Now, that’s all changed. Dae would never be jealous of her, nor would she freak out, not now. Iya had worried if she told Dae that she had gifts that Dae would leave, and Iya didn’t want Dae to go.
You worry like an old woman. Hadn’t Dae told her so many times?
Dae came back in her room, dressed freshly from the shower. It was a struggle to get her clothes on in there, but she did it with minimal contorting.
Dae felt like gloating until she walked in her room. Iya stood staring at the floor in the exact same spot she left her in, smiling. Koda was wrestling with her duffle bag. Dae did find that funny but Iya was looking at the floor in her own world. Far be it from Dae to point out Iya looked crazy.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Koda jerked at the sound of his mates amused tone. “Technically, I didn’t yet.”
“Don’t worry about it. We got Duct tape.”
“Duct tape?” Koda questioned.
“Yup, it’s like magic. We put it on everything.”
“Yeah, you didn’t see our entertainment center?” Iya said joining the conversation.
“Um… yeah.” Koda said warily. He saw a combination desk/shelf where they stowed their TV and pieces of a radio. It had odd seams in stripe formation like their chairs, tabletop, and cabinets had… oh.
“It’s being held together by duct tape. Dae and I got some black sharpies and colored it in so it wouldn’t be gray. We used browns for mostly everything else.”
“Yeah, there was too much grey in our apartment. Although I kind of wished it could have worked for the sofa too.” Dae said as she grabbed a roll of duct tape from the kitchen cabinet.
“Ooh, we should take some. I’m going to grab a roll or ten and stuff it in my bag. Your poor bag would never be able to take it.” Iya said as she left the room.
“Why do we need duct tape?” Koda asked himself more than either of them.
“The question is not why, it’s when.” Dae answered as if she was imparting some kind of wisdom. Koda shook his head. If they wanted to bring truckloads of duct tape they were welcome to it.
Dae brought the tape over and began wrapping her bag together. Koda held it tight while she wrapped the tape around it repeatedly. Then she opened her mouth to bite the tape off and Koda nearly had a heart attack. Her canines were elongated like her natural wolf teeth would be had she been in wolf form. But she wasn’t, she was in human form and it didn’t look like she was mid-shift. Her eyes were their normal bright liquid gold so having wolf canines didn’t make any sense.
What the hell was going on here?
Fifteen
Dae entered Koda’s apartment building as the tingling in her stomach intensified. Something about what she was doing made her nerves go wonky. When the doorman greeted Koda, she nearly jumped out of her skin. If Koda hadn’t insisted on grabbing their bags, she was sure her clothes would have been decorating the lobby.
Dae still found that idiotic; as if she was so frail, she wouldn’t have been able to carry her own crap.
“He’s being a gentleman, Dae. Stop being so ridiculous and give the man your bag to carry.” Iya said while Koda wore a shit-eating grin. Dae did not find it sexy in the least. She did not.
They walked past the elevators to the stairs and Dae tried to take her bag back, but the Sasquatch was too fast or had anticipated her action in advance.
Stupid Sasquatch.
All too soon, they were at the door to his apartment. Dae tried to grab her bag from him again but he still wouldn’t give it up. She felt the growls in her chest but was determined to tamp them back down.
The look on Dae’s face made him snicker. She got so irritated with him carrying her bag and opening doors for her. He didn’t know if it was because she hated it or it was foreign to her. Either way, his mate would have to get used to it.
Dae tried to prepare herself as they made their way to his floor. She should have given up because it didn’t help her at all. He single handedly opened his door while carrying both her and Iya’s duffels.
And then it happened.
Koda’s natural scent bombarded her instantly and she wished she had figured out some better way to keep Iya safe. After all, the only reason why she was here was that Iya needed to be safe. There were no other reasons. Her reason was as single and solitary as she was. Yup. That was it.
That damn scent was making her brain malfunction more than it did before –and that was saying something. Dae, ever so sneakily, started breathing through her mouth. She could do that, and then she wouldn’t notice how tempting Koda’s scent was.
The scent of a person in his or her own environment was nearly tripled and Koda’s scent was everywhere. If she didn’t know any better, Dae would have sworn he rubbed himself all over his condo.
But that would be crazy, I mean, who would do that besides herself?
That was as crazy as the part of her that wanted to rub herself all over him so she smelled him on her skin. Nope, that was her own cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs habit that she was projecting it on him.
Koda showed them to their ‘room’ and laid their duffels down on the super huge king size bed.
“I didn’t know they made beds Sasquatch sized.” Iya said, hoping that it would break Dae from her silent wariness. It was like Dae expected something to pop out at her at any second. Dae didn’t respond with any sarcastic comment and that was very much un-like her. Dae was too busy scrutinizing her surroundings with furrowed brows.
Koda laughed as he said, “Well, this is the guest bedroom. I actually can’t fit on that bed.”
“Now don’t make me think you’re full of the same bull crappy Dae is most of the time.” Iya retorted.
Dae still hadn’t said anything, lost in her own world. Iya wondered what Dae was doing. During Koda’s brief tour of the condo, Dae walked by the sofa, end tables and kitchen table leaning over to sniff them. Koda didn’t seem to care, but Iya thought it was beyond rude.
“Honest; I can’t fit in most beds. Mine has to be a California King and even then if I lay straight my feet still hang off.”
“Jeeze, Dae leave it to you to find yourself a monster of a man.” Iya said as she shook her head.
The annoyed expression Dae wore said it all before she opened her mouth.
“I didn’t find anybody. I got found and I wasn’t even lost.” Dae looked at the closet and Iya thought Dae hadn’t noticed the whole of Iya’s teasing statement. Iya should have known Dae wouldn’t let this man have even a glimmer of hope. Dae continued, “And he isn’t mine; he’s somebody else’s problem entirely.”
Iya wished she could say that she was surprised at how rude Dae’s comment was. Oh how she wished. Iya turned to face to Koda, expecting to see him angry, but he surprised Iya by grinning.
“Little Red, I’m hurt. Next time the big bad wolf comes around to blow your house down; you’re going to be singing a different tune.”
“Oh God, there’s two of them!” Iya said one hand pinching the bridge of her nose. “You can’t just mash together metaphors like that. It sounds ridiculous.”
Koda was still grinning as Dae said, “Big Red, I think you’re confused on who’s the wolf in this story.” Dae’s gold eyes sparkled as she smirked.
“Or maybe you’re confused on just how many wolves there are in this tale.” He challenged. Dae’s eyes narrowed.
“Ok you guys –weird. And I really want to take a shower.” Iya grabbed her cell and some clothes out of her duffel and left the room as fast as she could.
“And then there were two.” Koda said as his imagination ran wild with all the things he could do to Dae now that she was in his place.
Dae must have read it on his face because she retorted, “Uh Uh. Your room is over there. This is the room you so graciously gave Iya and me.” Dae pointed out.
“Come on, you sure you don’t want me to keep you company?” Koda grinned as he wagged his eyebrows like Groucho Marks.
He looked ri
diculous. Dae fought back her laughter but couldn’t hide her smirk. She tried, but she felt her dimples give her away.
“I have voices for that. Buh-bye now.”
Dae heard Koda still laughing from the living room.
Iya came back from her shower feeling pure and fresh as rain in the meadow. Koda’s bathroom was enormous compared to her and Dae’s bathroom. Well, everything was enormous compared to their bathroom; it barely had room for their toilet, shower and sink. In Koda’s there was a glass-door shower and a tub that could fit four regular sized people! Iya guessed that being such a giant monster must be inconvenient at times. But Koda adjusted everything to fit his massive form so Iya didn’t think he was suffering much.
Iya walked out of the bathroom and found Koda lounging on one of his equally massive sofas flipping channels.
“Kicked you out, didn’t she?” Iya asked.
“Is that sarcasm I hear in your voice Iya?” Koda replied.
“Nope, it was hope that I was wrong.” Iya said. Hope that Dae wouldn’t keep Koda at miles length forever. Hope that was stomped squashed and crushed into dust.
“You’re not confident I’m going to wear her down, huh?” Koda said arrogantly.
“Me, not so much, though you certainly are.” Iya said as she rolled her eyes. The Sasquatch had ego like the desert had sand.
“You just wait. You’ll see.” Koda said with a satisfied grin.
“Yeah, ok. Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch.” Iya said in disbelief.
She wanted Dae to open up to somebody besides herself. But Dae only did what Dae wanted, regardless if it was good for her or not. Iya opened the door to the room she and Dae would be sharing and found Dae sitting on the floor reading.
Clearly, that was staged.
“Whatcha doing?” Iya said as she plopped down across from Dae.
“Nothing much.”
“Mmm Hmm.”
Dae ignored Iya’s ‘Mmm Hmm’ because Dae knew exactly what it meant: Dae was caught.
“What were you doing while I showered Dae?”
“Reading.” That was not totally a lie; for the past minute, she was reading.
“If all you were doing was ‘reading’ then tell me why you have that face on?”
“What face? This face?” Dae pointed to her face in faux confusion.
“Yes that face. I know that face Dae.”
“I sure hope so since I’ve worn it all my life. I’d be worried if you didn’t know it.”
Iya chuckled. “So what else were you doing while I was in the shower?” Iya thought she had Dae. Thought being the operative word.
“Unpacking some things that needed unpacking.” Dae said with an innocent smile.
“What else?”
Dae shrugged her shoulders. “After that I sat down and read.”
“I will figure out what you were up to Dae.”
“I don’t know what you mean Iya.” Dae said as she shook her head.
Right. Iya knew Dae was doing something she didn’t want anyone to know about. Dae had that ‘I’m hiding something face on’. Iya got up and went to her bag to grab some nightclothes for later and found that one of the new duct tape rolls had been used.
“Dae?”
Dae sounded smug as she responded. “Yes, Iya.”
Iya turned and showed Dae the half used roll of duct tape. Dae’s eyes widened a smidge before Dae controlled her expression.
“What were you taping Dae?” Iya’s voice was laced with reprimand. Dae knew she was caught and she didn’t see a way out of it.
Dae rolled her eyes as she said, “Stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“My special kind of stuff, would you drop it?” Dae emphasized ‘special’ so Iya got the point. Dae’s stuff of the pointed variety. Iya nodded and dropped it knowing that Dae did not want to let Koda know she stashed weapons all over the room. It creeped Iya out to think that Dae knew how to make some of those weapons, knew how to use those weapons, and may someday have to use some of those weapons.
Koda knocked at the open door. “Hungry?”
“Please tell me that you’re not serious.” Iya said in disbelief. The Sasquatch had to be kidding.
“Serious as a coronary. So now I know you’re not going to eat for a while, but what about Dae?”
Iya’s eyes bulged as Dae lifted her head from her book. “I am a little hungry.” Actually, Dae was a lot hungry. Her stomach heartily agreed.
“I already called and ordered some take out. Should be here soon.” Koda was happy his mate wasn’t fighting him about eating. He didn’t think the man or wolf would fare well if that had been the case. He enjoyed it too much.
“Ugh, you guys are going to make me sick if I have to watch you eat again.” Iya said as she grabbed a book and walked past Koda to sit in a cushiony armchair. The Sasquatch sure did know how to buy comfortable furniture.
Koda’s nostrils flared as he scented the room after Iya’s exit. He scented duct tape, and a lot of Dae. Iya’s scent barely registered in the room. Had his mate claimed her territory? No, that wasn’t possible. The wolf’s instinct came to the forefront after the first shift. He was sure his mate hadn’t shifted yet.
Wasn’t he?
“So what did you need to duct tape?” Koda questioned Dae.
Iya yelled from the living room “Her vibrator Sasquatch. She didn’t want you coming across it. Vinnie is very special to her.” Iya snickered as Dae smirked.
Dae heard Koda growl low as he left from the doorway he was standing in. Dae was thankful Iya said something, because for a half second Dae was shocked beyond belief. How had he known she used duct tape? The walls were thick, the rooms were far away from where she knew he was sitting and she made sure he didn’t see her doing anything. Dae knew how to be careful and silent. She didn’t make a peep. She even muffled the ripping of the duct tape with a pillow. There was something odd about Koda and Dae didn’t think it hypocritical to want to know what. It was fundamental.
The night went by uneventful. The bed Iya and Dae shared could fit a group of people so Dae didn’t freak out about sharing space. On the contrary, Dae didn’t feel threatened at all with sharing anything with Iya; she was her family. And that meant Dae would have to do whatever she needed to make sure Iya wasn’t caught between whatever shit Dae had about to hit the fan.
When Iya fell asleep, Dae slipped from the bed and made her way to the door. Dae made sure she wore her socks and scooped her Timbs up in her hands so her footfalls were silent. Iya’s breathing told Dae that she was in deep sleep and would not wake for a while. Dae hoped she had enough time to let her stalkers find her before Iya awoke. Dae did not want to deal with an irritated Iya tonight. The previous day was too crazy already.
“Going somewhere?” Koda questioned as Dae silently slipped through the doorway. Dae froze for a half second before she decided she was thirsty.
“I’m parched. Is that a crime?” Dae snapped, not having to feign the anger she felt because she was pissed.
What? He was just waiting up, watching the door to her bedroom? Could he be anymore creepier?
“No, if that’s what you were doing.” He replied. Dae heard the smile in his voice and she wondered if he knew she could see him clearly in the dark. She doubted it, but was perplexed because he was trying to hide his smirk from her.
“I didn’t think you would be sitting here in the dark watching the bedroom door. It’s really creepy by the way and I also don’t think Iya will be comfortable with staying here again.”
Dae couldn’t wait to tell Iya, and not just to rub Iya’s nose in it. Dae would keep the gloating to a minimum or at least try.
“Well, I had a hunch you’d try to sneak out, lure your stalkers out in the open –alone, without me there– and lie about it afterward. Now, I could have followed you and been your knight in shining armor when your plan backfired but I thought about somebody other than myself: Iya.”
�
�Are you trying to say I don’t think about Iya! I wouldn’t even be doing this if it wasn’t for Iya.” Dae snarled.
“Yes you would Dae. Don’t lie to me or to yourself. Iya or no Iya you would go out and face whoever came your way the same way you always have. But you keep forgetting one thing; you’re not alone anymore.” Koda said the words with genuine feeling. His mate didn’t understand that he couldn’t let her do something reckless, the man and wolf vetoed any plan that would allow her to get a paper cut much less take on not one but two of the Cursed.
Dae didn’t know all the facts and Koda was starting to believe he’d have to break it to her slowly to avoid her running away. She ran so quickly with the easy stuff.
Koda’s words burned at Dae’s insides in a way she would never have thought possible. Dae wasn’t alone, she had Iya. That’s why her eyes felt funny and her stomach flipped a teensy bit. It had to be.
Dae swallowed before she said, “I know.”
She drank a cup of water, washed her glass and scurried past Koda without saying a word. She closed the door, leaned against it and then sat with her legs criss-crossed.
Dae knew he was still sitting in the armchair staring at the door.
Dae felt an awareness of Koda deep inside where she usually felt nothing. And she wasn’t sure if she was relieved or scared of the knowledge that he would be there until the morning. Maybe a little of both. His statement skulked into her thoughts like villainess ferret whose sole purpose was to drive her crazy. It echoed through her head all night long into the next morning as she sat in that same spot, unwilling to move an inch.
Sixteen
The rest of the week was weird but became oddly routine. Koda the Sasquatch accompanied both women to all their classes, to the library and even ran errands with them without complaint. He refused any money they tried to give him and he somehow managed to pay for everything they bought even though both women fought him tooth and nail.
Lost & Found (A Lost Ones Novel Book 1) Page 20