Spellbound (19 page)

Elion had been raised to trust his instincts, to try and see what was unseen by the eye. They kept him alive while he was hunting with his father to feed their family. They kept him alive when his village was raided and death was around every burning corner. They had kept him from shitty relationships, and from being robbed at gunpoint in the human city streets. He trusted them, most of the time anyway, and now they were telling him something that he couldn’t understand, that he had to dig to decode. And wasn’t that what he wanted all along? Hadn’t he wanted something exciting to prove his status as a ranked officer? Hadn’t he made a few misplaced comments about the job not being what he had expected? Of course, that had been when the rush was new and fun.

“I wouldn’t think it’s all that enjoyable,” Elion said with a shrug. It wasn’t a lie. He knew Stavros had fed from him, had used him like he did his other sources, and that probably hurt worse than anything else. Elion knew he might be able to deal with being a one night stand or an alcohol induced mistake, because that would have meant that Stavros felt
some
type of attraction for him, no matter how short lived, but just being a snack that was tossed to the side, that made him feel disgusting and just-

Elion exhaled heavier than intended and earned a questioning look from Malachi.

“Ya know, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” the officer said as he dropped his elbows onto the tall desktop and grinned. Elion tried to cover his disgust with a smile.

“Me too. I didn’t know you were even remotely interested in me, though.”

“I’d be a fool not to be. Not much of a move I could make during the last few weeks, though,” Malachi chuckled.

“Suppose you’re right.” Loud bangs against the cell bars echoed down the long hallway and Malachi smiled apologetically. “Have fun with that,” Elion said, waving lazily and exiting.

Stavros’ was scowling at his computer screen, fingers pecking at his keyboard when Elion walked into their office. Elion did his best to ignore the pressure of being in Stavros’ presence, but how could he? He couldn’t even decide if he was angry or sad.

A folder landed in front of him a short time later and Elion looked up confused. “What’s this?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly and unexpectedly, because, when did Stavros start thinking wearing his hair down was a good idea? It was obviously a great idea with the way it framed his strong jaw and made him look like something wild and dangerous, but disgustingly beautiful and untouchable.

“Sign it,” the older man ordered.

“Why?”

“So the case can be closed,” Stavros said pointedly.

“Why would it be closed?”

“Because it’s done,” Stavros said sharply. Elion quirked a brow and opened the thick folder. The first pages were initial reports and findings, things that he had gone over repeatedly. The last pages, however, were new.

“You made an arrest?” he asked as he scanned over the freshly typed reports. Stavros didn’t grace him with an answer. Elion closed the folder and shoved it back in his partner’s direction without sparing him another glance. “I’m not signing that.”

“Why the fuck not?” Stavros groaned.

“One, I haven’t read those new reports, so why would I sign them? Remember what happened last time I didn’t read before I signed? I’m sure you do since you tried to tear my head off. Two, you think a group of fledgling vampires were behind those murders? Get real.”

“Elion.”

“I’m not signing it and I’m not arguing with you about it.” Elion shoved away from his desk and passed Stavros, ignoring the way his skin burned from the eyes piercing him as he walked out.

~~

Elion spent the day dealing with a break-in that resulted in severe injuries. It was an open and shut case that left him with a mountain of paperwork and a headache. When he was finally able to lean back in his chair with an exhausted groan, he realized that he had forgotten about his date.

Stavros was staring blankly at his computer screen, his fingers still and curled against the keys and as silent as he had been for the entire day. Elion cleared his throat lightly as he draped his jacket over his arm. Stavros’ eyes flickered in his direction for the duration of a blink before turning back towards his screen.

“Goodnight, Stavros,” he said quietly, not bothering to wait for a reply before walking out.

Malachi was already waiting with a hungry grin when Elion hit the bottom of the steps. Elion resisted the urge to scowl and instead smiled bashfully. “Hope you weren’t waiting long.”

“Not at all,” Malachi said as he stooped down to kiss Elion’s cheek.

“Ready?” Elion asked quickly, not waiting for an answer before he grabbed Malachi’s hand and teleported them across the city.

Malachi only took his eyes off Elion to glare at the doe-eyed waitress that insisted on rattling off their specials of the night in vivid detail. Elion cut her off with a charming smile and asked for a bottle of their best wine. The waitress blushed and scampered off to retrieve it, leaving Elion to the reality of the situation.

“So, tell me something about you,” Elion said after their glasses had been filled.

“Not much to tell, I’m afraid. I enjoy cooking and I’m a sucker for human daytime television.” Malachi shrugged casually. “What about you?”

“I eat too much take out and don’t separate my laundry,” he answered minimally, topping off Malachi’s almost empty glass.

“Well, that’s… something,” Malachi chuckled. “How are you feeling being back at work?”

“Fine. I healed quickly. Mikhail was just being Mikhail.”

“So, how’d you get hurt anyway?” Malachi asked seriously before taking a long drink of his wine, a favorite among shifters for its ability to affect them, and hopefully potent enough to loosen him up before he realized what Elion was doing.

“Let a perp get the best of me,” Elion sighed, hoping he remembered correctly what Mikhail had told those that asked.

“And Stavros didn’t have your back? Seems to be a reoccurring theme with him and his partners,” the shifter snorted.

“What do you mean?” Elion asked innocently. Elion didn’t miss the way Malachi’s eyes flickered quickly before he caught himself. Elion took a small bite of the hardly touched food in front of him to keep his anxious hands occupied.

“You haven’t heard about his last partner?”

“Stavros and I don’t exactly do much talking,” Elion replied. “What happened?”

“Let’s not let something so sour spoil dinner, huh?” Malachi smiled lopsidedly.

They made small talk, Elion doing his best to flirt back while keeping Malachi’s glass filled. It didn’t take long before his pupils were dilated and he was sighing a bit louder than normal. Elion chewed the inside of his cheeks, hoping that the bastard wouldn’t keel over in front of him. It was a strong drink, but surely Malachi had to know when enough was enough for his kind.

Elion frowned when his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He ignored it until the third back to back call. He ripped it out of his pocket a little harder than necessary and growled at the screen before answering.

“What do you want?” he hissed quietly.

“Where are you?”

“None of your business.”

“Where are you?” Stavros demanded harshly.

“Excuse me a moment.” Malachi smiled and nodded drunkenly. Elion rose from the table and quickly made his way outside gripping his phone hard enough that it was on the verge of cracking. “What the hell do you want, Stavros?”

“I want to know where you are!” Stavros yelled this time.

“Why does it matter to you?”

“You’re with Malachi.”

“Again, why does it matter to you? Unless you’re calling to report a crime, I’d suggest you back the fuck off!” Elion shouted before hanging up. A few people glanced over at him worriedly while he took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

“Everything alright?” Malachi asked with a slight slur when Elion returned.

“Yup. Just had to deal with a nuisance.”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Malachi snorted. Elion gave him a questioning look and leaned on his elbow, bringing them a few inches closer over the small table when the larger man began to slump slightly.

“You feel alright?” Elion asked curiously. Malachi cleared his throat and nodded.

“Just a bit warm in here,” he smiled, glassy eyed and a tad lethargic.

“It is, isn’t it? What do you say we get outta here?” Malachi took a long look at Elion before his lazy smile turned into a wolfish grin.

“Your place or mine?”

“Yours is closer,” Elion suggested. He only had a few seconds to send Mikhail a text and hoped the older man understood his rushed shorthand words, because what he was doing was stupid and he knew it. The least he could do was keep Mikhail informed as to where he was, just in case.

The apartment was small and very lightly lived in, curious for a man that claimed to have lived there for years. Elion studied every nook and cranny that he could see while Malachi’s eyes followed him, and when the beast of a man offered to make coffee, Elion immediately thanked him and took advantage of the alone time. The living room was empty aside from a leather couch and a few tall book shelves that were mostly bare. There were a few trinkets and a few picture frames that drew Elion closer. The frame furthest to the left was simple, but it was the photo it held that made Elion’s eyes narrow for a moment. The man next to Malachi in it was familiar, irritatingly so. Before he could get a good look, Malachi was behind him, breathing down his neck and asking him how he took his coffee.

Elion swallowed the urge to groan and pull away. “This is fine,” he said, taking a warm mug from Malachi’s hands. He took the smallest sip possible and forced the bitter drink down his throat before taking a seat on the couch.

“So, how is it that you’re single?” Elion asked with a slightly dramatic cock of his head. Malachi laughed heartily and shrugged.

“Well, there was-“ Malachi began when Elion’s phone began to ring. The elf ground his teeth as he ripped the device from his pocket and frowned at the strange number on the screen.

“Excuse me, one second. I’m sorry.” Elion frowned apologetically before walking to the kitchen and answering the phone on its second round of ringing.

“Detective Graeme? This is Officer Calene-“

“I know who you are. Why are you calling me?”

There was a muffled whisper before she cleared her throat. “Sir, you’re needed at the precinct as soon as possible.”

Elion wet his lips and glanced over his shoulder, his heart skipping a beat. “Is everything-“

“As soon as possible, sir,” she repeated before the line went dead.

Elion took a deep breath and slipped his phone back into his pocket as he entered the living room. Malachi looked up at him through heavy lids and smiled tiredly, obviously at least slightly intoxicated.

“I’m so sorry. I got called in,” Elion sighed.

“Life of a detective, huh? No big deal. We can pick this up another night.” He winked

“I’d like that. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, and thanks for tonight.” Elion forced a smile and made for the door only to find himself looking up to Malachi towering over him. Before he could protest or think of a quick escape, warm, slightly chapped lips were pressed to his, and it was the most revolting thing Elion had ever experienced. It felt wrong, so wrong that he struggled not to shove the larger man away with every ounce of strength he could muster. When Malachi pulled away Elion huffed a soft, sheepish laugh and a good night before slipping out of the door without looking back.

He ran through the quiet precinct, his nerves on edge as the worst case scenario raced through his mind. Maybe Mikhail had found something, or maybe Stavros had actually needed him earlier. Maybe something had happened to him and Elion had ignored him, maybe-

The young officer looked up at him with a soft smile. She pushed a strand of auburn hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? What are you sorry for?” Elion asked, his voice soft and shaky. Her eyes widened and a hand reached out and gripped his arm as if to keep him from falling over. “Oh Goddess, he’s dead isn’t he? He went and got himself killed.”

“What? Who? I think- Detective, I’m not sure what’s going on, but Stavros is waiting for you in his office. Should I go get him or-”

“Stavros?” Elion rasped.

“Yes, he asked me to call you and asked that you were here as soon as possible. I’m not sure why or- is everything okay? You look faint.”

“Stavros told you to call me? To tell me to come as soon as possible?” he repeated. She nodded, her thin brows crinkled with confusion and worry. “Stavros.”

“Yes, Stavros. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m just fucking peachy,” he grumbled.

His furious strides earned him a few looks from the night shift officers. His fists were balled at his sides and his face was no doubt burning red from trying to hold his venomous words in. His office door hit the wall with a splintering crack when he threw it open and stepped inside. Stavros was leaning back in his chair with his feet kicked up on his desk and crossed at the ankle. His fingers were laced behind his head and his biceps flexed slightly as he calmly turned his head in Elion’s direction.