Kai stared at the ivory bit of bone with disgust. The woman he was falling in love with had been attacked in his arms of all places. He wasn’t doing his job. The bone bead was proof the skinwalker held the high cards.
Glaring at the offensive thing, he grew angrier by the second. Should he dash it to the floor and grind it to powder beneath his boot heel, or save it for evidence? On sheer impulse, as if a scorpion had leaped at his face, he tossed it on the floor and stomped on it, hissing with rage.
“Wait!” Adara grabbed his arm. “We should have shown that to Roy.”
He scanned the restaurant counting heads. The elderly couple and the startled waitress were the only people in view. “Who’s working in the kitchen?” he shouted. “Bring them out. Show their faces.” He confronted the old man. “Did you see anyone leave? Tell me. A serious crime has been committed against this woman. Don’t just stand there with your mouth hanging open. Say something!”
The waitress cowered. “The door opened, but I didn’t see anyone.”
The old couple seemed scared and moved away. The man’s voice cracked. “I don’t know what’s wrong young man, but you might want to calm down before you accuse others.”
Adara clasped his hand. “It’s okay. They don’t need to know what’s going on. We just need to do our job. The bead didn’t break the skin. Let’s pay the bill and go.”
He reached for his wallet and blindly tossed a handful of twenties onto the table, far more than was required. “I’m sorry.” He nodded toward the couple. “Your dinner is on me.”
She reached for the shopping bag with the grimoire inside. “Thank you,” she mumbled to no one in particular. “The Palusami was delicious.” With quick strides, she made a beeline for the exit.
Feeling sheepish for his outburst, he hung his head and caught up to her. “Adara, wait.” He grabbed her arm and walked her into the courtyard. “We’re going back to our room.” Excitement and worry fought for his attention as he pictured he and Adara alone in a luxury suite. How the hell was he going to control himself in front of his dream girl?
With a gallant gesture, he slid his jacket from his shoulders and draped it over her like a cloak. She looked small beneath the broad garment. As a final touch, he turned the collar up to shield her throat. Wrapping his arm around her, he drew her to his side. “That should provide some protection just in case somebody wants to take a second shot at you, they’ll have to shoot me first.”
She gazed at him with an inscrutable expression.
“What does that look mean?”
“Your gesture was so kind. No one ever puts me first. Even at home, when I was a kid, my older brother Blayze got all the fuss and attention. Blayze is a real hell devil, handsome too. Women stare. He uses up all the oxygen in the room and I mean that literally. When he turns the flames on there goes the oxygen.” A nervous laugh bubbled free. “I guess I’m saying, I’m used to being invisible. Having you do what you just did was amazing.”
He brushed a wayward strand of auburn hair from her cheek. “You should be protected and cherished. Any man who can’t see that you’re amazing is an idiot.”
A huge smile lit her face. “Thanks.”
“Let’s go.” With his arm around her shoulders, he steered her toward the crosswalk keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. “We shouldn’t be standing out in the open. I’ll feel better when you’re safe in our room.”
Night had fallen and the action on The Strip was in full swing. The surface of every building shimmered with reflected light. Elegantly dressed couples strolled beside the sweat stained ones wearing Bermuda shorts and Tee shirts. The streets were filled with foot traffic, shuttles, taxis and noise.
The vast reflecting pool in front of Poseidon’s Palace was circled by a pod of alabaster dolphins with a hulking marble sculpture of the god of the sea at its center. Fountains danced in an ornately choreographed show. An ever-changing display of colored floodlights lit the pool. One moment the statues glowed serene shades of violet or turquoise denoting the ocean’s calm. Then Poseidon lit fiery crimson with his trident triumphantly held aloft. The horns on his head alluded to his wrathful nature.
Adara gazed at the pool as they passed and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Do you ever wish you weren’t what we are?”