by Dannika Dark
Even if my dress was a lie.
I poked at a cube of ice in my glass, trying to remember what normal people talked about on a date. I already knew what he did for a living, and most Breeds were put off when asked about human interests such as television, movies, or politics.
Then I remembered most Chitahs came from large families. “Do you have any family nearby?”
“No siblings to speak of, and my parents are long dead.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” So much for that icebreaker.
Glass looked dapper in his dark shirt and grey sports jacket. He was definitely more seasoned than the other men I’d dated. He must have been an older Chitah. From what I knew about them, they physically aged about five years for every few hundred, give or take. His blond hair didn’t give his age away, but I noticed a few grey hairs mixed in with his dark brows. Such a strange combination to have black eyebrows and light hair.
He rubbed his high forehead, smoothing out the deep lines. “My mother’s death was pretty recent—ten years ago. She was sick for a long time, and I was her caregiver, which wasn’t an easy job. I guess you have no family to speak of since you’re a Mage. Who’s your Creator?”
Glass was wandering into dangerous territory filled with emotional land mines and grenades. I breathed a sigh of relief when the waiter appeared, flourishing a bottle of wine before filling our glasses.
I gulped half my glass and got a quick refill before he left the table. Once the wine kicked in, I gazed up at the opulent chandelier. “Do you bring all your dates here?”
Glass scratched his ear. “You must have me mixed up with a guy who goes out with a lot of women.”
“I bet all the Chitahs are chasing you down. Come on. You’re a detective. That’s a pretty admirable job, and a lot of ladies love a distinguished gentleman.”
He pinched one of his dark eyebrows and smiled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hitting on me.”
That shut me up real quick. My cheeks flushed, and I smiled awkwardly, gulping down my wine before I embarrassed myself any further. I didn’t know anything about the dating rituals of Chitahs except that their women played hard to get.
And here I was, practically throwing myself on the table as the main course. I wanted him to smell my perfume, not my desperation.
I glanced down to make sure the low collar on my dress wasn’t revealing too much. “How did you get into detective work?”
Glass swirled his drink and gave it a taste. “It’s the only job where I feel like I’m making a difference. I tried a few things before, but this one gives me a purpose. Someone needs to clean the scum off the streets. I consider it a personal mission in life. And you? How did a woman like you get into your line of work?”
I dodged his gaze and noticed a few people staring at us. “Pretty much the same reason. I guess we’re not so different.”
He leaned in. “I can scent your annoyance. Do you mind that they’re staring at us?”
“I only have a problem when people don’t speak their mind. At least I can tell who the idiots are by the way they’re gawking, but I’m more concerned about the ones who wear a mask and hide their intentions. You know?”
Glass leaned back in his chair. “Everyone wears a mask.”
“I guess that’s true. But the ones who don’t make our job a little easier.”
His eyes twinkled. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
“Glad it wasn’t just my ass.”
He rocked with laughter and drew even more eyes to our table. Our glasses clinked, and I decided it was going to be a fabulous evening.
All fabulous evenings must end, and my curtain closed the moment Christian Poe swaggered into the restaurant.
Glass and I were talking about places we’d like to travel when I glimpsed a man in a dark coat making his way through the center of the room. I was certain he knew I was in there, but he made no eye contact as he followed the waiter.
“Were you vacationing in Washington?” Glass asked.
I furrowed my brow.
Glass wiped his mouth with a linen napkin and then tossed it across his empty plate. “When you called me last night, I noticed the area code.”
“Oh. No. I had to take care of something.”
“With him?” he asked, nodding at Christian, who had just taken a seat at a nearby table with a buxom blonde.
I was a little disappointed that Glass had noticed him. Hopefully this wouldn’t ruin our evening. “Well, Christian is my partner. Where I go, he goes.”
As if on cue, Christian made a deliberate turn in his chair, cocking his head to the side and then searching the sea of people in the room.
Ignoring him, I used my fingernail to try to dislodge a piece of meat wedged between my teeth.
Glass pushed his plate forward and rested his arms on the table. “You should apply for a job with the higher authority. It pays well, and if you make detective, you don’t need a partner. I like the independence, and I don’t have set hours. Except for the crime scenes I have to show up for right away, I can create my own schedule and do as I please.”
Christian appeared behind my chair and bent over, his whiskers brushing against my cheek. He lifted a bone from my plate and held it up. “Well, it looks like Mary had a little lamb.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked flatly.
“This is quite the coincidence, wouldn’t you agree? I’m with the tall lass—the one over there with the ample breasts,” he said, pointing at his table.
“I see her. Canada can see her.”
“Aye,” he said, lost in his thoughts.
Glass flicked his gaze between us. “Why don’t you join us… Poe, isn’t it?”
Christian crooked his finger at his date, and when she rose from the table, I couldn’t help but notice her tall frame and the golden eyes that flashed up to meet mine.
That conniving little Vamp had hooked up with a Chitah, and not just any Chitah, but the most gorgeous one I’d ever seen. Probably on purpose. Was he trying to outdo me or using her to tempt my date? After everything he’d said against Chitahs, I knew sabotage was on the menu tonight.
She sashayed toward the table, her white dress hugging her body. Christian grabbed an empty chair and dragged it around to my right so he could sit next to his date. I hadn’t paid much attention to what he was wearing when he’d abruptly left the mansion, but now it seemed like he was parading himself around and turning slowly to give me the full view. Dark jeans, a blood-red shirt that matched my dress, a black sports jacket, and cologne.
He also had a red scarf tied around his neck, and my lips eased into a wide grin as I remembered the tattoo.
“Why the accessories?” I asked, tapping my finger against my neck. “Vampires don’t get cold.”
He adjusted his scarf and gave me a stony glance. “It’s fashionable.”
I smiled and lifted my glass. “Maybe in the eighteen hundreds.”
His companion sat in the chair nearest to Glass.
“Everyone, this is Marlene.” Christian put his right arm behind her chair and kissed her bare shoulder. “Marlene, this is everyone.”
“Hi, everyone,” she purred.
Christian searched the room and stood up. “Where the feck is the waiter? You pay all this money and get shite service. Be right back.”
When he flounced out of the room, I leaned over and spoke privately to Marlene. “Known each other long?”
She offered an unapologetic smile. “Do you have a watch?”
I smiled back and crooked my finger to whisper in her ear. “If you want to know what turns Christian on, he likes it when you stick your tongue in his ear. It’s his thing.” I patted her hand and sat back. “I’m glad to see him dating again. He’s been through a rough patch lately. Maybe you can get him to take off that scarf. He can be so deceptively shy.”
She winked, and it occurred to me that Marlene wasn’t very bright. Maybe that was the way he liked th
em. I should have told her he liked women who licked the bones from my plate.
When Marlene turned her gaze toward Glass, I felt a small sting of jealousy. The woman was so well endowed that she practically needed separate reservations for her breasts. Was Marlene the epitome of what Chitah men wanted?
Glass sat back in his chair and looked her over. “Do you normally date Vampires?”
“If the right man asks,” she said. “What do you do for a living?”
“Keep the streets clean.”
She chuckled. “So you’re a street sweeper?”
His jaw set.
“Glass is a detective,” I informed her. “He works with the higher authority solving crimes.”
Marlene rubbed her nose and then switched to the chair nearest me. “So how do you know Christian?”
Glass leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, his fingers laced together. “They spent last night together in Washington. I would love to hear all about that.”
I frowned. “I’m sorry, Glass. I’m not trying to ignore you. None of this was planned.”
A bottle of wine appeared on the table, and Christian sat down next to Glass. “Are we playing musical chairs?” He topped everyone’s glass, and when finished, he drank half of his. “Now that’s the stuff.”
“I was just asking how you two know each other,” Marlene said.
Christian gave me a guarded look. “She’s my partner in crime.”
The detective touched the stem of his wineglass. “Now that I have you both here, maybe we should discuss the case. Have you made any progress?”
He directed his question to Christian, thank God. After a few glasses of wine, I was afraid I might start telling him everything. Case details, leads, the security code to our gate, my favorite sex positions…
Christian waved his half-empty glass and sat back. “We’re close to finding the fanghole who’s responsible.”
Glass shifted in his chair. “Do you have a name? I can run a background check to see if they have any previous offenses.”
Christian’s lips twisted in a sardonic smile. “You mean to say that you haven’t come up with a single lead?”
“I’ve spent hours at the crime scenes. But you wouldn’t know that since you sped away like a child.”
I sipped my wine, noticing the disdain on Christian’s face.
Christian stroked his beard and set down his drink. “As it so happens, Raven and I stayed up all night going over the case. She hogs the covers.”
I would have kicked him under the table had Marlene not been sitting between us.
“Is that so,” Glass said.
When his eyes skated off to the side, I reached across the table and held his hand.
Marlene must have taken that as her cue. She wrapped her hands around Christian’s neck and rammed her tongue in his ear. I quelled my urge to burst out laughing when he shrank back and tilted his head in obvious disgust.
“It’s too early to reveal our findings,” I said. “I’m sure Viktor will give you a call when we have something concrete. Are you positive there aren’t any photographs from the previous cases you can share with us? Evidence? Anything?”
He placed his hand on top of mine. “You’ll be the first to know if I have something you want.”
Was that an innuendo?
When Marlene started tugging at Christian’s scarf, he shot me a dark look. A flicker of understanding sparked in his eyes that maybe he shouldn’t have left the table earlier. Or maybe my smug expression gave me away.
“Why don’t you two join us at the Red Door after dinner,” Marlene offered. “I know someone who can get us into the VIP party room.”
Remembering what Christian liked to do in those private rooms, I sat back and tossed my napkin onto my plate. “Thanks, but I’m not really in the mood for clubbing.”
She shrugged impassively. “Suit yourself. There’s a live band playing at midnight.”
“Tell us more about yourself, Detective.” Christian refilled his glass of wine.
“What exactly do you want to know, Mr. Poe?”
I snorted at the unintentional rhyme. “He wants to know your blood type.”
“Put a cork in it,” Christian snapped. “I have every right to know what kind of man is asking to see my partner, especially when we have business ties with him. Do you normally diddle with your associates?”
Glass narrowed his eyes. “And maybe I have every right to know what kind of man Raven has chosen to partner with. Tell me, Mr. Poe, do you think if I ran a background check on you it would turn up anything concerning?”
Christian lifted his glass. “Touché.”
Marlene leaned over and licked the shell of Christian’s ear. He recoiled, but that didn’t stop her hand from roving across his lap.
I reached around and lifted my shawl from the back of my chair. When I rose from my seat, Christian’s eyes took in my elegant dress. “I think I’m ready to go. I hope you two have a delightful evening,” I said, waggling my brows, hoping like heck he lost our bet.
Christian gave me a look of murder when she tugged at his scarf again.
While Glass paid the bill, I waited by the front entrance. A few rogue snowflakes drifted to the ground, heralding the coming of winter. When the valet arrived with the car, we dashed outside, and a gust of wind blew my dress up in the back.
So much for sophistication.
Once inside the car, Glass gripped the steering wheel and sped out of the parking lot with haste.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing his altered mood.
“I don’t trust Vampires. I’m sorry if he’s your partner, but you have no business trusting a man like that. They’re deceptive and dangerous.”
“You don’t think I know that? It’s not like I had a choice in the matter.”
His nostrils twitched. “I picked up your scent in there.”
I waited for a beat. “And?”
It dawned on me that he must have been able to smell my jealousy. The only problem was it had to do with the way Chesty McBoobs was looking at Glass, not because of her and Christian. But I couldn’t exactly explain that to Glass. This was our first date. How desperate would that make me look if I was jealous about another woman looking at him?
“I deal with criminals every day,” he continued. “Vampires are the most deceitful and conniving men because of their gift to charm and erase memories. Trusting a man who wields that much power is foolish, and it concerns me that you have no problem working beside one. That’s all.”
I smirked when I realized that some of his contempt might be due to a little jealousy of his own. It was flattering to think someone might feel territorial over me, even if it came from a man who was technically my mortal enemy. “I had a nice time tonight, but this… this isn’t me.”
He studied me a moment at the light. “What do you mean?”
I gripped the door as we turned a corner. “Dresses, fancy dinners, polite conversation. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great evening, but I don’t want you to get a false impression about who I am.”
A smile pressed lines in his cheeks. “And who are you, Miss Black?”
That was a damn good question. “I dress down, I have a wicked sense of humor, I love eating in a greasy diner, and I know how to handle myself around a Vampire. I’m not intimidated by any Breed, or else I wouldn’t be sitting here on a date with a Chitah.”
He sped down the road that led to the mansion. “You’re not at all bothered by the fact that we’re mortal enemies—that people will judge you like those in the restaurant tonight who were whispering and pointing?”
“Yes, ignorance bothers me. But screw them. I live by my rules, not anyone else’s.”
“You’re an interesting woman. I’ve never met a Mage who dated a Chitah of her own free will.”
“So what made you ask me out?”
His voice lowered an octave. “I like to live on the wild side.”
The car stopp
ed in front of the gate, and Glass unbuckled his seat belt.
He sized me up with a predatory gaze. “My bite is much worse than my bark, Miss Black.”
All four of his canines pushed out, as if to emphasize the fact he could kill me with one bite.
“So’s mine,” I whispered. Maybe he was giving me one last chance to back out of this, but I wasn’t going anywhere.
He leaned in for a kiss, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect moment. But for reasons I couldn’t explain, I drew back.
A peculiar look clouded his expression. “Sorry,” he said. “That was too forward for a first date.”
“No, it’s not you. I’m just… I’m not used to the dating scene.”
“Get used to it, Miss Black, because I’m taking you out again.”
Chapter 17
Later that evening, I crept onto the rooftop to gather my thoughts. On a moonlit night, I could see the trees and surrounding property. But tonight was cloudy, so I chose a corner that overlooked the courtyard and allowed me to watch Gem floating in the heated pool. It seemed to be a nightly ritual for her.
I reflected over my date with Glass. The fancy restaurant wasn’t my thing, but he was so attentive and not at all a man I could push around. Dominant men were attractive to me. The only concerning part was his obvious aversion to Vampires. I felt the same, but would his feelings for me change if he found out I was half? Viktor had suggested it was better not to disclose I was a crossbreed to anyone outside Keystone, but if things got serious with Glass, I’d have to reveal the truth.
I admired the magnificent view stretched out before me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impervious to the cold, and the frigid wind eventually drove me indoors. I changed into my pajamas—dark grey sweats and a sleeveless shirt. I was so used to wandering the streets that it was sometimes impossible for me to sit idly for long. Maybe I’d grow used to it in time, but my restless legs led me into the quiet halls.
Someone had snuffed the candles out, so I relied on my Vampire vision to see more clearly. After descending to the second floor, I changed direction and headed toward a flickering glow near the back of the mansion. It was coming from one of the studies, only this one had shelves for walls filled with hundreds upon hundreds of books. Their bindings were suffused in candlelight, as was the massive gold rug beneath my feet. Even the smell in the room was different because of all the old paper. A log snapped in the hearth, sending a spray of embers up the flue.
