She had a hell of a lot to answer for, he thought grimly. Eleanor was the key to the kids, the figurative nut that had to be broken, through fair means or foul. How could he be expected to do his job when everywhere he turned he saw something that reminded him of Maddie?
He accepted his drink with a smile and patted the cushion beside him.
Eleanor folded down beside him, then caressed his thigh. He stared into her eyes and wished they were amber rather than dark.
'I'm so glad we decided to come back here,' she purred quietly. 'So much cosier.'
He suspected it wasn't the coziness she was after, but rather the solitude. The Blue Moon had plenty of customers—and plenty of potential witnesses if something went wrong.
Though why he thought something would go wrong he couldn't say. He just had an itchy feeling he'd better watch what he did—and watch what she did.
'It's not often another shapeshifter drifts into my territory,' she continued. 'Taurin Bay is such a backwater.'
Her hand was moving up his leg, creating heat wherever she touched. The mind may not want her, he thought wryly, but the body sure as hell does. 'Which is why I was so surprised to find you here. You look more a city type of girl.'
Eleanor gave him a lazy smile. 'I am. Unfortunately, my other shape is not.'
'Very few are.' He reached forward, tracing the line of her cheek. 'But Taurin Bay is such a small town.
Small towns like to watch and gossip.'
'Ah, but I like the danger of discovery.' She leaned into his hand and lightly kissed his palm. 'Besides, Taurin Bay has a city attitude. You can do what you want, and the neighbors have no wish to know about it.'
Was that some sort of admission? Did she mean you could kill without the neighbors getting suspicious?
Taurin Bay wasn't that insular. Someone, somewhere, had to know something.
'So what do you do for excitement in a place like this?'
Eleanor smiled. 'You mean, besides trying to seduce passing shapeshifters?'
He ran his fingers down her neck, letting them linger momentarily over her pulse. 'Yes, besides that.'
'I hunt. I run the hills at night. I help Hank at the inn occasionally.'
And she was hunting now, with him as the quarry. Excitement lit her eyes, raced through her pulse. The edge he was walking was getting decidedly thinner. If she changed form, he'd be in serious trouble. He doubted if his own form would have much hope against a panther.
'I didn't know Hank owned the inn.'
'Oh, he doesn't. I do.'
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Maybe, just maybe, Eleanor had given them their first lead. 'Really. I thought the inn was owned by a Randolph Barker.'
'My former husband. Couldn't stand the demands of a shapeshifter, poor dear.'
The demands, or the appetite, of a shapeshifter? Maybe they should check out just what had happened to poor dear Randolph, as well as find out if he owned any other properties in the area.
Eleanor's hand touched his thigh, then moved to the fly of his jeans. His groin tightened in response, aching with need.
He leaned forward and kissed her. Her mouth was hot and sweet, but it was a taste that suddenly went sour. Damn, he just couldn't do this.
He'd ignored Maddie's desperate need to be held and comforted, had ignored the flash of hurt when he'd walked away from her.
But he simply couldn't ignore the fact that he had no wish to make love to one woman when it was another he wanted.
He placed his hand on Eleanor's. 'Eleanor, stop.'
She raised an eyebrow and sat back. 'Cold feet?' she questioned softly. 'Or a case of not wanting to cheat on your girlfriend?'
'Neither,' he replied calmly. 'Just caution. What's your other form, Eleanor?'
'A cat.' She sipped her drink, regarding him thoughtfully. 'A black panther, to be precise.'
So she was the cat he'd seen in the forest. Her hair had to be dyed—usually it was a clear indicator to the coloring of a shapeshifter's other self. 'My spirit is the hawk, Eleanor. We aren't compatible.' Not when she was likely to pounce at a vital moment.
She smiled, but it failed to reach her eyes. The light of battle was flaring deep in the midnight recesses of her gaze. 'But think of the fun, Shapeshifter. We'd never know when one might change and devour the other. The thrill of fear will only add to the excitement.'
It was the sort of fun he could well do without. 'I wouldn't want to hurt you.'
'Oh, you wouldn't, believe me,' she murmured softly. 'So, where does that leave us?'
He took another sip of wine instead of answering, and saw a sudden gleam enter the dark depths of her eyes. A chill ran through him. The wine. Christ, he was a fool.
He put the glass on the table and caught her hand. 'I guess I should do the gentlemanly thing and leave.'
'Oh, don't. There is still so much we have to discuss.'
Her glance flicked past him, no doubt studying the clock on the mantle. He wondered how much time he had left until the drug took effect.
He dropped a quick kiss on her fingers, then rose and did up his pants. 'It's best if I go, Eleanor. We both know that.'
She rose with him. The predatory gleam in her eyes was stronger—the huntress was rising fully to the surface. Magic whispered around him. Magic that was old and full of evil. It had the same foul taste that had been evident after the attack on Maddie.
She reached out, running her fingernails lightly down his cheek. Her touch burned, and moisture dribbled down his cheek, thick and warm. She withdrew her hand. Her fingers were smeared with red. She licked them slowly, her gaze hot.
The huntress was getting ready to pounce on her prey.
'I can't let you go.' Her voice was sultry and yet somehow harsh—almost as if she were having trouble speaking.
Or having trouble remaining in human form.
'As I said, there is much we have to discuss. Like, who do you work for and how have you managed to stay so close on our heels.'
He clenched his fists and barely curbed the sudden urge to answer her question. He'd obviously ingested some sort of truth drug. Lord, he should never have been arrogant enough to think he could come to her lair and escape unscathed.
'Sorry. Haven't got time for questions right now. Things to do, places to be.' He gave her a casual smile and swung his fist at her chin.
Her head snapped back, and she crumpled. He caught her before she hit the carpet and laid her down on the sofa. The last thing he wanted was her head smashing against the coffee table or floor—not when she might be the only one who could lead them to the kids. He had no idea how deeply Hank was involved. It was still possible the man had no true idea what Eleanor was doing.
Possible, but not likely.
He quickly frisked her but found little beyond the fact she was wearing no underwear. He stood up and studied the room. There had to be something, somewhere, that would give them a more of a lead. He turned and walked towards the door. Maybe her bedroom was a good place to start… The light around him suddenly buzzed, and for an instant, the doorway blurred.
He shook his head, and the doorway steadied. He took another step, and the room whirled briefly. The buzzing was growing, shooting pain through his head. The drug—it may have been a truth drug, but it was also beginning to affect his ability to see and walk straight. He'd better leave while he still could.
He got out of the house then called to his alternate shape. He had to get back to Maddie before the drug took a firm hold.
