Dark Side of the Moon (6 page)

After all, there couldn't be more than one Catman in Seattle.
I mean, really, what were the odds of there being one, never mind a whole tribe of them. Right?

So it was time to tackle that leg of the hoax. Grabbing the pink throw from her couch and tossing it over her unwelcome guest, she took her laptop off the coffee table and opened it up. It didn't take her long to boot it up and find the blog again. She quickly located the e-mail link for Dark Angel. Susan clicked on it, then sat there staring at the blank e-mail screen.

How should she even begin?

Might as well be blunt. She honestly didn't know any other way to live her life or write.

Dear Dark Angel,

I've found your missing Catman in a local animal shelter. He's currently passed out on my floor. Please respond soon and let me know what you want me to do with him as I am highly allergic and I don't have time to housebreak him.

Thanks,

Susan

Okay, so it read like she was on some serious medication. But what the hell? If this was real, she'd probably start needing some.

She reread the post about Dark Angel losing her boss last night. Glancing over to the man on her floor, Susan gave a wicked smile. “Well, if I lost something like you, I'd certainly want him back.”

Okeydokie,
she thought as she sent the e-mail off. Now it was time for her to see about securing the Catman of Seattle until she heard from either Dark Angel or Angie. Hmmm … here's where being a rock climber would have come in handy, or even a serial killer. Any kind of hobby that would've allowed her to have had some kind of rope on hand. But she didn't.

As she searched the room for something to use, her gaze fell to the collar that she'd pulled off the cat. Frowning, she went over to it and picked it up. It was the strangest thing she'd ever seen. The material felt like both metal and cloth. Truly, it was odd. And unfortunately, it was too small to use on the guy.

You do have some bungee cords in the closet.…

Would they work?

All she could do was see.

As she headed for the closet, she heard the ping from her computer, telling her that mail had arrived. Her cords forgotten, she went over to it and paused as she saw an e-mail from Dark Angel.

Clicking on it, she couldn't wait to see what the girl had to say.

Dear Psycho Susan,

You need help. Really. This isn't a game here, but let's say for argument's sake that by some long stretch of the imagination you're not lying and that you did find him. If I were you, I'd be on my knees, praying. 'Cause when he wakes up, he'll rip your heart out and laugh about it, then drink your blood and dump your body in the nearest ditch. Shapeshifters don't have a sense of humor and they can't stand to be trapped anywhere. Therefore, I'm not worried about getting him back from you. He'll come home when he's ready to.

DA

Susan stared at the words as a feeling of anger filled her. What kind of crap was that?

They were screwing with her. They had to be.

And to think there for a minute she'd almost bought into it.

What about the lightning?

Special effects. Really, what were the odds? Out of all of Seattle,
she
would be the one to find the missing cat that Leo had told her to investigate.…

Yeah, right. Leo and Angie were always saying that she needed to loosen up. What better way than to pay some cute guy to come play a prank on her?

“That's it, Puss,” she said, aggravated at all of them. “It's time to get you out of here.”

Shutting the lid for her laptop, she headed for the unconscious man. She was no more than a foot from him when one long, muscular arm shot out and swept her feet out from under her.

Two heartbeats later, she was pinned to the floor and staring up into the blackest eyes she'd ever seen.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ravyn paused as he stared into pale blue eyes that seared him. Not to mention the fact that his body was being cushioned by the softest curves he'd ever felt, curves that would only feel better if she were naked underneath him.

The scent of woman mixed with sweet perfume filled his head and it was enough to silence the beast inside him as he wondered how she'd gotten into his house while he slept.

It took a full ten seconds before he remembered that he wasn't in his own home. Another five before he remembered everything that'd happened since last night. The woman, Susan, had taken him out of the animal shelter and brought him to her house. As soon as she'd taken the collar off, his suppressed magick had run riot.

Now he was—

About to be creamed by the lamp she was lifting up to beat him with. Rolling away from her, he came to a crouch at the same time Susan lunged at him with her lamp.

“Hey, hey, hey!” he snapped, deflecting it with his arm. “What are you doing?”

She forced him back with the tip of the lamp. “Keep your hands to yourself, buddy.”

Ravyn struggled to disentangle his feet from a pink Powerpuff Girl blanket while he dodged her pokes. “Put the damn lamp down.”

She refused.

Too aggravated to argue, Ravyn tried to disintegrate it with his mind. Unfortunately, all that happened was a sharp pain to his head. Cursing, he put the heel of his hand against his forehead to combat the ache. He realized that he'd worn the collar so long, it had all but drained him of his powers. He was completely lacking all magick until he had time to recharge. Damn.

So instead, he jerked the lamp from her hands and made as if to hit her with it—not that he ever would, but dammit he was pissed, and the stupid blanket that seemed to be melded to his legs wasn't helping any. Irritated, he set the lamp down behind him as he finally succeeded in stepping out of the mess at his feet.

The woman seemed every bit as aggravated with him as she tried to reclaim her property. “You know, that wasn't cheap. I want my lamp back.”

He kept her from reaching around him to grab the lamp. Finally, he forced her back, toward the brown leather sofa. “Yeah, and people in hell want ice water. Doesn't mean they're going to get it, especially when someone can't keep herself from poking me with it.”

He glanced around the spartan living room, grateful that all the shades were drawn shut to keep the daylight out. The whole house was done in simple, contemporary lines with earth tones and only a bare minimum of furniture. It was obvious that she wasn't into anything too fussy, frilly, or complicated. “It's still daylight, isn't it?”

“You think?”

A tic started in his jaw. His luck just kept improving every step of the way. “Whatever you do, don't open those blinds.”

“Why? You gonna burst into flames or something?”

He looked at her drolly but didn't answer. How he wished he had enough juice to summon clothes for himself. But that, too, would have to wait, so instead he retrieved the evil pink blanket from the floor and wrapped it around him. He grimaced as he realized the word
Puff
covered his cock—yeah, he was feeling really manly at the moment. “You got a phone I can use?”

Susan folded her arms over her chest. All things considered, she had to give Leo and Angie credit, the guy was scrumptious—even with the childish blanket wrapped low around his lean hips. His shoulder-length black hair was tousled but looked really good with his sullen features. As he raked a hand through his hair to settle it into place, the muscles of his arm and side flexed in a most captivating way.

He had the deepest voice she'd ever heard—the kind that just rippled down her spine like a hot caress. And he had the most intriguing way of speaking without opening his mouth more than a tiny bit. Truly the man was sex on a stick.

She didn't know where they'd found him, but given his build and beauty, she'd guess he was probably a local stripper. It would explain why he was so comfortable with being naked in front of a complete stranger.

But since they'd gone to such trouble, she might as well play along to see how far Mr. Buff carried the charade. “A phone? For what? Can't you mind-meld to your cat people or something?”

He sneered at her as if that offended him. “Just how much TV do you watch?”

“Very little.”

He looked less than amused. “So can I have a phone or not?”

“Who are you going to call?”

“Someone to get me out of here.”

“Well, why didn't you say so?” She tossed him her cell phone.

Ravyn wasn't sure if her quick capitulation amused him or pissed him off. Deciding on the former, he flipped the cover up and dialed for Erika.

“This is Erika. I can't answer the phone right now, but please leave your name and number and I'll get around to chatting later.”

He glanced over to the clock on the wall. It was just after four in the afternoon.

“Dammit, Erika, where are you? You're not in class and you should be home studying with your phone turned on. It's me and I need you to bring me some clothes and come pick me up pronto. Call me back for directions.” Disgusted with his wayward Squire, he hit the
CANCEL
button.

He dialed Acheron's number.

Yet another voice mail. Great, just great. He really hated these things. Hanging up, he growled deep in his throat.

He considered calling the other Seattle Dark-Hunters and warning them about the Apollite uprising but decided it would wait a bit. Either they were safe at home or they were dead. If the latter, then there wasn't anything he could do for them.

He glanced at the woman who was still watching him with a strange look of perturbance. “I don't suppose you have some clothes I could borrow, do you?”

“Sorry. Extra-large male isn't my specialty. Besides, can't you just poof some clothes on?”

“Not at the moment.”

She gave him an arch look. “Let me guess, you need to recharge your batteries or something, right?”

She was eerily astute. “Yes.”

The disbelief on her face was almost comical. “I do have some pink sweats that might not be too bad.”

“I'd rather go naked.”

“Suit yourself. Not like it bothers me.”

“Then we're even.” Like patience, modesty had never been his virtue. But one thing he did hate was being around people he didn't know. Then again, he didn't like being around people he did know, either. He much preferred solitude—it couldn't betray him.

She cocked her head. “So how long have you known Leo, anyway?”

“Leo who?”

“Kirby.”

He frowned at her. He'd known Leo vicariously for years. Like his Squire substitute, Erika, Leo was one of the humans who served the Dark-Hunters. Paid employees, they helped to keep the paranormal world hidden from the rest of mankind, who would most likely panic if they ever learned what inhuman beasts prowled the night, waiting to prey on them. “Are you a Squire?”

“No, I'm a Michaels.”

He rolled his eyes. She had to be the biggest smart-ass on the planet; well, maybe second only to Erika. “That's not what I mean and you know it. Do you work with Leo?”

“Of course I do. Why else would you be here?”

Ravyn nodded. It explained her snotty attitude. For some reason, the latest generation of Squires seemed to have a problem with their duties. “Why didn't you tell me you worked for him?”

“I assumed you knew it.”

“Yeah, right. The way you guys come and go, it's impossible to remember more than one or two of you at a time.”

She nodded in agreement. “Leo does have a way of burning people out. So how did he talk you into this?”

“Into what?”

“Showing up here, naked to yank my chain.”

Yeah … like Leo could have
ever
done that. “He didn't. I assumed he sent you to me to get me out of the shelter.”

“I guess in a roundabout way he did. So tell me something, how did you do that earlier trick?”

Ravyn grimaced. “What trick?”

“The cat thing. How did you switch?”

Why did humans always want that question answered? Even if he explained it, it wasn't like they could do it. “It's magick,” he said sarcastically. “I mumble hocus-pocus and the next thing you know, I'm a cat.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I suppose it's a step up. The last guy I had in my house could only turn into a beer-drinking pig.”

In spite of himself, he gave a short laugh at her dry tone. He had to give her credit, she had a quick sense of humor, and he was quirky enough to appreciate that in other people.

Suddenly, he was exhausted. He hadn't been able to sleep since the Apollites had captured him—to have done so would have caused him to revert instantly to human form, which would have resulted in head explosion. Now he felt the deep need to rest. “So can I take the bed until tonight?”

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“I need sleep. You know? Whole point of you getting me from the shelter? You said Leo sent you, right?”

She put her hands on her hips and gave him a sharp glare that said she wasn't keen on that idea. “Yeah, but not to let you sleep in my bed. This isn't a flophouse, you know?”

That raised his ire. “What is happening to the Squire's code? I remember a time when that actually meant something.”

“What Squire's code?”

“Up the ginkgo, babe. Don't you remember the one you had to take when you went to work for Leo?”

Her eyes snapped blue fire at him. “Leo didn't make me promise anything other than to leave my sanity at home.”

His disgust tripled. “That figures. You must be first-generation.”

“What has that got to do with anything?”

“It explains why you don't know your job any better than you do.”

She crossed the floor to stand right in front of him as she glared her anger at him. “Excuse me? I don't know
my
job? At least, I'm not the one standing naked in a stranger's house, clutching a throw to cover
my
vital parts.” She raked him with a less than complimentary glare. “Who the heck are
you
to lecture
me
on what
I
should be doing?”