Nic (18 page)

“Are you saying your sister is psychic?” Nic asked.

“I know it sounds crazy,” she said. “You don’t have to believe me, but she called this morning and warned me that darkness was near. She gave me the impression that I was in danger.”

Nic’s heart stuttered in his chest. “Did she say from who?”

Mindy shook her head. “That’s the problem with Izzy and her visions. They aren’t always clear,” she said. “I know you don’t believe me.”

“Actually, I do,” Nic said. Her sister was a Sighted-One. Is that why the Darkling was here? He shook his head. No, that didn’t make sense, since her sister was gone. Unless... “Do you have the same abilities as Izzy?”

“No.” She gave him a humorless laugh. “There was only room for one whack-a-doodle in the family.”

Nic could sense her pain. “You said Izzy believed in monsters.”

She nodded.

“What did you mean by that?” Nic asked.

“When we were kids, Izzy used to tell me crazy stories about monsters walking through the mall. Used to scare me to death. Eventually, I outgrew the stories, but Izzy never did,” Mindy said. “She swore she could see them. She said they were everywhere. Izzy was always so scared. I think that’s why she partied so much in her teens. But no amount of alcohol could make them or her visions go away.”

It must’ve been terrifying for her
, Nic thought. Growing up as a Sighted-One without any guidance had to be a lonely existence. Had loneliness also contributed to Mindy’s isolation?

“I’d like to fix you some dinner,” he said, clearly surprising her.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said.

“I know I don’t have to,” Nic said. “I want to. You just stay here and put your feet up.” He didn’t wait for her to answer. He simply walked into the kitchen.

* * * * *

Mindy watched him go. She’d expected Nic to laugh, when she’d told him about Izzy, but he hadn’t. There’d been compassion in his eyes, and what looked like concern. She sat back and had just kicked her feet up when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” she said. Mindy glanced through the peephole, then opened the door. “Detective Daniels, what are you doing here?”

“I was in the neighborhood,” he said. “Thought I’d stop by and make sure you were okay.”

“Thank you,” Mindy said. “I’m fine.”

He shuffled his feet on her porch. “I just received the coroner’s report,” he said.

Mindy’s stomach dropped. This was it. What he said next could change everything. “What did it say?” she asked, not sure if she really wanted to know.

The detective watched her closely. “He ruled the death an animal attack. Said it most likely was a mountain lion.”

“Really?” His answer shocked Mindy. Her surprise quickly morphed into relief. “I’m glad to hear Marco wasn’t murdered.”

The detective’s lips thinned. It was evident that he didn’t agree with the report. “I stopped by to tell you to be careful and to ask if you had anywhere else you could stay for a while. I don’t like the idea of you being out here on your own,” he said.

A hand grasped the side of the door, opening it wider. Nic appeared beside her shoulder. The detective stiffened and his brown eyes narrowed.

“She won’t be alone,” Nic said. “I’m here.”

Detective Daniels gave him a hard cop stare, but Nic didn’t seem intimidated in the least. The detective’s gaze eventually returned to Mindy.

“You might want to take care with the crowd you’re running with,” he said. “Rumors around town say that the folks on the Fortier estate can be dangerous.”

“I didn’t think the police paid attention to gossip,” Nic said, his voice lethal.

“Sometimes it pays to listen to whispers on the streets,” Detective Daniels said. “You have a good night, Ms. MacDougal.”

“You too.”

* * * * *

Mindy shut the door. “That was weird.”

“Did I hear him right? Did he say it was a mountain lion attack?” Nic asked.

“Yeah.” Mindy’s brow furrowed.

“But?” Nic asked, wondering why she didn’t look convinced. “You don’t believe him.”

Mindy rubbed her neck. “No, I believe him. Why would he lie?”

“He wouldn’t,” Nic said, but the coroner would. “So what’s bothering you?”

“Marco’s body,” she said. “How did it get in front of my house?”

“The cat must’ve dragged it there,” he said.

Mindy stared at him. “That’s just it. There weren’t any drag marks.”

Nic brushed her arm with his finger. “Are you sure? You were in shock when you found the body. Anybody would be. Is it possible you are mistaken?” He didn’t want to put doubt in her mind, but Nic had no choice. The truth would have to stay buried until he could reveal all to her.

“I know I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am.” She rubbed her hands over her arms. “I know animals. Marco wasn’t a little guy. Even a healthy-sized mountain lion would have had difficulty moving him. It would’ve had to drag him. If it couldn’t, it would’ve sliced him open and eaten his stomach and intestines.”

She was right. It wasn’t a mountain lion that’d killed Marco. A cat couldn’t take down a Were, but a Darkling could.

* * * * *

Celina drove home without knowing how she got there. Her thoughts were too preoccupied with how she was going to confront Slade. She wanted that bond. If Mindy had one in such a short time period, then there was no reason for she and Slade to wait.

She pulled into the weathered apartment complex and parked in her numbered spot. Slade didn’t have a car, so there was no telling if he was home yet. Celina hoped he wasn’t. She wanted to get the apartment arranged into a romantic setting before he arrived.

What if he didn’t come home tonight?

He’d been spending more and more time away. Celina wondered, not for the first time, if he’d changed his mind. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

She remembered the fury on Nic La Croix’s handsome face when he’d asked about Slade. His anger scared her. Why did Nic want to know where he was? Did it have anything to do with Marco’s murder? Was it because Slade had been sniffing around Mindy’s house? Or was it because he wasn’t part of the Moonlight Kin?

Wolves were highly territorial. Couple that with Nic leaving his mark on Mindy and you had a recipe for extreme violence.

A fresh wave of jealousy struck. Celina hated that Slade was so interested in Mindy, but she didn’t want him harmed.

She got out of the car and walked to the tiny apartment she’d called home for the last few years. Gray paint peeled from the walls as she climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Celina opened the door and called out Slade’s name. Her voice echoed in the silence. She didn’t know how much time she had before he arrived, so she’d have to work fast.

She pulled out the candles from beneath her kitchen sink and lit them so that the warm glow softened the appearance of the tattered furniture.

Celina walked into her bedroom to search for her best lingerie. She placed the lacey outfit on the bed while she took a shower, then slipped it on beneath her jeans and green T-shirt. Celina went back into the kitchen and removed some chicken from the freezer so it had time to defrost.

Slade came home two hours later. He stopped in his tracks as he stepped through the front door. His gaze scanned the room, moving from the candles to the food on the table before settling on her.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“I thought I’d do something nice for you,” Celina said.

His amber eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Do I need a reason?” Celina asked.

Slade smiled. “No, but I know you have one.”

Celina exhaled. “Fine.” She flipped on the lights.

“Do you know anything about a murder that occurred at Mindy’s house last night?” she asked.

Slade glided deeper into the room, his molten eyes glittering.

“A body was dumped on her front lawn,” Celina said. “She’s terrified. Mindy came into work crying. I barely got her to calm down. I know I promised not to tell her, but I’m going to have to say something.”

Slade shrugged as if it were inconsequential. “There is no reason for her to be afraid. No one’s going to harm her.”

“How do you know?” Celina asked. “Whatever killed Marco could still be lurking outside her house just waiting for an opportunity to get to her.”

“Oh, I am certain it wants her. Just not for the reasons you suggest.” He smiled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“People die every day, Celina. It’s hardly a tragedy.”

She put her hands on her hips. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“No.” Slade laughed. “I didn’t.” He stalked around the apartment, moving as if he were caged and looking for a way out.

He hadn’t denied anything, nor had he confessed. His evasive answers confused Celina and frightened her. Had he killed Marco? She didn’t want to believe it, but Weres didn’t live by the same laws as humans. She’d learned that over the years. Anyone familiar with the Moonlight Kin knew they were governed by a different set of rules. The punishment for breaking those rules was harsh. Had Slade broken the rules?

“You need to stay away from Mindy’s house,” she said. “It’s not safe.”

Slade’s eyebrow arched. “I can’t do that,” he said.

“Why not?” Celina whined. Didn’t the idiot understand that she was trying to save his life?

“Because I plan to claim her as my mate,” Slade said casually.

“You can’t do that!” Celina launched herself at him, pounding her fists on his chest.

Slade easily fended her off. “Stop it before you hurt yourself.” He grabbed her wrists and pushed her down onto the couch until she was prone, then covered her body with his own.

“You promised,” Celina gasped. “You said you’d claim me.”

“I said no such thing,” Slade said.

He hadn’t. Celina had heard what she’d wanted to hear. Slade had used her...just like all the other Weres.

“If you’d bothered to investigate before you spread your thighs for every wolf around, you’d know that claiming doesn’t work like that,” he said.

“What do you mean?” She’d missed something. Something important. Something Slade had been aware of since day one. Anger replaced some of her pain.

“One sniff and I knew you weren’t my mate. Most wolves can scent whether a woman is their mate or not,” he said. “There’s a sweetness, a richness to her that runs beneath the surface.”

“So this whole time you’ve been playing me?” she asked.

“Don’t take it personally,” Slade said. “In the beginning, I genuinely needed you.”

Celina glared at him, then smiled. “You’re too late,” she hissed, thinking about Mindy’s mark.

“What are you talking about?” Slade asked in confusion.

“You can’t claim Mindy.” Celina laughed maniacally. She wasn’t the only one who hadn’t been paying attention. Celina couldn’t wait to see the look on Slade’s face when he found out the truth.

Slade bared his teeth. “Why not?” He shook her, but it only made her laugh harder.

Celina’s smile returned, this time wider. “Because she’s already been claimed.”

His amber eyes widened, then began to glow.

“That’s right, Lover Boy, another wolf got to her first,” Celina said. “I saw the mark on her neck with my own eyes. It’s kind of hard to miss. Did I forget to mention that the Were who marked her is looking for you?”

“Who? Who did it? Tell me now, you stupid bitch!” Slade snarled, slamming her against the couch cushions.

“Nic La Croix,” she said. “He’s a big guy. I bet he’s an even bigger Were. He won’t be as easy to take down as Marco.”

Slade’s eyes narrowed until only tiny slivers of gold were visible. “You think you’re so clever. You think you know what’s going on, but you don’t know anything.” As he pinned her to the couch, a single claw extended from his finger.

“What are you doing?” Celina asked. “Slade, talk to me.”

“What’s wrong, Celina?” he asked. “Since the moment I met you, you’ve been begging me to mark you. Change your mind?”

Her gaze fastened on the deadly claw. “Slade, honey, let’s talk about this.”

He shook his dark head. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m just giving you want you want,” he said.

He was going to kill her. Celina could see it in his eyes. There was no warmth, no passion, only cold resolve. Celina struggled to break his grip.

“Slade, let me up. Stop playing around,” she said.

He brought the claw to the inside of her wrist. If he sliced her the right way, it would look like a suicide and no one would suspect otherwise. Celina thought about Izzy’s warning. She should’ve listened.

Slade ran the claw along her wrist, scratching her just deep enough for blood to surface on her skin. He leaned over and licked it off, then released her and rose from the couch. Slade walked toward the front door.

Celina was confused. She’d thought for sure that he was going to kill her. Maybe she was wrong about him? “Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get what I came to this world for,” he said.

This world? What did he mean by that?

“You’re just going to scratch me and leave?” Celina asked, though she no longer wanted him to stay.

“One scratch is all that is needed,” Slade taunted.

“Needed for what?” Celina cried. “Mindy’s mark was on her neck.”

Slade’s smile was slow to come, and when it did finally arrive, it made Celina shiver. “Enjoy what’s left of your life.”

* * * * *

Celina thought about Slade’s parting shot as she polished off a bottle of wine. The scratch on her arm burned. She’d poured rubbing alcohol over it to clean the wound, but nothing stopped the pain.

She picked up her phone and drunk dialed Mindy. It was her fault that Slade wasn’t here. If she hadn’t flirted shamelessly with all the men, none of this would’ve happened.

Mindy picked up, her voice sleep-filled. “Hello?”

“You think you’re so s-special,” Celina slurred. “But you’re not.”

“Celina?” Mindy asked. “Have you been drinking?”

“No, I’m drunk,” she said. “Wolves are circling you and you’re too clueless to know it.”