The wooden spoon rattled against the pan as my hand trembled, the thrill of adrenaline zinging through me at the memory of her teeth sliding cleanly into me, fear and pleasure mixing in an unreal sensation, filling me with the rush of ecstasy.
As if the memory had called her, Ivys lanky silhouette appeared in the hallway. Dressed in tight jeans and a shirt cut high to show her belly-button ring, she went to the fridge for a bottled water. Her motions to open it slowed as she scented the air, realizing Id been thinking about her, or at least about something that would get my rush flowing and my pulse up. Pupils swelling, she eyed me from across the kitchen. That perfume isnt working anymore, she said.
I hid my smile, thinking I should just stop wearing it, but pushing her into biting me again was a bad idea. Its an old one, I said. I didnt have anything else in the bathroom.
Much to my surprise, she shook her head and chuckled. She was in a good mood, and I wondered what she and Skimmer had been doing in there besides rearranging the furniture. Not my business, I thought, turning back to my sauce.
Ivy was silent as she took another swig, leaning against the counter with her ankles crossed. I felt her eyes rove the kitchen, landing on the kettle shining dully on a back burner. Is Ceri coming over? she asked.
Nodding, I looked into the damp garden, shadowed into an early dusk from the clouds. Shes going to help me with my calling glyph. I glanced at her, my spoon still circling. Clockwise, clockwisenever widdershins. Whats your schedule tonight?
Im out and wont be back until almost sunup. Ive got a run. In a motion of powerful grace, she used one hand to ease herself up to sit on the counter.
You going to take Jenks? I asked, wanting him here with me, but my scaredy-cat fears came in second after a real job.
No. Ivy ran her fingers up through the downward spikes of her shorter hair in a show of nervousness, telling me she was doing something for Piscary, not her bank account. She was the master vampires scion, and that came firstwhen it didnt involve me. Do you think that ugly statue is what that demon was after?
The focus? Running a finger over the spoon, I licked it and set it in the sink. What else could it be? Ceri says if Newt knew that David had it, she would have shown up at his apartment, not here, but Im going to bring it back anyway. Someone in Cincy knows its surfaced again. My gaze went distant, and a nasty feeling of betrayal settled into my belly. Besides Ivy, Jenks, and Kisten, the only person who knew I still had the focus was Nick. I couldnt believe he would have betrayed me like that, but he had sold information about me to Big Al before. And now he was pissed at me.
The water was boiling, and I shook in enough macaroni for three. Leaning, Ivy dragged the open box of pasta to her. What did Glenn want? she asked, crunching through a dry piece.
Breaking apart the clumps of macaroni, I turned the flame down. My opinion of a Were murder. It was Mr. Rays secretary. Whoever did it tried to make it look like a suicide.
Defined eyebrows high, Ivys gaze went to the calendar pinned to the wall beside her computer. A week from the full moon? No way was it a suicide, and the I.S. knows it.
I nodded. I dont think they expected the FIB to take an interest. She had pressure marks from restraints and needle marks. Denon was covering it up.
Ivys reach into the box for another piece of pasta hesitated. You think it has something to do with the focus?
Why not? I said, exasperated. Damn it. Id only had the ugly statue for two months, and already word was out that it hadnt been lost going over the Mackinac Bridge. Tucking a strand of hair out of the way, I stirred my pasta and tried to remember if Id gone to see or even called David in all that time. Apart from the night I gave it to him, I didnt think I had. He was my alpha, but it wasnt like we were married or anything. Crap, this wasnt safe. I needed to get it back from him, like today.
I can ask around if you want, Ivy said, swinging her boots up onto the counter to sit cross-legged with the box of pasta.
My thoughts jerked back to her. Absolutely not, I said. The less I dig, the safer Ill be. Besides, well never get paid for it if you do find something.
She laughed, and my mood eased. Ivy didnt laugh often, and I loved the sound of it.
Is that why youre thinking about Nick? she asked, shocking me. You never make pasta in Alfredo sauce unless you are.
My mouth dropped open in protest, then snapped shut. Crap. Shes right. Mmmm, I said, peeved as I stirred the pasta. Glenn gave me his file today. Its four inches thick.
Really? she drawled, and I frowned. She hadnt liked Nick from day one.
Yes, really. I hesitated, watching the steam rise. Hes been at this a while.
Im sorry.
I forced my face into a bland expression. She hated Nick, but she was genuinely sorry he had cracked my heart. Im over it. And I was. Except for the part about feeling used. Hed been selling information to Al about me for favors before we broke up. Ass.
NINs Only went soft, and I wasnt surprised when Skimmer came into the kitchen, probably wanting to know what we were up to. I felt more than saw Ivys posture shift to a more closed mien when Skimmers jeans-clad dancers body breezed in.
Ivy was as open with me as she was with Skimmer, but she wasnt comfortable letting Skimmer know that. We three had an odd dynamic, one I wasnt keen on. Skimmer flatly loved Ivy, having moved here on the promise that if she got Piscary out of prison shed be accepted into his camarilla and could stay. I was the one who had put him there, and the day he got out, Id probably find my life not worth troll farts. Ivy was a large part of why I was still alive, which put her in a hard spot whose pressures slowly built with each court success.
Skimmer would do what she had to do to stay with Ivy. I would do what I had to do to keep my body and soul together. And Ivy was going to go quietly insane, wanting both of us to succeed. It wouldve helped if Skimmer werent so darn nice.
The perceptive vampire clearly recognized that shed interrupted something, and, tucking her long, blond, severely straight hair back behind an ear, she settled herself into Ivys chair at the table. From the corner of my sight, I saw her features scrunch up for a moment when she and Ivy exchanged a look, but then she smoothed them, her small nose and chin easing into a pleasant expression. Beside Skimmers delicate features, I thought my strong jaw and cheekbones looked Neanderthal. Though sharp as a cracked whip and at the top of her game, the woman looked innocent with her blue eyes and West Coast tan, a trait that probably stood her in good stead in her profession when the competition underestimated her.
Lunch? she said brightly, her pleasant voice showing a calculated hint of distress.
Just white pasta, I said, going to drain the macaroni. Ive got enough for three if youre interested. I turned from the sink, finding that her vivid blue eyes had a shrinking iris of blue to make them even more striking. Her eyelashes were thick and long, accentuating her delicate features. I wondered what theyd been doing in the sanctuary. There was more than one place to bite someoneand most of them were covered by clothes.
Count me in, she said, glancing at her watch with its diamond-chip numbers. Ive got an hour before I need to be back in the office, and if Im not there, they can damn well wait for me.
That was coolseeing as she was the bossbut my blood pressure started clicking upward when she went to the fridge, reaching above it for one of Ivys Brimstone cookies. God, I hated those things, and I lived in worry that one day the I.S. would have an excuse to search my kitchen and Id be dragged off.
Why dont we make it a real meal? the vampire said, clearly aware I was upset but determined to forge ahead. Ivy has a run tonight, and Ive got to get back to work. It wont take much to make it a sit-down lunch right now.
If my pasta isnt enough for you, then why did you say yes? I thought nastily, but I stifled my first reaction since I knew that the offer had been made out of a genuine attempt at camaraderie. I glanced at the clock, deciding there was plenty of time before Ceri came over, and when Ivy shrugged, I nodded. Sure, I said. Why not?
Skimmer smiled. It was obvious she wasnt used to having anyone dislike her, and it wasnt that I hated her, but every time she came over, she did something that rubbed me the wrong way through no fault of her own. Ill make garlic bread, she said brightly, hair swinging as she tugged open the cupboard door to the spices.
Rachels allergic to garlic, Ivy prompted, and the living vampire hesitated. Her eyes went to mine, and I could almost hear her berate herself.
Oh. Herb toast, then. With a forced cheerfulness, she went to wash her hands.
I wasnt really allergic, just sensitive to it thanks to that same genetic aberration that would have killed me had Trents father not intervened. Ivy slid off the counter, and after snapping the box of pasta shut, started gathering salad stuff. She was right next to Skimmer, and when their heads almost touched, I thought I heard soft encouragement.
Standing at the stove with my pasta, I found I was beginning to feel bad for the woman. She was really trying, recognizing that I was important to Ivy and making an effort to be gracious. Skimmer knew that Ivy had once set her sights on me, dropping her play for my blood after shed finally gotten it, the encounters ending bad enough to scare her into never doing it again. And it was no secret that I didnt give a flying flip that the two of them were sharing blood and a pillow both. I think that that had a lot to do with Skimmers attitude. I was one of Ivys few friends, and Skimmer knew that the quickest way to tick Ivy off was to be mean to me.
Vampires, I thought, shaking the pasta into the white sauce. Id never understand them.
How about some wine? Skimmer asked, standing at the open fridge with a stick of butter in her hand. Red goes with pasta. I brought some over today.
I couldnt drink red wine without risking migraines, and Ivy didnt drink muchnot at all before a run. I opened my mouth to simply say none for me, but Ivy blurted, Rachel cant tolerate red wine. Shes sensitive to sulfur.
Oh, God. Skimmers pretty face was creased when she came out from behind the door. Im sorry. I didnt know. Is there anything else you cant tolerate?
Just you. You know what? I said, dropping the lid on the finished pasta and turning the flame off. Im going to get some ice cream. Anyone else want ice cream?
Not waiting for an answer, I snatched up my shoulder bag and one of Ivys canvas sacks and walked out of the kitchen. Ill be back before the breads done! I called over my shoulder.
The echo of my sandals was different in the sanctuary, and I slowed to see the cozy area Ivy and Skimmer had arranged in a front corner as temporary living room. The TV would be lame, since we didnt have cable out here, but all I needed was the stereo. Skimmer mustve brought the floor plants, since I hadnt seen them before. Damn vampire was just moving in.
And Im having a problem with that? Irritated at myself now, I shoved one of the thick doors open, slipping out onto the wide stoop and shutting it hard. The light over the sign was on to make the damp pavement shine. Rain-soft air caressed my bare shoulder, but it didnt soothe me. Was I bothered because Id begun to think of the church as mine, or was it because Skimmer was taking some of Ivys attention?
Do I really want to answer that?
My mood worsened when I passed my car in the carport. Couldnt drive my stupid car to the stupid corner store because of the stupid I.S.
I scanned the street for my pack-hopeful, not finding Brett. Maybe the rain had chased him off. The man did have to work sometime.
The thump of the churchs front door shutting cut through the damp air, and I turned with an apologetic look on my face. But it wasnt Ivy.
Im coming with you, Skimmer said, shrugging her lightweight cream-colored jacket and taking the steps two at a time.
Swell. I turned and started walking.
Silent, Skimmer held her purse tight to herself as she matched me step for step, a shade too close since the sidewalk wasnt that wide. Our feet splashed through a puddle, and I glanced at her white boots. Though inappropriate for a runner to work in, they looked great on her, showing off her little feet. What in hell does she want?
Skimmer took a slow breath. Ivy and I met the day she moved into my dorm room.
Whoa. This is not what I had expected. Skimmer
The cadence of her boots never slowed. Let me finish, she said, her cheeks spotted red in the occasional streetlight. My old roommate was expelled, and Ivy moved in. Piscary had screwed her mind royally, and her parents managed to get her out from under him for a few years so she could find an identity that didnt hinge on him. I think it saved her life. It damn well made her stronger. She needed someone, and I was there.
My pulse quickened, and my pace slowed. Maybe I should hear this.
Skimmers posture eased at my response, her slight shoulders losing much of their tension. We hit it off, she said, the black in her eyes swelling. She was away from her master and parents with a year of master-vampire techniques at her fangtips. I was looking for trouble. My God, it was fantastic, but she scared me into settling down, and I gave her something to believe in. Skimmer fixed her eyes on me. She was straight until she met me. Apart from a few latent tendencies. It took me two semesters to convince her that she could love me and Kisten both without betraying him.