by J. L. McCoy
Chapter Eighteen
“What the hell is this?” he asked, looking to Quinn for answers. “I don’t understand.”
Emrick stopped me fours steps from the bottom and would not allow me to get any closer. “Hey, handsome,” I smiled and tried for normal. “’Bout time you came to see me again.”
“’Bout time you showed up, toots,” he growled unhappily. “You weren’t here when I came yesterday. What the fuck did you let those blood suckers do to you?”
“Lower your voice, wolf,” Quinn growled lowly. “If you want to discuss this, chill the temper and use your inside voice when you speak. We are in the company of humans.”
Dean seemed to remember where he was and angrily jerked his head once, showing he understood. “Tell me,” he said under his breath but I could hear him perfectly, even over the driving industrial beat.
“It’s not what you think,” I said just as softly. “I didn’t choose this but it was either this or the final death.” I quickly gave him the condensed version of what happened and he paled considerably.
“Jesus Christ,” he whispered, his face disgusted.
“Don’t you dare look at me like that, Dic,” I seethed, my eyes narrowed in anger as I jabbed my finger in his direction. “I’m the exact same person now as I was when you met me.”
“Ironic, isn’t it? Those are the same words I said to you when you found out what I was.”
“Yes, it is,” I sighed as I crossed my arms over my chest. “But the question is: are you going to make the same mistake I did and turn your back on me now? I can’t change what happened. This is who I am now. Take me or leave me, Dean, but I hope you take me. I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
Dean raked his hands through his hair and looked down at his feet. I was having a hard time gauging his emotions because they were wild at best. He was silent a long time and I thought maybe he wasn’t going to answer me. Finally, he lifted his head and looked me in the eyes. I noted the pain behind his now.
“My species does not freely associate with yours, Skye,” he whispered, looking defeated and upset. “It’s been this way since the dawning of time. We are each other’s natural enemies.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” I shook my head, softly pleading with him. “Just because that’s the way it’s been done in the past doesn’t mean we can’t change it for the future. I want you in my life, Dean. You’re my friend and I know I’m yours… I know you care about me. Don’t throw that away over something like this. I deeply regretted when I walked away from you after I found out you were a werewolf. If you walk away from me today, I know you will too.”
“It’s not that simple,” he frowned.
“Yes, it is,” I argued stubbornly.
“No, it’s not,” he argued back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Yes. It. IS,” I stomped my foot childishly. “Don’t make me come down there and hug you, Dean Ian Cruz, because I will.”
Dean stared at me a moment and then burst out laughing. “You’re still adorable when you’re angry… even as a blood sucker. And, you’d give my mother a run for her money using my full name to drive your point. God, I hate it when she does that.”
“You’ve met MY mother, right?” I laughed along with him. He nodded his head and I smiled down at him and waited patiently for his answer. I hoped he could look past the species barrier and continue to see the person I was deep down.
“Fuck me, toots,” he sighed, running his hand through his hair again. “This isn’t going to go over well with my pack.”
“Well I’m a big girl, honey. I can handle a little anger thrown my way. Who knows, maybe they’ll come around.”
Dean chuckled humorlessly and shook his head. “Not likely.”
“Well then that’s my problem, isn’t it? Don’t make it yours, babe. I can handle it.”
He sighed and shook his head. “You just don’t take no for an answer, do you?”
“Nope,” I smiled, biting my bottom lip. “Friends?”
He studied me a few long moments and then shook his head again. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?” he smiled, his deep dimples on full display.
“You don’t know the half of it, honey,” I smiled back. “When I have my mind set on something, no one is going to change it. So… friends?”
He sighed again as he smiled and shook his head. “We’ll give it a try, but I can’t promise anything.”
“I knew you couldn’t hate me,” I teased with a bright smile.
“You make it damn near impossible, toots,” he chuckled and held his arms out. “Come here and give me a hug.”
I moved to step down and Emrick stopped me. “No touching.”
“What are you, my prison warden?” I scoffed and shook his arm off. “Step off, Em. You know Dean would never hurt me.”
“Things change, Skye,” he whispered in my ear. “The rules of the game are different now. Wolves and vampires are enemies, no matter what you two may say. You can’t change centuries of history.”
I stood back from him and raised my eyebrows in surprise. I think that had been the longest I’d ever heard him speak. Emrick was famously a man of few words. “I don’t care, Em. I am going to be the change I want to see. How else can we expect a different outcome? Step aside. I’m doing this whether you like it or not. It’s my choice, not yours. And take a good look around. We are smack in the middle of the busiest club in Austin. Even if Dean had less than honest intentions, he wouldn’t try something around this many witnesses. Now move, love.”
Emrick growled at me unhappily then turned to Dean. “Just a hug and then she gets back upstairs. If you want to see her again, you talk to Archer first.”
I wanted to argue with him, but it was pointless. I’d take it up with Archer later. I wasn’t going to let anyone dictate who I could and could not see, even now that I was no longer human and a member of Archer’s family. I had always been my own person and always would be.
Dean looked like he wanted to say something to Emrick too, but I caught his gaze and shook my head. He silenced whatever he was about to say and I stepped down and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Thank you for trying,” I whispered as I hugged him tightly to me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and rubbed up and down my back. “Thank you for not taking no for an answer, toots. This isn’t going to be easy for us, but I promise I’ll try.” Dean turned his head into my neck and growled softly. “You smell like a fucking vampire.”
I pulled back with a chuckle and lightly swatted his arm. “Hey! Don’t hate. I smell awesome and you know it. I’m wearing the new fragrance by D & G.”
He winked at me and then pursed his lips a bit. “This is kind of weird now; you know, with you being a vampire and all.”
I sighed and grabbed his hand. “It’s only weird if you allow it to be, honey. Look past the color of my eyes and see the person I am. Nothing has really changed.”
He sighed too and tried to look like the weight of the world hadn’t just fallen on his shoulders. “So, I guess skydiving is out this weekend?”
I frowned and nodded my head. “Unfortunately. Rain check?”
“Sounds good, babe,” he said, patting my hand with his free one. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. I could see how hard my new condition was going to be for him. “I’ll let you get back to work I guess. I’m in desperate need of a beer now. I’m going to go to the bar and drown my sorrows over the girl who got away.”
“Dean,” I whispered, my brow crinkling with sympathy and sadness. I knew he liked me but I didn’t know he liked me that way. “Don’t say that; I’m still here as your friend. And just FYI, you should know I’m a pretty shitty girlfriend. Consider yourself lucky you were able to dodge that bullet. Trust m-”
“You’re totally fucking clueless, you know that?” Dean asked, cutting me off as he stared at me hard, confusion painting his face. “Why is it you can’t see how amazing y
ou are, Skye? I’ve never met anyone more willing to see the bad in theirself than the good.”
I bit my bottom lip and looked down at my hands. What could I say to him to make him understand? I had gotten my stalker ex killed and decapitated and I had ripped out and stomped on poor Jameson’s heart. I was like a Pandora’s Box; open me up and prepare for destruction. “There’s more to me than meets the eye, that’s all I’m trying to say.”
“I know there is,” Dean smiled and then winked at me. “Why do you think I put up with you? Call me Saturday morning and I’ll come pick you up on the way out to the jump site.”
I agreed and gave him one last hug before watching him turn and cut his way through the crowd toward the bar.
“Archer’s going to love that,” Quinn chuckled, drawing my attention to him.
“Love what?”
“He’s going to love that you’re still friends with Dean,” Quinn smirked sarcastically.
“I’m going to love kicking your butt if you don’t start minding your own business, you big brat,” I teased as I lightly hit him on the shoulder before turning and heading back upstairs.
Archer caught my eye once I was behind the bar and I smiled at him, letting him know everything was okay. I worried a little how Archer was going to take my continued friendship with Dean, but told myself he’d just have to understand. I may not have known Dean long, but that didn’t matter; we were good friends and I was determined to keep him in my life.
The rest of the night passed quickly and I began cleaning up as soon as the patrons started filing out. Lochlan and I counted down the till, sorted all the credit card receipts, and made note of which blood types we needed to stock for tomorrow’s shift. Once the dancers were gone for the night, Archer escorted me downstairs to the first floor bar.
“So, how was your first night in VIP?” Trey asked as I sat down on the barstool beside him.
“Really good,” I smiled. “Tips are so much better up there.”
“Tell me about it,” Aoife grumbled as she held up her nearly empty tip jar.
“You know,” Hunter chuckled, “you’d make more if you didn’t scare the hell out of the men. You can’t threaten to cut their balls off every time they flirt with you.”
“Aoife!” Trey gasped and then tsked. “You’ll catch more flies with honey, sugar, than you will with all that vinegar you’ve got running through those veins of yours.”
“Ooh,” Quinn laughed loudly. “Burn!”
“Well if human boys weren’t such sensitive little babies, maybe they’d learn to take rejection better.”
“Aoife, you can’t be mean to people,” I shook my head and chuckled. “And believe it or not, you can be down-right frightening at times. It’s no wonder you didn’t make any money. Customer service is an art form. You have to schmooze and smile, wink and play along.”
“I tried,” she sighed. “The barback you hired… Ducky? He just kept getting in my way and annoying me all night. My pheromones turned him into a clingy, clumsy, drooling fool.”
“Oh no,” I shook my head. “Please tell me you didn’t threaten to castrate him too?”
We all started laughing when she looked at us with a frown that said she had indeed done just that.
“I’ll split my tips with you tonight.” I offered but she shooed it away with her hand. “It’s the least I can do for taking you away from VIP.”
“Keep your money. I’ve got plenty.”
Footsteps sounded at the front entrance, drawing everyone’s attention away from the conversation. Ruarc and his Army, An Dilis, had arrived for our meeting. I suddenly felt anxious and started fidgeting with my hands. Archer came up behind my stool and wrapped one arm around the front of my neck, pulling my back to rest against his chest. I reached up and stroked his arm lightly, thankful for his comforting presence. I was nervous to find out what their plan was to catch Amun before he started killing my family and friends.
“Miss Morrison,” Ruarc nodded his head to me in greeting before he did the same to Archer.
“I’m glad you could meet us here,” Archer smiled, shaking his hand. “Would you and your men like something to drink?”
“That’s very kind, brother, but we cannot stay long,” Ruarc said as he and his men took a seat at the bar.
Oleif’s towering figure caught my eye and I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him. Even though I walked away with my life and was grateful for it, I still loathed how Oleif had treated me. He stared at me silently for a few seconds and I thought he was going to say something, but he turned his attention back to Ruarc.
“I sought the council of our leader and Cardinal Flanagan this evening,” Ruarc started. “Both are in agreement. We must use whatever tools we are afforded to finally catch this vile being. That being said, Miss Morrison will be given a team made up of our finest soldiers and trackers. Amun is here in the city, that much we know. We also know he isn’t planning on leaving until he has what he wants, and that is Miss Morrison. Starting tomorrow morning she and our team will begin scouring the city for him. We’ll find him. He wants her bad enough and I think that’s where he is most likely to make a mistake.”
“Um,” I interjected, raising my hand, “he said I had better be wearing the dress and the ring he left for me when I come looking for him. I can’t go running around town in a freakin’ wedding dress and combat boots with swords and daggers strapped to me. I’ll look absolutely ridiculous! Not to mention all the attention it’ll attract.”
“I agree,” Ruarc nodded. “I’m not in the business of making Amun happy; I just want to kill him. Forgo the dress but wear the ring. If he sees it on you, he’ll know you made an effort and be more likely to walk into our traps. And, I hate to tell you this, but you will be unarmed tomorrow.”
“No,” I said at the same time Archer and a few others voiced their concerns.
“Yes,” Ruarc said sternly. “If he sees you armed to the hilt, he won’t approach you. You need to look as if you are agreeing to go with him, Miss Morrison. It is the only way we are going to catch him.”
“I at least take my dagger or the deal is off,” I clenched my teeth. I didn’t want to be within a mile of Amun and be weaponless. The torture I endured at his hands was still painfully fresh in my mind. I knew what he was capable of and there was no way in hell I’d hunt him with no way to defend myself.
Ruarc was silent for a long moment, and then he nodded his head once. “Fine, but the weapon stays hidden beneath your clothing.”
“Fine,” I sighed. I’d agree as long as I wasn’t defenseless. “But since we’re making concessions, I have one. I want Dean and his pack to help track.”
“No,” Ruarc said, shutting me down immediately.
“Yes,” I countered. “It was only because of him and his wolves that I was found in that basement in east Austin and rescued. No offense, but you guys haven’t been able to find Amun in the four weeks since I was taken. It took Dean and his wolves a whole day to find him. I don’t have any time to waste here. I have seven days or he starts killing my family. If my best friend dies because you are too stubborn and prideful to accept help, you’ll have two pissed off ‘creatures’ to deal with instead of one.”
“You dare threaten our leader?!” Oleif bellowed and stood from his stool.
“It’s not a threat, it’s a fact,” I said calmly.
Oleif growled and flashed towards me, but was forced to stop a few feet from me when he crashed into Ruarc.
“You will control your temper, soldier. Do I make myself clear?”
I stared at Ruarc, surprised that he stopped Oleif. After all, Oleif was only defending him. Ruarc spoke quickly to him in Irish Gaelic and Oleif settled down and reluctantly returned to his chair.
“Oleif does not like you, Miss Morrison,” Ruarc said, turning back to me.
“Oh, shoot,” I sighed and sarcastically pouted toward Oleif. “I guess that means I won’t be getting an invitation to his next Tupperware
party. Damn.”
“Don’t poke the bear, Morrison,” Hagan growled and I shot him a look that screamed ‘why do you have to take the fun out of everything?’
Ruarc sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. He looked like an overly stressed out parent ready to snap on their unruly children.
“Fine,” he huffed after a long pause. “IF the wolf agrees to help you he can. BUT, he is to stay far away from me and my men. He runs perimeter and that’s it. He speaks to you and only you. I will not put up with him or his pups; do I make myself perfectly clear?”
“Crystal, sir,” I smiled, thankful he gave in. I would feel more comfortable if Dean was there helping. I knew Dean cared about me and wouldn’t let anything happen to me on his watch. It’s not that I didn’t trust The Faithful, because I did, I just didn’t trust them to do what was in my best interests. They had their agenda and I had mine. Mine was keeping me safe and killing Amun. Theirs was just to kill Amun.
“Fearchar, I’d like to borrow the Sword of Saint Patrick if I may,” Ruarc said, addressing Archer next.
“Of course,” Archer bowed respectfully to Ruarc. “I just ask that it is returned when Amun is finally killed and that you keep it far away from Skye.”
“Why does he have to keep it away from me?” I asked, confused.
“Because I fear it is the only thing that can truly kill you,” Archer looked at me with pain in his eyes. I had heard before that the sword was supposed to kill all unholy things but the fact he said it could kill me sent a chill through my entire body. Was I, in fact, unholy? Did Archer truly see me that way?
“I swear to you she will be safe while the sword is in An Dilis’s hands, Fearchar,” Ruarc bowed his head and put his right fist to his heart. He then turned to me. “I’ll be here at 0800 to pick you up. Call your wolf. If he agrees to assist, and agrees to my terms, he needs to be here by that time too. I won’t wait for him if he’s late.”
I silently nodded my head. My mind was still trying to wrap itself around the idea that I may be an unholy creation. Do they all see me that way?