Silence crowded the car, and she looked away from the passing scenery to meet Scotts’ gaze in the rear view mirror.
“You were hired to help the police. So why does it seem you get all your questions answered and mine get ignored.” He slowed to take a curve, dodging traffic in a way that would make a New York taxi driver proud. “Remember our deal.”
Raven grunted. He was right. He deserved better. “I’ve been hired to find a missing person, but the further I dig, the more people I find have disappeared.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary has hit the board.” If it wasn’t on the board, the police didn’t know about it.
The slight distrust in his voice warned her that she walked a fine line. He needed more. “You wouldn’t. Shifters and vampires are the targets.”
Scotts scratched the stubble of his chin with his thumb. “I can ask around.”
Raven waved him away. “You won’t find anything. Nothing has been reported. They’re targeting loners.”
He took another turn that slid her across the seat, and she braced herself. A few more minutes, and she’d be home. She needed to talk fast. “I’m not sure your case and my missing persons are connected.”
“But you think they are.” It wasn’t a question.
“Members of my team are checking other avenues.”
“While you go it alone.” Scotts shook his head. “I don’t like it. You take too many chances. You need backup.”
“I can’t take you. You’re too...”
“Human.” Taggert finished and turned toward her. “But I’m not.”
“I was going to say too much of a cop. And no, out of the question. Neither of you are going.” The men shared a silent look of understanding that drove her crazy. She stared down at the kid, hoping to intimidate him. She contemplated shocking him into reason, but didn’t think it’d change his stubborn hide. “I need to visit a Bloodhouse for answers.”
When he only blinked, unconcerned, she sighed. “You’d be a liability. I’d be spending so much time protecting you that I won’t get any answers.”
“I’ve been there before. I’ll be fine.” The way his eyes darkened with memories sent a shiver through her. The wood scent around him sharpened and soured. Something horrible had happened to him, yet he was determined to go anyway.
“Why the hell would any shifter go there willingly?” The question escaped before she could think better of it.
“A test. You pass the test, you live.”
A part of her heart thumped painfully. “Please tell me you didn’t go alone.”
“I passed.” Horror sickened her at his carefully bland voice. How could they treat one another like that? Less than even an animal? Even Scotts looked enraged.
Wrath funneled into protectiveness. “I won’t put you in danger.” She couldn’t.
“I’ll just follow you. With the collar, they’ll view me as prey.” He hesitated.
“Or?” She didn’t think she wanted to know.
“Or you can mate me. Show ownership. They won’t pick on a shifter who’s been mated for fear of retaliation from the pack.”
She wanted to save his life, not condemn it. If she took his blood, there would be no going back. He’d be bound to her in a life she had little control over, and if her unruly powers continued to grow, she didn’t want to take him down with her. The noose tightened around her neck and all the time she thought she had to find an alternate solution besides claiming him evaporated.
As if he sensed her resistance, Taggert spoke with a ruthlessness that surprised her. “I go, or I tell the others what happened today and your plans for tonight.”
Chapter Seventeen
As soon as they returned, Raven pleaded exhaustion and took refuge in her room. Taggert’s sharp look crawled under her skin long after she’d disappeared, and any secret hope of escaping the house without notice vanished. He’d found the spine he’d been missing when she needed it the least. Damn it. As the dancing rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon, she couldn’t believe that in the last five days, her whole life had changed.
Though the room was large, her restlessness made it feel cramped. She wanted the wide-open spaces of outside, but knew there would be no running from her problems. They’d just follow her and multiply when she wasn’t looking. To shake away the nerves threatening to cripple her, she focused on what she could do well. Her job.
Stripping her clothes, she glanced at her closet, then quickly pulled out her outfit for tonight. Hoping for a little anonymity, she chose black clothes and boots. She scraped her hair back, securing it in a twist to hide the distinct silver swatch.