“I’m told they don’t think I’ll turn into one.”
“So am I. I’d love to come to you, but since I’ve been seen in public as this guy’s girlfriend, replacing me will be difficult. I’m trying to work out a solution, but—”
“No. I’m fine. Talking to you is enough. Is Kenny okay?”
“Yes. So’s Patrick. Horse and Gabby are in hiding somewhere, Viper’s fine, and Aaron’s running Drake while Nathan’s gone.”
My insides relaxed a little more. “Thanks.” I pushed some energy towards her, and felt her push some back to me.
“I’m glad you called. I need to go, but I’ll call you tomorrow when I wake.”
“Be safe.”
“You too.”
I disconnected and put Bran’s phone on the table. “Any chance I can get a crash course in how to parse the smells I pick up when I have your blood in me?”
“You know how to differentiate between a lie and the truth, you know what the three kinds of vampires smell like, and the major shifters. What else do you need to know?”
“I hear Nathan and Aaron talking about what they pick up in a crowded area, and I can’t separate the scents enough to figure out what I’m smelling.”
“That comes with time, I think.”
“Usually, Madeline has come in by now, and whisks me off so I can do my hair and makeup.”
“Madeline is on loan to one of my European counterparts for a few months.”
I stared at him, speechless. He’d started having feelings for her and I knew he wasn’t comfortable with that, but I couldn’t believe he’d loaned her out.
He crossed his arms. “Don’t start. You know how I feel about being psychoanalyzed. She understood I needed to favor some political points, and she offered to go. He’s visited here, and she knew what she was in for. She’ll be gone from six to nine months, and when she returns we’ll discuss whether she’s ready to move out, or whether she wishes to remain with me.”
“I’d like to talk to her when she comes back. You know I’ll be respectful, but she’s going to need someone to unload some shit to, and you know it.”
“Perhaps. No promises, but if I think she needs someone to talk to, you’ll be first on the list.”
That was as good as I was going to get. “Okay then, where do I go to do my hair and makeup? Also, you were going to get me some clothes?”
“Clothes and makeup are on their way. Only my most trusted guards know you’re here, along with Ferguson and Fluffy. I’ll ask you not to go into the wing with my flock, and they’ve been told to stay out of the main house. It’s important no one knows you’re here. I’d just as soon not have to deal with the mists in my home.”
I nodded. He was giving me refuge, but he was trying to keep an all-out battle from happening in his mansion. Totally understandable.
“Thank you for saving my life — again — and for housing me while I recover.”
Someone knocked on the door, opened it an inch, and then all the way.
“Ferguson! It’s good to see you again!”
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Miss. Fluffy asked me to find out what you’d like to eat. Master Bran said you requested an egg sandwich?”
“Yes, and ginger tea would be lovely, but iced, not hot, pretty please.” He settled a small train case on the coffee table in front of me, and a garment bag over the foot of the bed. “I picked out several options, based on what I’ve seen you wearing. If you aren’t happy with my selections, let me know.”
He bowed low, and closed the door on his way out.
I opened the train case and smiled. Makeup, a hairbrush, a flat iron, and the right kind of hair products to tame my frizzy mess without having to wash it and start from scratch.
“Someone bathed me while I was out.”
“A trusted member of my staff with medical expertise.”
I rubbed my hand over my shin. “Yeah, but they shaved me, too. That’s kind of weird.”
“Your necklace shrank in size so they couldn’t take it off. When they’d stop trying, it would grow longer to give you more room to breathe. When they again tried to take it off, it shrank back to the size of a choker once more.”
I touched it. I’d been thankful they’d left it on, but apparently that hadn’t been the game plan. “For whatever reason, it’s choosing to stay with me, and I’m grateful.”
“How many people know you have Freyja's necklace?”
I sighed. It wasn’t surprising Bran had figured it out. “Mordecai, Aaron, and Cora. Now you. Also, the person who gave it to me, and, ummm, another ancient god.” I touched it again. “How did you know what it is?”
“I didn’t, but there are only a few magical necklaces with that kind of intelligence. It was an educated guess, which you’ve confirmed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, okay. Lesson learned. Thanks for teaching it to me, but please don’t share what you know.”
“I’m obligated to report it to the Concilio.”
My insides turned to stone. Cold, cold, stone. I realized I’d stopped breathing, and I tried to draw a breath without it being noticeable I’d stopped.
“But you haven’t?”
“Not yet.”
I nodded. “I won’t ask you not to, I’ll merely point out we can’t be sure who’s running things on the dark side, and there’s a good chance whoever it is…” Crap. “Okay, look. The person who owns Gabby’s dad is either on the Concilio or a really close friend to someone who is, and there’s apparently reason to believe he’s the lead bad guy. You need to follow your own moral code, and I get that, but I’m asking you to look at everything closely before you make a decision.”
When the old ones give you an appraising look, it’s different. For a few moments, I felt like a toddler in the presence of a college teacher, peeling back my skull to peer into my brain. However, I held eye contact and refused to let him make me feel less than. I honestly don’t think it was his intention, anyway.
Finally, he said, “Tell me what you know of Gabby’s father.”
“Dwight Lepori. One of the worst serial killers ever, and that’s just for his known kills, which are only a small percentage of his actual body count, since he could move from one side of the planet to the other in hours, and it was impossible to prove he did them all without explaining how one goes to Faerie, teleports to another portal, and then exits back into this realm within minutes when it would take more than a day to fly between the two locations.”
“And?”
“He was found guilty and put on death row, but the Concilio arranged for an escape because they couldn’t take the risk of him changing into a two-hundred-pound rabbit in prison. The Concilio sentenced him to permanent slavery and sold him to someone capable of housing him without a chance of escape.”
“They sentenced him to two centuries of slavery, and leased him for one hundred years. The Concilio still owns him.”
That was new. Bran and Abbott never share this kind of information without a damned good reason.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’m beginning to believe Sophia is correct, and that we put you in danger by not sharing certain information with you. If his owner has gone to the dark side, and if that owner uses him in a way his contract says he cannot, the Concilio can revoke the lease.”
“Please tell me Gabby isn’t helping hunt her father.”
“I don’t believe that’s the case. He hasn’t escaped, to my knowledge. If he’s part of the killings, he’s doing it on command.”
“If he’s doing it on command, she’s still after him.”
He started to argue, and I said it for him. “The owner’s the one legally doing it since he’s giving the commands, so she’s technically after his owner, but you know what I mean.”
He nodded. “That’s a valid statement.”
“I need to know more about the Concilio laws concerning slaves, don’t I?”
“Unfortunately, I’m
not at liberty to help you with that, but you’re acquainted with someone who can tell you everything you wish to know.”
A quick scan of who he might be talking about gave me the answer, and I groaned inside. “Ryan.”
He tilted his head ever so slightly to acknowledge I was right, and I rolled my eyes. “He gives me the serious creeps.”
“Why do you believe you have this reaction to him?”
I blew out a breath. “He isn’t human, but he supposedly comes off as human to most people, so that shouldn’t be it. I’ve been trained to recognize sociopathy, though, and he seriously worries me.”
“I would posit that getting to know you has brought some humanity into his life.”
I must’ve looked confused, because he explained, “Ryan was raised by slayers, within a community of slayers. His days are spent hunting rogue supernaturals. He questions human families about what they’ve seen, but that’s been his main source of contact with humans, other than ordering food in a restaurant, or checking in and out of hotels. Why do you think he took such an interest in you and Lauren?”
“Because he thinks I’m going to turn bad, and he’s figuring out how best to kill me when that happens.”
“That was almost certainly his original impetus, but I believe it evolved.”
I shook my head. We needed to get back on topic. “Okay, so I’ll ask him about the slave thing. Please tell me you didn’t send Madeline to this guy.”
He sat back and crossed his arms, and I shook my head. “Fuck, Bran.”
“I didn’t say whether I did or did not. Please don’t jump to conclusions.”
“You either sent her to him or to someone worse. I can tell by your body language.”
He chuckled. “Humans can’t usually read me. I assure you, she went for her own reasons. No matter how much it helped me politically, I’d have never sent her if I didn’t understand why she wished to go.”
“I believe you, but I’d still like an opportunity to talk to her when she returns. If you think she’d benefit from an office visit, I can arrange for it even though I don’t technically have an office these days. If we just need to have dinner together, that can work as well. Or, if she needs some time to be herself with supervision, she can stay with Cora and me. I’m assuming we’ll be set up so we can handle longer-term guests by then.”
“How are things coming with that?”
“I’m excited, and so is Cora. It’s a huge responsibility, but we’re ready for it.”
A door I’d never noticed opened, and Ferguson stood in the doorway without his suit jacket, and with a folded towel over one arm. “Shall I shave you now, Sir?”
Bran stood, still naked, nodded to me, and walked to Ferguson. “Yes. I’d like to wear the charcoal pinstriped suit this evening, and perhaps the lavender shirt? I’ll let you choose the tie.”
I could see into the room, and Bran appeared to get the total royal treatment — hot towel on his face, straight razor, everything. Ferguson also shaved his privates, which had me shuddering. Bran really trusted his butler.
Meanwhile, the train case opened to a large mirror, and the lighting was fine to do my makeup. The case included a variety of earth tones suited for the skin of a redhead, and I had no problem finding exactly what I needed. The flat-iron was a super-fancy one, and it tamed my crazy hair in no time flat.
The pocket of the garment bag held sexy underwear and four matching bras in different sizes, and the main compartment sported four pairs of pants and six shirts. I ended up in dark green leggings, and a flowy, silky, tie-dyed tunic in deep greens and navy blues. My choices spanned from jeans to a suit, but I opted for something in the middle.
I’d worn tan boots the day before, had they been salvaged? There was a lot of blood, but Bran’s people had mysterious ways of removing bloodstains.
The outfit called for black boots, though. Or perhaps navy.
A pen and pad were on my nightstand, and I sat and doodled while I considered how I might smooth things over with Abbott. My doodle was a long, snaky bullwhip, but I chose it because I needed the concentration necessary to draw the braids into it. It was both fussy and mindless, so my thoughts could wander while I doodled.
Bran, however, tried to read more into it. “You need pain?”
I looked up to see him in the charcoal suit and lavender shirt he’d requested, and a tie that set it all off beautifully.
“No. Just doodling. Tell me more about how honey badgers are made?”
“They’re born and are rarely made — surviving a honey badger bite is a fucking miracle. Their instincts are to tear and rip and keep at it without stopping, and most don’t give a fuck about anyone or anything, so the motivation to bite once and stop isn’t there. However, even when a human survives the bite, most can’t make it back to human after their first change. They become a honey badger, and not a shifter.”
“Fuck.”
“We don’t believe you’re going to change. My guess is there’s less than a five to ten percent chance. You’d lost a lot of blood and were close to death. We gave you transfusions of both human blood and Lugat, which means you’ll be at risk of turning into one of my kind for perhaps a month, instead of just a few days.”
“Thank you, again, for saving me.”
“You came to one of the few places with the equipment and supplies readily available.” He looked at a wall clock. “Come, let’s go to the living room and prepare for Abbott’s arrival.”
“If you were in my position, what route would you take to smooth things over with the hard-headed vampire?”
“You’re smart enough not to apologize for something you aren’t sorry for, but if you can find something you truly do regret, an apology for that will go a long way.”
I considered my options and nodded. “Thank you. That helps.”
I had an idea of how to patch things up, but I’d had no clue how to start. Now I did.
Someone had brought an egg sandwich while I’d put my makeup on, so I wasn’t hungry, but was happy when Ferguson offered me another glass of iced ginger tea.
I was still processing the fact Bran’s butler shaves him everywhere with a straight razor and also threads around his eyebrows. I’d thought of him as a glorified servant and greeter, and I was having to re-categorize him in my head. He’d almost casually handled Bran’s dick and balls while he shaved them. Should the person who shaves your balls really be the person serving you drinks? I mean, there was no reason he shouldn’t, but…
My thoughts were interrupted by the chime letting us know someone had pulled up to the front door. Deliveries go to the side door, so Bran only hears the chime when someone arrives to see him.
“Are you ready?”
I nodded. “Do I smell nervous?”
“Nervous edging towards scared.”
I breathed in and centered. If Abbott were going to hurt me, he wouldn’t do it here. I was safe. Probably.
“Better?”
“Much. I’ll stay seated so you can stand and greet him properly.”
11
Ferguson brought Abbott into the room, and I stood and walked to him with my hand out, offering it for a handshake.
“Abbott. I’m glad we’re getting an opportunity to speak without an audience. I’m truly sorry events have transpired to put us at odds with each other. I respect you and your authority, and I regret the animosity recent events have created.”
We stood two feet away from each other, and I held eye contact and didn’t drop my hand, despite the fact he wasn’t accepting the offer of a handshake.
I waited until I saw he’d made a decision and wasn’t going to shake my hand before I finally dropped it.
“I didn’t want to kill him. I found another way. I hope you can come to terms with that, eventually. I’m truly sorry we’re at odds.”
He walked around me and sat in a chair opposite Bran, as if I didn’t matter. “You neglected to mention you have a houseguest. The supernatural world a
ssumes she disappeared with Mordecai.”
“She arrived in my dungeon nearly dead. Her heart stopped beating a few times while we gave her human blood as quickly as possible in an effort to keep her from turning Lugat. We succeeded. Now, we watch her to be sure she doesn’t turn into a honey badger.”
I saw a gamut of emotions wash over Abbott’s face. Anger, worry, frustration, and back to anger. Finally, he looked at me. “I’m faced with the reminder your death would sadden me. If you were trapped in the body of a honey badger and unable to come back to us, I’d do everything in my power to bring you back. This doesn’t negate the fact you’ve brought serious harm to someone I love, but…” He looked to Bran. “You’ve always been good at bridging distances between people. I’m glad you saved her, old friend.”
“Even if you can’t get past your personal anger, our side needs her.”
“How long will you allow her to hide here?”
“Nathan and Duke will be here in an hour. You’re welcome to stay and discuss strategy. Nathan can house her, but he feels she’ll be more comfortable staying with the bikers. I’m happy to keep her here, but we’re trying to give her options so she doesn’t feel the need to escape.”
With Horse and Gabby involved, the RTMC would jump into action, which was why Duke was coming.
I was still worried about a certain god-of-war, though. “When I’m strong enough, I’ll need to find Mordecai.”
Abbott met my gaze again. “The mists can’t intrude in the basement and certain areas upstairs here, or at the biker’s compound, or at Nathan’s. My home is another possibility, as is Randall’s home and some of his grounds.”
“Cora and I had planned to build a pavilion instead of paying for the obfuscation spell, but it sounds as if we should possibly spring for the full monty.”
“These situations arise more than one might think, but you couldn’t go home now even if the protections were in place.”
Right, because people were likely watching for me to go to both our old and new homes. I’d arrived at Bran’s without anyone knowing because I’d landed in the dungeon.
I shook my head. “I’ll put anyone who hides me in danger. I can’t stay here, I don’t want to put the bikers at risk, and I’m certain Nathan doesn’t want me at his house.”
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