Chapter 15 #2
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Someone in our community has done this. Someone I know. It’s difficult to wrap my head around that.”
These people were all strangers to me until recently, so I hadn’t really thought about it like that. But he was right. Someone in his and Elwood’s circle had committed two brutal murders and betrayed everyone else’s trust at the same time.
Like Elwood, Gideon was a bit of a leader to these people.
I could see how he might feel a sense of obligation or duty and how that might lead to unwarranted guilt over what’d happened.
He was a wolf shifter, so this was a terrible analogy, but I wondered if he felt he’d invited a wolf into his henhouse.
We’d arrived at the back door while we were talking, but I didn’t reach for the doorknob. I turned to Gideon.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I can’t imagine how difficult that is for you. Do you want to talk about it? You know this isn’t your fault, right?”
“Thanks, but I think I’m still processing, too.
” Gideon averted his eyes. “Logically, I know this isn’t my fault.
Az has been telling me the same thing. But I can’t help thinking that if I could shift, I could’ve prevented this.
I could’ve scented something at Winston’s crime scene that would have at least saved Jim. ”
“I might be new to magic and everything, but even I know that isn’t true. The only one to blame for this is the murderer.”
“Or murderers. There could be two different killers.”
I grimaced. “I guess that’s true.”
“Elwood has wards around his business and his apartment,” Gideon said. “You should be safe inside.”
I considered that. “Does that mean the murderer hasn’t been inside the building? Can we rule out everyone who’d attended the meeting?”
He shook his head. “The wards would only kick in if the person intended harm.”
“So, if they weren’t thinking about murder the night of the meeting, they wouldn’t have triggered the wards.” I wondered how that worked. Did the ward yeet the person from the premises as soon as they had a murderous thought? It was something to talk to Elwood about.
Gideon sniffed the air. “I don’t think Elwood has returned yet. He’s probably still talking with Mellgren.”
“Is this your way of asking me to invite you inside?”
Gideon smiled, and instantly some of the tension that’d settled over us with all that talk of murder dissipated. “It might be too soon for that, unless you think otherwise…”
“No. You’re right.” I sighed. “Besides, it’s a little awkward to ask you upstairs to my grandfather’s place. Even if he isn’t here at the moment.”
If I stayed in Ravenstone, which I’d pretty much decided I would, I’d need to find a place of my own. Just so I could invite sexy shifters in for a nightcap without it being weird.
“Declan?”
“Yeah?”
“I want to kiss you,” Gideon said. He stepped closer. His hand came up to cup the side of my neck. My pulse quickened, and he could probably feel it thrumming like a hummingbird’s wings under his palm.
My gaze dropped to his mouth, and I licked my lips. “You’ve kissed me before without asking.”
“I’m asking now.”
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and pulled him close.
“Yes,” I whispered as I pressed my mouth to his.
The kiss was everything a kiss should be. I hadn’t realized how inadequate every other kiss in my life had been until this moment. This definitely wasn’t one of those quick pecks we’d shared earlier. This was lips and tongues and heat.
He crowded me against the back door and pressed his body to mine. My every nerve exploded to life. I wanted more. I wanted Gideon.
But this went deeper than mere lust and the need to get off.
I didn’t know how it was possible, but I sensed a profound connection between us settling into place.
I arched against him. I lost track of everything except the feel of his body under my hands, the heat of his mouth against mine, the exquisite sense of anticipation…
Someone cleared their throat.
Gideon pulled back. He glanced over his shoulder, but it was like he already knew who was there.
“You don’t need to stop mauling one another,” my grandfather said, “but if you could move over so I could get to the door.”
Oh God. I dropped my head onto Gideon’s shoulder to hide my face. I wasn’t a teenager, but being caught necking with a guy on the doorstep made me feel like one again. Laughter rumbled out of Gideon.
“If you’re staying in the garden, watch for the moonbane,” Elwood said as we shuffled to the side. “You don’t want to touch it while the flower is open.”
Right, I’d forgotten some of Elwood’s medicinal plants were also poisonous if you didn’t use them correctly. I didn’t know which one was the moonbane, but I recognized all the plants closest to us, so I wasn’t worried.
“Thank you,” Elwood said after we’d moved. I heard the door open. “I wouldn’t normally ask this, but if you decide to take this somewhere else for the night. Let me know, okay?” Then he went inside and closed the door.
That was a sober reminder that all was not right in Ravenstone.
“I should…” I pointed to the door.
“Yeah. Me, too.”
Gideon pressed his lips to mine again, but this time it was one of those quick, sweet kisses. He stepped back, and I wanted to follow. I didn’t.
“I’m right there,” he said, pointing to the next building. “If you need anything, anything at all, just shout. I’ll hear you. I will come.”
His promise gave me goosebumps. I’d never had anyone want to be my white knight before.
“I will.” I nodded. “Good night, Gideon.”
“Good night, Declan.”
He didn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
“I’ll wait here,” he said. “Until you’re inside, and the door is locked.”
His protectiveness made me smile as I stepped inside and dutifully locked the door. Then I waited. I didn’t know why until I heard him say through the door, “Sweet dreams, Dec.”
“You, too,” I whispered.