“Is there an animal under there?” I asked the air.
Receiving no answer, I laughed at myself. All I had right now was my incredible attraction to the sweet, funny, hot, loyal man Tony had shown himself to be in the past few days. Had it only been that short a time? Would that be enough, without knowing the big secret everyone else knew?
The answer rose within me and I smiled. Before I could call Tony to share my revelation, my phone rang.
“Hi, Barbara,” I answered. She reminded me that tonight was the vote on the human-supernatural integration bill. “I’ll be there as soon as I can get a ride.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A quick drive from the Arts District to our more-or-less “proper” downtown, and the driver let me off in front of the two-story government building housing the city council. I entered and headed for the marble stairs to the second floor. The preliminaries appeared finished as I snuck in and sat in the audience, wincing when the seat squeaked.
Within the elongated half-circle of elected officials’ seats, Mayor Barbara Knollman sat dead-center. Her councilmembers fanned out on either side, every seat taken. No abstentions tonight, I imagined. This was a hot-button issue. Opposite them sat all of us, the audience. Not as filled as I would have expected in the 500-seat occupancy room, but probably a lot more than a typical meeting held. In the center between the audience and the councilmembers was a podium with a microphone. A man stood before it, not speaking. I noticed a line of people behind him. Wow, was this all for the integration bill?
A hand touched my shoulder and a voice whispered in my ear. “Hey, Liz. Long time, no see. I guess you got the call?”
“Hey, guys,” I whispered back with a low chuckle, as Catherine, her boyfriend (fiancé?) Alex, Robin, and Marci filed into the row behind me. Evie the 1920s vampire, her actor boyfriend Ryan, Mia, and her detective boyfriend Jacob had joined them. I gave the group a little wave, noticing the disappointment I felt that Tony hadn’t gotten the call, too. Or maybe he needed to check in at the café?
“Thank you all for coming,” Barbara’s voice cut through my thoughts. “I’m glad to see we have a good turnout for today’s historic vote. Most of you know that this afternoon I informed my fellow councilmembers of my intention to introduce new legislation tonight. I wanted them, and the voting public, to be aware of my intention and not feel blind-sided.
“As some of you also know, I went on a local morning show to discuss components of the proposed legislation. I won’t repeat that here, except to summarize that the legislation is not the be-all-end-all on the subject. It’s an opening round to start the conversation of how to legally integrate human and supernatural societies.” She took a sip of water. I knew she couldn’t be nervous and figured this was her way of letting the audience catch their breath. “Before the vote, I’d like to open up the floor for opinions on the proposal. I see folks have already begun lining up.” She gestured to the line at the podium. “If you wish to join the queue, please do so.” The first gentleman in line stepped up to speak.
“Thank you, Madam Councilwoman,” he started, though his voice bounced around the room with strong reverberations. He backed his mouth away, apologizing. “I would like to voice my opposition to the proposal as not having enough safeguards for the human population.”
With that salvo, we were off. About a dozen folks spoke, more for the legislation than opposed, I was pleased to see. But, amidst the rhetoric and overblown conclusions, I worried we’d lose the purpose of the legislation.
I made my way toward the podium. Whispers reached me as members of the audience recognized me and commented on my movement. Several folks still in line offered to let me go ahead of them but I declined. That would defeat the purpose of a speech on equal treatment.
When it was my turn, I stepped to the microphone. Barbara lifted a single eyebrow at my presence. “Good evening, councilmembers, concerned citizens, fellow members of the press,” I began. “For those of you who do not know me, and for the record,” I continued, with a nod toward the woman manning the recording equipment. She smiled up at me. “My name is Elizabeth Addison.” I spelled my name. “My job is as a newscaster. For that reason, you may question why I am here, providing my opinion on legislation I will continue to cover.” My throat tightened, and I pulled back, coughing to clear it. “I am here, not as a member of the press, but as a citizen of the great city of Las Vegas.” A few hearty claps greeted my statement.
“For the past year, humans have learned more and more about the so-called paranormal underworld. Some of that has been negative. A serial killing genie and incubus; homicidal vampire; murdering demon; deadly witch-for-hire; and just this week, an angry time-traveling ghost.” Voices tittered at that one. “Don’t worry, she’s better now,” I joked. Laughter rolled through the room.
My gaze traveled up and down the council table. “But those bad apples shouldn’t spoil the bunch, to use a trite phrase. Would we want humanity to be judged by the killers among us? Of course not. What I would like for the councilmembers to remember – and the humans who spoke today against the proposal – is that when we keep anyone in the dark, treat anyone like second-class citizens, it goes against everything we stand for.
“This proposal allows us to explore how we live in peace. This proposal allows us to determine what is necessary to manage expectations for beings with, essentially, superpowers. This proposal is a step forward, allowing all beings equal treatment under the law.” I waited for the spontaneous applause that erupted to stop.
“Thank you very much for your time, councilmembers, and I hope that you vote with your conscience.” To more thunderous applause, and a few boos, I retook my seat with my friends, only half of whom were human, I realized with an internal chuckle. A few more citizens spoke for and against the proposal. Then it was time for the vote.
A hush settled over the room. The seven members of the council, including the mayor, leaned forward to speak a single word when their names were called. As each “aye” rang out over the crowd, tears pricked my eyes. The proposal passed unanimously. I heard the doors at the back of the auditorium open, most likely as members of the press raced out to film quick shots to notify their viewers of the proposal’s passage.
In the room, a motion was made to adjourn, it was seconded, and the meeting ended. Just like that, they had charted a new path forward. Exciting times to be a citizen, a member of the press, and a potential romantic interest of a supernatural.
People rose and began filing out. I caught up with Catherine.
“Well?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, what?” She played dumb.
I laughed. “Fine, don’t tell me.”
She leaned forward, her lips an inch from my right ear. “I told him yes. We’ll announce wedding details when we make them.”
With a squeal, I threw my arms around her and gave a thumbs up to Alex, who just shook his head with a laugh. Those involved with the Rowan event knew, but others glanced at me in confusion.
For the first time in my life as a newscaster, I didn’t desire to explain. It wasn’t my story to tell.
I had my own story to tell in the morning. And I had a lot to say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Marilyn cocked an eyebrow at me. “You seem nervous, Liz.” She leaned forward to apply blush to my cheeks. “What gives?”
“I’m going out on a limb with this morning’s show.”
She smirked. “Don’t you do that every other day or so?”
I laughed. “Touché.” My eyes closed so she could apply the setting powder over my entire face. When she finished, I continued. “But, seriously, this one is more… personal.”
“Oh? Maybe I’ll watch then.”
“Don’t put yourself out,” I said. She laughed.
“Have a good show.” With that, she left the room. I confirmed I looked camera-ready and then headed for the studio. The production assistant hadn
’t come to get me yet, but I was ready. In every sense of the word.
“Liz, I was just coming to get you,” the PA said when I met her in the hallway.
“Let’s rock this thing,” I responded, and we continued to the studio.
After taking my seat on the familiar stuffed blue chair and crossing my legs, I watched the teleprompter above the camera scroll backward and forward to finally land on my opening for the show. Not that I needed it. Not this time. I had my entire speech memorized. I hadn’t been exaggerating when I told Marilyn this one was personal. Even when I’d invited the murderous genie into my home for an interview – that hadn’t gone quite as planned – that was still business. This would definitely veer into personal.
The countdown to the start sounded in my ear. I cleared my throat and prepared to speak.
Camera rolling sounded in my ear bud, I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. With a deep breath, I nodded as though this was business-as-usual and tried again. Words emerged. Thank goodness.
“Good morning in the Valley! Welcome to Entertainment Daily, Las Vegas’ most watched morning show. I’m your host, Elizabeth Addison.” My smile dropped for a moment. “For those viewers keeping count, I’m still alive and today is Day 4. If you remember, several days ago, a time-traveling ghost bent on changing the future told me I had three days to live. That worked out pretty well in the end.” I gave a quick summary of what had happened.
“Once we saved the future,” I said with a chuckle, “it was time to take steps to put us on that path. I’m pleased to report, for those who missed the sweeping coverage last night, Mayor Knollman’s integration legislation passed unanimously at the City Council meeting last night. Congratulations, Barbara.” I cleared my throat again. Here came the challenging part.
“Last night, I voiced my support for this legislation. It was both political support and personal support. Over the course of the last year, I’ve made many supernatural friends. They’ve saved my hide, figuratively and literally. They deserve equal treatment.”
I could hear my blood thundering in my brain. I hoped I didn’t have a stroke from the nerves. “My friends know that I’ve expressed concern that humans and supernaturals were too different, the challenges too great to overcome, to make a romantic relationship work. Well, they may have an extra layer of challenge, but I’ve seen it work.” I winked at the camera, hoping Catherine and Alex were watching the broadcast.
“And I’ve recently met a very special supernatural. If he’s still willing to take a chance on an insecure, uncertain human, I’d like to have a chat.” My mouth felt like I stuffed it with cotton balls, and I wished I’d thought to put a cup of water on the table beside me. “We’ll take a break for some words from our sponsors and be right back.”
The rest of the show passed in a blur. Everyone congratulated me when I left the studio and walked past the cubicles to my glass-walled office. I closed the door, sank into my desk chair, and with a tremulous breath, withdrew my cellphone from the top drawer. A text message.
Please come by the café when you have time.
Heart in my throat I replied. On my way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Butterflies had taken flight in my belly. I took several deep calming breaths before opening the door to Tony’s café. Why was I nervous? He’d dropped enough hints of his interest and I finally got my priorities aligned. This would be fine.
Tony’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and I knew I’d made the right decision. He stepped toward me as I crossed to the counter. “Hey there, stranger,” I greeted the were-panther.
“I saw your show this morning,” he responded. He started to rest his arms on the countertop, reversed motion, and stepped around and out toward me. His familiar heat rolled off him, warming me.
“What did you think?”
“I liked it.”
“I’m glad.”
Tony took my hands in his. “What changed?”
Squeezing his hands, I grinned. “I got out of my own way,” I quipped before answering for real. “Seriously? I thought about how I feel when I’m around you.” He smiled lasciviously and I shook my head with a chuckle. “I considered how I feel when I’m not around you.” His smiled dropped. “I thought about your reaction when I could smell your cat—”
“Panther,” he corrected, but his smile was back in place.
“Panther,” I agreed with a good-natured eye roll. “I considered what Olivia said about our compatibility.” My eyes met his, unshed tears blurring my view of him. I blinked to clear the image. “When you were hurt,” I swallowed as the remembered pain passed through me, “I thought of you as my… mate.”
Tony gasped and tightened his grip on my hands. “What does all that mean?”
“I’m not certain. I’m not a shifter, but I can sense the shifterness of you,” I teased him. “It doesn’t matter if I’m human. I want to be with you. None of the rest of it matters.”
Tony’s eyes dilated and he leaned toward me, releasing my hands so he could cup my face. He feathered delicate kisses on my forehead, my cheeks, my nose (that triggered a giggle from me). We’d only met four days ago; it was like the insta-attraction in a romance novel.
But it was real.
His chapped lips found mine. Gentle at first, then with more passion. Energy zinged through me and my arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer. My heart swelled with… surely not love yet, but something similar…
I pulled back and smirked.
“What?” he asked, his sexy voice pitched low.
I stood on my toes, leaned forward again. My lips stopped an inch from his ear. “If you know what Olivia meant, will you tell me now?” I whispered.
Tony chuckled. “I wasn’t positive until you said you thought of me as your mate,” he began to explain, his eyes shining with that same undefined feeling. “You carry shifter genes—”
“No way,” I interrupted in an exclamation that drew the attention of the few people in the café who weren’t already watching our performance. My head dropped onto his shoulder. A flush crept across my face.
He lifted my chin to regain eye contact. “Yes way.” He beamed. “And you probably can carry shifter offspring.”
After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I responded to his bombshell. “That’s a conversation for another time.”
“Indeed.”
I placed my hands on his chest, reveling in the warmth and strength pulsing under my palms and fingers. “Guess this is the dawn of the Age of the Supernaturals.”
“That’s not dramatic at all,” Tony teased. “Like this is a television show.”
“Don’t you want there to be a season two?”
“You mean, after this exciting season finale?”
“Exactly. This doesn’t have to be the end. We want people to tune in again.”
“I’m not sure I could take the excitement,” Tony said drily.
A giggle bubbled up. I wrapped my arms around his middle again, looked up into his amazing chocolate brown eyes. “How about being my date for a friend’s wedding then?”
His lips closed on mine again and his nod moved my head in concert. I tried not to giggle, but another escaped around our clasped lips. “This is going to be so much fun,” I whispered.
“Yes, it will, my mate.”
EPILOGUE
I told myself I wouldn’t cry, but tears formed when I saw Catherine in the open doorway of the chapel room, in her simple white knee-length fitted sheath, blond hair falling loose around her shoulders. Elvis stood next to her, guitar at the ready. He strummed the strings, and the two began to walk down the short aisle.
A hand took mine, and I glanced into Tony’s face. He leaned over to kiss my cheek. We both turned to watch the bride continue down the aisle, the good-looking young Elvis singing a love song. I shifted my gaze to Alex, looking sharp in a black tuxedo, standing at the altar with the wedding officiant, a tall, thin, older man w
ith an engaging smile.
Catherine reached her groom. Her blue eyes mirrored the happy tears in his green ones. Alex took her hands in his. The grins on their faces sparked many in the audience.
“Friends and family, welcome,” the officiant began. Although, to be accurate, it was mostly Paranormal Talent Agency friends. I chuckled when I realized how many of us had found love, thanks to Catherine accepting the job opportunity of starting the West Coast arm of the Peterson Talent Agency here in Las Vegas. And how many of us weren’t even human.
“We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Catherine and Alex.” I wasn’t big on ceremonies, so my attention drifted. I glanced around at the group sitting in cushioned folding chairs arranged like pews.
Vampire Evie, her 1920s blond bob in place, snuck looks at her human boyfriend Ryan, his auburn hair in need of a trim. Nixie Mia, her green hair in an elaborate French braid, held hands with her human boyfriend Jacob, his close-cut blond hair not in need of a trim. Robin and Jackson, human witches, their heads resting against each other. And, even Barbara and Liam, 500-year-old angels, recently reunited.
I refocused on the couple at the altar as the officiant reached the question-and-answer portion of the ceremony.
“Do you, Catherine Rodham, promise to love and trust Alex, in sickness and in health, in adversity and prosperity, for better or worse, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” She smiled, happiness radiating off of her. I’d swear she was glowing. Now that we knew she was descended from a god, maybe she was.
“Do you, Alexander Moore, promise to love and trust Catherine, in sickness and in health, in adversity and prosperity, for better or worse, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” He blew her a kiss and she giggled.
Paranormal Talent Agency Episodes 4-6 Page 25