Missing the Night

by Viola Grace

  “Fair enough. I will ask him. Right now.” Nessa got up and sprinted out of the room.

  Orvis sighed and followed the other woman, turning off the light and walking out the door. The shadows were watching her.

  She knew where Stovos was, which meant she got there just as Nessa grabbed the handle and opened the door to his office. “I need to borrow your lover.”

  Orvis arrived a moment later and stood with her head cocked. It was an interesting request.

  “Don’t you have enough to feed you, love-talker? You would take my joy as well?” He looked at his daughter-in-law.

  Nessa paused. Orvis leaned against the doorway. “She wants my help as an administrator to start fundraising for her chosen charities. She has been working too small.”

  The boss looked at her. “Do we have empty offices?”

  “Twentieth floor. When we outsourced our hiring, all the file storage was moved to a secure site. It is empty, wide open, and unoccupied. I can have a reno company in there next week if Nessa knows what she wants.”

  Nessa looked back at her. “I have no clue.”

  “Then, when I am here, we shall have to work on the design. It’s fine. I know a really good contractor.” Orvis smiled. “And a few crappy ones. I can grab the blueprints tomorrow.”

  Stovos looked at her. “You are speaking as if I agreed.”

  She cocked her head. “Didn’t you? There was implicit permission when you asked if there was room in the building.”

  He gestured for her to approach. “You said that you would work on it when you were here. Where else would you be?”

  She swallowed. “Um, at home. I know I am here because you want me here, but you change your mind about women frequently.”

  “Nessa, leave now and close the door; there is going to be some shouting.”

  Nessa looked between them, and she closed the door.

  He got to his feet and cupped her jaw. “Why do you pull back?”

  “It is my nature. When I am away from you, the reality comes back and weighs on me. I go cold. It reminds me that it is only when you are with me that I feel as if I am wanted, and you are a busy man. It is not practical.”

  “I am not interested in the practical. How did your ancestors remain with their mates?”

  She backed up. “I don’t want to say.”

  Nessa’s voice came through the door. “Stovos, take three strands of your hair and braid them together. Put it on her as ring, bracelet, or necklace depending on the length.”

  Orvis muttered, “Squealer!”

  “Look forward to working with you, Tolly.” The laughter that rang through the door faded.

  “Hair? That is what the fuss is about?” He guided her to his office chair, and his hands on her shoulders urged her to sit down.

  “It is serious stuff, moron. Not only can’t I get out of it, but you can’t get out of it without me losing a hand or my head. It’s not a joke.”

  He pulled three of his snowy-white hairs, knotted them, and he handed her the end. “Hold this.”

  His fingers flashed quickly as he moved down the long path. It took quite a while, and her fingers cramped up, but he finally had a strand eight inches long. He chuckled. “Too short for a necklace. A bracelet it will have to be.”

  She winced as he wrapped it around her left wrist, and for a moment, she thought everything was fine. The hair started to move on her skin, and she felt the pain come at her in waves. She screamed as the moving hair worked its way into her skin. It took ninety seconds, and she was covered in sweat, and he was soothing her. The glow under her skin slowly faded.

  She sighed and relaxed as the feeling of being secure washed through her. Humanity was carried forward under the idea that women forgot pain quickly. She was really hoping that her harpy senses did the same.

  “What just happened?” He pressed a kiss to her sweaty temple.

  “You put your hair, braided by your hand, around my skin with the intent to keep me with you. Now, a piece of you and your intent is under my skin forever. Yay.” She gave a hoarse laugh.

  “But it hurt you.”

  “Oh yes. They don’t want any of us doing this lightly. Right now, I can only be free of you if I scrape off all the skin and remove the braid or cut off my hand.” She lifted her head and looked at him. “The reason that I hesitated and that I was going cold so fast is that I am also a fury a few centuries back.”

  “Like a bunny suit?” He frowned.

  She laughed and hiccupped. “No. Fury. Vengeance of the gods. Very angry women. They give my family the pain when we choose a man. A warning of the pain to come.”

  “I won’t give you pain.”

  She sighed. “You just about burned my fucking arm off.”

  He lifted her wrist to his lips. “I am sorry.”

  Orvis stroked his cheek. “I know. It’s done now. We are both stuck.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing. I am very happy to be stuck with you.”

  “Really? This little item also drains your life to keep me alive. You really should have let me explain.”

  He smiled. “So you can’t die unless I do?”

  “Correct. You get my annoying ass for the next however many centuries.”

  “I haven’t had your ass yet. I look forward to it.” There was a gleam in his eyes. He was both serious and definitely amused.”

  Another voice interrupted them. “This is fascinating and all, but can you release my little flying cousin, so we can continue our discussion?”

  She turned and saw the laptop was open, and the face of Kel, the only drake on Earth as far as anyone knew, was looking at them with polite attention.

  Stovos put his lips next to her ear and whispered, “Any sentient being who flies is his cousin. So far, that is you and one bat shifter.”

  “I can hear you, Stovos. Now, can we continue?”

  She muttered. “I thought you did this on Thursday.”

  “Thursday has been cancelled. He has to go to birthing class with his mate and his host.”

  She looked at the being with the large wings protruding from his back. “Is he going to the faere?”

  “Nen and Krys are considering it. I think it would be entertaining, at least for an evening.” Kel cocked his head. “It seems I can continue this with you, Miss.”

  “Pardon. Kel, Atolica Orvis, Orvis, this is Kel, protector of Earth from any stellar debris that crosses our planet’s path. Focused and unfocused. The people he mentioned are Krys, his source; she takes his input and returns it to him stronger. Nen is a mage from his dimensional future who selected Krys and acts as a host for Kel when he wants to move among humans. They run an accounting company.”

  “Danforth Accounting. We use them for vetting acquisitions.”

  Kel grinned. “See, I told you I should be chatting with her. Atolica, what do you think about working with shapeshifters in general?”

  “In general, it is fine, but it is a case-by-case basis.”

  “What about faerie?”

  “Watch your contracts; they are tricky b—creatures.” She blinked as Stovos lifted her and sat in his chair with her on his lap.

  “Nice catch, Orvis.” He muttered it in her ear.

  She chuckled.

  Kel smiled. “So, little cousin, would you like to come to dinner and fly?”

  Stovos tensed. “I don’t know if we have time. We are on a fairly tight schedule this week.”

  “How about after the wedding on Saturday. We are attending from the groom’s side, apparently. His father is on one of the councils.” Kel waved his hand vaguely.

  “Stovos is attending. I RSVP’d for him a few months ago.” She bit her lip. “There was no plus one offered, so I will see you on another day.”

  Kel paused and held up a hand. He picked up a cell phone and dialled with his thumb. “Steven, this is Kelnen Danforth.” There was a pause. “It’s about the wed
ding. Are all the seats claimed at Stovos Twilight’s table? So, Hector Twilight’s triad and Stovos alone? Excellent. Move Krys and me to the table and add Stovos’s wife. Yes. She is a recent acquisition.” He listened. “Have Olmin’s triad near us if the tables don’t seat ten.”

  He listened to spluttering on the phone. “Thank you for being so reasonable. I look forward to seeing you on the joyous day.”

  He hung up and smiled. “Problem solved. You will be there.”

  Orvis bit Stovos’s fingers. “Ow. Not so hard, Orvis.”

  She growled, and he pulled his hand away. “I will kiss it better later.”

  He chuckled.

  Kel smiled. “She has some of the same soul as Krys but a lot less cursing.”

  “I temper it for an audience. Where are your other two-thirds?”

  “Krys is lying down, and Nen is studying. Wait, now Nen is lying down. Never mind, I will stop the updates.” He chuckled.

  Orvis smiled. “That must be distracting.”

  He shrugged. “In ancient times, mages would summon demons to gain power, then one or two mages discovered that they could gain that same power from certain partners or creatures. Pleasure is an excellent medium as it is endless and renewing. It doesn’t kill the source. Krys and Nen provide me with the same energy as I get from her, and as I see through Nen’s body, it also gives me pleasure. Stovos’s people are similar. They directly transform sexual energy to physical strength.”

  Orvis blinked. “That wasn’t made clear to me.”

  Kel chuckled. “I thought not. We had to do full disclosure with Krys because she would have had no qualms about simply leaving and roaming the world to avoid us. When she couldn’t avoid us, she would have started to use projectiles on us. You are differently set. In the meetings that you have had with my company, you have displayed incredible intellect and forethought.”

  “I am a mythical, so I am not covered by the laws of shifters or mages or faerie. I am in a pocket of my own.”

  “You are not alone, little cousin, and I do look forward to that flight. Stovos, you have a witness to your formal binding if you need one. I will see you on Saturday. Good day, Ms. Orvis.”

  He reached for the keyboard and turned off the call.

  She blinked. “So, you feed off me?” She knew that he took energy from sex, but she had never associated the idea with her, precisely.

  “I do. You taste amazing.” He slowly closed the laptop. “Now, why are you trying to get out of going to the wedding?”

  “There are going to be a lot of people from work there. They are going to talk.”

  “In that case, make sure that you go to HR tomorrow morning and mention that we are cohabiting. I will do the same, and gossip will break loose and spread through the company in a few minutes. Your change in clothing will also be a cause for conversation.”

  She grimaced. “Can’t we ease into it?”

  “No. Best to make a clean cut. But, since you like suits so much, Cale is willing to tailor your existing clothing to your natural figure. We will have to go into the shop for the alterations.”

  She blinked and then smiled. “Okay. I will pick my favourites first.”

  He laughed. “First, you will look at what I picked out, and we can change anything you like.”

  “Okay, I will head up to your room and take a look.” She leaned away. He held her fast.

  “I believe you said you would kiss it better. It is later now.” He held up his right hand.

  She snorted and took his hand between hers, pressing a kiss to his fingers. “Was it here?”

  “No.”

  “Here?”

  “Closer.”

  “Here?”

  “That’s the spot.”

  She licked it with her tongue and then pressed her lips to it softly. “Better?”

  He flexed his fingers. “Yes, thank you.”

  She tapped his fingers. “You can let me go now.”

  “Just one thing. You came in all sweaty. What were you doing?”

  “Oh, just showing Nessa how to use sticks to fight. Then, I had to chase her here when she ratted me out.” She rubbed her wrist.

  “Does it hurt?” He lifted her wrist and kissed the glowing mark.

  “No, now, it kind of tingles. It might affect my typing speed. I guess time will tell.” She smiled slightly. “It will be fine. My aunts don’t complain about theirs.”

  “What about your mother?”

  She sighed. “My mother is missing a finger. My father couldn’t handle being her all.”

  “Oh. That will not be the case with me. I already love spending every day with you, and having you next to me at night is bliss.”

  She smiled and kissed him softly. “Now, let me go, so I can try on some of the clothes.”

  “Can I get a fashion show?”

  Orvis laughed. “Fine, but I thought you had calls to make.”

  “Kel was the last one. The rest of the day is free.” He raised his eyebrows in a challenge.

  “Fine. Let’s go play dress-up before lunch.”

  He grinned, stood with her still in his arms, and the lights went off. When the lights went on again, they were in his bedroom and her clothing was gone.

  He set her on her feet and walked to the closet. Her clothing took up an entire wall, and her shoes were stacked neatly in an organizer. She chuckled and found the drawer with the bras all neatly lined up. They did look appalling at rest.

  A wave of mage fire crept up her body. “Don’t want you to try them on over sweaty skin.”

  She nodded and pushed him out of the closet and into a chair. “Practice patience. If I need help with an outfit, I will come out for help with a closure.”

  He nodded and took out his phone. “I might take some reference photos.”

  She snorted and headed back into the warehouse of fabric and lace. This was going to take some doing.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  After two hours of trying on clothes, her hair was a mass of static, and her fingers were raw from pulling zippers, but she had identified eight outfits out of the group that she needed help with. The bastard had Cale put buttons on in the back.

  The amount of internal structure that had been put in place was astonishing. The backless dresses had enough support for her breasts that she felt at ease.

  She stood in the last black velvet evening dress sporting a high thigh slit on her right side with a heavy satin sash around her hips, and the loose panels flowed neatly downward from the buckle that held them together. She had never worn something strapless before and was reminded of her resemblance to a cartoon character when she walked toward him. “I can’t think of where I could wear this.”

  “Tomorrow. You can wear it tomorrow.” He was focused as she walked, and the slit up to mid-thigh showed the top of her black silk stockings.

  She scowled. “I am going to have to get my hair styled for this and again for Saturday. Damn. Expensive week.”

  He frowned. “If I am needing you to accompany me, I will pay. Both of these events are business-related.”

  She blinked. “Fine, but you are going to have to explain mistress maintenance to the auditors.”

  “I prefer assistant accessorizing.” He smiled. “Ah, speaking of which, remain where you are and as you are.”

  He walked over to the desk, and he lifted out a box that was eerily familiar. It was from the jeweller where she had taken Nessa the previous week.

  “I believe that this would look very nice with that dress.”

  He opened it, and she exhaled in relief. It was a simple gem-studded crescent moon pendant with a drop of ruby and matching earrings.

  “You looked like you were going to have a heart attack.”

  “I was afraid it would be a large piece like the ones that I chose for Nessa. Visible for cameras from a distance. This is lovely.”

  She smiled brightly at him and took
the box.

  “You aren’t going to try them on?”

  “You will see them tomorrow.” She grinned. “Now, back to the sweatsuit.” She turned toward the closet.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “What would it take for you to wear some of the lingerie and a robe?”

  She chuckled. “I want that second helping of cherry cobbler or an equivalent dessert.”

  He kissed her bare shoulder. “Done. You are easy to negotiate with.”

  “Oh, I will make you pay later. I need a new office chair.”

  He snorted, and their mold for dealing with each other began to take shape.

  * * * *

  Nessa stood with Hector and Tynan as Reese pulled up and walked around to open the door with a shit-eating grin.

  Orvis got up in the shielded corner of the car door and Reese’s body. Stovos stepped forward, and protective aggression was bristling from him. When Orvis stepped away from the car, Stovos stopped, and Nessa’s jaw dropped.

  Orvis smiled and walked forward, kissing Stovos on the cheek and walking up to their triad with mirth in her eyes. “That startling a transformation?”

  Hector and Tynan nodded. Nessa closed her mouth with a snap. “You look amazing, Tolly. Very old Hollywood.”

  “That was the idea behind the hair.” She looked at Stovos. “Are we going inside?”

  Hector muttered, “He is debating throwing you over his shoulder and heading for the nearest stand of trees.”

  Nessa got an evil grin on her face. “Hector, be nice to your stepmother.”

  The group paused for a moment in stunned amazement, and then, they headed up the red carpet and inside. The blast of warm air that had begun the night before had cleared everything, and the party was full to capacity.

  Nessa was having fun this time. Orvis was drawing a lot of attention, and she and her triad were able to enjoy the art displays of romance covers throughout publishing history.

  Hector kept an arm around her waist as they met a few of the folk from the previous week and even from the wedding. There were a few crude comments, but for the most part, folks wished them luck.

  Tynan came back with a fancy ginger ale for Nessa and a red wine for Hector. The head of Urgent Publishing and his wife came over and smiled. “If you are interested, there is a booth set up to turn your photos into mock-ups of romance covers in the back.”