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His gaze ventured back up to my eyes. This time it shimmered with an intensity that seemed foreign on Dante’s usually smarmy face. “Trust me, Hadley, I would not consider your demise lucky.”

I almost choked on my sip of coffee as the words hit me. So serious. So heavy. It betrayed something deeper than our rivalry, his inappropriate jokes, and mild sexual tension.

Dante didn’t crack a smile to signify he was giving me shit. That made me more uncomfortable.

“The wight…?” I cleared my throat.

Dante shook himself, as if from a trance, before taking a sip of his coffee. I must’ve just missed him at the coffee shop. “Taken care of. You really think so little of me, that I couldn’t handle a wight? I’m not the one battered and blue.”

My neck flushed with shame and anger at him pointing out my failures. But at least he didn’t rub in that he’d had to come to save me.

I was embarrassed enough that I’d be limping around the town like a victim. I needed to be at my full strength if I were going to take down an established and likely strong werewolf.

“It’s unusual for a wight to be on this continent,” I mused, hastily changing the subject. Safer grounds with Dante—monsters. “They’re native to Europe. Have you heard of one this far north?”

“No, I have not.” Dante tapped his chin. “It seems you attract the most interesting kinds of trouble. Maybe you really pissed off a powerful witch. I’ve heard rumors that they can command, and in some cases even create, wights.”

I scoffed. “Those are rumors, made up by witches to make themselves seem more powerful than they actually are.”

“Not a fan of witches?” he asked playfully. “They can be fun. And dangerous.”

“I don’t doubt that they’re dangerous,” I agreed and shifted my weight, still leaning against the hood of my car. “But I’m not stupid enough to have the kind of ‘fun’ I assume you do. Plus, I don’t swing that way. I have a healthy respect for them, but I don’t overblow their power. They’re still human, after all.”

Witches were technically human. Again, they were a tight-knit community, fiercely guarding secrets and truths about their powers. Most covens were not on my shit list, since they were harmless enough. The darker ones, the ones making deals with demons, working with necromancy, sacrifice … those were the ones I targeted. Those were the ones who slowly eroded their humanity until they became something other than human. They sacrificed their soul for power, prolonged life. But from what I understood about magic, there was always a cost.

“Well, whether or not the wight was created by a witch, this little town seems to be a mecca for supernatural activity. Considering the werewolf attack the night before.” Dante said it casually, and I forced myself not to react, hoping he hadn’t done more than rudimentary research.

He was right too. It was unusual for a town this small to have two supernatural creatures operating simultaneously. Not unheard of, but unusual.

“The wight could’ve been drawn by the werewolf.” I took a sip of my own coffee, scowling at my fellow social media obsessed millennials, still having their photoshoot. “They are called to those who lose their lives in the woods, after all.”

“Could’ve been.” Dante nodded. “Curious, the attack. Going for the heart when it isn’t a full moon, toying with the man.”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, Dante got the information about the kills.

“Are you already sleeping with the first responder or impersonating a federal agent?” I knew his MO for getting information.

He fished into his jacket, flashing a badge at me. I looked at it.

“Agent Sully?” I choked out a laugh. “You’re asking for trouble.”

He shrugged. “Got a laugh out of the forever surly Hadley Harris, so I’ll consider it a win.” His eyes lingered on my mouth, which was still stretched into a smile.

I flattened my lips. “It’s not a good idea, impersonating an FBI agent, not here. I’m guessing Colton has already looked you up if you were on scene with him. If not, his father. They’re not bumbling small town police officers.”

“You worried about me, Harris?” he asked playfully.

I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see them underneath my glasses. “I’m worried about me, since unfortunately Colton knows we’re acquaintances. And whatever shit he pulls up on you will inevitably tie to me. I don’t need that. I need to be under the radar so I can catch this fucking thing and get out of here”

“So keen to leave your hometown?” he asked. “Don’t want to rekindle old flames with the prom king?” Dante teased. His tone was playful on the surface, but I caught an edge to the words, a darkness.

“I would sooner set fire to this place,” I told him truthfully. “Do I look like a prom queen?”

He purposefully examined me. “You would get my vote.”

Again, he had that measured intensity that made me incredibly uncomfortable. “I have no goals beyond catching this wolf.”

Dante regarded me. “Then how about we team up?” He held up his hand as I opened my mouth to say absolutely fucking not. “I know you’re a lone wolf, pardon the pun, and I know you find it hard to control yourself around me. But even you, Hadley Harris, have to admit I’m good at my job. Almost as good as you. Some would say better, considering I saved your pert ass last night.”