Page 14 of Mystic Mate

“God, no,” he laughed. “Do you have any idea how many hunters have died believing that? It just gets them wet and pissed off. I think we should head for Ghost Moon Manor.” There it was again—that note of command in his voice that let her know he expected compliance.

“I don’t think so. While I appreciate your help back there, I know nothing about you. I think you need to head back to this Ghost Moon Manor, and I’ll head back to my place.”

“And your place would be?”

There was no harm in telling him what he could probably find out fairly easily. “Kenai. I live up in Kenai.” Might as well try to make him believe they were allies. “The SPU set me up there. It’s close enough to Anchorage that they can maintain I still work for the Bureau.”

He nodded. “I’ll take you back. Don’t invite anyone into your apartment that you don’t know.”

“So, the whole vampires-can’t-enter-a-building-without-your-permission thing is true?”

“Not exactly. They can’t enter your home without your invitation, but they can go after you into a public building or someone else’s home. Only you control the frequency of your home. The real kicker is that a residence isn’t always ‘home.’”

“What do you mean?” Salem asked, confused.

“You may have a place in Kenai where you live. But do you think of it as home? If not, a vampire can enter. He or she may encounter resistance, but nothing he or she can’t overcome.”

“Mm,” she answered thoughtfully. “I can get back to Kenai on my own.”

“I’m sure you can, but I would feel better if I knew you got home safely.”

“I’m an FBI agent—or CIA spook, if you prefer—and I just dusted a couple of vampires. I think it’s a safe bet that I can get back to Kenai on my own.”

“You’re stubborn. That probably isn’t the worst trait to have,” he said thoughtfully. “How about if I make sure you get back to your vehicle? I assume you came up on something other than the ATV.”

Shit. She hadn’t thought about the ATV. “Do you think there’s any chance I can get it back?”

“None. Put that out of your mind.” The authoritarian tone was back. “I’ll take you back to your SUV. I would prefer to see you to your door.”

“And if I prefer to leave you here?”

He growled quietly. “You are being argumentative and difficult. I am making a concession in letting you get back to Kenai on your own.”

“You’re too good to me,” she said sarcastically. She tilted her head to one side. “You’re used to getting your own way, aren’t you? You say jump, and everyone says, ‘how high?’”

“‘How high, Alpha.’ That is what it is to be alpha.”

They started to hike back along the ridge, keeping to the woods and ensuring they were alone. At first Cullen led the way, but as they closed in on the place where she’d left her SUV, she took over, pushing past him and assuming the lead. Once they spotted the SUV, Salem retrieved one of her stakes, handed him one and they approached the vehicle cautiously to ensure it hadn’t been disturbed. When Cullen was sure the SUV had not been tampered with, he returned her stake.

“This is fine work,” he said, feeling the grip in his hand. “Max?”

“I don’t know; they were a gift, but you aren’t the first person to ask me that.”

“Max is a bit of a loner.” Cullen chuckled. “That’s not true. He’s a lot of a loner and lives outside of Kodiak on the island. He does beautiful work. You’ll never find better climbing equipment than Max’s. He makes it all by hand.”

“I don’t suppose you’d like to sit down one evening and talk about how we might work together to neutralize these vampires and clue me in on wolf-shifters, would you?”

“I am not opposed to talking to you, but shifters have always shied away from working with government types.”

Salem nodded. “That’s understandable. But what if I gave you my word that the information would go no further than me?”

“At the risk of insulting you, why would I believe you?”

She leveled a look at him. “Because I know about the Phantom Fire and one of my best friends is married to one of them.” He regarded her coolly. “And besides, we worked well together and have a common enemy in the Shadow League.”

“You have a point and if the Phantom Fire trusts you, I suppose it would be in our mutual best interest to share—and I stress that word—information.”

“Agreed.”

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