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An image of six sirens straddling, kissing, and fucking Kaillen entered my mind. My wolf snarled, and I quickly shoved that picture away. Vampires who compelled supernaturals who were trying to murder my mate, I supposed I could live with, but sirens intent on riding his cock? Not so much.
Clearing my throat, I returned my attention to Fallon. “So if you’re not hunters, then what are you?”
Fallon stroked his chin, and I inhaled but didn’t detect any emotional scents from him. He was either wearing an incredibly complex cloaking spell that hid his emotional reactions, or he truly wasn’t feeling anything at all right now. “He didn’t tell you anything about us, did he?”
“Other than Barnabas being a horny pervert? No.” I shook my head.
Fallon snorted, then lifted his jacket’s lapel, revealing i
My eyes widened, and I swung my gaze to Barnabas who was now sealing the bite on Olaf’s neck. Olaf was slumped against the wall, a dreamy look on his face, as Kaillen’s expression turned to stone. A strum of his worry flickered to me on the mate bond. He’d obviously picked up on my sudden apprehension.
I grumbled. Of course, our bond went both ways . . .
I whipped back to Fallon just as understanding dawned. “Oh my gods. You’re both hired killers?”
Fallon raised his eyebrows. “I prefer assassin. It has a better ring to it.”
Barnabas wiped his lips, his tongue flicking out to nab the last drop of Olaf’s blood, before he straightened his clothing. “Off you go,” he said to Olaf. “And remember, you no longer have any ill feelings toward my friend. In fact, you feel you deserved to be caught for your misdeeds.”
Olaf nodded dopily, then ambled out the front door.
My eyes widened as the worry strumming from Kaillen grew as he and the vamp sauntered toward us.
I leaned back in my seat, my lips parting in surprise as I raised bewildered eyes to my mate. “Assassins? Your best friends are assassins?”
Kaillen and Barnabas slid back into the booth as Kaillen eyed me coolly. That iron mask had descended over his face, but I still caught the scent of anise rising from him. He was really worried.
Barnabas brought a hand to his chest. “Oh my, you’re not the judgey type, are you?”
I glared at the vamp. “No, just the surprised type. My mate failed to mention anything about either of you, other than your ability to rile him, before we arrived.”
Barnabas laughed. “Ah, new mates who haven’t known each other for long. This shall be fun.” He rubbed his hands in glee. “Now, where is it that we’re off to? I feel quite energized after that little meal.”
But Kaillen ignored his friend and glowered at Fallon. “What did you tell her?”
Fallon lifted his shoulders as he drained his glass. “I just showed her my work tools.”
“Lovely, so you now know we’re independent contractors for hire.” Barnabas scooted closer to me, but one growl and yank from Kaillen had the vamp backpedaling. “A thousand apologies my friend, but she is most delicious smelling and quite delectable to look at.”
A tingling sense of unease drifted through me, and the anise fragrance from my mate increased.
My wolf growled, already sensing where my thoughts were going, but I couldn’t help it. Once again, it became apparent to me that I barely knew Kaillen despite his claim that I knew him better than most.
Barnabas stroked his chin, his lips curving up in a titillating smile. “Does it bother you? What we do for work? I do love when women pretend to be squeamish about our lifestyle, but actually ache with need for a man like me who will—”
Kaillen’s hand locked around his friend’s throat. “Don’t even finish that sentence. You’re really starting to test my patience.”
Barnabas raised his hands i
“We need to get moving,” Kaillen added, releasing Barnabas. He eyed me again as crimson fire rolled in his irises, before he addressed his friends. “Are you two up for helping us track down a group of supernaturals who keep trying to abduct Tala?”
“Will there be killing involved?” Fallon asked.
“Hopefully,” my mate replied.
Fallon shrugged. “Sure.”
Barnabas gri
Kaillen muttered something under his breath and stood. I got up too but didn’t rush to his side.
A scowl tugged at Kaillen’s lips.
Fallon was the last to slide out of the booth. With all of us standing, I realized how big each of them was. Fallon had to be at least six-four, maybe even six-five. He wasn’t as broad as the hunter, but he was strong and lean. And Barnabas was a couple inches over six feet too.
Next to the three of them, I had to crane my neck up to make eye contact.
Kaillen inched closer to me, his hand drifting behind my back to press against my spine. I felt his questioning emotion through our bond, his fear that I was having second thoughts about him.
I gave him a reassuring smile, but it still struck me that there was so much I didn’t know.
A low discontented growl came from him, and he nodded toward the door. “Let’s get moving. If the two of you are joining us, we go to Culasberee now.”