Page 36 of Paws and Claws

Dominic's eyebrows shot up. Tabitha starting a bar fight over someone's honor? That was new.

"Did they bring them in?"

"Yes, sir. And The Hex's owner wants to press charges for property damage."

Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose. "Get me the incident report when it's ready."

He stalked back to his office, his mind racing. What could have possibly gotten under Tabitha's skin enough to start throwing punches? She was reckless and wild, sure, but physical violence wasn't her style.

Dominic tapped his fingers against his desk. The steady rhythm did nothing to calm the restless lion prowling beneath his skin. The incident report wasn't going to materialize any faster just because he wanted it to. His computer screen glowed in the dim office as he pulled up the booking information.

"Dammit, Tabitha," he muttered, scanning the details. Holding cell three. Property damage. Assault with magical intent.

His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood, his movements sharp with irritation. Or was it concern? He couldn't quite parse out which emotion was driving him more.

"Taking my break," he called out to the front desk as he walked past. The night shift deputy merely nodded, used to the sheriff's odd hours.

The holding cells were in the basement, and Dominic took the stairs two at a time. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across the concrete walls. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, and each step fueled his disappointment.

He'd really thought she was different. Their investigation had shown him a side of Tabitha he'd never seen before - clever, determined, principled even. Now this? Starting bar fights like some common thug?

"Getting soft in your old age, Blackmane," he growled to himself. The lion in him bristled at the suggestion.

The holding cell area smelled of stale coffee and antiseptic. Officer Chen looked up from his crossword puzzle as Dominic approached the desk.

"Everything quiet down here?"

"Quiet as a church mouse, sir. Well, except for cell three. She's been humming show tunes for the past hour."

Of course she had. Dominic could just picture her, sprawled on the uncomfortable bench, deliberately trying to drive the officers crazy with her antics. The mental image shouldn't have made him want to smile, but somehow it did.

"I'll take it from here, Chen. Go grab some coffee."

The officer didn't need to be told twice, practically sprinting for the break room. Dominic squared his shoulders and headed down the row of cells, his boots clicking against the concrete floor. Her humming grew louder with each step.

Dominic stopped outside Tabitha's holding cell and found her sprawled across the narrow bench. Her combat boot was propped against the wall as she hummed loudly what sounded like "Don't Rain on My Parade." Her dark purple hair was mussed and her makeup slightly smudged, but she still managed to look impossibly alluring even in lock-up. The lion in him stirred with interest before he ruthlessly tamped it down.

Her humming cut out mid-note when she spotted him. The confidence drained from her posture, and she sat up quickly. Her hands began fidgeting in her lap as she stared at the floor. The sight of her subdued like this made his chest tighten uncomfortably.

He inserted the key into the cell door, and noticed how she wouldn't look up at him. The lock clicked open with a harsh sound that echoed through the concrete corridor. Dominic stepped back and held the cell door wide. "You're free to go. Looks like your friend decided not to press charges."

Tabitha's shoulders hunched slightly as she slid off the bench. The usual spring in her step was missing as she shuffled past him, giving him a wide berth. Her wild magic, normally crackling around her like static electricity, felt muted and withdrawn.

The silence between them stretched taut as they walked through the station. His enhanced hearing detected her slightly elevated heartbeat and the soft scuff of her boots against the linoleum. She smelled like cigarette smoke, cheap beer, and beneath it all, the distinctive ozone tang of her magic.

They soon emerged into the cool night air. The streetlights cast pools of yellow across the empty parking lot. Tabitha paused at the bottom of the steps, her arms wrapped around herself like armor. Still refusing to meet his eyes.

Dominic's lion prowled restlessly beneath his skin as he watched Tabitha hunch her shoulders against the night air. The streetlights caught the purple strands of her hair, making them shimmer.

"What were you thinking?" His voice finally came out, harder than intended, the lion's frustration bleeding through. "Using your wild magic in a bar fight? With everything that's going on?"

She kept her gaze fixed on the cracked pavement, her arms tightening around herself. The sight made his chest ache, but he pressed on.

"The Hunters are looking for any excuse to paint paranormals as dangerous. And you just gave them perfect ammunition by throwing magic around in public." He ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration. "Do you have any idea how this looks? What this could do to our investigation?"

The warmth that had grown between them over the past few days felt like it was slipping away with each word. But dammit, she needed to understand the gravity of the situation.

"And what if Bruce decides to add this to his 'evidence' against you? Did you even think about that?" His voice rose slightly, the lion's protective instincts surging forward.

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