Kissing with Fangs

by Ashlyn Chase

  Claudia chuckled. “Yes. At first I was told she was Anthony’s business partner, which was weird because he’d never mentioned having one. Later on, she told me the truth.”

  Bliss’s mouth hung open.

  “Tell me more about what she did for Drake,” Anthony said. Perhaps there’s a way I can convince her to do the same for me.

  “I wouldn’t want you to. Not without a lot of thought.”

  I don’t have to think about it. I don’t want to live without you.

  “And what if you go first? I don’t want to live without you, either.”

  Bliss looked from one to the other. “Are you two having a telepathic conversation?”

  Both Claudia and Anthony must have looked shocked, because Bliss laughed. “Yes, I know some paranormal couples can do that.”

  “Can you and Drake?” Claudia asked.

  “No. It’s not part of dragon DNA. I know werewolves and vampires can talk to their true mates that way. Congratulations, by the way!”

  “So you know about me?” Anthony asked.

  “Yes. Drake told me everything. Not right away. I think he was worried that I might go running to Claudia and tell her she was working in Paranormal Central.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  Bliss chuckled. “The lady we spoke of a moment ago can be pretty darn persuasive.”

  “Ah, yes. That’s very true.” Anthony would have smiled, had the trip to the Alps not been so threateningly cold. Without warm blood in his veins, he’d have frozen like a Popsicle in minutes.

  Suddenly, Gaia appeared. “You didn’t think that just by talking in code, I wouldn’t know you were referring to me, did you?”

  Bliss jumped. “I’m sorry, Goddess. It’s just that they…well, they already knew—”

  “Oh, relax.” Gaia plopped down onto the sofa next to Claudia. “I have to talk to them anyway.”

  Uh-oh. “About what?” Anthony asked.

  “A job offer.”

  Claudia’s brows knit. “But we already have jobs.”

  Mother Nature waved away the thought. “It’s not for both of you—just you, dear.” She patted Claudia’s hand. “Besides, it won’t take you away from your work all that much.”

  Bliss fidgeted as if she knew what was coming. “Uh, maybe I should go.”

  Claudia glanced back and forth at her friend and Mother Nature. “Are you sure? I mean, maybe you could—”

  Before Claudia could finish her sentence, Bliss disappeared.

  “What just happened?”

  “Relax. She’s fine. I just sent her back to her beautiful home. She’s busy fixing up a nursery, so she has plenty to do to keep her occupied for a while.”

  “Oh. Okaaaay.”

  “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “You do?” Claudia asked, wide eyed.

  “You were wondering if she’s pregnant.”

  “No. She told me she was the minute she walked in the door.”

  “Oh. Of course, she would.” Mother Nature rolled her eyes.

  “So, this job offer…” Anthony reminded her.

  Mother Nature nodded. “Yes. Let’s get back on track. Anthony, sit. This doesn’t involve you, so be quiet.”

  He didn’t like being commanded like a dog, but the all-powerful one was not someone to argue with. He lowered himself onto the adjacent armchair.

  Mother Nature focused on Claudia. “I need a few new muses.”

  “Muses? Like Brandee?” Claudia asked.

  Mother Nature crossed her arms. “You know about her too?”

  “She rescued me. Please don’t be mad. I might not be here if not for her.”

  Gaia let out a sigh. “Actually, that makes my job easier, so I’ll let it slide. Yes. Just like Brandee. Technology has created the need for a whole new set of muses. Brandee is familiar with photography, so I made her the muse of still and moving images. Whatever she did to rescue you must not have had anything to do with her area of expertise, because it wasn’t in her report.”

  “No. There were no cameras involved.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask her about it later. Back to the job offer…”

  “First…” Claudia raised a finger. “Did I just get Brandee in trouble by telling you that she rescued me?”

  “No. Not at all. I trust my muses to do what’s best for the greater good. She must have rescued you for a reason. Perhaps my offer has something to do with that.”

  “Yes,” Anthony interjected. “The offer. What is it, and does Claudia have the right to refuse, if it’s not something she wants to do?”

  “I’m getting to that, Mr. Antsy-Pants.”

  Anthony thought he’d better not get on her nerves any more than he already had and leaned back in his chair.

  “As I said, I need a few new muses. And yes, you have the right to refuse. Bliss did. I tried to talk her into it, offering all kinds of incentives, but what can I say? The woman can be ridiculously stubborn. I even grew a money tree in the middle of her living room.”

  “Wow. What job did you offer her?” Claudia asked.

  “Muse of electronic written communication. Email and such.”

  “Jeez! I can understand not wanting that responsibility. I hope that’s not the job you’re offering me. I’m not very tech savvy.”

  “No. I’m aware it’s not your area of expertise.” Mother Nature shrugged. “I’ll find someone for that eventually.”

  Claudia was chewing her lip, and it was all Anthony could do to wait for Gaia to get to the point.

  “I need a muse of middle management. I thought you’d be good at that.”

  Claudia’s eyes widened. “Seriously? That’s almost as bad as muse of the Internet. Do you know how many frustrated, angry managers have dumbass bosses who have no idea what’s going on, and…”

  Anthony cleared his throat.

  “Oh!” She looked at him sheepishly. “Sorry, hon. I didn’t mean you.”

  He smirked. “I didn’t think you did.”

  “You’d be able to alleviate some of that frustration,” Mother Nature said.

  Claudia’s brow wrinkled. “How?”

  “Just whisper in their ears whatever will help. Like, ‘Hey, it’s a paycheck’ or ‘It’s almost Friday…’ You know. Whatever you told yourself to get through another boring day.”

  Claudia winced. “I didn’t cope that well. Actually, I stayed because I was secretly in love with Anthony. I drank the frustration away after I got home each night.”

  “Oh. Well, in that case, forget it. You’d suck at that,” Mother Nature said.

  Claudia laughed. “I’m afraid so. The last thing I want to do is create more alcoholics.”

  Gaia turned her gaze on Anthony. “You knew all this?”

  “I only found out after the bar burned. I had no idea prior to that. I was busy trying to keep my own feelings under wraps.”

  “But now you know. And you don’t have a problem with an alcoholic girlfriend?”

  “I don’t think of her that way. She’s Claudia. Not a disease. Besides, she’s working hard to change. All I can do is admire and support her.”

  Mother Nature nodded. “You’re a good man, Anthony. I’m glad I didn’t leave you on that mountaintop.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  Gaia sat up straighter and glanced from one to the other. “So, what should I do with the two of you? You’ve been a huge pain in the ass.”

  Claudia’s jaw dropped. “We have?”

  “Well, your boyfriend has. He was the one who created a paranormal meeting place with humans in and all around it and gave me more gray hairs than I already had. I’m amazed it didn’t blow up in your faces…much.”

  “I had a dream of creating a safe environment for those of us who wanted to put aside the old pr
ejudices,” Anthony said. “I knew I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to achieve that, and you have to admit, it was successful.”

  “There’s one success I’m aware of that your little band of misfits were responsible for.”

  He was about to take exception to the word “misfits” when Mother Nature held up one palm.

  “Save it.”

  Claudia looked from one to the other. “I’m confused.”

  Anthony sat on the arm of the sofa and laid a hand on her shoulder. “The lab in Cambridge. I didn’t want to worry you by telling you we raided the place.”

  Claudia’s eyes rounded. “You what? When?”

  “Last night and this morning. That’s when we rescued Tory. We also freed the other paranormals they had in their cages.”

  “Is everyone all right?”

  He smiled. “Everyone’s fine.” He regarded Mother Nature and said, “I should probably fill you in on the details.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I had a chat with the wizard.”

  “Kurt knows about you?”

  “He does now. I arrived shortly after you left. He and his girlfriend were helping the researchers to refocus their energies and intellect on a whole new project.”

  “The sex dolls.”

  “Yes. Apparently Kurt and Ruxandra are helping in the lab until the plans are firmly cemented in place.”

  “Sex dolls?” Claudia asked.

  Gaia snickered. “You don’t mind your boyfriend financing their new venture, do you?”

  “They had to discontinue their funding from the pharmaceutical company, but somebody has to pay them,” Anthony volunteered.

  “No. That’s not a problem as long as I don’t have to be involved in it.”

  “Neither of us do, honey,” he said. “I’m just providing the financing and getting progress reports. Kurt and Ruxandra will keep an eye on the lab and staff.”

  “And eventually you’ll make millions,” Gaia said.

  Claudia scratched her head. “But how did you explain the change to the pharmaceutical company?”

  “Kurt took care of that,” Anthony said.

  “With my help,” Mother Nature added. “He’s great when it comes to magic, but not so hot on getting from point A to point B and back in a snap. He had to alter paperwork in more than one place. That’s where I came in.”

  “So he was busy. That’s why he didn’t make it to the party until after it was over.”

  “Correct.”

  “How about the memories?” Claudia asked. “Won’t the people at the company who provided the grant know something funny is going on?”

  “Nope. I took care of that too,” Gaia said, proudly.

  “You can do that?”

  The goddess rolled her eyes. “Just who do you think you’re talking to?”

  “Oh.”

  Mother Nature rose and paced. “But I do owe you and your friends a debt of gratitude. And perhaps a reward.” Gaia stopped pacing and faced Claudia. “You’re not a mother, but I gave you a maternal instinct. Maybe you’ll understand this. When you have a child that’s ‘special’ in any way, you tend to be more aware of that child.”

  “Okay. I guess so.”

  “Well, I know so. My paranormals are my special children. Most of them began as regular human beings, but through no fault of their own wound up coping with some pretty extraordinary circumstances. Like a child who’s been in an accident.”

  Anthony crossed his arms. “If we’re so special, why do you threaten to send us to places we couldn’t survive, like icy mountaintops or active volcanoes?”

  “I gather you’ve talked to Nick Wolfensen.” When he didn’t respond, she sighed. “Oh, come on… All parents make threats they don’t keep.”

  “Hmmm. It sure felt like you meant it.”

  She planted her hands on her hips. “I probably did at the time. But you’re still here, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Quit complaining. So, now I have a dilemma.”

  “What’s that?” Claudia asked.

  “I’d like to reward your boyfriend for saving some of my special children, but he disobeyed me in the first place.”

  Anthony’s brows shot up. “I did? I don’t recall that.”

  Mother Nature snorted. “No. You wouldn’t. I sent Balog to tell you not to open your bar. He was incompetent and didn’t accomplish his task. Needless to say, he won’t be rewarded any time soon.”

  Anthony rubbed his chin. “Oh, yes. I remember now. He said he was afraid it would be a bad influence on Adolf Junior.”

  “Yes, then he arranged a couple of thugs to start a bar fight. None of that deterred you.”

  “Had you come to me yourself and explained your objections, I’d have been disappointed, but I’d have listened,” Anthony said.

  “And that’s why I don’t run around telling everybody what to do.”

  “Huh?”

  “I like to see how my children handle circumstances on their own. None of you will learn anything if I keep saving you from yourselves.”

  Anthony followed her logic but was still a bit confused.

  “I underestimated your determination. When you set your mind to something, you make it happen,” Gaia said.

  “I think that’s a compliment.”

  “Don’t get all puffed up. Want to see what I thought of your idea when I first heard of it?”

  “See?” Anthony asked.

  Gaia sighed. She drew a circle in the air and a picture—more like a 3-D movie—came into focus.

  ***

  The goddess paced with her hands behind her back. She whirled on Mr. Balog and narrowed her eyes.

  “You’re sure he’s a vampire and he’s opened a bar for all paranormals?”

  “That’s the intel I’ve gathered.”

  “Hmph. I cannot think of a stupider idea. Can you, Balog?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  She balled her fists. “What have I told you about calling me ‘ma’am’?”

  He bowed and stepped back. “My apologies, Gaia, er, Goddess.”

  “That’s right. Gaia or Goddess. I may be older than dirt, but you don’t have to rub it in my face by calling me ‘ma’am.’”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Gaia folded her arms. “Apology accepted. Now what are we going to do about this bar? Before the werewolves and vampires have a pissing contest in front of the humans.”

  “Pissing contest? Do you really think they’d—”

  “Gaaah! It’s an expression, you Romanian dimwit. Get with the lingo of your adopted land. Do you think I brought you over here for nothing?”

  “Yes, Goddess. I mean, no, Goddess. I mean…”

  She waved away his confusion. “The paranormal beings must never reveal their supernatural status to humans. That’s the only thing I demand of them.” She threw her hands in the air. “Are you sure you’ve made that abundantly clear down there?”

  “Yes, Goddess.”

  She sighed. “Fine. Try to talk that vampire out of his ridiculous plan.”

  “Yes, ma—I mean, Goddess.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him again and he stood stiffly, trying not to do anything to anger the powerful Gaia.

  At last she seemed satisfied. “All right. You have your orders. Now get out of my office building.”

  ***

  Turning from the now-dark and disappearing screen to Claudia and Anthony, Mother Nature said, “Think it over and tell me what—other than your freakin’ paranormal meeting place—is your fondest wish.”

  Anthony vacated the arm of the chair and sat next to Claudia. Taking her hand and gazing into her eyes, he said, “I’d like to be human again. To live a normal human life with my beloved.”

  Mother
Nature smiled. “I thought you might say that. There are some important details you should be aware of first.”

  “Like?”

  “You’ll lose all your heightened senses.”

  “A mixed blessing at best.”

  “You’ll have faults. Just like any other human.”

  “I have faults now.”

  “You won’t be allowed to know the paranormal world exists—just like any other human. That means you might lose some friends.”

  “Why? Can’t they just keep their paranormal identities a secret?”

  Gaia laughed. “Yeah. Like they’ve been doing that perfectly. Look. If you become human and accidentally discover some of your friends are paranormal, you’d freak out just like you were learning of it for the first time.”

  A stab of sadness overwhelmed him. He thought about losing dear friends without whom his dream would never have been realized. Friends like Nick and Tory and Kurt.

  “I trust them to keep their identities a secret. All you need to do is ask them to treat us like any other humans.”

  “Riiiiight. That might interfere with your closeness. Trusting friends with your secrets is part of friendship. Who would you say is your closest friend?”

  “Other than Claudia? Kurt, probably.”

  She laughed. “Do you remember the first day you met?”

  “Of course.”

  “Let me show your girlfriend what I mean.”

  “Why?”

  Mother Nature raised one eyebrow. “Why not?”

  Anthony didn’t know what Gaia was up to, but there was nothing about that day that would upset Claudia. Eventually, he shrugged and said, “Go ahead.”

  Gaia smiled. She drew a large circle in the air and a scene appeared in it, again kind of like a movie. Claudia sat up and paid attention.

  All three of them watched and listened.

  ***

  A knock on the front door of the brand-new bar surprised Anthony, and he whirled toward the sound. Instead of opening the door, he strolled to the bow window that looked out onto Charles Street. He could make out a casually dressed male, but it was no one he had met before.

  “At least it’s not Ruxandra,” he muttered. He’d gone to a lot of trouble to give her the slip when he’d snuck out of New Orleans, masking his scent and leaving everything behind. He hoped she’d think he had met his true death.