I glanced at him. "What would you do if I did?"
His gaze swept me briefly-a look that was almost impersonal. Almost. "A fight would ensue if you tried, and I'd hate to see bruises marring that luscious body."
"You're presuming you'd the get the chance to land the first punch. Trust me, that won't happen."
"Maybe. Maybe not." He shrugged, like it didn't matter.
And really, it didn't, because I had no intention of arresting him or getting involved in a fight with him. Sal might not have come back yet with any deep and dark secrets about this man, but every instinct I had suggested he was dangerous in ways I couldn't even begin to imagine. Getting involved with him in any way was not on the agenda-unless it was absolutely necessary.
I just wished my wolf could get that particular message.
"You didn't find me tonight," he commented into the silence.
"I had too many men wanting a dance to spend time finding one lonely little killer."
Kye's amusement swam around me, warming me in ways I couldn't even explain-and certainly didn't want to examine.
"So you looked, but couldn't spot me. Excellent."
Up ahead, near the King Street, something scraped softly against the concrete. It sounded like the nail of a dog or something similar, yet there were no animals of any kind haunting the shadows or scrounging around the overflowing bins. There didn't even appear to be any rats-maybe they had fled due to my tone-deaf singing.
"I'll find you tomorrow night," I said, concentrating more on the surrounding darkness than on what I was saying. "I'm told Sundays tend to be slower, so I'll have more time to play."
"I'll tip you a hundred if you do find me."
I glanced at him and shook my head in mock sorrow. "Overconfidence gets them every time."
"You've got to find me first."
"I will."
He smiled a disbelieving sort of smile. "Have you found out what's behind the locked doors yet?"
"Have you?" I countered, my gaze searching the night again, but still finding nothing. And yet my uneasiness was growing.
We swung onto King Street and headed down toward Flinders, as we had last night. This time I had every intention of catching a cab home-my arm muscles were still aching from last night's flight.
"Anyone who gets near those doors, even accidentally, is swiftly thrown out of the club."
He touched my arm, the contact electric as he pulled me sideways a little. I glanced down, saw the puddle of vomit, and muttered "thanks" before moving free of his grip. But the heat of it still burned my skin regardless.
"I haven't seen the blonde at the club, either," he said, "Though her scent is quite strong in various rooms."
"I've seen both of them." I didn't add where, because I didn't want him storming the offices and possibly warning her and her accomplice that we were on to their hideout.
Again that odd scratching noise whispered across the silence. I frowned and glanced over my shoulder. Nothing and no one followed us, and yet... the shadows didn't seem to be quite so empty anymore.
Something was there, watching us.
Kye stopped abruptly, but his gaze was on the road ahead rather than on the shadows behind us.
"What?" I said, halting beside him.
"Magic," he said softly.
"Magic?" I frowned, letting my senses roam ahead, feeling for anything out of place. There wasn't anything immediately obvious. Yet the unseen drunks didn't seem to be singing as loudly and an odd sort of tension was rolling through the darkness.
Then the meandering wind brought with it a familiar scent.