Page 19 of Demon Huntress
Slade laughed. “So is ours. We like danger, honey. Don’t worry about that for even a second.”
He glanced at her staring at him. When their eyes met, Slade felt a bolt of connection between them that was more powerful than anything he’d ever felt.
I’d face any kind of danger just to be with you.
“I find you very pleasant to be around,” he said softly.
Talk about an understatement. Sitting next to you is more thrilling than base jumping.
Cass actually blushed a little.
“Thank you … I don’t hear things like that very often,” she said. He saw her face twist into a scowl as she turned away to look out the window.
“In fact, I’ve heard some pretty terrible things about what it’s like to be in my company, and none of it described me as pleasant.”
“I’d say that person’s opinion doesn’t count,” Slade said firmly. “Like, seriously. Fuck them. Why would you care about something negative someone told you?”
“Because we always believe the ones we love the most, even if what they call ‘love’ isn’t love at all.”
Her voice was so soft, almost beyond his wolf ears. He sensed great pain in her tone and wondered if she was referring to a lost love that must have hurt her terribly.
An unreasonable wave of rage crested through him. If he found out that another male had hurt her, he might have to hunt the beast down and tear him limb from limb.
I will never let her be hurt like that, ever again.
He changed the subject tactfully, telling her a little about his life in the pack and how his main motivation was to protect his sister. The miles passed swiftly, and by the time they arrived at his friend’s house, both of them were relaxed and enjoying each other’s company.
Slade parked the SUV in Schindler’s driveway, then led Cass around the side to a back door. The manor was huge, and the front doors were always locked. At a side entrance, Slade gave a light knock.
“Will he be awake?” Cass asked, checking the time.
“Yes,” Slade said. “I don’t think he ever sleeps. He has a few servants who are always around, anyway.”
The door gave an impressively spooky squeak as it slowly swung open. Slade greeted the small man who opened it, asking for Schindler. They were directed down the hall to the study.
“What was that?” Cass muttered. “My demon sense went a bit haywire when he looked at me.”
“Magical shifter,” Slade answered. “Probably doing some late-night conjuring. I think he’s naturally a mouse shifter but plays with all kinds of magic. He’s very useful at keeping an eye on the house and grounds.”
“I can imagine,” Cass said. “I hope I don’t have to kick his ass sometime.”
Slade grinned, thinking that a mouse shifter with a few nasty spells wouldn’t have much chance against her. He guided her to the study where his elderly friend was bent over a chemistry set, focused intently on a bubbling beaker.
“Slade,” Schindler cried without looking up. “Did you know there are shifters on earth that don’t conform to natural DNA patterns? I have no idea where these guys came from. Every time I analyze their blood, it gets too volatile.”
As if to prove his point, the beaker exploded. Schindler grabbed a fire extinguisher and blasted the bubbling green goo, trying to escape across the table.
“Insane,” he muttered. When Schindler finally looked up, he did a double take.
“Oh, my. You’ve brought a lady,” Schindler said. He hurried over to shake Cass’s hand.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, smiling.
“And you,” Schindler said. “I’m assuming you have something for me, and this isn’t a social visit.”
“No,” Slade agreed, gesturing for Cass to get her printout. She handed it to Schindler, who gazed intently at the pages.
“My, my,” he muttered, sitting down and flipping through the codes. “This will take me some time. Let Mickey show you to a room to rest, would you? This could take a while.”
