Point of No Return

by Tara Fox Hall

  “Come in a week from Friday.” He paused meaningfully. “Evening or afternoon appointment?”

  “Devlin will want to be there,” I replied, irritated. “Can you make it a night appointment?”

  “Of course.” He paused again. “You realize that if it’s Theo’s—”

  “I told him, Stephen.”

  “Come in about eight,” Stephen said, very relieved. “I’ll let Danial know.”

  I hung up, considering if it was wise to have both Devlin and Theo there. I couldn’t exclude one, and include the other. I grimaced. The way I felt now, I’d rather exclude them all and find out by myself.

  * * * *

  Devlin called late Wednesday night. “How are you feeling, Love?”

  I’d missed his voice, and him. “I’m fine.”

  “I got your email,” he continued. “I’ll meet you at the doctor’s at the time you sent me. What I’m calling for is to ask you to teleport to Hayden later tonight for an hour or so.”

  “Yes,” I said, shooting a look at Theo, who was listening in on the other line. “Say eleven?”

  “Yes. See you then—”

  “Wait! Did Titus fix the barrier?”

  “Yes,” Devlin answered. “But only to the kitchen. Don’t try to go to any other room, or you’ll end up outside the gates again.”

  “Okay. See you then.”

  “Good-bye, my love,” Devlin said, and hung up.

  “What was that about?” Theo asked.

  “I’m not sure,” I said slowly. “But I’ll let you know as soon as I get home.”

  “I’ll be in bed when you get back,” Theo said. “Just crawl in beside me.”

  “Don’t shoot me,” I said sarcastically.

  “You’re hilarious,” Theo said, rolling his eyes. “Now come over here and cuddle with me. South Park’s on.”

  * * * *

  When I teleported to Hayden’s kitchen, I startled a woman who was doing the dishes. Her brunette hair was to her shoulders, her skin like coffee with cream. She was cute, but not beautiful. Some of that was her hazel eyes, which bore a hunted cast like a deer in mid-December, right before the end of hunting season.

  “Hi, I’m Sarelle,” I said, extending my hand. “You must be Serena?”

  “Yes,” she said, and smiled. At once, some of the wariness left her eyes.

  Was she was Spanish or Brazilian by birth? Something to ask when I knew her better. “Dev talked to me, about teaching you some baking,” I said without preamble. “I’ll be back on Friday morning, if you want to do some then.”

  “Let me check my schedule,” she said quickly. “But yes, I want very much to learn.”

  “Good,” I said, giving her a smile. “I like—”

  “Sarelle,” Lash hissed from the doorway. “Devlin waits for you upstairs.”

  I’d just gotten here, and I would have to run into him. I shot him a fake smile, and went to the base of the stairs.

  “Friday morning you are already busy, Darlin’, remember?” Lash hissed from behind me. “Be here about eight or so. The bears will not be coming with us. If we have a lot of purchases, Titus can teleport them to Hayden.”

  Shit, I had asked him to help me get the supplies. “Fine, I’ll be here.”

  Lash nodded. “I’ll tell Serena the bakefest will have to wait.” He turned, heading back to the kitchen.

  Did he see Serena, in addition to that snake waitress? I was repulsed at the thought, then shamed because I was looking down on him for maybe doing something that I was definitely doing with even more people. Grumpily, I went to Devlin’s bedroom door, and knocked hard. “Your lover has arrived.”

  “Come in, Sar,” Devlin said seductively.

  I went in. Devlin was as he had been before, sitting on his bed, reading paperwork scattered about him. “Your intro doesn’t fit with this scene,” I teased, coming to sit beside him.

  “I know,” Devlin said, rubbing his eyes. “I’ll be right with you. I’m trying to decide what to do with these companies of Ebediah’s. I have high offers for both, money I can well use. But I have to look at every angle first before committing, a tiring enterprise.”

  He wasn’t tired; he was exhausted, by his voice. “Do you want some help?”

  Devlin looked at me, incredulous. “You don't have time,” he said finally.

  “You need help. I can spend a couple hours easily each week, at least. Like you said, this is temporary.”

  Devlin gave me a dubious look. “You already help Danial with Solutions, Inc.”

  “I could come Tuesday and Thursday,” I said. “I used to just go in Mondays and Fridays to help Danial—”

  Devlin put down his paperwork and pulled me into his arms. “Come in Wednesdays,” he murmured. “One day is enough, Sar. I don’t work as Danial does. If it was not for Ebediah’s affairs, I wouldn’t be so busy now.”

  “You said you could use the money,” I said hesitantly. “Are you strapped for cash?”

  He kissed my neck softly. “No. I was rich from the moment I first became Ruler of the States,” he whispered. “I amassed a fortune in the centuries that followed. Most of my income comes from investments like company stock and cash. It requires little thought.” He moved his shoulders, wincing. “I don’t usually work this hard or this much. The strain is getting to me.”

  “Come sit on the loveseat for me,” I said, getting up from the bed. “I can fix that.”

  Once he was settled, I began kneading his shoulders. Devlin groaned under my hands as I massaged out all the knots in his shoulders. By the time I was done, he was relaxed back into the cushion, a happy smile of ease on his lips.

  I sat down beside him, feeling like a spider who’d baited a fly. “Now, why did you want me to come tonight?”

  Devlin tensed up immediately, then said bluntly, “I want your permission to go to a few women I know for sex.”

  Danial had braced me for these words, but the situation was still surreal. I didn’t answer.

  “It will not be here,” he said gently. “I want only you in my bed. But I can’t do with just seeing you once a week, Sar. I’m sorry, but I can’t.” He tilted my chin up to look at him. “What I do with them will be...other than what I share with you.”

  I looked blankly back at him. “Like?”

  “Oral sex,” Devlin said bluntly. “No regular intercourse. I’m a sadist, Sar, as you know. I’d prefer you not see that side of me now.”

  I didn’t want to see that side, ever. “If you want that, it’s okay with me.”

  “You aren’t angry? You aren’t jealous?” Devlin said, flabbergasted. “I was sure you would be angry, after what I told you that night that I’d only be with you.”

  This was too unreal for me to feel much of anything. “Will you promise not to have regular sex with them?”

  “Yes,” Devlin said gently. “I promise everything else is for you. Just you.”

  I looked at him, imagining him having sex with another woman, her touching him, stroking him, and him crying out his orgasm, because she had brought him pleasure with her body. Jealousy engulfed me. “Do you want me now?”

  “You’re jealous,” he said, turning his head and looking at me with veiled eyes.

  “Yes, I am,” I said, kissing him on his throat, and biting softly. “Be with me.”

  Devlin embraced me in a passionate kiss, and I clutched him to me, my passion a vortex that drew me ever deeper into darkness.

  * * * *

  I lay completely sated in his arms two hours later, my mind happily drifting.

  “Love, it’s a new morning,” Devlin whispered. “I must leave to finish my business, but you are welcome to stay if you wish.”

  Theo would be wondering where I was. Pricked by a sharp stab of guilt, I made myself move. “No, thanks. I need to go,” I said, giving him a final kiss. “Be safe.”

  “You, too,” he said lovingly. “Take care.”

  A few minutes later, I crawled in beside Theo
. Immediately, he snuggled me close, then jerked back. Though he didn’t speak, I knew he was irritated, and the cause was Devlin’s scent on my skin. Upset and angry, I left our bed, and went to the downstairs basement. Though I was comfortable enough there, I slept little, my fitful sleep full of nightmares.

  * * * *

  On Thursday, Danial and I went through several possible vacation destinations, finally settling on Letchworth State Park.

  “There are several rental properties inside the park, Sar. Which do you like best?” Danial asked.

  “Whichever you prefer,” I said. “It depends when you want to go.”

  “This month,” he said at once. “February.”

  I’d envisioned summer flowers and warm nights, not snowdrifts and wool coats. “These places are heated, right?”

  “Yes,” Danial laughed. “There is also a four star restaurant inside the park that delivers, and the houses themselves all have a full kitchen, if you don’t feel like going out.”

  God, that sounded great. “I’m in,” I said, nodding. “Just tell me the week you make reservations for.”

  “I’ll call tomorrow,” Danial said, pleased.

  * * * *

  Friday dawned clear, but warm. As I dressed, I thought resentfully that Lash had no reason now not to meet me. There had been a thawing of the winter chill this past week, and some bare patches were beginning to appear in the yard. Darkness and Ghost particularly enjoyed the thaw, spending a good portion of our walks seeking out and tearing up old mouse nests, shaking the dry grass everywhere. Yet while I’d loved the warm weather, it meant that there would be no reprieve from Lash’s abrasive company.

  Hurrying fast, I teleported to Hayden just in time to be in the kitchen at eight a.m. sharp. Lash was waiting for me. At once, he nodded to me, then making a gesture with his head to follow, he went into the attached garage and got into one of the Hummers.

  I got into the passenger side. “Where are we going first?” I murmured.

  “Bakeware, then hardware. I need to arrange for more supplies to fix the ballroom.” He turned to me suddenly, fixing me with his flat eyes. “Is there someplace special you need to go to get what you need?”

  He sounded less irritated than he had before. Maybe it had been the volume of my voice he’d been annoyed over, not the words I’d spoken. I could try lowering it and see. “Any department store or super-store should have what I need,” I answered softly. “I need basic things, nothing fancy.”

  Lash nodded, then raised the garage door, and backed out slowly.

  * * * *

  Despite Lash’s silence, our excursion went well.

  He had worn a long wool coat, so his weapons at his waist were covered. Though he was again all in black, because of the time of year and the wool, he looked more like a yuppie than an assassin. With lightly tinted sunglasses to hide his snake eyes, he drew no attention in the stores save for a few stares over his scar. Yet I knew what he was, and it was still unnerving being close to him, even if he looked normal to those around me.

  We stopped for lunch near noon. Another surprise was Lash’s refusal to join me in eating, electing only for a glass of water. I had never seen a wereanimal of any type refuse food of any kind. More curious, the water was the only drink he consumed. For the length of my meal, he just sat there in his seat and stared at me unrelentingly with his flat eyes, not uttering a word.

  If I had been a woman with a nervous stomach, or high strung, I probably wouldn’t have been able to eat with him doing nothing but watching me. But I had never had a problem eating. Further, I didn’t care if he liked me much, especially as he’d repeatedly made it a point for me to know he didn’t.

  “Do you want dessert?” he hissed, when I was done with my entree. “You might as well use the excuse to indulge, even if you haven’t caught yet.”

  My hackles went up. “No,” I said coolly, checking my watch. “We should get moving. I’ll use the restroom while you sit here and think of more intelligent retorts.”

  When I returned, Lash was paying the bill at the register. As we walked to the car, he took a flask from his pocket, and swallowed a long pull. As soon as we got in the Hummer, I said pointedly “Should I drive?”

  Lash laughed bitterly. “It’s blood, Sar, not alcohol.”

  Ew. I could understand a vampire drinking blood for nourishment, but a wereanimal? Now I understood why he had wanted to taste me. I nodded, and didn’t comment.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent at the hardware store, most of that at the paint station. I gathered many paint strips to show to Dev, as well as several good brushes, a few rollers, some tarps, and an extending pole. Not wanting to return with no actual paint, I finally chose a deep green, dark, almost like moss when it first emerges in the spring.

  Lash came walking up as I placed it in the cart, and nodded in approval.

  “Are you set?” I asked.

  “Yes. I ordered lumber, wallboard, and joint compound to be delivered.”

  “Are you going to replace the mirrors?” I asked, curious.

  “Dev’s thinking about it,” Lash said finally. “He never uses the ballroom. Well, he used it once, or so he says. He has not used it in decades, because of security. But he wants it looking nice, just in case, I guess.”

  In case of what, an impromptu visit by fifty guests? “Ah,” I said, not wanting to antagonize him.

  “Is this all you need?” Lash hissed tiredly. “If it is, let’s go.”

  * * * *

  As soon as we arrived back at Hayden, I parted ways with Lash and got started painting. Serena met up with me in the kitchen an hour later, as I was washing paint off my hands. With her help, I unpacked and washed all of the baking equipment.

  “We’re ready to go,” I said, pleased. “Can you meet me here at noon tomorrow?”

  “What will you be making?” Devlin said, coming into the kitchen and hugging me.

  At once, I was struck that there was something off about him. With sadness, I realized it was his mellowness; his movements and tone were telltale signs of recent sexual release. I fought up my rising jealousy and anger, rationalizing that I hadn’t liked what little I’d seen of his sadism. It was better this way for both of us.

  “Sar?” he prompted.

  “Pie first,” I said, managing a smile. “Then other desserts, breads, then meatloaf and soups. If you have any particular dishes, now’s the time to tell me.”

  “Whatever you wish to make is fine,” Devlin said to me. He looked to Serena. “Vince is waiting for you, upstairs.”

  She nodded once, and left.

  “How did it go?” Dev whispered in my ear. “Lash said you were meeting him at eight to get supplies.”

  “Come and see,” I said, beaming. I led him to the wall I’d painted. “Do you like it?”

  “Very much,” Devlin said, pleased. “Will you choose other colors, or just this one?”

  “Many.” I showed him some of the other color samples. “Choose a few.”

  After some discussion and deliberation with me, Devlin picked out the ones he liked best, handing them to me, then tossing the others in a nearby garbage can.

  I took them out, incensed. “You should recycle. The earth is finite—”

  He gave me an amused look, then took my hand and led me into the garage, where he introduced me to his stacks of recycling bins. “I do. I just forgot, in my excitement.”

  I put the strips inside the nearest one marked paper. “Oh,” I said, chagrined. “Sorry.”

  “Most vampires are eco-friendly,” Devlin said, his eyebrows raised. “I’m going to live a long time. I want the earth to be as it is now; not desert, one huge city, or covered with water.”

  “It would be hard to find blood that wasn’t marine life,” I quipped.

  “It would be hard to find women, and dry surfaces to have them on,” Devlin retorted, laughing. “Especially one particular woman, in a planet-sized ocean—”

  Lash entere
d the garage, his countenance looking rested and awake. “Are you ready to go to Davy’s?” he hissed. “Cin’s expecting me tonight.”

  “Titus gave it to you,” Devlin stated.

  “Yes,” Lash hissed, and grinned. “Now let’s go.”

  Lash had taken another dose of whatever it was that kept him going. That was why he looked so spry.

  Devlin grinned. “Sar, get your coat.”

  * * * *

  When we got to Davy’s there wasn’t much of a crowd yet. In fact, it was so early there was barely anyone else there. At once, Cin came over to take our order, but before she said anything, Lash picked her up and took her straight to the back. Without another handy option, I decided to ignore the reason and just be glad he was gone.

  Gary came over and took our order. As I gave mine, I pondered why he didn’t mind Cin and Lash doing what they were doing in the back. Perhaps Devlin really owned this bar, or maybe Lash did?

  Devlin and I bantered back and forth, our conversation teasing and easy. We’d just finished our first glass of wine, and I, my chicken fingers, when Lash came sauntering back.

  “Stay with her,” Devlin said, standing. “I’ll be a little while.”

  Lash nodded, but I gave Devlin a blank look. “What?”

  Devlin gestured. “Look at the bar. Blond, second to last.”

  I looked out of the corner of my eye. Yes, there was a blonde there. She was eyeing Dev like he was the last burger on the plate in a roomful of empty buns.

  Lash nodded. “Sure.”

  Devlin sauntered over to her and struck up a conversation. A few moments later he whispered something in her ear, then led her outside to the parking lot.

  “Is he going to kill her?” I whispered as soft as I could.

  “Probably not,” Lash replied, then grinned. “He got his rocks off earlier, plus he’s on good behavior here.” He smiled wider. “Like usual, when you’re around.”

  Flushing again, I finished my wine. Lash downed his, too, then poured us both the rest of it, which was about half a glass each. He looked at me. “Want me to toast?”

  I grimaced. “If it’s something besides good times with women.”

  His smile widened, then he hissed, “To you and Dev; that it be his child inside you, not that stupid werecat’s.”