by Dane, Lauren
“Not always. But I came up hard. Yes, I am a prince, but all my brothers and I had to serve in battles. Had to come up on our own through the ranks and find our way. Simon came here to escape that destiny. I suppose when I volunteered to come here to help Owen, it was to forge a new path for myself, and there you were. It was meant to be. You and I were meant to be. I can be absolutely sure about that, even as I am just as confused and sent reeling by many other things that happen daily in this new reality Others face.”
“I hate it when things are out of my control.”
“I know. We can get through it together.”
“I’m still difficult and you still can’t borrow my pens, even though you’re exemplary in bed.”
“All right. I can live with that.” He kissed her long and slow until the stress melted away and she felt a lot better. He was way better than her mother’s tea.
“And, by the way, I picked up DVDs of the movies you mentioned. Thunderdome and Mad Max.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really. Want to watch them in bed?”
“I’ll make popcorn.”
Chapter 18
“YOU need to get out. It’s one night. A few hours. Helena, it’s been how long since you’ve done something that didn’t involve shooting, getting shot at or blown up?” Marian, one of Helena’s right-hand people and a good friend, poked at her.
Helena couldn’t help smiling as she thought about some of her recent recreational activities with Faine. “I do okay.”
“Okay, but you can do that when you get home. You’ll be sweaty and relaxed. Plus, well, it’s good for the Others community to see us out and about. We get to have a damned life too.”
Wild Darkness was a fun club. Or it used to be. Helena hadn’t gone in at least a year and a half. Part of it been that she and the ex had gone out there on a regular basis. The rest had been her life getting so busy that going out and shaking her ass had fallen to the bottom of her to-do list.
“Hell, ask Faine to come along.”
“Ask me to come along where?” Faine wandered into the room looking good enough to lick. She figured having more access to him now that they lived together would ease her need of him at least a little. But that wasn’t the case. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted.
“I was just trying to talk Helena into coming out tonight with me and some of the others from the Hunter squad. There’s a dance club, it’s run by Others.” Marian shrugged. “It would be a good sign if people saw her out.”
Faine searched her face for a signal, but she could tell, given his posture change, that he thought it was a good idea. It probably was.
She smiled at him and he nodded. “I’m in. I mean, if I don’t have to manage some new crisis between now and tonight.”
Marian beamed his way. “I’ll see you both in a few hours. Don’t let her wear something frumpy. She’s got great legs.”
Faine raised a brow. “Oh, I’m very aware of Helena’s legs.”
“I don’t own anything frumpy!”
“Okay, so don’t wear anything elegant but so long I can’t even see your knees.”
“I’ve been dressing myself appropriately in social situations for a little while now. I think I can manage.”
Marian just laughed as she left Helena’s office.
Once they were alone she sighed. “Good gods. We don’t have to go for a long time or anything.”
He crowded her and she secretly loved it. “Oh, beautiful witch, I’m going to watch you move all night long. And then I’m going to strip you naked and show you how much it makes me want to love every inch of you.”
He was so good at that. All that sexy talk that turned her knees rubbery.
“You do have really great legs. I’m undecided, though, if I want anyone else to see that. Maybe you can go dancing in a long dress instead.”
She laughed. “I’d get caught up in all the material around my legs. I need to move. Plus, well, she threw down the gauntlet with that frumpy comment. I have to wear something totally fabulous.” Which, knowing Marian, was what she intended from the start.
Because they were alone, he dipped down, brushing his mouth over hers. “If you dance like you fuck, I’m going to be hard all night long.”
“I don’t know if I do or not. You’ll have to tell me afterward.”
“I like this side of you.”
“Which side is that?”
He tipped her chin up with his fingertip. “The playful Helena only a few people get to see. My beast presses against my skin, wanting to come out to play too.”
She swallowed hard. Her magick rose and she let it for long moments before she got herself back under control.
“Stop that. I’m totally okay with playing. Later.”
He smiled, kissing her again quickly before stepping back. “Count on that. Find me when you’re ready to go home. I’m working in the conference room next door.”
• • •
FAINE, his hand at Helena’s back, passed through the front doors of Wild Darkness. He couldn’t resist another look at his woman from behind in the tiny scrap of a dress she’d worn that night. She did indeed have gorgeous legs. Most of which were showcased. High heels on her feet tilted her ass just right. Her tits swayed hypnotically as she moved.
Damn. She was fucking beautiful. His own personal siren.
All in all, he had no complaints. The males could look all they wanted, but she was his. He’d been content to drink some tea and watch her get ready. She fascinated him. All hard edges and kicks to the face and then she could be found lining her eyes and putting on just the right shade of red lipstick. She smelled like heaven. Her perfume spicing the scent of her magick.
She wore tiny panties and a bra that heaped her breasts up, showcasing them perfectly in the neckline of the sparkly silver dress she wore. All her flesh tempted him. So much tawny delight.
He smiled. Later he’d slowly divest her of every last scrap of it in their bed.
They found the table her friends had grabbed for them all earlier and then he spun her, pulling her close and bending to speak in her ear. “Shall we dance?”
She nodded, a smile marking red glossy lips.
And, as it turned out, she did fuck like she danced. She moved with a great deal of passion and self-assurance. Like she fought. He hadn’t seen her this carefree, not outside their bed. He was immensely glad they’d come out. People around saw her, knew who she was.
It was good for them to see her in a social setting. He really got that as he noted people’s faces once they recognized her. Yes, they needed to be safe, but they needed to live too. What was the point of surviving the Magister and working so hard for their rights if they hid in their houses all the time?
Life was to be lived. She put her own on the line for them every day in ways they would most likely never truly understand. But just seeing her there, shaking her ass, smile on her face, her magick floating around her like golden dust motes, it made a difference and he approved mightily.
Hell, she needed it too. Needed something that wasn’t work, or downtime related to being ready for the next bout of work. Constantly being on guard wasn’t good for her. For anyone really, but she was his to protect.
And, he could admit, he liked that they had couple time. Social time when he got to know her friends better and they him. Sure he knew most of the people on the hunter team, at least by sight. But this was different. He was there not just as a guard, but as Helena’s man. He knew they understood it. Liked the approval he saw in their eyes as well.
“Would you like a drink, alamah?”
She got close, smiling up at him. No one had ever used a pet name before. Not more than honey or babe. Alamah was hers alone. He gave it to her and it made her happy. It was really nice to be happy, damn it.
“That would be real
ly good. Jack and Coke please.”
One of his brows rose as he bent and kissed her quickly. “I don’t think I’ve seen you drink more than a beer before. I can’t wait to see this.”
He spun her artfully and guided her back to the table, and before he could move toward the bar, a cocktail waitress made her way over.
“Hey guys!”
It was a girl Helena and Lark had gone to school with. A cousin of Helena’s assistant, Sasha.
“Hey Carla. How are you? Looks jumpin’ in here tonight.” Marian grinned as she took the place in.
“It is. And it’s good for people to see you all here. My boss is positively giddy. He wants me to tell you drinks are on the house and to thank you for helping people feel safe. It’s hard to go out right now. You know? But if the Hunter is here with part of her crew, it’s good.”
Helena was glad they’d come. Even if she planned on getting the hell out in an hour or so because Faine looked good enough to eat and she was going to at the very least lick him—a lot—once they got home.
Carla took their orders and their thanks and headed off to get their drinks.
Helena had a great time. Drinking and laughing and dancing with her man. And it felt, somewhere in the back of her mind, like the calm before the storm.
The drink was good but she wanted to dance and he obliged, taking her back out there. Of course he was good at that too. The man was sex on legs and he moved like it.
Never in her life had she imagined being with a man like him. Men like him were fantasies. They were in books or movies, but real-life men were different.
But there he was, looking smooth and sexy, and his gaze was only for her. Well, his gaze flitted around much like hers did, but his personal gaze, the one where a man saw a woman—that was all hers.
It humbled her, even as it filled her with wonder and satisfaction, that he wanted her the way he did. Supported her. Listened to and trusted her. Even with the weight of everyone’s trust and fear on her shoulders, it was easier with him there at her side.
About an hour later, he pulled her close and she tiptoed up. Of course he was still way taller but thankfully he bent down to meet her halfway. His hand slid around her, settling at her hip. The heat of him burned through her dress, against her skin. Her skin he knew so very well.
“I really think we should go home.”
The awesome thing about Lycians is that they didn’t really get drunk. Not the way humans or witches did, though he did say in Lycia they brewed some type of ale stuff that actually stayed in their system in a way human alcohol didn’t. That night he’d had a drink but it was through his system in less than ten minutes. He was alert and ready to drive home, though she was moderately tipsy. No need to wait any further for ravishment.
“I’ve just been waiting for your signal.”
They quickly said their good-byes and headed out. People waved as they made their way from the club and his car was waiting in valet when they got outside.
“It’s nice to feel like we’re all on the same page for once. Positive instead of terrified. Though.” She shrugged, settling back into the seat as he headed for the freeway. “I suppose the terror will be back by morning.” Every night there was something else. Every dose of the morning news had multiple stories of some violence somewhere. Fires. Graffiti. Attacks on schools and community centers. It sucked.
“Let yourself have just one night of happiness. Yes, morning will come with sad news, the way it has for some time now. But we have each other. We had a lovely time with friends. It’s all right to be young and in love. Yes?”
She took his hand. She could blame the four Jack and Cokes later. “It’s all right be to be young and in love, yes. Or four hundred years old and in love. Even tomorrow when there will be bad news it’ll be okay. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
“There’s really no way I’d have missed you in this outfit.”
She laughed. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I haven’t worn it in a long time. I was worried it wouldn’t fit.”
“It’s just perfect.” A smile ghosted his lips. “I can’t wait to get you out of it when we get home.”
She let go of a delighted laugh. “Well good. That’s the point of living with you. Having full-time access to all the filthy sexual services you provide.”
He took her hand as he drove and she allowed herself to enjoy their time together as a couple. Allowing herself to believe things could be all right when the dust settled. But at the very least, they were right then and that was enough.
• • •
DELILAH looked so lovely Tosh nearly regretted not having her all to himself. All that golden hair was pulled up and away from her face. She was old-fashioned in the best sense of the word with a brooch on her blouse and elegant, tailored pants that only emphasized her shape.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Thank you. You did, but it never hurts to hear it more than once. I promise. It’s all right? My outfit I mean. I didn’t want to go too casual and then I thought maybe you all keep it casual on purpose and I’ll be overdressed.”
“You’re perfect. I promise, they’re going to like you.”
The nervousness on her features eased a little. “I hope so. If they made you, they have to be good people.”
“You should say that to my mother. She’ll love it.”
Delilah laughed. “I’ll try to find a way to say it without sounding like I’m sucking up. You’re sure they’re okay with me coming?”
“Definitely. I spoke to my grandmother about it first and then got a call from my mother and one of my brothers about it. I’m sorry to say they might be pretty excited about having you there.”
“Sorry?”
He snorted. “They’re going to show you pictures and ask you rude, intrusive questions about your life and your family. They mean well, but they’re nosy, and since they know we’re together and I like you enough to want them to meet you, my mother might make hints about marriage or kids. I’m just warning you.”
“That’s better than telling me I should be using birth control because of mixed babies.”
He frowned as he pulled into his grandparents’ driveway. “What? Someone did that?”
“Yes. It happened a while ago. Before the Magister, but if you remember, the wolves have been out for a while now. It was one of the reasons I decided to stop dating humans. Clearly I break rules for you and that heart of yours.”
“My heart?”
She turned to him. “You have the heart of a lion. Full of passion and justice. It goes with your looks. All that gorgeous hair and your features, which would be perfect for an ad in GQ. And your brain. All in all, you’re a total package. But it’s your heart that proved my undoing. I can’t resist.”
As compliments went, that one was one of the best he’d ever received.
“I’m really glad about that. While I do admire your heart and your brain, can I tell you it’s your lips that have always done me in?” And her breasts. He loved those though he hadn’t seen them yet. There was something courtly about this thing between them. Though he wanted her, all of her, they’d been taking it very slow and it seemed to suit them both.
The sexual tension banked, getting hotter, and when it finally did happen, he knew it would be worth it.
He leaned in to kiss her, grabbing her bottom lip between his teeth a moment as he pulled back. In the corner of his vision he caught sight of his mother coming out onto the porch and waving.
“My mom knows we’re here. Just yell for me if I’m not near and you need saving from the crazy.” He squeezed her hand before he got out to take her inside.
The place was wall-to-wall Satos from his eight-month-old niece to his grandfather. And every one of them went out of their way to make Delilah feel welcome. He hadn’t really worried that the
y wouldn’t. She was pretty fabulous and they’d know he wouldn’t have brought anyone to an event this important if he didn’t really like her. But it was a good thing to see, as well as the way Delilah interacted with them. Open. Smiling. Joking. Asking questions and actively listening to answers.
“Stop watching her like you’re worried we’re going to ask her to change into a werewolf at the dinner table or something.”
He turned to his sister, who grinned at him like a fool.
“Quiet you. I’m not worried like that. I just want her to feel comfortable.”
His sister Suzanne laughed at that. “Wrong family event. Dad’s already tipsy, Grandma’s all high with babies and having a full house. Delilah’s getting the full brunt of us. If she survives and takes your call tomorrow, you’ll know it’s meant to be. She’s gorgeous, by the way. And I saw her speak a few days ago at a press conference. She’s sharp. Needs to be, I wager, given the way things are right now. And really, to manage you too.”
“Hey. I’m easy.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are anything but easy, Toshio. I worry about you with all this insanity. Her too, now that I know her.”
He shrugged. “I wish I could say you were overreacting. But what else can I do, Suz? Huh? Shut up and let all this happen without speaking out?”
She shook her head. “No. You’re doing the right thing. We believe in the work you’re doing. I have to admit how shocked I am by what some people are saying. I guess I thought we were past that. You know, aside from the weirdos. But this isn’t just weirdos and fringe people.”
“No. It’s people I never thought would say such things. People who can look me in the eye and advocate for putting people in camps. Or worse. I’ve lost friends over this. I still do not believe it is the majority of humans, though. But for the Others, well hell, how much more should they have to lose? Delilah’s sister lost her business. They ran a dry cleaning service that worked out of the hotels in downtown Chicago. One by one they told her they’d found a new dry cleaner until she had no clients left. And that’s not even the people who’ve been physically attacked or killed. They need to be represented by their government, protected, and it’s not happening. I don’t think I’m doing enough. But I don’t know what else I can do.”
