Zombies Sold Separately (50 page)

No answer and I didn’t expect one. I couldn’t sense his presence in my apartment and I was sure he was gone. I knew he’d respect me and my privacy. Even if he had gone from friend to wannabe lover in sixty seconds flat.

My belly flip-flopped for another reason as I opened the door.

Adam looked so good with his tousled brown hair, his warm brown eyes, and the stubble on his jaws.

“Hey, Nyx.” The tenor of his voice sent a shiver through me, but then the look in his eyes made me pause.

“Do you want to come in?” I didn’t move out of the doorway, just waited for his response.

He shook his head. “I just wanted to talk with you for a moment.”

I tried not to show any outward sign that his mere presence was affecting me. I wanted to be in his arms. Wanted to feel his embrace. Wanted to feel like everything was okay and nothing had changed.

“I won’t be working as a liaison to the paranorm anymore.” He paused, and a prickling sensation traveled over me. “I’ve been promoted and am moving to another precinct.”

“Congratulations.” My voice wavered a little. “Guess I won’t be seeing you around.”

Adam shoved his hands into the pockets of his bomber jacket. “I’ve been thinking about it over and over again. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see now how it could work between us.”

I met his gaze. In his eyes I could tell he was hurting as much as I was, but he was right. How could it have worked? Maybe if I were a Doppler or Shifter and had a normal human appearance any time I wanted. But I’m Drow, and it just doesn’t work that way for me.

“You’re right.” I tilted my chin a little. “Meeting your family proved that our worlds are too different.”

“I’m going to miss you, Nyx.” He looked down at his shoes before returning his gaze to me. “I already do.”

“Me, too.” The words came back in a whisper that I had to force out.

Adam took a step toward me and in the next moment I was in his arms with him just holding me. I would miss his coffee-and-leather scent, would miss his smile and his laugh. Would miss everything about him.

He released me and took a step back. “I’ll always love you, Nyx.”

Those words almost sent me over the edge. At that moment I was glad I didn’t have tears, because I wouldn’t have wanted to cry in front of him.

I met his eyes. “I love you, Adam.”

He studied me for a long moment before he said, “I’ll see you around.”

I nodded. “Yeah. See you.”

I shut the door behind Adam, then placed my forehead against the smooth wood and closed my eyes. I could hear his footsteps growing fainter as he walked away.

I took a deep breath, pulled my cell phone out of my pocket, and dialed Nadia’s phone number. While the phone rang, I wandered into my room and saw the blank space where the picture of Adam and me in Belize had been sitting on my nightstand. I had put it in a drawer earlier, unable to look at it without feeling heart-wrenching pain.

Nadia answered, her “Hello” sounding like a word in a song.

“You up for a sappy movie and some popcorn?” I asked my friend who was
always
up for a sappy movie. If I wanted action-adventure, I would have called Olivia.

It was obvious Nadia heard something in my voice. “I’ll bring over
Casablanca
. You start up the popcorn maker.”

“Deal,” I said before disconnecting the call.

I straightened my shoulders and headed into the kitchen, straight for the pantry and the popcorn.

FOR CHEYENNE
’
S READERS

Be sure to go to
CheyenneMcCray.com
to sign up for her PRIVATE book announcement list and get FREE EXCLUSIVE Cheyenne McCray goodies. Please feel free to e-mail her at [email protected]. She would love to hear from you.

Read on for an excerpt from

VAMPIRES DEAD AHEAD

—the next Night Tracker novel from Cheyenne McCray and St. Martin’s Paperbacks:

“Another Tracker is missing.” Rodán set his wine glass on the white tablecloth of our table for two in the exclusive paranorm hot spot, Some Other Place. “Kennedy appears to be gone.”

The hum and buzz of the restaurant and bar filled the pause as I digested Rodán’s statement. Another Tracker?

A busboy stopped by our table and cleared our dinner dishes after asking if we were finished. I waited until he was gone before I responded to Rodán.

“Kennedy, from Seattle?” I frowned as I spoke. “Any idea what happened to him?”

Rodán slowly shook his head. “The Proctor Directorate’s investigation teams have found nothing.”

“That makes how many?” I asked.

“One Proctor along with eight Trackers.” Rodán’s handsome Elvin features remained amazingly impassive, his crystal-green eyes betraying no emotion as he spoke.

“What does the GG have to say about it?” I asked.

Rodán looked thoughtful. “The Great Guardian has other matters that concern her at this time.”

“More important than the disappearance of paranorms who are important to the safety of this world?” The GG drove me crazy in the ways she chose to “help.”

“It is not for us to decide where her attention is best suited, Nyx.” Rodán was gentle yet firm in his statement.

“I’m having a hard time believing what’s happening.” I shook my head and my cobalt blue hair tickled my shoulders, which happened to be bared by my strapless Versace mini-dress. “There’s something very wrong going on.” A brilliant understatement.

Rodán gave a deep nod. “Exceptionally so,” he said, making me wonder for a moment if he meant my understatement.

I shuddered at my next thought. “Unless Zombies are back.”

“We are well and rid of Zombies, Nyx.” Just hearing Rodán say “Zombies” made me shudder again. It had been a few months since we’d faced the threat, but it seemed like it had only been days ago.

“Desmond thinks we’re rid of them permanently.” The silk of my dress slid across my thighs in a soft caress as I crossed my legs at my knees. My light amethyst skin contrasted with the black material of my dress. “I do have faith in him.”

“As do I.” Rodán took another sip of his chardonnay and I watched the play of muscles in his arm, beneath his golden skin. “Which is why I planned to speak of Desmond with you.”

I cocked my head. “What about him did you want to talk with me about?”

“The Great Guardian and I have spoken.” Rodán leaned forward, his forearms resting on the tablecloth. “I intend to offer the Sorcerer a position as a Night Tracker.”

Surprise made me blink. First of all, Rodán never told me about his choices for Night Tracker candidates. Secondly …
Desmond?

“Desmond has qualities that would benefit our team,” I said. “He isn’t the sword-and-dagger type, though.”

A slight smile curved Rodán’s lips. “Indeed he is not. He has other talents that would serve him well.”

I smiled, too. “I’m not being negative, Rodán. The thought just caught me off-guard. I actually think Desmond would make a terrific addition. Providing you can convince him to join the Trackers.”

“That may be a challenge.” Rodán gave a nod of acknowledgment, his long white-blond hair shimmering beneath the low lighting, his movement revealing the points of his ears. “Desmond has been a loner, but after seeing what he and the Trackers did together to strike down his enemy, Amory, I know the difference he can make with us.”

“Ah.” I sipped my chardonnay before setting the glass back down. “I wondered why you were telling me about a candidate. You never have before.”

“That will potentially change, Nyx.” Rodán’s expression grew more serious. “I want you to take a larger leadership role.”

I stilled and set my wine glass down. “More than being in charge of special teams?”

“Yes.” Rodán studied me. “You have proven yourself to be an effective leader. You are respected by others and you have a charisma about you which is not learned. You were born with it. You will still primarily track, but you will be involved in more strategy development, training processes, and team assignments.”

Surprise kept me from speaking as he continued.

“I am not considering you full-time in another position by any means,” Rodán said as he studied me. “However, having more responsibility in the over operations will make better use of your skills.”

When I finally found my ability to speak, I said, “I had no idea you thought of me this way.”

Rodán’s gaze was focused, intent, like he was evaluating even my response. “As a Night Tracker you have already provided balanced leadership, and your judgment is sound.

“I am thinking of one behavior, however, that must change,” Rodán said. “This has nothing to do with my feelings for you outside of being your Proctor.”

“Okay.” My words were slow and deliberate as I spoke. After what had happened during the Zombie op I was wary of what he might say. “What in your opinion do I need to work on in relation to the soundness of my judgment?”

“The only caution I have, you have heard before,” Rodán said. “You are an exceptional Tracker. However, at times you have had no regard for your own personal safety. You need to think through what is best overall, before you jump into certain situations.

“For example,” he continued, “too often you have charged forward without waiting for backup. It has almost cost you your life on more than one occasion. An effective leader needs to remain alive, or he or she cannot be effective. Do you agree?”

I wanted in some way to fire back that I’d done what I’d had to. As a Drow princess, I was raised around warriors and I had trained as a warrior myself. Dark Elves don’t sit back and watch—they act. But I knew Rodán was right.

With an inward sigh, I brought my fingers to the collar I’d worn to favor my father. When I considered the last operations, I had to admit Rodán was right. I’d put myself into some pretty bad situations, including getting injected by a deadly virus. Dark Elves are aggressive fighters, but they still lay battle plans and work as a team.

To a point, my restraint during the last case may have had more to do with my team than me. They had been adamant that I not charge in on my own without them, as I had during previous ops. The members of my team had been right, and I’d known it.

“Yes,” I said, “that’s fair. It’s not easy for me, though. It’s my nature to give it everything I have, despite the dangers, but I understand what you’re saying.”

“Consider what I have to say.” Rodán wore a serious expression. “I believe you, above all others, have the skills necessary to lead the entire team. Under my guidance, of course. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I wanted you to know what I was thinking for your future.”

Wow. I took a deep breath. “It means a lot that you have so much confidence in me and my abilities.”

“You have earned it.” Rodán steepled his hands on the tabletop. “Time and time again, on operations you have been assigned to, you have proven to be an exceptional leader. I only have the one concern.”

“I think I understand.” I clasped my hands in my lap. “But I’m not management material. You
know
me—I can’t sit back and watch.”

“I would never expect you to do so.” Rodán smiled again. “That is not the Nyx Ciar that I know.” I felt perplexed at his words but he continued. “I am only asking for a little restraint on your behalf.”

“Can I think about it?” I brushed my palm over my belly, absently smoothing the silk of my dress. “I need a chance to let this digest. Not only that, but I do have my PI agency to consider. I’m not sure adding extra responsibility as a Tracker will help me in my day job as a PI.”

“Of course.” Rodán raised his glass and sipped his wine. I watched the movement of his throat as he swallowed, observed his fluid grace as he set his wine glass on the table.

“It is my intention to groom Colin to take a leadership role,” he said. “I would like him to start leading a special ops team.”

Warmth spread through me at the sound of Colin’s name. Yet that warmth was followed by the feeling of confusion that had plagued me ever since my break-up with Adam, and Colin’s insistent pursuit of me.

Now was not the time to think of either of the two males. Detective Adam Boyd was no longer in my life, and Colin, a Dragon paranorm, wanted me to take things a step further with him.

It was times like this, being comfortable with my Drow appearance in this paranorm restaurant, and not worrying about how I looked at night, that made me realize it could never have worked with Adam. I couldn’t look like I did right this moment and be out with him. However, I didn’t have those same reservations with Colin, as far as dating another paranorm went.

At this moment there were more pressing things to consider, though, than my love life.

“Is Desmond the only new Tracker who you and the GG are considering?” I asked.

“I believe Tristan would make an excellent Night Tracker also,” he said. “The Guardian agrees.”