Any
characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m
just doing this for fun. This is rated PG-13 to be safe.
I need to thank two very sweet and very patient ladies for
helping me with this. I hope you are having as much fun reading it as I am
writing it.
The next few days were a whirlwind of emotions I didn't want or
need but I couldn't bring myself to break it off. That alone showed a weakness
that I hadn't wanted to admit to.
We spent the next three nights together. It was nice just to have
someone to wake up beside. We'd go into work together and she'd be waiting when
I got off. It was a weird Ozzie and Harriet type of moment. That is until I
woke up one afternoon and overheard a conversation she was having on the phone.
“He hasn't said anything more about it. I've asked him questions,
but I've told you all that.” I couldn't hear whom she was talking to but I
could take a couple of guesses.
“He avoids the question.
He asks a lot about the pack structure and infection. He says that it's
different in his world.” Her voice was becoming agitated as she spoke. “I don't
know if he's a threat! Maybe you should find out yourself!”
I could almost feel her grimace as she apologized over the phone.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell.”
I stood there in the hallway not sure what to do. I had let my
guard down, and for what? She was so engrossed in the conversation that she
didn't hear me approach until it was too late.
I took the phone from her and hung it up. “I want you and your
stuff out before I get home.” She tried to touch my cheek but I backed away. “I
trusted you and the only thing you wanted was something to tell your boss.”
She tried to explain. “I had to.”
“No. You didn't.” I shook my head as I turned away. I walked into
the bedroom, got dressed and left.
I knew she had her shift to pull but I wasn't going directly to
work. I needed time to think.
I wasn't going to let my guard down again. I drove around the city
for a bit, stopped at a local bookstore, anything to kill some time.
Just before my shift was to start, I drove to the station and
stopped in to see Mitch. I told Mitch that I could work the holidays for anyone
that wanted off.
He looked surprised. “That's awfully generous.”
“I don't have anywhere to be. No family or friends here.” I said,
stating the obvious.
“What about Myra?”
I shrugged. “She said she couldn't see me anymore. It's for the
best anyway. I let my guard down. Doesn't make for a long life.”
My temporary boss eyed me critically, “Not like there is an ass
load of Daimons to fight.”
I smiled grimly at that. “No. But I'm not here to find my savior.
I'm happy like I am.”
There was a knock on the door. As I got up to leave Mitch told me,
“I'll let you know about pulling shifts.”
“Okay.” I nodded.
I opened the door and bumped into Myra. She looked at me and
smiled, but it wasn't a smile full of much emotion. I walked past her closing
the door. I really needed to find something else to do but it had been Ash that
had put me here. I guess he had to okay any move.
I went about getting ready for my shift. I had told Mitch of a
contest I wanted to run. Told him I'd pay for the prizes. He was happy with
that. The thing with Myra really bugged me. It was like she wasn't the same
person. Maybe the vampires had control over her or something.
As I entered the second hour of my shift, I told the listeners
about the contest. “Okay people listen up.
This is for my show only. So don't bug the other DJs. Starting the day
after Christmas, I want you people to start getting a list together of
twenty-six bands and one song for each band chosen. Here's the catch. It has to
be in alphabetical order. Start with the letter A and end with the letter Z. If
you can't think of a group with a certain letter, skip it and remember the
format people. No Yanni. No Abba. I will personally rip those to shreds. I'm
not kidding. The person with the best list as voted by myself and two others
will receive those twenty-six CDs from us. So you have til New Years Eve. Show me what ya got.”
I cued Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle and Three Doors Down.
Then I took some requests. “93X. This is Nathan.”
“May I play this game?” I had an uncontrollable shiver as I heard
Asher’s voice over the line.
“Can you name twenty-six hard rock or alternative bands?” I
quizzed him.
“I suppose Bach is out of the question?”
“Just a bit before my time.” He laughed at my response. I sighed.
“What do you want?”
“I have a proposition for you.”
I knew I shouldn’t ask but I did. “What is that?”
I could hear the dare in his voice as he replied. ”Come back to
Guilty Pleasures and I will return your weapons.”
“And what do you get from my visit?” There had to be a catch.
“The pleasure of your company and a taste of you.”
I had to think about that. True these vampires were different but
did I really want to let one sink his fangs into me? No guts, no glory I
supposed.
“Safe passage?” I asked.
“Oui.”
“It would have to be on a Sunday. It's my only day off.”
“I look forward to Sunday.” He hung up before I could reply.
Before I signed off I gave out the fax number and the station
email for people to send in their lists. I knew for sure I was working
Christmas eve and Christmas day/night. So I figured I'd try and sleep as much
as possible. Now that would be a really
nice present. Only the Skoti didn't really believe in that sort of thing. It seemed like the nightmares were even more
graphic than usual.
I woke up from a particularly bad nightmare on Christmas day to
find a demon sitting on the edge of my bed. She appeared even more agitated
than I was after that last dream, but thankfully she wasn't a Skoti. She was
dressed in red dress with a Santa hat on her head, her green horns protruding from
each side. It was Ash’s pet demon… daughter… hell it was hard to explain. It
was simply put, Simi.
As soon as she saw I was awake, she asked me. “You know how long I
been sitting here watching you?”
I yawned stifling the urge to yell at her. “You could have made
some noise. Woke me up.”
She smiled. “But you so cute sleeping. Making those funny faces.”
I sighed. “Ash let you out on your own?”
She tried to imitate Acheron’s voice as she told me. “Akri says
‘Simi go check on Nathan.’ Make sure you still breathing.”
“Tell Akri I want a new assignment. These people are weird.”
She looked confused. “You not happy Hunter?”
“Do I look happy?” I couldn’t help asking.
She took her two index fingers and stuck them into the corners of
my mouth and forced it into a smile. “Now you look happy.”
I couldn't help it. I laughed. It was hard to be angry with the
Simi. Acheron knew this first hand. So I gave up and asked her. “How are things
back home?”
“Big trouble. Lot's of Daimons to barbecue. You need to behave.”
I grinned at her warning. “I haven't broken any laws… Yet.”
“Akri say you better not.”
“Tell Akri to kiss… um never mind.” I really didn’t need Acheron
pissed off over me using bad words around his Simi.
She smiled. “Everyone says hello. Merry Christmas. I left you
something under your pretty tree. Simi
go now. Bye Nathan Hunter.”
Just like that, she was gone. One of these days I was going get
Vane to teach me how to do that.
I stumbled to the bathroom, showered and shaved. I had been pulling Myra's shift and mine for
the past few days. It was better than sitting at home watching TV. If I saw
‘It's a Wonderful Life’ one more time... I dressed in black jeans a black tee
and black hiking boots. The only thing missing was my black leather duster. But
alas that was in New Orleans, in my own time.
I grabbed my wallet and keys and walked out to the living room to get my
jacket.
I stopped short when I saw the tree or what more to the point what
was under the tree. There were several boxes of different shapes and sizes, all
decorated in bright Christmas colors. I sat down beside the tree and just
looked at the gifts in amusement. How had she done it?
One right on top had a note attached. It was from Mama Lo. “Just
because you can't be here Cher, doesn't mean we don't think of you. Merry
Christmas.”
The one from Simi I had to open. The others could wait. It was one
of her barbecue mitts. It had a World War II aircraft on it. I had to smile
even as a tear worked its way free from my eye. Damn tears, always the
emotional betrayers. Maybe I did have a family, just not here.
The studio was practically deserted. Ellen had just finished her
shift. I was taking Myra's and mine.
I'd probably cover for Douglas for a bit too. I could always crash in
the lounge until time to head out to the District. The plan was, in and out,
get my weapons and let a vampire taste my blood. Then I’d head back home, cut
and dry. Yeah, right.
I sat there musing about the last couple of weeks. Had Myra
actually chose to help me or been forced to? Had she been told to get close to
me to get info about me and what I was?
I guess it would make sense if they thought I liked her. Well it didn't
matter now. Either the plan backfired, or they figured I really had told them
everything, well everything Ash said I could tell them. Not my fault it wasn't
complete.
It was all relative anyway. They couldn't time travel. Hell I
didn't know I could. I would be an astrophysicists dream project, if the
anthropologist and the biologists didn't get me first.
The problem was, in this time frame people didn't believe in Gods
and Goddesses. One Nation Under God! Yeah, where vampires had rights and
werewolves worked at radio stations. Talk about a messed up universe. All
right, for these people it wasn't messed up. I just couldn't see how people
could willingly let someone munch on them. It just wasn't sane.
I walked into the sound room and started setting up as Ellen was
shutting down her show.
As some ads about a New Years Eve party the station was throwing
were running, Ellen walked over and gave me a hug. “Merry Christmas.” I kissed
her cheek in response. “It's a shame you have to be here all night.”
I shrugged. “Not like I have anywhere else to be.”
“You could always come over our place. We always have room for one
more.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Now go home to your family. Merry
Christmas Ellen.” I told her.
She smiled and left.
I put on my headphones and pulled the boom down to start the show.
“This is 93X your adult alternative music station. Merry Christmas! I hope
you're all taking the time to enjoy your family and friends today. Ya never
know… Um… Let's get the show started with some Godsmack. This is Serenity.”
The phone banks lit up. Good. I didn't want to get too serious. It
was going to be a long night into morning. Douglas had asked if I could pull
the first hour of his shift. I didn't hear the door of the studio open but you
know that feeling you get like someone is watching you? I turned and found
Mitch standing there.
He looked serious. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I'm fine. You should go home.” I encouraged him.
“I want you to take Monday and Tuesday off.” I arched a brow at
that. “You've been pulling a lot of shifts. It's going to drain you.”
“You know something I don't?” I asked my boss.
“I know you're going to the District tomorrow night.”
I shrugged. “I have to get my knives back. He gave me safe
passage.”
“You are not that gullible.”
I sighed. “No. In fact I think an ally in that area may come in
handy. I just have a feeling something is coming.”
“I know. I feel it too.”
I looked up, surprised. “You were a Hunter weren't you?”
“Someday, I'll answer that.” He turned to go but called over his
shoulder, “You're off until Wednesday.” With that he was gone.
I cued up some more music and started taking calls. The first one
was familiar.
It was Nathaniel. “Are you really coming back to Guilty Pleasures?”
“Yeah. Asher promised to give me my knives back. Why?”
“I was hoping we'd get to meet this time.”
“Sure, if it's okay with your keepers.” There was a long silence
after my reply.
“I don't have any keepers.” He sounded angry.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I guess I'm used to dealing
with the doggie king.”
He sounded confused. “Doggie king?”
“Um, Richard.” He burst out laughing. Glad I was amusing at least.
“He doesn't like me.”
Nathaniel confided. “He doesn't like me either. I sleep with his
ex-girlfriend.”
That was interesting. “His ex-girlfriend?”
The young man sounded proud. “Yeah. Anita.”
“Anita? As in Blake?”
“Yeah. You've met her?”
“Not yet. I heard she can be a real bitch.” I waited for his
reply.
“She can be tough when she has to be. She protects us.” He sounded
almost defensive of her.
“I see.” I didn’t know quite what else to say to that.
“So I hope I get to see you.”
“Me too. Would you like to hear something?”
He thought about it a moment. “Could you play that song from my
CD? Duality.”
“Sure.”
He thanked me and hung up. So Nathaniel the shifter/stripper,
slept with the doggie king's ex-girlfriend, who I just happened to get a
warning to stay away from. The Fates can get cute sometimes.
I started getting tired around one am. The calls started to get
tiring as well but I tried my best to stay upbeat. I think the more tired I got,
the darker the music got. I had to really focus to lighten everything up for
the hour I pulled for Douglas.
Of course the news of a massive earthquake and tsunami off Sumatra
didn't help. The death toll was astounding. Damn. Day after Christmas and the
world is turned upside down, again. When Douglas finally showed up two hours
late, I was dead on my feet, no pun intended. I decided instead of taking a nap
in the break room, I'd just drive home. Besides, I still had presents to open.
Those would have to wait. Because when I walked into my apartment
I was hit with an overwhelming fatigue. It was almost like I had been drugged.
It was all I could do to pull my clothes off and get into bed.
I woke around seven that night. It was dark and there was a light
snow falling. Funny how everything seemed so quiet when it snowed. When I was a
boy, we lived in the country on a large farm. When it snowed my brother and
sister and I would all run outside and just listen to the quiet. It was so
damned peaceful.
I walked outside and stood on the sidewalk, letting the snow
shower me. I didn't think anything about it until someone walked out of the
other apartment and whistled. Reality came crashing back as I turned to see a
pretty Asian woman.
She looked me up and down then smiled. “A little under dressed
aren't you? Not that I mind.”
She grinned and cocked her head to the left. It was then that I
realized that I was standing on the sidewalk in nothing but a pair of blue
boxers. I felt my face get hot. I beat a hasty retreat back inside. I stood
with my back to the door feeling like a complete idiot.
I didn't even know there was someone in the next apartment. There
was never any noise, no vehicle. I tried to picture her. She had obviously got
a better look at me, than I did at her. Recall, it’s one of many skills a pilot
has to have. She was around to mid twenties. Her hair was long, dark. I bet it
felt almost as soft as silk. I shook my head to clear it. She wore dark
clothing, maybe. I just couldn't remember much else.
I decided that I was going to go down to Guilty Pleasures. Do it
and get it done. Besides if anything came up, I didn't have to be back at work
until Wednesday.
I cleaned up and dressed in dark blue jeans and a gray Tee shirt.
Hiking boots completed the outfit. It was then I realized I hadn't opened the
other gifts. There were six boxes. One contained cards and photos. Another held
a few things from my place. My squire had sent me some of my favorite discs.
In the large box was something I hadn't even realized I'd missed
that much until I opened the box. It was my black leather duster along with a
note from Ryan which read, “I thought you might like to have this. I miss you
kid.”
Kid? Okay, Ryan was thirty. In reality I was over eighty but I only
looked twenty. So I let him get away with kid. He helped me out a lot,
basically kept me from going over the edge when I got all melancholy. I set
everything aside and mentally asked Acheron to tell everyone thanks. I knew he
could hear me. How he could, I had no idea.
I stood, shook the duster out and put it on. I felt so good, so
familiar. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Guilty
Pleasures here I come. Grabbing my keys, I was out the door.
There was a line to get in as usual but somehow I figured I
wouldn't have to wait. I parked the Viper around the corner and locked it up. I
had figured right because as soon as I got onto the Club’s lot, Buzz came down
to meet me. He hadn't changed. He was still dead.
“You carrying?” He asked.
“Nope. Your boss has all my weapons and I plan on getting them
back.” He laughed at that. “I'm not kidding.”
He grinned. “Neither am I. Follow me.”
“Sure.”
We headed up the front steps when I heard my name called out in
unison. I turned around to see a group of women waving. I walked back down the
steps and approached them. They were fans of the station, had seen my photo on
the website. I hadn't known I had a photo on the website. Hell
I hadn't even looked at the station's site. I talked to them for a
few minutes as Buzz the bouncer fumed. I said my goodbyes, rejoined Buzz and
went inside.
As we neared the bar I saw Tongue Stud sitting on a stool chatting
up a brunette. As we passed by I hooked my foot around one of the stools legs
and yanked. Down it went. I kept walking as the brunette laughed. That felt
good. Buzz gave me a look just before he stifled a snicker. There was hope for
the dude yet.
I noticed we took the same route as the last time, through the two
steel doors and down the same corridor. We stopped in front of the one that
read Manager and Buzz knocked before opening the door and going inside. I
followed and found Asher sitting at his desk, reading. I sat down in a chair
opposite the desk and Buzz left. Asher closed his book and looked up at me. His
face was guarded.
I grinned. “You're surprised I'm here.”
“Yes. Somewhat.” He admitted.
“I don't go back on my word.”
“Nor do I.” He reached
into a drawer of the desk and produced a box. It was white.
Looked like ivory. He sat it to his right. “I have been reading
about your Gods and
Goddesses. It is a wonder that people believe in such fantasy.”
“The people here believe in you.”
“I am not fantasy.” He looked confused.
“In my world you are, just stories, except to ones who know
differently.” I explained.
After several moments of silence, he stood picking up the box and
walked around the desk. Opening the box he handed it to me. Inside was Paul's
knife and the two daggers. I closed the box and stood.
Offering him my hand I said, “Thank you. That knife means a great
deal to me.” He looked at my hand then took it. His touch was cool. “Why are
you so cold?”
“I have not fed as of yet.”
I understood. I nodded and sat the box back on his desk. I took
off the duster and draped it on the back of the chair.
I turned to face him. “How do you want to do this?”
“You are not afraid?”
“Every fiber in my being is telling me that I am insane. I'm not
so much afraid as I am edgy. I'm giving you a hell of a lot of my trust.”
He gave one curt nod. “I am not sure what you will feel. I will
try to make it as painless as possible.”
“I appreciate that.”
He turned me around so that my back was to him, put one arm around
my midsection and pulled me backward into him. Keeping one arm around me, Asher
used his other hand to tilt my head to the left stretching out my neck. Without
even a countdown he struck, burying his fangs deep.
I hissed. It hurt like hell. I tensed and tried to pull away but
Asher just tightened his grip. My heart was running a marathon in my chest.
Then suddenly the pain was gone and a sense of pure rapture hit me. Wave after
wave of bliss washed over me. I'd never felt anything like it before. He could
have drained me right there and then. I wouldn't have known. Hell I probably
wouldn't have cared at that point.
To say I would have been a puddle of goo on the floor if he hadn't
had a good grip on me would have been an understatement. So it was no wonder I
didn't hear the argument outside the door or the door opening. I didn't even
feel him pull away. Every nerve ending in my body was on fire. My mind was
buzzing.
“I said I did not want to be disturbed!” He must have pulled away
at that moment because he tensed.
It was a woman’s voice that replied. “I'm sorry Asher I didn't
realize you were feeding. I'll come back later.”
“Give us a few moments Ma Cherie.” I heard the door close. It
sounded loud. “Forgive me. I may have gone a bit farther than I intended.” When
I didn't answer, he turned me to face him. I turned my glazed Hunter eyes on
him. “Mon Dieu!”
“Damn,” was the only reply I could manage to make. He picked me
up, walked over to the sofa and lay me down. Everything was spinning.
“Lie still until it passes.”
“No problem.” I rolled into the back of the sofa and closed my
eyes. Sex didn't feel as good as this. I was in all kinds of trouble.
I don't know how long I lay there. Doors opened and closed. Voices
echoed in my head. The woman who had interrupted his feeding was now arguing
with him. I couldn't really put the words into any coherent thought at the
moment. I was still dazed and confused. I managed to roll over to see the woman
he was talking with. She was petite, dark hair, looked Hispanic maybe. What I
noticed was the shoulder holster and the gun. Then Asher said her name. Anita.
This couldn't have been the woman I was warned to stay away from. She was so
cute and tiny. As I became more aware of the conversation I didn't like where
it was going.
She was angry. “Jean Claude is not going to like this Asher. He
and Richard both both believe this guy to be trouble. You should have run this
through him.”
“Jean Claude is not my master Anita. Neither are you or Richard.
If I thought Nathan to be a threat I would have him under lock and key. I
granted him safe passage.”
She fumed. “Safe passage? He tried to kill Richard!”
“Can't blame him for that.” Luna chimed in. They both stared at
her as she came in.
“I can.” Anita curtly replied.
I looked up at the Goth Princess. Even in my dazed state I could
see her nostrils flare and her eyes begin to change. She walked over and looked
down at me like she'd just found a rabbit in a trap. Her eyes had completely
changed and I swear she licked her lips as she turned my head to find the marks
on my neck. She started licking the wounds there.
I was a bit nervous. “Hey Princess? You aren't gonna eat me are
ya?” She grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head further back. “I guess
that was a yes?”
Anita apparently noticed her move. “Luna what are you doing? Move
away.” The Princess growled. “Did you just growl at me? Did she just growl at
me?”
Asher nodded. “I believe she did.”
Anita looked from one of them to the other. “And you still believe
he isn't a threat? Look at the effect he's had on the two of you.”
Asher sighed. “She is reacting to the scent of blood. Nothing
more.”
The angry woman asked, “And what are you reacting to? You look
like you want more.”
The vampire raised his eyebrows. “And you know this just from my
look?”
Anita huffed. “I know lust when I see it Asher. Put him somewhere
that he can't hurt anyone.”
“He has not harmed anyone.” Asher protested.
There was a loud rip. The Princess had finished licking my neck
and had crawled on top of me. She had grabbed the front of my shirt and ripped
it clear off.
Anita wasn’t done. “Then put him somewhere, preferably in
shackles. Luna! Get off of him!”
I looked to Asher for help. Then a shuddering wave of pleasure
ripped through me causing me to arch my back. The Princess growled. Anita
pulled her gun placing the barrel next to my temple.
One way or another it looked like I was going to bleed some more.
Luna snarled, grabbed the gun from Anita's hand and tossed it onto
the floor. She then turned those cat eyes back on me and lowered face to mine
like she would kiss me. Instead she bit me. Anita gasped. Nobody saw that
coming. Asher pulled Luna off me. She was not happy about that at all.
Asher told Anita, “I think you should go and take Mon Chat with
you.”
Anita wouldn’t be moved. “Shackles Asher. Locked away until Jean
Claude and I get some answers.”
“Hey! I gotta work Wednesday!” I yelled in self defense.
My consciousness was swimming back to the surface. I stood shakily
and walked over to Anita, looking down at her. “If you want me in shackles, do it
yourself.” I turned to the Princess. “You owe me a shirt. Safe Passage. That's
what you said.”
“You still have it.” Asher assured me.
“No. Not now. I won't allow it.” I turned back to Anita as she
continued. “You aren't leaving.” She opened the door and called for someone.
Two very big men walked in. “I want him in shackles.” They both nodded.
Asher spoke up. “I refuse to let you do this Anita.”
She looked surprised. “You refuse? What has gotten into you?”
He tried to soothe her. “He is my guest. I will watch over him.”
“You'd better Asher.” The little spitfire shot back.
The vampire told her, “I do not think I like the tone of your
voice.”
“What tone?” Anita asked as she left with the two men.
Asher turned his attention back to the other woman still in his
arms. “If I let you go Luna, will you behave?” She nodded. “Very well.”
He let her go. She turned around and slugged him. He was trying to
get control of the situation. He yelled for me to hold her. I grabbed her from
behind pinning her arms to her sides. He was trying to get her to look at him.
Was he trying to reason with her or maybe use mind control to settle her down?
He took her face in his hands forcing her to look at him. He was
talking to her in a whisper, in French. Now that was interesting. It seemed to
be working. She stopped fighting. He signaled for me to let her go. When I did
she turned and punched me in the mouth before walking out. Slamming the door.
I was frustrated by the whole encounter. I yelled at the closed
door. “Hey! I didn't tear your shirt off!” Asher chuckled. “So now what?”
“What do you mean?” He asked as I turned to look at him. “Why do
your eyes turn that color?”
“They are supposed to be this color all the time. This universe is
playing nasty with my abilities.”
He looked at me. “I will attend to that bite and you can explain.”
“What was wrong with the Princess anyway?” I asked him.
“She was reacting to the scent of your blood. She lost control.
That made her angry. It is why she lashed out.”
I shook my head. “Our shifters don't react like that.”
“Come.” He took hold of my right arm. “That bite needs to be
cleaned.”
“ Yours or hers?”
“The bite I gave you is almost healed. Mon chats' may take
longer.”
I was a bit hesitant. “You gonna put me in shackles?”
“Non. You have done nothing to warrant such treatment.” I sighed.
“If I felt the need to tie you, I would use leather.” He smiled.
He opened the door and led the way out. I did notice he kept me
close, as if protecting me from something or someone.
He reassured me. “After I clean that bite, I will find you a
shirt.”
I looked at what he was wearing, a black silk shirt tucked into
gray slacks. “No offense, but I don't do silk.”
He chuckled. “I will find you something more to your liking.”
“My coat is back in your office. I could just throw that on.” I
told him.
“That would be very cumbersome after a while I should think.”
I shrugged. “I've fought daimons in that duster and it never got a
tear.”
“I am sure.”
“Maybe I'll just go back to my place and get another shirt.”
He asked, “And come back?”
I stopped walking so he turned to face me. I told him. “I gave you
want you wanted. So why can't I just go?”
“I fear for your safety.”
“I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for eighty years.”
Asher sighed. “I have been doing it much longer.”
Well that I couldn't argue with. We ended up going down some
stairs through another heavy door and by two more sets of doors, until he
stopped at a set of double doors that were ajar. I could hear voices inside.
One of them I knew. It was the Princess and she was arguing with a man about
something. Asher held up his hand and pushed the door open a bit wider. The
conversation was going something like this.
“Come on Superman, give me the fucking shirt. He can't go out
there without one,” she demanded.
“No way Wonder Woman! Those women out there would eat me alive.”
There was silence then a wicked smile in her voice as she said,
“Ah, you know I'll protect you.”
The man sounded less than convinced. “That's what I'm afraid of.”
Asher shook his head and opened the door. Luna was standing really
close to a guy that was over six foot. He had brown hair and I sensed he was
another shifter. They both stopped talking and looked at me. He looked amused.
I noticed she had her hands balled into the front of his shirt.
I couldn't help it. I had to say it. “Planning on ripping his
shirt off too Princess?”
Her head fell forward onto the other guy's chest before she turned
and gave me this coy little smile and said. “Actually I was thinking about it.
Unless you can think of an easier way to get him out of his clothes.”
“Not my field of expertise.” I shook my head.
The other guy looked at me funny before he walked over and checked
out my neck. “What is your expertise? Vampire junkie?”
“Excuse me?” I asked him.
“Looks like a couple of good bites.” The male shifter explained as
he looked at Asher.
“Oh that one wasn't from him.” I grinned and looked at the
Princess.
“Damn! What did you do to deserve that?” He asked.
Asher broke in. “I believe Mon Chat got a bit carried away.”
The other man looked surprised. “You did this Wonder Woman?”
Luna frowned at him. “We are so not going there.”
Asher had an amused smile on his face as he watched the pair.
“Oh please I'd love to hear the details.” The young man was
grinning like he'd just won the lottery.
I started, “Well it was like this…” The Princess gave me a death
glare. “I'll let her tell you.”
The other shifter was smirking as he asked, “Well? Princess?”
“Oh don't you even start.” She groaned. “How come there never any
attacking demons when you need 'em?”
As if on cue, a bolt hole opened. We all stood there dumbfounded.
Luna sputtered, “I was only kidding.”
Four daimons walked through as I told her, “I don't think they're
laughing.”