Page 47 of Forensics of a Fable

“I take it you didn’t find Olivia?” she asked, steering the conversation into safer territories.

“No.” He tossed Cerberus a small piece of bacon, and Bel had a hard time reconciling the monster he was with this breakfast-cooking, dog-spoiling, shirtless Greek god. “I removed that rifle from the case but left the cabin otherwise untouched. I assume you’ll tell your boss about it, but I cannot let them recover that weapon.”

“Good thinking. Did you find any other clues? The killer didn’t keep them alive that long, and I’m worried we’re too late.”

“If he’s waiting for you, then Gold might still be alive. Anyone acquainted with you knows that you would never let someone die. If your theory is right, and he’s using you to get to me, he’ll use your partner to trap you.”

“Let’s hope so. I can’t lose another partner. I don’t want to find a third dead girl.”

“You won’t.” Eamon tossed Cerberus another piece of bacon. “We’ll find her. I’ll help however I can.”

“Thank you.” Bel dug into her breakfast, surprised by his cooking skills, and after a long stretch of comfortable silence, she smirked as Eamon ate the last of his eggs.

“What?” He froze, coffee cup halfway to his lips.

“It’s just odd seeing you eat food.”

“I go out in the sunlight too.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “You’ve felt my heartbeat, and believe it or not, I can enter a church without erupting into flames.”

Bel rolled her eyes. “I know. I always see you outside, and while your skin is cooler than most humans, it’s not cold. It’s just…” She shrugged. “Not what I expected.”

“This isn’t a fairytale, Detective. I’m just as alive as you,” he teased. “I stopped by your house before I came home and got youa change of clothes. You can use the shower in my room before I take you to work.”

“Eamon, it will look like I spent the night. I can drive myself.”

“You did spend the night in my bed.” He smirked with the devil in his eyes. “I’m dropping you off, and then I’ll take Cerberus to your cabin. I’m very good at remaining in the shadows. Don’t worry, your coworkers won’t notice me. Now finish your food.” Eamon gathered his empty plates and shifted in his seat. As natural as if he was simply breathing, he leaned into her and pressed a kiss to her scars. His full lips lingered against her throat as if this was always how he finished breakfast, as if this was his everyday routine, and then he stood and walked to the sink, leaving Bel rooted to her chair.

Despite her concerns,Bel let Eamon drive her to work after she showered and changed, the memory of his lips on her scars not washing off her skin regardless of the soap she used. They didn’t speak for the remainder of the morning, but she found they didn’t need to. Being in his presence felt right, and by the time they reached the station, she was marginally less stressed.

“I love you, baby beast.” Bel leaned into the back seat and kissed the very content Cerberus. “Thank you for helping with him,” she said to Eamon as she opened the car door, and he nodded, watching her every movement hungrily as she exited the vehicle. For a split second, she considered hugging him goodbye but then thought better of it. There had already been too much domestic house play that morning, and the lines she tried so hard to maintain were starting to blur. So, she simply smiled at his too-handsome face and shut the door, but she onlymade it three steps, before a powerful arm captured her waist. She yelped as a massive body pinned her against the car.

“What are you doing?” She shoved Eamon’s chest, but he didn’t budge, his muscles rigid with alarm as he trapped her in the protective cage of his form. His concern bled from his skin into hers, and without thinking, she clutched the front of his shirt for reassurance.

“You can’t go in there,” he snarled.

“Why not?”

“He’s in there, the other predator.” He pulled her possessively against him, and Bel’s mind raced through every possibility that would bring a hunter bent on killing Eamon to her place of employment. “Is that why I kept scenting him on you? Has he been in this station the whole time?” Bel froze at that thought, and Eamon pinned her with a terrified stare. “Who do you have in there?”

Bel cursed,the puzzle pieces clicking into place. “Orso, Olivia’s new boyfriend. I found a bloody ring at his apartment that we believe belonged to the hiker that the bear killed. How did I miss it?” She shoved past Eamon. “The signet ring bore the same symbol as the chest with that rifle.” She stormed across the parking lot, ignoring his growled warning as he helped Cerberus out of the car, and the second she was inside the station, she strode to the holding cells. She flung the cell door open, much to the resting Orso’s shock, and she roughly seized his arm and hauled him to the interview room as everyone stared in surprise.

“Where is she?” Bel snarled, slamming the door behind them before pushing him to a seat. She realized her actions wereunhinged, but this lying man had cost them precious hours. Hours where Olivia’s life was running out.

“I don’t know!” Orso said, and Bel leaned over the table, slapping her palms down for emphasis.

“Where is she?” she repeated. “I know who you are. I know why you’re in Bajka.” The blood drained from his cheeks at her words, and she knew she had him. “Is that why you started dating her? To get close to me? You took the wrong girl, and I will not rest until—”

“Woah, woah, woah!” Orso threw up his hands, a look of confusion plastered on his face that gave her pause. “What are you talking about? Why would I be after you? And for the last time, I don’t know where Olivia is.”

“I saw the cabin,” Bel said. “I found that rifle. I know who it was intended for, but it won’t work. You’ll never kill him, so tell me where Gold is now.”

“Kill who?” Ewan started panicking, and she couldn’t tell if he was genuinely confused or a skilled liar. “Detective, I have no clue what you’re talking about. I didn’t take Olivia.”

“Stop lying to me!” Bel felt herself spiraling. “You were working with the hiker the bear killed. Only he wasn’t a hiker, was he?” Ewan paled ghost white, and she leaned in for the kill. “What are you hunting, Orso? Did you really think he would fall for your traps?”

“What traps?” Ewan held his ground, his voice escalating. “I want a lawyer.”

“Emerson!” Sheriff Griffin burst into the room, the door slamming against the wall as he threw it open. “That’s enough.”

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