by Debra Dunbar
“No, it’s okay. I’m always glad to see you, and I really don’t mind you calling or stopping by to ask about this stuff. If he really is possessed by a demon, I know a priest who can help. And if it’s a spirit…well, I know some people who can talk to him about how to set boundaries and control his talent so he’s not at the mercy of every ghost he comes across.”
Kyra stood. “I guess I need to ask him some more questions about the possession. We’ll probably discharge him tomorrow morning. I doubt they’ll keep him on an EP since he’s not a danger to himself or others, and as far as I can tell he would have no trouble attending to his basic needs.”
I got up as well, thinking it was a good thing that involuntary psychiatric holds were not put on everyone who had a mental illness. Hopefully the guy would get whatever help he needed, though.
Kyra turned to me as she got to the door. “Just in case, I wondered if I could give him your phone number? Have him contact you once we release him if he still feels he’s possessed. Maybe you can refer him to those people you talked about?”
I squirmed, uncomfortable with the idea that Kyra was going to be sending me every mental health case in the city, “just in case” their tales of occult groups doing medical experiments on them and demonic possession were true. Did I really want some crazed drug user showing up at my house? Although I was a Templar with some knowledge of magic, living with a rather solid ex-fighting dog, and I had a vampire boyfriend. If I couldn’t defend myself against a mentally ill drug user, then I was pretty lame.
“Sure. Go ahead,” I told Kyra. If I needed to, I could always drag the guy over to Father Bernard to sprinkle some holy water on him, although I think I might be skilled enough to do some initial assessment myself. And if he was possessed by a spirit, then Russell could either help or refer me to a colleague.
“I appreciate it, Aria.” She opened the door. “Are you free for lunch sometime next week? I’d love to get together and talk about non-medical and non-supernatural stuff.”
I wasn’t sure what that left, but I was willing to give it a shot. It was so nice having friends in the city, and I liked Kyra. I wondered if she enjoyed role playing games?
“Sure. I’m working mornings, but could do a lunch around one or two.”
“Perfect. I’ll check my schedule and text you next week.”
I waved her off and checked my phone. Still nothing from Dario and it was now eight o’clock. Sighing, I picked up my sword and practiced for half an hour. Then I did push-ups and crunches. I glanced over at my phone mid sit-up. Still no messages. Dario had cancelled Tuesday night’s Sesarios’ dinner to handle some Balaj business, and I was really hoping we could go out tonight. I wished he’d call. Or text. Or something. Now I knew why he hadn’t wanted to take over when his and Leonora’s former Master had been ousted. The leader of a group of vampires had little time for anything except business. True, he’d been busy as the second in command, but now with Leonora gone, and the group’s numbers alarmingly small, I felt as if our relationship was constantly coming in second to the Balaj.
And that was horribly unfair of me. Dario had responsibilities. His family needed him, depended on him to keep them safe and provide for their future. He didn’t want some needy human woman whining over how she never saw him.
Just in the middle of my pity party, my phone dinged.
Trying to get everything wrapped up in the next hour or two so I can come over and we can hopefully have an uninterrupted evening. Pray for me.
I laughed.
You’d probably combust if I prayed for you. Meet you here or at Sesarios’ or somewhere else?
It was a few minutes before he texted me back.
I hate for you to be waiting around when I don’t know how long I’ll be. I’ll text you.
My heart sank. This was pretty much the way it was every night. Maybe he’d make it over around midnight. And even if he did, there was a good chance he’d be getting a call that dragged him out of my bed and out the door.
Should I grab something for dinner? Change and go out? Sit around the house for hours and wait for him to call like some lame needy girlfriend?
Screw that. If he wanted this relationship to work, I needed to be a part of his life, and that included his Balaj. I might not be his blood partner, but I was still his girlfriend. Girlfriend. Not late-night booty call. Not some side piece that he squeezed in time for here and there. Girlfriend.
So I headed upstairs to change my clothes, determined to take the initiative for once.
Chapter 12
I’m coming over, I texted Dario after I’d changed.
I’d only been to his house a handful of times. It had become vampire command central since Leonora died and he’d become head of the Balaj. Normally I would have been thrilled to go over and hang at his house for the evening, but I suspected there would be a whole lot more vampires besides Dario in attendance, and me either the only human, or me in the company of blood donors and blood partners.
You’d be bored just sitting around here, he replied.
I immediately typed a response. I’m bored sitting around my house waiting for you to show up sometime in the next ten hours.
That was a bit catty, but I wasn’t sure how many details of the Balaj’s business Dario wanted to share with me now that he was in charge. Once again I worried that the day would come when we’d be on the opposite sides of an issue, and we’d both need to choose between what our responsibilities demanded and our relationship with each other.
Then come over. Maybe with you here things will speed up a bit. And there’s something I need to talk to you about anyway.
Worry spread through my chest. Was he dumping me? Was he going to say this wasn’t working out? Give me an ultimatum about the blood?
I took a deep breath and gave myself a mental slap. There’d been no indication of that. If anything, Dario had been making it quite clear he wasn’t about to share my blood until he was positive I truly wanted that. He’d always been warm and affectionate, and very passionate in our love making. I’d just been bruised so many times before that every hint of trouble and I was thinking things were over.
On my way, I texted back.
See you then. He signed off with a little heart emoji that made me laugh. What a dork. The guy was about three hundred and fifty years old. He was a vampire. He was a total badass. And he was texting me heart emojis.
Dork.
I drove to Dario’s house feeling a bit like a teenager going on her first date. The whole time I was driving, I kept thinking of Dario saying there was something he wanted to discuss with me. The vampire always had this flat, non-expressive way about him when he was telling me something unpleasant—or when he was about to tell me something unpleasant. Or avoiding telling me something unpleasant. Whatever this discussion was going to be about, I worried that I wasn’t going to like it. Maybe that was the reason for my mascara and eyeliner. Or maybe it was the fact that I’d probably be encountering several of his Balaj at his house, and I didn’t want to look like I’d just come from a session at the gym.
I parked in front of Dario’s beautiful historic brownstone house in Federal Hill and took a moment to admire it from my car. I loved his house. The interior was minimalist with modern elements that made it pretty much the opposite of Leonora’s big old Victorian. I would have enjoyed coming here more often, maybe even living here eventually, but not so early in our relationship. Plus, ever since Dario had become the head of his family, the house was no longer a private residence, but instead a home-base for the Balaj.
It made me wonder who had ended up with Leonora’s place. I doubt they’d sold it since the two homes were linked via some underground tunnels—tunnels that probably linked other homes and businesses in Baltimore that I really didn’t want to know about.
I grabbed my sword, noting that there were people milling about not just on Dario’s front stoop, but the porches of several other nearby houses. The neighbors must love t
hat. I wonder if the Balaj bought out these other houses to create a bit of a security perimeter in a neighborhood where the homes were a good bit closer together than in Leonora’s.
Strapping my sword across my back I headed across the street and up the stoop, nodding at the two vampires who stood by the front door. One of the benefits of my relationship with Dario was that few vampires gave me shit about my sword anymore. Few vampires gave me shit about anything anymore, but I think that had just as much to do with my killing Simon as being Dario’s main squeeze.
I knew they’d considered me just another weak human—one who had some skill with a sword and magic, but still weak. A bag of blood. A food source, whose only protection was my Templar name and the fact that a high-level vampire had dibs on me. It had been humiliating.
But when I’d shown up with my neck chewed up, announcing that I’d killed Simon, that got me wary respect.
I wasn’t sure how long that respect would last, though. I knew there were those who wanted to put me into the blood slave category, who thought I was lying about Simon, or maybe had just gotten lucky. I had supporters among Dario’s family. Opel, who was young and hip and had been my assistant in some magic a few months back. Balen who I suspected admired my sword play more than he did me. And Dario’s second, Madeline, who afforded me grudging respect because she felt Dario practically walked on water, and if he said I was more than just a potential food source, then she was going to believe it. Others in his family either gave me a wide berth, or faced me with poorly concealed hostility.
The two vampires at the door, Kayson and Andre, were in the latter category. They eyed my sword and sneered, sharp pointy teeth clearly visible.
“Boss know you’re coming?” Andre asked.
“Yes, he knows.” I didn’t elaborate further because it wasn’t any of this goon’s business.
“He’s already fed. Go home, little girl, and maybe when he’s done dealing with family business he’ll come over for a late-night snack.”
I winced. Of course Dario had fed. He had donors brought in for him so he could feed right upon wakening. Since his feedings no longer included sex, it was quicker to make the whole thing as transaction-like as possible.
But what we had didn’t involve blood, and it was more than just sex.
I could insist that I’d been invited over. I could pull out my phone and show these two the texts. I didn’t. The idea that I couldn’t stop by my boyfriend’s house, invited or not, without having to prove I was supposed to be here pissed me off.
I knew I couldn’t push past them to get inside. That would be like trying to shove a thousand pound statue aside. I’d only embarrass myself. So I took the least embarrassing option, hoping they wouldn’t call my bluff.
“Can I come in, or do I need to put my sword through your guts?”
Kayson shifted uneasily. “Let her in. I’d rather have the boss yell at us than hope I can regrow my insides from being stabbed by a blessed sword.”
Andre chuckled and stepped aside. “Go on then, Templar. Have a good time.”
I was barely over the threshold when Opal came running up to grab me in a rather painful hug and drag me into one of the side rooms. It was Dario’s study, with a couch, two chairs, a desk and tons of books.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” Opal squealed, holding my hands. “How have you been? Your neck looks great. I can barely even tell that butthead practically ripped your throat out. Can I help you with your magic again sometime? Well, once things are settled down, that is. Right now Dario needs all of us patrolling and securing the territory. I’m about to head out for Upton. Hey, do you think I could hang out with you and your friends one night? Do any of them like girls? Vampire girls? I’m so done with men, I tell you.”
My head whirled with the onslaught of topics. “Um, I don’t know if my girlfriends like girls that way or not, but you can come out with us sometime. As far as the other…well, I haven’t done that much magic lately but I’ll let you know.”
Opal grinned and bounced. “Keep your eyes open for me, okay? I really want to find a blood sl—partner. A blood partner. Playing around is fun and all that, but I want what you and the boss have, well except I want to be able to drink from my partner. No offense, but that’s a deal breaker for me. If you know of anyone… I’d prefer a woman, but if you know a nice guy, then I won’t rule it out.”
I eyed the vampire and couldn’t help but smile at her happy enthusiasm, her unworldliness. Opal’s poof of dark hair was pulled back and up high, like an inky medieval halo. With her natural hair, her blue eyeshadow, her bell bottom jeans and psychedelic stretchy t-shirt, she was stylishly retro. I had no doubt that any number of humans would be happy to fall at her feet—and bare their necks to her fangs. But I wanted more for Opal. If I was going to set her up on the vampire equivalent of a blind date, then I wanted it to be with someone who would love her and not tarnish her innocence.
Opal tilted her head. “Boss is coming. I smelled you coming up the walk and told Richelle to let him know before I ran up to greet you. Don’t let him know that Andre and Kayson were jerks. We can’t afford to lose any of our family right now and he’s a little psycho when it comes to anyone disrespecting you.”
I blinked in surprise.
The vampire sighed and patted her chest. “I hope I find a blood partner who loves me like the boss loves you.”
With a quick squeeze of my hands and a peck on my cheek, she vanished out the study door in a blur of vampire speed. I was barely able to take a breath before Dario entered the room.
“Opal is trying to get me to play matchmaker for her,” I told him, still bemused over the conversation.
He laughed and gathered me in his arms, kissing my forehead and holding me close. “Yes, she’s been asking the other blood partners if they have brothers or sisters they could introduce her to. The woman is on the hunt.”
I reached up to kiss Dario, then stepped back to remove my sword and set it on the desk.
“She’s lonely. No different than women who decide they suddenly want to get married and settle down.”
“Except she was all about the casual, one-night-only until that day I sent her over to your house.” Dario scowled teasingly and waved a finger at me. “I think she’s secretly in love with you.”
Really? I didn’t get that at all from Opal, but I had often been accused of being clueless when it came to others’ romantic interest in me.
“Well, she’s a friend and I’m not setting her up with anyone unless I’m sure they’re on board with a vampire partner and I know they’ll treat her right.” I thought of Janice and her failed romance with a Boo Hag. I didn’t want poor Opal to go through something like that, to get attached to someone only to find out they couldn’t accept that she was a vampire.
“I’m glad you came by.” Dario smoothed a hand over his short, curly hair. “The past few days have been crazy.”
I walked over and hugged him. “So I take it you didn’t have a good Thanksgiving?”
He snorted. “Was there a holiday this week? I had no idea. I hope you had a good time with your family, though. I’m sorry I couldn’t join you.”
An ache settled deep in my chest. Would he ever be able to join me? Would Baltimore ever be stable enough that the head of the Balaj could leave town and spend a night or two with his girlfriend?
“I’m sorry you couldn’t come. Dad makes an amazing turkey. And there was oyster dressing, bourbon sweet potatoes, Athena’s mashed potatoes with the Manchego cheese, and the classic pumpkin pie.”
He held me tight and we shared a moment of sorrow that he hadn’t been there to share a traditional family event with my family and me.
Then I pulled away, because as much as I wanted to wallow in sadness over what we didn’t, and might not ever, have, I needed us to move forward with the things we did share—the things we could partner with.
“So, how was your week? Tell me about all the crap that went down
when I was gone.”
Dario stiffened, then pulled me close against him once more. “I need you to be my sanctuary, Aria. I want the time I spend with you to be that holy place where I don’t have to worry about my family or our territory, or my responsibilities, where I can pretend for just a few hours that I’m a human with a woman I love, holding her in my arms.”
My heart twisted. I knew what he wanted. Part of me wanted the same.
But most of me wanted so much more.
“I’m more than your sanctuary, Dario. I stand beside you. I help you protect your family, to help protect my pilgrims on the path here in Baltimore. I need to be your partner, not just your escape.”
He looked down at me, running his fingers over my cheeks. “I have this deep need to keep you safe. I know you’re a Templar; that you’re capable of defending yourself. You’re one of the toughest, smartest, most caring humans I’ve ever met. And still I’m terrified that one day you’ll die. I’m terrified that you won’t die old, that I’ll wake one night to find you gone, or not be able to be there in time to help you. I can’t stand the thought of you gone, of never seeing you again.”
I reached up to take his hands. “We are born and we die. Even the ageless immortality of vampires is not guaranteed. I know you’ve suffered more loss than any human in your long life, and I wish I could ease your fears. All I can do is tell you that I have no intention of dying young, but I have a calling, a duty. Just as you do.”
“I know. But I just want you to know why I’m reluctant to embroil you in our fight.”
“It’s my fight too,” I shot back. “I…I trust you to ensure your family’s actions don’t harm the humans, but other vampires won’t have the same values and ethics. I don’t want someone like Simon and his family here in my city. So let me help you.” I took a step away from him. “Or do you think like others in your family do? Do you believe my defeat of Simon was luck? That he somehow tripped and died by accident?”
