4. He Wants What? #2
The Weres had been much more amenable to it than the Vamps. Probably because they predominantly live in society, whereas most Vampires prefer the shadows.
I keep my face neutral and try not to choke on my coffee. My shield is up, so I can’t blame him for where my thoughts have gone: to his teeth in my neck.
Micah smiles, fangs flashing, and I involuntarily clench my legs together. Unlike some inaccurate representations, Vamps have fangs all the time; they just learn to hide them.
Fuuuuuck, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Suddenly, I’m angry. I didn’t come here to be played with or reminded of the past. No matter what happened between us, he never used to be cruel. At least, not with me.
Putting my coffee down with a clunk, Micah blinks, his mask falling easily back into place.
‘Evangeline,’ he says, and I can’t place the look in his midnight eyes.
‘Eve,’ I say abruptly, clenching my hands in my lap. ‘My name is Eve.’ I can’t admit that hearing him call me Evangeline makes me think not only of that last night, but all the good memories I have of the almost three years we spent together.
Micah leans forward, swirling the blood in his glass. ‘Evangeline, why did you come here after seven years? When you never even said goodbye.’
‘I…,’ My thoughts and words catch in my throat. ‘I didn’t think I needed to. I thought it was implied.’
When you told me in no uncertain terms how you really felt about me, and my life shattered. I had to leave to pick up the pieces. I couldn’t do it here.
‘I may have said some things,’ he seems to be searching for words, and I feel shock slip down my spine. That must be a first for him. ‘That came out wrong.’ His midnight eyes are carefully shuttered as he amends his words.
‘I really don’t want to talk about the past,’ I cut in quickly, staring everywhere but at him. ‘But I do have something to ask you. It’s important. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come.’
Stating the obvious, Eve.
‘But if you want to bring up a past that no longer matters, I can just as easily leave.’ It comes out firm and steady, at odds with my jumpy insides.
Because I’m a coward, even after all this time. I drink more coffee to cover my discomfort, to steady myself. Let him think I don’t care; it’s safer this way.
‘As you wish.’ Micah leans back and finishes his blood. Savoring it as if it’s the finest aged whiskey. Which I know he also enjoys.
‘I’m sure you’re aware of my role in the Paranormal Police Squad.’ There’s no point in pretending we’re not both acutely aware that he leads the only Vampire Coven in New York, and that he knows everything that happens in his city.
‘You’ve made quite a name for yourself.’ He smiles, his eyes glowing with approval.
One simple compliment and my body acts as if I’m nineteen again and completely in love with him.
I push it violently aside. If I didn’t know I’d protected myself against it, I would think he was manipulating my feelings.
It would be easier for me if I could pretend that’s what was happening.
But he’s never used that power on me, not even back then.
I’d had no one but myself to blame for what happened between us.
‘There was a murder last night.’ I pause to see if he’s aware of it. Not everything is important enough for him to take notice of. Or for Lila to bother telling him about. Although the arrest of one of the other Paranormal leaders should come to his attention eventually.
‘I haven’t been informed, no.’ Micah says easily, waving his hand for me to continue.
‘Jake Monroe, leader of the Sin City Pack, has been charged with the murder. He didn’t do it. Don’t ask me who did,’ I preempt him. ‘My partner and I are investigating it.’
‘Who was the victim?’ Micah asks. I think I see interest flare before he shutters his midnight eyes again.
‘Some middle cartel guy,’ I shrug. ‘But he’s a Rodriguez. We’re pretty sure one of the family.’
I can see him thinking it through. Maybe he can help me with more than what I’ve come here for. He has thousands of years of experience, knows every twist and turn of human nature. He could tease out hidden motives we wouldn’t think of.
No. Too dangerous to let him be involved.
‘So, one of the Rodriguez family is murdered by a Lycanthrope, and you think it’s a set-up? By a rival Pack.’ Micah leans back and stares into his empty glass.
I watch in fascination as it instantly refills with blood. I’ve never been sure if it’s part of his power or if he moves so fast it’s impossible to detect.
‘Yes. Janus’s Pack. The Devil’s Edge. He’s Jakes main rival, and I’m sure you know what’s been brewing in the Werewolf territories. I need evidence to prove Jake is innocent.’ I stare into my cup, more for something to do than any desire for coffee that’s now cold.
It heats in my hands, and I flinch involuntarily. I used to take things like that for granted, but now I’m taken by surprise. And more than slightly uncomfortable that Micah read my mind. Or worse, my face showed my thoughts.
‘Jake. Your boyfriend.’ Micah’s eyes darken, and wisps of shadow gather across his shoulders.
I’m not under any illusion that he doesn’t know exactly what I’ve been doing and who I’ve been seeing since the moment I left this castle.
Just because our paths haven’t crossed doesn’t mean he doesn’t know everything about my life.
And not only from his second in charge, Lila, liaison to the PPS, and my friend.
‘Yes, my boyfriend,’ I can’t help the thread of challenge that spools out between us.
‘I can smell him on you.’ It’s a growl, and his eyes are glowing black, his face a tight mask.
Right. How could I forget that Lycos aren’t the only ones with heightened senses?
I’m sure that’s not all he can smell on me, and I push down the heat that threatens to flood my face.
I curse myself for not thinking to shower and change before driving out here.
No wonder he had a glass of blood waiting for him.
He must loathe the smell of Werewolf on me.
Because I’m damn sure he doesn’t care about the sex.
‘What do you want from me, Evangeline?’ he asks, his voice measured as if he’s trying hard not to show any emotion. He’s extremely practiced at that.
‘Two things, now I think of it,’ I say, savoring both the warmth and taste of the coffee as I carefully craft my words. It’s smooth and has a wonderful lingering aftertaste. An expensive European brew, no doubt.
‘I’m sure your Coven hears things that the police don’t. And I need bail money.’ I throw the last part out as casually as I can. My real reason for coming back here after all this time, for risking those memories and feelings being unearthed like a long-dead corpse.
‘The first request I can easily see to. If your Wolf is innocent, I will do everything in my power to help find the real killer. It’s part of the Treaty Vampires and Lycanthropes have with the City, after all.
’ Micah pauses, and I’m caught in his unrelenting gaze, like being sucking into a vortex.
‘As for your second request, how much is his bond? And, apart from being deprived of sex, why does he need to be out?’
I refuse to rise to the bait. Mostly because I have no idea what he expects to gain from it. Why would he care who rails me? He sure hadn’t wanted to. I’m surprised at the bitterness that assails me after so long. I’m happy with Jake. I love Jake. Why does it still sting that Micah didn’t want me?