So tightly wound and jumpy, he shouldn’t be alone. He wasn’t about to provide any relevant information in this state either. If I brought him somewhere more private and he felt safe…
Dangerous waters,whispered a little voice in my mind that again sounded like my older brother.Bad idea.The buzzing of my phone with a new text message reminded me where I needed to be.
Then I glanced back at him. He wavered on the edge of the parking lot’s light and the blackness beyond. So close to me and the light, yet one step back and the dark night would swallow him up.
That decided that.
"Wanna come back to my place?" I invited.
"Uh…"
Now his entire focus zeroed in on me as his cheeks darkened with pink and he smoothed a nervous hand down his tank top, clearly under the impression I just propositioned him… it kind of sounded like I did. Oops.
“Sorry, I’ve never said that in a not flirty way before.” I tried again. “If you need a place to crash for the night, you’re welcome at my apartment.”
“T-thank you, but I probably shouldn’t…”
"I’m in law enforcement, if that helps."
"Bullshi—” he barely managed to cut off the word. “I mean, uh, seriously?"
I pulled my badge from my back pocket and presented the shield. While authentic, a glamour swapped a human law enforcement branch with what was truly printed there:Ashvale Department of Supernatural Affairs.
“Sorry for doubting you,” he said. “But inviting me over for a sleepover doesn’t feel like protocol.”
“See, I keep meaning to read the damn manual one day.” I grinned. “But something always comes up.”
"Like rescuing a guy from a fireball?"
“Or a good TV show.” I winked, which usually never failed. But he seemed more skittish than most, so I added the truth. “Seriously, I just wanna know you’re alright.”
“I am,” he replied reflexively.
“And as convincing as that is, I’d feel better if I knew you weren’t going to wander around here all night."
He viewed our surroundings, equally dismayed by the prospect. "Okay then."
Yeah, those eyes looked bluer already.
This guy clearly needed a friend and a safe place to crash. If that’s all it was, fine. I’d deal with my pissed off boss tomorrow. But a gut feeling told me something was up, possibly something right up my alley.
Because when I ventured out to check on him, a particular scent registered amid the smells of the gas station. One that had me springing into alertness and allowed me to act in nick of time.
I caught the scent of a fox shifter…
3.Safe Haven
Lucas
The giant fireball illuminated everything. Duh. Not just the darkened surroundings, the fireball proved my mind wasn’t simply playing tricks on me.Someone is really out to get me.
But I began rethinking my conclusions when I sat on a total stranger’s couch and watched him hastily tidy up.
I lit a cigarette without paying attention at the gas station. Weren’t there better traps than a stray puddle of gasoline? Why would someone wish to harm me anyway?
Oh no. The simplest explanation seemed more and more likely. There was no sinister plan or attack on my life, only an accident.
An accident. Another accident.
