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Julian took a moment before he spoke again, but I saw his hands clench the steering wheel. With his strength, it was a wonder he didn’t snap it in half.
“My research tells me you are married to your job, Dr. Devaux. And that since the unfortunate incident at your lab—during which you set off a magical flare that could be detected around the globe—you haven’t done anything besides hide at your sister’s house. Until tonight, at which point you were nearly taken by a group that uses psychics as soldiers and human batteries. I’m offering you a job with a laboratory in which you can continue whatever research you want, within legal limits, in safety.”
“Call me Char. And you could have led with that.” I tightened my arms in front of me, wiggling in the seat.
“My apologies.” Julian steered us to a deserted-looking, industrial area with large, rectangular, metal buildings, sparse streetlamps, and empty parking lots. “SHADE offers excellent compensation and benefits as well.”
I drew in a deep breath and tried to focus on the offer. “What exactly would be expected of me?” Though I suppose he knew as well as I did that he had me with the offer of a lab and the ability to continue my research in peace. But only if they didn’t ask questions. I wouldn’t be beholden to anyone—even the government.
“I could use your help on some cases I’m working on,” Julian said smoothly as he pulled up behind a particularly dark, non-descript building.
“Cases? I thought you were supposed to help supes in trouble?”
He turned off the car and angled himself so he could settle his unblinking gaze on me once again. The intensity made me squirm, but not in an uncomfortable way, and I hated that my traitorous body reacted that way.
“I protect innocent supes, yes. I also solve crimes that involve the supernatural community. I could use someone with your talents to help me examine evidence and find answers. I feel you’d be perfectly suited to assist on my current case, as a matter of fact.”
I blinked. I’d never thought of myself as a detective, just a scientist. Was this about my psychic abilities? “Just because I see auras doesn’t mean I can immediately know whodunnit, Lieutenant.”
“Julian, please. I’m sure as rare as they are, your psychic abilities would be an invaluable asset, but that’s not why I want to hire you.” He leaned forward, and that same comforting, familiar scent enfolded me, making me squirm even more. “I found you and your sister’s home not through magic, but through old-fashioned resources. With you assisting in the lab, we’d be eons ahead of those that refuse to open themselves to human science.”
Warmth spread through my chest. Had I found someone else who believed science and magic could co-exist? Even work better together? But…he was a vampire.
“What’s the case you’re on?” I whispered, barely finding my voice.
“Have you heard of something called GoDKiller?”
My vision blurred, and I grabbed the sides of the passenger seat so I wouldn’t fall off.
“Charlotte, are you alright?”
He was around the car, kneeling beside me with the door open before I could register it. And the superspeed move made my heart race even harder. I couldn’t get enough air. My chest hurt, and I clutched at it as the world spun around me.
The next thing I knew, I was in his arms again, being carried through the cool night like Scarlet O’Hara. But I couldn’t protest, I was too busy hyperventilating. Instead, I allowed him to cradle me to his chest, swathing me in his scent.
“You’re having a panic attack,” he reported as we reached a keypad by the building’s rear entrance. “Slow breaths. Less shallow. It’ll pass. I’ve got you.”
I pressed against his incredibly hard chest as my breathing came back under control. I knew all that, but I hadn’t had one in years. Shit. I was not a fainting damsel in distress, and the last thing I wanted was for this vampire—my new boss—to get that impression.
“Put me down. I’m okay now.”
He set me on my feet, his hands lingering on the small of my back until he was certain I was steady. His eyes almost glowed in the dark, and looking up at him, I could see how they grew deeper in color as they neared his pupils. Was I really considering this? What choice did I have?
Without looking, he punched a code in the keypad, and the door slid open for us, revealing a warmly lit hallway. I ducked inside and he followed, retyping the code on the interior version of the pad so the door slid closed again and whatever wards they had reinstated.
“We should wait to discuss work until you are well,” he said, gesturing toward the end of the hall where he opened yet another door.
“I’m fine. It’s just been a rough couple of months,” I said, taking in the transportation archway that glowed gold before us. I’d never seen a hidden one before. Usually, they were so expensive and difficult to install they were placed in public locations where people would go to transport to specific other locations. This was a private one. SHADE only, I supposed. I wondered how much tax-payer money that was worth and how many they had.
“It goes to the Island.” Julian answered the unspoken question. “And we can at least wait until you are settled and have had some sleep.”
It wasn’t like I had a particular desire to explain what I knew about GoDKiller. I needed to figure out how much to tell him. Would I end up in jail instead of on the case and working for a vampire?
But the idea of being on the case…having actual intel that could help me find and recover my life’s work, and Lydia…
“I’ll take the job,” I said just before stepping through the threshold.
Chapter Three
