“Don’t try to use sex to distract me, Evan Havoc. After dinner, we are totally discussing this evening’s mystery guest.”
“We will, I promise.” Evan smoothed my hair aside and kissed my neck.
Dinner was delicious, and my appetite was unaffected by the evening’s drama. I ate like a lumberjack in volume and speed.
“Now, tell me everything.” I pushed our plates aside. No more distractions. Anxiety and curiosity tumbled out of me.
Evan took my hand, his fingers still cold. Since he was a wolf, I’d never seen him affected by the elements—until this night. “That was a succubus.”
Even though the cabin was warm, I felt chilled again.
“She thought I was Jax. When she realized her mistake, she said if we don’t stop rebuilding Sleepy Briar, she’ll make us leave. She’s been setting the traps.”
Blood pounded in my ears. This fucking bitch had almost succeeded in killing me. She was still out there. Right this minute she could be setting more traps.
“She told you she’s setting the traps, and you didn’t arrest her? Let’s go get her now.” I no longer felt cold. I felt boiling hot. My fox spirit stirred slightly. Something wasn’t right here.
“Maddy.” Evan’s eyes slid away from mine. “You almost died. Your foot is still healing. She’s not something a fox shifter should get anywhere near. As a wolf, I’m at the top of the predator chain. Even I’m not sure how to stop her.”
“Okay, but she needs to be stopped.”
“I know. I’m the sheriff, remember? You’re not forming a lynch party. She’ll kill you before you even get near her.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re defending her!”
Evan slammed a fist down on the counter and I jumped back. “I’m protecting you, Maddy. Damn it!”
“You said she’s a succubus.”
“Yes, just like Max is a vamp, Gabe’s a ghoul, and I’m a shifter.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard you say you’re a shifter.”
“I know what I am, Maddy. I’m not happy about it, but I am not an idiot either.”
“You seriously want to give in to her demands? Have us all pack up and leave Sleepy Briar because she says so? Of course you do. You’re leaving anyway. I can tell you one thing: Jax won’t stop. And neither will I.” I got up from the table. Going home sounded better now. I needed fresh air.
Evan caught up with me. “Don’t be angry. We need to think. A succubus is very dangerous to everyone in Sleepy Briar.”
A new thought occurred to me. Maybe it was my fox spirit alerting me to potential danger. I’d learned to pay attention to this unease within me. If a fox didn’t have her wits, she wouldn’t last long in the wilderness of Northern Maine. “Is she the same one who destroyed Sleepy Briar fifteen years ago?” The thought of my immediate and extended family leaving here still gnawed at me.
He pulled me into his arms. “I don’t know. It’s late. Stay tonight.” My cheek pressed against his chest. Underneath those fine chiseled pecs, his steady heartbeat calmed me. A weariness radiated from Evan that I had never experienced before. Being up here was difficult for him. Until his brother returned, he was stuck doing a job in a town he resented.
I was wiped out too. Must’ve been all the drama. A good night’s sleep would only help. Now that we knew who was behind the traps, we’d form a plan together. Max and Gabe would help. Well, Gabe for sure. Max might leave town rather than risk his well-being.
In the bedroom, I snuggled under the down comforter. Nothing smelled better to a fox than goose feathers. Tonight’s events ticked through my mind again. Everything Evan said made sense. The succubus was looking for Jax as the sheriff to warn him against continuing to rebuild Sleepy Briar. Evan was now the acting sheriff, living in Jax’s cabin and driving his truck. She had assumed Evan was Jax.
Still, something wasn’t right. I wished Evan had shifted to his wolf and ripped her head off when he’d had the chance.
I rolled onto my side. The building-code regulation book was heavy. In my mystery novels, the detectives would find more clues at this point in their investigation.
Evan slid into bed beside me.
I propped my head on my arm, reading in the glow of the small bedside light. “Good night,” I called over my shoulder.
“Good night.” Evan rolled up behind me. In one smooth motion, his cock pressed my ass while his knee gently wedged itself between my legs. Naturally, he was naked.
And so was I.