Page 21 of Caretaker

Amias had never told me who he’d stolen her from. It didn’t really matter. She’d never belonged to them. She belonged with a bloodhunter, and that was me.

I caressed her hilt for a second before leaving Angus’s bedroom. I glanced at the bed before I went, as I always did, and my stomach did a little flip-flop.

Soon.

My cell phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my pocket as I hurried into my bathroom to freshen up. “Hello, Captain.”

“You’re home?” he asked.

“Just arrived. I’m going to have some dinner then catch Madalyn’s scent.”

“How did it go at the prison?”

I hesitated. “Angus seems…healthy. And that’s a little strange because every other supernat I saw was in bad shape.”

“It’s a bad place,” he said.

“I know it is. So why is Angus doing so well, Frank?” I rushed on before he could answer. “I mean, physically. His mental state isn’t good, but his body…”

Frank cleared his throat. “Just be happy he’s surviving in there, Sinclair. Don’t question everything.”

I stared at the phone. “Don’t question everything? That’s a stupid thing to say to me.”

His sigh came through loud and clear. “I’m glad the visit went well. Let me know how the search for Madalyn goes tonight.” He clicked off.

I decided to have a quick shower—not because I’d been hunting and was filthy, sweaty, and bloody, but because I needed to wash the stench and feel of the Byrdcage off me. It clung like a slimy layer of pond scum.

I unpinned Rhys’s brooch from my shirt, wondering if the visit to the prison might have gone differently if I hadn’t been wearing the hideous piece of “protective” jewelry. I placed it on the sink beside Silverlight.

My stomach finally woke up and started growling for food as I undressed, so I hurried through my shower, eager to see what Shane had made for dinner. I was also eager to get started tracking, though I had to admit part of me was reluctant.

I was afraid I wouldn’t find her.

When I climbed out of the shower, I saw I’d missed a call from Judge Bennett. I listened to his message as I got dressed. It was as abrupt and unfriendly as he was.

“I’ll expect an update within the hour.”

I pulled on my boots, buckled on my belt, then slid Silverlight into her sheath at my side. Despite everything, my heart lightened once I had the sword on my body. It was getting harder to leave her. Harder to walk around in the world without her comforting presence. Without her, I was alone, naked, and defenseless.

She made me feel invincible.

What was I without Silverlight, really?

I shrugged off my sudden morose mood, put Rhys’s pin on my nightstand, then hurried downstairs to join Shane for dinner.

In the short amount of time he’d had, he’d cooked up a simple but delicious meal of steak and potatoes, and he poured me a glass of red wine when I sat down.

“This was so nice,” I told him after we’d cleaned our plates and sat finishing our wine. “The only thing that could possibly have made it better…” I trailed off when I realized what I’d been about to say.

“Go on.” He lifted an eyebrow. “What would make it better?” Then he cocked his head, his stare suddenly sharp. “Sex?”

I stared at him. “What?”

“I got that feeling.” He grinned, which was unusual for Shane. He wasn’t exactly the smiling type. “You want me for dessert? I can do that.”

I returned his smile, realizing I very much enjoyed Shane Copas when he was less grim. “I was going to say if you’d served it to me wearing nothing under that frilly apron.”

He glanced down. “Shit. I forgot to take it off.” Then he shrugged, his grin still lingering at the corners of his mouth. “If that’s what turns you on, I’ll wear it hunting.”