coming in off the bay, and even through Essendon airport wasn't actually any where near the sea or the bay, the temperature still seemed several degrees cooler than it had been up in the hills.
"Well, fantastic, but I'm not ringing about that."
"Then what's the problem? Not more dead women?"
"No, thankfully. It's the watch you put on Vinny."
"Has it turned up something?" I watched Quinn walk towards the car and throw the basket in the front seat. Half of me wished he'd throw me there instead and take me somewhere well out of phone range.
It wasn't so much that I was tired of the job, just that I was simply tired. Now that the night had swept in, it seemed to have gotten worse. I needed to sleep, and yet at the same time, I feared it. Or rather, I feared dreaming again.
Feared that it might just mean the bonds drawing me to Kye were getting stronger.
"No, nothing's happened over at the emo camp," Jack said, "but I'm pulling guardians off all non-essential duty and bringing them in for a debriefing on these killings. The number one priority of the night shift is now the search for this killer, so Vinny has lost her watcher."
At least the three of us on day shift had escaped the debriefing. For tonight,