I knew when she woke up. I could feel her energy. Why was she up already, the sun hadn’t set? She must be able to handle more than a normal vamp because of her fae blood. I tucked that information away as I built up my image of her. I needed to know how to care for her, once she agreed that she was mine. It would be much easier if she didn’t have to completely avoid the sun, but I knew that for her I would bury myself in a dark pit and never gaze on the sun again, and I’d be happy as long as she was there with me. Just as my father had warned me, nothing mattered as much as my mate, now I understood. I thought it would feel like a shackle, but it was incredibly freeing, as if I finally understood why I existed, my purpose in life had changed and now it was all about her. If only she didn’t look at me like I was the most horrible thing she’d ever seen.
Anger and annoyance filled me, what had she been through to think that I would harm her? Why wasn’t she reacting the way she was supposed to? A sliver of fear sliced through me as I let my thoughts go to a dark place, what if what the vampire had done to her had changed her just enough to kill the mating instinct in her, what if it was only alive in me?
I shook my head, forcing those thoughts away. It wouldn’t matter, I could love enough for the both of us, she’d just have to accept it, it was destiny, no one denied their destiny.
When the elevator dinged in the hallway, I could smell human. I opened my door and watched a young man with a paper bag full of food knock on her door. She ushered him in so quick I barely caught a glimpse of her, and I couldn’t contain my growl. What was she messing around with a human male for? Now there were two males in there with my woman! I was ready to kill someone, two someones. Luckily the human left again before I could decide how best to knock down the door and murder everyone inside except for her. I breathed deeply as he stumbled to the elevator, it seemed she’d only taken some of his blood, nothing more. I could smell the sweet scent of her wafting off of him and it was almost enough to make me lose my control, no male should smell of her except me.
I stood in the hallway half changed, growling at him. His eyes were glazed, and he didn’t even notice me, she’d mesmerized him to forget the whole experience. That made sense, she couldn’t feed off a male fairy without most likely killing him, and if she was mesmerizing the human male, then he meant nothing to her. It was a relief to confirm that the fairy in her apartment wasn’t able to attend to all of her needs, not like I would be able to, and she didn’t have a regular male attending to her in that capacity either. She needed me, only me. I will be her everything, I thought with satisfaction.
I was able to calm myself down with this knowledge and shift back to human form, reminding myself that she had to eat, that she didn’t know I was going to be her only source of blood in the near future. She would find out soon. I would never allow my mate to put her mouth on another for anything. She’d drink only me, I would sustain her in every way, fill her with the very essence of myself, she would reek of me!
That thought had my body reacting in all sorts of ways and I glared at her door, wanting to push inside and claim her right then. I had to force myself back inside my apartment so that I wouldn’t do something stupid and scare her more.
The next time the elevator opened, I watched her let in that witch and a gnome! What the hell was she thinking? Gnomes were deadly to fairies. Unless… was she planning to kill the male in there? I smiled, yes, he must not be a friend, but perhaps the foe who had caused her such distress that I had to come find her and protect her. Maybe it would be as easy as going in and killing the male fairy for her, then claiming her as my prize.
I stalked to her door when it closed, ready to bust it down and take care of her problem. Then I heard the male fairy scream. Perhaps it was already over, perhaps the gnome had taken care of the problem that quickly. I strained my ears and the conversation confused me enough to hesitate. I wasn’t sure she would appreciate me killing her brother, but if he wasn’t the one making her so miserable that Osiris had sent me to save her, then who was? I stalked back to my own door full of frustration. If I wasn’t careful, if I didn’t approach her the right way, I might scare her off, and I couldn’t risk that. I had to wait, I had to bide my time. I had to think. It was her brother, that thought was comforting, he was no lover, no competition in my claim for her. I had time, but I didn’t have patience.
She should have ran across the distance and thrown herself into my arms the moment she first saw me. She should have felt me touch her soul the way I felt her touch mine. She hadn’t, I didn’t know why, and that terrified me.
After my shower I dressed in jeans and t-shirt with a pair of lips and vampire fangs on it. I styled my short hair so it covered my ears, as usual, and dabbed on a little makeup to make myself feel good. By the time I left my bedroom I did feel good. Falcon had come out of the bathroom showered and wearing a pair of board shorts and tank top. With his long white hair hanging loose around his shoulders, he looked more like a surfer than a stripper, which I appreciated. He was sitting on the couch, as far from the iron chains as he could get. Blade was on the coffee table, staring at him, and Jackie was on the chair he’d vacated, also staring at him.
Falcon was engrossed in an episode of national geographic featuring the world’s most impressive gardens and didn’t seem to care that he was the subject of everyone’s gaze, he was no doubt used to being stared at. In fact, I was sure he loved it.
“I am going to go buy food for the eaters.”
“I’m vegan,” Blade announced.
“Yes, and so is Falcon. I will buy fruits and veggies. Jackie maybe you should help, I don’t know what food is anymore.” That wasn’t completely true, but I really hated to go be around so many humans doing human things. If Jackie were with me, I wouldn’t feel quite so close to ripping out the throats of the annoying people.
“Sure!” She hopped up, always happy to do anything I asked, though I wasn’t quite sure why.
“Blade, I can trust you won’t let Falcon out?”
He huffed in answer, I guess that was a yes.
I hesitated at the door and walked back into the room. “Father hasn’t responded to my message.” I tried to hide the concern in my voice but I don’t think I quite succeeded.
Falcon met my gaze and I saw a brief sadness cross them. “I told you he wouldn’t care.”
“Or maybe I need to try a different tactic for getting my message to him. Who’s to say he even checks his phone, probably has an assistant who thinks I’m dead and was told to not relay any messages about you.”
“Yeah, Pauline, she’s a real bitch,” Falcon confirmed.
I narrowed my gaze and turned. I would just have to make sure a message got through the old-fashioned way. Jackie was waiting at the door looking like she wanted to aske a million questions.
“Your father doesn’t care that he’s being held hostage?” Jackie asked carefully, not quite pressing me for details, but showing her curiosity.
The only reason we could be sort of friends was that she didn’t ask me questions about my life. I couldn’t stand nosey people, but she was dying to know, I could see it in her eager face. I appreciated that she was holding back, trying to act casual, even though I had invited her into the middle of this mess in a way.
It had been so long since I’d trusted anyone, I wasn’t sure I wanted to start now, wasn’t sure I knew how. She was helping me, without asking for anything in return, that was something and I felt like I owed her a little something.
“Maybe not yet, but he will, I’ll make sure of that.” As we approached the elevator, Sobahn’s door opened and he stood there, staring, glaring really. No shirt, as usual. “What the hell! Does he just wait there until I open my God damn door?” I whispered to Jackie as I pressed the button more than necessary.
“Fuck me,” she gasped. “That man is an amazing specimen, isn’t he? Hello!” she called and waved familiarly.
His eyes darted to her briefly, then back to me and narrowed further. “It’s barely dark out.” He spoke in a strange accent, his voice accusing.
“Dark enough for me. By the way, I mesmerized the night guard to forget that you seemed odd to him. I suggest you do a better job of covering your tracks.” My eyes dipped to take in his bare chest and my throat tightened as my mind betrayed me with images of him less covered. My body heated with eager agreement to my mind’s traitorous thoughts. Just then, the elevator doors opened and I pushed Jackie inside. Sobahn’s glare intensified and I was glad to get away from it. When the doors closed, we both sighed with relief.
“How come your neighbor already hates you?”
“It’s a werewolf thing.”
“I don’t think he’s a werewolf,” she said with a surety that surprised me.
I looked at her, shocked. Sobahn was all animal; I could feel it. He was huge and angry, that meant werewolf in my experience. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure, but there was something different about his vibe, its animal but it isn’t werewolf, I know werewolf.” She grinned. “Perhaps a mix of demon?” She looked thoughtful. “I’ve never come across whatever he is, but something is vaguely familiar and it’s been bothering me—” her eyes widened and she clamped her lips shut.
I knew she was telling the truth; I also knew she was hiding something. I glared at her, but she refused to meet my eyes. She had a thing for werewolves, had dated a few in the past she’d told me, and was even friends with some of the females in town. I trusted her judgment more than my own guess on werewolf, but what did that make Sobahn? He was dangerous, no doubt, and he was far too interested in my comings and goings. “If you know something about him, I need to know.” A touch of guilt flitted over her face and realization struck me. “You sold him that place!”
She straightened and put her hands on her hips, looking serious and unashamed. “Yes, I did, it is my job. I didn’t know you wouldn’t get along and I don’t know anything else, it’s just… a feeling. I don’t think he means you any harm.” She relaxed her stance and smiled slyly. “I don’t think it’s hate; now that I really think about it, honestly. His eyes are intense when they look at you, but maybe it’s another feeling.”
I ruminated over her words. If it wasn’t hate, what was it? I didn’t believe she was telling me everything she knew, but it wasn’t fair for me to ask her to be completely open when I wasn’t. The important thing was, I didn’t believe she would let me be in danger. If she thought he was going to kill me, she’d say something.
Still, it was best to assume he was a dangerous animal, perhaps a half demon who hated me for existing. I was used to that, and I could deal with it. Anything else was unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
I blinked at the fading sunlight as we walked out of the building. “Where is the grocery store?” My mind back to hating the task at hand.
Jackie laughed. “There’s an organic market not far down this way.”
The street was teeming with tourists. They mostly got out of my way, and I didn’t have to do anything; most humans just knew danger instinctively. Jackie’s effect on humans wasn’t as obvious. They looked at her curiously, and then away quickly, as if they didn’t like what they saw, but weren’t necessarily afraid. She was partly a human after all. Her family had been practicing witchcraft for generations with varying results, and she had been born with a particular aptitude. Witchcraft was in the genes and it lent itself to long lives, compared to humans, but not like other supernaturals. She’d told me once that her father wasn’t exactly human, but she didn’t elaborate. She’d just waited, looking at me expectantly. I think wishing I would ask for more information, I didn’t. Getting closer to her was never on my agenda. I’d learned that friendships were dangerous for both parties in this life.
We arrived at a store with an overflowing basket of fruits and vegetables on the sign that proclaimed, Natural Foods. We walked in and I was immediately regretting doing this. “I don’t think he’ll be here for more than another day, maybe this isn’t necessary.” The smells of so many different types of food and so many humans in such a small space, assaulted my nose. I had to stop breathing, which was easy, I only had to breath to smell my surroundings, be alert for danger, and to talk.
“Oh, come on, you can do this. Just push the cart and don’t run anyone over.” That part was easy, I had a look of dread on my face so fierce, the aisles cleared around us. Jackie just giggled every once in a while when a patron moved at particular speed to get out of the way. She filled the cart with more than I thought could be necessary, but I was sure it was no use to complain. She even found some plates, bowls, utensils and glasses. Everything we needed to take care of a hostage and a guard gnome.
“No pots or pans,” she sighed. “I will bring some over and you can just give them back when your guests leave. No biggie.”
“Who do you expect to be cooking!” I couldn’t hide my indignation. I was certainly not going to be using the kitchen for any such thing, and I didn’t love the idea of food smells lingering in my home.
“Not all of these vegetables are meant to be eaten raw, Viv. Do you really not remember any of this in the slightest?”
“The last time I put anything in my mouth that wasn’t flesh or blood, everything was cooked over a fire and I was certainly not the one doing the cooking.” The thought was really beyond me, and I didn’t care if it made me sound ridiculous. I had been royalty before I’d been thrown out of my home and into the night.
Jackie just rolled her eyes and walked to the checkout where a short blonde human was cheerfully ringing people up. She looked like she was really enjoying her job and I wanted to bite her just to get that stupid grin off her face. She probably worried about nothing, except aging, at least I didn’t have that to worry about.
I almost choked when I saw the total. “How do humans not die of starvation!” I gasped and gained more than a few startled looks from the people around me.
Jackie just smiled at the checker, who now looked nervous. “She’s from out of town,” Jackie explained.
The checker gave Jackie a knowing look. Was the price of food dependent on where you were from, I wondered. I gave the girl my bank card and she looked almost surprised when it was accepted. I wanted to bare my fangs and tell her I had more in my bank account than anyone else in here, I just wasn’t inclined to waste it on food for eaters. Jackie pushed me, and I moved quickly, resisting the impulse.
“That was unpleasant,” I said when we got outside, both of us holding bags of groceries.
“Maybe next time I will go by myself,” Jackie said with a smirk.
“There won’t be a next time.” And to ensure that was true, I needed to get my father a message. “We are going out tonight, Jackie.”
“Oh! How fun, dancing?”
“Casino.”
She was surprised, and her face didn’t try to hide it. She knew I rarely set foot in casinos. I liked to keep my money. Not only that, most of the casinos were run by supernaturals and I tried to keep under everyone’s radar. My father was owner of The Golden Garden Hotel and Casino. He didn’t miss a night showing his face there, and he was going to get my message loud and clear tonight.
When we were back at my building I decided if we didn’t take the elevator, but used the staircase instead, we might not alert Sobahn to our arrival. Then maybe I would miss the chance of seeing his confusingly handsome, glaring face again. And since the stairwell door opened nearer to my door, it just made sense. Jackie was not happy about it, but she huffed and puffed her way up the eight flights. When we finally reached the top floor, we were both sweating. The stairwell wasn’t air conditioned, and the Nevada heat was intense this time of year, even at night. We burst through the door in a hurry, thankful for the hallway’s cool air.
“Fuck,” I groaned, seeing Sobahn standing in front of the elevator, apparently waiting for it to open.
“Fuck me,” Jackie panted, and smiled at Sobahn invitingly.
I rolled my eyes; she couldn’t keep it straight in her head that we were not liking him. I moved quickly to my door and watched him out of the corner of my eye. He turned to stare directly at me.
“She brought a gnome into your home.” He motioned to Jackie with his chin.
“Yep,” I said and darted into my condo. Jackie followed quickly and shut the door behind her.
“Dangerous company to keep,” he growled as the door shut, and I could tell he was close.
“He is weird! But damn, he is hot, and that accent!” Jackie panted.
“I have no idea what he is, or where he is from.” And that bothered me very much. “But he needs to step back and leave me alone.” I stared at the closed door, feeling his presence on the other side of it. Part of me wanted to rip the door open and demand explanations. Most of me was scared shitless of what those would be.
I turned from the door, and I swear I heard him growl as I did, as if he could sense me walking away. Impossible… right?
We walked into the living room and found Falcon, wings fully extended, hovering in a corner of the ceiling. Blade was standing under him on the shoulders of another gnome. All three turned to look at us when we entered.
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded.
“He was trying to escape, ma’am.” The new gnome spoke with an Irish accent. He looked younger than Blade, though he still had the full white beard. I wondered briefly if male gnomes were born with full white beards and almost laughed at the image that popped into my head. The gnome’s cheeks were rosy, and he smiled shyly. He wore black pants, red suspenders, and a red button up shirt. He’d taken his grey hat off, to make room for Blade on his shoulders it seemed.
I looked at Falcon and raised an eyebrow, waiting for explanation. “I just walked near the damn door and they attacked! That little one bit my leg!” He accused.
I hurried forward, the gnomes moved away, and Falcon floated to the ground. I looked at the injury, it was small, but still dangerous. Gnome venom was potent. The sight and smell of blood hit me hard, but I had eaten only hours before, so I could easily resist. That didn’t mean I thought I could clean it though. “Jackie, can you get this cleaned and bandaged?” I stepped away and Falcon limped dramatically to the couch.
“I’ll do what I can, but gnome venom is so toxic to fairies,” she whispered the last and it sent a shot of worry through me.
I glared at the little one. “Who are you and who said you could come here? How did you even get in?”
The little gnome held his hat in two hands at his chest and hung his head sadly. “I’m Calin and I followed my lover here. I was so worried when he told me he had been called to guard a fairy for a vampire. I came through your balcony there.”
“If he dies before I can go through with the ransom, you owe me a lot of money. Since you’re here, you can help guard him, and cook too.” I motioned to the bags I’d set on the floor. “Put that stuff away in the kitchen.”
Calin hurried to obey, dragging the bags one by one into the kitchen. “He fucks up again, it’s on you, Blade.”
“He just got too excited, he’s young, quick to react.”
“I didn’t know you were seeing someone!” Jackie beamed at Blade, completely ignoring the fact that things had gotten completely out of hand while we were gone.
Blade just grunted in response.
Jackie cleaned the small wound, and thoughtfully flushed the napkins down the toilet so I wouldn’t have bloody rages in the house. Then she put a small rag on top of the bite and tied one of my belts around his leg to hold it on.
“I think it would be best if I went to get some herbs for it, and a proper bandage. I need to get dressed appropriately for the casino anyway, and grab pots and pans!” Jackie was as cheerful as always in the face of possible fairy death and my ruined plan. I was starting to wonder at my choice of almost friend.
“You going to face Father?” There was surprise, and maybe a hint of respect, in Falcon’s voice.
“No, just going to deliver a message he can’t ignore,” I said with a wicked smile.