Chapter 5

Iswung mine and Slasher's linked hands between us as we walked through the woods, like we were out for a romantic stroll instead of hunting a killer.

"What are you getting me for Valentine's Day?" I asked him, expecting panic to cross his face because he'd forgotten.

"Knives," he answered instantly, his red eyes so soft when he glanced at me. His hair was frizzy and big, the run tangling it crazily, but I found even that endearing.

"No," Hugh growled, turning to walk backwards so he could scowl at Slasher from in front of us. His face was set in Scary Mode. "I give knives, not you."

"I had the idea first," Slasher argued.

Dean laughed suddenly, rich and loud. And lovely. I'd killed just to hear that laugh.1

"You too, huh?" Brannigan asked, a smile creasing his eyes.

"I'm trying to concentrate," Edison bit out, holding the feather in front of him as he led our ragtag band through the woods with his tracking spell.

My eyes were wide and filling with tears, my heart full to bursting. "You guys are all getting me knives?" I asked, choked.

"Some of us have ordered a custom dagger," Dean said, grouchy now the amusement had worn off. "Thanks for stealing my thunder, guys."

"No problem," Slasher replied with a salute, his eyes dancing with bright happiness. "We must all be soulmates if we think so alike."

"Or I'm obvious with my love of shiny, stabby things," I countered, stroking my thumb over his knuckle.

"Stilltrying to concentrate," Edison grumbled, stomping through underbrush as he led us up a slight incline. I could sense his irritation was only surface-level; deep down, he was apprehensive about finding the Cupid but there was excitement and happiness there, too. It was nice to spend time together as a family. I was glad I wasn't the only one feeling it.2

"How far are we?" Dean asked, back in serious, Sexy Sir mode. I trailed my eyes down his back, lingering on his ass, and wondered if he'd growl if I ran and jumped on his back.

He turned slowly, giving me a warning look that only made me hornier. I bit my lip, giving him a sultry smile, and he faced forward in a rush.

Rebel 1 - 0 Dean.

"Not far," Edison replied, scanning the tree tops. "But the magic isn't pulling as hard as it was at first. It's like the trace is fading."

"And that means…" Hugh prompted, hurrying to catch up to my witch mate.

"Not sure." Edison shrugged. "The killer could have their own magic, which complicates mine. Or the tracker's trying to pull in two different directions, weakening itself in the process."

"I love it when you talk magic," I purred, brushing my soul against his. "You're sexy when you're smart."

Edison's answering touch to my soul was smouldering enough to scorch me, and my pussy throbbed, reminding me our sex session was far from finished.

"As much as I'd love to stop and fuck you against a tree, Blossom, we've got a killer to catch."

I pouted.

"Are you pouting?" he laughed without turning, his focus on the feather.

"No," I said sulkily.

"I don't believe you."

"This is my normal face," I muttered, grunting when the slight incline became a steep one. Rocks jutted out of the dirt, making it ten times harder to find my footing. "Why do we have to go up hills, Thomas? You know I don't like hills."

Hugh chuckled.

"Stop," Edison panted, "laughing. You only—encourage her."

I swore when my ankle threatened to buckle, my foot hitting a rock at the wrong angle. Slasher's hand pulled out of mine, and he knocked my legs from under me so he could sweep me up into his arms.

I laughed, grinning as we raced up the hill at top vampire speed. My head spun; I watched the tree canopy swirl into a pretty spiral.3

When the canopy stopped swirling, my eyes caught on a bundle of colours and white, that scent—sweetness and vanilla—hitting my nose in a far more concentrated dose.

Got you.

"I can smell them," Slasher hissed, his fangs bared and nostrils flaring as he dragged the scent into his lungs.

"Up there." I pointed to the crook of two high branches where it looked like several blankets had been slung into a makeshift nest. With the nest… definitely winged. Definitely the Cupid.

I grinned and turned, waiting for the others to catch up. "We found their nest!" I proclaimed. "Last one there's a rotten egg!"

I raced off towards the tree and began climbing, a spurt of vampire speed making me faster. Hell yes, I could go super fast!

"You don't even like running," Edison panted.

"And you hate joggers," Dean added. "Running's as bad as jogging."

My wolf loved running, and was thoroughly insulted. I climbed hand over hand, hooking myself onto branches and swinging for the next one like a badass Olympic climber.4

"Running is not as bad as jogging," I shouted down from the branches where the nest was built. I studied my mates long enough to see their worried, grumpy faces as they followed me.

Slasher reached the tree first, but I didn't wait for him. I rummaged through the killer's belongings, searching for clues to their identity. They weren't here now, which meant Edison was right about his magic pulling him in two directions—one to the killer, the other to their things—but the scent was heavy and fresh. They'd been here a few hours ago, maybe sooner.

I picked up a white feather and examined the smear of blood on it. The killer's, or their victims? I stashed it in my pocket for Dean or Hugh to smell—they'd be able to tell the species of blood from one whiff. Me? Still learning. I'd only been a wolf for less than a year, and sure I'd aced all the things that were instinctual, but the rest was a work in progress.

Slasher reached the branch below me, not even sweating.5 "I'll catch you if you fall, biscotti!"

"I'm not gonna fall," I promised him, reaching under a dirty fleece blanket and—grazing steel. Jackpot! "There are weapons up here."

On the ground, my mates grumbled.

Ah. This might have taken the wind out of their Valentines sails.

"You guys can keep them," I offered. "You need knives more than me and—hey! This one's mine. What the hell?"

I snatched up a knife with a swirl of stars and moons stamped in the handle, and frowned deeply. I knew I'd lost this; I spent a whole hour trying to find it last week. I hadn't seen it since. Because someone stole it. Bastard.

Hunting down my Blake Hall family was one thing, but stealing my shinies? Now, it was personal.

"I'm coming down. Dean, come up and see what else you can find. Slasher, you might want to move unless you want my boot in your face."

"But it's such a pretty view from down here," he crooned.

I wiggled that pretty view, a grin on my face.

"Get down here you two," Dean ordered.

I glanced down, and when Slasher began to descend, I stashed my knife and climbed after him, jumping when I was close enough—and beaming when Hugh caught me, exactly like I knew he would. I snuggled into his arms, kissing the side of his neck, pulling his scent into my lungs. I was so fucking lucky to have these men.

Hugh's chest vibrated with a low rumble so close to a purr that my eyelids fluttered.

"Stop canoodling," Brannigan said suddenly, his voice stern in a way that shot worry into my chest. "I can hear something."

"Who says canoodling?" Edison laughed, his hand finding my waist when Hugh set my feet on the ground.

Dean was already halfway up the tree, Slasher less interested in his pretty view than he'd been in mine.

"What can you hear?" I asked Brannigan, crossing the twig-covered ground to his side.

"That!" Edison yelled, magic charging across the ground in a streak so hot that I worried my eyebrows would burn off. "Come on!" he shouted at us, launching into a run.

I didn't see the Cupid, but I trusted my mate, so I burst into a run, my belly full of fluttery excitement.

We were about to catch our quarry.