Once Bitten

Nathanial flung open the bathroom door.

I sat up, sputtering. I should have known he wouldn't knock. “A little privacy, please."

I sank further into the black swimming pool he called a tub. He turned away gallantly, but not before I saw first relief and then irritation flicker across his face.

"I apologize, but I was worried. Regan was wandering around outside, and you did not answer when I called."

I shrugged, which he couldn't see. I was pretty damn proud of myself for letting the dog out to relieve himself. Okay, so I'd run in the kitchen and propped open the door hoping Regan would let himself out so I could explore the house in Nathanial's absence. But, it was still an accomplishment. Sort of.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Unlike some people, I can't fly off. Where did you think I would go?” I didn't wait for him to answer. He probably would have commented on our little detour into the woods last night. “Let me finish my bath. It may be my first and my last."

Nathanial didn't leave. Instead, he walked in, carrying packages, and sat on the edge of the tub. I glared at him and pulled my knees up so I was somewhat covered.

"I bought you new outfits.” He set three bags beside the tub. “If you do not like something, do not take the tags off. You can go with me to exchange it tomorrow. Oh, I got you this, too.” He pulled something small out of his breast pocket and held it out to me.

It was a driver's license with my picture on it. I studied the image. My eyes didn't quite focus. Did he take the picture while I was sleeping?

I read the name on the ID. “Katrina Deaton?"

"I am sorry I had to change your first name, but ‘Kita’ sounds like a nickname."

"Right...” I read the name aloud again. I'd never had a last name before. I was identified by my clan, Nekai, but human last names weren't the same. “Why Deaton?"

"That is the last name I am currently using."

I didn't even want to know what that implied.

"Um ... thanks?” I handed the license back to him, and he placed it in one of the bags.

I waited, hugging my knees, but he didn't leave.

"How did this happen?” He reached into the water to touch a spot on my ribcage I knew wasn't visible from where he sat. “It is the only scar on your body, so logic would demand strong memories tied to it, but I cannot summon a memory of it occurring."

My jaw clenched though I wasn't sure if I was angrier he knew my body well enough to know I only had the one scar, or that he thought I should fill in the gaps of what he hadn't managed to steal when he was in my mind. He met my eyes patiently, waiting. I sighed.

Without thinking about it, I dropped one hand to my side and touched the slick scar tissue. “I don't remember it happening."

The answer didn't appease him. “But surely you know what happened.” He frowned at me. “There are so many blank spots. Your memories and thoughts are not completely ... human.” He cocked his head to the side. “I suppose that should not be such a surprise.” The smile that touched his lips was distant and not directed at me.

It was my turn to frown, and he reached down toward the ring of pale scars. I batted his hand away.

"If shifters heal so well, what would cause a scar like that?"

"A rogue,” I whispered.

He blinked.

I stared at my knees. Shifting healed almost everything. Even severed limbs would move across a room to rejoin the body. Only two things I knew of left scars: wounds inflicted by silver or by the teeth or claws of another shifter in mid-form.

"A wolf from the Risly clan went rogue. I was only a child, and I was in my cat form at the time. Her mate should have dealt with her before someone was hurt, or his second should have."

"Second?"

"Elected at the time she was tagged, in case emotions got in the way of what needed to be done."

"It was his job to kill her if she went insane?"

I nodded. “But he hesitated. He thought she could get better.” I rubbed at the long-healed scars—jagged tooth marks that had nearly killed me. “You don't get better from insanity."

We sat in silence for a breath, and then Nathanial said, “that is why you are so afraid of dogs."

My head shot up.

"I told you. I don't remember it happening, and what I have is a healthy respect for dogs."

Nathanial's smile touched only the edges of his mouth. He leaned down and brushed his lips feather-light across my forehead. I jerked back, but he was already standing.

"Do not soak too long. You still need to feed before we meet with Bobby and Gil. You must be weak after healing that arm.” He strolled out of the room.

I rubbed the spot on my forehead where his lips had touched. Why had he done that?

While the tub drained, I poked through the bags he'd brought and was pleasantly surprised by the clothes he'd picked out. In the past, I'd acquired clothes from items thrown away or donated to the poor—I figured I counted as poor, right? So aside from the outfit Nathanial had given me the other night, I'd never owned new clothes. He'd bought me new sneakers as well as a pair of pale boots with fluffy trim; two skirts, one long and the other short and pleated; a new pair of jeans; and a handful of sweaters—but no underwear, again. Was it polite to ask for some? Probably not. Besides, if he wanted to buy me stuff that was one thing, but I didn't want to ask, then I would be even more indebted to him. I fingered the shorter skirt. I'd never owned one before, but without underwear, it was out of the question. I slid into the jeans and then grabbed a sweater at random, pulling it over my head.

I found Nathanial waiting for me in the kitchen. His eyes took me in as he held open the door, his gaze sliding down my body. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I nearly tripped over my sneakers. That made my face really burn. Stupid vampire—making me feel all twisty. I swept past him.

"I expected you to pick the skirt,” he said as he stepped out onto the porch with me.

I shrugged. “I'm not into exhibitionism."

His brows knit together, not following, and then his eyes flew wide. His gaze shot down my body again.

I tugged my coat closed over my clothes. “Are we going?"

Without a word, he stepped forward, wrapping me in his arms. Then we were in the air.

Chapter 17

Bobby waved at me from the café. I trudged through the aisles and plopped down in the chair across from him.

The flight into town had been amazing, but then Nathanial and I had gotten into another fight. He'd thought my not protesting his comment about feeding meant I was ready to hunt with him. Not likely. To make the night even better, it was cloudy again and snow had started falling as I reached the bookstore. And just to add insult to injury, Bobby's food smelled delicious, and I resented the fact I couldn't try a bite of it. So yes, I was grumpy and planning on taking everyone else down with me.

Bobby smiled, one of his big, genuine smiles spreading all the way to his brilliant green eyes. He was happy to see me, obvious bad mood or not. I wished I could dislike him for it, but a smile like that was contagious.

"I have a plan,” he announced.

I tried not to show my surprise, really I did. Bobby typically wasn't a planner. I was saved from embarrassing either of us by Gil's arrival.

She slid into the chair between us. “What kind of plan?"

Bobby leaned forward and lowered his voice. “There was another attack. Don't know the girl's name, but she is at Saint Mary's hospital in the ICU."

That was great, in a morbid, it-could-help-us kind of way. At least it gave us direction. Gil shook her head.

"I haven't heard anything about a new attack.” She wrung her hands together. “The investigators would have told me."

"It was on the news.” Bobby's chin lifted a notch. I knew him well enough to recognize the hint of defiance in his tone. He'd discovered a clue; he'd defend it.

"It's worth checking out.” My chair scraped along the floor as I stood. “Let's go."

Gil rose, but looked around, not moving. “Where is Nathanial?"

"Hunting. We don't have to wait.” My words, not his. Actually, the last thing Nathanial had said had to do with ‘stubborn companions.’ I headed for the front door, trusting Gil and Bobby would follow. I wasn't disappointed.

"What is the fastest way to the hospi—” A warm weight landed across my shoulders, interrupting me. I frowned at Nathanial, who had materialized out of nowhere. He'd returned awfully quick, but he'd definitely hunted. His skin had more color, and while his features were still chiseled, they looked fuller than on the flight over. Even his grey eyes were brighter, almost a pale blue.

"Leaving without me?” He whispered the question into my hair, his breath trailing over my skin.

I shrugged out from under his arm. “We're going to the hospital. There was another attack."

"I learned that,” Bobby said, stepping between Nathanial and me even as he claimed credit for his clue.

Nathanial gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Then we should take the subway. It is not far."

He pointed, and I started down the sidewalk. Snow fell in dizzy flurries, dancing under the streetlamps as we passed. Nathanial handed me my hat, and I tugged it on as the wind picked up and pelted the street with snowflakes, obscuring the road ahead of us.

Behind me, Gil's teeth chattered loudly, her boots crunching in the new layer of snow covering the cement. Bobby trudged beside me, looking straight ahead. His breaths fogged the air in front of him, but Nathanial's and mine didn't. Weird. I puffed out a lungful of air. It didn't condense. Well, if anyone was really paying attention that might tip them off I wasn't fully alive.

"What are you doing?” Nathanial asked, sliding an arm through mine.

"Nothing.” I pulled away, but I was stuck between the two men. What happened to my personal space bubble?

I decided Bobby was the lesser of two evils and walked closer to him. He was trembling, but clearly trying to hide the fact. Shifters don't do well in the cold, or at least I hadn't. Where Bobby and I were born it never got cold enough to freeze. In fact, I'd never been anywhere in Firth that wasn't a temperate climate. I pulled off my scarf and hat and shoved them at Bobby as we walked.