Taken For His Own

by Tara Fox Hall

“I’m not upset,” I said. “Just unnerved a little that you could make that decision so easily.”

  “Like you said before, I’ve seen what happens when you delay in acting,” Theo said coolly. “I wouldn’t put any of the foxes in danger because I was afraid to kill, no matter who it was.”

  “What if it wasn’t a stranger? What if it was someone you knew?”

  “If it was someone I knew to be good, yes, I might hesitate. If it was someone who was an asshole, that might speed my hand.”

  “What if it wasn’t one person?” I asked softly. “What if you had to kill a hundred, or a thousand to save ten times that number?”

  “The more people involved, the more the line begins to grey,” Theo said thoughtfully. “I can’t say I condone murder on that magnitude. I couldn’t be responsible for making that kind of decision.” He bit his lip, then suddenly smiled. “But a couple, sure.”

  “Why?”

  “You have to have priorities,” Theo said after a moment. “Take mine in guarding Danial. I have to be ready to shoot anyone who comes after him, male or female, young or old. Without keeping that directive first, I could lose my resolve and not act in time. The same thing when it comes to defending myself—it’s them or me. The choice is easy.”

  “What if it wasn’t just business? What if it was personal, a vendetta, or—”

  “Are you worried about Danial and me fighting again?” Theo interrupted. “You don’t have to be. That’s settled.”

  I gave him a curious look.

  “When I was with you, after Danial found out, he could’ve sent someone to kill me and bring you back to him. But he knew it was between us. When he didn’t come after us himself, I knew he was going to let us be together.” His eyes locked on mine. “That is why we had to go to him that night. I knew it would come to a fight sooner or later, so it was better to have it out.”

  “That was your plan?” I said with exasperation. “What if you had lost?”

  “There was no way in hell I was losing,” Theo said with a grin. “I’d waited too long to be with you. I fought as hard as I could as fast as I could to end it quickly. Now why are you asking about all this?”

  “I was curious,” I said distractedly. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Good,” he said, satisfied. “I’m going to put on V for Vendetta. Your question got me in the mood. Is that okay?”

  I mentally shook myself. I wanted to be here with him and not thinking of someone else, no matter how nice his eyes might be. “That’s fine.”

  * * * *

  “Why is he taking so long?” Theo asked for the fourth or fifth time, pacing.

  “I don't know,” I said impatiently. “Just be happy you aren’t the one on this table.”

  I was lying partly naked in Exam Room 1 of Dr. Camlyn’s office, as we awaited new information on the state of my reproductive system. We were both nervous and irritable.

  Dr. Camlyn opened the door, his expression calm. “Theo, sit down,” he said.

  Theo sat, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Sarelle, I have good news for you. The damage to your womb doesn’t seem to be permanent. Your scars are healing themselves. They were extensive, as you already know, so there is no way of knowing how long it will take for the scar tissue to regenerate, or if it will heal to the point you’ll regain your ability to have children.”

  “Danial and I haven’t exchanged blood in a month, and I’m still vampire enough to regenerate like that?”

  “The virus that was present in your blood is not as prevalent as it was, but it’s still there. You should go back to your normal human self with time. Can you still take the choker off?”

  “Yes.” I demonstrated that it still slid together and unclasped easily for me.

  “Then you’re still partly turned, Sarelle,” he continued gently, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I have no way of knowing if you’ll ever heal to the point you can have another baby. All I can tell you is that you can’t get pregnant now, not and keep it to term. A year from now, maybe. By then you should be completely human again.”

  “It’s going to take me a whole year to revert?”

  “Yes and for the whole of it, you need to be very careful, Sarelle,” Stephen cautioned.

  “Why?” Theo said instantly, getting out of the chair to stand beside me.

  “Because if she gets a mortal wound now, she’ll finish turning,” Stephen said. “Even just a bad wound might do it.”

  Shit, that was enough to make me start shaking. If Devlin hadn’t taken those bullets, I’d have turned right there in that hotel room with him. Then I’d have had to feed, which meant he would have had to help me. There were worse possible things to have happen probably, but none came to mind.

  Theo came and put his arms around me. “How long until she’s out of the woods?”

  “Maybe a month, maybe two, I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a person be partly turned for so long,” Stephen said curiously. “But I’ve never heard of a woman carrying a vampire’s child to term either, until you, Sar.”

  “Don’t mention this to anyone,” I said defensively. “I know Danial and I gave permission for you to document and write about Theoron’s birth and my unusual pregnancy, but I don’t want this known. Even with you not using our real names, it’s too dangerous.”

  “That’s regrettable,” Stephen said with a nod, “But I understand your concerns completely. I won’t mention this in my papers.”

  “Do you know how much blood she’d have to lose to succumb?” Theo asked hesitantly. “I’m getting from you that it’s only a small amount. Would a bad cut do it?”

  “That I can’t answer. When Sar was pregnant and Danial gave her blood repeatedly, sometimes day after day, again, she should have turned. I still don’t know why she didn’t. According to my knowledge of vampires she should be a vampire now, from the amount of virus in her blood right at this minute.”

  If I lost just a little blood, I might turn ... I trembled in Theo’s arms.

  “When will we know she’s completely free from turning?” Theo said, phrasing carefully to leave out the part about me dying.

  “Say six months?” Stephen answered. “I’d need to check her blood to be sure. Closing and opening the collar may not work as a great indicator. It hasn’t in the past. You two also need to face that the possibility that Sarelle will stop healing her scars before she completely heals. Once she’s human again, whatever scarring is left will stay there permanently.”

  “Danial could—” Theo began.

  “I don’t recommend trying to keep her in this state to finish healing her, not for any reason,” Stephen interrupted. “Danial’s blood is potent. A tiny bit might be enough to cause her to turn.”

  That didn’t seem right to me, not with how well I’d handled all the blood Danial had exchanged with me since he’d become more powerful. How much was Dr. Camlyn guessing at, and how much did he really know? Still, I couldn’t take a chance with my life...

  “What about the STD test?” Theo asked gruffly. “Are we okay?”

  “I’ll know in a few days for certain. With what you’ve told me, I’m fairly sure you’re both fine. The werecougar virus—like most other were viruses—resists if not cures most all human diseases. Both you and Aspen were tested only a few months ago, and you told me those tests were negative. That you saw the paperwork for them. Also, you say you only had unprotected sex as cougar―”

  “We really don’t need to get into that again,” I interrupted stiffly. “We’ll just call for the results. Now can we get to the actual exam?”

  Dr. Camlyn checked me over. “You have bruises, Sar, inside and out. That is normal between were and human lovers, as it is with most human and non-human sexual relationships.”

  “Is she hurt from what I did to her?” Theo asked.

  “Sarelle, Theo, you are both adults. What you do in your own bedroom is your choice. Rough sex causes bruising and tearing some
times, even between human partners. No, I don’t see anything on Sar’s body that makes me think you were too rough, Theo. It really depends on what she is comfortable with.”

  Theo was relieved. “Good.”

  “Can you write me a pill prescription?” I asked. “Until we find out how much I’m going to heal, I want to be protected.”

  “That would be best,” Stephen agreed, taking out his prescription pad. “It will prevent a miscarriage. I’d advise staying on birth control until I can determine you’re completely human again and can give you a clear answer about your child-bearing status.”

  Whew. I’d dodged the whole baby issue, maybe for good. “Thank you.”

  “Yes, thank you.” Theo shook Stephen’s hand.

  After I dressed and the bill was paid, Theo drove me home, stopping on the way to pick up my prescription for birth control and some takeout for us both.

  “Sar, you should really come with me tonight.”

  What I wanted was to forget the name Aspen forever. Second to that was to take a long bath by myself and forget the conversation about cougar sex that had run through my mind all the way home. “I’ll be fine. The dogs will be with me, and I’ll set the security system, too.”

  “But you’ll be alone until midnight,” Theo fretted. “Terian’s got to leave for a meeting with Danial at dusk, and I’ve got to be there to watch over Theoron and Elle until they get back at midnight.”

  “That’s only about five hours,” I said, exasperated. “I’m a big girl, Theo.”

  “Al’s threats are real,” Theo replied. “Danial’s on it, but―”

  “But nothing. Don’t forget the alarm will be on. You’ll have to disarm it when you come in. I’ll be in bed sleeping,” I said, kissing him quickly. “Wake me up when you get home, so I know you’re safe.”

  “You be safe,” he said seriously. “Remember if you walk the dogs to bring your gun.”

  “I will.”

  He sped off, the dust floating away on the wind, obscuring our waves goodbye to each other.

  I went inside and to my first order of business: showing Darkness her finished bed.

  I replaced the old one with the new one and showed it to her, patting the middle. She promptly came and laid down on it, settling into it with a large exhalation of breath. That meant it was okay, she could maybe get used to it. I laughed and then quickly cut up the old bed into rags, saving the zippers to reuse. Then I took the dogs outside for a long walk.

  It was near dusk, but I had my gun and wasn’t afraid. The dogs were relaxed and happy, chasing a large flock of geese off the manure-spread fields. They rose in the air with disgruntled honking, speeding their way north. The dogs watched them wistfully as they disappeared over the trees.

  “Come on,” I yelled, laughing. “It’s time to go in.”

  A half hour later, the dogs were eating their Cheweez, the doors were locked, and I was settling into my long anticipated bath. Since Theo wasn’t home and the TV was off, I put on some music: the Phantom of the Opera CD my stepfather had burned for me. With no one to hear me garble the high notes, I sang loudly and unabashedly, belting out the various songs from memory.

  Abruptly, I realized it was dark, and I’d forgotten to call in the cats. The coyotes were still around in summer, and a cat Cavity’s size was a good meal. I dressed quickly, putting on some leggings and a tank top in case I needed to go outside to grab a reluctant feline, and grabbed my gun.

  Jessica was already in, sleeping in the chair and Asher was somewhere in the basement. That left only Cavity.

  A nice breeze hit me when I opened the front door, caressing my face. “Cavity!”

  A black furry form sprang up the deck steps quickly, then looked behind watchfully, pausing. Then Cavity ran inside.

  I shut the door quickly, locked it, then bent down to pet him. “Hi. Do you need a treat?”

  Cavity gave eager assent, causing Jessica to come running, followed by the dogs.

  I went into the kitchen, doled out treats to everyone and went to load the dishwasher. It was full of dirty dishes, the soap dispenser full. Grumbling at Theo for forgetting to turn it on, I turned it on and then began to wash the breakfast dishes. The kitchen was soon stuffy with heat from the hot water being used, and I opened the window. The cool night was alive with crickets and singing frogs. It made me happy to hear them and to feel the cool breeze again on my face.

  I had a very good life here with Theo. There was a lot to get used to now that he was back. We’d both gone through a lot in our time apart, and it had changed us. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t be as happy as we’d been once, if we both worked hard.

  Cavity hopped up on the counter, purring.

  “Want me to sing to you?” I asked him with a smile, then launched into “Think of Me”, one of the songs I’d been listening to earlier. I finished it in the time it took to do the dishes and then went to the back door to let the dogs out before going to bed. As I grasped the door handle, there was a knock from the other side.

  I drew back my hand. This door opened up on my fenced yard. The gate was locked, and the only other entrance was through the garage, which was also locked.

  The knock sounded again.

  The dogs weren’t growling, but they weren’t wagging their tails either. I grabbed my gun from the kitchen counter and went to the door. “Theo?”

  “Not even close,” an amused voice answered.

  I opened the door, gun in my hand. “Why are you here?”

  Devlin gazed back at me, dressed in a blood red silk shirt, white khakis and a faint smile. “I didn’t know you could sing, Sar.”

  He had heard me. Of all the people I wouldn’t want to hear me sing, he would be the topmost one on the list. A flush crept up my neck.

  “Your voice is good, though it needs polishing,” he continued, not seeming to notice I was mortified. “Some of your notes are flat. Others are completely wrong.”

  “How would you know?” I said snidely. “And don't call me Sar.”

  He looked at me and then began to sing. “Floating, falling, sweet intoxication―”

  I was rapt, standing there in the doorway listening to him sing “The Music of the Night”, gun forgotten in my hand. His voice was amazing: rich and smooth, like Godiva chocolate. He sang just a few lines and lapsed into silence, looking at me patronizingly.

  I flushed again and said grudgingly “Okay, I see you know what you’re talking about. I only had a few years of choir—”

  “I can polish your voice, Sar,” Devlin said. “If you want to work with me, that is.”

  “Would it take a long time?” I asked hesitantly.

  “No,” Devlin replied. “You have a good voice—surprisingly good, for not having any training that counts. Understand that I’m not making you stage ready. I would just work on a couple things, for example so you don’t waver so much and your voice doesn’t go flat. Even with my help, you’ll never be able to hit the truly high notes. You’re not a soprano, as the Broadway actress who sings in that play is. But I can improve your natural gifts.”

  “I would like to hit the right notes,” I said slowly. “I never really learned to read music. I just memorized the songs for choir.”

  “I can teach you that,” Devlin assured me. “But don’t feel badly. I also learned many songs by memorization and not actual written music.”

  “But you’re so good—”

  “May I come in?” Devlin interrupted. “It’s not wise to stand here in the light. Anyone within rifle range has a clear shot at you.”

  I stepped backward instantly, and Devlin entered, locking the door behind him.

  He turned back to me. “Thank you for the compliment. I was a professional singer, as in people paid me to sing for them. But that was hundreds of years ago.” He gave a wry smile, a mirror of Danial’s. “Sheet music was a staple of the rich. I was lucky to sometimes get paper with the correct lyrics.”

  “I don’t mean to be rude,” I
said. “But why are you here?”

  “You’re alone, aren’t you?” he answered, pushing past me into the living room. “I don’t hear anyone else here.”

  I was instantly afraid, though I knew I shouldn’t be. Devlin had saved my life. Yet I was still leery of him, especially remembering the last time he’d visited. “You know I am.”

  “You shouldn’t be here alone. Alphonse rejected Danial’s deal. He still wants you dead. I’ll stay with you.”

  Devlin’s words were chilling. I gripped the gun in both hands, leaning back against the wall. He looked at me to say something else, stopped and then handed me something quickly.

  “For you, my dear.”

  It was flowers, more fire and ice roses. God, they smelled wonderful. I inhaled deeply and sighed. “Thank you. I like that the ones you get for me always have a scent.”

  “A flower without fragrance is like food without taste,” he said. “May I sit?”

  “Make yourself comfortable,” I said. “Did Danial send you to guard me?”

  “I was on my way to see you anyway. But yes, he called to tell me Al rebuffed him and to ask that I stay with you until Theo got back.”

  I reminded myself that Devlin had to be telling the truth, that there was no reason to be so leery of him. “Did Danial meet with him tonight?”

  “Theo did,” Devlin said impatiently. “Apparently he said he wanted to be the one to go, Danial said. To take note of who worked for Alphonse and what his defenses were.”

  That was my Theo. I felt immediately better. “Good. He’ll take care of this.”

  “The choker won’t protect you from Al,” Devlin said, irritated. “But it will from Manir. He is still a threat to you, even if not to your life. You had best be careful.”

  “I’ll be careful.” I whispered.

  “Put those in some water before they wilt,” Devlin instructed, petting Ghost. Oddly, my dog was wagging his tail now, and Darkness was also moving closer to Devlin, her tail beginning to wave.

  I ran water into a vase and stuck the flowers in. “I guess they know you mean no harm this time.”

  Devlin didn’t reply.

  I set the gun on the counter and got a small glass of wine. Between Devlin being here and what he’d just told me, my nerves were jangling.