by Kali Argent
Deke followed at a more leisurely pace, his concern growing by the second. He didn’t know what had happened at the house across the street, but he’d be damned if it would happen again. Each time they’d visited the Bastille, he’d bit his tongue, telling himself Roux’s friends just didn’t understand yet. They needed time to adjust, to see that things could be different, better. He’d heard Cade’s snide remarks, though, each biting comment he’d made about the Gemini and Roux’s growing acceptance.
That shit stopped now.
The man could be as suspicious and scathing as he liked about the town, the Gemini, and everything in between. Deke didn’t give a flying fuck what Cade Novak thought of him, but the next time he upset Roux with his caustic ranting, Deke would destroy the idiot.
Familiar voices drifted to him from the kitchen, and he paused at the top of the deck stairs to compose himself before meeting his friends. Roux wanted the perfect day, and he wouldn’t ruin it by causing a scene, not unless someone forced him.
“I didn’t know if you liked it heated,” Roux was saying when he finally joined them. “I figured you probably did, but then, I didn’t know how warm it should be. I guess body temperature?” Roux held two blood bags, one in each hand, and stared up at Zerrik in apology. “Or did you want a beer? I could make you a Bloody Mary.”
Once the words were passed her lips, she blushed an alluring shade of pink and hastily tossed the blood bags to the counter. Before Deke could step in to comfort her, Zerrik took one of Roux’s hands and patted her knuckles.
“Roux, please breathe. You didn’t have to go to so much trouble, but—”
“That’s what I told her,” Deke interrupted, earning him an eye roll from his friend.
“But,” Zerrik continued, his attention back on Roux, “I truly appreciate the consideration. I know this is uncomfortable and probably a little distasteful to you, so know that it means a lot.”
“Better watch out, Captain,” Thea said, plucking a cube of cheese from the tray in the center of the kitchen table. “I think Z might be after your girl.”
“Shut up, Thea,” he and Zerrik said in unison.
If he even suspected what Thea had said to be true, Zerrik would be bleeding on the floor. As it stood, he’d known the vampire for a long damn time, and Zerrik had never been one to poach. More importantly, the respect and reverence he showed Roux earned him a few thousand points in Deke’s book.
The front door opened again, no doorbell this time, and Abby sashayed into the house with Peter following behind her. “Honey, I’m home,” the petite blonde sang. “And I brought brownies.”
Roux’s eyes lit up, and she rushed across the room, meeting Abby in the entryway to relieve of her of the aluminum container in her hands. “Fudge brownies? Did Peter make them?” She peeled the lid off and glanced up at Peter. “Did you make these?”
Everyone laughed, including Peter. “Yes, I made them, and yes, they’re fudge brownies. Abby said they were you favorite.”
“And they’re for dessert,” Abby scolded, swatting Roux’s hand and taking the tin back from her.
“We also brought potato salad.” Moving around Abby, Peter held up a clear container before placing it with the other food on the table.
Eventually, they all moved onto the deck where the conversation turned to safe, inconsequential topics. Roux had finally started to relax, to smile and enjoy herself, when the doorbell rang again. They all stopped talking at once, and Roux looked like a stiff wind would knock her over when she rose from her seat to go answer the door.
“I’ll get it,” Deke offered.
Roux just shook her head.
Thea toyed with the ends of her dark hair, watching Roux with a peculiar expression. “What just happened? Did I miss something?”
“It’s nothing.” Still, Deke moved close to the patio door, ready if his mate needed him.
A minute later, Roux reappeared, all four of her friends following behind her. She gave Deke a small smile and touched his arm when she passed. Then she made the introductions, saying everyone’s name and occupation for the benefit of those who didn’t know.
The older male, the one she’d called Denny, acknowledged everyone with a smile and a handshake. Greg didn’t smile or offer his hand, but he did nod a lot. Brody, though clearly uncomfortable, smiled and waved, likely making the effort to be cordial for Roux. Cade, as expected, said nothing. He straddled the kitchen threshold, his arms crossed defensively over his chest, while he glowered at everyone on the deck, even his own friends.
“You’re a teacher?” Thea scooted to the side, making room on the outdoor wicker sofa for Denny. “Will you be teaching here?”
Denny accepted the offered seat with a gracious smile. “Yes, it’s quite exciting really. I’m supposed to stop by the registration office on Monday to see Abby about ordering books and supplies for the children.”
“That’s me!” Abby swept her hair back from her shoulder and waved. “You just let me know what you need, and I’ll set you in the right direction.”
“Thank you.” Clasping his aging hands together, Denny nodded to Abby. “They’d like classes to begin next Wednesday, so there’s much to accomplish before then.”
“I like you.” Propping her booted feet up on the matching wicker coffee table, Thea tipped her beer bottle to her lips and patted Denny’s shoulder. “You talk funny. I like it.”
“Yes, Mendez,” Zerrik said with a snort, “because talking in complete, grammatically correct sentences is a good time for all. Hilarious, even.”
Greg shrugged from his place by the railing. “I think he talks funny, too.”
Slapping a hand over her mouth, Thea gasped. “Barbarian!”
Everyone laughed—except Cade—and the tension eased by a degree. Even Roux smiled, though she avoided eye contact while she picked at the flower on her shoe. It couldn’t be easy, spanning the divide between two worlds, and Deke could tell she was barely holding it together.
“Roux, would you help me with the burgers?”
Blinking, she looked up at him as if she suddenly didn’t understand English. “Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. Okay.”
Rising from her seat, she wiped her palms on her shorts and smoothed down the front of her shirt. Without looking at anyone else, she followed him down the steps, surprising him by taking his hand as they crossed the lawn. In present company, Deke hadn’t been sure if she’d want him to touch her, and as much as he hated it, he also understood.
“How are you holding up, kitten?”
“Everyone seems to be getting along. Greg doesn’t say much, never has, so that was him making an effort.”
“Denny is a good guy,” he offered.
“Yes.” A fond smile graced her lips. “He always sees the good in everyone. People can’t help but like him.” Shifting sideways, she looked back to the deck and sighed. “Brody will take a little more work, but he’ll come around.”
Deke released her hand and opened the grill lid to flip the burgers and rotate the hotdogs. They’d both purposely avoided talking about Cade, but they couldn’t pretend like he didn’t exist.
“Cade’s here,” he said casually. “I wasn’t sure he’d come, so I think that’s progress.”
With a shake of her head, Roux rolled her eyes and shuffled closer to him. “You can stop. I appreciate what you’re doing, but it’s okay. Cade doesn’t make it easy for people to like him.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. As long as he respects you, I’ll tolerate him.”
Fluttering her long, dark lashes, Roux pushed up on her toes and kissed the side of his throat. “My hero.” Her expression turned serious, and she scuffed her shoe through the grass. “I was just like him not so long ago.”
“I remember.”
Roux slapped at his arm and snorted. “What I’m trying to say is that I know he can be stubborn and difficult, but…”
“I get it.” He closed the li
d to the grill and dipped his head, claiming her lips in a slow, gentle kiss. “I can handle Cade’s shitty attitude, okay? I just don’t like that he upsets you.”
Her eyes creased at the corners, and her shoulders rounded, but she didn’t say anything as they walked back to the deck to join the others. Greg still stood by the railing, away from the group, but he answered questions amenably enough. Denny waved his hands around in animated gestures as he regaled Thea with comical stories about his past students. Zerrik had even managed to pull Brody into a conversation about security tactics and weaponry.
Cade wouldn’t be budged, though. When spoken to, he simply glared, holding his position in the doorway as if he planned to bolt at any minute. Every time he acted like a raging douchebag, Roux cringed and ducked her head to pluck at the flowers on her shoes. The poor daisies wouldn’t make it through the evening.
“So, Cade…” Abby’s eyes narrowed at the corners, and the muscles in her jaw ticked. “When will you be seeing the doctor?”
The question must have startled him, because Cade’s eyes widened, and he took a step back. “What doctor?”
“The surgeon, of course,” Abby answered sweetly—a little too sweetly. “You know, to remove that abnormally large stick from your skinny ass.”
A heartbeat of silence followed, then everyone erupted into raucous laughter. Even Greg cracked a smile, something Deke had thought was a physical impossibility. Cade didn’t react, didn’t respond, but his eyes softened just a bit when he looked at Abby. If Deke didn’t know better, he’d swear he saw a measure of respect in Cade’s expression.
“Burgers are about ready. You assholes start moving the other food to the picnic tables.”
“I’ll grab the serving plate for you.” Popping up from her seat, Roux rushed past Cade and into the kitchen.
“So, that’s how it works.” Cade leaned back against the doorway, an impressive sneer twisting his lips. “He says jump, and you ask how high.”
“Shut up, Cade.”
Though she spoke quietly from inside the house, Deke had no problem hearing the pain in her voice.
“No, you need to hear this. I don’t know what he’s told you, or what you think you know, but it’s all lies, Roux. He’ll use you and discard you. That’s what they do.”
“Don’t,” Roux snapped. “Don’t do this, Cade.”
Cade curled his lip at her. “I’m disappointed in you, Roux. I thought you were better than this.”
“Leave.”
“No.”
When Cade disappeared into the kitchen behind Roux, Deke shoved past his friends to follow. He’d expected Cade to discourage Roux from staying, from being with a shifter. It fit his personality and suspicious nature. Deke hadn’t expected him to be so cruel about it, though.
“Get out of my house,” Roux demanded, her shoulders back and her fists clenched at her sides.
“Don’t fucking kid yourself. This isn’t your house. You don’t belong here, Roux, and that freak show sure as hell doesn’t love you.”
“Enough,” Deke growled from just inside the doorway. “I believe the lady asked you to leave.”
“Roux, wake up!” Cade yelled, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her roughly.
Deke didn’t remember moving. One minute, he’d been standing by the door, then the next, he had Cade slammed against the refrigerator with a hand around his throat. His claws extended into sharp points, but he didn’t draw blood, not yet.
“I don’t like you,” Deke informed him. “I could kill you now, and I promise I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.”
“Deke.” Hesitantly, Roux reached out, placing her hand on his forearm. “Deke, don’t do this.”
Thea, Zerrik, and Brody had crowded into the kitchen, forming a loose half-circle around them, but no one spoke. Smart.
“For some reason that I can’t comprehend, she thinks you’re worth saving.” Deke nodded sideways to his mate. “Now, I want her to be happy, so I’m going to let you walk out of here…this time.”
“Deke,” Roux whispered, “please. He can’t breathe.”
“Don’t worry, kitten. I’m not going to kill him today.” Pulling Cade toward him, he leaned in until their noses almost touched. “If you lay a hand on her again, I will eviscerate you. If you speak to her in any way except with respect and admiration, I will remove your head from your shoulders and use it as a paperweight.” Still holding the asshole by the throat, Deke slammed him back into the fridge door again. “Are we clear?”
“Fine,” Cade choked out, glaring daggers at him. “Clear.” He puffed out his chest when Deke released him, his eyes burning with hatred. “Roux,” he said stopping next to her on his way through the kitchen. “If you ever need me, you know where to find me. Freak show here might not always be around t—oomph!”
Cade stumbled backwards into the counter when Roux caught him on the chin with a wicked right hook. Before he could recover, she had scaled him like a jungle gym, her fingers tangled in his hair as she drove her fist into his face again and again.
“Deke?” Zerrik shuffled his feet and threaded his fingers through his silver-blond hair. “Don’t you think you should stop her?”
Deke shrugged. “I think she’s having fun.” Goddess, she was remarkable.
“Don’t. You. Ever,” Roux growled between punches, “threaten my mate again.”
“Uh, guys?” Brody shrunk back and winced when Roux’s next blow sent blood flying across the countertop. “I think he’s had enough, yeah?”
Thea and Zerrik nodded their agreement, but none of them made a move to go near the little hellcat. Chuckling quietly, Deke wrapped both arms around his female’s waist and hauled her away from Cade. She didn’t go easily, still kicking and clawing at the air to get to him, and it amused Deke greatly to see a tinge of fear in the man’s eyes.
“Okay, easy there, tiger. It’s supposed to be a party, remember?”
Eventually, she stopped struggling and sagged in his arms. “My hand hurts.”
“Not as much as his face does.”
The others filed into the kitchen, taking in the scene with varying expressions of shock. No one spoke. No one moved. The very room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next, inevitable explosion.
“Go home, Cade.” The anger had drained from Roux’s voice, and she snuggled deeper into Deke’s arms. “Now.”
“Come on, cupcake.” Abby smiled as she pulled Roux from his arms and walked her toward the patio door. “How about those brownies now?”
“Holy shit, Captain,” Thea breathed when the other females had left the kitchen. “Your mate is kind of my hero.”
Zerrik bobbed his head. “Mine, too.”
Leaning back against the counter, Deke watched Abby lead his mate to the patio sofa and hug her tight, petting her hair in long, soothing strokes. He hated that the incident had caused Roux even a moment of pain or heartache, but sweet hell, she’d been utterly magnificent in her fury.
“Yeah,” he agreed, “mine, too.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Have you spoken to Cade yet?”
Looking up from the merchant license renewal she’d been completing, Roux arched an eyebrow at Abby. “No, but it’s only been three days. He knows where to find me.”
“You beat him to a bloody pulp in front of his friends. Boys are weird. They kind of take things like that personally.”
Shrugging, she returned to the paperwork. “Not my problem.”
She hadn’t meant to lose her mind and take it out of his face, but at the same time, she wouldn’t apologize for it. His words may have seemed innocent enough to everyone else, but they didn’t know Cade like she did. When he’d threatened Deke, something dark and cold had descended over her, and she’d reacted on a primitive level, prepared to defend her mate to the death.
Abby slid one hip onto Roux’s desk and crossed her bare legs at the ankles. “Does this mean y
ou’ve made a decision about Deke?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t want to talk about it.” She scrolled down the screen on her computer, searching for the credit total to add to the merchant document. “Huh, that’s weird.”
Abby made a face, but she didn’t push the subject of Deke claiming her. “What’s weird?”
“Bethany, that girl that sells those pendants by the fountain? Have you seen her lately?”
“Hmm, I guess I haven’t really paid attention.” Sliding off the desk, Abby sauntered over to the window and peeked through the blinds. “She’s not there today.”
“Her credit numbers haven’t changed in four days. None in, none out.”
“It’s not that unusual for people in this town to disappear.”
Dropping back in her chair, Roux thumped the end of her pencil against the desk. “I thought residents weren’t allowed to leave the city limits without an escort.”
“We’re not.” Abby moved away from the window, an uncharacteristic somberness to her mood. “It started about six months ago, I guess. A person here, two people there. They just vanish one day, and no one ever hears from them again.”
“Have you told Deke?”
“They know about it. Deke’s guards are looking into it, but so far, they don’t have much. It’s sporadic, and so far, no one has found any connection.”
They didn’t speak about the Revenant in public places, but Roux understood which guards Abby meant. If the missing residents hadn’t been smuggled out of the city and sent on their way to the mountains in Washington, she wanted to know who had taken them and why.
“I know that look,” Abby warned, shaking her finger in Roux’s face. “Don’t start sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Let it go.”
“I’m not going to do anything stupid.” That didn’t mean she couldn’t quietly look into the matter, possibly find something Deke and the others had missed. “Aren’t you worried that you could be next?”
Abby picked her fingernails and shrugged. “Not really. No registered companions have gone missing. Besides…”
“What?”
