times someone
falsely accused him of something just to send him
to jail.
The cop narrowed his eyes at Rohan. “I don’t
suppose you’d like to confess and save me from
having to waste both of our time,” Eales sneered.
“Is there a problem, Jeff?” Harris’ deep voice
interrupted the cop’s rant.
The dramatic change in the policeman took
Rohan by surprise. The scowl vanished and the
disdain was a distant memory; instead, a warm
smile and a jolt of pure happiness poured from the
policeman. “Harris, my man, what are you doing
here?”
Harris stepped forward and shook Eales’ hand
like old friends. “I’m painting a mural for the
vampires. Want to see?”
The cop began to nod but caught himself.
“Sorry, man, maybe another time. I’m here on
official business. I have a complaint that Rohan
here attacked a tourist tonight between the hours
51
Amber Kell
of eight and ten.” He scowled at Rohan. “I’m
supposed to take him in for questioning.”
“It wasn’t him,” Harris said, stepping in front
of the vampire.
Eales stared at Harris. “And how would you
know?”
“Because we were at dinner earlier with plenty
of witnesses to corroborate our story. I had salmon
and honey ice cream.” Harris narrowed his eyes as
if daring the cop to argue with his statement.
Rohan stayed silent and waited to see what
Eales would do.
Eales closed his notebook. “Okay, if you vouch
for him, I’ll list it as a mistaken identity. I’d advise
you to keep track of your vampire friend.
Someone is gunning for him.”
“Thanks, Jeff.”
The cop gave Harris another handshake and a
slap on the back, flashed a glare at Rohan, then
left.
“That’s it? He’s not going to ask any more
questions,” Madeleine stared at Harris in shock.
Harris shrugged. “Jeff owes me a favor or two. I
saved his fool brother from a real bear attack a few
years ago.”
“Oh. Good thing we were together tonight,”
Rohan said. “Things could’ve gone a lot worse.”
“You might want to put some feelers out to find
out who accused you. That’s pretty specific. Most
52
To Bite a Bear
humans don’t know one vampire from another,”
Harris said.
“True, that’s a good point.” Rohan’s stomach
growled. “Come on; now that you saved me from
potential jail, you can feed me and finish being my
personal hero.”
He didn’t want Harris to know he suspected
the sorcerers. They might have gone underground
for now, but like cockroaches, they would scuttle
out of the darkness soon.
Harris smiled. “I’d love to be your hero.”
Of course he would. Harris beamed joy like a
child on Christmas morning. Rohan couldn’t wait
to have that big body beneath him again.
Madeleine caught his arm as he walked past.
He hissed at her.
She dropped her hold. “Sorry, sire, I needed
direction. Do you want me to ask around like your
bear said?”
“The bear has a name. He is called Harris. Use
it when referring to him,” Rohan snapped.
Confusion filled Madeleine’s eyes. “But you
always said the name of our donors don’t matter.”
“Harris isn’t a donor. He’s my blood mate,”
Rohan snapped and immediately froze.
He hadn’t meant to announce it so soon to the
coven, but now that it was out, he knew
Madeleine would spread the word.
53
Amber Kell
His inner voice didn’t have any answers except
the truth. Harris belonged to Rohan.
Madeleine’s eyes went wide. “Congratulations,
sir.”
“Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got
an appointment with a man about a bed.”
He found Harris sitting nervously at the end of
his bed, as if uncertain whether to stay or run. The
shifter’s emotions ping-ponged all over the place.
Excitement. Lust. Affection. All collided together
to swirl into a mass of scents that slammed into
Rohan’s head. He shook his head to clear it.
Forcing his mind to a new clarity, he examined the
situation. Drinking from his mate