He was saddened by addressing Shahid this way. I didn’t even know what it meant, but none of the emotion showed on Devon’s face. I could simply feel it.
Devon turned his eyes to Will. “How does that sound, young man?”
Conflict raged on Will’s young face. He clung to Devon, not answering, just staring at me. He didn’t want to leave us, but hot chocolate was one of his ultimate pleasures. I had every confidence which would win. Finally, he gave Devon one last hug before capturing me in a hold that about took my vision away. Its force against my sore ribs was blinding. The last thing I heard was, “Shahid, why did Devon call you ‘unfairs?’” before the door closed.
I grinned like a fool before turning back to Devon. He was readjusting his position. Soreness in his ribs flared as well. We were both in great shape. I helped him rearrange his pillows and use the clicker to switch the bed into a more upright position. Alone, he appeared a lot less sure of himself.
“Thanks.” He sighed as he leaned back into the pillows.
“There’s a lot of that going around.”
“What did I miss? Our accommodations are much better. I’m assuming I don’t need to start learning Portuguese?”
“No, we got them. Or, Paul and Romaric got the ones we didn’t kill.”
He stopped mid-fidget with the remote. “Romaric?”
“In person.”
He put the remote down and gave me his undivided attention. “Perhaps it’s best if you elaborate. You tried to escape. It didn’t work. They shot us with something and put us out. Did you find out what happened then?”
“Well, the shot didn’t work. I was awake, Devon. Thought you were, too, until the very end when I…” I trailed off, unable to admit I was the reason he came so close to death. If I just hadn’t taken so much of his damn energy.
When I looked up, Devon’s eyes were wide. He stared at me expectantly, and in the back of my mind a pressure formed. After a moment, it stopped. Then, with a tightening of his eyes, the pressure came back stronger. Was he trying to talk through our bond? Why couldn’t he just say it out loud?
Concentrating, I opened my thoughts to him.
Perhaps we should do the rest this way. I heard him loud and clear.
Oh thank God. I raked my hand through my hair and exhaled a loud sigh of relief. I thought we were broken.
Devon’s eyes narrowed. Broken? Remind me what happened after the shot failed.
I told him the story of them going after Hannah, the break out and the fight. I continued all the way to the pack’s rescue, only leaving out Nadia and Carson’s intimacy.
I’m glad you make friends easy, cherie. You should make more; they seem to save our skin.
I bit my lip. But… I don’t know, Devon. I couldn’t hear you in my head at all. Do you think it’s possible they did break us?
I don’t think so. There’s something different, but I don’t think it is anything to worry about.
A prickle in the back of my mind. You’re lying, and you know you’re lying.
Surprise flared in his eyes. You felt that?
I can feel your emotions all the time if I concentrate.
A line formed between Devon’s brows. You said you fought them. How did you?
With the help of your power.
His blank stare hit me like a gut punch from a vampire. Who had been feeding me?
You weren’t sending me power, were you?
No. I wasn’t even conscious, cherie.
I gripped the armrests of my chair as my lungs forgot to breathe. He hadn’t been awake at all? But I had access to everything. Speed. Strength… I pinned Walton to the stairs by putting a bar through him and the concrete. How could I have done that without you?
I don’t know. He looked away from me, and his panic lanced through my head.
My heart raced. If they found out I was broken, they could kick me out of the DEC. I was only given the job because I was a functioning scion. No matter how much I’d proven myself, they’d take away everything if I wasn’t functioning the way they wanted. What would happen to me? What would happen to Will?
Devon took my hands in his. Rowan, we will find out what happened. We’re still connected. You’re not losing your place for Will.
Oh, good, you’re still in there listening. I never thought I’d hear me say that.
He shook his head. Only if you send it to me. But I know you.
Devon stared deep into eyes, and the concern–no, the tenderness I found there took my breath away. He stroked my hand with his thumb, then his gaze flicked toward the door before falling back on me, and the moment faded into oblivion.
Rowan, we can’t let anyone know there’s a problem. It’s bad enough Romaric saw you awake and me unconscious. In a quieter voice, he said, almost as if to himself, We’ll use the experiments to cover that up.
Do you think it could have been the experiments?
Fuck, you heard that.
I blinked. He rarely cursed. Too old-school in front of a girl. This was bad.
He softened his face. It might have been. It might have been the drugs or the stress or a multitude of other things. The point is: we still work, just a bit differently. We simply need to make sure everyone thinks we’re still working right. We don’t want to end up on the Basement’s blacklist.
Fear slide down my back. Um, yeah.
He squeezed my hands one last time then let go. In a much more commanding voice than had been in my head, he said, “Go eat. You will have to feed me later.”
I stood up, realizing he was playing for watching eyes and swallowed the icy tendrils of fear still toying with my spine. “I eat for me, bub. You just get the leftovers.”
“Be back in three hours to take me home. I should be hungry by then.”
These orders were a show. He knew I’d come. His confidence in me and amusement slid into my head. How long had this been going on? I had been so pissed, and he’d been playing a role.
“Suck it, Devon. I know my job,” I responded aloud, true to form. Or, at least, true to how I would’ve responded before. To fool whoever was watching. They’d see and report that we were acting in our usual, normal fashion. This would be our new normal. This would keep us alive.
I left the room and rested against the door after it closed. Just how far did this bond reversal go? I focused all my attention away from Devon and the room behind me. Focused on keeping everything from him.
Devon?
Nothing.
Devon, you are an arrogant ass who is stuck in the nineteenth century with no idea how to talk to a modern woman.
Nothing. Not even a blip in his emotions. He was plotting and thinking about how to handle things, but he was not even aware of what I’d said about him.
Privacy. Finally. It was terrifying and exhilarating and… strangely unwanted.
Now, I was a freak among freaks, but at least I was a freak with more freedom. Something I’d wanted not too long ago. How long would it last? I bit my lip. Did I even want it to?
he warm, Friday morning sun beat down on the crowd gathered at the park. Ducks swam on the water as children played on the metal equipment in the rubber-covered play area a short distance from the pavilions. I was usually asleep during these early morning hours; these were human hours. This was a human rally, and it felt good to be amongst them again.
Reaching into my backpack, I felt around until I found my tortoise-shell-colored shades and flipped them onto my face, blocking the bright lights while savoring the sun on my skin. It was a beautiful day. I still had time off for medical and psychological leave until they cleared me to return to duty, and I had a promise to keep.
The wind played with the edges of my sundress as I took in the multitude of picnic blankets, searching for the bright pink one Lyle was carrying. I clung to the basket of goodies I’d promised to bring. I hadn’t trusted Bird Boy to remember I liked more meaty foods than he did. After a few moments, I found him waving fanatically from the middle of the
field, right in front of the main pavilion. Issuing many apologies along the way, I tip-toed my way through the activists until I reached Lyle.
Giving him a long hug and passing him the basket, I greeted Nathair, who was basking shirtless in the sun. He garnered looks from every direction but didn’t seem to notice as he hugged me and put an arm around Lyle when he sat back down. Smiling, I joined them on the obnoxiously bright pink blanket and began spreading out the fruit, veggies, and hummus as well as the roast beef sandwiches I’d made that morning. Contrary to what Lyle claimed, I could be domestic when I wanted.
“So, whatever happened to John Wolf or Abaleen or whatever?” I asked. “Did you kick him to the curb for our dear Nathair here? Is that why he went running to Paul? Not that I’m ungrateful for what he did.”
The temperature seemed to drop in an instant when they both stared at me. Obviously, the wrong thing to say.
I tried to salvage this somehow. “I mean, he was great and all, but you and Nathair work so well.” Jeez. I’d only wanted to relish in their happiness.
Lyle took a quick sip of his drink, and Nathair squeezed his knee. Lyle whispered more to his juice than to me, “Not everything is about sex, Ro.”
I backhanded his arm. “Oh, get your panties out of your ass, Bird Boy. I’m just teasing.”
Lyle eyed me, Nathair, his drink, then me again.
My smile fell. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Lyle scratched at the back of his neck. “John’s pack wanted to kill him, Rowan. He wanted to hide.”
“Oh.” I stared at Lyle. A wolf had run to him for protection? “And he thought a blue jay could stand up to a pack?”
“I’ve done it before.”
I sat up straight. “What?”
He put down his drink and met my eyes. “Rowan, do you know why I’m one of the few shifters fully out?”
I opened my mouth to be flippant but stopped. “No.”
“It’s not just my parents who don’t like my choice in mate. It’s a law of our kind. Some enforce it more than others. Wolves are pretty strict. It’s meant death to a lot of us. So, a lot of us have to hide. I just choose not to. Hiding hurt more.” His voice caught in his throat.
Nathair took his hand and kissed it.
“So, you really were protecting him,” I said. If shifters were out to get homosexuals as a society, Lyle had thrown himself in the crossfire by protecting him. Ugh, there was something so wrong about that.
“Not everyone has the money to stand up for themselves.”
“Is it the same with the little girl and her mother?”
“Lailani, the little girl’s mother, went along with the program as long as she could, but she eventually couldn’t live the lie with her society-assigned mate anymore.” When I flinched, he continued in a rush of words. “Oh, her mate was never cruel or hurt her. He never laid a hand on their daughter, but when she told him she didn’t want to be with him anymore… well, bucks can get as vicious as their predatory friends when they want.”
“So, you took them in?” My respect for my partner was finding all new highs.
“They should have the right to choose. Children are not the end all, be all.” His face was mottled, and his breathing grew heavy as he stared at nothing in particular.
“And John went back, even knowing what’s at stake?”
“After the warning you gave me about the pack coming for me, we knew it was just a matter of time. My place wasn’t a hidden sanctuary anymore.”
“Dammit, Lyle, we’re partners. You have to let me know when shit like this is happening. I would have told that bigoted wolf a lot more than I did and not backed down until he shut the hell up or I neutered him.”
He smiled weakly. “Standing up to one group is more than enough for anyone. It’s not your fight.”
“The hell it isn’t. The pack, and everyone else who sides with them are bigoted idiots, and John just left when everything got tough. Someone needs to get your back for a change.”
Lyle shook his head. “I know you’d have my back, Rowan, but John wasn’t being a coward when he went back. He’s going to take hell from the pack unless the alpha watches them at all time. His sanctuary with me was blown, and he knew you needed help. He decided it was the only way to get the pack to listen in enough time to save you. They weren’t going to listen to me.” Lyle glanced down, hiding his face.
Searching for a quick recovery from my outstanding foot-in-mouth statement of the year, I looked away from him and Nathair and out into the crowd. I couldn’t come up with anything constructive to help our ruined picnic. John had gone back to save me. I was grateful, but the son of a bitch didn’t need to do that. I pledged to go have a serious conversation with Rigel the first moment I got.
Nathair changed the subject. “How many people here do you think are supporters, and how many do you think are paid to be here by Masterson?” He dipped a carrot into the hummus and pulled up a huge glob, sticking both in his mouth with a suggestive smile at Lyle.
Lyle’s eyes brightened with relief.
I glanced away and tried to focus on the crowd around us, scanning. “Probably… about fifty-fifty. A good mob will make it more comfortable for people to come out and support him and other candidates in the future. It’s a good play.”
“You’re only popular if you look popular,” Nathair intoned.
“Do you think popularity will win him this one?” Lyle asked. “It’s been a long time since America, or anywhere else, has had politics decided by popularity.”
I stared up at the banner swaying in the breeze–BRING GOVERNMENT BACK INTO THE LIGHT.
“It could win him this one,” I said. “The Reclamation was a while ago. People are hungry and pissed. If they feel safe enough, I think they may get behind some light in our leadership.” I remembered Romaric’s suspicious eyes as he’d watched me step away from Devon’s unconscious form. I stifled a shiver. “Then again, the darkness has a pretty good hold on the situation and a whole lot of leftover hate and fear to play off. I’m not sure the light can beat them odds.”
“‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.‘”
I spun at the familiar voice. Carson stood behind us, a bottle of wine in his hands.
He smiled. “Or something like that. A great man once said that long before the Reclamation.”
As he sat next to me, I reached over and gave him a side-hug hello. “Some great Canadian philosopher?”
He shook his head, the sun shining off his blonde hair. “Nope, an American actually. I read Doctor King’s book in preparation before we came. Think I should send Masterson a copy for his campaign?”
“Couldn’t hurt.” I handed Carson a stack of red plastic cups to pour his fancy wine into. I smirked as he grimaced and took them.
The crowd began to quiet as Curtis took the stage. He looked good but harried in his light gray suit. He rushed around, checking positions of props and microphones. When the rest of Masterson’s crew joined him to ready for their boss’ arrival, voices grew louder again. I smirked. All of Masterson’s crew had switched from their normal dark or pinstriped suits into lighter colored ones. Would Masterson himself come out in a white, seersucker suit? I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Speaking of corrupt artificially-created government positions,” I returned my attention to Carson, “how’s the new place?”
Carson sighed. “Big and beautiful, but not home.”
Instantly, I regretted my jab at him.
“The pinnacle of tact and grace–that’s our Rowan,” Lyle chimed in while raising his glass. “Way to go, love. Want to talk to Nathair about coming out to his nest?”
I made a face at him. “No. Carson, I just meant–”
“I know. And it’s good,” he said. “Creating an actual Canadian Embassy in town is the first real stride toward open borders and trade relations. I just wish it was for more altruistic means than fo
rcing us to keep our mouths shut.”
“If it helps, Devon thinks it will forward an alliance with your prime minister against the Brazilians.”
Carson took a deep drag from his cup and reclined on his outstretched elbow. “True enough. Nadia and I have great practice at this. We’ve created more with less of a start.” He tipped his drink at us. “And with less support.”
“So, how is the Lady Ambassador? Recovered?”
He paused, sipping his drink again. He was speaking to Nadia, probably getting instructions on how much to reveal, but we allowed him his charade.
“Physically, fine,” he said finally. “The ordeal will be harder to forget than anything. Torture is not easily put behind us.”
“I’ll drink to that.” And I did. “Devon took a while to physically heal, but he’s almost back to fighting weight.”
“I’m glad he’s recovered. He looked so far gone when they carried him out. It’s amazing what vampires can survive.”
“It helps to survive the unsurvivable when you’re already dead,” a voice said behind us.
With a start, we all turned to find Curtis standing just a few feet away. He had a white carnation in his lapel and was like a picture perfect man from a Rockwell painting. It fit him, the suit and the look. He was an all-American son, clean cut, successful, full of life–and human. Everything this campaign needed. If he kept this up, and Masterson sold his position well, they might actually be able to pull this coup off.
“Their hearts beat and brains work, Mr. Curtis,” Carson said. “I think those functions constitute living by most standards. You may want to leave your false propaganda at home, though, if you want to sway the people into the light.”
Yep, he still didn’t like Curtis.
Trying to diffuse the escalating war of ideology, I asked my ex, “So, shouldn’t you be with Masterson, kissing hands or shaking babies? You know–something political?”
Curtis bristled but kept his gaze level. “Nope, everything is set. He’s just polishing his speech for the thousandth time, and the fun will begin soon.”
Of Scions and Men Page 28
