“Problem?” he asked.
Drina shook her head. “I thought I saw something in the backyard, and I’m just going to take a quick peek around. I probably won’t even leave the deck.”
“I’ll come with you,” he said, moving to follow, but she shook her head as she walked into the pantry to don her coat and boots.
“There’s no need. In fact, it’s better if you watch from the window. If there is trouble and you’re with me, we could both be taken out. If you watch from inside, you can shout the alarm and warn the others, so they aren’t taken by surprise,” she pointed out sensibly. “Besides, it was probably just a cat skulking about or something. There’s no sense both of us getting cold.”
“Alessandro can come watch from the window to give the alarm if anything happens,” Teddy said grimly, dragging on his coat as she pulled on her boots. “I’m not letting you go out there by yourself. I’m police chief of this town, and if there’s trouble, I’m going to help take care of it. You’re not going out there on your own,” he finished stubbornly.
“What? Are you trying out for the role of the cop in a slasher movie?” she muttered with disgust, thinking they were usually just as stupid as the other characters in the movies.
“What?” he asked with bewilderment.
Drina straightened with a sigh, and said solemnly, “Look, Teddy, you’re being very brave and strong to want to accompany me. Unfortunately, you’re also being stupid. If there is a problem out there, you could only be a detriment rather than a help in this situation.”
He puffed up indignantly. “I know you immortals are stronger and faster and all that nonsense, but I have a gun and wouldn’t hesitate to use it.”
“Which makes you even more dangerous,” she said firmly. “Any immortal worth a spit could take control of you and make you turn the gun on me before I even realized they were there.” He blanched at the possibility, and she added gently, “The best thing you can do in this situation is watch from the window and shout to alert the others if there is a problem. That isn’t a reflection on you. It doesn’t mean you are weak and helpless. It is the smart thing to do, and you’re a smart man. So act like it and stop letting your pride make foolish decisions for you. And please try to remember I’m basically the immortal version of a cop. I am trained for this. I’m not some helpless female creeping out in her nightie.”
Confusion flickered across his face, telling her he didn’t recognize that reference either, but Teddy heaved a disgusted sigh, and nodded. “All right. But give me a signal if you see anything, anything at all.”
“I will,” she assured him, dragging on her coat and hat before turning back to the closet to retrieve one of the large suitcases Anders had stored in there when they’d thought they were basically babysitting. Opening it, she rifled through the contents, noting that a couple items were missing. Anders was already armed and she should have thought to arm herself before this, she knew. It was that old “new-life-mate” distraction thing getting in the way, Drina thought on a sigh as she retrieved a quiver of arrows, a crossbow, a gun, and a box of drug-laced bullets that should knock out any rogue for at least twenty to thirty minutes . . . enough time to secure them for pick up.
“Christ,” Teddy muttered, eyeing the arsenal she’d revealed.
“Did you think we went after rogues armed with just our charming smiles and good sense?” Drina asked with amusement as she strapped the quiver to her back for easy arrow retrieval, and then quickly loaded the gun.
“I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about it,” he admitted quietly, and then shook his head. “And I suppose you’re good with both those weapons?”
“With our eyesight, better than the best mortal sniper in the world,” she assured him, and then added wryly, “Having more than two millennia to practice and perfect the skill doesn’t hurt either.”
Teddy nodded solemnly, and then followed her into the kitchen. He paused at the window, though, and she glanced back to see him already peering fretfully out into the darkness. He didn’t glance around as she opened the door, but said gruffly, “Be careful out there.”
“I will,” she assured him, and slid outside.
It wasn’t as cold as it had been before this, and Drina wondered idly if this was the first sign that winter might be coming to an end here, or just a slight reprieve. Whatever the case, the snow on the deck was a bit slushy under her boots, so it was actually warm enough to bring on some melting, and the night was as still as death, with no wind to aggravate things. The one thing she’d noticed while here was that the cold that seemed bearable on a calm night, became completely unbearable if a wind kicked up. She’d also learned that it played havoc with something called the windchill factor, which as far as she could tell just meant it felt even colder than it really was.