I didn’t even need his own thoughts to sense it. I felt it, deep inside me, where I’d been burying feelings toward her all morning. Fuck, she was my mate. And possibly Hunter’s too, since we were twins and twins often shared a mate, if they were fortunate enough to get one. Though Hunter didn’t seem to realize she was our mate—he was protective over her, but there was no mate mark or other signs—probably because of the separation he’d put up between him and his jaguar.
I inhaled her scent again and took in her lovely, smiling face.She was mine. If Hunter was too stupid to claim her, I would. And I wouldn’t share. I’d take her away and cherish her. My gut already told me the girl was innocent in all this drug and vamp business, and that she was remarkably strong to have survived whatever had given her those vamp marks. Moreover, she had such spunk coupled with a sweet demeanor and was something really special. But I couldn’t do anything about all that, let alone claim her, now.
“You’d better go help them,” I said, needing to distract her for a moment.
“Oh, okay. Bye.” She rushed back over to where Bryce and Hunter already had the mess well under control and Hunter was cradling the cat in his arms, cooing at it like it was a baby. I snagged her hoodie off the stool, turned before anyone could see it against my chest, and pushed the button for the elevator, hearing it clunk and whirr its way slowly upwards.
When it arrived, I stepped inside, about to go down with my stolen goods, but she spoke again, asking, “One last thing. This vamp, the one handing out drugs. Did he… give a name?”
I paused in the elevator doorway so it wouldn’t close, my back to her as I shook my head. “No name, sorry. But no matter how long it takes, I’m going to get everyone behind this, I assure you.” I said it all over my shoulder as I stepped inside and pushed the button for the bottom floor.
As the bulky industrial elevator began its clunky descent, I held her hoodie to my nose, knowing that having her scent with me like this was the only thing that would keep me and my jaguar sane until I could see her again.
And I would see her again. Very soon.
Serenity
Icouldn’t find my hoodie anywhere. In the past hour since we’d gotten the carpet cleaned up, I’d searched all over Hunter’s loft.
When I was a kid, my mom would always say think of the last place you’d used or seen something, then check around that vicinity. Problem was, the last time I could remember having my hoodie nearby was right before Hunter’s surprise twin, the detective had left. I’d set it on a bar stool. It should have been sitting where I’d dropped it. But it was gone.
A horrible thought suddenly occurred to me. What if the detective took it to collect DNA? Was that even allowed without a warrant? I wasn’t sure. But he didn’t seem the sort to care about protocol when it came to investigations. If that helped him put some monsters behind bars more speedily, then I was all for it. I just hoped he didn’t still consider me a suspect too.
The detective—it was hard to think of him as Dagger, though I guessed I should try if he was Hunter’s family—had been aninteresting contrast to his twin. It had been so weird to see Hunter’s face and build but with a totally different vibe. Dagger was just as handsome, tall, dark and powerful looking, but the steady, stoic nature of Hunter had been replaced with brash edges, a smidgeon of cockiness and arms sleeved in tattoos. The jaguar one in particular really stood out. Were they both jaguar shifters?
I’d suspected Hunter was part cat—Carrot’s immediate attachment and growing love for him had only strengthened my thoughts on that. And Carrot had given Dagger a few curious, friendly looks too. I thought for a second she might have even gone over to say hi, but she’d seemed confused by the dynamics between her new favorite man and his twin.
Wow, those tats were stunning too. And they did something to me. The same desire that had been stirring in me recently had spilled over to Dagger—which had felt a bit surprising in the moment, especially since he’d been a bit abrupt and cocky at first. But he was the mirror image of one of the few guys I’d felt attraction to in years. So it made sense in a way.
Okay, I wouldn’t lie to myself. I hadn’t just been attracted to him because he looked like Hunter. His edgy, confident manner had appealed to something in me. The tats all over his dark arms just made him sexier. Despite his barbed comments to Hunter and Bryce—which I hadn’t appreciated—he had been professional toward me. I also appreciated how once he’d seemed satisfied by my initial answers, he’d not wanted to upset me with some of his more sensitive questions.
I was conflicted. I was attracted to him and wanted to like him, but the same edginess I was attracted to made him dangerous too; and my loyalty was with Hunter. Not like I’d see much of Dagger anyway, it seemed.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text and I walked over to the coffee table where it was vibrating itself in semi-circles across the smooth, frosted glass.
Picking it up, I looked at a string of missed messages. The first was from Beatrice.
Hey! Hope you’re feeling better? I hope you don’t mind, but I gave Seb your number. I promise, he’s a really sweet boy. I hope you two can be friends. He’s also going to keep you updated on Rico’s condition. Best wishes, Beatrice
Hmm. I appreciated Beatrice’s well-meaning nature, but I still had no desire to be friends with a vamp. She had a good heart, and her son had shown genuine kindness in trying to help Rico. Didn’t mean I needed to be friends though.
The rest of the messages were from the son in question. He’d left a few.
Hi Serenity! It’s Sebastian. I hope you don’t mind, my mom gave me your number. She wanted me to reach out. I hope that’s okay?
I did wish Beatrice had asked first, but I reminded myself they both meant well. His texts continued. All of the information was a bit late, after Dagger’s visit, but I appreciated he was trying to keep me updated.
Just wanted to give you an update on Rico. He’s awake and doing much better.
But listen, the police showed up after you left. Asked lots of questions. I think they might question you too. This detective named Dagger Pierce even came back from the hospital to get your address from my mom. He’s kind of intense, but seems he really cares about catching any possible culprits. I hope he’s respectful to you. He was a bit short with me, but I think it was my vamp fangs. It seems some awful vamp may have been involved with that happened with Rico.
God, I hoped that drug-pushing vamp wasn’t Conrad, or if it was, I hoped Dagger would get him soon—I sent up a silent prayer—as I kept reading Sebastian’s final text.
Please do reach out to me or my mom if you need anything. My mom really respects and cares for you. I’m really glad she made anotherhuman friend here. I hope I can earn your trust too. Hope to see you back at the shelter soon. Take care, Sebastian.
Sighing, not wanting anything to do with a vamp—half-human or not—I decided to fire off quick, polite replies. Just a thank you to them both for keeping me updated. And one more note to Sebastian to tell him how glad I was he’d made such determined efforts to help Rico yesterday. It felt weird praising a vamp, but he deserved it. He may have saved Rico’s life.
I had to admit, he came across as caring.
