Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

I raised my eyebrows and looked at him. "Why are we here?"

He undid his seat belt and climbed out. "Because I reported your accident and the fact you were missing, and now need to unreport you, before they arrange another search party for tomorrow. You coming?"

I shrugged but climbed out and followed him into the station. The inside reception area was cool and dark. A woman behind the desk glanced up as we entered and gave us both a warm smile.

"Evin," she said, standing up. She was tall and thinnish in build, with sandy-colored hair and sunburned cheeks.

"You've found her."

Her scent said she was a werewolf, and if the hunger in her eyes was anything to go by, then she was very interested in Evin, but he didn't seem to notice or care. And that oddly seemed right.

"Yeah," he said, stopping several feet away from the desk and studying her with an almost amused expression.

"Is Harris about?"

"No, he's been called out."

"Well, could you let him know I've found her? If he wants me to make a report, then he knows where to find us."

"I will." She paused, then added, "Are you going to the pub later on?"

"Sorry, love, I don't drink. But that doesn't mean I won't be there later." He gave her a wink, then swung me around and headed out.

"You do so drink," I said, when we were out the door. "Why didn't you tell her the truth?"

"What, that I'm moon-sworn and unavailable? Why spoil her day?"

Shock rippled through me and I stopped, ripping my arm from his grasp. "When did you go through the moon ceremony?"

Something flitted through his eyes, and I had a vague suspicion he'd just said something he shouldn't have. But why would he want to keep something like that a secret?

Why was I so damn suspicious of everything?

"You can't remember anything right now, so is it really surprising you don't remember the ceremony?" he said awkwardly.

"So I was there?"

"Yeah." He grabbed my arm again and walked me - quite forcibly - toward the car. "Now, let's get home, get you cleaned up, and then call the doc."

Let's not, I thought, and pulled my arm from his grasp again before stepping back. Damn it, he was my brother. Surely to God I could trust him? But I didn't, and I didn't know why, and it was just so frustrating that I wanted to scream. I drew in a breath to try and calm the sudden, angry shaking, and that's when I smelled it.

Blood.

There was blood on the wind.

A lot of it.

Which could only mean that someone nearby was dead.

Chapter 8

I swung around to follow the scent and sidestepped Evin's attempt to grab my arm. "Can't you smell that?"

"It's blood. So what?" He fell in beside me, his expression none to happy.

"It's human blood," I corrected. "Someone's dead. Or about to be."

"Hanna, we're not cops. This is not our business."