Page 28 of Scout’s Honor

Bonhi went up to her bedroom, her brain slow, her body heavy, feeling exhausted. She grabbed some clothes, forcing herself to stay awake and keep moving.

She went back downstairs, and the first thing she saw was Dallas, looking fresh and handsome in clean gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt that stretched handsomely over his chest. His foot and prosthesis were bare. He stood in her living room alone, while the two officers talked in the kitchen.

Bonhi smiled at him. He smiled back.

Her stomach swooped, telling her she was a goner, and she was too tired to fight the feeling. She let herself be swept toward him like he was her man, hoping he would open his arms to her.

He did.

Dallas smiled at Bonhi as she came down the stairs. She looked so tired, and she still shone with beauty and blue light. She approached him like they were intimate and he knew how she felt. He felt the same after what they’d been through. He drew her in and hugged her, saying nothing, listening to the murmur of the officers’ voices in the kitchen, and the sounds of the house all around them.

Dallas had found a change of clothing in the trunk of his car and put it on. Officer Saluda—Dario, had taken Dallas’ clothes and the gun components. Dario was one of the ‘Cause’ shifters Dallas had met before, and the only ‘Cause’ shifter on local law enforcement. Dallas and Dario’d had a short, whispered conversation about whether Dallas’ blood would be found on the clothing. Dallas had confirmed he’d been shot several times, but no one had seen him shift.

Dallas held Bonhi in his arms. She was soft and she smelled wonderful and she liked him, that was clear.

Dario came into the living room and nodded to them, motioning to the kitchen. “We’re ready.”

Bonhi went into a small bathroom and changed her clothes first. When she came out she was dressed in dark leggings and an oversized pink sweatshirt, and her hair was brushed neatly over one shoulder.

Dario pulled a chair out for her at the table and the interview began. They told the story together, Bonhi first, then Dallas telling how he ‘just happened’ to come across them on the road and realize that Bonhi needed help, leaving out the call of Instinct. To her credit, when Bonhi spoke about the gunshots, she didn’t ever make it seem like Dallas had been shot.

When it was all told, Officer Brand addressed Bonhi. “We’ll need a list of anyone who could possibly have it out for you.”

Bonhi shook her head. “No one.”

The officer smiled. “Not one person?”

Bonhi thought for a moment and then she spoke hesitantly. “There is this judge…”

Dario held up a hand, then motioned Dallas out of the room. “Let’s give them some privacy.”

Dallas nodded, even though he wanted to hear about this judge. He and Dario moved through the foyer, out the front door.

“Sorry, cat,” Dario said with a shrug, as soon as the door was closed.

Dallas shook his head. “No need. I get it.” He could still see Bonhi’s blue glow through the small windows in the door. He hooked a thumb at her. “You see her glow, right?”

Dario’s brows drew down. He looked in the window and back. “What, like the switches?”

Dallas nodded. “Yeah, exactly. You see it?”

Dario looked again. He shook his head. “She’s not glowing.”

Dallas’ heart clenched. “It’s soft. Blue.”

Dario walked right up next to the door and stared for a few moments, then he turned back. “You joking with me?”

“Shit,” Dallas said, his shoulders dropping. “I swear I see her glow.”

Dario shook his head. “Didn’t you see your sister glow before the rest of us did?”

Light dawned in Dallas’ mind, and he wondered why he hadn’t thought of that himself. He clapped Dario on the shoulder. “Yeah, I did.”

Dario nodded along. “They aren’t supposed to start glowing until they get ‘switched on.’”

“Switched on?”

“Yeah, when they encounter their first vampire, that’s when they first start to glow.”