She caught Taggert’s nod from the corner of her eye. Dropping her hand, she scanned the driveway, half expecting to find a crumbled body slumped across the road.
Nothing.
Silver moonlight peeked through the mist. The darkness had an eerie quiet that sounded deafening, almost expectant. She peeled her hands away from the wheel and reached for the power that pooled in her core, absently swirling the strands around her fingers as she studied the shadows for any sign of movement.
Even knowing she could defend herself did nothing to soothe the shaking that persisted at the near miss. That had been too close. Not willing to wait for the fight, she grabbed the door handle. “Stay here.”
“Don’t.”
Annoyed at his over-protectiveness, she tried to leave only to find her arm captured.
“It’s Jackson, and I don’t think he’s happy.”
Raven whipped around and squinted out the window, searching for any sign of him. Some of the uncertainty settled, changing into pure anger at him for risking his life so needlessly. “What the hell was he thinking? I could’ve hit him.”
As the words left her mouth, his familiar form took shape out of the darkness, big and low to the ground, coming toward them with incredible speed. If she blinked, she would’ve missed him. The door handle ripped out of her grasp as he flung it open. Metal crunched. And she found herself face to face with one furious man.
His anger fueled her own. Rage burned along her mind, eager for the match. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could’ve killed you.” The energy she’d tapped rebelled at being shoved away, wanting to fight, wanting freedom as it burned along her skin. She shoved his shoulder and stood, unwilling to have him tower over her. A spark arched between them at the touch, and he backed away with a snarl. Little of the man remained.
He scanned her from head to booted-foot. His detached gaze felt cold, and she was surprised at how she’d become used to expecting the hint of heat from him. Calm slowly crept over Jackson, the stiff set of his shoulders relaxed a fraction.
“Where the hell have you been?” The words were guttural, forced past clenched teeth, a hint of fang flashing.
“Doing my job.” She stomped away, knowing she couldn’t get back in the car while her anger had a hold of her. She’d fry the computer. Damn his control. She wanted to fight, confront him and get everything out in the open.
She sensed Taggert more than heard him as he followed, but she didn’t turn, afraid to draw attention to him. Jackson bristled as he stalked at her side, but remained quiet.
Rylan met them at the door, a carefully blank expression on his face. Until she got closer. His nostrils flared. Color bled from his eyes. “What were you thinking?”
She clicked her tongue in disgust. Rylan backed away, allowing her entry, though he did so grudgingly and followed close enough to be mistaken for her shadow.
“I can smell them on you.”
“Them?” Jackson growled, shuffling closer to catch a whiff of what lingered in her hair and clothes.
“Vampires.” Two sets of eyes pinned her, bonding over taking her to task.
She liked them better when they were at odds. “I’m working on a case. I go where the answers are.”
“And damn the consequences?”
She winced at the betrayal that edged into Jackson’s eyes. A look she deserved. When he didn’t throw any accusations, guilt dug in its claws. She’d all but promised to bite him, then vanished. She’d run. She didn’t like that picture of herself and lashed out. “What am I supposed to do? Wait for the killer to fall in my lap?”
Rylan’s jaw bunched in anger. “You’re supposed to protect yourself and those in your care.”
She had enough. Raven tipped up her chin and faced her accusers. Three faces, one impassive, two furious, met her gaze. “I survived long before any of you had come along. How is it that I’m so inept I need three bodyguards wherever I go?”
“You have more to lose now.” Faster than her eyes could track, Rylan came to stand in front of her and it annoyed her to no end. She could feel the impotent anger in him, the need to reach out and shake sense into her. Didn’t he understand?
“People are dying.”
His face hardened further. “And I won’t have you be one, too.”
“Are you mad that I went there without you? Or just mad I didn’t need you to protect me?” It was a low blow, but she wouldn’t take back the question. “You treat me like a child. I’m a lot stronger than you give me credit.”
Rylan reached out, almost touched her, then dropped his hand. He spoke softly, his voice devoid of emotion. “You are also a lot more vulnerable than you want to believe. You’re not indestructible.” He relented with a small smile that twisted her heart. “You called me to you to help. Let me. Tell me what you’ve learned. Maybe I can be of assistance.”