4. ROWAN

Chapter 4

ROWAN

He's just so… small. Much smaller than Amand and I but lean with a hidden strength I can only assume has been built over time. Various scars cover his neck and what little I can see of his shoulders. I am ashamed to admit I want to see the rest of his body, to see the pain he's lived through. A part of me even wants to comfort him. Well, at least my magic does.

Not being able to seek out his designation is pissing me off. I've never met a creature I couldn't place and as honest as this man seems to be, the likelihood of him being an undiscovered designation is nearly impossible. Vince will figure this out which is why we are now in his office, waiting for him to come back from his midnight coffee. This wouldn't have worked with any of the other officers but Vince only knows how to work.

I know that regardless of when I call him, he'll be available and most likely stuffed in between these dreary four walls with awful coffee and a suit that's seen better days.

Lev, as he introduced himself to us, starts bouncing his leg but when I look over, he doesn't seem anxious. In fact, he seems a little pissed and even more worried. Is he not who he said he was? Or are precincts not his thing? He catches me staring, throwing me a curious glance before returning his attention to Vince's desk. I want to dissect Lev like a fucking bug.

I also want to fuck him.

Ignoring both those thoughts, I focus on Vince as he stumbles in. The officer has his coffee raised to his lips, frowning at Lev. His smile sobers as he rounds his desk and sets the mug on the surface, his gaze flitting between Amand and me several times before speaking. "See, I would understand if just you two were in my office but Lev? What are all three of you doing together?"

Vince plops into his seat and scoots forward, the bags under his eyes much darker than I remember. He's always worked 110% on his cases and this current one is probably the most difficult.

Lev doesn't answer so I do. "What was Lev doing at our site?" It's one of many buildings we've set up shop to conduct surveillance. There's no one watching these abandoned areas and the few people that catch us wandering, assume that the hard hats and tool belts we don once we leave are for work.

Vince's brows crease as he raises his cup to take another sip of coffee, surveying the three of us again. I have an inkling that there's something more to Vince's keen observations but I don't address it. He lets out a heavy sigh and stares at Lev. "I thought I told you to let this go."

"And I'm pretty sure you knew I wouldn't." His voice is a little husky, deeper than earlier as if he's had his run-ins with Vince and the police officer isn't exactly a friend.

The officer just leans back in his chair, chewing on his bottom lip for a few seconds before speaking. "I can't say I'm surprised. You're always thorough and you never listen to me when I tell you to stay away. Lev, these two are my undercover officers on the case—The Petrov family."

Lev doesn't so much as glance at us, either not shocked by this discovery or he doesn't care.

Vince clicks his tongue as he shakes his head, his fingers tapping the mug until he finds the right words. "Amand, Rowan, this is our resident PI. Leviathan Dubois." My eyebrows raise, wondering if Vince is fucking with me. Who names their kid Leviathan? No wonder the aura surrounding Lev is dark and mysterious. Lev growls at the use of his full name and I make a point not to call him that.

Lev also seems to dislike the title ‘PI' but realization dawns on me as I put a face to the occupation. Vince has spoken about the resident PI for years, good and bad things but I've mostly picked up on the irritation that Lev has always been one step ahead of everyone else. That also means that this creature was the one who saved the last Omega.

Lev shifts between us again and I scowl at him, his restlessness making me uneasy. The last thing I want is for my instincts to determine he's prey and then find my teeth sunk into his skin, watching him squirm and plead for his life. Unfortunately, as the thought becomes prevalent in my mind, so does my desire to press him up against the wall. I still don't know if I would end up fucking him or killing him. His magic is confusing.

When I turn my attention back to Vince, he merely shrugs. "Don't look at me like that, Rowan. No one knows what the fuck he is and I've seen Lev wrestle that issue for years."

Amand hasn't commented since we've entered but that's par for the course. I'm usually the one who talks in public. He observes, makes plans, and ensures that everything goes smoothly. Granted, if there's a need to kill someone, Amand is generally first in line. He likes things bloody. A quick bite would solve most of our disagreements as poison spreads through their body but Amand likes to draw it out, hear them scream, watch them squirm.

I can't say I'm all that different.

When Lev shifts again, my instincts get the better of me as I drag him out of his chair and bend him over Vince's desk. My hand wraps around the back of his neck, my tongue flitting between my lips. My nails begin to extend, digging into the man's skin but his restlessness irks me. One of a Basilisk's many flaws is fast, unnecessary movement. We see the individual as prey and only with enough training do we keep ourselves from reacting.

Unfortunately, I find myself out of control and very distracted around Lev. The entire ride over here, I was hard and confused. I'm still both. "Why the fuck do you keep moving?" I hiss in his ear. Lev goes lax beneath my touch. He turns his face, angling up just enough so that his eyes meet mine and then he stills. It's an unnatural stillness, his entire body taut.

At first, nothing happens. And then, he just seems to not be there. I release him, stumbling back a few steps. Lev straightens up, reappearing to the visible eye. His clothes stay present but his skin just fell into the background. I thought I had been seeing things when we first met him, Lev standing in front of the upholstery but he really can turn invisible.

That isn't something I'm used to.

"I don't know why it happens," Lev begins. "It just fucking does when I stop moving. So, excuse me if I'm kind of fidgety. During a conversation, it's fucking weird when I just go away. "

Amand snorts but I'm waiting for Lev to crack a smile, to tell us that it's a joke. Anything. But he doesn't and now I'm beginning to understand why he seems so uncertain that he doesn't know what he is. His magic is strange at best but pretty fucking useful for a PI.

Now, I just have to figure out what to do with him because fuck if he's going to mess up all the work we've done so far. Then again, if he's the one gathering all the clues and not the police department, he could be useful.

I continue observing Lev as he straightens his shirt. Amand is just as curious as I am. "How can you smell magic, Lev?" That's not what I expected Amand to ask but I am curious.

Vince chokes on his coffee, but I am focused on the creature before me as he pales, his entire body stiffening. And then he just fucking disappears before my eyes, a soft ‘fuck' falling from his lips.