“You couldn’t have called me BEFORE you dusted him? Do you know how hard it is to identify a vampire AFTER they have been dusted?” Squatting beside the ashes I looked at my partner accusingly. I waved a hand towards the pile. “I might have known him. Now, it’s a little hard to tell. Did you happen to snap a picture of him before he fit in an ashtray?”

Conner looked at me with his business face on. He didn’t look even a little guilty standing there in his suit with his arms crossed.  Of course he was crossing his arms to keep pressure on his forearm where the vamp had bit him. The suit was kinda artistic looking with the left sleeve shredded and blood splattered on the blue pinstripe.

“And did you have to dust him in an alley between an Indian restaurant and German one? The smell of curry and cabbage is overpowering. Even the smell of your blood is overridden by it. We ever need to get someone off our scent I know what to use now. “

Tristan crouched down beside me to sniff at the pile. He turned towards me and his knee brushed mine.  I stood up as he asked “Is that smell coming from him?”

“The scorched flesh smell is. The other foul odors are coming from the dumpsters.” I pointed to the blue dumpsters on either side of us. Jeez, you would think the wolf could use his nose better than that by now. He’d been off the wolfs bane for a month now. His senses should have returned to normal. Guess there was a possibility that being taught to ignore his heighten senses could be the problem. But that’s what happens when you are raised by parents that join a sect that lives as humans and represses their supernatural side. “But now that you mention it, do you smell something metallic? I’d say along the lines of overheated copper.”

“Really couldn’t say what overheated copper smells like. But I do smell some kind of metal. I think it’s coming from there.” He pointed a finger towards the vamp dust.

“You dusted him; you stick your hand in there. Might be a clue as to who he was.” I pointed at Conner. Who just shook his head at me. He had taken off his jacket and was trying to wrap his wounds with the bandages from the first aid kit I’d brought with me. “I’m not going to do it. I might have known this guy. I can’t go rooting around in his ashes. That’s just disrespectful. “

Conner looked up from his bandages with his eyebrows raised. “Aren’t you Cole Pearson? Big bad vampire sorceress extraordinaire? I’ve seen you put your hands in dead bodies before.”

I glared up at him. Our eyes met. Speaking our special eye language, we decided how we were going to decide who dug around in the pile. We both brought up our hands, formed fists and banged them into our hands three times. Ugh. We both threw out paper. Beside me Tristan sighed and plunged his hand into the ashes. Yay. I don’t have to reach into a potential friend’s remains.

“Um guys?” Tristan asked.  Conner and I turned to see the pup holding a copper coin up. Oh shit. I closed my eyes and let my head drop to my chest. Please don’t let that be what I thought it was. Please! Please! I took it out of the wolf’s hand to examine it. There was what appeared to be a Trojan etched on one side and some words on the other. The etchings were faded but I was sure they were ancient Greek.  Conner took it and looked it over. He chuckled before handing it back to me.

“So, can you translate it? Looks like ancient Greek to me.” Conner asked while barely containing his glee. The bastard. Sadly, I was going to make his day.

“No it’s too faded. You’re right it appears to be ancient Greek. Probably Spartan.”  I didn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see his smug grin. I pulled out my phone to make a call I so didn’t want to make.  Turning my back to my entourage, I waited for my call to be answered.

“Hello love.”

“Any chance you can pop over to my place?” I asked without responding to his greeting. I kept the phone close to my ear hoping the pup wouldn’t be able to hear.

“As you wish. I can call around presently.” I hung up and turned to my partner and the pup. Tristan was looking at me with confusion. Conner was grinning ear to ear. Ignoring them, I walked over to the ashes and magiced them into a bag from the first aid kit. I carefully folded Conner’s suit jacket and shirt sleeve and tucked them into the kit. Good thing I’d grabbed the big one.  Crawling on my knees I looked under the dumpsters to see if anything from the vamp had missed being dusted.  Everything smelled human and nasty. I so wasn’t going to touch anything. 

“See anything that could help us?” Tristan asked from beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine. Ok, why in the hell did he keep brushing body parts against me? Did he not understand that I had yet to forgive him for the incident last month? Thankfully he seemed to understand the look I gave him. He stood up and got out of my personal space while looking a little sheepish.

“Nope. Nothing. Let’s go find out about the coin.” After glancing around to make sure there were no cameras or witnesses, I reached up and ripped a portal to my place.

We stepped out in my driveway. I handed the first aid kit to Tristan and headed over to the mail box. Couldn’t remember the last time I checked the stupid thing. So, as usual, it was full of junk. Shaking my head I headed towards my cabin. I loved this place. It was surrounded by trees, with no neighbors anywhere close. The locals thought it was haunted so I got it for a steal. Of course they weren’t totally wrong. It came on the market after I killed the coven that was using it as their base of operations. Several ghosts had to be relocated before I moved in. As well as several cleansings had to be performed.  Hearing Tristan’s sudden intake of breath I quickly stepped through the screen door to see what had caught his attention.

Ohhhhhh. Please let that sigh have only been in my head.  Oh my. If my heart hadn’t stopped beating over half a millennium ago, it definitely would have looking at the figure sprawled on my porch swing. Motorcycle boots carelessly propped on the railing, his long legs were crossed and clad in black leather pants.  A dark blue button up was visible under his blue and black vest with a Celtic cross dangling from his neck. How could the muscles of his chest be accented through so many clothes? It wasn’t fair! His black leather jacket was lying on the cushion beside him.  As I forced my eyes off the muscles and up to his face I couldn’t help but notice the earring he was wearing was one of mine. At least I could stop looking for it now. I’m ashamed to admit he looked mouthwatering sitting there in the fading light with the sunset lighting his green eyes and bouncing off his dark perfectly tousled hair. When those eyes met mine I felt a zing shoot through my girlie bits.

Judging from the slow grin crossing his face he was detecting the change in my scent. Damn hormones. I had to get them under control. I slid a glance to the pup to see if he was noticing anything. He was standing there looking at our guest with his mouth hanging open. Conner was looking at each of us while obviously trying to swallow a giggle. With my eyes closed I took a deep breath and reminded myself why I hate this man and my body why we were no longer allowed to lust after him.

“Xavier thanks for getting here so fast. Um.” I cleared my throat. I so didn’t want to have to say this next part. “I need your help on something.”

“Pragma, I am always happy to help with your cases.” Bastard. He was using his charming husky voice. The one that sounded of Ireland combined with Greek endearments.  He jumped up with a flourish and turned to open the screen door from the wraparound porch into the house and gestured us in. Conner grabbed Tristan’s arm and drug him inside. I stopped at the door and waved Xavier on. This was my home and I wasn’t about to let him play host. The sparkle in his eyes told me he knew exactly what I was feeling and he was enjoying it. Since he wouldn’t release the door, I conveniently stepped on his instep as I passed. That just made him chuckle. His eyes flashed before he asked “Why do you smell of scorched flesh and Conner’s blood, love?”

I didn’t bother to answer as I went in the house. Two steps in I heard the ding of the microwave and noticed the scent of blood in the air. I swung my head towards the bane of my existence. “Helped yourself did you?”

“Well, love, you don’t care for B+. Why would you have it if it wasn’t for me?” Shooting him a dirty look as he headed into the kitchen to get his meal, I opened the first aid kit to pull out our evidence. Xavier returned carrying two mugs. He kept the one of B+ and handed me the O-. After he took a drink he turned to Conner and asked” How bad are you injured mate?”

“Arm got a little shredded. But otherwise I’m good.” He reached his right hand out to Xavier with a smile. “Good to see you man. Have you met the pup yet?” Xavier shook his head as he shook Conner’s hand.  The smile on my partner’s face grew as he turned to Tristan. “Tristan Smith, Xavier O’Donnelly.”

 “Yes, of course. The stray pup tagging along on her cases right? You were the one that shot Nicolette in the arse. I am surprised she didn’t skin you. Rumor has it you ruined her favorite leather pants and rendered her unconscious during quite the brawl.” Xavier’s eyes went a little vampy as he took the pup’s extended hand in his. Judging from the grimace on Tristan’s face, Xavier was being a typical male and squeezing the pup’s hand harder than necessary during the handshake.

“Odd. She hasn’t ever mentioned you.” Tristan was trying act like his hand didn’t hurt but, I was sure it did.

“Xavier here’s an expert on weapons and all things ancient Greek. As well as the Director of Intelligence and Warfare for the peacekeepers in his spare time. “ Conner left off bane of my existence and most likely to die by fire ball.

“Wait, as in the Director of Intelligence and Warfare that wanted Frankie Hays alive? The one that Cole doesn’t speak to?”  The pup’s blue eyes were bouncing between the three of us while he rubbed his hand.

“Yep. That one.” Conner was downright giddy. Xavier gave a polite nod of his head. The dignified response was ruined by the fangs. Uh oh. Xavier might be a little pissy over me getting shot. Wait, I was a still a little pissy over that!

I shook my head as I looked at the trio in my living room.  Tristan was trying to look professional in his cargo pants and polo. But his shoulder length blonde hair gave him more of surfer trying to get out on bail look than law enforcement officer. Conner had the right clothes but, since they were splattered in blood and his left sleeve was missing, he looked like an extra in a zombie movie. Then there was Xavier, standing there looking like a pira-.Son of a Bit-.”Why are you dressed like Captain Hook? I mean, EXACTLY like him?”

An evil sparkle flickered into his eyes as a devilish smile spread on his face. “How many times do I have to tell you a girl’s Netflix que is sacred! How did you even get in? I changed the passwo-.”My head spun over to my partner. Who suddenly was making himself busy arranging the evidence from the first aid kit onto my worktable in the corner of the room.

“Darling, as I recall, when you accused me of doing such a thing previously, you threatened to set me a blaze if I ever did such a thing again. Granted, as I recall, that was over your DVR, but one would assume hacking into your Netflix account would be viewed as the same breach of trust.” His perfect white teeth bit into his bottom lip while he ran a finger along his neatly trimmed beard giving him a roguish look. Damn zing shot through me again. “Of course, if a bloke were to somehow gain access and noticed a trend in the shows being watched, that wouldn’t be his fault now would it? If said trend was a fondness for shows starring dangerous blokes in leather jackets, who could really blame a bloke for wanting to remind the lass that she had a real life badass in her life already?” His voice was husky and full of Ireland as he stepped forward and tucked a stand of my dark hair behind my ear.  I knocked his hand away with a growl.

“That’s it! Next family dinner I’m telling your grandmother we are not dating!” I snarled at Conner.

My treacherous partner blinked at me in horror. I was sure visions of his grandmother bringing home every single girl she met was dancing through his brain. “What? We have an agreement! “

“Had an agreement! Remember why I pretended to be your girlfriend at ALL those family functions?”

“Of course. You keep my grandmother off my back in exchange for me not taking sides between you and Xavier.” How could he say that like he hadn’t just stabbed me in the back was beyond me.

“Wouldn’t you consider telling him my password taking his side?” I felt so betrayed!

“No. That was to even the score since I’ve been keeping you appraised of his schedule. I do you favor, I have to do him a favor.” He spread his hands in front of him in all innocence.

“Keeping track of my schedule? Really love, that sounds a bit like stalking.” Xavier had a shoulder propped on the wall examining his fingernails. I narrowed my eyes at him before I closed them and counted to ten.

“Lucky for you, I need your help identifying a vamp. I’ll set you on fire later.” I turned and walked over to Conner. Sighing and pursing my lips, I smacked him in the back of the head. Damn traitor. I was so going to make him suffer for this. Feeling someone pierce my personal space bubble I turned with a snarl expecting Xavier. Instead, I found Tristan looking at me from under his lashes. That was a big enough problem, but, over his shoulder I could see Xavier looking at us. The look on his face was anything but friendly as he looked at the pup. Great, I had the feeling soon I’d be dealing with some testosterone poisoning.  To delay the macho act, I pulled the coin out of my pocket and flipped it to Xavier.  Who snatched it out of the air with the fluid grace of a vampire. He drew an abrupt breath before he even looked at it.

“Where did you find this pragma?” Running his finger over the etching, he brought it to his face and sniffed it.

“Found it in a vampire ash pile. It survived the dusting. Which as you know, means it’s got some serious mojo attached to it. “ That reminded me. Turning to Conner, I asked in my best inquisitive voice” So, what were you doing going into a dark alley with an unknown vamp? Have you acquired some death wish you failed to tell me about?”

“I was walking down the street when I noticed the vampire acting out of it. I figured he’d just fed on someone who was on something. So, being a good Samaritan, I tried to get him off the street and way from the humans. After showing him my badge, I pulled him into the alley so I could rip a portal to a safe place for him to ride out the high. “ Conner sighed and ran his right hand through his brown hair. Looking at my hardwood floors, he continued. “As soon as we stepped into the shadows he went feral. Full blown vampire. Fangs, nails, glowing skin. I threw up my arm to block his initial assault. He clawed at it. Once it started bleeding he sank his fangs in. I threw a fire ball at him and kicked him away.”

I cleared my throat and tried to shove down the anger that was trying to boil out. “Conner Echolls! Are you telling me that a vampire had his fangs in your arm and you DIDN’T turn you blood to fire?! You know that’s the best way to fight a feeding vamp! What were you thinking? Did you forget what the smell of wizard blood does to us? “ For good measure I smacked him in the back of the head again before asking “ Are you sure you don’t have a death wish I need to know about?”

“Careful love, you are going to give him a concussion.” Xavier warned while examining the coin. He glanced at me from under his lashes and gave me a cocky grin. How did I miss the guy liner earlier?

Wait a minute. “It’s been what, less than half an hour since I called you? How did you manage to get that outfit on, get here, heat up some blood, and pose on my porch?” Even at full vampire speed he couldn’t have done all that in half an hour.

The pirate wannabe gave a deep chuckle before confessing.” You got me love, I was at a costume party when I received your summons. I had hoped that you might show in your red leather jacket. “ Another chuckle. “Conner texted and suggested that us being well fed would be in everyone’s best interest.

“Can you two discuss wardrobes later?” Conner broke in agitated. “I’m still bleeding here!”

“You stopped bleeding after you got the bandage on in the alley.” I turned to face him. “Which is probably for the best since you are in a room full of predators. But, we do need to identify the vamp and figure out why he attacked you. So, why don’t you take off the bandage so Spartacus and I can get a whiff of him. ”

Conner unwrapped the gauze and bandages from his arm. Xavier and I both reached for our mugs and took long drinks before we inspect his arm. Whoa. His arm had long gauges from nails running the length of his forearm. Drag marks from fang were visible on both sides of his arm.  It didn’t look the fangs had pierced the skin.  I gestured for Xavier to go first. Tristan looked at me with surprise.

“Vamp had an ancient Greek coin in him.  Xavier knows a lot of ancient Greeks. Seems logical they knew each other.” I explained to the pup. Xavier leaned in and ran his nose over the marks without touching Conner’s skin.  Once he was satisfied, he turned and drank the last of his blood. I followed his lead. Oh my. Wizard blood.  I focused on finding anything left from the feral. There was a faint scent around the fang marks. I memorized it quickly then turned and downed my blood as well. Hopefully no one noticed I’d gotten a little fangy.

“I know I’ve encountered his scent somewhere. But, I can’t place it. Do you know him?” I looked at Xavier.

“Yes. His name was Damian Xanthopoulos. In the old days he was simply Damianos.” Xavier sighed and then smiled. “We fought many battles together and were recruited by the Warriors of Athanasios at the same time. “ He paused and held the coin up. “These coins were given after a recruit’s first battle. They are forged with their blood to bind them to the warrior.” He looked at the coin while running his finger over the writing. “This one has been defaced. It should read valor above all. However, valor has been crossed out. Death has been etched above it. “He closed his hand of the coin in a fist. I could smell the emotions coming off him. Sadness, regret, and anger. Without thinking, I covered his hand with mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze. A half smile flirted quickly across his face.

“Uh. Warriors of Athanasios? Is that one I should know?” Tristan asked with his gaze frozen on our hands. Oh crap. Please tell me the pup doesn’t still have a crush on me.  I knew tackling him naked was going to come back to bite me in my recently shot ass!

“An elite group of vampires who fought for Sparta. To become one first a human warrior had to prove his worthiness. Then he was changed and joined the ranks. There were legions of us once.” He opened his hand to look at the coin again. “Those of us left have survived countless wars and skirmishes. Picking one of us off would be difficult. Particularly up close. Perhaps a spell or enchantment was used from afar.”

“So you were a Spartan?” Tristan seemed to be trying to figure something out. At Xavier’s nod the pup continued “Cole’s sire was a Spartan.”

“You don’t say?” Xavier responded with a knowing grin. We were losing focus. Time to redirect.

“How many of you are left?” I took the coin from Xavier while I waited for his response. If there was one inside each warrior, did that mean there was one inside him? Wow, you think you know a guy.

He took the coin back and did the trick where he flipped it down his fingers.  “Last I knew there were less than five hundred.” A dazzling grin that lit his emerald eyes spread across his face. “Shall I ring the lads and invite them round?”

“Oh no! You are not inviting them over here! The last time you guys all got together we had to remodel half the house.” Those boys were not getting anywhere near my cabin! Uh huh!

“Oh come on Nicolette! Lets have the lads round.” Connor’s grin slid across his smug face. He was doing tiny little claps with his palms pressed together.  

Oh no he didn’t! I reached out and yanked him into a head lock for some noogies. Jeez, how much product did he use? He managed to squirm free. The pansy then ran to Xavier for protection. Once he was safely behind Xavier he got mouthy. He waved a finger at me over Xavier’s shoulder. “Control your wife man!”

“Why would I want to do that? She’d be so predictable.” Xavier looked at him over his shoulder and shook his head. “She’s your partner. You know better than to call her Nicolette.”

“Wife?!” Tristan exclaimed in disbelief while I tried to shoot lazars out of my eyes at Dumb and Dumber.

“Pragma, did you neglect to inform the bowler here of your marital status?” There was definitely a gleam of challenge in both their eyes. My partner on the other hand, had nothing but glee in his. You know, given how close Conner and Xavier were standing, I might be able to take them both out with one fire ball. No, might incinerate the couch too. Or scorch the hardwoods. Proving their self-preservation instincts were working, they moved away from each other.

“I haven’t informed anyone of my marital status in about a century.”  I shot him a dirty look. Not wanting to delve into my marital status, I suggested “Is there anyone else who might be able to shed some light on this?”

“Your refusal to acknowledge your marriage or your husband’s dead mate?” I swear Connor giggled. He ducked when I tried to smack him in the back of the head again.

“The next one who mentions my marriage or says the word husband or wife gets a fire ball up their arse!” Bullocks! I was starting to sound Irish. Or at least UKish. Ok, solve this murder fast, incinerate partner, kick husband, wait, estranged husband back to the moors.

Tristan still looked shell shocked. I felt a little bad for him. No one liked to find out their crush was married. But, it’s not like I had been encouraging him. Yes, he was still living with me, but, I kept it strictly platonic. No walking around naked or flirting. Talk about robbing the cradle. I’m pretty sure a five hundred year age gap qualified as an ewwww. Maybe he’d finally pay attention to Yvette now that he understood I was off the market. The pretty young werewolf deputy we’d met during the incident with Frankie Hays had called several times. I glanced around at the three males in my living room. I had to get them out of my house before all the testosterone caused someone to do something stupid and my house ended up damaged.

“Let’s stop in and talk to Boromir. He might know something useful”

“Splendid idea, love.” Xavier looked me over. “ I’m torn between suggesting you change and wanting to enjoy the view.”

 “If you want to be an authentic Hook and be missing a hand, all you had to do was ask.” I threatened as I shoved his hand away when he reached out a finger to run along the plunging neck line of the maroon button up leather vest I was wearing. If I had known I was going to be dealing with him, I would not have worn it. Or the matching pants. Not that it mattered what I wore. I could be in a burka and he’d just want to know if I was going commando. He gave a husky chuckle that sent another zing down my spine and carried our empty mugs into the kitchen.

“I need to call my commander and let him know what’s happened.” Conner said as he pulled out his phone. I wasn’t sure if he really needed to call or if he just missed talking on the phone.  While he made his call he slipped into Tristan’s room to change into his spare suit and I made sure Bask’s pet door was unlocked. I doubted my hundred and five pound mutt that liked to masquerade as a throw pillow would actually get off the couch while we were gone but, I wanted him to be able to get outside just in case. I like my house landmine free.

“Don’t want to forget this.” Tristan handed me my phone then slipped his wallet and phone into the many pockets of his cargo pants. “ Do you want your jacket?”

“No, I should be good. Thanks.”

Xavier watched with a speculative look from the doorway into the kitchen he was leaning against. Oh goody. I was about to go off into the world with a flirty Spartan, a jealous werewolf pup, and a wanna be comedian wizard. What could go wrong?