Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy Book 2)

by Shannon Mayer

  The front door opened, and a gust of wind brought me cinnamon and honey a split second before Remo strode into the kitchen. Fully clothed, unlike the other men I’d dealt with earlier in the night, much to my horrified disappointment.

  I stuttered, “What are you doing here? How did you get here so fast? Is Dahlia okay?”

  He grabbed my arm, nodded to Yaya, and all but dragged me toward the door that led to the basement. “I don’t have much time. Flora, you’ll watch things?”

  “Of course. I’ve still got my lighting rod,” she said as she pointed at her purse. As if it would have fit in there. Then again, maybe it was a shrinking and growing lightning rod. Another time, I would have had a giggle fit about that.

  I followed him, casting a single glance back at my yaya. She smiled and waved at me with a wooden spoon. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

  This from the woman who had slept with Zeus. Good grief. I flushed as we hurried down the stairs, the sun all but kissing at our heels.

  In the basement, Remo pulled me toward the door across from Dahlia’s, the second bedroom set up for vampires. I’d not been down in the basement much; I’d been too busy dealing with everything to truly do a walk-through of the house. The door shut behind me, and we were plunged into semidarkness. There was a click, and two side lamps next to an oversized bed flicked on. Remo wrapped his arms around me from behind, his mouth against my shoulder as he spoke. “What happened?”

  For a moment, I let myself just breathe. Just . . . exist with someone holding me, someone I trusted. Remo waited without pressuring me to hurry up and spit it out. No demands to get on with whatever I had to say.

  I drew a breath and pulled away from him so I could turn and look him in the face. “More of the same. Only this time Tad took off, and I don’t know where Dahlia is. Could Theseus use Santos to put people in thrall?”

  Remo’s face was a careful blank. “Yes, it is possible. But why would he do that if Theseus pulled Beth under on his own?”

  I rubbed my face, realizing how much he’d missed out on. “He didn’t. He used one of Ernie’s arrows to manipulate her. I just . . . Tad wouldn’t turn on me. Not like this.” A tear slid down my cheek, and I swiped it away with a burst of anger. “He said this was my fault, that I deliberately poisoned our family.”

  Remo’s mouth twitched. “They are all fine, aren’t they?”

  I nodded. “Yes, they are. But that isn’t the point. He is right that I made them sick, even if I didn’t mean to.”

  “Don’t fall for this, Alena.” He reached out and touched my face with one hand, tracing my jaw. “The doubt will chew you up and bring you to your knees. This is what Theseus wants. To make you believe you are something you aren’t. To make you believe you are evil and not worthy of living.”

  I leaned my head against him. “Remo.”

  He laughed when I didn’t say anything but his name. “Alena.”

  I wasn’t laughing, though. I had to know where we stood, because the more I was around him, the more I felt things I knew were dangerous. Even telling Smithy that I was with Remo . . . that was the truth. It was how I felt. But if Remo didn’t feel the same way, I didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made with Roger.

  And the whole cross-species taboo . . . was that real, or was it something we could fight? Or was this just a friendship with a few benefits on the side?

  “Tell me that you aren’t using me, that everyone else is wrong and I’m not a fool for feeling things for you. I know vampires aren’t monogamous. I get it, but I can’t let my heart go again. Not if this is just a game to you. Not if we’re just going to be pulled apart by rules that I don’t give two figs about.” Even though I hated saying it, I made myself lift my eyes to his. His were closed, and my heart thumped hard against my chest. “Just say it. Please be honest with me; as my friend I would hope you could do that much.” Honey puffs, my heart had never seemed so loud in my ears.

  His cheek twitched, and he seemed to be struggling with something. “You’re right, vampires don’t tend to be monogamous. It’s too difficult when it comes to feeding if you don’t want to drain your donor.” His hands slid down my arms. “You . . . I haven’t had to feed since I took your blood. I’m not as strong as I was immediately after, but I have had no hunger.”

  I noticed that he’d said nothing about how he felt, or if he felt anything at all for me other than the usefulness I had to him. So maybe no answer was his answer. I nodded. “That’s good. I’ll let you sleep.” I stepped around him and had my hand on the doorknob before he stopped me, putting his hand over mine.

  “Alena, things are not that simple,” he said. “You are not a vampire. It would never work in the long run. No matter how much either of us might want it to. They aren’t rules without reason.”

  I stared at the door, trying to not think about how badly I wanted it to be otherwise. I didn’t say anything, just pulled the door open and stepped out. “Thank you for coming, and thank you for your honesty.” As if I’d asked him to show up and fix my plumbing. I shut the door and hurried up the stairs, through the kitchen, and up the next flight to my bedroom. Yaya followed me, her heartbeat rising along with her steps. She didn’t knock, just walked right in and sat down on the bed beside me.

  “I’m going to give you some advice, Alena. And you will listen to me.” She patted my leg, and I buried my face in my pillows as if I were a teenager again, running away from my mom’s expectations.

  “Yaya, I need to sleep. I have court in a few hours.”

  “And you’re going to listen to me before you go to sleep. Men, no matter what species, will fight you on a relationship. Even if they don’t realize it. Don’t give up on him. He’s being stubborn and pretending it’s for your own good.”

  I rolled onto my back and looked at her. If Smithy was right, she was far older than she looked with her white puffy hair and crinkles around her bright-green eyes. “Yaya, I’m tired.”

  “Fine, fine. Go to sleep.” She stood and then leaned over me. “But I want you to think about something. How did that man get here so fast when you called him? It seems to me that he was waiting close by, letting you do your thing but staying close enough that if you needed him, he could be here in a flash. That isn’t the action of a man who doesn’t care. Who doesn’t hope to defy odds.”

  She turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open. I sat up, her words rumbling around inside my head. “Yaya, how did you get to be so smart?”

  “Hundreds of years!” she called out from downstairs. “I’m going. I’ll see you at the courthouse later.”

  The front door slammed, and I was alone in the house. Or alone as I was going to be with Remo in the basement.

  I was no longer the quiet church mouse Roger and Barbie had accused me of being. I wasn’t a woman who gave up on her bakery, even with the odds so stacked against me. I wasn’t a Drakaina who lost to Achilles. What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks was wrong with me?

  Before I thought better of it, I stood up and ran down the stairs, through the kitchen, and back into the basement. I pounded on the bedroom door. “Seriously? You’d give me up because of some made-up rules that have nothing to do with you and me?”

  He swung the door open, his eyes wide. And shirt off. Sweet baby Jesus, that was a beautiful body.

  I sucked in a breath and fought to keep my eyes on his and not the body that put Smithy’s to shame. “You would just walk away from me?”

  He stood there, his throat working. “I’ve been trying.”

  “How’s that going for you?” I put a hand on my hip and cocked one leg.

  His lips twitched. “Not as planned.”

  “Yeah, well, it looks like I’m breaking all sorts of rules.” I reached out, grabbed his face, and pulled him to me. Kissing him for all I was worth. He didn’t fight me but wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up, carrying me backward into the bedroom.

  CHAPTER 19

  I slid my
hands over his bare shoulders and arms, shivering at the feeling of his muscles under my fingertips. His lips were on mine, crushing them, bruising them with the intensity in his kiss. I loved every second of it.

  I pulled back as his hands began peeling my shirt up, baring my waist, and I knew I had to stop this while I still could. My body liked his hands, his kisses, the brush of skin on skin so much that in very little time I’d not be able to say no. I’d be so wrapped up in the sensation of Remo next to me I’d forget whatever ability I had to think clearly. To remember that I wasn’t truly free to do as I wished. Not yet, anyway.

  “I have to sleep,” I blurted out.

  His eyes slowly rolled up to look into mine. “What?”

  “I came to tell you I wasn’t giving up on us. On you. But I really need to sleep before the courthouse hearing today.”

  The sudden and sincere laughter that poured out of him shocked me.

  “You aren’t mad?”

  “Alena, you will never stop surprising me, will you?”

  “Maybe?” I smiled up at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to go this far. I’m scared and I trust you. And I want this, just not until I’ve dealt with Roger.”

  His eyes softened as he echoed my words back to me. “I trust you too.”

  There was something so sweetly intense about the moment that I wanted to hold it to me, cradle it as long as I could, so I could recall it again and again. He tugged me to him. “Stay with me. You’ll sleep better if you feel safe.”

  And that was how I ended up in bed with Remo, his arms around me, and my nose buried in the crook of his neck. Roger had always complained about sleeping face to face, but Remo didn’t say a word. I breathed in that subtle spice-and-honey smell that was only his. “You smell like cinnamon.”

  He grunted softly. “Go to sleep.”

  I curled tighter around him, as if I could wrap him tight to me.

  “Alena?”

  “Umm?”

  “Ease off, you’re squeezing the shit out of me.”

  Startled, I eased off and pulled away. He tugged me back. “Don’t leave. Just don’t try to boa constrictor me.”

  I laid my head back down next to his and closed my eyes. Whatever would come, would come. There was nothing I could do about it for the next few hours, and in a strange way, that gave me some peace.

  Sleep claimed me in a matter of seconds, despite the fascination I had with my hand resting on Remo’s abs. Sensation faded, and I fell into the dark abyss of dreaming. The best sleep I’d had since the last time he’d held me close, while I’d healed after facing Achilles on the battlefield.

  Hours later, I woke up and rolled to look for a clock. Nothing in the room gave off any light; we were in complete darkness. There wasn’t a single hint as to what time it was.

  I stretched, my hands reaching over my head as I wriggled my toes. “What time is it?”

  “Sun just set.” Remo yawned, stretching beside me. “So about five.”

  Horror flashed through me. “Oh no, no, that can’t be!” I leapt from the bed and ran out of the room. “The hearing was set for four!”

  I couldn’t have missed it. Remo had to be wrong. I raced up the stairs and slid to a stop in the kitchen, staring at the clock on the stove. 5:01. It would take me at least two hours to get to the courthouse. By then it would be closed. I slid to my knees, clinging to the counter with my fingertips.

  Eyes closed, I fought to breathe through the loss. Everything, everything, was gone, and I’d not even put up a fight. Roger had won without a whimper from me.

  I gripped the edge of the counter and yanked up as I stood, pulling the granite off. I flipped it to one side, sending it crashing through the wall as I shook with anger. “I’m an idiot.”

  I knew without looking that Remo was behind me. “No, you’re not.” No platitudes like “Don’t worry, things happen for a reason” or “You can start again” came out of his mouth, for which I was grateful.

  “What do I do now? What would you do?” I turned, and Remo stepped up and pulled me into his arms.

  “If you’re asking how I would handle it, I’d kill Roger and steal back everything that rightfully belonged to me.” He smiled as though giving me his favorite recipe.

  I leaned my head against his chest. “That did cross my mind.”

  Laughing, he held me away from him so he could look me in the eye. “That is not you.”

  “No, but I can fantasize.” I grimaced. “Maybe I can talk to the judge? If I get a lawyer and appeal the decision.” But even I knew how fruitless the words were.

  Minutes ticked by and I stood there, not knowing what to do. “I’m going to talk to Roger.” The thought hit me that he’d be going home, no doubt for a victory party. “Maybe I can convince him . . .” Who was I kidding?

  Behind us the phone rang, and I glanced at it. “Probably for you.”

  Remo nodded and moved to answer it, pressing the receiver to his ear. “What is it?” No “Hello,” no “This is Remo.” What is it? I made a move to leave him to whatever conversation he needed to have.

  He held the phone out for me, his eyes worried. “It’s for you.”

  I walked over and pressed the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Alena, this is Judge Watts’s court assistant. He’s asked me to call you on his behalf.”

  I frowned. “Yes? Do you need me to sign something?” Probably that was all it was, some silly signature needed so Roger could take everything.

  “No, we don’t. Not yet. Judge Watts has asked that you please come to the courthouse right away. We were delayed and will be starting your hearing as soon as you arrive. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

  “Really?” I gasped. “Thank you, thank you! I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

  The other end of the line clicked off and I hung up, excitement coursing through me. “Did you hear that?” This was a miracle, the chance I needed to make things right. I ran upstairs before Remo could answer and gathered up the duplicates of my paperwork. I had a chance. A chance to make things right.

  I double-checked my papers, making sure I had everything, including the original bakery deed. I fanned the papers out on the bed, staring at them, doing a quick tally. Yes, I had them all. Hope flared in my chest. This was my last chance, and I knew it. I would not blow it again. I was going to fight for all I was worth to get my bakery and life back. To get my home back.

  To make the world see I was worth seeing. I existed, and I was a good person. When I wasn’t a giant snake, that is.

  Hurrying, I changed into slacks and a nice button-down top, then brushed my hair back from my face.

  “You can do this,” I whispered to the mirror. “Don’t hesitate, don’t cringe. You are worth this.”

  I nodded at myself, then ran back downstairs to find Remo standing where I’d left him, a frown on his face.

  He nodded and leaned back against the wall. “Alena, you have to know this is a trap. No courthouse calls someone personally to tell you your hearing has been delayed. Ever. And certainly not that they will wait for you to arrive.”

  A sour twist developed in my belly, like I’d eaten a whole bushel of crab apples, and the hope that had been growing withered on the vine like a rotten tomato. “A trap.”

  “Pretty sure.” He nodded, picked the phone back up, and dialed out. I listened to the ringing. No one picked up, and he tried another number. And another. After the fourth call going into empty space, he turned and faced me. “Santos has my people.”

  Chills swept through me, thinking of Beth, Sandy, Tad, and Dahlia on his side. Even Yaya had said she was going to be at the courthouse. “And we know that Theseus has mine.” The setup was too perfect; no matter what we wanted to think, we were on our own, unless . . . “There is someone I can talk to. I think he’ll help.”

  Remo raised an eyebrow, but there was no jealousy flashing in his eyes. “Who?”

  “Come on, I don’t have a number. But
I know where he is.” I ran upstairs and changed out of my nice clothes, trading them in for jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I slipped on a pair of running shoes and was once more ready to go. I met Remo at the front door, and he waved me through.

  We climbed into his muscle car, and I directed him to the Supernatural Division of Mounted Police. I climbed out and ran to the door, thumping on it. “Smithy, we need to talk.”

  The door opened, but it wasn’t Smithy who grimaced at me. It was Oberfluffel.

  “Snake girl. What do you want?”

  “I need to speak to Captain Smithy.”

  “He’s been let go of his position.” He flipped a picture at me. A picture of me slumped in Smithy’s arms at Zeus’s pool party. My face flamed bright red.

  “Look. It wasn’t how it looked. They gave me some sort of juice that made me tipsy. Oberfluffel, where did he go? I need his help.”

  His face purpled, and tiny veins popped out all over the edges. “OBERFALL. And I don’t give a blue harpy’s shit where Smithy went. He was fired, his wife is divorcing him because of this”—he shook the picture at me, and Remo took it—“and here you are thinking Smithy would help you?”

  I took a step back. “He said he was my friend.”

  Remo handed the picture back to Oberfluffel, but he spoke to me. “I take it there are no other options?”

  My shoulder’s drooped. “No.”

  “Then we go to the courthouse alone.” He took my hand and led me back to the car. We drove out the exit of the Wall, and once more the protestors cheered us on. I waved at a few of them; the girl I’d saved from the werewolf was still there. She held up a sign that read, “We Are All the Same.”

  “Well, that’s a crock of pig poo,” I muttered. Remo looked across at me and nodded.

  “Maybe they need to believe it isn’t, though. To believe that fear is just false evidence of something appearing to be real. Humans are funny that way. It’s easier for them to pretend they aren’t afraid. When deep down they know the truth. That they could be chewed up and spit out by any single Supe out there.”