I took a deep breath as the door shut behind us, squinting in the sun and feeling my shoulders ease. It lasted all of three seconds until Kisten asked, Skimmer sleep over?
I dont want to talk about it, I grumbled.
That bad, eh? he added, taking the steps lightly beside me.
I glanced longingly at my convertible, then back to his Corvette. Shes not being nice anymore, I complained, and Kisten picked up his pace to gallantly open the door before I could reach for the handle. Giving him a smile of thanks, I slipped in, settling myself in the familiar confines of his leather-scented, incense-rich car. God, it smelled good in here, and I closed my eyes and leaned back while Kisten went around to his side. I kept them shut even as he buckled himself in and started his car, willing myself to relax.
Talk to me, he said when he started into motion and I was still silent.
A hundred thoughts sifted through me, but what came out was, SkimmerI hesitated. She found out that Ivys the one not allowing a blood balance between us, not me.
His soft sigh drew my attention. The sun glinted on his stubble, and I stifled an urge to touch it. I watched his gaze flick behind us to the church through the rearview mirror. Depressed, I rolled my window down and let the morning breeze shift my hair.
And? he prompted as he gunned it, pulling out ahead of a blue Buick trailing smoke.
Holding my hair away from my eyes, I frowned. Shes gotten nasty. Trying to drive me away. I told her Ivys just scared and that Im waiting until she isnt, so Skimmers gone from I want to be your friend because Ivys your friend to suck my toes and die.
Kistens grip on the wheel tightened, and he hit the brakes a little too hard at the stoplight. Realizing what Id said, I flushed. I knew hed rather have me lusting after a bite from him. But if I let him bite me, Ivy would snap. Im sorry, Kisten, I whispered.
He was silent, staring at the red light.
Reaching out, I touched his hand. I love you, I whispered. But letting you bite me would tear everything apart. Ivy couldnt take it. Jenks would say that my saying no to Kisten had more to do with the threat of his biting me being a bigger turn-on than the actual bite might be. Whatever. But if Kisten found a closer relationship with me when Ivy couldnt, it would hurt her, and he loved her, too, with the fanatical loyalty shared abuse often engenders; Piscary had warped them both.
From my bag came the trill of my phone, but I let it ring. This was more important. The light changed, and Kisten pulled into traffic, his grip more relaxed. Ivy had always been the dominant one in their relationship, but he was willing to fight for me if I was ever tempted enough to give him my blood. Trouble was, saying no had never been my strong suit. I courted disaster every time I slept with him, but it made for great sex. And I never said I was smart. Actually, it was pretty stupid. But wed been over that before.
Depressed, I let my arm hang out the window and watched the Hollows turn from homes to businesses. The sun glinted dully on my bracelet and its distinctive pattern of links. Ivy had an anklet in the same pattern. Id seen a few others around Cincy here and there, earning shrugs and smiles when I tried to hide mine. I knew they were probably Kistens way to show the world his conquests, but I wore it nevertheless. So did Ivy.
Skimmer wont hurt you, Kisten said softly, and I turned to him.
Not physically, I agreed, relieved he was handling this as well as he was. But you can be sure shes going to put extra love in her petition to get Piscary out.
He sobered at that, and quiet filled the car at the thought of what might happen if she succeeded. Wed both be up shit creek. Kisten had been Piscarys scion, betraying the master vampire the night Id beaten Piscary into submission. Piscary was ignoring that right now, but if he got out, I was sure hed have a thing or two to say to his ex-scion, even if Kisten had been the one keeping Piscarys business ventures intact, since Ivy wouldnt, her scion status aside.
My phone rang again. Digging it out, I looked to see that it was an unfamiliar number before I set it to vibrate. I was with Kisten, and taking the call would be rude. You arent mad? I offered hesitantly, watching the emotion on his face shift from worry about his physical being to that of worry for his emotional state.
Mad that youre attracted to Ivy? he said, the sun flashing over him as we crossed the bridge. My face warmed, and he pulled his hand from mine to manage the thicker traffic. No, he said, his eyes slightly dilating. I love you, but IvySince leaving the I.S. and you moving in with her, shes never been happier, more stable. Besides, he said, settling himself suggestively, if this keeps up, I might have a chance at one hell of a threesome.
My mouth dropped open, and I swatted him. No way!
Hey, he said, laughing, though his eyes were firmly on the traffic. Dont knock it until youve tried it.
I crossed my arms before me and looked straight out the window. Not going to happen, Kisten. But when I met his eyes, I could tell he had only been teasing me. I think.
Dont make plans this Friday, he said as we stopped at yet another light.
I stifled a huge smile, but inside I was singing. He remembered! Why? I asked, feigning ignorance.
He smiled, and I lost my battle to remain unmoved. Im taking you out for your birthday, he said. Ive got reservations for the Carew Tower restaurant.
Get out! I exclaimed, my eyes darting to the top of the building in question. Ive never been up there to eat. I squirmed, gaze going distant as I started to plan. I dont know what to wear.
Something that comes off easy? he suggested.
A horn blew behind us, and, not looking, Kisten accelerated.
All Ive got is stuff with lots of snaps and buckles, I teased.
He went to say something, but his phone rang. I frowned when he reached to take it. I never took calls when we were together. Not that I got that many to begin with. But I wasnt trying to run Cincys underworld for my boss either.
Snaps and buckles? he said as he flipped open the top. That might work, too. Smile fading, he said into his phone, This is Felps.
I settled back, feeling good just thinking about it.
Hey, Ivy. Whats up? Kisten said, and I straightened. Then, remembering my phone, I pulled it out and looked. Crap, Id missed four calls. But I didnt recognize the number.
Right beside me, Kisten said, glancing at me, and a flicker of concern rose. Sure, he added, then handed the phone to me.
Oh, God, now what? Feeling like Id heard a shoe fall, I said, Is it Jenks?
No, Ivys irate voice said, and I relaxed. Its your Were.
David? I stammered, and Kisten pulled into the driving schools parking lot.
Hes been trying to reach you, Ivy said, her tone both bothered and concerned. He saysare you ready for this?he says hes killing women and he doesnt remember. Look, will you call him? Hes called here twice in the last three minutes.
I wanted to laugh but couldnt. The Were murder the I.S. was covering up. The demon tearing my living room apart for the focus. Shit.
Okay, I said softly. Thanks. Bye.
Rachel?
Her voice had changed. I was upset, and she knew it. I took a breath, trying to find a glimmer of calm. Yes?
I could tell by her hesitation that she wasnt fooled, but she knew that whatever it was, I wasnt running scared. Yet. Watch yourself, she said tightly. Call me if you need me.
My tension eased. It was good to have friends. Thanks. I will.
I hung up, glanced at Kistens expressive eyes waiting for an explanation, then jumped when my phone, sitting in my lap, vibrated. Taking a breath, I picked it up and looked at the number. It was Davids. I recognized it now.
You going to take that? Kisten asked, his hands on the wheel though we were parked.
In the next spot over, I watched a girl slam the door to her mothers minivan. Ponytail bobbing and mouth going nonstop, she chatted as she headed to class with a friend. They disappeared past the glass doors, and the woman behind the wheel wiped at her eye and watched through her rearview mirror. Kisten leaned forward to get into my line of sight. The phone vibrated again, and a sour smile lifted the corners of my mouth as I flipped the phone open.
Somehow I didnt think I was going to make my class.
Davids hand trembled almost imperceptibly as he accepted the glass of cold tap water. He held it to his forehead for a moment as he gathered his calm, then sipped it and set it on the solid ash coffee table before us. Thank you, the small man said, then put his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands.
I patted his shoulder and eased farther from him on his couch. Kisten was standing next to the TV, back to us as he looked over Davids collection of Civil War sabers in a lighted, locked cabinet. The faint scent of Were tickled my nose, not unpleasant at all.
David was a wreck, and I alternated my attention between the shaken man dressed in his suit for the office and his tidy, clearly bachelor town house. It was the usual two stories, the entire complex about five to ten years old. The carpet probably hadnt ever been replaced, and I wondered if David rented or owned.
We were in the living room. To one side past the landscaped buffer was the parking lot. To the other through the kitchen and dining area was a large common courtyard, the other apartments far enough away that it granted a measure of privacy by pure distance. The walls were thick, hence the silence, and the classy wallpaper done in browns and tans said he had decorated it himself. Owned, I decided, remembering that as a field adjustor for Were Insurance he was paid very well for getting the true story from reluctant policy owners trying to hide the reason their Christmas tree had spontaneously combusted and took out their living room.
Though his apartment was a calm spot of peace, the Were himself looked ragged. David was a loner, having the personal power and charisma of an alpha without the responsibilities. Technically speaking, I was his pack, a mutually beneficial agreement on paper that helped prevent David from being fired and gave me the opportunity to get my insurance at a devastatingly cheap rate. That was the extent of our relationship, but I knew he used me to keep Were women from insinuating themselves into his life.
My gaze landed on the fat little black book beside his phone. Apparently that didnt slow him down when it came to dating. Dang, he needed a rubber band to keep the thing shut.
Better? I said, and David looked up. His beautifully deep brown eyes were wide with a slow fear, looking wrong on him. He had a wonderfully trim body made for running, disguised under the comfortable suit. Clearly he had been on his way to the office when whatever threw him into such a tizzy happened, and it worried me that something could shake him like this. David was the most stable person I knew.
His shoes under the coffee table shone, and he was clean-shaven, not even a hint of black stubble marring his sun-darkened, somewhat rough skin. Id seen him in a floor-length duster and dilapidated hat once while he had been stalking me, and he had looked like Van Helsing; his luscious black hair was long and wavy, and his thick eyebrows made a nice statement. He had about the same amount of confidence as the fictional character, too, but right now it was tempered with worry and distraction.
No, he said, his low voice penetrating. I think Im killing my girlfriends.
Kisten turned, and I held up a hand to forestall the vampire from saying anything stupid. David was nothing if not levelheaded,and as an insurance adjustor he was quick, savvy, and hard to surprise. If he thought he was killing his girlfriends, then there was a reason for it.
Im listening, I said from beside him, and David took a slow breath, forcing himself to sit upright, if still on the edge of the couch.
I was trying to find a date for this weekend, he started, glancing at Kisten.
For the full moon? Kisten interrupted, earning both my and Davids annoyance.
The full moon isnt until Monday, the Were said. And Im not a college Werejockey high on bane crashing your bar. I have as much control over myself on a full moon as you do.
Obviously it was a sore spot, and Kisten raised a placating hand. Sorry.
The tension in the room eased, and Davids haunted eyes went to his address book by the phone. Serena called me last night, asking me if I had the flu. He looked up at me, then away. Which I thought strange since its summer, but then I called Kally to see if she was free, and she asked me the same thing.
Kisten chuckled. You dated two women in one weekend?
Davids brow creased. No, they were a week apart. So I called a few other women, seeing as I hadnt heard from any of them in almost a month.
In high demand are you, Mr. Peabody?
Kisten, I muttered, not liking the reference to the old cartoon. Stop it. Davids cat was peering at me from the top of the stairway. I didnt even try to coax it down, depressed.
David wasnt cowed at all by the living vampire. Not here in his own apartment. Yes, he said belligerently. I am, actually. You want to wait on the veranda?
Kisten raised a hand in a gesture of whatever, but I had no trouble believing that the attractive, mid-thirties Were had women calling him for dates. David and I were comfortable leaving our relationship at the business level, though I found it mildly irksome that he had issues with the different-species thing. But as long as he respected me as a person, I was willing to let him miss out on a good slice of the female population. His loss.