“What’s that about?” he asked, looking from her to the closed bedroom door. “Why did it happen so fast?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” she lied. “Nothing about Doug’s transition has been like anything I’ve experienced. The others, even you with your demon blood, took at least two days to wake up and complete the transition. Doug’s only took twelve hours. Shit. Maya’s took almost five days, and when she finally did wake up, I was worried it would be a bad turn, but it had worked out fine.”
“Yeah, she’s no trouble at all,” Pete said drily. “Maybe it’s because he was so close to dying when you turned him?”
“No.” Olivia shook her head and took another sip. “You all were on death’s door. I wouldn’t have turned you otherwise.” She glanced at the bedroom and tapped the mug with her fingers. “I’ll talk to Xavier and see if he’s got any ideas. He’s been around awhile and has seen more weird shit than anyone I know.”
“Well, whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Pete glanced at the clock on the wall. “We’ve still got two hours or so until sundown.”
“Did you get the samples from Tom and Doug’s wounds to Millicent?” She tightened the grip on her mug. “Were either of these rogues responsible for the attacks on Ronald or the girl? I definitely picked up the scent of Rogue One, but the son of a bitch was gone by the time I got here.”
“Yes.” Pete took off his gloves and stuck them in his pockets. “The DNA in Tom’s wounds were from the rogue that killed Ronald—Rogue One—but the one you killed, that attacked Doug, was yet another rogue sibling. Meaning, the one that killed the girl is still out there too.”
“Shit,” Olivia downed the rest of the blood. “That means we still have two out there, and I’m betting on more than that.”
“Yup.” Pete nodded toward the bedroom. “How’d he take it?”
Before she could answer, the bedroom door opened, and Doug emerged looking more pissed off than he was before. And hotter, if that was possible. Dressed in full sentry garb, one of Pete’s uniforms that she kept here in case of an emergency, the man looked dangerous and sexy as hell. He oozed power, rage, and vengeance.
“Pete?” Doug asked warily.
He stalked into the room slowly, body wound tight and hands balled into fists at his side. Doug looked ready for a fight. The tension in the room was so thick, even Van Helsing didn’t move, but he kept his big brown eyes on the men as he stood by Olivia’s feet. Oreo sat next to Van Helsing, which seemed to be her favorite place to be.
“Hello, Doug.” Pete stuck out his hand but dropped it when Doug didn’t move to accept it. “Not the reunion I was hoping for.”
“You’re one of them too,” he said almost inaudibly. “No wonder you’ve been MIA, and here I was blaming your new marriage. Guess I owe your wife an apology—or my condolences.”
“If you mean that I’m a vampire—” Pete said evenly. “Yes. I am. Just like you, partner, and as far as my wife goes, I definitely got the best part of that deal. She’s the sexiest shapeshifter you’ll ever meet, and that’s saying something.”
“Shapeshifter? There are shapeshifters too?” he asked as he furrowed his brow briefly before holding up one hand to keep Pete from answering. “Never mind. Tell me later.” Doug stood his ground and flicked his eyes to Olivia. “You turned him too?” he asked quietly. “Didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Olivia looked away and rinsed out her cup as Van whined by her feet, sensing her uneasiness. “He’s part of my coven, like you are now.”
“Do you make a habit of seducing men and then turning them into freaks?” His voice rose, and he walked slowly toward Pete. “Did you fuck her?”
“Whoa!” Pete’s hands flew up in surrender. “I’m a married man, dude.” He gave Olivia a slanted glance. “Did I act like this big of a dick when you turned me?”
Doug went to grab Pete by the jacket, but Olivia flew across the room and tackled Doug, pinning him against the wall next to the front door. Pete could have handled himself, but she wanted Doug to be sure who was in charge.
“First of all,” she seethed, her lips just scant inches from his, “who I fuck is none of your business.”
His jaw clenched as she spoke, and his hands, which were curled around her waist, tightened. She tried not to remember the last time his hands were on her, but it was no use. She didn’t want to notice the way his thigh pressed against hers, or how his chest flexed beneath her weight, but it was an effort in futility.
Olivia was certain she would never escape him or his taste ever again. He was tattooed on her soul, the way that Dagger of Eternity was tattooed on his back.
“Second, I only turned Pete as a favor to his wife, Marianna. Like you, he would’ve died if I hadn’t.” She dropped her hands and stepped away, hoping she didn’t look as turned on as she felt. “Pete helped us clean up your situation and made it palatable for the humans.”
Doug crossed his arms over his chest and turned his stormy eyes to Pete. “What did you do?”
“I crashed your car and set it on fire before it went into the Hudson River.”
“What? You could’ve hurt someone.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t have any respect for human life now that you’re a bloodsucker, huh?”
“Anyway.” Pete let out a sigh and continued. “Right now, the cops are assuming it was an accident. I glamoured two local beat cops who were on duty by the pier around sunrise. I told them that they saw you and Tom on a high-speed chase. Your car crashed, caught fire, and went into the river. Right now, they’re dragging the river for both of your bodies. Soon you’ll both be presumed dead. If it’s any consolation, the whole department is pretty broken up about it.”
“You just dumped him in the river?” Doug asked through clenched teeth.
“No.” Olivia’s voice softened. “We have his remains at the Presidium morgue. I thought you might want to have him cremated. The point is that they won’t find your body or Tom’s.” She picked up her coat, heavy with the weight of hidden weaponry, and pulled it on as she focused on keeping her voice neutral. It would do no good to have her weeping over Doug’s loss, no matter how heavily his grief weighed on her. “Did he have any family?”
“Not really.” Doug leaned against the wall and rubbed his hands over his face. “His two ex-wives hate him, and he didn’t have any kids. No family to speak of, except for me.” He looked her straight in the eyes for a moment before he said anything else. “Thank you for not tossing him in the river. I’d like to see him before he’s cremated, if that’s alright.”
Olivia fought the ridiculous urge to cry. She turned on her heels, stalked into the guest room, and grabbed the long coat, almost identical to hers and Pete’s. Without saying a word, she came back in the living room and tossed it at Doug, who caught it in midair without taking his gaze off her. His blue eyes glinted back and wrinkled at the corners, sending a clear message that he’d meet any challenge she could throw at him.
“Put it on.” She nodded toward him and pulled on her gloves. “You don’t have any weapons yet, but after you’re registered, then I’ll give you back your gun. Loaded with new ammo, of course.”
Doug said nothing and simply pulled on the coat. It fit him perfectly. He looked like he was born to be a sentry—maybe he had. Something about him was unlike any human she’d encountered. What was it about Doug that made him so unique? Was it only the bloodmate legend, or was there something more?
“There are leather gloves in the pocket.” She tore her gaze from his and went to the front door. “Put them on. Like I said earlier, sterling silver will burn you quick. You’ll heal, but it hurts like hell, and if it gets in your bloodstream, then you’re close to fucked and will beg for a sunrise.”