“You’re a vampire.” Jenny put a hand on her hip.
“Sure am.”
“I knew it. You’re glow is candy apple red right now.” Jenny stared at Myles.
“Jennifer Doe,” Breena scolded, “what did I tell you?”
“Sorry, Bea.”
Orin gave Breena a questioning glance, but she ignored it.
“Go with Myles to the car. And keep your eyes shut until he tells you to open them. Okay, blue jay?” Breena hoped her sister hadn’t already seen too much.
“Can do, kangaroo,” Jenny replied. Myles stooped down and slung her onto his back.
Even when they were alone, Orin stayed by her side. “What glow?”
“It’s nothing.” Breena moved toward the door.
Orin stepped in front of her. His hand grazed her arm. “She can tell who’s supernatural?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Lifting his shirt, he stuck the gun in the waistband of his jeans. Once his hands were free, he pulled her close and kissed the crown of her head. “Her secret’s safe with me, love.”
“Thank you.” Breena buried her face in his neck, but not before noticing the wolf bite on the other side. “How’s your shoulder?”
“Better after I feed.” Orin quickly added, “You’ll need to also. To regain your strength and heal your leg. Unless you want to strengthen the blood-bond with the vampire.” He clenched his jaw.
No. She definitely did not want to drink anymore of Myles’s blood. But was she ready to feed on someone’s soul?
Chapter 17
Back at Breena’s apartment, it was all she could do to stand. The rush of adrenaline from the werewolf attack had vanished a while ago, and her depleted soul left her completely out of sorts. She literally felt drained.
She needed her most basic of needs met–sleep. Except about a thousand questions whirled in her exhausted brain like hummingbirds on sugar shooters. Like, why did this new guy want her dead? Why would a werewolf want to turn her? Did they need to report Susan’s death? Would Norma leaving make it easier or harder to get custody of Jenny? Should they clean the house? Would Orin really keep Jenny’s ability a secret? Who was Dandi, and why was she important to Myles? And what in hell was so complicated that Myles couldn’t admit he had feelings for her?
Her emotions sloshed together into an overwhelming glop of worry, confusion, anger, envy and relief. In no particular order.
Strong arms carried her to bed. She felt cold–chilled from deep within–weak and vulnerable. Then covers draped over her. She tried to think of a way to deal with everything, but sleep came like a jealous lover and claimed Breena for its own.
* * * *
Breena woke with a start. Darkness filled her bedroom except for a tiny stream of light seeping in through the crack under the door. She threw back the comforter–she felt fantastic, as if she’d slept for a hundred hours–and darted to the window. The moon nestled under a thin blanket of clouds.
Guess I haven’t been asleep that long.
Her bladder begged to differ. She hustled over to the bathroom connected to her room.
She washed her hands and face and brushed her teeth. When she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she looked…amazing. Vibrant, full of life. Her skin practically glowed with health, her cheeks were a rosy pink and her hair looked as shiny as an ad for a Pantene commercial, even in the partial moonlight. She found the light switch and light flooded the room. Her violet eyes were also brighter. And...
Holy Sweet Jesus in Heaven!
Her hands flew up to her head.
No.
It couldn’t be. Breena’s ears stuck up through her hair. When she touched them, their sharpness pricked her fingers. Then she heard a buzzing noise, like being up-close to a bumblebee hovering over a flower. She knew the sound immediately. Soul.
“Jenny,” she breathed.
Oh God, oh sweet Jesus!
Had she fed on her sister? Turning on her heel, she ran smack into Orin’s chest.
“Get out of my way.” She glared at him. His poof action didn’t faze her this time.
“Jenny’s fine. She’s asleep.” He grabbed her shoulders, but Breena pushed and he stumbled backward.
How hard had she pushed him?
Half a second later, he poofed directly in front of her again, pulled her into his arms and gently caressed her hair. “Let me help you, Breena. You may have overfed.”
“Overfed? What did I do? What’s wrong with me? Are you sure Jenny’s okay?” The swirling darkness she’d recognized deep inside her had seeped out somehow.
“Nothing’s wrong with you, Breena, and Jenny’s perfectly fine. You were weak and injured. You had to feed to heal.” He kept holding her. “It’s natural.”
Breena had a flash of a lonely girl with black hair, green eyes and bright pink nail polish.
What in hell?
“Did I…kill…someone?” Terror gnawed at her insides.
“No.” He kissed the top of her head. “She’ll be fine in a few days.”
Relieved, she relaxed against him. “Who was she? Did I take advantage of her?”
“No. She was willing. You helped her.”
“How?” Then she remembered. “She was sad. In pain.” The girl had recently been dumped.
“Yeah. She’ll be able to start healing now that the heartbreak is gone for a while.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder to look into his eyes. “You mean the pain isn’t gone for good?” Breena wondered not only for the girl’s sake, but for hers too.
“No, unfortunately not.”
Breena broke away from his embrace to pace around her bedroom. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that she’d have to deal with her own pain again. Right now, too many other emotions battled for her attention. “Why do I feel the girl’s loneliness?”
“It’s hard to tell when to stop your first time. You took a little too much, but I can help you. Come here.”
With his gaze fixed on her, she walked to the end of her bed. Mid-stride she hesitated, keeping her distance from him.
“I’ll stop this time. I promise.”
“How can I be sure?”
“My lips won’t even touch yours.” His gold-rimmed eyes were full of sincerity.
Something had to give, because this overabundance of soul, or whatever, was way too much for her to handle. Relenting, she closed the distance between them. Perched on the edge of the bed next to the preternatural, she balled her hands into fists at her sides.
“Part your lips, slowly.” Orin didn’t touch her. He leaned in, opened his mouth, but his eyes didn’t turn black as they’d done before. He took several deep breaths until a thick, cloudy substance began to stream out of Breena’s mouth. Her shoulders dropped as the girl’s pain drained away. She flattened her palms on top of the mattress. After a couple seconds she felt normal again. As far as normal goes. No humming noise, at least.
As promised, the preternatural stopped. His lip trembled when he leaned away from her.
Breena reached up to where her ears had been. The pointedness was gone.
Phew.
Orin stared down at his hands, stroking his palms. Breena couldn’t help thinking how agonizingly beautiful he was. And with his mental scars, they seemed like a great match.
She smiled up at him but didn’t find any pleasure in his beauty. Now that the black-haired girl’s pain was gone, Breena’s own began to resurface. Her world seemed to consist of unanswered questions and uncounted fears, all overlaid by gore-streaked memories–blood splattered over the hallway, Susan with half her face missing–and a mountain of guilt.
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Orin’s jaw clenched shut, bringing up a whole new set of questions for Breena.
Where did that come from? For someone who usually radiated self-confidence, he’d gone all Jealous Guy with no warning. Maybe it was because of the loneliness they’d taken from the black-haired girl? “What?
No I’m not.”
Orin must’ve been thinking about the vamp though.
Breena reached out and took his hands in hers, twining their fingers. His jaw loosened and his fingers closed around hers.
“Damn vampire,” he mumbled. “It won’t always be like this. The blood-bond will eventually weaken if not renewed.”
He said it as if he knew without any doubt she didn’t want the bond. Okay, she didn’t. But at the same time she still wanted–
Don’t go there. Her dark side cut her off. Myles doesn’t want you. Orin does. And you want him. Just enjoy it.
Maybe she should.
Or maybe you should worry about Jenny and why a bunch of supes want you dead, her more reasonable side offered.
Speaking of which. “What’s the deal with the werewolves? Why were they after me?”
He unlaced his hands from hers and drew her tight against his side. “I don’t know.” He sucked in a deep breath. “But the silver one looked familiar.”
“You know it?”
“I’m not certain.”
“It was talking about some guy wanting me dead, and how it was a shame because it would like to turn me.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“I’m not sure why anyone would want you dead.”
“Well, why does the queen? Didn’t she tell you?” Breena hadn’t given much thought to the why before.
“No, Zadalia gave me the order as she always does.”
“Who’s she?” The name sounded familiar.
“The queen’s right hand.”
“Okay, well, did she say anything?”
“No.”
“Seriously?” Breena cocked her head toward Orin. “Nothing?”
“No, Breena. Nothing.”
“She just points you in a direction and says ‘kill,’ and off you go?” She shrugged. “No questions?”
His eyes flashed but he grinned easily and his tone was light when he answered. “That’s not exactly in the job description, babe.”
She sighed. “Sorry, Orin. I shouldn’t be taking this out on you. It’s just so damn frustrating.”
He lifted her hand, pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “It’s okay, baby. I understand. Maybe you should just…let it go for a while. Take a step back.”
Hmm. Take a step back…
A ray of light caught her attention as it drifted across the bed, creeping up her legs, rapidly picking up speed. Just like the light, Breena’s questions had gained momentum. Still, maybe Orin was right. Maybe now wasn’t the time. It’s not like she didn’t have other things to worry about. First on the list: cleaning up the bloody mess at Norma’s.
The thought of all that blood made her want to gag. How was she going to do this? Dread ate a hole in her belly. She wished she had some kind of magical detergent and a bewitched duster while she was dreaming.
She took a deep breath and got off the bed. Dreaming wouldn’t get this done. To start, a shower. Then she’d deal with the house.
Feeling stronger, she got up and headed back to the bathroom.
Orin trailed close behind. “Need me to stay?”
“No. But thank you. I could use some alone time.”
He studied her for a long moment before kissing her forehead. “Okay, but I’m here if you change your mind.” He poofed out of sight.
Maybe she could keep herself from thinking about him for a little while. Yeah, right. If it were only that easy with both of them. But no. When she was with Orin she thought about Myles. When she was with Myles she thought about Orin. How could she go on like this?
Annoyed with herself, she turned on the shower and tossed her clothes on the floor as she waited for the water to warm up and the queasiness in her stomach to subside. At least the shower wasn’t trying to kill her.
* * * *
Breena threw on a pair of jean shorts, a pale blue tank top and navy Keds with no socks. She let her wet hair fall around her shoulders. The obnoxious growl from her stomach told her she needed food. Normal food. Something with milk would be great.
Breena made her way into the kitchen and watched Jenny fix herself a bowl of Fruit Loops. “Pour me a bowl?”
“Sis!” Jenny skipped over to her and squeezed her arms around Breena, mid-skip. Then she bounced back to get the cereal.
Bowls and spoons in hand, Breena carried them to the bar while Jenny put the milk back in the fridge. “You okay?”
“Peachy-keen-wonderful-fine.” Jenny beamed as she scrambled up onto the barstool, feet dangling. “I like the new stuff. And my bed is awesome.” She wolfed down her breakfast.
Breena smiled back. “Orin got us all this.” She didn’t really know how to say “but it’s all going back soon…well, except for your stuff.” She just didn’t want to see the smile fade from her sister’s face.
“Who’s Orin?”
Well, hmm. How should she answer that one? “He’s my boyfriend,” Breena said with conviction.
“I like Myles.” Jenny crossed her arms.
“I do too. He’s a good friend.” Breena wiped a drop of milk from her chin, ignoring her sister’s attempt at a pout session.
“Is Orin a better kisser?” Jenny went back to devouring her breakfast.
“Jennifer.” Breena scolded half-heartedly.
“What?” Jenny swung her legs in a circular motion while she ate. “On Gossip Girls–”
“We don’t do everything we see on TV, okay?” God, that show was too mature for Jenny. But it did make her happy. How long would that reasoning hold up?
“I know.” Jenny rolled her eyes.
They sat in sisterly silence for a few minutes, munching their cereal until Jenny spoke up. “I guess he’s pretty cool.”
“How come?”
“’Cause, he makes you happy.”
Breena looked at her sister. “How do you know?”
“You glow when he’s around. It’s pretty.”
“Do I glow when Myles is around?”
“Not your bright blue. Sometimes red though, like Myles.”
So his blood had even affected her glow. She needed to think that one over. For now, maintaining some kind of normalcy was what they both needed. “How’d ya sleep?”
Jenny answered, “Like a rock.” Breena wished she was half as resilient as her little sister. “Myles read me a story before he left.”
“Where’d he get the book? We haven’t picked up any of your things yet.”
“Myles brought a couple when he brought my clothes.” Jenny tilted her bowl toward her and slurped out the leftover milk.
Breena hadn’t even thought of getting her a fresh change of clothes.
What a fabulous big sister you are, Breena.
All of a sudden, the Gossip Girl theme song played in the other room. Breena craned her neck to the TV to see if it was on. Nope.
Jenny hopped down and padded over to the coffee table in the living room. “Me and Bea. Okay. After awhile, turnstile.” She hung up.
Who was she speaking their special language to?
“Myles is on his way.”
Good, maybe he’d help come up with an idea about cleaning the house.
With breakfast finished, Breena rinsed the bowls before loading them into the dishwasher. Jenny settled into the couch with remote control in hand and Cartoon Network on the screen. Apparently, Orin had also sprung for cable.
After she’d wandered down the hall and back into her bathroom, Breena put on a light dusting of powder and some peach colored lip-gloss.
Suddenly the happy-whole feeling washed over her, and she knew Myles would be in the living room, waiting. Sure enough, he sat in the oversized chair, feet propped on the coffee table, his curls tousled in a messy-planned sort of way.
“Can we talk outside?” he asked as soon as she’d gotten to the end of the hallway, but before he’d turned around to see her.
“Sure.” Breena walked through the kitchen to the back door. “We’ll be right back,”
she called to Jenny, glancing at the front door to make sure it was locked. Looked like Myles had locked it after he’d come in. Jenny looked up at her with a half-smile, half-I’m-watching-my-show stare.
“Where’d all the new stuff come from?” Myles asked, holding the door open.
She stepped through first. “Orin.” No point keeping it from him. If he asked Jenny she’d tell him in a second.
Glancing behind her, she found Myles scowling. She couldn’t read his mind, but she could pretty easily interpret what his blood told her: So the unnatural can provide for you, but I can’t…that the gist?
She ignored his emotional assault as she locked the door. They walked through the shared backyard, down the hill, and to the stony side of the river. She sat on the biggest rock, closest to the water. He trailed along after her at human speed, choosing a spot next to her on the gray surface.
A strong citrus smell hung in the air, like a bucket of lemon-fresh Pinesol had been dumped out nearby.
“I called the president,” he announced.
“Why?”
“You’re not safe here. I don’t know how to protect you anymore.”
“I don’t need protecting.” She pushed off the rock.
Myles grabbed her arm by the elbow. His touch sent little shockwaves through her body. Breena knew he only wanted to look out for her and Jenny but she needed him to help her understand this, not keep her from it.
“Dammit, Myles.” She tried to pull her arm free.
He released her the moment she started to resist. “Lucinda sent a local crew to clean up at Norma’s.”
“Lucinda?” She sat on the edge of the rock.
“The president.”
“What’s she the president of anyway?”
“The company the witches run. It’s their way of blending in. Keeping their power a secret.”
“Why all the secrecy?”
His eyes seemed to twinkle in the sunlight. It was distracting. “We all have our orders.”
Okay, so the witches must not be at the top of the food chain, even though the WC sounded like a very powerful lot. “Who do the witches take orders from?”
“The djinn.”
She’d heard of them before. But where? Then she remembered a book she’d read in English class in high school. “Like genies?”
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