by Ashlyn Chase
“The water will be ready in a minute,” Roz said. She set the tray on the ottoman and sat on the sofa. When Brandee didn’t move, Roz patted the empty cushion beside her.
Brandee strolled over and took the seat offered. “Your place is lovely.”
“Thank you. Because my husband is the dean of the school next door, we lucked out and were given this place as part of the whole package.”
“You must really enjoy reading.”
“It’s my husband’s obsession, but I’m getting into it more and more. We like to curl up—but never mind that. I’m getting off the topic again. We’re here to talk about you and Nick.”
“Yes. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to discuss this, uh…situation.”
“You must be pretty confused.”
“You can say that again. I’d never have believed him if he hadn’t showed me.”
Roz’s jaw dropped. “He transformed—in front of you?”
“I-I asked him to.”
“Wait a minute. Back up,” Roz said.
Suddenly the teapot whistled.
“Crap. Hold that thought.” Roz raced to the kitchen. A couple seconds later, she returned with the teapot and poured hot water into the teacups.
“How did you know what he was? Did he just come out and tell you?”
“No.” Brandee remembered the circumstances of being marked and her face began to heat. Would Roz know they’d been making love at the time? Oh well, it’s not as if I have anyone else to talk to about this. A little embarrassment might be worth the insight.
Roz filled the silent void. “I knew there was a big secret Konrad wasn’t telling me, and as I became more and more suspicious, I demanded he tell me what it was.”
Brandee snorted. “I didn’t have a clue.”
Roz scratched her head. “Now I’m the one who’s confused.”
Brandee worried her lower lip. “If I tell you, promise not to tell anyone else.”
“I won’t keep secrets from my husband. If he asks, I’ll have to tell the truth. But other than that, I promise.”
That’s reasonable, I guess. I’d ask for the same exception if I was married. “Okay, but if he doesn’t ask…”
“I won’t offer.”
“Good enough.” Brandee took a deep breath and blurted it out. “We were making love, and he bit me. I thought it was weird, so I asked him why he did it and he told me. He said I’m his mate.”
Roz gasped and jumped to her feet. “He marked you?”
“Yes. That’s what he called it.”
Roz slapped her forehead and reeled back. “He didn’t tell you what he was about to do and get your permission? He just did it?”
Brandee nodded. “He said something about not being able to control himself. He said it was instinct.”
Roz balled her fists. “Wait until I see my brother-in-law again—”
“No! You said you wouldn’t.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Damn. I did, didn’t I?”
At that moment, a key rattled in the door lock and an exact replica of Nick walked in. The only reason Brandee suspected it wasn’t Nick was because the man wore a conservative suit and didn’t seem to recognize her.
“Oh, hello. I didn’t know we had company,” he said.
Roz strolled over to him and gave him a kiss. “This is Brandee, Konrad. Nick’s mate.”
Konrad’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you just inadvertently tell her?”
“Nope. He told her.”
“Already?”
Roz frowned. “He marked her already.”
Konrad’s big body thumped into the armchair nearest him. “Holy shit.”
“He marked her and he shifted in front of her.”
“You weren’t supposed to tell…” Brandee hoped Nick wouldn’t get in trouble for doing things out of order or for something he apparently did wrong.
Roz sat on the armrest next to her husband. “I told you that Konrad is the only one I’d ever tell. And he needs to know this.”
“Why? What did Nick do wrong?”
Konrad gazed at the ceiling. “Everything.”
Brandee rose, intending to leave. “I’m sorry I said anything.”
“No. Don’t be. We—we’re just surprised,” Roz said.
“Why? Because he was supposed to keep the big, bad secret from me until I got so suspicious I broke up with him?” Raising her voice, she asked, “Is that what he did wrong?”
The Wolfensens must have been speechless. They just sat there with their mouths open.
“Look, he’s not perfect, but I love him and forgave him…not only for biting me, but also for hiding what he was. I imagine the two of you love him too. And if I can forgive him, then I expect you can too.” Dang, I didn’t realize I’d get angry. Even so, yes, she’d forgiven him for everything. If yelling at his family made her realize that, it was worth it.
Konrad recovered first. A smile slowly turned into a grin. “You’re defending him. That’s a good sign. As his mate, you can be assured that he’ll defend you too.”
“Well, duh. He told me the truth. I don’t like it, but I can’t change it. And it’s not like I’m perfect.”
“Yeah? What’s wrong with you?” Konrad asked outright.
“Konrad!” Roz slapped his arm.
“It’s okay,” Brandee said. “Well, for one thing, I’m severely lactose intolerant. You shouldn’t offer me scones with clotted cream. I love them enough to suffer the consequences even though I know what they’re going to do to me.”
Roz regained her sense of humor, at last, and giggled. “Go ahead. Eat a lot of them. It’ll serve Nick right.”
***
Nick waited to meet Sly and Morgaine at the bar the next afternoon. He had hoped he’d have time to talk to Brandee first, but she was busy with a table full of tourists who wanted to chat. Just as she finished up with them, the mysterious daytime vampires entered and spotted him in the booth at the back.
They strode over. Sly removed Morgaine’s purple jacket and his long, black coat and tossed them over one of the hooks on the wall. Then they slid into the booth across from Nick.
Sly smiled. “I can’t get over how much you and your brother look alike. I almost called you Konrad.”
“I’m glad you brought your lovely bride, Sly. I didn’t think you were going to come, Morgaine.”
Morgaine squirmed. “I might as well confess. I have agoraphobia, although it’s getting better. I’ve been going out short distances with Sly or my cousin, but today will be a major step for me.”
“Really? How?”
“I plan to wait here by myself until Sly returns.”
Sly glanced around. “This place is cozy enough. She should be okay. Especially knowing this is a safe place for our kind. Trust is a big part of overcoming her fears.”
“Fears?” He probably shouldn’t have said anything, but he was fascinated by the thought of a phobic vampire. So much for the bad-ass stereotype.
“I also have nyctophobia,” Morgaine said. “Fear of the dark.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to be all right after we leave? It’s late afternoon. The sun might set before we’re back.”
“I’m fine in a lighted room.” She smiled at her husband. “And I’m fine even outside at night as long as I’m with Sly.”
Brandee strode up beside them and smiled. “Hello, everyone. Can I get you anything from the bar?”
Nick rose and gathered Brandee into a side squeeze. “Sly, Morgaine, this is my girlfriend, Brandee.”
Sly rose and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brandee.”
Morgaine stayed seated but reached out and shook her hand too. “Likewise.”
“Nice to meet you both.” When Nick gave her another sque
eze, Brandee whispered, “I’m working,” and squirmed a bit until Nick reluctantly let her go.
He knew she could whisper all she wanted and the vampires would still hear every word, but she didn’t know that. He was slightly embarrassed that she hadn’t acted as proud to be with him as he was to be with her.
Perhaps Anthony had some sort of unwritten rule about fraternizing with the customers. He didn’t know that for sure, but perhaps it was frowned upon.
“So…drinks?” she asked.
“Nothing for me,” Sly said.
“Are you sure?” Nick returned to his seat. “How about a nice Bloody Mary?”
Sly rolled his eyes and put an arm around Morgaine’s shoulder. “No. I’m all set. How about you, hon?”
“No thanks. We just had a couple glasses of wine before leaving the apartment. Maybe later.”
Wine before going to a bar? Maybe that’s necessary for her to relax a bit and leave the apartment. I’m glad Brandee doesn’t have any phobias—that I know of. He turned to Brandee. “In that case, sweetheart, one butt wiggle as you walk away is all I need.”
“You’re incorrigible.” She winked at him and left.
“She seems like a nice girl,” Sly said.
“She is. Talented too. She went to art school but waits tables to pay the bills.”
“Oh. That’s too bad,” Morgaine said. “Too many artists are undervalued. That’s where the term ‘starving artist’ comes from, I guess.”
Nick eyed Brandee’s retreating backside. “She won’t be starving for long. She’s very talented.”
Sly twisted to look behind himself, then faced Nick again. “So this is the bar, eh? Who here is paranormal? I can’t tell just by looking.”
“Neither can I.”
A tall man with sandy brown hair sporting a bright yellow streak walked through the front door and glanced around.
“Take the guy who just walked in, for instance. I can tell there’s something different about him, but I don’t know what it is. I’ve never seen him before.”
Sly eyed the same guy and nodded. “I guess you’d have to ask him. Is that how it works here?”
Nick shook his head. “It’s not that simple. Sometimes my sense of smell will tip me off. But we get to know each other first, by striking up a conversation like in any other bar. Eventually, when we build a little trust, we reveal what we are. So far, it’s worked out well.”
“So, do you know anyone that well here?”
Nick pointed out Kurt and Tory, who were leaning on the end of the bar, talking to Angie. “See those two? One’s a shapeshifting coyote and one’s a wizard.”
“No kidding,” Sly said.
Morgaine’s eyes rounded. “I’ve never met any wizards. I was a witch before Sly turned me, and now I’m both witch and vampire. Our building is full of shifters but no coyotes.”
“I think you’d like them. Want me to call them over?” Nick asked.
“Not yet. I-I need to settle in first.”
“You know who you really ought to talk to is that lady over there.” He pointed to Sadie. “She’s our resident psychic.”
Morgaine grinned. “I sensed another psychic in the room. How exciting. Would it be all right if I just go up to her and introduce myself?”
“I’m sure she’d be very receptive. But let her know you just want to talk psychic to psychic. She makes patrons pay a one-drink minimum for readings.”
Morgaine laughed. “Now there’s a good business move. Is she human?”
“Yes.”
“And how about your girlfriend?” Sly asked. “Is she?”
“Yes. Most of the staff are completely mortal human beings.”
Sly interrupted. “If you know an older vampire, why didn’t you ask him to do this dry run robbery for you?”
“Excellent question,” Morgaine echoed.
“He has to stay neutral. If other vampires were to find out he was helping a werewolf catch a vampire, for whatever reason, it could ruin his and his bar’s image. He wants this to be a little piece of Switzerland in the middle of Boston.”
“I can understand that,” Sly said.
Morgaine rose. “I’d like to meet Sadie while you’re both still here.”
“That’s my girl.” Sly grinned and slid out of the booth, allowing her to leave them. He watched as she sashayed over to the booth closer to the middle of the long wall. “Whew. I’m glad she seems comfortable here. Now, let’s take care of business.”
Nick cleared his throat. “I should warn you that the two cops you’ll meet today are typical weres. They might not be as friendly to vampires as the patrons here are.”
“Is there anything I should do or not do while I’m around them?”
“Chances are it won’t matter. Prejudice is one of those words that perfectly describes itself. You’ll be prejudged. Don’t bother trying to change minds that have been made up for centuries.”
“Then should I go through with this at all? If I’m unsuccessful, won’t they think I’m just trying to throw them off to cover for a fellow vampire?”
“Maybe. But you’re not doing this for them. You’re doing it as a favor to me. And as I understand it, my brother saved your life once. I can explain that to them.”
“Right,” Sly said. “I guess they’ll see it as an ‘I owe you’ kind of thing. What they don’t realize is I used to catch crooks as a regular thing.”
“I seem to remember Konrad saying something about that. He called you the Vigilante Vampire.”
Sly chuckled. “It was the only way I could slake my bloodlust and make myself useful at the same time.” He glanced over at his wife and smiled. “But those were the days before Morgaine. I had only darkness inside before I met that girl.”
“Well, we should get going.”
“Yes. I don’t want to leave Morgaine too long.”
“Give me a minute to talk to Brandee. I’ll meet you outside.”
“No problem.” Sly rose, grasped his jacket, and headed for the door. He stopped to kiss his wife on the way.
Nick watched them and couldn’t help being a bit envious. Morgaine had allowed her husband to turn her into a vampire so they could be together forever. In fact, according to her, she begged him to.
Would Brandee ever agree to be turned? Somehow he doubted it. If she didn’t like the bite that marked her, she really wouldn’t care for the deeper wound needed to turn her.
Nick grabbed his leather jacket from the peg where he’d tossed it. Brandee was waiting at the bar for an order, so he strolled over to her.
“I have to go, sweetheart. Would you keep an eye on Sly’s wife? She’s a little skittish. Call me if you need us to come back.”
“Huh? Why would we need you to come back?”
“It’s not my right to reveal someone else’s, uh, limitations. Let’s just say she doesn’t get out much. This is kind of a test for her today.”
Brandee looked confused. “Okaaay.” She glanced over her shoulder to where Morgaine sat. “She looks perfectly happy talking to Sadie.”
Nick took a look at the two psychics who seemed to be having an animated, friendly conversation. “She does seem fine right now. But if Sadie gets busy, she might have to move to another table and that would leave Morgaine all alone.”
“Well, whatever her problem is, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to make her feel at home and comfortable.”
Nick smoothed a stray lock of red hair behind her ear. “I know you will, babe. Just be your charming self.” He tipped up her chin to kiss her. “I’ll be back soon.”
She gave him a quick peck. “I hope so.”
***
When Nick and Sly ambled up to the closed bank, the captain and a lieutenant were already there, leaning against a Range Rover. They were wearing plain clothes and waiting
with arms crossed…stern expressions on their faces. The parking lot was illuminated by streetlights, and the shadows cast made the cops’ faces seem even more severe.
“Sly, this is Captain Hunter and Lieutenant Lupo,” Nick said, hoping for the best.
Sly extended his hand. “Gentlemen.”
The two large cops ignored him and focused on Nick.
“Are you sure he’s trustworthy?” the captain asked.
Nick knew he’d have to bluster to get through to his captain. Hands on his hips, Nick practically growled, “He’s not associated with any vamps other than his wife. He’s willing to stick his neck out for absolutely no reward. He owes my brother his life, so he didn’t even hesitate when I asked for his help. Is that trustworthy enough for you?”
He spoke to Hunter as he’d been spoken to anytime the captain wanted to make a point. It felt strange being in a position to do so. Maybe being a “civilian” wasn’t all that bad.
Captain Hunter’s bushy eyebrows jumped up, then settled as he smiled slowly. “Good enough.” He extended his hand toward Sly. “Thank you for your willingness to help us.”
Sly nodded and shook the captain’s hand.
Lieutenant Lupo didn’t offer his hand, and Sly didn’t bother waiting for him to. However, the two nodded to each other.
“Is this bank ready to go?” Sly asked. “No alarms are going to go off, right?”
“The bank manager left the door keys in my care but can’t be here for obvious reasons. Naturally we don’t have access to the vault, but we’ve stashed something just outside of it. The cameras are active, and we’ll take the footage with us when we leave.”
“So you want me to do this as if I were the real thief? Move fast enough to avoid detection by the cameras?”
“If you can.” Lupo smirked at him.
Sly glanced around the parking lot. “Are cameras covering the outside as well as the inside?”
“We’ve got a few extras,” Hunter said. Sly noted that he wasn’t told where they were. He took a deep breath. “I’d like a guarantee in writing that I won’t be arrested or prosecuted for what I’m about to do.”
