Darci groaned. Everything about her nephew had changed, including his mouth.
Grace sighed. “I’m sorry,” she told Blaéz. “Farm chores and fresh air appear to have given him a personality makeover, too.”
“It’s all right,” he said, putting his hand on Darci’s lower back as they headed for the front door. A tiny black ball of fur raced toward them, missed Daniel, and bumped into Blaéz’s booted feet. An unhappy meow filled the air.
“You got a cat?” Darci blinked at Daniel in surprise as Blaéz picked up the feline. “I thought you didn’t want another pet after Mr. Tibbs died?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t. Now it’s not so bad missing him. Ms. Tibbs replaces Mr. Tibbs. Besides, she’ll be company for Liana when I’m not around.”
“Ms. Tibbs? Really?” Darci huffed out a laugh at the name, glancing at Blaéz. He had a staring match going on with the kitten, whose wide, green eyes watched him unwaveringly. Then he cradled her to his chest and stroked her back, and a happy purr rolled out of the tiny black bundle.
“After everything I’ve done for her?” Daniel sighed. “Women, such traitors.”
“Hey—” Darci mock-glared at her nephew, holding back her laughter.
“Present company excluded, of course.” He grinned unrepentantly. “C’mon, Tibby, let’s work on the adoration I know you have for me.” He took the kitten from Blaéz.
As they walked into the warm, noisy living room, Daniel’s two gangly friends jumped up.
“Guys, you know my aunt Darci, right?”
“Wassup, Dars? Still lookin’ good,” Ethan with the tousled, brown hair and eyes croaked. Daniel cuffed him upside the head. “Stop flirting, dumbass. That’s Blaéz, her man. He could probably crush you with one hand.”
“I’d be quite happy to test that theory,” Blaéz agreed pleasantly, slowly pulling off his leather jacket.
The boys’ jaws dropped open for a second, then they grinned, puffing out their scrawny chests.
“Blaéz, these are my idiot friends,” Daniel introduced them. “The big-mouth’s Ethan, blondie next to him is Jasper.”
Darci bit back her smile. Testosterone, no matter the age, would always battle for dominance. She took Blaéz’s jacket and hooked it on the coatrack near the door, along with hers. Thankfully, Daniel no longer hung out with those two untrustworthy friends of his who’d dared him into the dangerous sport of cage fighting.
“Dude, you play?” Jasper asked Blaéz, nodding to the PlayStation and the racing game they had going on the flatscreen.
“Well, now…”
Don’t even think about it, Darci warned Blaéz through their mind-link at his suddenly contemplative expression. They’re just boys, and gambling is not encouraged.
His eyes gleaming with humor, he shook his head. “No. I don’t…er, have the patience to sit still.”
Darci snorted. He cut her a sardonic look. Except when it comes to you. I’m very, very patient once I have you at my mercy, begging for my mouth and my cock so you can find your fulfillment.
Heat burned her face. Damn. He was determined to make her suffer. Show her what she was missing. Hastily, she turned to Grace as soft laughter echoed in her mind.
“How’s my beautiful niece?” she asked, rubbing her hot cheeks.
Grace smiled. Ugh, her sharp-eyed relative didn’t miss the silent exchange between her and Blaéz. “Liana’s sleeping. She’s such an angel, so peaceful. Declan and Daniel are utterly smitten with her.”
Her brother walked into the living room from the kitchen, pushing his sweater sleeves up his forearms. He stopped in the doorway, expression cool, green eyes inscrutable.
“Hey, Dec,” Darci hurried over and hugged him, inhaling his familiar, spicy-pine aftershave along with a hint of woodsmoke. He returned her embrace, a smile softening his stern, tan features. “Darci…” He looked past her. “Blaéz.”
“Declan.”
And the meet and greet was done, like it had been the few times they’d met since Darci started living with Blaéz.
A whimper came through the baby monitor set on the small side table, and Grace excused herself.
“You need a hand with Liana?” Declan asked quietly, crossing to his wife.
“No, I’ll be fine.” Grace smiled and patted his chest before heading for the stairs.
Her brother glanced at his son and friends, the boys’ attention already back on their game—the sounds of engines revving heard once more before the cars on the screen zoomed off. “Once the baby’s up, they’ll get rowdy. Let’s go outside. I have to check on the grill, anyway. Besides, it’s more peaceful.”
Darci followed Dec, with Blaéz at her back. In the silent kitchen, she pivoted to him. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“The evening’s barely started, a leannan. You don’t know what horrors still lay ahead,” he deadpanned. “But, as long as you shield me, I’ll survive.”
She laughed, tugged him down by his shirt, and kissed him softly on the mouth. His hands tightened on her waist, and his tongue stroked the seams of her lips in a tormenting caress, before he straightened. Darci blinked.
At his knowing smile, she scrunched her nose. As if she were that easy…okay, she was after so many days without making love to him. Heck, she’d been seconds from dragging him into the broom closet, but no need for Blaéz to catch on and drive her even crazier.
She walked out into the spacious, paved backyard. Crap! She shivered, the cold air slipping through her sweater and chilling her heated blood. Instantly, her jacket settled over her shoulders. She glanced back and smiled her thanks at Blaéz, gratefully slipping it on. At least the boys weren’t around to witness that little trick.
She skirted around the patio furniture, stepped off the porch surrounding the back of the house, and headed for the built-up barbecue area on the left. Opposite it, a half basketball court took up space.
Darci stopped near her brother, shoving her cold hands into her fleece-lined jacket pockets. Blaéz stood at her side, watching curiously as Declan added steaks to the grill, the searing meat a loud sizzle in the quiet evening. A mouth-watering aroma soon wafted in the cold air.
“Let me get you a drink,” she told Blaéz and crossed to the small wet bar adjacent to the barbecue area. Selecting his preferred whiskey, she poured a shot in a squat glass and handed it to him.
“Dars?” Declan set the empty platter down, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “The church got back to me this morning. They won’t do the ceremony without the banns being read. Guess we should have attended service, even if sporadically. Father Paul probably thinks we’re all too steeped in sin to traverse his sanctified threshold after such a long absence.”
Despite Declan’s droll tone, her tummy churned with worry. Her gaze rushed to Blaéz.
“If you like,” Declan said then, “we could hold the wedding here. There’s space enough. It’s just a matter of finding someone who could officiate the ceremony.” He cut her an affectionate smile. “Don’t worry about anything, I’ll find somebody.”
She nodded and chewed her lower lip. They were so close to the wedding.
“Thanks for doing this,” Blaéz said quietly.
Declan inclined his head. “No problem. Oh, one more thing…” His gaze shifted between her and Blaéz. “The rehearsal dinner? Do you want to go ahead with that?”
She understood why he asked, considering the Guardians never spent time socializing in public. At Blaéz’s quizzical look, she explained, “It’s another tradition. Dinner after the final wedding rehearsal.”
“I see…”
She quickly added, “It won’t be in some public restaurant or hotel, but a bit more secluded.”
“How about the private dining room at our favorite steakhouse in Westwood Mall?” her brother asked.
“Oh, that would be perfect”—her gaze rushed back at Blaéz—“but only if it’s okay with you. It would be nice if the Guardians could attend, just for dinner, maybe?�
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“I can’t promise you they all will, a leannan, but I’ll speak to them and let you know.”
“Thank you—” Laughter and ribbing cut her off as Daniel and his friends rolled outside, bringing the noise with them. One of the boys grabbed the basketball from the wooden chair, and they jostled their way to the court.
Behind them, Grace appeared with the baby. Darci hurried over to her sister-in-law. “Let me hold her.”
Carefully, she took the well-bundled baby and cradled Liana to her chest, then eased the pale pink covering away and sighed. “She’s adorable.”
“A mother will never disagree.” Grace smiled, accepting the glass of juice Declan handed her.
Darci stroked the wispy, fair hair on the baby’s head. The scent of cool night air and leather surrounded her. She glanced up at Blaéz. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”
“Indeed...” With one hand tucked into his jeans’ pocket, the other holding the whiskey glass, he eyed the baby warily.
“She won’t bite,” Darci teased. Then, as if something got ahold of him, Blaéz gently ran a callused finger over the baby’s tiny fist, his expression one of utter awe. “She’s terrifyingly little, isn’t she?”
Her chest constricting with tenderness, Darci whispered, “She’ll grow.”
“Blaéz?” Daniel called out, spinning the basketball on his finger. “You want to play?”
“Hold it—” Declan lifted a stern brow at his son. “You’re just gonna throw your old man over for someone new?”
“Of course!” Daniel grinned. “Blaéz looks capable and probably doesn’t have to break a sweat. Man, with his height, he’ll just dunk the ball into the hoop, and it’s a win.”
At the father and son banter, Darci’s heart lightened that the old animosity between them had finally faded.
“You should be aware,” Blaéz said, “I’ve never played basketball.”
“What?” Daniel gaped, appearing shocked out of his sports-crazed mind as if Blaéz had committed a terrible felony by admitting such a thing. The spinning ball bounced away. “Not even shooting hoops?”
Amusement lit Blaéz’s eyes. “No.”
Daniel’s brow furrowed, then he shrugged and, in the typical teen fashion, moved past his predicament. “Okay. No problem. You can be on my team. I’ll show you how. Yo, Ethan?” he called out to his friend shooting hoops. “You partner my dad. He’s good. You should be happy you got an old college pro.”
“I don’t know whether to be insulted or stunned at that endorsement.” Declan snorted. “But I’ll sit this one out. Someone’s got to feed your bottomless pit.”
“Guess it’s just you and me then, loser.” Jasper snatched the ball from Ethan.
The baby whimpered. Grace set her half-drunk juice down and crossed to Darci. “It’s her feeding time.”
She handed the baby over. And as the guys gathered on the ball court, Darci followed her sister-in-law indoors and up to the lovely pink and green nursery decked out with white furniture.
“You’re all ready for the big day?” Grace asked. “And you’re okay with having the wedding here?” She lowered into a rocking chair before unfastening her top to feed her daughter.
“Yes…” Darci rubbed her palms down her jeans and told Grace her concerns. “I’m happy Dec offered to have it here—really. But all the Guardians in one place will bring notice. It’s not like they can avoid it. I don’t want to be the reason for their undue attention. And here, the neighbors will be dying of curiosity—we’ll more than likely have several unwelcome guests.”
“True.” Grace frowned as she stroked the baby’s hair. “Why not have it at the castle? I mean, it’s not like we don’t know the truth, right?”
Darci didn’t say anything for a second. She wanted her family to see where she lived and that Blaéz didn’t keep her in some shack.
As the idea took hold, she slowly nodded, her mind already discarding her guest list. At the end, the only people who really mattered to her were her family. “I’ll have to speak to Blaéz.”
“How’s the dress?” Grace asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It must be beautiful. I can’t wait to see it.”
“It is. But then I’m partial to it since it’s my dream one.” She laughed, pulling off her jacket and dropping it on the white chest of drawers there. The nursery was a little too warm for her.
“Dars?” Grace’s smile faded. “Daniel doesn’t know anything about Blaéz and who—or rather what—he is.”
“I know.”
“It’s just that he’s so young, and I don’t want him saddled with this burden of secrets just yet.”
“I understand, Grace, honestly I do.” She absently tugged at a lock of her curly hair. “But if we have the wedding at the castle, that is if Blaéz agrees to it, then what? Daniel’s going to notice that things aren’t what they seem. If you think Blaéz is intimidating with his size, looks, and height, wait until you see all the Guardians together.”
Grace nodded, switching Liana to her other breast. “I can imagine.”
Her mind in a whirl, Darci wandered to the window overlooking the backyard and watched the boisterous game for a minute, their grunts and yells muted with the windows shut.
Blaéz easily blocked Ethan’s shot. Grumbles followed. Daniel, of course, whooped in excitement. Her man seemed to have easily adapted to playing basketball with a bunch of loud teens. He pushed the sleeves of his black sweater to his elbows and stepped away from the hoop.
Even though he’d dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, he somehow retained that perilous air. But then he was a true predator.
As night approached, the outside lights flickered on, brightening the entire tarmac area. The game continued despite grouses from the losing team when Blaéz suddenly stilled amidst the rowdy teenagers, the ball hitting him square in the chest. He grabbed it and took a second before tossing the ball back to Daniel. Her heart clopped hard against her ribs. Something was wrong.
He spoke to the boys then crossed to Declan. Her brother nodded at whatever he said. Blaéz headed indoors.
“Excuse me, Grace, I’ll be right back.” Darci ran down the stairs as he walked into the living room. Her anxious gaze searched his. “What is it?”
“The others need me.”
Darci knew it had to be trouble of the worst kind if they’d called him. Even though it was his night off, it made little difference when it came to the safety of this realm.
He got his jacket from the stand in the small hallway and pulled it on, his expression gone flat, unreadable.
“I’ll be back for you.”
“Be careful.”
“I always am, little sun.” He stroked her cheek, his hard features softening. He pressed his lips to hers in a brief kiss, and in the empty living room, he dematerialized in a scattering of molecules.
Darci sagged on the arm of the couch and rubbed her arms. Blaéz left every night to go out on patrol, yet uneasiness had never gnawed at her gut like it did right now.
Three hours later, Darci helped Declan clean up the kitchen. He packed the dishwasher, switched it on, and then washed the few glasses left over. As she put the crystal away, the front doorbell rang. Voices drifted to her.
Blaéz. Thank God.
He entered the kitchen a moment later. Though nothing showed on his face, his tension seeped into her like it was her own. She dropped the dishtowel on the table and hurried to him. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He dragged his palm over his clipped hair in a telling gesture. There, on his knuckles, she saw the healing scab.
“What was it? Can I ask?” Declan cut a quick look their way as he washed the last of the glasses.
“Demoniis.” Blaéz removed his jacket and dropped it over the chair. “They’d accosted humans in the subway downtown, probably thought them easy targets.”
“For their souls.”
Blaéz eyed him quietly and nodded.
“All destroyed?”
/> “Every single one of the bastards.”
The little knot of wariness still lingering in Darci eased. It was good for once to see them hold a conversation instead of their usual stoic silence. She gave her brother a quick smile and tugged at Blaéz’s hand. “Sit. I kept a plate warm for you.”
Declan set the last crystal on the dish rack, wiped his hand on a towel and walked out of the kitchen to check on the noise coming from the living room.
Darci laid the silverware on the table and retrieved the food she’d plated for Blaéz—steak, barbecued corn, a baked potato with sour cream—and set it before him. She didn’t bother with the salad since Blaéz didn’t care much for green veggies.
“Do you want a whiskey?”
He shook his head. “Water would be good.”
She poured ice water into a glass, set it near him, and took the chair adjacent to his. “What’s wrong?”
He cast her a curious look while cutting his steak. “Why would you think anything’s wrong?”
“Because I can feel your tension. It’s been there since before we got here this afternoon.”
Silence reigned. Seconds passed as he chewed his food and swallowed, then a sigh barreled out of him. “I saw Finnén yesterday when we were at the cake shop. I’m worried that this incident in the subway could be his doing.”
His twin was here? Dread knotted her insides.
There were siblings who had a love-hate relationship, but Finnén’s antipathy toward Blaéz bordered on dangerous…psychotic even. She still remembered his expression from several months ago when he’d been forced to abandon his task of executing Blaéz for mating her, a mortal. He hated Blaéz so deeply that he’d actually taken on a job as a law-keeper to kill him. And it made her a liability.
“Why would he come back?” she whispered. “He knows you’ll hurt him if he comes anywhere near the castle or us.”
His jaw hardened, his eyes gone a lethal inky blue. “If he comes anywhere near you, I’ll kill him.”
Suddenly, the face in the crowded street the other day clicked. Everything inside her froze. Oh. Shit! Taking a deep breath, she said, “Blaéz, I think I saw him, too.”
For You, I Will Page 5
