“It’s okay,” I said, feeling uncomfortable. “You did what you thought you had to.”
“Could you have loved me?” Lash hissed, looking up at me, his face sad and worn. “If I’d given you the chance to?”
“In time, yes,” I said honestly. “I already loved you as a friend. It wouldn’t have been far to go to love you as more than a friend.”
“Kiss me good-bye, then,” he said longingly. “Kiss me one last time, my morning angel.”
I kissed him for all I was worth, and then got up, blushing. As I got up, Lash grabbed one of my hands, and touched his lips to it briefly. The act was quick, but I was struck by it, that he who could be so cold and brutal and nasty had some of the gentleness of Terian, at least when he wanted to.
“Goodbye, Sun,” Lash hissed. Then he looked away from me.
I nodded, and left, letting the door swing shut behind me as I walked outside, then flipped open my cell phone and began dialing. The inside phone at Davy’s had been ripped out of the wall. And the ancient one outside was partway under Lash’s Hummer, where he had driven it up into the side of the building.
There were two rings, then a click. “Hayden.”
I took a deep breath. “Devlin, please.”
“Who is this?”
“A friend of Lash and Sar’s. I must speak to Devlin.”
“He’s not in at the moment. Can I take a message?”
“Listen, this is a fucking emergency! Now get him on the line!”
“Hold on. I know where he is. I’ll patch you through to his cell phone.”
There was silence, and then that beautiful voice, one I hadn’t heard in years.
“Yes? This is Devlin.”
God, please let him not sing. “Lash is at Davy’s. He fought with Sar and she told him they were done. He’s thinking of killing himself, once he’s drunk enough not to feel the bullets. Get here as soon as you can.”
“Who is this?” Devlin hissed. “If this is a woman of yours, Ulysses, you’ll rue—”
“It’s Sundown, Devlin. But maybe you’ve forgotten my voice? It has been years.”
There was utter silence. And despite my bravado, I felt an old chill creep down my spine. I forced myself to keep talking.
“Get there ASAP,” I said. “You have maybe forty-five minutes to an hour, tops. Because he’s going to do it, if someone doesn’t stop him.”
“Why are you trying to save him?” he asked curiously. “Why do you care, Sun? I didn’t think either Sar or Lash were your friends. And after what you and I—”
“I care about them, both of them,” I said quietly, making a point. “Get there in time, or he’s going to kill himself.”
“I’ll leave immediately for Davy’s, as soon as I find Sar and get her to teleport us. I thought they were...well, never mind, I didn’t know they had fought. I thank you for your help.” He paused. “And I’m sorry,” he added quietly. “For what I did to you, that night all those years ago.”
“You’d do it again in a heartbeat if Sar wasn’t your own now, if she’d have gotten away from you!” I rasped, shaking in rage. “You weren’t sorry back then, and you aren’t now.”
“You’re right, I’m not sorry,” Devlin purred, his voice instantly losing its sad tone. “I should be, I know, but I’m not. I loved having you that night, pretending you were her. It was some of the most satisfying sex I ever had, and that’s saying something. You brought my happy thoughts back, Sun.”
“It was the worse sex I’ve ever had,” I lied harshly. “It was pathetic.”
That seemed to piss him off, for some reason. “You came screaming your little heart out, Sun! You enjoyed it.”
“Because of a drug, not anything you did,” I said, laughing cruelly. “You’re supposed to be this great lover, Dev, and you didn’t even kiss me! Not once! You relied on a drug to give me pleasure. It wasn’t any skill of yours that made me come. I’d have come for anyone under that drug. Anyone! Do you really have any skill yourself in bed?”
“I do!” Devlin choked out, mortified. “I—”
God, this is fucking satisfying! “You’re nothing but a cad, and everyone knows it! Sar knows it! She’ll never love you, not really!”
“She does love me!” he shouted, desperation coloring each word. “She does! She’s giving me her Oath in two days!”
“She loves Lash,” I whispered maliciously. “She loved Danial. She probably loved Theo, at least a little. But she’ll never love you. Because she can see right through to the core of you like I can. What she sees is rotted and black with evil!”
“She does love me,” Devlin said morosely. “But you’re right. She loved them more. All of them.” His voice strengthened. “But it doesn’t matter. I love her, Sun. More than anything. I thank you, for telling me about Lash. I’ll go there now with Sar. I know Lash, and it will take him a good while to work up the will to do it, being were by birth. He’ll need another hour at least to get drunk enough.” Devlin paused. “Can I do anything to repay you? I am sorry about hurting you. It was wrong, and despite my enjoyment of you, I admit I shouldn’t have done what I did.”
Yes there is, you bastard. “I never want to see you again in my life,” I grated out, emphasizing each word. “But now we’re bound into the same circles, with me marrying Terian. So that’s what I’d like you to do for me. You see me at a gathering, or a party, or anywhere socially, you leave. I don’t care what reason you give, or how. But leave. Never come within sight of me again. Don’t come to the wedding. And I never want to hear your voice sing to me again. Not ever.”
“As you wish,” Devlin agreed. “I will do that, I promise. Good-bye, Sundown.”
“Go fuck yourself, Devlin.”
I hung up.
Chapter Sixteen
A month later
I reached out my hand, enjoying the giddiness that admiring my wedding gown sleeves brought me. Silly isn’t ever a word I used for myself, but today, that sucker fits. But screw it, even with all Terian’s promises, who would have thought that I’d be here now, actually getting married? Not me.
“Sundown,” my soon to be father-in-law Titus called from behind me. “It’s time. Are you ready?”
I took one last glance in the mirror, forcing my worried frown to become an anxious smile. My ivory dress was perfect, the long tulle skirt dotted with sequins and beads like a ballerina’s that I’d admired long ago as a child. My long hair was up in a mass of waves and a bun, with a tiara and veil to crown me. My shoes were high heels I’d probably be kicking off right after I said “I do”, but they looked fabulous with the dress.
“I’m coming,” I called, adjusting my veil down over my face.
The morning was still dark, the winter sun just below the horizon. But dawn was approaching, and I hurried to join my uncle John at the back of the outdoor tent for my walk down the aisle.
So strange, that after all this time, I actually have some family relations. John was my father’s brother, but one I’d never known until he’d called Solutions, Inc. a few weeks ago, having tracked me down through the lawyer’s office who had handled my dad’s will. There hadn’t been any huge emotional outpouring like in a WE channel movie, but I had gotten to know a little more about my grandparents, and why my father had been the way he was. John was ecstatic to see me, thrilled at my new life, and eagerly asked to stand in for my father to walk me down the aisle. He unfortunately also had a lot to say about my grandparents, plus a few cutting truths about my mom’s alcoholism. I hadn’t wanted to hear that last part, because the mother I remembered had been the only parent I’d had to hang onto as a child. But hearing history I’d been too young to fully remember brought some long-buried events back. While I didn’t want that, and was still processing how to handle most of that new information, I was grateful to have him with me at the wedding, which was populated almost exclusively by coworkers and associates of Terian’s. The only others I knew that were here to witness my big day were Cia and
the werefoxes.
But you’ll see other relatives soon, for the first time. John’s family had flown in for the event; in fact, his oldest son’s wife was one of my bridesmaids, his three grandchildren were my flower girls and ring bearer, and his son was one of the groomsmen. While my father and mother hadn’t ever been big on keeping in touch with extended family, John was. He’d asked for us to come for a visit after the honeymoon, so I could introduce my new husband to the family, and also get to know them myself.
Terian hadn’t been too keen on this, and had simply told John we’d visit that day, between the wedding and the reception, then taken John’s hand in his and demonstrated teleportation. John had handled the experience well for someone with no previous supernatural experience, though he’d asked a lot of questions that Terian hadn’t been eager to answer. After John had left for his hotel, I’d sat down with Terian. “Do you not want to meet with them?”
Terian looked up at me quizzically. “Do you?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, biting my lip. “I’ve never really had family, though. I would like to at least meet them.” I touched his hand, then grasped it in my own. “You have family here with your mom and dad.”
“I’m okay with us going there after the wedding for a quick visit,” Terian said slowly. “But I don’t think they should come to the reception. Even without Danial there, there’ll be a lot of questions about the other attendees.” He squeezed my hand. “You’re part of a world they aren’t part of, Sun. It’s kind of like Sar’s family and friends she had before Danial; she had to let those friends go, and now only sees her immediate family. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“Sundown!” Titus boomed. “It’s time!”
I pushed away my worries, and headed out to the hall. Peeking around the corner, I saw most of the guests were here, and Terian, Theo, and Theoron, Sar’s son with Danial, were up with the justice of the peace in front waiting. My flower girls were fidgeting in line, as their mother tried to keep the ring bearer from throwing his pillow and ring on the floor. Jenny was talking with Cia, and both of them gave me smiles and excessively huge eyes to say I’d missed something shockingly hilarious, and that they’d tell me as soon as we three girls were alone.
John gave me a huge smile, then hugged me. “You look beautiful,” he exclaimed. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I joked, taking his arm in mine.
Titus patted my back, then took his leave, cueing the music as he headed down to the front row where Leri waited. Nervous, I fidgeted as I saw the first flower girl start on her path, a million worries flooding my mind.
Am I making the right decision? Yes.
What’s our life going to be like together? Probably not like John’s life with his family. Will Terian still love me when I’m old and he’s still young? He’s never been anything but true blue so far.
What about Sar? I peeked around the corner again, as the second flower girl began walking. Sar was indeed there, close to the back, with Lash at her side and her daughter, Elle. She’s got Lash, she’s not a problem for Terian and me anymore.
What if Terian loses control and goes all demon again?
I took a shaking breath, as Cia went down the aisle. The reason I was pregnant now was that Terian had “gone to the demon-side” back in the fall. He had lost control to his demon half during sex with me. The experience had been terrifying. Although I hadn’t been permanently harmed, I’d gotten pregnant. All of Terian’s talk about the potency of demons hadn’t been macho bullshit. Terian had fought back over the next months and regained control, with Titus’s help. As soon as my love knew I was pregnant, he’d proposed with the same ring he’d offered me before years earlier. This time, I’d said yes.
As Jenny began walking, John turned to me, concerned. “Are you okay, Sundown? There’s still time to change your mind.”
I looked at him aghast, then pasted a smile on my face. “I’m okay.” When had his wife left? Shit, we’re next to walk down the aisle!
“You look terrified,” he whispered. “If you don’t want to get married, you don’t have to.”
Terian and all the other weres can hear that he’s asking me this. John, you mean well, but it’s too late for do-overs, not that I’m looking back ever again. “I want to,” I assured him, taking a deep breath. “I’m just nervous.”
The music suddenly stopped, then the wedding march began loudly, and I heard the loud grating sound of many chairs pushed back as everyone got to their feet. John nodded, then began walking and I matched him step for step as we strode into view. Cameras began flashing immediately, and I smiled widely, my eyes catching Terian’s form waiting for me. I kept focused on him until we were down at the justice of the peace where John was hugging me, and then pushing back my veil.
As the justice of the peace said the traditional bit, I clasped Terian’s hand tightly, and tried to breathe.
“Have you the ring?”
Theo handed the ring to Terian, who placed it on my finger. “I promise to love you, cherish you, keep you safe, and do my best to make you happy as long as you live,” he said solemnly, slipping the ring on my finger.
I blinked back tears, then felt Jenny nudging me with Terian’s wedding ring. I took the ring with trembling hands and put it on his finger. “I promise to love you, cherish you, and do my best to make you and our child happy, as long as I live,” I said, my voice breaking as soon as I said the word child.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the justice of the peace said with spread hands. “What has come together today let no force put asunder.”
Light had been building in the sky, and as he intoned the words, the dawn broke, the light of the new sun searing my eyes as I looked at it. Then Terian kissed me and I forgot about everything but him, and the possibilities of our new life together.
THE END
SERENA
Chapter One
A normal weekday night in the diner, with me still busy flipping burgers at five minutes to closing. For us restaurant workers, ten at night meant the end of the workday, though the attached lounge was open until one a.m. The city of Rio de Janeiro loomed close enough to send us nightly traffic in Penedo, our small tourist town on its outermost outskirts, but too far away for any of the glamour or wealth of its inhabitants to fully reach us.
Don’t think about that, Serena. Longing for what you don’t have won’t bring it to you. You’ve got a job to do. Just do it, so you can get home to bed.
My boss, Fred, was standing nearby, griping about the cost of beef. Then he abruptly switched topics. “Serena, I need you to fill in for Patty,” he said gruffly. “She’s going to be late again.”
Big surprise. Patty was late for almost every shift she worked, and I always ended up working an extra hour while she had one last screw with whatever man she was calling her boyfriend this week. Yet Fred would never fire her. Patty’s double D figure brought in the customers late at night, and her Latin good looks got the tourists in the mood for drinks in the adjoining lounge when she waitressed. Which was fine by me, as I always needed the extra money, anyway.
I nodded without looking at him, and finished my last orders, putting them on plates for him to take to our last customers. Then I undid my apron, and hung it on a nail. “I’m taking a fifteen minute break,” I said, and headed outside to get a little air. Fast food tasted good, but the heavy grease sometimes got to my nose. I was part fox and part coyote, one of the mixed blood weres. Tonight, the scent seemed to cling to me like a second skin.
I looked up, leaning against the outside of the building, taking deep breaths to clear my head. The stars were somewhere above me, but I couldn’t see much of them. The diner was located on a tourist strip, and the lights from the many nearby attractions lit up the skyline in both directions.
It would be nice to see the stars, I thought to myself futilely. Nice to be walking along some beach, and have someone to talk to...
“Ja
zz, get your ass moving!” a raucous voice yelled out, drawing my attention. Two men were hurrying into the front door of the diner, a third man trailing behind by a few paces.
Great. We were closing the kitchen in a few minutes, but Fred wouldn’t tell these men that; he liked money too much. But he wouldn’t be the one to cook their food. In short, there went the rest of my break.
I took one last look at the sky, then headed back inside. Fred was waiting for me. “Can you take care of the three men that just came in? Patty’s still not here, and I need a smoke.”
I nodded, and headed over to the table they were sitting at. “What can I bring you, boys?”
All of them ordered beer. I brought that to them quickly, and asked them for their food orders, hoping it would be something simple that wouldn’t need to be defrosted first. They asked for another minute. I nodded but stayed there as they looked at menus, because I knew as soon as I moved away, they’d be ready to order. Customers were always like that.
While I waited, I looked them over, trying to determine where they were from. They were all wearing jeans and short-sleeved button down shirts over T-shirts. They didn’t look like tourists, but they weren’t dressed like local men in khakis and tank tops. Also, they were too pale skinned. Their tans were light, as if they spent most of their time in the dark. Curious.
The one who seemed to be the leader was tall, with short straight blond hair, styled so that the top was a little spiky. He had blue eyes of a light color, and fair skin. He wasn’t so much handsome as masculine looking; his body was powerful, his upper body heavily muscled.
The man next to him was so handsome as to be almost delicate-looking. His hair and eyes were a rich color brown, like chocolate, and his hair was styled too, but in longer, loose curls hanging over his eyes and collar. He was also heavily muscled for his size, though not so much as his blond friend.
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