by Julie Wetzel
Vicky shifted Zak off her lap and stood up from Darien’s lap so he could get up.
“Thank you for coming.” Standing, Darien went to his friend.
“Anytime.” Elliot took Darien’s hand and pulled him into a one armed embrace. “Someone has to watch out for you.”
Vicky and Darien walked Elliot over to the elevator.
He bowed over Vicky’s hand. “Good night, My Lady.”
She fidgeted as Elliot kissed her hand. “Good night,” she replied as he stepped into the elevator to leave.
“Oh, and Darien…” Elliot turned his attention back to his friend and put his hand on the door before it could shut. “Something’s coming. I’ve had a bad feeling growing for a while, but I can’t tell what it is.” Darien’s expression grew serious again. “Be careful.”
“Thank you.” He wrapped his arm around Vicky and pulled her closer to him.
Elliot nodded his head and let the door close.
“Okay,” Vicky said, not knowing how she felt about Elliot’s cryptic warning. She turned to look at the vampire next to her. “Now what?”
“We both need to get something to eat.” Darien led her into the kitchen.
“You’ve already had a pint today,” Vicky teased him.
“True.” He smiled at her. “But, black raspberry chocolate chunk ice cream isn’t real food in anyone’s book.”
Vicky laughed and pulled away so she could make her dinner.
Darien watched Zak and Vicky as they moved around the room collecting the stuff to make egg sandwiches. He loved to watch her doing normal things. Darien let out a sigh, glad the patch had held. Turning his mind to Elliot’s words, he joined Vicky in the kitchen. If trouble was coming, he was going to have to take precautions to make sure she was safe. He had let her stop wearing that silver medallion after the ifrit had left, but he decided it would be a good idea to get it back out. She would probably protest the large chunk of metal, but it would give him some peace of mind. Only once had he ignored one of Elliot’s warnings. The results were not pleasant to remember and had been one of the few times he had nearly died. He wasn’t about to let another slide past him unheeded.
“Darien.”
Vicky’s voice drew Darien out of the Monday morning reports he was reading. He looked up at his assistant walking through his office door.
“Rupert is here to talk about the arrangements for the ball on Wednesday night.”
The alpha werewolf followed her into the room without waiting for Darien to reply.
“Thank you, Victoria.” Folding up the paperwork he was reading through, he found the file that contained all the information on the party plans. Darien glanced at the clock on his computer. “Are you heading to lunch?” he asked Vicky.
“Yes,” she replied. “Did you want me to bring you anything?”
“Please.”
“Your usual?”
“And a turkey sandwich.”
Vicky raised her eyebrows at Darien’s odd request but didn’t say anything as she turned to Rupert. “Would you like anything to eat?” she asked the werewolf.
“Roast beef,” Rupert said.
Nodding, Vicky left to get lunch for the two men.
Rupert pulled off his jacket and tossed it onto one of the leather chairs while he sat in the other. “A turkey sandwich?” he settled in to finalize arrangements with Darien.
“What about it?” Darien asked, slightly defensive of his food choice.
A grin curled the edges of Rupert’s mouth. “You just don’t seem much like a turkey man to me.”
Darien chuckled and shook his head. “So, is everything ready for Wednesday?” He cracked open the file.
“Hardly.” Rupert sighed and started into the details of the preparations. “The first of the shipments arrived this morning, and we had just started unpacking when Lady Arachne showed up and ran half my wolves out of the building.”
Darien chuckled at the thought of the werewolves running from a few little spiders. “Couldn’t handle a few creepy crawlies?” he poked at the alpha, amused.
“I can handle a few,” Rupert shivered, “not ten thousand or better.”
Darien’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I swear, that place is blanketed in spiders right now, and not just the little bitty ones. There were some nearly a foot across. Cassie had a panic attack when those little buggers started pouring out of Arachne’s dress. I had to carry her out of the building.”
Darien was shocked. “Is she all right?” he asked, concerned.
“She will be,” Rupert nodded. “She went over to Elliot’s to rest for a while. His menagerie has taken quite a liking to her.”
“They’ll take good care of her,” Darien reassured him. “So, what else needs to be done?” He steered the conversation back on course.
“Lord Dakine will be stopping by this evening to set the barrier that will contain the lesser fay, and several of the masters have offered people from their menageries to help with any decorating not taken care of by Arachne.” Rupert ticked off each arrangement on his fingers. “I’ve already received word from Lady Aine that the lesser fay are excited about helping with the costumes, but I’m worried about that one.” He looked up from his hand at Darien. “Can we really let them run wild like that?” It was common knowledge that the fay loved to mess with mortals, and not all the tricks they played were safe.
“It will be fine,” Darien reassured the alpha again. “The circle Dakine is setting will limit what the power the little ones have. Their magic will not last outside of the warehouse, and they’ll be given specific instructions on what they can and cannot do to the party guests.”
“What can we expect from them?” Rupert’s voice was filled with concern for his pack.
“Glamor,” Darien explained. “Since it’s a masquerade ball, the little ones will be in charge of the costumes for the guests. We’ve asked them to consider their subject’s wishes when choosing the disguise, but otherwise, they will be given free rein. The only limitation we are imposing on them is physical transformations, so no turning anyone into animals.”
Rupert nodded his understanding. “My wolves are excited.” He scooted forwards in his seat. Now that he was sure his pack would be safe, excitement bubbled off the alpha. “It’ll be the first time most of them have had dealings with the lesser fay, and none of us have ever been to this type of party before.”
“It’s been a long time since one of these functions has been held outside of Fairy.” Darien shifted in his seat as they talked. “I think it will be a lot of fun for everyone.” The energy rolling off Rupert was hard to ignore. The two men continued on with the plans that still needed to be addressed. If all went well, this would be the first of many functions that the three groups shared.
***
“Hey, Vicky.” Sue smiled as Darien’s PA stepped up to her counter. “The usual?”
“Hey, Sue,” Vicky answered the spunky werewolf behind the café counter. “If you don’t mind, and I also need another cup of black coffee, two turkey sandwiches, and one roast beef.” Vicky added the lunch order to her normal request for coffee.
Sue started pulling out things to make the coffees. “Hungry today?”
“It’s not all for me.” Vicky picked up a couple of the clementines on the counter and dropped them into her bag. The mini citrus fruits were Darien’s favorite food. “Rupert stopped by to finalize the plans for Wednesday.”
Sue shot her a confused look before starting in on the sandwiches. “That explains the roast beef, but two turkeys?” Sue looked at Vicky. “You seem a little different today. Are you eating for two?”
“I’d better not be,” Vicky scoffed. “Someone told me they couldn’t have kids.” She smiled to take the edge off her words. “The other sandwich is for Darien.”
“He’s been eating a lot more food lately.” Sue packed the meal up for Vicky. “He almost never had anything more than coffee until recently.”
“I’ve noticed that, too,” Vicky said, slightly concerned. “He’s been acting a little weird as of late. Lord Dakine was over on Saturday to check him out but couldn’t find anything wrong with him.” Vicky and Darien had a long talk after Elliot had left. He filled her in on what Dakine had said about his condition.
“Well, I’m sure everything will turn out okay.” Sue set a bag up on the countertop. “But you still seem different.”
“Probably just the fact that I am tired. Between the accident and the marks from Zak and Darien, I have had a busy week.” Vicky sounded thoughtful as she slipped the sandwiches into her messenger bag so she could balance the coffees in her hands.
Sue stared at her, openmouthed. “Darien and Zak marked you?” She squealed in excitement.
Vicky paused, surprised by the strange reactions. “Umm… yes.” Vicky didn’t know why Sue would be so worked up over the actions.
Sue bounced behind the counter. “That’s fantastic.”
Vicky stared at her, lost for words.
Seeing that Vicky didn’t understand, Sue explained, “Marks aren’t just a way for supernatural creatures to claim someone. They’re a connection between two people. They bind you together on a much deeper level than anything else. If you concentrate on the connection, you can actually feel what the other person is feeling over any distance. You will always be close to them.”
Vicky suddenly understood what Darien had been talking about at the party. He wasn’t exaggerating when he told her he wanted to feel her. He wanted the ability to touch her no matter where she was. “I… I had no idea,” Vicky said, stunned.
Sue patted her on the hand. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Vicky answered, unsure how she felt about this development. She looked from the smiling wolf to the cups on the counter. “I had better get these back to the guys.” Vicky gathered up the cups.
“I’ll see you later.” Sue bounced, happy for her.
Vicky balanced the cups as she walked back to the elevators that would take her back to her office. Her mind churned on these new facts as she rode up to the men waiting for their food. That must have been what had upset Darien so much when Zak had marked her. She chuckled as she stepped out on her floor. It would have pissed her off, too, if someone suddenly had that level of intimacy with Darien. Vicky also understood why the little hellhound hadn’t tried to hurt Darien after the party like he had after the accident. If Zak could know her feelings, he would have seen how much Vicky had needed the vampire on Saturday. She set the cups down on her desk before separating out her food and taking the rest in to the men.
“They can come in wolf form if they want, but they will miss out on all the fun involved with the masquerade,” Darien pointed out as Vicky brought lunch over to his desk.
“All right,” Rupert gave in, “I will let them all know. So, they don’t need to bring anything?”
“Just themselves.” Darien nodded as Vicky divided the food out. “We’ll take care of everything else.” He caught her hand after she set his sandwich on the table for him. “Thank you.” Looking up at her, he squeezed her hand lightly.
She smiled and squeezed back before leaving the two men to their lunch.
“I saw that,” Rupert grinned as he popped open the container around his food.
Darien just sighed contently as he broke into his meal.
Rupert looked back to the closed door thoughtfully for a moment. “You know, there is something different about her today, but I just can’t place it.”
“What do you mean?” Darien sat up straighter and looked at the door.
“She has a different feel to her.” Rupert shrugged and turned back to the desk. Picking up his sandwich, he took a big bite. “Not bad, just unusual,” he muttered around the mouthful.
Darien smiled. So his essence was having some effect on her. “Okay.” He picked up his repast and followed Rupert’s example.
The werewolf stopped his chewing and watched his friend tearing a chunk from his bread as if he were starved. “Are you sure you’re a vampire?” Rupert asked as Darien swallowed his first bite of the sandwich and went for a second. “I have wolves that eat more daintily than you do.”
“Yes, I am, now shut up and let me eat my sandwich,” Darien growled before he chomped into his food again.
Rupert chuckled and dug back into his meal.
Darien’s eyes found the door blocking his view of Vicky as they ate. He thought about everything that had happened this week and how it could have changed her. What he didn’t realize was that she was thinking about the same thing. The wall prevented him from watching Vicky run her fingers over the band drawn around her ankle, studying the way the ivy leaves curled on her skin and the fluted orange flowers that littered the vine.
Vicky slid her foot back to the floor and pondered over the markings as she started in on her lunch. She was sure those flowers were purple the last time she looked at the band.
The loose gravel crunched under the tires of the XKR-5 as Darien pulled into the parking area in front of his warehouse shortly after noon on Halloween.
Vicky was surprised to find that there were already several cars left haphazardly across the small area.
Zak leaped happily from her lap as she opened the door. He scampered over to the closest car in his Shih Tzu form to sniff at the tire before peeing on it.
“Zak!” Vicky chided the hellhound as she closed the door. “That’s not nice.”
Darien snickered as he watched the little dog kicking loose dirt up over the mess he had made. “That’ll drive him nuts.” Smiling, Darien led the way to the warehouse. Rupert would surely notice the hellhound had scent-marked his car. Darien held the door open so Zak could scamper into the building.
Vicky glanced back at the black van Zak had claimed before following her boss into the building. She gasped as a strange feeling washed over her when she stepped across the threshold. Looking back at the door, she expected to see torn cobwebs hanging from the frame. “What was that?” Vicky asked when Darien stopped to make sure she was okay.
“The barrier Lord Dakine set up to keep the lesser fay contained,” Darien explained as he took Vicky’s hand.
“It felt… familiar.” Vicky pondered where she had run into something like it before.
“Kind of like when we went to see the Gray Court?” Darien’s eye sparkled as he spoke.
Recognition lit Vicky’s face as she remembered stepping into the mysterious tunnel in the woods. “Almost exactly like that!” Vicky gasped as she looked back at the doorway. “But… how?” She turned her attention to the grinning vampire next to her.
“Lord Dakine extended part of Fairy around the building so the little ones could join us.” Darien pulled his assistant farther into the building as he explained. “It was easier than trying to set up an area here and transporting them over.”
Vicky nodded as they walked towards what looked to be a curtain.
Darien ran his hand across a section of the delicate material until he found the split and pulled it back so they could enter the main room.
Vicky drew in a long, appreciative breath at the gorgeous scene set out before them.
The entire room had been draped in a fine, silvery material that hung in long folds down the walls. Her eyes ran up the material to find it flowed from just above the lights. The cloth draped between the fixtures, effectively lowering the ceiling. It was still high enough to give the flying creatures enough room, but it gave the massive space a cozier feel. All the lines of fabric pulled up to a point high above a huge, crystal chandelier hung over the center of the silver circle on the floor. The warmth of the wood covering the floor added to the intimacy of the room. Groups of chairs and small tables were scattered around the perimeter, intermixed with piles of pillows made of the same stuff as the walls and ceiling. Vicky recovered and followed Darien deeper into the room, where several people were still moving things around. Her eyes scanned over the space and caught
flashes of light from mirrors scattered around the walls.
“How are we doing?” Darien asked as he approached the group of people.
“Great,” Rupert answered as he patted a lean man on the shoulder and sent him off with a tall candelabrum. He gave a few more instructions to some other people before turning to greet Darien properly.
“I should just leave this in your hands.” Darien grinned at the alpha ordering people around. “You look like you have everything under control.”
Rupert chuckled at him. “I’m good at keeping people moving.” He took in Darien and Vicky’s casual clothing. “I see you’re ready to help.”
“Of course.” Darien held his arms open wide. “What do you need?”
Rupert laughed at him before turning and leading the new arrivals deeper into the room. “I have Trevor and Lucy setting out the candelabrums and making sure they have new candles in them. Anni, Cassie, and Billy are dressing the buffet tables. Phelan and Mitzy have gone to get a replacement fountain. The one that arrived had been dropped during shipping, and the base leaks.” Rupert sighed. “Dakine sent a few of the fay to help. Turlough enchanted the floor, and Roisin said something about fog, but I haven’t seen them for a while.”
Vicky looked down at the wooden floor as they walked. She could just make out the thin band of silver cutting across its surface.
“What I really need is someone to make sure the mirrors are set up properly,” Rupert said, finally coming to something not crossed off his list.
“We can do that,” Darien offered.
“Great!” Rupert turned his attention to the banquet table. “Those don’t go there!” he yelled at Billy, who was trying to put a large bouquet of flowers in the place where the fountain was supposed to go. “Excuse me,” Rupert said and rushed off to make sure the table was set properly.
“Let’s get started.” Darien turned to Vicky.
Nodding, she followed him over to the center of the room.
He called a strange greeting up to something moving in the chandelier.
