by Lexi Blake
“You were worried I was leaving?” Marcus sounded a bit incredulous. “That’s ridiculous, cara mia. I have no desire to leave you. As I said before, only this morning I was dreaming of you. I adore you, bella. Ti penso sempre.”
I am always thinking of you. I’d learned some Italian. It mostly concerned dirty words and love phrases. I could also order a gelato.
“I’m crazy about you, too,” I said with a smile in my voice, thinking about how he’d adored me last night. There was a reason he was still in bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. I’ll fill out their dumb paperwork. It’s a stupid formality. I’ll see you tonight.”
“All right, if you’re sure.” I heard the yawn he tried to politely suppress. I could see him stretching his magnificently masculine body. The sheets would tangle around him and show off his lean strength. “I have many things to do before I head out to Dallas. Cara, if you do not mind…”
I laughed into the phone. This had become a daily ritual for us in Italy. I shouldn’t have been surprised he would ask here. The man liked the flavor of coffee. “I’ll see what I can do, but it won’t be the same. You’ll have to get used to the American version.”
I disconnected the call, and Zack was looking at me, pen in hand.
“So Marcus Vorenus then,” my uncle said as he filled in the name. “I’ve always liked Marcus, myself, but Dev is going to be upset. He thought he’d gotten rid of him. Maybe I’ll just shuffle this paperwork through. Dev can find out all on his own.”
That faery was going to have to get with the program or he would be dealing with me. Donovan’s partner had issues with my lover, and I wasn’t sure exactly what the problem was. Initially I’d thought it was because Marcus had an affair with the wife Dev Quinn shared with the king, but I’d come to believe Marcus had never actually touched Zoey Donovan-Quinn. Whatever his problem was, I wouldn’t let it affect the only healthy relationship I’d ever had with a man. “He’ll get used to it. We need to find a Starbucks. Marcus is a grump until he’s had an espresso.”
Zack’s eyebrows arched curiously, but he gave the driver the instruction anyway. I knew he was waiting for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. I liked to maintain a little mystery.
Zack set aside the paperwork and leaned back in his seat, casually crossing his legs. “You have a long list of people requesting meetings. I have your training schedule, and we need to decide who’s getting your consult time. Dev was serious about you being the Council’s in-house investigator. You have potential clients piling up.”
I sat up straighter. I was anxious to get back to work. I’d been worried that the king would force me to “train” ten hours a day and leave me with no way to make a living. I was the mistress of a billionaire, but I wanted to earn my way. I wasn’t stupid. My relationship with Marcus wouldn’t last forever. I needed something to fall back on. Besides I liked my work. “Anything interesting?”
“I think you’ll be very interested in some of them.” He pulled out a sheet of paper and passed it to me.
I studied my schedule, which seemed super extensive. Pretty much every minute of my day for the next three weeks was scheduled. There were no blank spaces on that piece of paper. “Tell me he’s kidding.”
“Dev never kids about a schedule.”
“When am I supposed to work on a case?” That damn faery had me training on every weapon known to man. I was attending some form of therapy. He’d enrolled me in a class titled “Magical Creatures and How to Destroy Them.” I had a personal trainer and daily hour and a half sessions with her. I looked up to my uncle with a bit of panic in my eyes. “When do I take a nap?”
He nodded sagely. Werewolves understood the need to work in a good nap. “I’ll look into it. As for your caseload, you have an assistant and an hour blocked off from six to seven. We’ll move it when daylight savings kicks in. You have to keep your office hours at night. Most of the supernatural world is nocturnal.”
“I’ll get so much done that way,” I groused. An hour wasn’t enough. Did Dev think I could simply listen to a problem and solve it? I wasn’t psychic. Detecting took time.
The limo pulled into the parking lot of Starbucks. It wouldn’t fit into the curved drive-through. That was fine with me. I hopped out of the car as Zack’s cell rang.
“It’s my master,” he said, touching the accept call button. “Hey, get me a latte, will you? And maybe some of those cookies that look like tiny sliced breads? And see if they have scones. Hello, master…”
I shook my head and wondered if Starbucks was really prepared for a couple of wolves. I doubted it. A red Porsche pulled into the slot next to the front door as I breezed through, letting the smell of coffee wash over my newly opened senses. I held the door open for the man who had gotten out of the Porsche. He was tall and lanky with dark eyes.
“Thank you, love.” And he had an upper-crust British accent. I was surrounded by Euros even back in the States.
I ordered two espressos since it seemed I’d need an enormous amount of energy to get through the day Quinn had planned for me. Along with Zack’s venti latte, I bought up most of the baked goods and a chicken salad sandwich. My tummy was grumbling. The breakfast Lucia had fixed was gone now, and it seemed like it would be a while before Quinn scheduled in some food. We were going to have to talk about my snack schedule.
The wide-eyed barista promised to pack everything up, and I headed to the bathroom while my order was being prepared. I took care of business and then washed my hands, catching a glimpse of myself.
I stared at the girl in the mirror. She seemed slightly foreign to me. I sometimes didn’t recognize the vibrant face that stared back at me. This girl looked well taken care of. She smiled readily and laughed often. She was a woman who joked with her lover and didn’t hesitate to jump him when she felt the need. My dark-brown hair was thick and for the first time in my life cut into something fashionable. I had playfully pushed Lucia out of the way to apply my mascara this morning. She’d shoved right back because Marcus was right about the single, tiny bathroom in my house. I’d begun to actually give a crap about properly applied makeup. I still didn’t wear much, just mascara and some lip-gloss, but it made a difference.
Things were going to change now that I was back in the States. I didn’t get to simply be Marcus’s protégée. For months he’d coddled and protected me even while we trained. For months I hadn’t worried about anything but when dinner was or how my meditation sessions were going. I’d let the world slide away, and here I was back in it.
Sighing, I realized I was going to have to change again. I had to find a way to balance this happy, carefree woman with the Nex Apparatus I was going to become.
I had to find a way to live with the fact that I hadn’t talked to my mother or Nate or Liv in months.
Or Gray Sloane. Yeah, I really tried not to think about him.
Pocketing my gloss, I headed back out to pick up my enormous bag of food and caffeine. I nearly ran into the dark-haired Brit.
“Excuse me,” I said with a smile.
“Not a problem, love.” He stepped back, gallantly giving me space. “I think you shocked the staff with your order. They’re busy trying to replace the biscotti.”
“Probably should have called ahead, but you never know when the urge for biscotti and scones is going to hit, do you?” I asked, flirting a little.
He was an attractive man with well-formed lips, and he obviously had a flair for fashion. Unfortunately, he was also setting off my gaydar. It was perfectly fine to flirt with a boy who liked boys.
“I’m happy to find a place that properly brews tea. If I don’t order iced tea, I get a sad bag shoved in lukewarm water.” He shuddered at the thought.
“We’re not big on hot tea here,” I admitted. “And that’s a shame. I developed a taste for Earl Grey while I was in Italy.”
The man smiled, but suddenly it didn’t seem so friendly. “Yes, but then I’m sure Marcus Vorenus would only spring f
or the best for his mistress. Tell me something, Ms. Atwood. Does the king know you’re fucking his former patron?”
In the dim light of the hall, his eyes seemed the slightest bit red. I was really going to have to work on the whole integration thing. At least depressed Kelsey wouldn’t have spent time flirting with a freaking demon.
“It’s Owens. My name is Kelsey Owens.” If he thought I would run screaming from the coffee house, he was in for a surprise. I really wanted that chicken salad sandwich.
His lips quirked up in a semblance of a grin. “Ah, you’ve embraced your long-lost papa. That is sweet. He’s practically a saint to the royal family, you know. Does it bother you that he thought of the queen as his daughter when his actual daughter was treated so poorly? The queen gets everything, doesn’t she? She had your father’s love. If she’d wanted it, she certainly could have had your lover. If the queen crooked her finger, he’d be in her bed in a heartbeat. He’d forget you the minute she glanced his way. Do you really think he’d be with you if he wasn’t obliged to train you? Your own brother thought you should be in a cage. Marcus Vorenus is only doing his job, which is to keep you firmly in control. The minute the king is satisfied he has you in his grips, Marcus will fly right out of your life. No man stays with you.”
It was like he stared into my soul and pulled out my deepest fears. He’d summed them up neatly—I was unlovable, unworthy. I was jealous of Zoey Donovan-Quinn. Marcus leaving scared me more than I wanted to admit. I took a deep breath and tried to let those feelings go. They weren’t worthy of spending time and energy on. Another thing Marcus had taught me. “What do you want, demon?”
The demon crossed his arms over his well-made chest and glared down on me. “I want a woman with some constancy. Is that too much to ask? This is why I have no interest in the fairer sex. A good man falls madly in love with a woman. He offers her everything he has. He proposes marriage, a family. What does she do? Oh, she runs off with the first Italian billionaire to come along.”
“You’re Gray’s brother,” I said as the pieces fell into place. It made perfect sense. Gray mentioned his older brother was an empath, and no one unattached to Gray would care that I’d left him.
The demon’s eyes flared briefly. “I’m rather surprised he mentioned me. He doesn’t like to admit he has a family…until we’re useful, of course. It doesn’t matter. He is the only brother I have and I care for him.”
My expression must have registered my extreme doubt.
“I’m perfectly capable of loving people,” the demon said. “Demons are fully functional when it comes to emotions. Believe me, love is absolutely the most destructive force in the world for some people. All of the truly horrible acts I’ve committed I did because I loved someone.”
“Did Gray send you?” I have to admit, there was a place deep in my heart that I’d locked away, and it flared to life at the thought of Gray reaching out to me.
“Not at all.” The demon flicked lint off his tailored coat. “He would be perfectly upset with me if he knew I was anywhere close to his one true love. Unfortunately, his one true love turned out to be a whore.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t going to be offended because a demon called me names. It was in their job description. “Are you going to continue to insult me or get to the point?”
Was my espresso ready? I was starting to lag.
“You’re a tough one, aren’t you,” the demon purred, his lips curling upward. “You’re going to be fun. I like a challenge.” He pressed a piece of paper in my hand. “Here’s the address for a rather exclusive club downtown. I’ve made sure your name is on the list. Be there at two a.m. My brother needs you.”
The demon started to walk past me. I put out a hand to stop him.
“What’s wrong with Gray?” Even I could hear the tension in my voice. I was sure the demon could feel it.
He knew he had me. It was right there in the way his lips curled up in victory. “If you want to find out, come to the club. I’ll be waiting for you. And don’t you dare bring that vampire with you.”
The demon walked out the doors as the barista walked up with my food. I stood there holding it as the Porsche sped off. The door opened and my uncle walked in.
“Kelsey? What’s up?” He snagged the bag I was carrying. “Nice, I could use a sandwich.”
I gulped the espresso as I followed my uncle back to the limo. I watched as he wolfed down my sandwich. It didn’t matter. I’d lost my appetite.
Chapter Two
My appetite had come back with a righteous vengeance two hours later as I sat in the elegantly appointed private dining room in Ether. I’d only been to Dev Quinn’s notorious nightclub once before, but if he had his way I would be a permanent fixture. He probably saw me more as a member of the security team than a guest. I looked across the table and thought that Devinshea Quinn probably saw almost everyone as a potential employee.
“I hope your flight was good.” The prince was all smiles and cordiality. He was third in line for the Seelie sidhe throne, but the Fae were much more interested in the man for his status as a fertility god. “I certainly wish Marcus had allowed me to send my private jet for you. It would have been infinitely more comfortable for you and your boyfriend.”
“Marcus is an environmentalist, I’m afraid,” I murmured as a perfectly cooked steak was placed in front of me. It was a lovely bacon-wrapped filet the size of my fist, and there were two of them. I wondered if there were a couple more somewhere.
“Marcus is stubborn. I’m sure turning down my generous offer was his last insult. From now on when you fly you can use the jet. You’re Lee’s daughter and Zack’s niece. Like it or not, you’re a member of our family, and I want you to feel like one. Anything you need, you only have to ask for it.” Quinn was apparently playing good cop today. He was all charm, and when he wanted to pour it on he really could. When he focused on you, you felt like the only person in the world.
The steak melted in my mouth. Quinn was wrong about Marcus. He really was an environmentalist. He belonged to all sorts of green political groups and he always flew commercial. First class, of course, but commercial. He’d told me vampires should be concerned about the environment. They would have to live here for a really long time, but it didn’t surprise me that Quinn thought it was an insult.
My boyfriend and my boss did not get along.
“Did Zack get the paperwork done on your friend?” Quinn asked as though it was an everyday, ordinary occurrence for one to have to get Council approval on whom one slept with.
“I filled everything out. You have your paperwork, Mr. Quinn.”
He enjoyed his steak and the Chianti that paired with it. “I’m looking forward to getting to know this man. He must be special. Where did you meet?”
“A nightclub.” It had been Ether. Quinn had introduced us himself. I had been a large part of his “push Marcus out of town” plan. I was kind of looking forward to the moment when he realized it hadn’t worked. “He loves dancing.” Marcus did, though not hip-hop or anything modern. He’d been teaching me to tango, but it always got me so hot we ended up going at it on the floor. I thought of something else. “He’s also an excellent cook.”
For a man who hadn’t physically eaten food in millennia, he watched a lot of Food Network. When it became apparent our bonding was completely successful, he’d been thrilled. Marcus is a particular class of vampire called academics. They aren’t the physically strongest of vampires, but their mental powers are unmatched. They can bond with certain females on such a profound level that they can taste the food she eats. He’d promptly banned protein bars.
Quinn sat back, taking a drink from his wine glass. His lips turned up in an arrogant grin. “I’m happy you found someone. I’m surprised Marcus allowed you to date, but I’m happy if you’re happy. You’re practically glowing, so he’s doing something right. I think I was the one who told you this man was out there.”
I felt my lips curl up. “If
I remember correctly, you told me Marcus Vorenus would be a good lover.”
Quinn’s eyes changed suddenly, flooding with that emerald green that signaled the emergence of the ancient fertility god who shared the faery’s body. I’d been told the god’s name was Bris and he had a completely different personality from his host.
“I was the one who told you that, and it’s still true,” the fertility god said, looking me over carefully. “The vampire is a good match for you. I’m rather surprised the two of you managed to stay away from each other. The pull between a trainer and a Hunter is very strong. An academic is as likely to get obsessed with a Hunter as he is with a companion.”
“He said it was up to me.” Marcus had waited for me to make the first move.
The god receded, and Quinn made the transition almost imperceptible. “Well, it’s for the best, I suppose. Know that your boyfriend is welcome. Anything he needs, let me know. I can find him a job if he wants one.”
“As long as he passes your vetting process,” I said with no small amount of bitterness.
The unbelievably gorgeous faery stared at me across the table with a concerned look on his face. “You don’t like me much, do you?”
“You haven’t given me a reason to like you, Mr. Quinn.” I finished the first steak and went to work on the second. “Let’s see, you’ve manipulated me. You’ve used me to further your own plots. You put me in a cage.”
“That was Daniel’s idea,” Quinn interrupted. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Well, I’m not exactly afraid of her, Dev.” A deep Texas drawl filled the room and I looked up to see the King of all Vampire striding across the dining room. Big and broad, with an impossibly muscular frame, sandy-blond hair, and all-American good looks, Daniel Donovan oozed authority. It was just my luck that the king was a daywalker. I’d been hoping to avoid him until later, much later. “I think I can handle her, but she could hurt you. She could hurt Z and she could hurt our children if she wanted to.”
