Page 44 of Blood Bearon
“Report back when you have something,” Kaelyn said. “And Khove?”
“Yes, my Queen?” he replied, turning back at the door.
“Be careful.”
21
“So this is what I’ve been missing out on,” he said with a yawn, stretching out his legs and pushing the seat back as far flat as it would go. Things popped and stretched and he unleashed a huge yawn upon the interior of the pickup. “It’s so nice to not have a metal cage between us anymore, wouldn’t you agree?”
Rachel rolled her eyes at the display next to her. “Like when you pretended to lock yourself in a cell to trick me into thinking I was safe?”
“Not what I meant,” he muttered. “No need for low blows like that.”
She giggled. “Just behave if you want to keep your front seat privileges. Otherwise, you might find them revoked.”
Khove gave her a hurt look. “Are you saying you haven’t liked my actions so far? That they’ve been unpleasant?” He wiggled his eyebrows, pairing that with a humor-filled glance below her face.
Rachel choked, gripping the steering wheel tighter, forcing herself to look straight. That hadn’t been what she meant at all. Her comments had been in regards to their investigation, not their earlier…interaction, whatever it was being called. She hadn’t Khove to draw reference to it now they were back on the case.
“I didn’t say that,” she explained when it became clear he wasn’t going to cave and speak first. “But now that I know they need a key, if you don’t behave, you’re going back in one.”
“I’m not normally into that lifestyle,” Khove admitted, “but I suppose I would be willing to give it a try for you.”
She sputtered helplessly as Khove twisted her words. “Never mind, okay? You can stay in the front seat.”
The big man rumbled with quiet laughter, his usual thunderous boom restrained in the close quarters. “Why, thank you.”
“Now, onto the investigation,” she growled, guiding the truck around another corner.
They were driving around Plymouth Falls in an unmarked vehicle taken from Ursidae Manor, instead of from the police department. Apparently, this one was reinforced. Just in case. Neither of them had any idea of where things were going to go from there, because the night before had thrown off their plans.
“Why was there only one attack last night?” Khove said. “That’s what you meant, right?”
“Right,” she agreed. “Was it all that was planned? Or did our near interception of the trio scare them off from their next targets? What will they plan tonight?”
Khove could only shrug. “I honestly don’t know. I can’t read Korred’s mind. The man is…crazy.”
Rachel looked across the center console, noting the tightness around Khove’s stormy eyes, and the firm set of his jaw.
“What aren’t you telling me about him?” she asked quietly, the question lingering in the interior even after the sound died away.
“How truly do you believe what you saw earlier?” Khove asked quietly, still not turning to face her.
Rachel bit her lip, eyes flicking from the road to Khove and back. This was serious. She took a deep breath in, then asked herself the same question.
To her surprise, the answer came quickly, and without much in the way of hesitation. “I believe you,” she said in an odd voice.
“It doesn’t sound like it.”
“No, I do,” she reassured him. “I just…I didn’t expect to be able to say that andmeanit, you know? It surprised me. But I believe you, Khove. There’s just too much that doesn’t add up otherwise. Not to mention Isawit, and how would I know to dream that up if I suddenly lost my mind?” She chuckled. “Besides, after saying I believe in people who can shift into bears, how much more ridiculous can things get?”
Khove didn’t respond.
She frowned. “Khove? It can’t get much crazier. Right?”
“Um. You might want to brace yourself for another truth.” He looked around. “In fact, maybe pulling over would be for the best. Please.”
Absolutely lost as to what was going on, she did as he requested, finding an empty parking lot in front of a hardware store and putting the vehicle in Park. “Okay. I’m ready,” she said. “Lay it on me. What sort of craziness are you about to tell me now?”
