Chapter 2
“Jaecar?”
“Yes?” He looked at her, taking in the downcast gaze and the way she wrung her hands, and sighed. A talk was due, but he wasn’t looking forward to it.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve…I hate using my powers.”
He held in another sigh wanting to escape. He didn’t get it, he loved shifting, would never deny his panther space, would never avoid using the benefits it gave him to be a shifter. “Why?”
“It’s…I hate the feeling, and it leaves me weak. I have to be able to defend myself.” He could smell fear on her, and it had his claws ready to rip through his skin. There was no threat here, it was all in her head, but it didn’t mean he didn’t react to it.
After having used her powers, Elora passed out for a few hours. It was scary to watch, and he could understand it being scarier to live through, but when she used her skill, she saved lives.
“Yes, but you’re in a safe environment, you’re in no danger. We’d all protect you.”
The wide-eyed look made him wince. She didn’t believe him. How could she not believe him?
“Right…” She grimaced, then resolution crept into her eyes, and she met his gaze full on. “Are you going to transfer me?”
He’d considered it many times, but the soul eater case had taught him a few things. Thaddeus had told him he never played their strengths, and as much as it stung, he’d been right. Kol tried to treat Thad and Elora with respect, but he never asked for their input. He had two shifters on his team, and he looked to them to solve their cases.
One wolf, one jackal, and one panther—there was nothing they couldn’t solve by themselves. Unless…the whole sorcerer-warlock-thing had been an eye-opener. Kol didn’t enjoy realizing he didn’t know best, that he didn’t know everything he needed to know, or when things he’d been taught weren’t correct.
“No.” He would not transfer her. Where would she go? He doubted any human department would want her once she’d worked here. And Elora wasn’t a bad cop, but she worked cases as humans did, and it was not how the rest of them worked, not even Thaddeus.
Her dark brown eyes widened again. “I’ve lied about what I can do, and I’ve been avoiding doing it when it could’ve helped our cases. I’ve allowed Thad to take risks he wouldn’t have needed to if I’d done my job.”
Did she want to get transferred? “Why?”
“I hate being weak.” Her eyes flashed, not with the psychic orange glow, but with…anger?
“Using your powers doesn’t make you weak.”
“It does. It makes me scream and cry, depending on what happens, which Ric thinks is hilarious, and then I pass out, and not in the we’ll-splash-some-water-on-her-face-and-she’ll-wake-up way, but in an unconscious way.”
“Yes, but you saved Thaddeus’ life last time.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I did, but I woke up in a different room than I’d been in when I tried finding Sandy’s connection to Ric, and someone had changed my pants.”
Kol flinched. “You shook the desk, and the glass of water you’d put there toppled over. Ichanged your pants since they were wet. I didn’t take advantage.”
She sighed and shook her head. “I never said you did, but do you realize how vulnerable it leaves me?”
He did. He’d never reflected over what it would mean for her to wake up and realize someone had removed her pants. He should have, but he was a shifter. Nudity wasn’t a big deal. But Elora was human—sort of.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think.” But if he hadn’t changed her pants, she’d be wet for hours. It couldn’t be good either.
“I want time off work.”
“What?” He didn’t like being surprised, and Elora never took time off. They were supposed to be working for the coming days while the others were off.
“Something isn’t right.”
“I’m sorry, Elora, I am, but no one did anything inappropriate while you were out. Ric’s mated and would never touch another woman, Thaddeus is mated, I’m gay—” He flinched when her eyes widened, but at the same time a ton of bricks lifted off his shoulders. He’d told someone. Not a shifter, but he’d told another living being. “—and Leo is…wasn’t anywhere near you.”
He knew nothing about Leo other than work-related things, and he’d never smelled arousal on him, never. Which was strange.
He stilled. He’d never scented arousal on Leo, but had Leo scented arousal on him? He was always careful, and he never worked close with anyone, but what if they already knew?
“You undressing me isn’t the reason. Something is wrong.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. “How do you mean?”
“I need time off to look for my brother.”
“You have a brother?”
Elora narrowed her eyes. “He’s listed as my next of kin.”
“I never check your files unless I have to.” Elora lived alone, but he hadn’t looked for more.