If that had been his plan, it would hardly be common knowledge. It defeated the purpose.
Betise glanced skyward and stepped away from the fountain. 'I have another dance to get to. You here day and night?'
'Unfortunately.'
Something flashed in Betise's pale eyes. Annoyance. Or envy, perhaps. 'Then I'll see you tomorrow night.' She spun away and walked toward the r ow of aspens and r ed-trunk pines.
Neva took another sip of water then glanced at the ballroom. As much as she didn't want to go back in there, she needed to find out who danced with each of the Sinclair brothers. She couldn't risk asking anyone and raising suspicions, which left her with only one option--watching them. And on a night like this, and in a place like this, that wasn't going to be an easy task.
Duncan glanced at the side exit for the umpteenth time. Neva had left a few minutes ago, and if she didn't return very soon, he was going after her. Though he really doubted that she'd risk meeting her employer right now, he couldn't take the chance she wasn't.
'Any progress?' Zeke asked softly.
Duncan shook his head, switching his gaze from the door to Rene as his brother began talking to a pretty redhead. 'Did you manage to get a copy of the autopsy report?'
'My source doesn't want to risk being seen by anyone he knows, so he's not coming here until after four.' By which time, only a few diehards would be left here at the dance. 'Who's that redhead Rene's with?' Zeke hesitated. 'Rozin, I think her name is. Why? Fancy her yourself, do you?'
Duncan gave his father a wry smile. 'Hardly. I've got my hands full with our little spy.'
Zeke's dark eyes gleamed with amusement. 'Wolves from the golden tribe can be surprisingly wanton once they shuck the restraints.'
Neva hadn't yet thrown off her restraints, but the wildness within was certainly beginning to show. 'Is
Rozin one of Rene's regulars?'
Zeke frowned. 'Not that I know of, though he's certainly been with her a few times this phase. Why?'
He swept his gaze around the room looking for his other brothers. 'What about Tye and Kane?'
'Kane's got two regulars left alive, Tye one.'
'If the killer is going after the lovers of your get, it might be wise to arrange watchers on those women.
The last thing we need right now is another death.' Zeke nodded. 'Arranged it this afternoon.'
'I hope they're discreet. You know how Tye feels about being watched.'
'A fact the first guard I'd placed on his mate discovered a little too quickly. The second is keeping a more sensible distance.'
Zeke's voice was dry, and Duncan smiled. 'And well out of the range of Tye's fist, I gather.'
'Exactly.' Zeke paused. 'The rangers want to fingerprint the five of us.'
'So they've finally found a print?'
'Taken it off the last victim's skirt, apparently.'
'If she was here the whole night, that print could belong to anyone.'
'It was a blood print, and evidently it matches the blood type they've found under the previous victims nails.'
'The reports we have said the blood they'd found was A-positive. None of us are.'
'The rangers don't know that.'
He glanced back at the door. Still no sign of Neva. 'It might be best if we cooperate with them on this.
Maybe when they realize it's not one of us, they'll start looking for the real killer.'
Zeke smiled. 'You really think that?'
'No.' Because the last time he'd cooperated with the police, he'd ended up in jail anyway. 'I'll drop by the ranger office tomorrow and make arrangements.'
'Do that. And come to my suite about five. We'll see if Mariata's autopsy report varies any from the other three.' Zeke hesitated, his smile widening. 'If you dare spend the time away from your pretty spy, that is.' Duncan grinned. 'With what I intended to do to her over the next couple of hours, she'll undoubtedly be in a deep and exhausted sleep come five o'clock.' He clapped his father on the arm, then headed for the door.
Neva had barely taken three steps when Duncan appeared in the doorway. The moonlight gleamed off his skin and caressed his face, making him appear more like a dark angel than ever. His obsidian eyes were almost otherworldly.
And so hot. So hungry.
Her throat went dry, and she stopped. His gaze swept down her body, and he might as well have been caressing her with his hand, because every inch of her responded with heated delight.
'What happened to the plate of food I requested?' Her voice came out little more than a husky whisper, and his eyes gleamed in response.
'The buffet has been sitting there for a while. I thought something fresher would be better.'
'A burger would be good right now.' And though she doubted he'd comply, at least the suggestion kept up the illusion that she was here unwillingly. If what he'd said to her at her parents' place was any indication, he was suspicious about her reasons for being with him, and the more she did to waylay those suspicions, the more chance she'd have to snoop.
His slow smile made her stomach flip-flop. 'I had something more substantial in mind.'
She let her gaze roam down the firm planes of his body until she came to the very visible evidence of his arousal under his jeans.
'So I can see,' she murmured, and even as she said it, she wondered where her mind was. Playing games with this man was not a good idea.
Not when his need blanketed the air, making it difficult to even breathe. Not when desire skated across her skin and it felt like her heart was going to race out of her chest. And she knew it wasn't the moon's influence, but the man himself. She might hate him, but the wolf within wanted him. Badly.
But she didn't dare give that part of herself complete freedom. Not here, and definitely not with Duncan.
Once the murderer was caught and this moon phase was over, she had bridges to mend and a life to get back to. A life he had practically destroyed.
'Why don't we take this discussion somewhere a little warmer?' His voice was soft and sexy enough to melt chocolate.
She nodded mutely. He touched a hand to her back, searing heat past her spine. A tremor ran through her. What was it about this man that got to her so badly? Surely it was more than just his experience and skill when it came to the art of lovemaking. Lord, she might be new to the mansion and its environs, but she wasn't new to the dance itself. She'd had several mates over the years since puberty, but none of them had ever affected her this deeply. This quickly.
There again, none of them had the reputation that Duncan had, either.
He led her along the path and past several doors. The caress of music from the ballroom gradually died, and the only sound to be heard was the soft crunch of gravel under their shoes. The moon caressed the night with its silver light, and the heat of it r aced through her veins, seeming to pool where his fingers pressed so lightly, so tenderly, against her back.
He guided her through an arch, then opened a door and ushered her inside. Though the room was dark, her night sight was wolf keen. They were in what looked like a commercial kitchen, filled with stainless steel appliances and bench tops.
'We're raiding the kitchen?' she asked, amused. 'Can you think of a better place to get fresh food?'
'I guess not.'
She pulled herself onto the bench and caught the loaf of bread he tossed her. He turned on a small light near the stove then continued on to the refrigerator, pulling out a platter of cold meats and a platter of fruit. Which was exactly what she'd wanted five minutes ago, but definitely not what she wanted right now. The thought sent a shiver across her skin. Being with this man, in this place, was dangerous. It made her hunger for things that just weren't safe. Or sane.
