Julian wanted to snap at Gabe. If it were his mate would he be so patient? He turned to Rick, hoping the Wolf Alpha knew where he was about to go. “Would it be easier to hunt him up on your land?”

“If I had his scent, yes.” The Wolf Alpha sounded absolutely certain of that. “Those woods are mine. There’s no way the fucker would be able to hide there.”

“Then we split up. Tabby, Alex and Glory head up to the Poconos where Rick’s Wolves can protect them. I stay down here and try to draw the shooter out where the Pumas can take care of me.” Cyn held up her hand as Tabby opened her mouth to object. “Alex, take some of your relatives with you and leave some here. That will help Julian and Tabby feel better about all of this.”

Alex shared a look with Tabby. No matter what Tabby wanted, she’d be visiting the Poconos, in-laws in tow. “If the Foxes pick up the scent, they’ll make useful scouts.”

“And I’ll finally get to answer the age-old question.” Belle tilted her head, her expression more vapid than Julian had ever seen on anyone outside of Paris Hilton. He heard tales of the Poconos Luna. Perhaps the rumors were true. Maybe she really was Psycho Barbie. “Does a Bear shit in the woods?”

Alex returned her look with a bland one of his own. “Only if there’s a roll of toilet paper on a convenient nearby branch.”

Julian nodded sagely. “And it has to be the kind that doesn’t leave toilet paper dust on our poor furry behinds.”

“Yup. That is a total breach of Bear etiquette.”

Rick clamped his hand over Belle’s mouth before she could respond. “Do we have a plan, then?”

Glances were exchanged. After nods all around, some reluctant, some not, it was agreed. Alex would be taking Tabby and Glory into hiding while Cyn played tag with the killer. Julian damn near growled out his frustration. It had not gone the way he’d planned.

Fuck a duck.

Chapter Eighteen

Cyn opened the front door as quietly as she could, hoping Julian was taking that nap she’d ordered him to. When she didn’t see him loitering around in the front hall she sighed in relief. He’d been adamantly against her being bait, but what else were they supposed to do? It had been over a week since Marie’s death and they hadn’t found more than where the sniper had been hiding. None of the lab work had come back, and even Cyn’s new sense of smell couldn’t track the killer. She’d tried following the scent only once, but Gabe had stopped her before she’d gone too far.

At least Tabby and Glory were safely away. Alex had whisked her friends away so fast Cyn had barely had time to say good-bye. But that was all right, as long as she got to say welcome home when it was over.

She hung her coat up with a sigh, rubbing her neck wearily as she closed the closet door. She was so tense she could probably be used as a tuning fork. “The Amazing Cyn, vibrating in C minor.”

A low chuckle had her whirling around. Julian sat halfway down the stairs, a smirk on his face. “I could take care of that for you.”

Shit. He was awake. “Hey, Jules.” She tried her best to smile for him, but knew she failed when his welcoming smile dimmed.

“You’re hurting. Let me help.”

Her muscles were one tight knot, but no way in hell was she going to allow Julian to heal her. “No. You just got out of the hospital.” He’d only been home for six days, and already he was trying to act as if nothing had happened. It was like it didn’t matter to him that he almost died. Meanwhile, Cyn was having nightmares about Julian lying in a pool of blood.

When she met Tai Boucher she was going to kick his ass. The leader of the Spirit Bears had never called Julian back, and it was driving both her and her mate crazy.

She rotated her shoulders and tried to hide her wince. His eyes still had silver flecks in them. There was still more white in his hair than black. Did he really think he was fooling her?

“I could give you a massage.”

She didn’t trust him. He’d try and sneak a healing in, she just knew it. “No.”

He sighed. “I give you my word I won’t use my powers.”

She eyed him warily. “You promise?” He’d break his word in a heartbeat if he thought she was in serious pain.

“I promise.” He even crossed his heart, the silly Bear.

She studied him, but he was the picture of innocence. He was definitely up to something. “Fine.”

The wicked grin that crossed his face worried her. “Get naked, then get on the bed.”

She took off her clothes quickly, not wanting this to turn into something sexual. Julian wasn’t up to any antics. She lay down and pulled the sheet up over her butt, hiding herself from him. Her butt didn’t hurt, after all, her shoulders did.

“Aw. There went the view.” He laughed when she gave him the finger. “Close your eyes and try to relax.”

She did as he asked, wondering why she heard him rattling around. She expected to hear him removing his clothes, but instead she heard what sounded like…glass?

The snick of a lighter startled her. One of her scented candles was placed on the nightstand. Next to it was a bottle of lavender massage oil. Julian dimmed the lights and finally stripped off his shirt. “Like what you see?”

She closed her eyes again.

“You are so mean.” She heard more cloth rustling, then the sound of a cap snapping. Within seconds the soothing scent of lavender filled the room. His warm, oiled hands began to rub up and down her back, spreading the self-heating oil. “You like that?”

Already she could feel herself relaxing under his touch. “Mm-hmm.”

He began to massage her back and shoulders, varying hard, almost bruising kneading with almost ticklish butterfly touches that had her squirming. She moaned when he hit a particularly bad spot, the tension in her shoulders melting away under his skilled hands. She could have sworn he was using his powers, but when she opened her eyes his were still vaguely speckled with silver, his hair still tinged with black.

His hands wandered down to her ass, massaging her just above the globes. It felt surprisingly good, and damn arousing. “Julian.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you hoping to get laid?”

His hands didn’t even pause. “The thought did cross my mind.”

She growled. “You’re not up for it.”

He chuckled. “I beg to differ.” He moved to the side and took her hand, placing it over his straining erection. “I’m very much up for it.” She watched as he poured more oil into his palm. “I’m fine, Cyn. Better than fine, now that you’re home.”

She grimaced. It had been her idea to roam Halle, waiting for the bad guy to strike. Gabe had been against it, but he’d agreed once she allowed him to give her more than one tail.

Julian’s hands began massaging her thighs, and she groaned. She hadn’t realized how tight all her muscles were until Mr. Roamy Hands got started, but damn, it was so good. She didn’t even realize the sheet had been pulled down until his hands reached the soles of her feet. So much for discouraging him.

He began massaging her ass once more, spreading the cheeks apart. “Julian.”

Shit. His name came out more a moan than a warning. She was so screwed. Literally.

“That’s my name.” He patted her ass. “Roll over.”

She lifted her brow at him. He expected her to move? After turning her muscles to Jell-O?

She managed to get onto her back, flopping ungracefully back down. “Make with the oil.”

“Yes, ma’am. Your command is my wish.” He massaged the top of her shoulders, his fingers deliberately stroking the mating mark over and over again before sliding down to her breasts. He spent an eternity just oiling and playing with them. Her nipples were so hard they hurt worse than her muscles had.

“Jules.” She squirmed, aching for him.

“I have you.” He took hold of her arms and lifted them over her head. His bright silver eyes were heated as he placed her hands on the slats of the headboard. “Hold these for me.”