by Honor James
“I did a shopping trip after my meeting.” Ax’s deep voice filled the car. “Unless she has specific cravings, we should be good for a few days at least.”
“No not really. I am actually pretty easy,” she said with a grin. “And yes, I can cook.” She spoke into the car’s microphone. “So if you aren’t able to cook, you don’t have to worry about it, because I really can. I had to learn to cook for my disease so that I didn’t kill myself in the process,” she teased, mostly.
“I can cook, I just don’t bother any longer,” Artaxias’s voice told them. “I used to make meals for Gav when he was little, but once he was older I stopped, since he was able to fend for himself one way or another.”
“Seriously?” Gavriel sounded shocked, and looked it, too, when she glanced over. “I didn’t know that.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know, pip, get used to it. I will always be older and wiser than you can ever hope to be. Which, if you don’t call your mother tonight, likely won’t be beyond the dawn. She’s pissing me off with the four hundred messages a day. So be a good little snotbag and call her. Because if she asks me to kill you, I just might. For free,” Ax snarled before disconnecting the line.
Lilly laughed and shook her head. “I really think that you need to call your mom. Why are you putting off calling her, anyway?” she asked with a frown. “She’s your mom, why in the world would you put off talking to her?”
“I just talked to her three days ago,” he muttered. “If she’s calling Artaxias without calling me, then that’s just plain bad news. It means she’s gearing up for a rant, since she knows that Ax won’t take her calls without a certain code put in.”
“Why would she be gearing up for a rant? I’m a little lost,” she admitted. Why would a mother rant at another when the son was right there? “Does she do that often? Get on Ax about something that you have done or something that she thinks you might have done?”
“Usually only when she’s drinking heavily and realizes that I’m wasting away my life protecting mere humans,” he said. Gavriel shook his head and gave a heavy sigh. “She thinks that I should be home, taking my place and ensuring that me and my mate pop out lots of children. She doesn’t know that Artaxias and I are fated for the same woman. And since you weren’t here yet, she doesn’t know about you either.”
“Oh boy.” Her eyes were wide at that pronouncement. “I’m sorry,” she said and reached out to touch her hand to his. “And what are you going to tell her about me?” she asked softly. “Or are you? I couldn’t blame you if you didn’t, because she would likely want to move things far faster than what we are moving, I would imagine.”
“I haven’t decided yet,” he admitted quietly. “I know if I tell her, then we’ll be in for a whirlwind of absolute hell. But if I don’t tell her and she finds out, hell will rain down on us all. I don’t know, I’ll have to take to Ax about this, and you, of course.”
“Are you and your mom estranged?” It sounded that way to her, but she didn’t want to say anything if they weren’t. “Why would she still be trying to run your life? You are old enough to make your own decisions, right?”
“I’m more than old enough, have been for a long time,” he said with a shrug. “She suffers from a mental disorder, it’s rare among my people, but it pops up now and again. It’s a lot like the disease you humans have, or rather had, dementia. Unfortunately, it’s something in the magic that causes it, there’s no rhyme or reason to it. It’s not genetic or hereditary. She’s completely clear for days, weeks on end, and then suddenly she goes off the deep end and starts to drink heavily. Then she starts treating me like I’m barely out of my short britches.”
“Oh heavens, that’s just not good.” She couldn’t imagine the heartbreak that he had. The feeling that he couldn’t do anything at all for his mother. “And there is nothing that you can do at all?” she asked softly. “I can’t even imagine how hard that is for you,” she whispered. “Is there anything that I can do to help you?”
“There’s nothing anyone can do. Because it’s rooted in the magic, it attacks on a level that all our advances in medicine can’t touch. Hopefully she’ll be lucid in a few days and able to talk rationally. It’s why Artaxias doesn’t take her calls without a code first. She can’t recall the code in this state, only when she’s lucid. But since she calls directly to the chip, it gives him a headache.” Gav gave her a small, sad smile. “She was amazing before the illness. Still rode me about finding my mate, but it was that fun way parents have of poking you and pointing out that they aren’t getting any younger. Now…” He shook his head and sighed.
“I’m so sorry.” Lilly felt for the large man. For both of them, actually. She didn’t know what she would do if she had someone she loved that was in that kind of position. “I wish that there was something that could be done for her.”
“We’re ever hopeful, but as of this moment”—he shot her a look—“the spells only last a few days, and then she’s fine again for a good stretch. I hired her a few ladies-in-waiting. They are actually medical professionals, but she thinks they are there to keep her company.”
“Well, I’m glad that you are proactive in getting her help. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but it seems as if you have pulled it off well. Hopefully, when she learns that you have found a mate, she will find some comfort in that?”
“You mean before she steamrollers you into the wedding of the millennia?” He grinned slightly. “Yeah, she’ll go through the roof and begin planning within thirty seconds of landing. But I can’t tell her anything without talking to Ax.” He leaned forward as he pulled up to a stop sign. “That building, right?” He pointed toward her place.
“Oh dear god, seriously? I don’t want a huge shindig. I really don’t. I don’t like huge crowds. I’m sorry, but I really think that I would not look good in hives, hyperventilating and passing out at your feet. I would really rather not do that, please.”
“Artaxias would likely be right there with you,” he said, pulling into an empty spot at the curb. Turning off the engine, he undid his belt and twisted in his seat to mostly face her. “I don’t want a big thing either, but my mother…” Gav rolled his eyes. “That woman gets something in her head, and it takes an act of the Gods to get her off course.”
“Well then she’s going to learn the Goddess Lilly.” Or she hoped. Damn, how the hell would they pull this off? “Maybe mating and then telling her?” she asked hopefully. “No, that would be mean…Crap,” she grumbled. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry about it for now. We’ll ask the professional sneak and see what he can come up with. He’s actually really good, but I suppose with as long as he’s been alive, he’s got plenty of experience.” He chuckled. “All right, let’s get up to your place and get some of your things.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s get up there and we will get my things. Hopefully we will figure it all out,” she prayed. “Because I truly do not want to have a large wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind getting married, but the idea of a wedding terrifies me.”
“I hear you there.” He shook his head. Getting out of the vehicle, they headed for the front door. “And we will figure it out, Lilly. Might not be tonight or any time soon, but we will. We’ll sit and talk about it all and see what we can come up with.”
“Good. I hope that you are right. I want to be able to get this all figured out before something bad happens. I need to be sure that we all have life figured out,” she said with a smile. “And I know with the two of you at my side we will figure it out. Now, enough of me talking in circles, how about we instead talk about something else? Any ideas?”
“Well, tell me all about you,” he suggested as they stepped inside. “What makes Lilly tick? What are Lilly’s favorite books, movies, and foods, and of course, her most favorite flower in the world? That last one is super important for when Lilly’s men, mainly me, fuck up and need to suck up.”
“I love
science fiction movies and books. As for food…” She had to think about that one and then grinned, “I love, and don’t laugh, but I love diner food. I really do. Greasy spoons, mom-and-pop places, I love it. And flowers.” Shrugging, she snickered, “I do not like lillies, at all, believe it or not. I truly hate them. I love daffodils, however.”
“Daffodils are nice, very bright and cheery.” He nodded. Stopping next to her at her door, he leaned against the wall. “I’m not entirely sure about your meaning of the diner food, but as long as you like it, I see nothing wrong with that. Your movies, though, I don’t fully understand. I get the concept that they are for entertainment, so many liberties are taken. But some of them are so far-fetched that I just cannot bear to watch them.”
“And that is what makes them fun to watch. It gives a person something else to dive into, something that is so far away from the norm. It’s good to simply lose yourself sometimes.” At least for her, it was. “I don’t like the thought of being so uptight all the time. Science fiction lets me unwind.”
“You don’t seem all that uptight to me,” he said, following her into her home. He was looking around, openly checking everything out with a look of curiosity. “But I’ve only known you a day. So maybe I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve known you a week.” He was grinning as he said that.
“Exactly,” Lilly said with a grin. “I’m not all that uptight, because of my science fiction,” she teased him. “And have we only known each other a day? Feels like longer.” Her tone was completely teasing as she spoke. “Feels as if I have known you from the start of time.”
“That is the bond we already share, not the full mating bond, but there is one there. Our souls were meant to find one another, we’ve known one another before. In another place and time we met and connected, thus why we are here now. Or so the races believe.” He smiled with a shrug. Clapping his hands, he rubbed his palms together. “All right, what do we need to grab before we get going?”
“I have not the first freaking clue,” Lilly said with a laugh. “What all will I need? I know my gun, my spare, my ammo…clothes? Toothbrush?” Funny how her mind turned to weapons before clothing. “Definitely toothbrush,” she added with a nod.
“Insulin, needles, and definitely clothing. Nothing of ours will fit you, and you’ll look like a child in most of it,” he teased, poking her arm lightly. “Just pack a bag of the necessities and a few changes, and we can pick stuff up here as needed. But the insulin, definitely bring it all. If you’re not here and something happens to the power, I’d hate to think your supply was ruined. I’ve heard it’s not exactly cheap to purchase.”
“Good point,” Lilly said with a nod. “And no, it really isn’t.” Especially since more and more cures for disease were being found. It made having one of the ones left that much harder to deal with. “All right. I think I have it all.” She needed a larger than “small” bag, but finally, she had everything packed. “I’m ready.”
Reaching out, he took the bag from her and his eyes went wide. “What the hell is in this?” he asked loudly. “Good Gods, woman. This thing weighs a ton,” he muttered, heading for the door. “I just don’t get what weighs so much. It’s just clothes, for the love of the Gods.”
Laughing, Lilly said, “It has clothes, shoes, weapons, lots of weapons and ammo, and medication and toiletries. You said to bring everything I needed, and those are all essential things that I must have or I will be cranky-pants McGhee.”
“You obviously have never been to Artaxias’s place, which, yes, I know you haven’t. The point I’m trying to make is, whatever guns and ammo you are bringing are just a drop in the bucket compared to what he already has.” He held the door for her and then shut it so she could lock it up. “You’re likely going to drop into an orgasmic haze when you see his weapons room.”
She grinned, “Really? Oh, I love weapons, I really do. I love being able to create them, being able to learn about them, and so on. So yeah, I will more than likely have a heart attack when I see your weapons, but I look forward to that. I can’t wait to see them.”
“Not mine, Ax’s,” he said as they headed for the car. “Some of them are older than he is, so they will likely be ones that you should fawn over. I wouldn’t touch any of the blades, though. You can lose a hand merely breathing wrong around some of them. But have him show you his babies. You’ll have a blast hearing the stories behind them.”
“Okay, I am totally going to ask. What are his babies? And would he show them to me? I know that I would have a hard time letting some people touch some of the weapons that I think of as my babies, so I understand the possessive feelings.”
“His babies are a set of blades. They are either as old as he is or slightly younger. I really can’t recall, but you’ll get the details. They are of amazing craftsmanship, even I can admit that. Which, from a guy that prefers finding ways to blow up a mile of space with something the size of a paper clip, should say something. I know how to use blades, I’m even halfway decent, but it’s not my thing. If I can shoot the SOB, I’m damn well doing it. To hell with a whole dance-of-death thing with blades whipping around.” Gavriel opened the trunk of the car and put her bag in. “But ask him when we give you the tour of the house. Just be prepared to ooh and aah in all the right places, he does expect that.”
Lilly snickered and said, “I’m sure that I will likely drool. Yes, I prefer guns and explosives, too, but there is just something so amazing about a blade. The workmanship, the skill that it takes to use one, it’s truly remarkable, to be honest.”
“He’s got some seriously impressive blades. He has this one that is so thin it can’t be seen until you look for the damage it’s caused. It’s incredibly delicate and you have to be a blade master of something or other to the nth degree when the planets align to use it. But it’s very, very cool.” He walked to the side and opened her door. “Shall we go, so you can play with his toys?”
“Right, so that’s one that I for sure want to stay away from,” she said with a grin. “Because, knowing me, I would totally slice my hand up and not know it until it fell off or something like that.” However, she would for sure give it lots of oohs and ahhs and all that fun stuff.
Chuckling, he shut the passenger door before moving around and climbing behind the wheel. “Do you need me to stop somewhere to pick anything up? Anything Ax may not have in the house? Which may be a lot, given it’s been me and Ax living there. But on the bright side, we have a lot of toilet paper.”
“Nope. I’m good.” She snorted at that pronouncement and then began to snicker. “Do I want to know why you have a lot of toilet paper? And do you have food? Food is very important to me. Very. I love food. Food is awesome.”
“Ax said he did, if you recall. As to the toilet paper, well, it kinda started as a prank around the office and ended up with us having a bedroom full of the stuff. At least they all brought us the good stuff, not that cheap one-ply crap.”
“Well, that’s a good thing.” She didn’t make it a question, but more of a statement. “At least they are giving you guys the good stuff, right? It could be worse, it could be the really cheap sandpapery shit, right?”
“Then they would have a lot of the paper around their homes. It would have been very hard to get rid of, especially with a Spiryte ensuring it didn’t move.” He smiled slightly. “But they know better than to mess with Ax, so it had to be the good stuff if they were going to give it.”
That had her laughing, she couldn’t help herself. “So between the Vhampire and the Spiryte, you are able to ensure that you get only the best of the best of the toilet paper, right?” she asked with a smile. “God you boys are funny.”
Shrugging, he chuckled. “Hey, there’s got to be some bonuses to having an ancient, cranky Vhampire as your friend. Most fear the Vhampire on a visceral level, something they don’t realize until they get face-to-face with him. He’s pretty easygoing unless you piss him off. Thankfully, it takes a lot to piss him off, but onc
e he’s there, you’d better be on his friendly list. It takes him forever to calm the fuck back down.”
Lilly laughed at that and shook her head. “I was never afraid of him. Is that weird of me? Then again, I guess I wouldn’t be for this connection or bond or whatever to form, right? Because I have never been afraid of him. He’s huge, but then again, so are you,” she added with a shrug.
“They grow them big in other realms,” he said and then laughed. “I’ve heard that more times than I’d care to recall since I’ve been here. But you can’t be afraid of those meant to be yours. We’re both lovers and protectors. Not saying you couldn’t do it yourself, but we’re fairly protective of our mates and something we can’t help.”
“Yeah, that much is pretty obvious,” she said with a laugh. “But it’s okay, I kinda like just how big you boys are. Makes me feel as if I’m not such a big girl myself.” She was a nicely rounded person, not too short, not too tall. Well, not too tall, at least, but she liked her curves and that was all that mattered.
“You happen to be absolutely perfect, Lilly,” he said. They turned onto a street that had a gate at the entrance. He leaned out and punched in a code. Moments later, they were driving along the road where houses were set far back and the properties were massive. Ten minutes later, he pulled onto clearly marked private land and, this time, used his chip embedded in his wrist to gain them entrance. Up a long and winding drive they went until the house, in all its glory, was revealed. “Home sweet home. Well”—he gave a chuckle—“at least here in this realm.”
“Wow. Holy crap, this place is freaking gorgeous,” she muttered. She eyed up every single line in the home. She loved buildings and architecture, but this one was a study in pure beauty and lines. It was truly remarkable with the obvious old-world design, but the form and function of the new world and advancements built in. “Stunning. How long have you guys lived here?” she asked when she climbed out of the car and tilted her head to the side. “And is that water I hear? Do you have a pool or something?”