Page 54 of Mated
By dawn, the pack has combed every inch of Silver Rock and there is no sign of the man except for several trampled boot tracks and deep rivulets near the edge of the reserve.
I squat down next to the only full shoe print as Caine walks up beside me.
“Tire tracks,” he says.
Leaning down, I inhale just over the tracks. “Definitely,” I say as a trace of exhaust and rubber reaches my nose.
“Idea on model?” Caine mutters.
I rock back on my heels. “Hard to say. Size of the tire track could be an SUV or truck.” I press my hands to my thighs as I peer around. “If the pack had mobilized faster, maybe we would know. But as it is, he is long gone by now.”
His dark head cants. “On to greener pastures?”
I climb to my feet and stretch. “Maybe. We will keep an eye out for him anyway. Between the full moon run tonight, and everyone dragging ass back out tomorrow, Silver Rock will be crawling with enough noses that if he shows again, we will know.”
He runs a hand through his dark hair, further tousling the strands. “Ah. The infamous run.”
I look at him. “Not backing out on me now, are you?”
His crimson eyes flash. “And miss out on the plethora of carnal sin I can taste growing in the air? Never.”
My lips curve before I can stop him and we start back into the trees.
The demon is uncharacteristically silent for quite a while.
I glance at him. “How are you feeling?”
He peers over. “Well.”
“I mean after the dart?”
He turns and faces outward again, his expression mulish. “My magick is back in order. Though, my … temper is still a little heated.”
I blink. “Really? You seem pretty fucking chill to me.”
“I have had years to learn to keep my emotions off my face and out of my body, cat. It would take rather dire circumstances for you to notice a change.”
“You can always have Gage—”
“The Fire Fae will keep his instruments to himself,” he snaps coolly. “After sleep and a solid feeding tonight, I imagine any ill effects will fade completely.”
“Can you wait until tonight?”
His jaw mottles. “I will … manage.”
I grip his shoulder and he stops walking. “Do you need to feed now, Caine?”
He peers back at me. “Are you offering, cat?”
“Would you accept if I was?”
Something like surprise tracks over his face.
I squeeze his shoulder. “You saved my ass yesterday. Twice. Lust isn’t like blood. If you take some of mine, it won’t leave me weak. Just maybe calmer.” I release him and scrub my face. “And with the run tonight, I need to be calmer.”
“The pet is testing you?”
I glance up. “You can taste what I feel when I’m around her. So what do you think?”
