Chapter 13

Koda didn't usually havean issue setting up traps. He excelled at them after all; he usually could outsmart those he hunted. The use of bait? Again, part of his strategy, however, it became wholly different when the woman he found himself falling for wanted to put herself out there to draw danger.

Right away, Marissa was ready to dive in and dangle herself in the open.

She held a can of cola in one hand as she paced, talking aloud. "So the person who set fire to Lenora's place thinks I'm dead. Even if they don't, they must be wondering where I am. Since you cloaked my movements, they don't know I'm here. At the same time, we don't want to draw them to my boss's house. We'll have to relocate. Maybe the hotel where you've been staying." She tossed the latter part of that at Koda. "It's walking distance to the precinct, so plenty of opportunity for them to make a move."

"Too many ways that could go wrong," Koda grumbled. "You're well aware we can't act overtly or the humans will panic." While humanity knew of cryptids and those with magic, they didn't like it when it affected their daily life or things got a little too weird—or violent.

Unperturbed by his caution, she waved a hand. "Thus far, the attacks have been discreet. No reason to think that will change."

"Burning buildings down hasn't exactly been discreet," he reminded.

"None of them resulted in casualties. They were done after business hours, or when the houses were empty."

"Not including you and Lenora."

"You know what I mean."

"Don't forget we're dealing with an unknown amount of people, though."

"If you're right," she challenged. "I'm not convinced. It could be the person hiding chimera's existence is behind the bounty as well."

"Either way, we have to be careful and not too cocky. Being good at our jobs means not taking unnecessary risks and being prepared."

Her lips quirked. "Or flinging magic at it and seeing what sticks."

"A good peeing sometimes works," Orion chimed in, earning yet another glare.

Koda could have done without the pair of hounds, but they gave Marissa extra protection that he could count on, so he begrudgingly accepted them onto the team.

"You know," Ambrose said, finally adding to the conversation, "Instead of waiting for Marissa to be attacked, why not go after the person offering the bounty?"

"We've already talked about that. Doubtful anyone offering a bounty on the dark web is going to want to talk to law enforcement," Koda pointed out.

"But what if we pretended to have caught her?" Ambrose explained. "We make contact claiming we've captured the chimera."

"They'll want proof," Koda argued.

Ambrose glanced at Marissa. "You saw a partial of the chimera, correct?" At her nod, he added, "Could you create an illusion that we could use to convince the bounty poster?"

"Yes, but in order for it to work, I'd have to cast it on someone, and I should warn, I don't know how well it would withstand scrutiny up close."

"We don't need it to be seamless, just good enough to provide video proof to the bounty poster," Ambrose explained.

Koda actually warmed to the idea. "We provide a passable decoy and get the bounty poster to reveal themselves, which either eliminates the threat entirely or, at the least, removes an active player."

"When should we contact them?" was Marissa's next question.

No time like the present. It didn't take long for her to recreate the image she'd seen of the chimera. Given they'd not seen her full face, they made the illusion with the same kind of hooded trench coat seen in the memory rewind they'd viewed.

Since they couldn't be sure if the person offering the bounty knew about Koda, they used Ambrose in the video proof they sent on the dark web. He held the end of a leash that hooked to a collar around Marissa's neck. Wearing her magical illusion, she had her hands tucked in front of her, in matching shackles. Her head bowed for most of the recording, until the very end, when she lifted it and showed off the one brilliant blue eye and a peek of matching hair.

"Awesome. This looks perfect." Orion proved to be full of enthusiasm.

Koda actually agreed and soon had the video and the message firing off to the person offering the bounty. The reply came quickly, which kind of sucked. Koda had been hoping to get Marissa alone. He fooled himself into thinking it would be to talk. In reality? He wanted to devour those lips and hear her panting as she undulated under him again.

As if catching his thoughts, she turned at that moment and smiled at him. A soft and sensual promise on her lips and in her eyes.

He went instantly hard and wanted to curse that the meeting would take place within the hour. It seemed too fast.

Abe returned to his house as the team prepared to leave for the designated meeting spot. He took one look at the disguised Marissa and recoiled, leaving Koda to quickly shout, "It's not the chimera!"

Abe remained stiff as he asked, "Then who is it?"

"It's me, boss." Marissa waved. "This is just a disguise. We're about to go meet the person offering the bounty."

Kowalski scowled. "You were just gassed and left for dead in a house fire. You shouldn't be running off doing stunts like this."

"I don't need to tell you that I'm not the sort of agent to sit on the sidelines when things start getting good."

"Given the attacks, we needed to do something. This will get one player out of the way," Koda explained.

Abe's expression pinched. "Can it wait? I need Agent Smith for something."

"We can't reschedule the meeting, or they'll know something is up. Can I help you after?" Marissa offered as a compromise.

"You might not want to wait once you hear the reason why." Abe paused and said, "We got a hit on your biological mother in the cryptid database."

Marissa swayed, and as Koda grabbed her, the illusion she wore melted away.

"You found her?" was her faint reply.

Abe nodded. "I've got her coming in for questioning. She doesn't know why. I thought you'd want to be there."

"I do, but I'm supposed to help in the sting operation." Marissa's stricken expression tore at Koda.

"What if you turned me into the chimera?" Koda offered her a solution. "I'll go in your place."

"But—" She bit her lower lip, and Orion jumped in. "Don't worry. Me and Ambrose will keep your boyfriend safe. The three of us can handle whatever is coming."

"Don't be so sure. Lenora called the attacker evil, and we know they have magic and aren't afraid to use it," she reminded.

"That's assuming the bounty poster is the arsonist. Could be they're benign," Koda pointed out.

"Is this a good time to mention Hekate's blessing allows us to absorb most spells?" Orion grinned. "You ain't seen anything funnier than the look on a warlock's face when he throws a massive fireball thinking he'd going to evaporate you, only to find himself getting nipped in the ball sac."

"Are you sure?" The dog's quips fell on deaf ears as Koda focused on Marissa, watching her sense of duty war with that of hope.

Koda couldn't take that from her. Not when he'd witnessed how distraught she'd been at the idea that her mother could be a monster. "Go. Find the answers to your past. We'll meet you there in a few hours once we've taken the bounty poster into custody."

"Thank you!" Her bright smile made him wish he could go with her, stay at her side and offer support. Alas, he needed to go because if the hounds absorbed spells, then that left only him capable of wearing the disguise.

Koda checked the clock on the wall. "We'll leave in ten minutes. So do whatever you need to, but be ready."

"I was born ready," Orion boasted.

"He means take a piss," Ambrose growled.

"I don't have to piss."

"So if I say picture a waterfall…"

"I fucking hate you," Orion snarled as he stalked out of the house. A smirking Ambrose followed.

Abe frowned. "Why are they going outside?"

"I'm thinking to water your bushes," Koda remarked with a straight face.

The statement deepened Abe's scowl. "Fucking canines, always marking shit. I'm going to get the hose." Abe stalked off, leaving Koda alone with Marissa.

"Are you going to be okay?" He grabbed her hands and squeezed.

"I could ask the same of you. I don't like letting you go off into danger alone."

"Hardly alone. I've got Frick and Frack with me."

Her lips curved. "They're not that bad."

"You haven't spent as much time with them. They are like a pair of squabbling children."

"Hekate wouldn't have sent them if they were useless."

He sighed. "I'm sure they'll be useful, just annoying."

"I'll have to make it up to you later," she purred, tucking herself close to his chest.

"I like the sound of that." He lifted her so their lips could be level. But before he kissed her, he said, "Be careful."

"Ditto." She ran her fingertips down his cheek. "I'll need you in working condition for what I have planned."

"What do you have planned?"

"Something naked, orgasmic, and fun." She winked.

He hardened and couldn't help but kiss her.

A kiss that had them both panting and might have not ended but for Orion's bellowed, "Ten minutes are going by fast, lover boy. Let's get this show on the road."

He gave her a rueful smile. "Later?"

"Definitely," her vehement reply. "Now stand still while I make you into the chimera."

Her magic tingled as it settled over him. "This glamour won't withstand touch," she explained. "It can be shattered if you're not careful."

Which meant he'd be screwed. A skinwalker could only replicate animals. Not humans. An odd quirk of his kind, unlike doppelgangers, which only mimicked humanity.

He left with the hounds, wearing a collar and a leash, his hands wrapped in shackles that appeared sturdy but could be easily yanked apart. He resisted the urge to turn around and look. No need. He felt her watching as he drove away, and a part of him screamed to go back.

She's in danger.

A danger he'd hopefully end within the hour.