Then tensed again when a voice behind me snarled, “What are you, my personal stalker now?”
I spun on my heel. A muscle ticked along the line of his jaw, his expression blazing with anger. His fist tightened around a piece of paper. I scanned the purple marks that darkened his skin—and paused. The bruises on his face and arms were significantly better. More so than they should have been, even with my aid. “How did you heal so quickly?”
The Fae crossed his arms, hiding the paper from view. “I asked you a question first.” He raised his eyebrows mockingly.
“I followed you, yes. I wanted to make sure no shifters tried to bother you. And good thing I did too.” I motioned behind me, at the spot where the coyote shifter had been.
He clenched and unclenched his jaw, green eyes narrowing. “Let’s make something crystal clear: I’m not breaking any laws, so butt out. You’re crossing a line, Enforcer.”
“You’re absolutely right. I am crossing a line. The Fae-shifter borderline.” I hopped back and forth over a crack in the sidewalk to emphasize my point, grinning as I added, “And I’m paid quite well to be here. But don’t worry. You’ve cashed in your last favor.”
I turned on my heel to leave. Sleep and a soft pile of blankets were calling my name.
“You cost me my job. So keep your nosy self out of my business.”
I stiffened, rolling my shoulders back as I turned to face him once more. “You cost yourself your job, you mean. Picking fights like you do . . .” I shrugged. “Mordecai has rules about Fae jobs. I know one tardy isn’t enough to get you fired. Nice try, but you can’t put this one on me.”
My hands slid to my hips, heat simmering through my blood. He didn’t have to want or accept my help, but to put his job loss on me? I wasn’t about to take the blame for that. He started to open his mouth, but before he could speak I snapped, “Remember who you’re addressing. Watch your mouth.”
His expression changed then. He looked almost . . . comfortable. Like he was settling in for a fight. Sure enough, he opened his mouth and off he went.
“Oh. My bad. Remind me again what exactly you do?” I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore him. I couldn’t remember the last time I wanted to hit anyone as much as I wanted to deck him right now. He smirked. “For an Enforcer, you’re quite the pushover. Why don’t you hit me already for being—”
I didn’t know what came over me. Exhaustion, maybe, but that was no excuse.
One moment my Enforcer training was carefully reined behind shaking fists and gritted teeth. The next? Venom exploded in my veins and I—
I slapped him.
Hard.
Shock lit up his eyes, likely to match my own, and the muscles in his arms tensed. I shook my head, blinking away the red.
“What is your problem?” I growled, even as my mind reeled. I hit him. I hit him. What the hell was wrong with me? I reined in my riotous emotions long enough to add, “Why are you so angry all the time?”
Slowly, he raised a hand to his cheek, eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe what I had done. That makes two of us. I had never actually hit him before. Threatened to, once or twice, but I had never intended to follow through.
He suddenly laughed. Not a belly laugh, but a demonic one, cold and cruel. “See? Everyone has the instinct to be angry. To inflict violence on others. I rest my case.”
He brushed past me and, for a moment, I stood frozen. He was right. I knew he was right. I was furious that he had provoked me so easily, livid that after all the time I had spent restraining myself and fighting for the Fae, this one bad egg was trying to spoil the lot. He poked and I exploded; acting exactly the way shifters were supposed to. But I didn’t want to be like them. I had seen the things Mordecai had done in the name of “the greater good.”
Honey-colored eyes sparkling with all the brightness of childhood curiosity filled my mind. I clamped down on the image. No. I couldn’t let those memories back in, because if I did . . .
“Fine. You’re right. We all make mistakes.” That was the closest I could bring myself to offering an apology. I shrugged and added, “But not everything has to be a fight.”
The Fae stopped in his tracks. Maybe I was finally getting through to him. “You’re right,” he said, and a flicker of hope warmed my chest. Then, “But if your kind doesn’t control their urges to beat up my kind, then why should I? Leave me alone, stalker.” And with that, he turned to stride away.
But the paper fell free and I bent, plucking the folded sheet from the ground. “What’s this?”
The Fae whirled, fire in his eyes. I was pushing my luck. Hard. He closed in quickly and I shoved the paper into my bra, giving him an I dare you smirk. He froze, eyes locked onto my chest. With a blink, he tore his gaze away, lips twisting as if the sight repulsed him. Heat blazed in my cheeks, but I held my ground. I didn’t know what was inside this paper, but he wanted it and I wanted information. I wasn’t about to pass that off.
I narrowed my eyes. “Or don’t talk and I’ll take the paper back to my penthouse. Either way . . .”
He frowned as he considered his options. Fight or flight? I was shocked when he said, “You know what? Keep the paper. I’m out of here.”
Ugh. What a diva. I pulled the paper free, quickly scanning the contents. Mordecai. Job opening. Fae only. I blinked. What?
“Here,” I said as he pushed
