"You'd better let me look at it."
"It's fine."
"But it might get infected."
"I said, it's fine."
She still persisted. “But if it was silver—"
"Damn it woman, I do not need or want your help—with anything." She raised an eyebrow, her expression closed, yet green-tinted eyes filled with anger and frustration.
“Fine. I'll just be leaving to continue my search for those men, then." He frowned. “Alone?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Because you are a woman, and this is a rough town. And because wolves come in all forms." She shrugged. “I can protect myself."
"So you've said before.” And he was no more inclined to believe her now than he was then, despite the fact she'd tipped him on his ass earlier.
He glanced at the town below them. Lights shone warmly from the hotels and the whorehouse, but there seemed to be little activity anywhere else. Dunleavy hadn't been down there at dusk, and previous night searches had proven useless. He had a feeling tonight's search would prove just as useless. And as much as he didn't want this woman's help, he also couldn't bear the thought of her wandering out here alone. Why, he had no idea. It wasn't as if she meant anything to him. Lord, he'd only just met the woman. Yet, at the same time, it seemed as if he'd known her forever. He met her gaze again. “Perhaps I should accompany you on your endeavor." She raised her eyebrows. “Why? I thought you didn't want my help?"
"I don't. But if you insist on wandering out here alone, then I shall accompany you. I intended to search beyond the main boundaries of the town tonight, anyway."
"So this is not so much an offer of help, but a way of protecting me while you continue your own search."
"Precisely.” He turned and offered her an arm. “May I escort you free of this mill? The paths tend to be uneven."
"My sight is as good as yours, vampire.” She brushed past his offered arm and strode away, as if to prove her point.
He chuckled softly. He'd never met such a fiercely independent woman before, and while it was annoying, it was also extremely refreshing. Would she be this feisty in bed? Somehow, he suspected the answer would be yes.
He followed her, enjoying the sway in her walk, the flash of calf. She hitched her skirt up as she reached the longer grass, revealing lithe, well muscled legs. Not a woman who spent most of her time on her back, that was for sure.
He lengthened his stride to catch up with her. “So, what does the witch do when she is not hunting killers?"
"I do not spend my time whoring with drunk or sober louts.” She cast him a sideways glance. “What does the vampire do?"
"For the most part, try to stay out of trouble."
"Some things never change,” she muttered. “Vampires, no matter what the age, are a close-mouthed lot."
He raised an eyebrow. “You've associated with vampires previously?"
"Yeah.” She looked at him, and there was something in her eyes that strangely stirred him. “You might even say I love one."
"If the feelings are returned, then why are you here alone?" She ducked her gaze away from his. “Because my vampire went away."
"Ah. I'm sorry."
She shrugged. “It doesn't matter."
It mattered a lot, if the sense of hurt and frustration he was picking up from her was anything to go by. Though why he was picking such things up from her was something he didn't know. “Would it help if I say vampires rarely stay in relationships for long?"
Her gaze came back to his. Amusement touched the amber-lit green depths. “So I've been told.” She hesitated. “Have you had many long-term relationships?"
"Very few."
"How many is very few?"