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“Little of both.”
A headache began to pound behind her left eye. Erin grabbed on to her patience and held tight.
What was the guy’s deal? Washethe crazy one?
“Uh, Ms. Jerome?” It was the uniform to her right. “You want us to go ahead and take Burrows to processing?”
Erin shook her head. She’d been listening to the police radio, hoping for some word on Bobby. The guy had vanished less than an hour after posting bail—she still didn’t know what the idiot judge had been thinking. She’d been desperate for some word on the sadistic jerk, and then, like a sweet gift from Fate, she’d caught the news of his capture.
She’d almost flown down to Burns Swamp. “Take him to the hospital. Get him patched up.” She pointed at the cop. “Donotlet him leave your sight for even a second, understand? Bail is revoked. Once the docs give the ok, haul his ass back to jail.” Hopefully, he’d stay locked up for the rest of his miserable days.
The uniform, Ray Neal—she’d met him twice before—gave a nod. He and his partner climbed into the car, then drove away, taking her criminal with them.
And leaving her alone with the hunter.
“Wanna answer my question?” His voice was deep and rumbling.
Goose bumps rose on her bare arms, and it was far too warm for her to have a chill from the weather. “Just what question was that?” She tilted her head to the right.
“Whoare you?” A pause. “What are you?”
She let her brow furrow. She’d fooledOtherbefore, she could do it again. “I’m really not sure I understand. I told you, I’m Assistant District Attorney?—”
“You don’t smell human.”
Her breath caught on a gasp. No, he hadn’t just said?—
He stepped toward her, a fast move that brought their bodies too close. Jude leaned in, lowered his head over the curve of her throat, and inhaled.
“Stop!” She shoved him, hard, and watched with no small satisfaction as he stumbled back.Oh, yeah, big guy, I’m much, much stronger than I appear.He wasn’t the first one to learn that little lesson.
She almost bared her teeth at him. Almost. After all, she wasn’t an animal. No matter what the whispers back home said.
“I don’t know just what youthinkyou were doing,” she snapped, glaring at him as she narrowed her eyes. “But you’d better watch what you do and what you say around me.” Was the jerk crazy?You don’t smell human.He couldn’t say things like that. The words were too dangerous.
She reached into her purse. Dug out her card. “Call my office. My assistant will take care of any paperwork you’ve got.”
He stared at her a moment longer. Then, slowly, his tanned fingers rose. Long fingers, callused. Strong. He took the card, and his fingertips brushed over her hand.
Erin didn’t flinch, and she was extremely proud of that fact. “Good work, Donovan.” After giving him that grudging token of appreciation, she nodded and began to march back toward her car.
She’d taken all of five steps when she heard his whistle. Long, loud, and very appreciative.
Erin stilled.I really don’t need this shit.
“I’ve got your scent.” Hard words. Scary words. Because she knew what they meant.
If Jude Donovan truly was a shifter, and every instinct she had screamed that he was, then having her scent, well, it meant he hadher.He’d be able to follow her, to find her, almost anywhere.
A shifter. What were the odds she’d stumble onto him?
One of the little perks in theOtherworld—the world full of supernaturals and nightmares, the world that, rather unfortunately, was her life—was that like recognized like. Demons, because, yeah, those conniving bastards were real, could “see” others of their breed. They could look right past the magic glamour and peer into the darkness inside.
Witches felt the power pull from their brethren.
And shifters could smell each other—a distinct scent. One that carried the wisp of power and the scent of the beast.
Jude Donovan smelled of power. Of wild, strong man. Of savagery. No denying that scent.
