Demon Night

classes.
    And from the little of Mark’s psyche that she could sense, he hadn’t been surprised when Jake had smiled the first time.
    Ethan squinted his eyes and turned his head as a diesel truck rolled by, trying to hear over the rumbling engine. His gaze met hers for a moment, softened.
    She couldn’t suppress her smile, or the heavy thump of her heart. Jesus. In the middle of a stakeout—or whatever this was—and one look had her chest swelling, leaving her speechless with love and wonder.
    She’d woken just after sunset, and Ethan’s expression had been soft then, too—and it had been the first time she’d seen him drifting. He’d lain motionless except for the rapid movement of his eyes behind his lids, and when they’d slowed, when each of his breaths hadn’t been so deep and even, she’d slipped down his body to find the only other soft part of him.
    She hadn’t had many opportunities to love him with her mouth, and she’d watched his face, her nails digging into his hips, silently asking his straining form to remain still beneath her tongue—until her burgeoning excitement and an accidental scrape of her fangs had stolen her control. But she’d seen what she’d been looking for: his need, the tension between holding back and reaching out.
    Had it always been there, and she was just now recognizing it? Perhaps feeding had prevented her from witnessing such a vulnerable moment; once the bloodlust gripped her, she rarely saw Ethan’s face. Or maybe he’d been hiding it, and like her, simply couldn’t hold it in anymore.
    Whatever the answer, she thought it must be love, or a step away from it—and desperately hoped she wasn’t just projecting her need onto him, mistaking the desire and affection she knew he felt for something more.
    Everything he did seemed to say it was much more, but she wished she could trust herself, and be certain of it.
    With a sigh, Charlie focused on the scene in front of her again, and wanted to whack her head against the rooftop when Ethan told her Mark and Jake had begun discussing the menu. She’d already briefed Jake on her preferences; there was nothing to do but sit and watch them chat.
    This was the most boring dinner date she’d ever had. Ethan must have been thinking the same; he slid a deck of cards her way, and caught each of her attempts to cheat without ever appearing to glance away from the restaurant.
    After he’d won her small pile of chips, Ethan finally said, “All right, Jake—give him a little nudge. Let’s mention Jane and Legion. Play it modest; just say what you’ve been doing doesn’t compare to the goings-on in Washington, or Jane’s research.”
    Jake did, and Charlie practiced feeling out Mark’s psychic response. A stuttering note of uncertainty combined with the sweet tones of affection, and Mark hesitated before he replied.
    Poor guy. He really had it bad for her sister.
    But Ethan was shaking his head, his lips tight. “He’s too damn good at blocking,” he muttered.
    A vibration in her sweatshirt pocket kept her from answering him. She glanced at the incoming number, whispered, “Old Matthew,” and scrambled across the roof so her voice wouldn’t interfere with Ethan’s hearing.
    It was her first night off since she’d reorganized the office; Old Matthew was likely just wondering where she’d put one of the files.
    But a few moments later, fear was crawling in her belly. Ethan was on his feet before she’d returned to his side.
    “He says Cora and Angie are in his office, asking for you,” Charlie said, her eyes wide. “The nephil murdered Manny.”
    Ethan’s lips tightened, and he half-turned. “We’ve got trouble, Jake. You all right to keep this up?”
    Jake gave no indication that he’d heard except for the movement of his hand against the table, signing his assent.
    Ethan looked back at Charlie. “Tell Cole we’ll be there directly.”
    She’d barely relayed the message when Ethan lifted her, ran to the rear of the building, and jumped into the air.

    As leaky as Angie and Cora were, Ethan would have thought they’d just seen Manny killed—but it had happened almost a week previously.
    Hearing that they’d holed up all that time had him staring down at his boots, containing his frustration. Theirs was the only sighting of the nephil since Ethan’s return to Seattle, and the trail would be damn cold by now.
    And he sure as hell couldn’t summon much grief for Manny, no matter how many tears