Page 19 of Tethered Fates

Kate might be an old friend. Or I’m her friend, and she tolerates me, and isn’t that just the perfect way to form lifelong attachments? But I’m here for one reason: my soulmate.

Kate wouldn’t harm him, but my good ol’ Detective pal has a serious fatal flaw—she wants to protect everyone, and if she suspects Teagan needs saving from the scary vampire, she’ll only get in my way.

“Never too late to celebrate.”

“Why are you back in the city, Sen?” she asks, glancing at her drink like she wishes there was more. “I thought you said you were never coming back.”

“What can I say, I’ve missed you and that particular shade of grey you’re so fond of wearing.”

“It goes with my eyes,” is Kate’s deadpan reply.

I grin, and while I might be desperate to solve the issue that Summer’s created, I can admit it’s nice catching up with Kate. So often I’m around the unfamiliar; to be around the familiar is a refreshing change.

“Did my friendly neighbourhood police officer read the article I sent?”

Kate glowers. “I read it.”

When she doesn’t continue, my lip slices deeper into a smirk. “I did save your life once, so I’m owed at least a favour, and all I need is one little address. Think about all the times you came to me with not-so-normal questions?”

If looks could kill, the glare Kate sends my way would have me dead ten times over. “You saved me fifteen years and two break-ups ago. Move on, Sen.”

My eyebrow quirks up. “You and Jess?”

Kate finishes the last of her drink in one gulp. “Things change.”

“Plenty of fish in the sea and all that. I’m sure if nothing else, your sunny disposition can land someone.”

Kate slams her glass down, and after a moment, she offers me a weary smile. “You’re a dickhead, you know that, right?”

I tilt my drink her way. “Thank you. Now, straight to business, shall we?”

Kate’s hard, prying gaze bores into me. There’s a twitch to her top lip, like she’s caught a whiff of something sour, and when Kate finds something that goes against her near-inflexible moral code, by hell or high water, she won’t let go.

Any other time, it’s a quality I’d find oddly endearing, like a flea-bitten one-legged dog. Right now, it’s the last thing I fucking need.

“Straight to business,” she repeats with a snort and a little shake of the head. “Have you ever uttered those words?”

“Probably, I’m very old.”

Kate holds up a hand. “I don’t wanna know how old, it’ll just freak me out. But normally, the only thing you care about is fucking me around. Remember when you told me about elves?”

I chuckle into my drink. “In my defence, they are real. But normally, instead of milk, they want to drink something else white and sticky…”

“I left milk out for days for those pesky fucks,” Kate grumbles under her breath. “When you knew where my suspect was the whole bleeding time. So forgive me for being suspicious that you, oh-ancient-fucking-time-waster that you are, actually want to get right to it.”

“As you said, Detective, things change.” I throw my drink back, hoping the burn calms the gnawing need in the pit of my soul. But if anything, the alcohol only adds to it.

“And you want to know about a random woman who died alone in her flat, why, again?”

“You’re a nosy little thing, aren’t you?”

“Part of the job.”

“Honey, that’s all you.”

Kate leans back, arms crossed, assessing gaze narrowed. “What’s his name?”

I pause, my lip twitching as I set my glass down. “Am I that obvious?”