Page 34 of Fanged Desire
Addison turned slowly in her seat, more suspicious than startled. “What do you mean?”
I glanced at her briefly before focusing on the road. “I think the woman we’re looking for is an elf. And I’m willing to bet money that this Catherine Raine is the elf in question.”
She stared at me, processing the words. “Elf… Like pointy ears, carries a bow around, often accompanied by a loveable dwarf?”
“Legolas is not an accurate portrayal of elves.” I would have facepalmed had I not been keeping an eye on traffic, and Addison looked genuinely sincere in her inquiry – howeverridiculous it was. “If you’re basing your knowledge of the supernatural on Lord of the Rings, you’re not at all prepared to go up against the real deal.”
Addison sat back in her seat, chewing on that information. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, but skepticism lingered in her expression. “Okay. Why do you think Catherine is an elf – Wait. Is Esmerelde an elf too?”
“Yes,Ms Flawneis an elf too. Though I’m surprised her haughty airs and graces didn’t give it away. Elves love to blend in where they can have influence. High-end spas. Nightclubs. Forensic labs. They’re not just running businesses; they’re controlling pieces of this city.”
At the mention of nightclubs, Addison’s eyes widened. “My boss…”
“-- Is also an elf. Micere is actually a big name in supernatural circles.Though you didn’t hear that from me.” I added that last part quickly, wincing a little as I broke yet another major rule for Addison’s sake.
Humans were meant to remain blissfully unaware of Micere’s supernatural side, and no doubt I’d be in trouble if Addison were to go blabbering away about elves and pixies with her fellow dancers. But I wanted to share my world with her. Or maybe I just wanted her to knowme. The real me.
Addison blew out a breath, pressing her palms to her eyes like she was trying and failing to make sense of it all. “What the hell? Have I just been working with supernatural beings this whole time?”
“Looks like it.”
She shook her head, muttering something under her breath. She wasn’t exactly rattled – she was too stubborn for that – but the reality of it clearly unsettled her. And I couldn't blame her. It's one thing to know the supernatural exists in theory; it’sanother thing entirely to realize the people you’ve been mingling with might not even be human.
“It’s a lot to take in.” I said it quietly, trying to gauge her reaction.
“You think?!” Addison threw her hands up, fixing me with an accusatory glare, and I winced at the shrill volume of her outburst.
Seeing the tension in her I eased off the gas, steering us into the right lane. I didn’t want to push her, not with that terrifying expression on her face. She could have been a schoolteacher instead of a doctor. She had the stern impression down pat.
“Look,” I tried for gentle, though reassurance was not one of my strong suits. “It’s not too late to back out. You could quit the club, go back to your real job. Forget about this mess. Forget about… me.”
The words came out more reluctantly than I intended, but they were the right ones. If my past taught me anything, it was that getting involved with me didn’t end well for anyone – least of all someone like Addison, someone who deserved better than whatever the hell I had to offer.
Addison’s head whipped toward me, and the half-wit in me worried I was about to be scolded.
“Forget about you?” She repeated it like the idea was absurd. “Are you serious?”
I gave her a small, humorless smile. “Might be better for both of us.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Hunter, I’m not backing out. I need to find Penelope. If you’re still willing to help me, I’m in. It’s as simple as that.”
Her ardent delivery hit me square in the chest, and for a moment I couldn’t say anything. There it was again, that warmth creeping in, the kind I had no business entertaining. I tightened my grip on the wheel, trying to keep my focus.
“Well, that’s… That’s good to know.” I murmured, sneaking a glance her way and instantly regretting it. The way she looked at me, steady and unwavering, sent a flutter through my chest that I wasn’t ready to deal with.
“On that note,” she added, her lips quirking into a strained smile, “you’re telling me you’re not an elf too?”
I barked out a laugh, surprised but definitely grateful for the sudden lightness. “Nope. Not pompous or pretty enough to be an elf.”
Addison tilted her head, her smile growing wider despite the crease in her brow. “Well, you’re only half right.”
I scrambled for a quippy response, some flirtatious banter to match her own, but something unspoken fluttered in my chest and I was rendered speechless all over again. Addison returned her attention to the window, unaware of the rippling consequences of her words.
I closed a hand over my sternum, pressing down on that sensation swelling in my chest. But it was utterly inescapable, and all I could do was focus on the road, tuning out the effervescent thumping of a heart that had just remembered how to beat.
Chapter 14
Addison
