"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think it's a good idea." I moved out from between him and the wall before he tried to touch more than my cheek.
I had to give him credit; he never lost his smile. He pushed back off the wall.
"Door's always open." He mimicked his words with his actions as he opened the conference room door for me.
I nodded and then scrambled to put some space between us, not wanting any further display of amorous attention.
When I spotted Burrom at the end of the hall, I yelled down to him to hold up a minute as I walked briskly to catch up.
"Burrom, where are you heading?" Sneaky bastard always had something going on.
He paused for me and winked. "On my way to make the most of this fine body you helped me get."
"I need a minute."
"You willing to stand in if I get stood up?" he asked, smirking down at me.
Burrom flirting; I didn't know if I'd ever get used to it.
"Please don't do that with me. It's just..." I shuddered a little.
"Fine," he said, the gruff tones of the old Burrom sneaking back into the newly refined body. "What do you want?"
"I need to know something."
He looked at me and squinted his eyes, reading my expression.
"Not here," I added.
We entered the stairwell and made our way to his suite. A few other Fae had tried to take over Burrom's suite in his absence but had been swiftly given the boot. Unlike the wolves, none of the Fae, not even the new ones, messed with Burrom. Maybe it was the whole Ground Fae deal, or maybe it was something just unique to Burrom.
"What's up?" he asked as he sat and reclined against the sofa in his room. "And be quick about it."
I paced for a moment while he made faces and sighed loudly, hinting at his impatience to hear what was so important.
I stopped a few feet in front of him and finally just blurted it out. "I've been avoiding this conversation for a while, but it's time to clear up an issue. Would you have killed me out there, with the senator?" I'd been plagued by the memory of him threatening my life since we'd returned. I didn't know why, but, today of all days, I felt like I needed to know. Maybe it was just something in the air but truce with the senator or not, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of some sort of precipice. And the feeling was growing stronger.
He pursed his lips and looked at the ceiling for a moment.
"It shouldn't be that hard. Yes or no?" My hands rested on my hips.
"I'm thinking it through." He finally shrugged. "No. I wouldn't have."
"The length of time it took you to answer is a bit frightening and inspires little to no confidence." I stared down at him, giving my I'm highly disappointed look. Since I'd taken charge, I'd realized it was crucial to have one of those looks in your repertoire.
"Hey, I had to make sure I was being honest." His palms were in the air as if he couldn't understand my issue with it.
"Can you lie? I've heard full Fae can't."
"Baby, I can lie like a rug. But I know you can tell a lie, so I was making sure of the accuracy."
"Will you be changing your mind, or can I depend on that answer remaining the same?"
"If I were the type to turn on you, which I'm not, I would have to say logically, my vested interests would lie with you anyway. So, even if I weren't the loyal sort, which I am, it wouldn't behoove me to join sides with the senator." He kicked his feet up onto the table and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Why not?"
"Forget the rest of the world for a minute. I'm not sure I would personally survive." He hooked a thumb in the direction of his chest.
"Why do you say that?" I didn't doubt he believed it, but I wanted to hear his rationale on the matter and see if there were any juicy tidbits I could tuck away for further use.
"Typically, when I go into hibernation, I'm restoring my power and vitality from the Earth's store of magic. I believe that I rose early due to you super charging the ground I rested in. Problem is, I don't know for certain if that was a power give or more of a power lend."
"So, in other words, if I go, you might go right back under?"
"Yes, and I'm not sure, if the senator is left to reign, there'll be much for me to come back to when I wake up fifty years from now. So, even if I didn't feel slightly indebted to you," he raised his fingers and pinched them together leaving the smallest gap just to demonstrate that he didn't owe me that much, "I certainly wouldn't want to die because of my own personal interests." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pipe.
"What happened to the cigars?"
"I only smoke those in company."
Which I guessed I wasn't.
I looked at him and realized his concert shirts were back, just looking a lot snugger and a hell of a lot sexier than an ACDC shirt could look.
"So, I can count on you?" I was already exhausted by our air clearing.
"Hmmm, yeah, I guess you can say that I've learned where my bread is getting buttered." He let out a puff of smoke and I wondered where he was getting his tobacco these days.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Let's get to the real matter at hand, shall we?"
"I thought I was, but please, share." I sat down on the other couch that was at a right angle from him, crossed my jean-clad legs and waved my hand.
"You're concerned that the senator's truce won't last. No matter how nicey nice he is acting, he wants something and he'll be causing problems in the future."
"That's your brilliant insight? I think every sane person living here is probably feeling like that." I pushed both hands through my hair as I stood up, wishing I could get rid of this feeling of foreboding. "I'll see you later."
As I walked out, a young pretty woman who used to deal in the casino walked in the suite.
Oh yeah, he'd better get my back.
Chapter Five
Uncomfortable Bedfellows
If I hadn't been so sleep deprived, I might have awoken more alert. My mind wouldn't have slipped back to that small window in time when Cormac being in bed with me was normal. I wouldn't have snuggled deeper in to the hard chest as the strong arm encircling my waist pulled me closer.
Then reality hit and I froze. It wasn't Cormac. And even if it was, it didn’t matter.
My brain started to function and my limbs moved into action. Throwing off the arm, I jumped up, grateful that the room had been chilly last night and I'd worn sweats and a t-shirt to bed. I wheeled around to see who had climbed into bed with me and found Burrom. He was reclined against several pillows, resting his head on one palm, ankles crossed, a snug t-shirt showing off his body's much improved form.
"What are you doing?" I was angrier than I normally would've been at such a simple joke. But, for just a second, I'd thought it might be Cormac. The aching disappointment I felt in my chest fueled my anger; at myself, and at Burrom for provoking the unwanted feelings.
He gave me a dazzling smile in return with no explanation.
"Burrom, what are you doing?" I repeated, my voice still harsh as I tried to shake off the reminder of things I'd rather forget.
He tilted his head and patted the bed next to him. He was sexy in a way that could melt a girl's bones; not surprising, since I'd somehow formed him in Cormac's likeness. If he could heal what was broken inside of me, I would've been all over him. But no matter how good he looked, I just wanted him the hell out of my bed. When someone rips your heart out of your chest, sometimes the damage is irreparable.
"Get up."
"Fine," he said in a bit of a sulk. "But you'd be amazed how this shit plays with the girls. Now I understand how Cormac got around so-"
"Please," I said, cupping my ears before he could continue, "there are certain things I don't want to hear about."
I walked into the living room, expecting Burrom to follow but not caring overmuch if he didn't. The penthouse was empty but for the two of us. Dark was supervising early morning guard duty. I kne
w because I'd made the schedule.
I went directly for the pot of coffee sitting on the counter. Burrom must have brought it with him. It was a sweet gesture and another unwanted reminder of Cormac. I'd never really paid much attention to the little things he used to do until they were gone.
"How did you get in, anyway?" I asked when Burrom came strolling into the room as I poured myself a cup and offered one to him. I used to like it light and sweet, but now I was happy to have it any way I could get it.
"I've got a surprise for you." Before I asked what, he plunked down a hazelnut nondairy creamer.
"Where did you get this?" It was rarer than a can of gasoline. With no cows nearby, nondairy creamer had become gold. And flavored? Forget it. I hadn't seen one of those in forever.
"I took a little trip to Bordertown."
Bordertown was the closest establishment near the tornado wall that did bartering with the senator's side. Something about the wall kept the rippers at bay and in turn drew all types of survivors of the shattering.
When he declined my offer to share coffee, I was secretly happy, not wanting to part with even a little bit of my new gift.
He settled himself into a comfortable position on the couch. "As to how I got in, I walked."
"I thought I locked it last night." Actually, I was positive I had not only locked the handle but also put down the monstrosity of wood that laid across the door. Paranoid much?
He smiled in answer and buffed his fingers on his shirt. "Locks mean nothing to me."
I took my cup of coffee to the opposite side of the couch and crossed my legs underneath me as I sipped, waiting to hear what had brought him here so early. He wasn't normally up before two or three in the afternoon.
The playful expression on his face turned serious. "Colleen has a fight at noon. I thought you'd want to know."
I rolled my eyes. Colleen was like my little sister, but a rambunctious, trouble making one. This would be the third fight she’d got into this month. One of these times I was going to kill her myself.
"With who now?"
"Another changed."
That might not be too bad. "Which one?"
"Evan."
"Evan has a nasty set of claws on him." I rose from the couch. I was going to need a refill of caffeine to get through this discussion, let alone the day, if this was any indication.
"I thought they were friends?"
Burrom raised his hands in equal bewilderment.
"Death match?"
"When is it not with her? How do you want to deal with this?"
Fights were commonplace. We didn't have enough trustworthy people to police everyone. When I initially tried to set up a police force, it quickly became apparent that they were just as likely to become abusive as protect. Not all of them; there’d been some great people that tried to do the right thing, but after a few too many complaints, I'd disbanded them and let the different factions have their barbaric justice. I needed to choose my battles. I also feared there would be fictitious complaints arising. If the masses were that intent on having blood, they would find a way and I knew I was defeated.
There was also the issue of what to do with someone if they did get caught? We had no judge, lawyers or even a jail. We had the dungeons, but not enough of them to house people for every transgression. It soon became obvious we were going to have to let everyone follow the wolves' example.
The only law set in stone was intentional killing, that happened outside of an agreed upon fight, would be met with execution. If you had a lesser grievance, one that perhaps didn't make you feel like mauling someone to death in a mindless blood lust, you could bring it in front of a panel of the heads of all the houses. If you couldn't solve it any other way, you could call the other party out for a fight. In those instances, if both parties agreed to fight to the death, it wasn't considered murder.
I tried to not get involved, but sometimes I couldn't help it. I leaned my arms on the bar for a moment. I knew it was wrong. This was Colleen's fight and I should stay out of it. Finally, I nodded. Really, what was one more death on my conscience after so many?
"It might not work, be prepared for that."
"You pulled it off the last few times." Colleen was developing quite an impressive record in the ring, thanks in part to Burrom.
"Each person is different and will be affected to a different level. I can only do so much without showing my hand."
"I know." I remembered all the details clearly from when he initially explained it to me. He could apply a drag of sorts onto the opponent; as if their feet were being sucked into a mud pit, was how he explained it. It was an ability only a ground Fae could do undetected and only in small amounts, if we didn't want the other races to pick up on the scent of magic. Some of the changed were becoming very sensitive to the ebb and flow of magical power, so that was always a risk.
I knew he was sticking his neck out for me in these instances. The consequences of tinkering with a fight were never discussed. Didn't need to be. Everyone knew you'd be a dead man walking if you were ever caught. You wouldn't just be murdered, you'd be dragged through the streets, tortured and made an example of.
Even as head of this castle, or Burrom, head of his own group of Fae, we still wouldn't be able to avoid the heat that kind of tinkering would bring down.
I couldn't help but look questioningly at Burrom again. I still didn't feel wholly confident in his support of me when it came to the senator, and yet he'd do this for me. Was he just so confident in not being caught interfering, or was he not concerned about what would happen if he was? Burrom still had lots of secrets.
"On to other matters, I never told you about the last visit." I gave him a quick replay of my last meeting with the senator.
"I told you, I don't trust the senator's truce long term. I think you need to be as prepared as possible for the eventual outcome."
He eyed me up and down as I stood there in my too big clothes, my blond hair sticking out in all different directions from sleep. "But if I'm putting all my eggs in your basket," he stopped to make a gesture toward me, "this basket needs a little TLC."
"I just woke up!" I said in my defense and tried to push the hair out of my face.
"It's not what you look like. Well, not normally, anyway. We've got to get a handle on what your full abilities are."
"I know. I keep saying I'll make more time but then my days race by."
He looked at me again, trying to size me up on some level I didn't understand. "The trick at the meeting was neat, but a trick nonetheless. In pure potential levels, you're throwing off enough power to light up a city block, but I know you've no clue what to do with it."
"That obvious?"
He shrugged in answer. "You have to start testing it out and getting a handle on it. It doesn't help that everyone around here is too scared of the shit you can do so you can't get any hands on experience. They aren't looking to open up that can of worms. They'd prefer to pretend it didn't exist."
"And why is it that they're so scared?" For the most part, I'd tried to fly under the radar when it came to the general population. Then I saw him sitting there so smugly. "Did you start the rumors?"
"They aren't rumors if they're true."
"I'll take that as an admission of guilt."
"It's not all on me. You practically salivate at every confrontation. No one does that if they aren’t carrying a little heat. Or no one that isn't a complete idiot, I should say."
"Colleen does and they take her challenge."
"Colleen might be rough around the edges and a natural born fighter, but it's not the same. Ever since Cormac left, you've had this look in your eyes that is akin to staring into your own death. Everyone knows you've got the ammo, I'm just not so sure you can shoot straight."
"You need a little polishing up too, by the way. Your delivery stinks." But his words concerned me. I knew in my gut for a while that sooner or later, it would come down to the senator and me. I remembered back
to when I'd tried to confront him in his office, and he'd brushed me off. I hadn't known why, at the time. If I had just pursued him then, maybe none of this would've ever come to pass.
The coulda, shoulda, woulda, was about to hit hard if I kept up this train of thought. Why couldn't I ever dwell on the did and was awesome parts of my life?
"I'm starting to get some control." I took a deep breath and let out a stream of magical smoke, then reached a finger up to glide it along the tendrils.
"Jo, if we end up in a war with the senator, smoke rings aren't going to cut it."
"For today, just handle the Colleen issue. I'll handle my issues after I know we don't have to scrape her off the front courtyard."
He reclined back as he shook his head but didn't press the issue further. "You going to watch?"
"Nope." I never did when it was her, or someone I cared for. There was something all together unpalatable about seeing a person you liked getting ripped to shreds in front of you. To keep up appearances, I showed up to all the other fights. I didn't want to appear soft.
The door opening and closing in the foyer stopped any further discussion about Colleen. There was no one I'd trust with this information who didn't have blood on their hands.
"We've got about fifty new refugees downstairs," Dark said as he walked into the room.
The sheer numbers would be enough to draw my attention. Normally, refugees showed up in smaller groups; four or five, typically. I could see on his face there was more of an issue than just how many. "And?"
"One of them is Crash."
This got Burrom to his feet. "Do you think it's a trick?"
He asked the exact same thing I was wondering.
Dark, even in his human form, could smell pheromones and was an excellent judge of people because of it. Most of the wolves were. It was why when you went up against one of them, you'd better be sure of yourself. They could smell fear just like a dog, and it excited their instincts to attack.
"I think it's legit. He's asking to speak to you," Dark said, looking at me.
I nodded. "Send him up to the conference room."
"Do you want back up?" Burrom asked as Dark left the room.
Redemption: Alchemy Series Book #4 Page 5
