He looked her up and down. “You’re wearing leather and suede.” The purple suede vest, dangling with fringe, was snug at the waist and the black pants fit her like a glove. She had on boots as well. Where were the loose clothes?
There were too many people milling around, so he took her arm and led her out onto the sidewalk. “I don’t get this. What are you doing here? And why are you wearing this get-up?”
Even her hair looked different. She wore it up off her neck with most of it pulled back. It still had a rough-and-tumble look but with an edge this time. Her lipstick was a darker shade as well, very striking.
She didn’t smile either. There was a seriousness about her that hadn’t been there a week ago.
She held his gaze. “I have a proposition for you and don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you and me on a personal level.”
He had no idea what she could possibly have in mind. “What kind of proposition?”
“Is there someplace we can go and talk or do you need to get back to patrolling?”
He knew his mouth was agape, and it took him a minute to bring his thoughts together. “I quit.”
“What do you mean?”
“I resigned about three minutes ago.”
She shook her head, her curls bobbing. “Why? You love your job.”
“I do. I did. Things have gotten so fucked up over the past few years. The cartels …”
“I know. They run just about everything.”
He dipped his chin. “But I don’t want to have this conversation here.”
Her lips curved. “I know a place in Elegance we could go.”
He held her gaze for a long moment. “I hope you don’t think I have any interest in a relationship.”
“I don’t. Like I said, this has nothing to do with you and me.”
“Then the White Flame it is.”
Without another word, she rose into the air, using her newly acquired levitation skills and headed southeast toward Elegance. He stayed right with her, passing over Sentinel Bridge that connected Elegance with Crescent, but slowing and making a descent a couple streets before the tall, stone Tribunal building.
The club was named for a mythical antidote that would reverse the genetic mutations of the various alter serums. There wasn’t an alter person in Five Bridges who didn’t wish the myth was true.
The marquis was a sophisticated black and silver with a flickering white flame at the right end towering twenty feet into the sky. Roof supports held it locked in place.
Once settled in a maroon leather booth, Brannick sat across from her as he had the night he first met her. He didn’t want any misunderstandings about their relationship. He might like her in leather and he might be intrigued by the obvious shift in her personality. But she would always be the fae woman who had violated his dreams.
She ordered a rum drink. He order scotch neat.
She sat back, hands settled on her lap. She looked around at those dancing to the music, to others in the neighboring booths. “They look almost normal, don’t they?” She was smiling, but even her smile seemed different.
“Okay, what gives? You’re not the same woman I was with a week ago.”
She held his gaze. “I’m not sure. I’m part vampire now and it’s changed me. I feel purposeful, more than I was before. In fact I’m not sure without have acquired your skills that I would have risked flying into Crescent.”
“Shit, I just realized you made this journey by yourself. Weren’t you afraid of Roche? That he might be on the lookout for you?”
“I was careful. I held my cloak tight. I figured if he couldn’t see me in his own place of business, he wouldn’t be able to detect my presence in the dark of night.”
He felt his desire for her rise, a tide within him that wanted to flood his entire being. But he held it in check. Besides, nothing about her demeanor spoke of her interest in him.
She was all business.
The drinks arrived and he brought the cool glass to his lips. Gulping a solid swig of scotch helped. Juliet sipped her mai-tai through a narrow red straw.
“So, what’s this proposition?”
Her dark blue eyes lit up, and she leaned forward, but sent the words into his mind. I want to take down Roche’s empire.
He frowned. You’re kidding.
Nope. She wagged her head back and forth. Not even a little. Listen, Brann, I’ve had time to think everything over during the past week. I know I’ve offended you badly because of what I did. But as I said before, I don’t regret it. I can’t.
Her attitude wasn’t warming him at all.
She continued, I feel as though what I gained from being with you in terms of an increase and even shift in alter power has been worth it. Of course I didn’t go into the relationship thinking I’d be gaining a vampire persona, or anything like that. I just wanted to be with you.
But the result has astounded me. She set her drink on the table. Until I met you, I thought I had to just keep my head down. But I know that’s not true anymore. In fact, I think it’s just the opposite, especially since Roche has been trying to mess with me in my dreams.
His temper fired up. “You mean he’s still after you?”
“Yep.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
She lowered her chin. We should stay in telepathy, don’t you think?
He agreed. But why didn’t you call me, Juliet? I told you I would protect you.
I know. And actually, this is part of the reason I came to you tonight. Roche’s recent attempt to gain control of me only recently happened over the last few days. When I was waking up, I couldn’t remember a single dream and that’s not like me at all. And I had a headache. In addition, the fae part of me knew he was hovering around my dreamglide, trying to find another way in.
He’s still after me, and that won’t change. But once I realized what he was doing, I knew it wasn’t enough to play defense anymore. You know, Emma and Vaughn took that horrible wizard down. I don’t remember his name.
Brannick did. He helped carry several frightened young teenage girls out of the bastard’s underground labyrinth. Loghry. His name was Loghry.
That’s right. She sipped her mai-tai again. But it got me to thinking that maybe you and I coming together wasn’t just an accident or a random lustful act on my part. Even if we can’t be together romantically, maybe we can form a team. Maybe you and I can help fix what has gone so horribly wrong in Five Bridges.
He thought for a moment. A force for good.
She nodded slowly. And that’s my proposition. A partnership, maybe even a very secret one that no one knows about, something just between you and me. And completely on the down-low, the way you run your tunnel rescue system.
Brannick eased back in his seat and stared at Juliet. Now that he had all the memories from their time together in the dreamglide, he could look back at them whenever he wanted.
Juliet was right. She wasn’t the same person that had broken into his dreams and taken him in her dreamglide. She might have come after him out of her loneliness, but she’d found something of far greater value, a strength of purpose that hadn’t been there before.
The question was, should he engage in this kind of partnership with her?
***
Juliet felt the wall Brannick had built between them as though if she extended her hand, she’d hit cement. She felt nothing warm and affectionate coming from him at all.
However, she had no expectation of a relationship with him, and she’d meant every word she’d said. She wanted a working partnership, a duo of shared powers, for the purpose of re-shaping Five Bridges. Nothing more.
Brannick might not know it, but she wouldn’t leave the White Flame without getting him on board. Besides, he’d quit his job. On a really basic level, they were in exactly the same place.
Why did you leave the force tonight? she asked.
Not sure, exactly. Easton has had me working real shit jobs for the past week. I was being
punished for surviving Roche’s attack on you and Mary.
Wait a minute. Do you honestly believe he knew what was going on?
There’s not a doubt in my mind. He took a sip of scotch. When I arrived at the station just now, I had three drunk vampire prostitutes in the back of my SUV. The most I could charge any of them with was for creating a public disturbance. They weren’t engaged in committing a crime and Easton knew it.
Juliet spun the straw in her mai-tai. That still doesn’t explain why you quit, because I’m sure this isn’t the first time Easton has made your service feel like a waste of time.
His brow grew tight in that way of his. He swirled what remained of his whisky. I’ve been restless. Okay, more than restless.
She smiled. You want to do this with me, don’t you?
He lifted his gaze to her. Despite how careful she was being in holding her emotions in check, his eyes always got to her. They seemed to reach into her soul and grab on tight.
She forced herself to take a breath then another.
When he didn’t answer, she laid out her thoughts carefully. This will be a working relationship only. You have my word on that.
He lifted a brow. Your word? And what is that worth?
She’d thought about this issue a lot. Does one breach invalidate an entire life?
In this case, I think it might.
Are you saying no to working with me, then, because you believe you wouldn’t be able to trust me in the field?
***
Brannick wanted to refuse the arrangement for more than one reason. He wanted to stay in the right and lord it over her. That way, he wouldn’t have to deal with how his gaze kept falling to her freckles. Jesus, he’d kissed them a lot during their shared time in the dreamglide. She’d make this soft cooing sound when he did it. Maybe it was the sound he wanted to hear more than anything else.
He looked away from her and drank once more, finishing his scotch.
Dammit, he was going to say yes. All right, I’m in. And I do trust you in the field. You were amazing the whole time we worked to recover Mary. Just keep your dreamglide away from me.
Don’t worry, I will.
So, what do you have in mind?
He watched her chest rise and fall. He expected a swoosh of air to follow, but she held it in. She seemed so different, yet the same. I think we should start with Roche, find a way to take him down. I’m even wondering if we might be able to do it in the dreamglide.
Wouldn’t he have to be asleep for that? Or unconscious?
She shook her head, her expression somber. Not a fae of Roche’s power. Think of it as similar to telepathy. You have enough telepathic ability to pierce anyone’s mind, at any time, right?
But I’d never do it.
I know that, she said. My point is that you could. Remember how Roche once tried to hijack me in a waking dreamglide? That’s when Agnes taught me to build a dreamglide block.
Okay. I get where you’re going. But are you suggesting we just enter his dreamglide and take him on?
Some of her grimness left her features. Okay, here’s what I thought we could do. What if you and I use my dreamglide to stalk him? We could learn all about his operation then choose when and where to attack.
Brannick nodded. I get it now and that’s exactly what we should do. What do you suggest?
I’m still living in the cottage in Agnes’s compound. I’ve decided to stay there for my own safety. We could be in the cottage physically while we dreamglided back to the Fae Cathedral. How does that sound?
Like a solid plan.
So, how about we start now? She asked.
Now?
She smiled. Why not?
You’re right. I said I was in and I am. I’m game if you are.
Brannick rose from the table, and laid a couple of twenties down to cover the drinks and extra for the tip.
When she headed toward the door, he followed and his hand automatically went to the small of her back, something he would have done had they been dating.
He immediately withdrew it, but not before he heard her gasp.
When she paused in her steps, he murmured over shoulder. “Sorry, Juliet. Force of habit. Won’t happen again.”
She didn’t look at him, or even say anything to him in response, but continued on a path to the door.
The one, small physical connection was unfortunate, however, because at least a dozen images whipped through his head of the various times he’d touched her in just that way, a hand to the small of her back, in the dreamglide.
So, what exactly had he gotten himself into?
CHAPTER 10
The moment Brannick had touched her back, a shiver raced up Juliet’s spine. She could still feel the warm pressure even though he’d quickly taken his hand away.
As she passed by the couples dancing, a profound sensation of regret tightened her stomach.
The past week had been difficult because of a lost relationship with Brann, and his sudden touch had reminded her of what she’d been missing.
Despite the grief she felt on a personal level, the new business-like relationship she’d just established with the vampire gave her a feeling of hope, something that hadn’t been part of her life since she’d arrived in Five Bridges. There would no doubt be more difficult moments ahead, but she was willing to endure them for the plan she’d set in motion.
Once outside, she levitated straight up into the air, wrapped herself up in her new vampire shield, then headed due west toward Revel Territory. Brannick flew beside her, on her left, but hadn’t said anything more to her after his apology.
At the same time, she marveled how they could see each other. But this was one critical aspect of the vampire shielding ability, that vampires could see one another, even when shielded. Other species couldn’t.
Within a few minutes, she reached Agnes’s compound, landing at the checkpoint outside the main entrance.
The security detail moved swiftly into position, sidearms drawn, until the squad leader gave the order to stand down.
Juliet led Brannick immediately back to the cottage without stopping to talk to Agnes. The sage fae had already given her permission for Brannick to come and go as he pleased.
Since she’d be with Brannick in the dreamgliding world, their physical bodies would need to be secure. She thought about taking him upstairs to lie down on the bed, but she knew it would be a big mistake. She’d barely gotten used to being alone in that bed and didn’t want to start the process all over again.
The past week hadn’t softened her desire for Brannick. She felt locked into a connection that she doubted time could ever change.
No, her situation with him would never be about ‘time healing all wounds’ but about learning to adjust to being around Brannick as only a friend.
Therefore the bedroom was definitely off-limits which meant the small living room to the right of the entrance would have to do.
A cottage-like sofa in a light blue chenille sat against the far wall. Brannick was so big, he would almost take up the whole thing, which meant she’d be physically close to him throughout the dreamglide. Not a bad thing for a mission, but really hard on her heart.
She sat down first and patted the seat next to her.
Brannick frowned slightly, but didn’t challenge her choice. She was glad for that. The less they talked about their relationship, the better.
Once seated, he said, “As I recall from last time, I focused on the dreamglide and followed you in.”
She stared at him for a moment. “It’s weird to have another species’ abilities, isn’t it?”
“Very. And they’re fully formed, like the way you levitate as though you’ve been doing it since you were a kid.”
“Exactly. Yet, there’s something else at work as well, a sort of strengthening of the skill as time passes.” She drew a deep breath. “You ready?”
He leaned into the sofa a little more, his hands on his thighs. He looked both relaxed, yet at
the same time ready to launch, an odd juxtaposition.
She mirrored his position, settling herself against the couch, her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes and with little more than a thought moved into her dreamglide.
She was in the same room, sitting on the sofa only her eyes were open. The dreamglide tended to move a few feet away from the real-time location, but the edges were blurred, the biggest indication she was in a different reality
Brannick joined her immediately, then stood up from the sofa. “That was damn easy.”
She rose to her feet as well. “Yeah, it was.”
He turned to her, but his expression softened.
She gasped softly.
Oh, no. Somehow in all her planning, she’d forgotten that his less conscious self ruled him in the dreamglide.
She could see from the light in his eye he was thinking something he shouldn’t. “Brannick, you’re not the same in the dreamglide as you are in real-time, are you?”
He shook his head slowly. “I’m more like the man who made love to you for five months, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
No, no, no.
He started to move toward her. She held up her hand to stop him and wagged her head, but he merely smiled.
Surrounding her with his arms, he pulled her close. “Guess I’ll have to apologize right now for what I’m about to do.”
Her protest got muffled as he slanted his lips over hers. When he pressed his tongue against her lips, begging for entrance, she resisted. This wasn’t Brann, not really. Though it gave her something like hope to know he was so torn internally that he’d kiss her in the dreamglide.
When he didn’t give up, however, but began fondling her backside with his big strong hands, she melted against him. She parted her lips, savoring the thrust of his tongue and the way his chest muscles tightened as he drew her closer still.
She’d forgotten for a moment how the dreamglide could feel as close to reality as anything could get.
But she couldn’t give in, not all the way. This wasn’t Brann, and she knew the moment they left the dreamglide, he’d be really upset with her.
He must have felt her shift in emotion, because he released her just enough to look down at her with a crooked smile. “Didn’t you like the kiss?”
Bad Boys of the Night: Eight Sizzling Paranormal Romances: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set Page 161