“Alyssa Dakota Wild, you’ll have your mouth washed out with soap if I hear you say that again.”
“Sorry, Mum.” She said, while simultaneously rolling her eyes at me.
Fifteen-year-old sisters were a challenge. I couldn’t imagine trying to parent her.
“Look at him though, Mum. He’s been like it for days now.”
My mum came over and sat beside me on the couch.
“It’s true you’re not yourself, Son. I know you were disappointed about the woman, but she still might be the one. We have to wait now.”
“I really liked her, Mum. But what she did, dating Jett. I’m not sure I can forgive that. I don’t understand why she’d date him and not me.”
“She’s asked to meet you. Why don’t you go and see if she can explain? It’s better than sitting looking constipated.” Alyssa sniped.
“How do you know she’s asked to meet me? Oh my God, have you read my messages again?”
“Well, you do leave your phone hanging around.”
I stood up and got right in Alyssa’s face, I saw the yellow flash of my wolf eyes reflected in the shades she was now wearing. She thought they looked cool. It wasn’t even sunny, and we were indoors.
“Keep out of my stuff and my business, or I’ll borrow your DKNY sunnies and accidentally sit on them.”
“Darius, sit back down. It’s not your sister’s fault things have been a little rough for you lately.”
Alyssa moved her glasses up to the top of her head so I could take in her smug smile.
“Alyssa. The dishes need taking out of the dishwasher. Go make yourself useful.”
She huffed and left the room.
My mum stared at me a moment and then began speaking. “So, I went to see Ebony today.”
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “Mum, why did you do that?”
“Honestly? Your dad had pissed me off, and I decided to go have a good spend, and her boutique is the best in Withernsea. But as soon as I got in there she started with the visions. I actually felt sorry for her. They give her terrible migraines.”
“She got the vodka out then?”
“Yes and I had one, so she didn’t look odd. Poor woman, it’s the only thing that helps her.”
I clasped my hands tightly, my knuckles whitening. “Go on then, you know you’re dying to tell me what she said.”
“Darius. I’m not dying to tell you. You’re my oldest son and I’m looking out for you, that’s all.”
I sighed. I really was a grumpy bastard of late. “Sorry, I know. I’m just frustrated with all this mating stuff.”
Now I was in my thirtieth year the pressure had ramped up. I’d wasted months trying to pursue Kim Fletcher, the super-hot woman at the dating agency who handled the organisation of dates for our kind. My mind floated back to when I’d first properly met her…
I’d seen her before, around Withernsea. Her long dark hair framing a heart-shaped face. But it was her smell that appealed the most. She smelled to me like the finest scotch, mixed with sex. She smelled like she was mine. I’d been called to the agency after there’d been a fire bomb aimed at Shelley’s office. I’d made sure my cop uniform was on point, my police shirt tight against my pecs and my slacks hugging my arse. One thing all the running around in the woods did was give you a great ass and thighs. I knew I looked like a walking Magic Mike stripper.
As soon as I’d walked past her, she’d yelled “Holy fuck,” before covering her mouth and pretending to have the hiccups. I’d tried not to smile at her reaction, which wasn’t all that difficult because when I met her gaze something strange happened. It was like we were locked in a staring competition. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
It took for Shelley to remind me I’d come to view a crime scene before I’d been able to break away.
When I’d returned to Kim’s office I started staring at her again. There was something in me, like an invisible thread that was dragging me to her, and that smell… I just wanted to leap over the desk and bury my nose in her neck and nuzzle her.
I’d needed to leave but didn’t want to. What could I say to get her attention? I decided to remind Shelley about my application hoping Kim would take the hint and date me herself.
“Just to say that I sent in an application for the agency. I’m young, free and single. Well, I’m not free on a full moon, but the rest of the time.”
But Kim only nodded her head before her gaze had returned to her computer screen.
She’d been in a casual relationship with a magician called Frankie before Satan had smote him and he’d ended up turned into a vampire. Since then I wasn’t aware that she’d dated anybody. I’d thought I was in with a chance, but then she’d arranged dates for me with other women, and herself flirted with other men.
When I’d seen her in a restaurant with Jett Conall, one of our enemy pack, a few days ago, it had been the last straw. If she knew what she had started I’d never be able to forgive her, and that’s why I’d been putting off seeing her.
“Earth calling, Darius.” My mum nudged my shoulder.
I turned to her. “I’m listening.”
“So Ebony says Kim’s actions will set in train a challenge between you and Jett for Kim’s heart, but there is also a shadow hanging around, a third suitor. She foresees not only a challenge for Kim, but also one to our pack as the wolves of Hogsthorpe will be able to challenge Withernsea for power if Jett mates with a Withernsea resident.”
“So how come they haven’t already made such a challenge? There are plenty of single women in Withernsea.”
“The rules are that they can’t seek a date, but in this case Kim asked him. She looked him up on the computer. They were finding a loophole anyway. Applying to the agency was a way of meeting a woman. If he’d gone out on an arranged meet and convinced his date to ask for a second date that would have done it. It was only a matter of time. The wolves are bored in Hogsthorpe—restless. Ebony says she can hear their inner wolves howling with confliction.”
“So Kim did this, but the chances were it would have happened anyway?”
“Yes, Son.”
“And not only is Jett my enemy but there could be another man?”
Surely it couldn’t be Frankie? He was loved up with Lucy now.
“That’s what she said. Now you need to have a really clear think on whether or not you’re going to pursue Kim. If she is the one for you, I will help you all the way, Darius. But it will not be easy. We must speak to Alpha Edon and listen very carefully for his directions. This is very much pack business, Darius, even though it’s your mating and your heart.”
I sighed. “I know. Why does it have to be so complicated though?”
My mum stroked my hair. “Because it’s love, Son; and love is complicated, but worth its challenges.”
She left me, going to the kitchen. We lived in a large wooden cabin built in the woods at the edge of Withernsea. No residents here knew it existed as we’d surrounded the land in front of the woods with a caravan park and had got a wizard to erect a glamour which meant that anyone staying in the park only saw farmers fields when they looked out of their window. A perimeter fence with security warnings stopped anyone venturing any further than the caravan park boundary. Some of the pack had chosen to live in the caravans, preferring that to a wooden structure. I would have the choice once mated to build a home in the woods or accept a brand new caravan or lodge. I would let my mate choose our home. All I would be interested in was making sure she was happy and satisfied.
I decided I would speak to Alpha Edon before I made any further decisions about Kim as my possible future mate. I’d need to be sure to accept my responsibilities as a member of the pack and put that before love. The safety of my pack was paramount.
“So have your balls dropped yet? Are you going to get your woman? Or do you want to borrow a tampon?”
Alyssa was back.
Yes, safety was paramount, even that of annoying little sisters.
Kim
“You do know I had your boyfriend resident in my office for months, don’t you? I just got rid of him and now you’re hanging around. What gives?”
Lucy looked up from her eReader. “I'd gotten to a really interesting bit then. Can’t you just get on with your work? Seriously, you spend a lot of time distracted from your duties, you really do. I mean twenty-three-and-a-half minutes looking between Darius, Jett, and Seth’s profiles. I suppose that’s due to your selfless dedication to find them dates, even though two of them aren’t even on your books anymore and you used the other for recruiting purposes.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She placed the eReader on her lap. “It’s a good job Satan regenerated because the old one would have really seen your potential.” She flicked back her fringe. “Anyway, in answer to your question, I need to be around here for my whole earth angel post. I have to keep an eye on Seth, and also an eye on Shelley to make sure that her baby is safe, but don’t you be telling her I’m doing that.”
I dropped my pen in shock. “Is her baby in danger?”
“Not at the moment as news hasn’t got out yet. She’s yet to announce it beyond close family, right? But her and Theo, and her parents, are very aware that this child is prophesied as the ultimate leader of Withernsea. The most powerful supernatural ever. There are going to be a few folks not so happy with that idea.”
“I never thought. Poor Shelley. It’s bad enough dealing with morning sickness when you’re drinking blood—seriously, it’s like the exorcist or something—but to have people want to harm you and your baby? That just doesn’t bear thinking about.”
“Which is why she has an earth angel hanging around. So, if it’s okay I need to stay around here a while. Well, between here and the coffee shop. If there was a spare unit I’d look at renting a space because I’m putting together Frankie’s encyclopaedia of all the supernatural species while I’m between angel duties. I’m just reading through the first chapter now.” She picked up the eReader and shook it at me. “He’s in his element putting this together and learning so much about all the different kinds of supernatural beings.”
“Just stay there a moment. I need to have a word with Shelley about something. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ve no intention of going anywhere but it’s kind of you to make the gesture.” Lucy picked the eReader back up. “I’ll be leaving at 4pm when Frankie is due up though, because he’s due up if you catch my drift and I’m going to oblige him.”
I shuddered at the thought. Lunch could wait. It was even worse given that he was my ex because my mental image of him with Lucy was a little too vivid given our past. I knew she was guaranteed a good time and didn’t blame the woman for going home promptly. But still, I didn’t need to know he was an alarm cock so to speak.
I wandered through to Shelley’s office. “Hey, you got a minute?”
“Ooh sounds serious. Sure, sit down.”
“Lucy’s here again. She has earth angel shit to do and needs to be around. Do you think if I got the staff room emptied of the junk in it, she could go in there? We don’t use it and she has the money to pay a monthly rental. Also, she has spare time when she’s not earth angeling. She’s got managers in at Red’s now because she wants to spend her evenings concentrating on Frankie’s meat and two veg instead of any at the steakhouse. I was thinking she could learn the ropes and cover your maternity leave?”
Shelley raised her eyebrows and shot me a questioning gaze. “Do you think she’d be up for that?”
“I don’t know. I thought I’d sound you out first, but she’s typing up Frankie’s manuscript which means she’s learning all about supernaturals. God, what if she ends up better at my job than I am? Please don’t sack me when she’s awesome!”
“She might end up awesome at knowing things, but as an employee I think she’d be even harder to control than you are. Can you see me setting her regular hours? She got damn selfish spending all those years in Hell. She’s getting better now she’s with Frankie and has lost the demon horns, but she’s a way to go with developing her good side. I mean she set my office on fire last year.”
“Yeah but that’s when she was evil and she can’t flick fire out of her fingers anymore.”
“Oh yeah? Have you checked her handbag? She’s started carrying lighters… and she doesn’t smoke.”
“Do you think Angel Sophia was having a mental breakdown when she gave Lucy this job?”
“I trust our celestial beings know what they are doing. I have enough to think about down here, never mind up there.”
“Of course. How’s your training going?”
“My father feels we need to meet more regularly now with the baby coming. Now Satan has been replaced by a new version it means that other supernaturals are likely to descend on Withernsea, not believing I am a worthy opponent while pregnant. They’ll try to use my pregnancy to their advantage in gaining control. It might be worth keeping an eye out for any strange applications to the dating agency as gaining an interview here would give them direct access to me.”
“That’s true. Listen, if Lucy comes on board, we will vet all the new applications and do all the interviews. You can focus on the rest of the work.”
“Appreciated. Being pregnant with a vampire’s baby is hard enough without all the stress of the ruler of Withernsea crap.”
“And how is the Daddy-to-be?”
“Smothering. Thank goodness he has to sleep during the day and also that he doesn’t need to breathe, or I might be smothering him too—with a pillow.”
I laughed. “Right, I’m going to go back and see if Withernsea dating is recruiting a new employee. Can we afford it?”
“Sure, I have a rich vampire husband anyway to fall back on if things get tight while I have the baby.”
“I think things are likely to get loose.” I quipped.
“Yeah well, I’ll be doing Kegels daily don’t you worry about that. I’ve got to keep my vampire lover happy for many, many years. Hey actually that’s another point in the favour of being turned before the birth. I’d keep my tight vajayjay.”
“I thought you weren’t interested in being turned? That you wanted to wait until after the birth?”
Shelley fiddled with a paperclip on her desk. “I’ve been speaking to the medics at the Caves and there’s no risk to the baby. In fact I’d probably be a healthier mum if I was turned. It’s just the whole feeling like I have the flu, dying, agonising thirst thing that’s putting me off.”
“I don’t know why, that was your every Friday and Saturday night pre-Theo.”
“Ha-ha.”
“Lucy? I have a proposition for you.”
The eReader went onto her lap again and she sighed. “I knew this would happen. That you wouldn’t be able to accept me and Frankie together. I’m sorry but I don’t swing that way, I already told Maisie this. So no. No threesomes.”
“Eww.” I actually did gag. “That’s not it.”
“God, you are so dramatic. If I did swing that way you’d be thoroughly satisfied and begging for more, so drop the norovirus look.”
I shook my head as if I could dislodge her thoughts from my mind. “God, I’m starting to regret my looking out for you now.” I told her. “Now get up and come follow me.”
She sighed but stood and followed me out of the room and across the small landing. I pushed open the door to our staff room. It was a small room with a table and four chairs, sink, kettle, cupboards, and boxes full of crap that needed sorting out—mostly electronic equipment that had broken and it had been easier to just dump it. We’d not used the staff room as we had Jax’s below. Jax’s coffee and doughnuts were legendary.
“What is it you’re showing me? The world record for dust bunnies? There’s a whole fucking warren in here. You need pest control.” She sneezed.
“This potentially is your new office. We could work through the boxes together. I’m sure betwe
en you and Shelley you could come up with a redecorating budget. Jax’s brother would do a good deal on it. It would give you an office of your own and also, if you want it, there’s a job to go with it.”
“I’m not going to be your cleaner. Just because you’re a filthy whore.”
“I’m sure your ex could vouch for that fact but no that’s not it, you ungrateful cow. Now shut it and listen up before I change my mind and just lock you in here.”
“Fine.”
“You’re here all day, and your earth angel duties are intermittent, right?”
“Correct.”
“So you’re helping Frankie put his guide together…”
“Also correct.”
“Shelley needs someone to cover her maternity leave so our proposition is why don’t you work for us freelance? You can use the office and juggle Frankie’s guide, earth angel duties, and working for the agency. You’d be helping me interview potential new clients. Plus, with you working on the guide, it would be fantastic to have your expertise on all the supes. You’re bound to learn all about them as you put the guide together.”
“I would have to ask Frankie if I could share his work with you, given that he is going to make a living from this masterpiece.”
“How much will his guide be?”
“Four dollars ninety-nine a month to access his database. A complete bargain.”
“Then sign me up as an early-adopter.”
She squealed and clapped. It was more scary than anything she’d ever shown me as a demon. “His first client. He’ll be so pleased.”
“So what do you think? Do you want to rent this room and work for the agency?”
“Yes. That would be fantastic. Would you be okay if I set up CCTV in here? I want to be able to keep an eye on Shelley and on the coffee shop.”
“Is this legal?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“I never heard you ask. Keep it in a lockable cupboard and if you ever grass on me I will paint your office red, turn the heat up full blast and be such a damn cow to you, you’d think you were back in Hell.”
Hate, Date, or Mate? (Supernatural Dating Agency Book 3) Page 2