"I don't know. We were having a late lunch and everything was great until I saw this" She held her palm up for Tabitha to see the strange tattoo mark on her palm. "He had one identical to it on his palm."
"You're kidding."
"No, and the weirdest part is that I don't know how I got it. Remember when we were eating and it just appeared?"
Tabitha took Bride's hand into hers and studied the tattoo.
"He branded me or something, didn't he?" Bride asked. "He's placed his mark on me and now he's going to kill me. I knew it was too good to be true."
Tabitha shook her head. "Honestly, I can't answer that. There haven't been any murders like this in the state, I know that much."
And Tabitha would. She made it a habit through a friend of hers in the police department to stay on top of all murder investigations.
"So what do you think?"
Tabitha held her hand closer to her face. "It looks Greek in origin. Tell you what, let's make a break for my sister's house. We can ask her husband what he thinks."
"Which sister?"
"The twin one." Tabitha released her hand.
Bride balked at the thought of going to Amanda. "Amanda knows my psycho boyfriend-turned-serial-killer. She even set us up on our date!"
Tabitha made a disgusted sound. "Figures. Mandy has always been a rotten judge of character. Jeez! Never let her set you up with any guy."
"I thought that's what they say about you, Tabby?"
Tabitha ignored her. "You know, it might be a good idea for you to pack a bag and camp out at Amanda's at least for tonight, until we find out more about your serial-killer friend. If he does know Amanda, then he knows enough to leave her alone."
Bride didn't argue. In all honesty, she didn't want to be home alone even with her wolf to guard her. If Vane really was psychotic, he could kill her pet and then her.
"Okay, give me a sec."
Tabitha petted the wolf while Bride grabbed a change of clothes, her makeup, and something to sleep in.
Vane lowered his head as he watched Bride packing. He was relieved at her actions and Tabitha's suggestion. Kyrian lived in a house that not even Vane could break into. It was protected against not just human criminals, but otherworldly intruders as well.
There, the rest of his pack couldn't trespass unless Kyrian allowed it, and the former Dark-Hunter knew better than to let a pack of Were-Hunters in.
He nuzzled Tabitha's leg, grateful she wasn't a complete lunatic.
In no time, Bride was packed. She turned off the lights and opened the door. They tried to leave him behind, but Vane refused.
"Let him come," Tabitha said as Bride tried to drag him away from Bride's SUV. "Yeah, but doesn't your sister have Terminator now?"
"She does, but he's friendly enough with other dogs. It's vampires he hates."
Bride didn't comment on that. Instead, she let the wolf into the back seat of her Jeep Cherokee. She put her bag in beside him, then got in and waited for Tabitha to jump in. They pulled out of the drive and Bride's heart stopped as she caught sight of Vane's motorcycle outside her shop.
"What is it?" Tabitha asked.
She pointed toward the motorcycle. "He's still here."
"Gun it," Tabitha said as she pulled out her Glock and checked its magazine.
"Oh, good grief, Tabitha. You can't shoot him."
"Trust me, I can." Tabitha touched the scar on her face. "Now go before he finds us."