Taken For His Own

by Tara Fox Hall

  “He said that he wants us to come there first, tonight, because he can’t wait to see you,” Theo said, grimacing.

  “Don’t you want to see Elle?” I asked pointedly. “Danial is right. Waiting will only make things worse.”

  “I do,” Theo said carefully. “But is this really best, to wake her up to tell her I’m home?”

  “At least the hotel didn’t call, asking about bullet holes in the sheets.”

  “Because there weren’t any, they all went into Devlin,” he grumbled. “Those sheets will be stained, but with luck they’ll attribute it to menstrual blood.”

  I grimaced at him, but didn’t reply.

  * * * *

  We reached Danial’s after midnight. Devlin promptly got out of my truck and handed Theo my keys.

  “I’m taking off.”

  “Devlin, I know what you did for Sar,” Theo began. “If you need a hand sometime, let me know. I know you have—”

  “It’s a deal,” Devlin said, giving Theo a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Catch you later.” He got into a shiny black Hummer. With a roar of tires, he was gone.

  “You really want to work for him?” I asked Theo.

  “I pay my debts,” Theo said, taking my hand. “Let’s go inside.”

  Ivan met us on the front steps. The dogs ran to him eagerly. “Mind if I walk them?” he said. “I’m sure they could use a run in the forest.”

  I wished I were going for a run in the forest instead of inside. “Sure,” I said, giving him a smile. “Go ahead.”

  They walked off together toward the fox compound, Ghost and Darkness jumping in eagerness.

  I turned to Theo. “Are you ready?”

  “No,” he said. “I’m not ready at all. I’m terrified.”

  “You’ll be fine,” I said, giving him a smile. “Come on.”

  “What if she hates me?” he said. “What am I supposed to say when she asks why I didn’t come back?”

  “She’s your daughter, Theo,” I said, hugging him. “Even if she says otherwise, deep down, she loves you. Just realize that she thinks of Danial as her dad and be prepared for that.”

  He took a deep breath, then together we ascended the stairs.

  Chapter Nine

  The front door was locked, so I used my keys. No one came to greet us. There was no one in the great room either.

  Danial’s door was shut. I couldn’t bring myself to knock on the door. As much as I didn’t want to face her first, I walked further on to Elle’s room, finding her door standing open, the room empty. Danial must have brought her with him somewhere to make sure that when we arrived, Elle wouldn’t run into us without him there. I walked in into the nursery, worried it would be empty, too.

  It wasn’t. Theoron watched me come stand in the doorway with those green eyes so like my own. He was much bigger; he looked almost two already. He was growing faster than Elle had as a cougar.

  Never mind what Dr. Camlyn and Danial had said. It was past time I held him. What was I afraid of; I’d been bitten before with much larger fangs. If I waited much longer, my son would become a stranger to me.

  I crossed quickly to the crib and reached out to him. Quickly, he bared fangs and bit my finger, sucking hard. Carefully, I picked him up and held him to me, letting him drink. He curled his hands around my hand, holding onto it tightly as he fed.

  “Will he stop?” Theo was at my side, watching apprehensively.

  I didn’t answer.

  Like magic, Theoron stopped drinking after just a few swallows. He stared at me, then recognition flooded his eyes. He smiled and opened his arms, reaching eagerly for me.

  “Yes,” I said, tears in my eyes. “I’m your mom.”

  I hugged Theoron, and he put his arms around my neck. Sinking into the nearby rocking chair, I stroked his dark hair. He had a full head of it now, not just a few wisps.

  Theo went to his knees beside the chair, watching Theoron. Theoron turned and looked back at him calmly. He seemed so reserved, so much like Danial.

  “He’s beautiful.” Theo looked at Theoron as if he was the most precious thing he had ever seen. He’d once looked at Elle that way, after she had just been born. It was enough to melt any woman’s heart.

  “Do you want to hold him?” I offered.

  “Can I? Won’t he bite me?”

  “No, Danial said he only bites humans.” I looked down at Theoron. “Theoron, this is Theo. You were named for him. He’s going to hold you now.”

  Theoron looked at Theo. Theo put out his hand for Theoron to smell. As he had before with Cia, Theoron smelled Theo, noted he wasn’t human and didn’t bite him. Carefully, I handed off Theoron to Theo, who took him gingerly, as if he might break.

  Emotions assaulted me, watching Theo cradle my son. There was a horrible sense of loss, knowing that because of Theoron, Theo would never hold a baby of his own...I shut down the mean thought angrily, chastising myself.

  “He’s asleep,” Theo whispered. “What do I do?”

  “Give him to me. I’ll put him back.”

  Theo handed Theoron to me. I hugged him once more before I put him in his crib on his back. He slept on, a peaceful expression on his face.

  “He’s so beautiful, Sar,” Theo said longingly. “He’s the best of you and of Danial.”

  “We should go,” I said reluctantly. “We still have two more people to see.”

  “We’ve got to find them first.”

  Theo and I left the nursery and went back to the great room. Steeling myself, I knocked on Danial’s door. There was no reply.

  Opening it revealed that all of my things were missing. Even the dresser I’d used was gone. Saddened, my eyes fell on the sheets. To my surprise, they were the same ones I’d had on the bed when I’d left over two weeks ago.

  When I’d come to stay with Danial, I’d started doing our laundry, mostly from the embarrassment of knowing Mary would otherwise see some of the sexy lingerie I wore for Danial in the wash. By the overflowing hamper visible through the open bathroom door, no one had told Mary her laundry services were again needed. Immediately it became clear just how wrecked Danial had been by my leaving that he hadn’t already talked to Mary about this.

  Guiltily, I began stripping Danial’s bed myself, oddly thinking that I’d just done this very thing with his brother a day ago.

  “What are you doing?” Theo asked gruffly.

  The comforter didn’t need washing. If it still smelled at all like us, I wasn’t about to take that away from Danial. “Stripping the bed. It needs it.”

  “Mary can do that,” Theo said curtly. “You don’t have to.”

  “I don’t mind,” I retorted. I carried everything to the basement and set the sheets to washing.

  “I’m heading over to the fox compound,” Theo said, still gruff. “Someone’s got to be there. I don’t like finding no one here this time of night.”

  “Go ahead,” I said, settling into the couch. “I’m crashing right here.”

  Theo left. I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes, glad finally to feel safe again. Sometime later, the light touch of cool hands woke me.

  “You looked so at peace I didn’t want to wake you.” Danial smiled down at me.

  “Thank you for sending Devlin,” I said gratefully. “He saved my life. I wouldn’t have expected it from him.”

  “He’s reprehensible, both morally and otherwise,” Danial said matter of fact. “But usually when I’ve needed him the most, he’s come through.”

  “He took a lot of bullets meant for me. One went through—”

  “I know,” Danial soothed softly, stroking my hair. “Devlin called me from the road. He told me everything that had happened.” He turned angry. “Theo hasn’t given me his official version yet.”

  “Where is Elle?”

  “On her way here,” Danial said, sitting beside me. “I thought it better to get this over with, especially as she’s expressed concern about Theo making her go live with
you both.”

  “I want you to know, I’m sorry for putting you through this—”

  “I appreciate that,” he interrupted. “But tonight isn’t about you and me. It’s about Elle and setting parameters for her immediate future.” He hugged me tightly, then whispered in my ear. “I have only one thing to say, as a gentle reminder—if there comes a time you want to come back to me, I’ll welcome you with open arms. No conditions, no expectations.” He drew back to look me in the eyes. “No time limit.”

  “Danial, don’t wait for me—”

  “Sar, I’m in love with you. I’m not going to fall out of love with you easily. You are married to Theo now, and I respect that. But that doesn’t change how I feel. If enough time passes, I might take a lover,” he said, then paused dramatically. “But I’ll love you, just you. And while you live, I will love no other.”

  “Been watching Excalibur much?” I said with a smile.

  “Devlin quoted that to me on the phone,” Danial said, annoyed. “I thought it was some poetry he’d been reading. I thought it was appropriate. I didn’t know it was from a movie—”

  “Danial, I’m teasing. I’ve always loved that line and I’m moved you said it to me. The only thing peculiar is to put Devlin and poetry in the same sentence.”

  “He’s a great lover of poetry,” Danial said curtly. “But we have much more important matters to discuss, wouldn’t you say, Theo?”

  “Yes,” Theo answered, coming to my side, “Where is my daughter?”

  “Safe with Cia,” Terian said. He had somehow come in silently, unnoticed, and was leaning against the wall behind Theo. “She’s explaining that Sar’s going to live with you, that you’ve married. When Cia’s confident Elle’s ready, she’ll bring her here.”

  “It will be some minutes,” Danial said. “Which is good.”

  “What do you want?” Theo said, folding his arms across his chest, his expression severe.

  “Your help,” Danial said. “I need you. Elle and Theoron need you.”

  “Same position?” Theo said, looking at Terian pointedly.

  “Terian is aware and has agreed,” Danial said, glancing at me. “Sar’s safety is a key priority. There are people after her—”

  “She told me there was a man named Alphonse that sent his men to kill her and laced the trap with bait she was not likely to refuse. Probably he was behind the attempt today, too.”

  “You’re most likely right,” Danial said. “The problem is we don’t know who this Alphonse is. Sar doesn’t remember him or the insult she supposedly gave him.”

  “Like I told her, I don’t know an Alphonse either,” Theo said.

  “Then we are back to square one,” Danial said with irritation.

  “Maybe not,” Theo said. “I have the spent shells and bullets from the hotel. We still have that contact in ballistics to see if the gun was used in another shooting. According to Devlin, the guy was a professional.”

  I hadn’t known Danial had contacts within the police department.

  “I’ll call him tonight,” Danial said. “Terian, there’s a man listed as Bill/Ballistics in my rolodex on my desk. Get the bullets and shells to him tomorrow.” He cut his eyes to Terian who nodded.

  Danial looked back at Theo. “You didn’t answer me, Theo. Yes or no?”

  “You didn’t answer me, Danial. I need to be here for Sar, so what happened at the hotel doesn’t happen again.”

  “Terian will come with me on all my trips. You will stay here and guard the children and Sar when we aren’t here. She will have to come here for those times, no exceptions, until we have Alphonse removed as a threat. Since she still wants to help with Solutions, Inc., there shouldn’t be a problem keeping her safe while letting her retain most of her old routine—”

  Now the reasoning behind Danial’s odd question on the phone became clear. “It will also give me some extra time with the kids,” I interjected. “I’m for it.”

  Theo didn’t look pleased I was siding with Danial. “That’s all fine if Terian and I are here together. But I can’t guard both of the kids and Sar when you’re gone, Danial. I’m going to need more backup,” he said finally.

  “What do you suggest?” Danial said.

  “We need brute force, physical or magical, in case we get attacked the way Terian reported you were a few days ago. Terian was able to take them out, but if I’d been here alone, I’d most likely have been hit once at least. And I wouldn’t have been able to fight the werebears, not ten at a time, without a lot of help. That means at least two more weres—probably more like four or five—either as strong as me, or we need another sorcerer.”

  Danial sighed and looked at Theo. “I don’t suppose more guns would help?”

  “You know how it is,” Theo said, a cheerless smile on his face. “The drawback of new technology is that the advantage is always a temporary one. No one in our world expected the explosive bullets gun, and it gave us a needed edge. But anyone with money can get their hands on one now. Speaking of which, Danial, we need to get you a vest to wear on all your trips. Anyone after little Theo is going to know you have to die before he could be successfully taken.”

  “Agreed,” Danial said after a moment. “I’ll look into it and also armor for you. Do you have any recommendations for possible new guards?”

  “I don’t,” Theo replied. “Do either of you know anyone we could trust who doesn’t already work here?”

  “I have a friend,” Terian said slowly. “She might be convinced to help.”

  “I have a few names,” Danial said.

  “Give me the names tonight, and I’ll set up at least one interview tomorrow,” Theo said to Danial. He turned to Terian. “Ask your friend if she’d interested, and if she’s for real, give me her name and number.”

  Terian nodded.

  “Make the call now please, Terian,” Danial said, staring at Theo. “Use the kitchen phone.”

  Terian cast his eyes to meet mine briefly, then went into the kitchen. Danial turned to Theo, his eyes red tinged, full of restrained fury.

  “Theo, I want an explanation of what happened yesterday morning that led to you being arrested.”

  “I messed up,” Theo said guiltily. “It won’t happen again. I’ve apologized to Sar—”

  “Do you think that covers it?” Danial said, seething. “Your apology?”

  “Look, you and I both know Noah. He was going to arrest me no matter what I did—”

  “Don’t make excuses for yourself!” Danial hissed. “Sar and you would have been home yesterday night if you could control your temper. She wouldn’t have needed a guard if you’d have been there for her. But you had to smart mouth the police when they came asking questions. If you’d gone along with them, you’d have been back at her side in a few hours and not spent the night in jail.”

  Theo was angry, but his words were calm. “You’re right. All of it,” he said finally. “What else do you want from me besides an apology?”

  “Did you know that Samuel intended to kill you?” Danial asked.

  “For what?” Theo retorted. “I didn’t say anything, despite his I’m-a-vampire-and-you’re-a-piece-of-shit-were-attitude.” He looked at me for support.

  “He’s right,” I said as gently as I could. “Samuel heard your possessiveness of me in your voice, that night he confronted us in Europe. It didn’t matter what you said. He thought we’d been having an affair behind Danial’s back. He made a scene at Danial’s party later that year—”

  “It was more than a scene,” Danial growled. “Samuel knew you and Sar were lovers, Theo. He has been Europe’s Ruler for centuries, and he would have killed you that night if he had found you. You’re standing here, married to Sar, only because he thought you were already dead.”

  Theo glared at Danial. “What the fuck do you want from me?”

  “I want you to start thinking with your head and not your heart,” Danial, replied. “None of us can afford that, least of all you
r wife.” He paused. “Or our son.”

  I wanted to leave suddenly. This was too awkward. But leaving would only draw attention to myself.

  “I know he’s the first dhamphir,” Theo said slowly. “What’s the word?”

  “Nothing so far,” Danial replied, worried. “Not officially. I think that most vampires think it’s a hoax, something I made up to give me time to solidify my position as Lord—”

  “Ruler,” I corrected, then blushed as Danial and Theo both turned to look at me.

  “In any case,” Danial continued, turning back to Theo, “I need you focused. I’m not saying I expect you to protect Theoron over Sar. But I expect you to protect them equally.”

  “Of course,” Theo said angrily. “How could you even—?”

  “Because I’m his father,” Danial stated. “And because of the history the three of us have. We have a rocky road ahead to make this work. I need to know I can count on you, that there isn’t anything you feel for him but acceptance.”

  “I accept what happened when I was gone,” Theo said. “All of it. I wouldn’t be working for you again if I didn’t.” He moved to stand before Danial. “But there’s something besides acceptance—there’s love.” He took a breath. “He’s beautiful, Danial.”

  “He is,” Danial said proudly. “We can—”

  Terian came back in. “She said she’s interested, though she’s not sure if you would think she’s qualified.”

  “Give us some background,” Danial said, all business.

  Everyone sat down.

  “Her name is Monica Remmin. She is human, but she is a sorceress. She can do most minor spells and is working on learning larger ones. She has talent. She’s just young and not too experienced. I met her while she was on vacation. We spent some time together.”

  Was Monica an old lover of Terian’s? He’d never mentioned a woman friend, at least to me.

  “How is she qualified?” Theo asked. “We need power, not simple illusions.”

  “Monica does healing, for one,” Terian replied. “Something I can’t do at all. And her illusions are just like reality.”