Page 90 of The Huntress
“A man makes you give up your dream, and you agreed to it?” Metcalfe shoved back from her chair before striding around the desk to lean her backside on the front of it. “I never thought you’d be an idiot over a man.”
“I’m a suckblood, Johanna.” Callie raised her top lip to reveal her fangs.
Metcalfe’s eyes widened, then she pursed her lips.
Yes, this was more like it. Her captain had an unholy dislike of suckbloods. Having gotten to know them better, Callie could argue their merits, but not when it came to Syl. He still rubbed her the wrong way. Whenever she saw him, the urge to spank his backside persisted, and not in a sexual way.
Gabe chuckled.I used to feel the same way.
“What the hell happened?” Metcalfe asked. “I said liaise not fucking join them.”
“I got claimed. It’s their version of marriage, just for eternity, with no possibility of divorce.”
“Shit.” Her shoulders slumped.
“I must build a suckblood police force. Y’know, to bridge the gap between our two species.”
“Our?” Metcalfe asked with an arched brow. Her lips curled in a half-smile, which had Callie’s breathing a sigh of relief.
“You know what I mean. I would suggest you and I brainstorm the hell out of this. It would look good on your resume, and I get to practice law enforcement, just for the other team this time.”
“Intriguing.” Metcalfe tapped her fingers on the edge of her desk. “Go on.”
“Suckbloods have their own way of dealing with disobedience, and it’s far more lethal than our…your justice system. Minor infractions receive a reprimand, a slap on the wrist. There’s no documentation, and their…our way relies on memory.” Callie darted her gaze at Gabe, who hovered by the door.
He flashed her an image of taking her on Metcalfe’s desk, over the scattered documents, and she couldn’t fight the flush on her cheeks. Didn’t even bother trying.
“Want to meet him?” she asked, her gaze lingering on the width of his shoulders, the curve of his neck. Just one glimpse and her heartbeat thumped loud enough to deafen her. He flashed her a knowing smile that pooled desire in her core.
“No.” Metcalfe shook her head.
“Suit yourself. He’s with me all the time, shrouded.”
“What?” Metcalfe’s eyes widened in horror before she cleared her throat, collecting herself. “I didn’t know they can do that.”
“Now do you want to meet him?”
“Do I have a choice if he’s in my damn office?” Metcalfe slapped her desk.
Callie shrugged at the outburst. Metcalfe always yelled and demanded, but Callie doubted she knew any other way to behave.
“Can you shroud?”
Callie frowned. “Not yet, still learning.”
“I will teach her,” Gabe said as he revealed his presence, having strolled to the window. “Hello, Captain Metcalfe. It’s a pleasure to meet you, face to face.” He strode forward to offer his hand.
Metcalfe accepted it, a little in awe and a lot in shock. Her hazel gaze traveled Gabe’s body in disbelief.
“A pleasure to meet you too, Mr. de Winter.”
Oh, shit. She recognized him. What the hell?
Callie quickly understood why, and she wanted to facepalm. Gabe was Syl’s brother, and since Syl liked tuxedoes, it made sense that he schmoozed with the city’s elite. Hell, Gabe might even know the mayor. Once again, her superpower of deduction had failed her.
“I apologize for stealing Callie from you, but one look at her and I knew.” Images flashed across their bond, memories of when he met her, held her, first kissed her, all saturated with the emotions he’d felt at the time. Gabe wasn’t kidding when he said he’d known from the start.
“I’m stunned at this turn of events. She’s one of my warriors, determined to mete out justice no matter the species,” Metcalfe said, surprising Callie.
