Page 33 of Scout’s Honor

Aven nodded. “Could it be your bloodwound, making you see things?”

“We don’t know for sure that it’s a bloodwound.”

“I’m pretty sure. Why else would it still be bothering you?”

Dallas shook his head. He wanted to believe he’d been shot with a bloodbullet, because that would explain why he’d never been able to heal the wound with a shift, and why letting the doctors take the lower leg still hadn’t fully healed him of his constant pain. It also would mean there might still be a cure for the pain.

“Let’s say it’s not a bloodwound,” Dakota interjected. “What do you think it is, Dallas?”

She looked at him not as his bratty little sister, but as a respected colleague, and he appreciated it.

“I’m not sure,” he said, “But I think it’s vampires… somehow. I think it’s all related… somehow.”

“Maybe it means they’re charmed,” Dakota said. “The women at the caves were charmed at first.”

“Okay, okay,” Aven said. “That would make sense. But why can only you see it?”

Dallas shook his head. “No idea.”

“Do you have a plan?” Aven asked.

Dallas nodded toward the house. “Keep her safe.”

Aven clapped him on the back. “Spoken like a true Cause shifter.” Music played from his butt, and he pulled his phone out of his pocket and showed it to Dallas. It was Jameson. Aven didn’t answer, but said, “The boss has been calling all morning—he wants to talk to you.”

Dallas put his head back and groaned. “Shiiiiiiiiiit, I forgot about meeting him at the hospital.” He stalked to his car saying, “I’ll call him.”

He went to his car and found his phone, clearing all his notifications, then he sat down, rubbing his bad leg while he pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear.

“Where the hell were you yesterday?” Jameson yelled on answering. “I waited for an hour!”

“Sorry, man, shit happened. I got shot.”

“You WHAT?”

“I’m fine. No one saw me shift.”

“Did anyone see you GET SHOT?”

“I don’t think so. Look, I know you said Bonhi isn’t a switch, but she glows and she needs a guard. Maybe you could send someone.”

“She doesn’t glow.”

“She does.”

“Since when? I saw her a few days ago.”

“She glowed then.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Or blind?”

“Shit. Never mind. I gotta go.”

“Wait!”

Dallas waited.

“I’m going back to Shady Pines at lunchtime today. You game?”