by Lauren Dane
“You don’t know me well, but you don’t have to be strong every single moment. Not on my account. I understand it. The loss. The anger.”
If she let it go, Molly was afraid it would fill the room and drown them both.
“So Rosa found you at thirteen and then took you under her wing?”
He was good at this. Changing the subject enough that she could fight past the knot of emotion in her throat.
“I pretty much lived at their house a few weeks a month and most of the summer. She and Anthony, that was her husband, they accepted me like I was theirs. Taught me how to use my magick. I remember the first time I did a spell successfully. A protection spell.” She smiled remembering that moment when all the symbols she’d drawn in the air had worked, come together and she’d felt it all the way to her toes. “Rosa taught me a lot of healing and protection stuff. Anthony showed me that I didn’t have to do sigils to use my magick. That was later on, when I was nearly out of high school.”
“So you were part of their coven then?”
“Sort of. I went to barbecues and picnics, that sort of thing. My mother insisted I participate on some level because she’s always felt it was important I understand the other side of my heritage. I never really felt connected to it. Not the way you all do to Owen.”
“Maybe you will too, someday.”
“Maybe. It’s different now. I’ve changed. This thing has given me a different perspective.”
“My first week on the job I got my nose broken. My mom could help some with it, but it still hurt like a bitch. Worse, I was humiliated because I got it after making a stupid mistake. My dad said to me, as he picked me up off the sidewalk, ‘Kid, some lessons are best learned the hard way.’ Not that I’m saying it’s good you had to go through this, that any of us did, but I’m hoping that we can all learn from it. And never fail that way again.”
She shrugged, suddenly so very tired. Instead she held her glass out as he filled it again. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Oh god. Did she just say that?
“No time really. I dated someone, but she left after the Magister. Wanted to get out before the heat came down. I guess she was right to go.”
“Look, it’s not like I was the poster girl for witchcraft and my entire life was destroyed. Not by being a witch. But by scared, cowardly people. She can hide, but I don’t think that’s much protection anyway.”
“You used to think so too, didn’t you?”
Annoyed, she sent him a raised brow. “I wasn’t hiding. Just because I grew up in a different way doesn’t mean I’m incapable of understanding reality.”
“I deserved that.”
“You did. I never much thought about it before one way or the other. Which is a problem of a different sort and one I have to deal with now. I wasn’t active in the coven not because I was ashamed of being a witch or felt like it was bad. But because I had a life I was happy with. I had a business and a home and friends and family. I was a witch, same as I am now, but it didn’t define me in the same way it does now. But that’s not me misunderstanding what I was, what I am. That’s life changing not only the way others view me, but the context of what I am too.”
Abashed, he realized how much more self-actualized she was than he. He, who’d grown up with all the clan had to offer. Connection, history, education, the collected skills and information of generation after generation of witches.
“I’m sorry. It’s not what you think. It is in some ways, I admit. You’re an outsider and”—he paused as the irony hit him—“I guess we both know how that goes now. Anyway, are you dating anyone?” He probably could have changed the subject better, but he wanted to know anyway.
“No. I’ve been busy with my firm. Building my professional life. I dated here and there, but never anything serious. I just didn’t have the time, or the interest to put anyone before work. Now I’m glad I didn’t. I guess.”
“You’ll find the time here after a while. This can’t go on forever. At some point we’ll get to back to normal. Woman like you? Smart and pretty, talented—you’ll find yourself swimming in suitors.”
“Don’t know if back to normal will ever happen. We’ll have to find new normal. And ha, suitors. You sound like my mother.”
“Did she never marry then? I mean after your father . . . though I guess father is a relative term. Can’t abide a man who abandons his family.”
“To his credit, I don’t think he knew when he left. They were only together a few months. She had a boyfriend for nine years. She said marriage wasn’t in the cards for her at her age. Though for goodness’ sake, her age, like she’s ninety instead of fifty. Anyway. They broke up two years ago and she hasn’t really been looking. She’s a little, um, daunting. I’ve never met anyone as awesome, ambitious and totally in charge as my mother.”
He appeared to be looking at someone who was as awesome, ambitious and totally in charge, but he didn’t say that. “Did you ever want to find him? Your father I mean.”
“Rosa has wanted me to for years. But I don’t know. He’s not really anyone to me. I had a man in my life. I had a father. Even my mom’s boyfriend was more of a father to me than the one who made me.” She shrugged. “Anyway, my god, let’s talk about something good. What do you do for fun, Gage Garrity?”
She leaned in, a smile on her face, and it lightened his heart. Though also, undeniably, other parts got a little heavier.
“I don’t know, do you want the PG answer?”
She laughed. A different laugh than she’d given him before. This one was husky, sensual. He liked it.
“Well, it’s been a long day and I’ve had some wine so let’s go big or go home. Give it to me.”
Then she blushed, putting her fingers over her lips as she laughed again.
He started to laugh and kept on. She was so much more than he’d imagined at first. She kept surprising him, which was unexpected and wonderful all at once. Not much was surprising to him those days. Not in a good way anyway.
“I’d scare you all the way back to Chicago, missy.”
One of her eyebrows rose ever so imperiously and he dug it like an idiot. “Is that so? Hm. I think that might just be the other way around. I might give you gray hair. Just because I don’t date on the regular doesn’t mean I don’t know how to get my hobby on.”
“Oh my god, you’re a menace,” he said through laughter. But he’d be lying if he denied he hadn’t gone there when she’d said it. Hadn’t wondered just what she meant.
She started laughing and within moments the two of them were doubled over on the couch, laughing so hard they couldn’t speak.
“I haven’t laughed like this in so long.” She wiped her eyes with a paper towel. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “Right back atcha. Just remember how much you like me now tomorrow when I’m working you.”
She started laughing again. “You’re what?”
“Teaching you defensive magick! Gah, you are a total perv, aren’t you?”
“You started it!”
He hadn’t laughed like this in so long either. God knew he needed it. And he really liked that it was with her.
Chapter 11
GAGE had cornered Faine and sent him off on an assignment. One anyone else could have done in his place. But he wanted to escort Molly to the local nest to meet with Franco Pendergast. The local vampire bigwig had agreed to meet with her and she had no idea what she was dealing with.
Not that he’d tell Molly that. Or, well, he’d tried in nice ways, but she’d given him a look that had sent his balls up into his body in fear.
So he’d escort her and shoot anyone in the face if they tried to touch her. It worked for him.
“I really can’t believe I’m going to visit a vampire at his lair. Nest. House. Whatever. Honestly, it’s silly for me to be surprised, given the fact that I’m a witch and all, but vampires seem so much more fantastical than anything else.”
“More fantastical than men who
can shift into wolves?” He grinned as he drove.
“I didn’t profess my surprise to be rational. It’s just so . . . well, werewolves aren’t like in the movies I guess.”
“Don’t expect vampires to be in polo shirts and jeans with backward baseball hats.”
She laughed. “Check that one off the list. Though it would be really funny if they were. I know they’re predators. Lark took me aside a few days ago and gave me a big brief about them. She’s awesome. I wish I could dye my hair blue.”
Random. Women were so damned random sometimes. He just nodded and hoped she’d wander back to the point soon.
“Anyway, so I know not to stare into their eyes. Not to make sudden movements. She gave me a list of topics to avoid. Not that I would have been discussing any of them with strangers anyway. And frankly, who does discuss that sort of thing with strangers?” She sniffed, outraged, and he tried not to laugh. “In any case, I’m more curious than frightened.”
“Good. They smell fear. Of us all, Others I mean, they’re the most, um, different than humans. They’ve been around a very long time. A lot of the really powerful ones are hard to relate to so they keep to themselves. The one you’re meeting with today, Franco, is only a couple hundred years old. He’s all right. He knows we’re not victims. I’ll set him on fire if he gets out of line. I find that helps move things along.”
She looked over at him and shook her head. “Lark told me about the last run-in with them. Still, I’d like to think I could do this on my own. I’m not totally helpless.”
“We’ve gone over this many times before, Molly. You’re not totally helpless at all. But this world, well I’m more familiar with it. And I know how to set shit on fire. I’m handy to have around if things get out of hand. Just think of it that way. Never, ever deal with vampires if you’re not armed. Consider me your weapon.”
“That and the two rather large side arms you’re wearing.”
“You saw that, huh?”
“Yes.” She wore a smile, one he thought . . . well, it couldn’t be a sexy smile. She was amused by him. Which worked better than sexy. Right? They were better off as friends and nothing more. They’d work better that way. Even if he was fighting off the urge to sniff her, or smooch her every time he got her alone these days.
Stupid hormones.
It was the way she made him laugh. That’s all.
“Look, there’s going to be a little push and shove here. They’re going to want me to show my belly. And that’s not going to happen. It’s mainly ceremonial anyway. Just let me handle that part.” He pulled up to the gate and stopped, rolling his window down. A burly human guard muscled over and gave them the eye.
“Molly Ryan here to see Franco Pendergast on behalf of Clan Owen.”
“She’s on the list, but you’re not, Garrity.”
“He’s my interpreter.” Molly leaned over, hovering over Gage’s lap, her hair close enough to his face that he had no choice but to breathe her in. Goddamn, she smelled good. And right over his cock. He held his breath before he said or did something stupid. Oh, and he probably should pay attention too. “Wouldn’t want to make a mistake with so much at stake, now would I?”
The guard looked down at her, a surly expression, which faded quickly as he caught sight of her. Another one bites the dust. The woman could seemingly win over everyone. But the PURITY people, anyway.
“Do you have identification?”
“I do.” She braced a hand on Gage’s thigh to sit up to grab her bag and he ground his teeth together. Shortly she produced her wallet with her driver’s license, which the guard decided was enough.
“I recognize you, Gage. Go on up to the house. You’ll need to leave the guns in the car. You know he doesn’t allow them in the house.”
Fine. He could still be a weapon without side arms anyway. And they both knew it.
Molly knew Gage didn’t need to be there. Lark had told her Owen and the Vampire Nation had a peace accord. One Lark had brokered herself just a month before.
But she had no trouble admitting she liked having Gage around. This was all totally foreign to her. Being out of her element was one thing. Dealing with vampires was something totally different. Lark had had to break noses and arms and stuff to be taken seriously. Molly could be a badass, but breaking things was most assuredly Gage’s arena.
Plus he looked unbelievably hot in those snug, dark utility pants with his combat boots and those damned guns strapped to his thighs. Really, really nice thighs.
Okay she had to stop thinking about his thighs. Or his belly, which she caught sight of when he bent to put the guns in a locked case in the trunk.
“From here on, they can hear what we say. Even if we whisper it. So save anything important for later, all right?”
She tore her gaze from his ass, guilty and totally busted. He wore the glimmer of a smirk, but straightened.
“Yes. Yes. I got it.” She’d been careful about what she’d chosen to wear. Too much hiding of the neck and it only emphasized it. Too much exposed skin and the result was the same. So a shirt with a collar worked.
The front door opened as they approached. More guards. “Franco is waiting. Come in. I need to pat you down.”
Gage stepped in front of her, putting himself between them. “No, you don’t. I put my weapons away as requested. I’m not going to allow you to put your hands on her.”
“Then you can’t come in.”
Molly shrugged and stepped back. She really didn’t want this guy’s hands all over her. And if Gage didn’t want it, well, then she didn’t want it even more. “All right then. Good day.” She turned, speaking to Gage over her shoulder. “Let him know when you call later that this opportunity is only available so long. I have other things to do. He can of course deal with the humans alone. Or face them in a coalition with all Others. I know our preference. Mr. Pendergast needs to figure out his.”
A male came out into the main room, skirting the light at the front door. “Back off, Mike. Let them pass. Mr. Garrity understands what would happen if he tried anything.”
The vampire male wasn’t handsome. Not really. But he was compelling. His eyes were so brown they were nearly black. He wore a soft sweater and trousers. Nice watch. Nary a hint of crusty blood at his lips or anything like that. No cape either.
He bowed slightly. “Ms. Ryan, the Vampire Nation welcomes you to our nest.”
She did the same, her gaze focused on his eyebrows. “Thank you, Clan Owen is grateful for your welcome.”
He smiled. “Well done. Come in. I’ve just had coffee brought in. It looks cold and wet out there. Warm up and give me your pitch.”
* * *
THAT had gone amazingly well. Molly smiled as she waited for Gage to open her hotel room door and do his thing.
That’s when she saw the boxes had finally arrived from Chicago. She managed to withhold her little dance of joy, but the sight of her mother’s concise handwriting on the address labels comforted her anyway.
“Looks like your stuff arrived.” Gage turned to her with a smile.
Faine showed up. “Hope you don’t mind that I brought it all in for you. It arrived at the office so I delivered it here. Figured you’d like to go through it all here rather than there.”
“Thank you, Faine. I appreciate that very much.” She turned back to Gage. “Thanks for guarding me with the vampires today as well. Go on, have a life. I’m safe in my gilded cage.”
“You did an awesome job. I can’t believe they extended an offer to let Meriel address their Convocation. And to send a representative with you when you to testify too. You have a way about you. Honestly, it’s fun to go with you just to see what you’ll get people to give you.”
She blushed, the warmth of Gage’s compliments washing over her. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. I plan on a pizza and a lot of unpacking.”
Gage nodded and Faine lifted a hand as they both backed from the room and left her alone.
She kne
w exactly which box she wanted to open first.
Thank goodness her mother hadn’t been offended by her rather precise instructions. Molly cut the top open and carefully unpacked the turntable. She placed it on the counter and went back to get the Bose dock that would also serve as her speakers until she moved into a real apartment and had the room for her whole setup.
She found all the cords, neatly labeled by her mother, and got everything hooked up before she found the box with all her non-work clothes and opened it, changing into jeans and a T-shirt before returning to grab a glass of wine and the box with her records.
Molly knew exactly which one she wanted. The orangey glow of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy greeted her as she pulled it out and slid the record from the sleeve.
Ah. She cleaned everything and placed it down, putting the needle at the beginning of “The Ocean” and stood back as the crackle spilled into the room over the speakers and she felt a million times better as the song started.
She’d been scared spitless at the very first when they’d driven up toward Casa de Vampire. Ha. But being with Gage had made it better. The way he’d consistently helped her through things, given her advice and even taught her some awesome new defensive magick spells—had all combined to build her confidence in this entirely new world she found herself in.
Also, her crush on Gage burned still within her. Man, he was so . . . hot. Smart. Sexy. Strong. Powerful. He was all manly and protective and it rang her bell. Not her type at all. But apparently she’d been doing it all wrong because hello.
When he’d gotten in between her and the bodyguard earlier that day her entire body had come to attention. She really shouldn’t be thinking of him in the way she was just then. But whatever, it was in the privacy of her hotel room and she could objectify anyone she wanted in her fantasies!
The song ended and she flipped the record over. Strange to think that her life had settled in such an odd way. Adrift, away from everything she knew, she was beginning to find her way. It gave her some measure of comfort and right then, her records, her cupcake socks and a glass of wine did the trick.