Her Secret

by Tara Fox Hall

  Cathy was staring at him in equal parts amazement and interest.

  “This is Violet’s mom. Theo, meet Cathy. Cathy, this is Elle’s father, Theo.”

  Cathy gave him her hand to shake. Instead, he kissed it. “Good to meet you,” he said, giving her one of his winning smiles.

  She gave him a warm smile back, blushing. I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes.

  “Hi,” the dance instructor said, coming over to Theo. “Can I help you?”

  Theo introduced himself and then kissed her hand, too.

  Watching her blush, I became annoyed. We weren’t here to be cute, we were here for Elle, who was watching the spectacle with the other girls and looking as irritated as I was.

  “Theo, are you going to let Elle come to Violet’s sleepover?” Cathy asked.

  “We have plans that night as a family,” I said smoothly. “But we’d love to have Violet come and spend the night with Elle and us, if she’d like to.”

  “Sure,” Cathy said, her eyes still on Theo. “I’m sure she’d like that.”

  “Are you coming to Elle’s recital?” the dance instructor said to Theo, hopeful.

  “Yes,” I said smoothly. “Elle’s adoptive father will be there as well.” I didn’t want to leave Danial’s name out of everything, especially as she was sure to point him out as her Dad at the recital and he’d already arranged to come.

  The two women looked over at me a little strangely. Theo was glaring at me like I’d rained on his parade.

  “Theo was a POW for some years,” I said seriously, spinning the story I’d worked out on the way here. “I thought he was dead, and Elle was raised by Danial and I. She thinks of him as her Dad. I’m telling you this so you’ll understand why Elle will refer to Danial as her Dad. I didn’t want anyone to be shocked, or make her feel as if she isn’t normal, for having two dads.”

  Cathy was first to recover. “I understand completely,” she said, putting her hand on my arm. “It’s terrible to lose someone, and not know if they are coming back to you alive, or if they are dead.”

  I nodded to her, as the dance instructor echoed her remarks. Theo’s stormy expression had left his face.

  “Are you going to let us continue?” Elle said, glaring up at Theo from the dance floor. “You’re early.”

  “She’s right,” the dance instructor said quickly, flustered. She called the class back to attention and they began practicing again.

  I exchanged numbers with Cathy. I gave her my cell, leaving it ambiguous whether Elle lived with us, or with Danial.

  When the class ended, Elle came over to us. “Was I good?” she asked, giving me a hug.

  “You were spectacular,” I said, hugging her back.

  Theo picked her up. “You were good,” he said, prideful.

  Elle beamed.

  I followed Theo and Elle back to Danial’s in my truck. By the time we got back, it was dark. As we slowly walked to the front door, Elle was still talking excitedly about Violet, and how much fun they would both have when she came to stay the night, and how many things she wanted to do. The first thing we heard as we opened the front door was the clash of swords, and yelling.

  Chapter Five

  Theo drew his gun and ran into the great room, Elle and I hot on his heels. Entering the dining room, he stopped, then holstered his gun.

  “I thought there was trouble,” he said grumpily. “You’re just practicing.”

  Terian and Danial were sword fighting in the cleared space of the great room. Instead of common rapiers, they were fighting with broadswords.

  Terian swung down and Danial blocked him easily. Terian thrust, and Danial knocked it away, deflecting the blade. Terian paused. Danial just waited, his knees bent, his sword held easily in his hand. His hair was held back tightly in a short ponytail, as Terian’s was. Both of them had on leggings, soft boots and swordsman’s shirts.

  Terian circled and Danial circled with him. Though Terian clearly had been practicing, he didn’t have anywhere near the skill Danial had. Terian tried several times to strike Danial, but Danial parried his sword easily, deflecting the blade each time. Then Danial went on the offensive, and within a few seconds had Terian’s sword away from him. Terian grimaced, and put up his hands.

  “You win.”

  Danial put both blades aside, and went to Terian. “It takes a lot of practice,” he said with a smile. “It will get easier.”

  “I know,” Terian said. “I just wish I was making more progress.”

  “You are,” Danial said reassuringly. “You just started this week. You’ve only had two lessons.”

  “Tomorrow, then?”

  Danial nodded. “Same time.”

  “I’m going to go shower,” Terian said. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be out in the woods after, patrolling.” He shot us a smile, then left.

  “How’s he really doing?” Theo said conspiratorially, crossing to Danial.

  “Better than you did, when I first taught you,” Danial said with a grin.

  “Hey, I bet I still can beat you,” Theo challenged.

  Danial just gave him a cool glance and then tossed him Terian’s sword, bending his knees and assuming his former stance. Theo assumed the same stance, and began circling Danial.

  I stayed where I was, worried this was more than playing.

  Theo ran at Danial suddenly, and they hacked at one another, grunting and crying out as they fought. They moved almost too fast for me to follow them. The swords rang off one another again and again. Theo was swinging with force, but his movements were graceful as Danial’s were. They moved as if dancing.

  Then suddenly, it was over. Danial moved fast, spinning and hitting Theo’s hilt and Theo dropped the blade, shaking his hand. Danial kicked it away, and then he held his sword on Theo.

  “You win,” Theo said, putting up his hands.

  Elle and I gave Danial a round of applause. Danial inclined his head in a gesture of appreciation as he picked up Theo’s sword and his, and took them into the cellar.

  “Elle, go get out of your clothes and into pajamas,” Theo said. “Take a nice shower, and we’ll all be in to tuck you in shortly.”

  “I want to stay up—”

  “Now, Elle,” I said, giving her my don’t-push-it look. “Or Violet is not coming to stay overnight.”

  She went without another word.

  “I’m tired,” I said, crossing to Theo. “Let’s make this fast.”

  “We will.”

  Danial came upstairs, and directly over to me. “Are you sure you are okay?” he said softly, touching my hand with his. “You are having no ill effects from the drugs?”

  “No. I’m just tired.”

  “Hold still, then.” He kissed me softly, then deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into my mouth, holding my face in his hands.

  I kissed him back for a full minute, our bodies pressed together. Danial was stiff by the time he drew back, his eyes dark with desire. He waited a moment, his lips inches from mine.

  I didn’t cross that small space to kiss him again. While I’d enjoyed the kiss a lot, there was no lust rising rampant through me, as there had been last time. The desire that had always flavored our embraces was gone.

  Danial searched my eyes, then stepped back. “It is working,” he said despondently. “You feel no longing for me at all anymore.”

  I stepped forward and put my hand to his face. “I still love you as much as ever,” I said softly. “Don’t sound so sad.”

  “It’s hard not to be,” he said a sigh. “But I’m very happy, too. You have control and so do I.”

  “It’s a relief,” Theo said, pleased.

  “What is this about Violet coming to stay?” Danial said neutrally, changing the subject.

  “We can’t have Elle leaving, even for a night,” I said patiently. “It’s not safe to have her sleeping at a place with no guards. The easy solution is to have Violet come to stay instead. If you’re agreeable, she can spend
that night with Theo and I.”

  “How do you think that will be easy, Sar?” Danial said edgily.

  “Danial, Elle needs friends. She is alone most of the time. I don’t want her being so lonely she decides to start changing at night and not telling us again.”

  He gave me a considering look. “You are right. But how are you going to explain guards? The foxes must come with you, even if it’s only one night. And where will she stay?”

  “I still have her old bed all set up in what used to be my sewing room. It’s a mess now in there, but I can fix it like it was. It’s okay if Violet and her mother know where I live.”

  “That’s okay with me,” Danial said finally. “But I’m not budging on the guards. Brian will come and spend the night with you. Warren and one of the other foxes will stay outside and watch the house to make sure nothing happens.”

  Theo was nodding “This will work, Danial. If all goes well, Elle will be able to do this again. Sar’s right, she needs friends.”

  Danial smiled then. “I agree. Go ahead and set it up.”

  * * * *

  Later that night, as Theo and I were driving home, he said, “You were right to say what you did.”

  I flushed, as I’d been thinking about Devlin, wondering if Danial had talked to him lately, or if he’d return for Danial’s Hallows party. “What’s that?”

  “I was upset when you brought up Danial at the dance studio. But I understand why you did it, and it was the right thing to do.” He reached over and grasped my hand in his. “I’m sorry I got upset.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, giving him a smile. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask: what happened to the Hallows party? Danial always has one, but no one has mentioned anything yet. If he waits too much longer, it’ll have to be a Thanksgiving party.”

  There was a long pause. “Danial isn’t going to have one this year,” Theo said finally.

  “Why? It’s tradition. Danial enjoys the pomp and circumstance, and besides—”

  “Because we’ve had almost every vampire of note and also some non-vampires of power send entreaties to attend the party this year, Sar. Everyone wants to see Theoron. They also all want to see you.”

  SHIT with capital S, H, I, and T. “What’s Danial going to do?”

  “Danial is delaying for now. He and I are worried that the drug won’t be enough if you’re around that many vampires. The non-vampires he can ignore, period, no problem.”

  “Non-vampires?” I squeaked.

  Theo caught the look on my face, and squeezed my hand. “Powerful sorcerers, weres, fairies, with a few others mixed in. There were under twenty requests total from all of those. There have been over a thousand messages from vampires all over the globe.”

  My heart was beating rapidly. “What’s he been telling them?”

  “Just that Theoron requires your undivided attention. He thinks he can delay until spring, more than long enough for you to recover.”

  At my first party with Danial, I’d been a nervous wreck. How much worse would a party with every vampire who was anyone be, knowing they all were coming to see my son and me?

  “Do we have to see them?” I asked shakily.

  “Danial and I are waiting to see if Manir’s death has the ripple effect we’re hoping it will before we make any plans.” Theo squeezed my hand again tightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell you if I think you need to worry, you know that.”

  I squeezed his hand back. “I know that.”

  * * * *

  Theo shook me awake when we got home. “Are you okay?”

  “Much better,” I replied, yawning. “Do you want some dinner?”

  “I want you to rest. I’ll fix you some soup. I can eat some chicken.”

  I didn’t have much appetite, but I ate the soup he warmed up for me. After I was finished, I took the dishes to the sink. Theo was eating in the other room, the crunching of chicken bones just audible over the TV.

  “I’m going to bed,” I called.

  The crunching stopped. “I’ll be in shortly,” he replied. “I’m going to be in cougar form, as an FYI.”

  I put the cats and dogs to bed, and then crawled into bed myself. Theo came in just as I was falling asleep. A few moments later, the bed groaned under his weight as he leapt onto the bed.

  I looked sleepily into his light yellow eyes. “Don’t get any ideas.”

  Theo rolled his large eyes, then batted me lightly with his paw. He curled up in a circle next to me, and began to purr. I stroked his head, then his flattened nose and his small ears. He grinned happily, purring louder.

  We’d never done this in the old days. But since his return from being taken, some nights Theo slept with me in cougar form. Despite my earlier crack, he’d never acted as more than a pet, a companion who wanted platonic love and affection. That would’ve been fine, but I suspected that he wasn’t doing it to experience a new intimacy with me. He’d done this with Tasha, and he missed her deeply.

  He’d slept like this with her, curling himself around her body...

  I pushed aside my hurt. This was good for us to share, no matter the reason. Theo spent so much time in cougar form now that he had total recall of everything that he did while he was a cougar. Moreover, he had complete control, so much that the cats and dogs would tolerate his animal form, even if they were still leery.

  “Goodnight, Theo.” I shut off the light, and we lay together in bed, his purr still rumbling low in the darkness.

  * * * *

  The next morning, I went into work early with Theo. Right after we arrived at Danial’s, he left to patrol the grounds, and I went up to Danial’s office. There was a note waiting from Danial, asking me to handle the email first.

  I booted his computer, and began looking through the company email of Solutions, Inc. There were over thirty valid emails, but that was usual for a week’s time.

  Danial did consulting to large companies, fixing them structurally to increase profitability and make them more efficient. Yet he was better known for his excellent work in the line of finding-out-what-the-hell-had-happened-when-something-went-wrong. The majority of the email was of that type: high tech detective work.

  Also per usual, some of those potential clients wanted more than just their mysterious problem resolved: they wanted the instigator taken out, too. There were also a few carefully worded emails looking for revenge and justice outside the courts: hit requests.

  There was a time not long ago when Danial handled those kinds of cases, too. But killing for hire had gotten Danial more than a few death threats. One had led to an attempt on my life not long after we’d met. Danial had given up that business soon after.

  Those needed to be forwarded onto Devlin, the new handler of deserved revenge, with a question mark and a number. Then I would reply to the person and tell them that we couldn’t help them. Devlin would either contact them directly, or not. What worried me wasn’t the potential deaths these emails represented, it was that I had to contact Devlin this morning. It would be the first contact we’d had since the night we’d said goodbye...

  Maybe it could be put off. How would Dev handle these anyway, if he was in Rio? Wait, Brian had said he had a demon, Titus. He must know teleportation, as Terian did. Devlin could be anywhere instantly.

  What if Devlin teleported here when I was working? That simultaneously worried and exhilarated me. Abruptly, that all changed to worry visualizing the night Devlin arrived at my back door. If he’d teleported then to my house, he could certainly do it again. What if he showed up some night Theo wasn’t home?

  Desire welled up within me. I rummaged in my purse quickly, and popped another yellow pill. I’d been taking them at lunch, but from now on, I’d take them at breakfast.

  The phone rang. Relieved to see it was Theo, I answered. “Hi.”

  “So how’s the email going?”

  “A few seem good. I printed those out and left them on Danial’s desk. There’s also one hate mail.”r />
  “Put it in the possible suspects file. Oh, and can you move some of those to the Possible Enemies Drawer? Anything over six months can go there.”

  “Will do.”

  “Anything for Devlin?”

  I swallowed quickly. “Yes. I’m...I’ve sent them on to him. I also had a few junk e-mails I deleted.”

  “Fine. I’m actually calling about Elle. She wants to know if the sleepover’s been finalized.”

  “Not yet. I’ll call Cathy shortly.”

  “I’ll tell her. See you about five. Love you.”

  “Love you.” I hung up.

  I called Cathy right away and set up a sleep over for the following Friday. She said that would be fine, and I gave her directions to my house. I could tell she wanted to ask if Theo was my husband and what the deal was with Danial, but she was too polite. Amused, I didn’t volunteer the information.

  Taking stock one more time to make sure I’d done everything, I realized there were no praising emails for Solutions, Inc., as Danial sometimes received. Suddenly inspired, I took a blank sheet of paper and wrote on it in big letters “YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND YOU ARE LOVED :),” then set it where he’d left me his note.

  As I went to shut down the computer, a new email arrived. Devlin had replied to one of my emails with just two words in caps: MISS ME?

  “Hell, yes,” I said longingly before thinking. Flushing quickly, I deleted the email and switched off the computer.

  * * * *

  After lunch, I relayed the sleepover news to Theo, then went in to see my son bearing some ice cream for a treat. Terian was already in the room, holding him.

  “Mommy!” Theoron shrieked.

  “Hi,” I said happily back, handing Terian the dish of ice cream.

  He took it, and started feeding Theoron. “Now don’t bite at it. Lick instead.”

  Theoron was used to blood, being half vampire. He’d adapted to most foods, knowing that solid food required biting and chewing, and liquids could be drunk. But ice cream was kind of in-between.

  “Keep your fangs retracted,” I encouraged. “You don’t need them.”