Resurrection Reprise (Soulbound Universe)

by Hailey Turner

He’d always been attracted to highly competent, sometimes murderous people, whether they were human or not. Fatima had always despaired of the times Spencer followed his dick and not his brain.

“Dead Boy,” Patrick drawled, using the field name Spencer had been given while in the Mage Corps. He hadn’t chosen it, but then, no one ever really did. Such monikers were given by fellow soldiers in the field. Spencer had earned his by dint of his kind of magic. “Razzle Dazzle,” Spencer shot back

Sucking face is not part of an investigation, Fatima informed him haughtily. Spencer dragged the back of his hand over his mouth before collapsing his mageglobe. “At least it’s not his cock.” Yet. I give it five minutes next time, knowing you.

Takoma flashed him a smile, fangs a jagged line between his lips before disappearing. “They screamed a lot.” Spencer shook his head. “No, don’t tell me that. I like deniability.” “No one will find what’s left of the bodies.” “Shh. You aren’t helping my deniability defense.”

“What are you doing here?” Spencer asked. “Patrick said you got attacked by hunters, and we had to hear about it from the Seattle god pack and not you. He was pissed.” “He could’ve called. That doesn’t explain why you’re in the Pacific Northwest.” “Oh, well, Patrick sent me because he thinks you’re being dumb. Something about vampires?” Wade wrinkled his nose before his brown eyes narrowed. “Is that a hickey on your throat? Oh man, was Patrick right? Didn’t London teach you anything?”

“Please tell me Patrick sent along a credit card because I don’t have the funds to keep you fed.” “I’ll have you know it’s my credit card.”

“One end-of-the-world fight is all I signed up for this lifetime.” “You’re going to live to be thousands of years old,” Spencer reminded him. Wade shot him a dirty look. “Exactly.”

Wade looked up from his phone, the brown in his eyes gone, replaced by molten gold and black reptilian pupils, fiery red scales scattered up toward his temple. It was rare Takoma felt like prey, but he did just then, even if he didn’t let anyone see. “I like Spencer, and I’d steal Fatima from him if she’d let me. Given half the chance, I’d eat you to save him the grief I’m sure you’ll cause him, but Jono already said I couldn’t. So. Be nice, and you’ll never know what it’s like to be a midnight snack for me.”

“Holy shit, you are so gone on that blood-sucking asshole. I’m telling Patrick.” “Please don’t.” “No, no, I’m gonna tell him, but I’ll do it on a video call because his face. He’s going to make that face, you know the one I’m talking about.” Spencer rolled his eyes and sent off his text to Nadine. “I wish I didn’t.”

“You are wasted at the SOA,” Takoma hissed. “You belong with me because you’re mine.”

“For the record? Opting for the ‘only way out is through’ plan is a Patrick kind of plan, and it’s a bad plan.”

Wade was holding Fatima up to his face and repeatedly kissing her on the nose. She seemed enthralled. Spencer told himself he wasn’t jealous. “I left you the rest of my snacks in the car, okay? Don’t share them with Spencer,” Wade told Fatima as he set her back on the ground. I will not, she replied. “You know she loves me, right?” Spencer said. Wade waved off his words. “Not enough to share snacks.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, but you still have terrible taste in partners.” “I thought you didn’t like details.” “I don’t, so shut up. Just know I’m judging you.”