Blood Wyne (20 page)
CHAPTER 11
When I got home, Chase was there, Nerissa was there, and it seemed that everybody else was up and active. I kissed Nerissa, then glanced around.
“What’s going on?”
“Quite a bit, apparently.” Chase leaned back in his chair. He was staring at Delilah, a soft smile on his face as he watched Shade softly stroke her arm. “You guys go first. My news is important, but not immediate.”
Smoky gave me a grim look. “I wish I could stay to help, but I received word this evening from my mother. She has an emergency on her hands and needs my help. I’m the oldest son, so I must attend her.”
Camille clutched his hand. The two of them were on constant watch for any sign of Smoky’s father, Hyto, who had it in for them. The thought that the emergency involved the lecher of a white dragon crossed my mind, and I knew they must be thinking the same thing.
Hyto had been excommunicated from the Dragon realms and banished from the upper reaches of the Northlands for breathing flame on sacred grounds and for going up against the Wing-Liege. He’d blamed everything on Camille and Smoky’s marriage and had vowed to get revenge.
“Did she tell you what’s wrong?”
“No, but I must attend her and make certain she’s all right. I’ll return as soon as I can, and send word to you if I can, once I find out what’s wrong.” He paused, then added, “I’m taking Rozurial with me. He knows the Northlands, and I can use the company.”
Camille let out a little huff and glared at him. “I offered to go.”
“Of course you did, wife.” His eyes luminous, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “And I refused. I will not drag you into danger. Here, I have no choice but to allow you to engage monsters. But I won’t willingly put you in danger because of my family. I love you too much.”
Trillian arched his eyebrows. “Fox-Boy and I will take care of her.” Then, his voice belying his carefree look, he added, “Go, but return as soon as you can. We don’t want Camille to pine too much. And you’re . . . useful around here.” He nodded to Morio, who let out what sounded like a growl of agreement.
“Then we’ll be off, and return as soon as we can.” Smoky stood and Camille jumped up, throwing her arms around him and kissing him deeply before standing back, her face aflame.
“Come back to me. I mean it.” She raised one hand and Smoky pressed his palm against it, and then he and Rozurial faded out of sight into the Ionyc Sea.
Camille let out a long sigh and took her seat again, Trillian and Morio flanking her. Iris entered the room, carrying a tea tray, and Trillian quickly leaped up to take it from her and slide it onto the coffee table. He pressed a cup of hot tea into Camille’s hands as Morio snaked one arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze.
I decided the best way to distract her was to press on with business as usual. I turned to Nerissa. “Love, what brings you here?”
Nerissa let out a long sigh. “I was fired today.”
“What?” We all stared at her. I leaned forward and took her hands, stroking them lightly. “Are you joking?”
“No. Andy Gambit’s story about me in the
Seattle Tattler
stirred up sentiment against me at work. Today my supervisor called me into his office. He said my performance hasn’t been up to par and then fired me. I’d take them to court, but I recognize a frame-up when I see it.” Nerissa was a government worker for the Department of Social and Health Services.
Seattle Tattler
stirred up sentiment against me at work. Today my supervisor called me into his office. He said my performance hasn’t been up to par and then fired me. I’d take them to court, but I recognize a frame-up when I see it.” Nerissa was a government worker for the Department of Social and Health Services.
“I thought working for the State of Washington would protect you under the Were Discrimination Act.”
“Yeah, so did I. Apparently they’ve found ways to get around it.”
She looked so bereft I wanted to rip the guy’s throat out, but that wouldn’t do any good. “I’m sorry. Great Mother, it’s been one hell of a day all the way around, hasn’t it?”
“That’s just wrong,” Delilah said. “I can organize a strike of government workers in the Supe Community if you like.”
Nerissa shook her head. “No. I’m tired of fighting, I’m tired of campaigning. I’m ready for a change. I just wasn’t expecting it to happen this way or this soon. But that isn’t my only news. I’m leaving the Rainier Puma Pride.”
That
little announcement stopped everyone cold. Even Chase gave her a stare of disbelief.
little announcement stopped everyone cold. Even Chase gave her a stare of disbelief.
I cleared my throat. “Are you sure you want to take that step, especially now, without a job?”
She nodded. “I’ve thought this through. I was planning on making the break, anyway. Now seems like the right time. As an unmarried female, I’m low on the totem pole, only above unmarried males. Without Venus the Moon Child around, I might as well be stuck in the fifties as far as my rights go. Not to mention, my lover is vampire and female.”
Delilah cleared her throat. “Yeah, that could cause some problems, all right.”
Nerissa snorted. “Oh, the Pride’s open to bisexual shamans, but they aren’t fond of the concept when it trickles down into the main population, and you guys know what they think about you three. I get snide comments every day, and I’m sick and tired of it. This afternoon, I went back for a final look at a condo that caught my eye earlier this month. I’ve had it inspected, and it passed, so it looks like I’m buying my own place not two miles from here.”
Again, a shocker.
“How will you afford the mortgage?” Delilah was prone to asking blunt questions, and I was glad she’d asked, not me. I wanted to support my girlfriend in any way I could but was worried she was making a mistake, maybe getting in over her head.
Nerissa flashed her a sly smile. “That’s right, you don’t know. I’m so used to keeping this a secret that I don’t tell many people.”
“What? You an heiress?” Chase said, laughing.
“You might say that.” Nerissa laughed back at him. “Two years ago, I inherited a tidy sum of money from my mother’s aunt. Great-Aunt Lucy was an FBH—she married into the Pride, but they lived in town. But she was definitely Were-friendly.”
I stared at her. “You mean I’ve got myself a rich girlfriend?” Giving her a fangy smile, I leaned back, thinking that at least Nerissa could take care of herself if need be. No wonder she’d thrown herself into a job that paid a fraction of what she was worth—she could afford to follow her passion.
“Well, hardly anybody knows. I didn’t want the guys in the Pride trying to marry me just for money, and plenty of them would think of that. And I didn’t want the Council of Elders trying to arrange a marriage for me in order to get hold of my savings. With Venus gone and with Zach out of the picture, I have very few supporters left there.”
I sat back, shaking my head. Changes, changes everywhere. Then, laughing, I jumped up and planted a long kiss on her. “Now we won’t have anybody breathing down our necks about our relationship, and we’ll be able to see each other more often.” I hadn’t yet told her about Roman. With luck, that wouldn’t put a crimp in things.
“You know,” Chase said, eyeing her closely, “I have an opening for a civilian victims’ rights counselor on the FH-CSI. Duties involve helping victims of violent crimes find out what their rights are, counseling them after they’ve been assaulted—that sort of thing. Seems like it might be right up your alley. I have leeway to appoint someone. Drop me a résumé tomorrow if you like.”
Nerissa clapped her hands. “That would be such a welcome change of pace. Maybe for once I would feel like I’m actually making a difference. I hate being part of the bureaucracy where I’m just one more cog in the wheel, pushing paper and never really making an impact on anybody.”
“Then come by tomorrow and we’ll talk.” Chase winked at me. “Your girlfriend is the kind of material the FH-CSI needs.”
I found myself smiling at him. For once, the detective had outdone himself. I also realized that I liked him a lot more since he and Delilah called it quits. It was as if both of them had calmed down and quit trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
“So, Chase, what’s your offering on the table tonight? I figure something had to bring you out this late.”
He shifted, the uncomfortable look returning. “I have a couple important tidbits. First: I asked Sharah to inspect the other victims’ foreheads before we release the bodies to the families. She did, and we found thumbprints on each. The same print, smudged in a cross formation. But there isn’t any record of the dude’s fingerprints in the system. Whoever he was, he didn’t enter the judicial system via being arrested.”
“Cross formations. Why would he be doing this?”
Camille frowned. “Maybe he feels remorse for the killings.”
“Nope,” Chase said. “If he did, he wouldn’t have left their bodies displayed in such undignified postures. And he also rapes them—it’s not like he’s just a vampire experiencing angst over the drinking-blood thing.”
“Cross indicates Christian. Could be a religious psycho with a split personality who maintained it even into death? Whatever the case, we need to figure it out.”
“Well, we can work on that all we want, but let me tell you the other part of the news. This is a bit better. I received a tip on the hotline tonight. Someone saw a vampire traveling via the sewer system in the Greenbelt Park District. They gave me the location of the manhole they saw him slip down. We have a lead to follow up on.” He leaned back, a smug look on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me this when I first came home?” I sent a rubber band zinging his way.
He laughed. “Because I am not going down there tonight. I’m exhausted. I’m tired and going to sleep. We can explore tomorrow night. I know that we should now, but the fact is, the sun will rise within a few hours, the vampire will have to sleep, and I’d rather not rush this matter.”
I glanced at the clock. It was nearing three thirty. Camille and Delilah looked exhausted. Chase was falling asleep where he sat. “Okay, I get your point. Tomorrow night, first thing after sunset, I’ll meet you there. Send over directions tomorrow.”
Turning to Nerissa, I nodded. “Come on. Let’s go spend some quality time alone.” I wanted nothing more than to strip off her clothes and cover her body with kisses.
As we headed toward the parlor, Camille snorted. “We all know what that’s a euphemism for. Have fun. Meanwhile, I and my two darlings will retire up to the bedroom for actual sleep.” Even though she was joking, I could tell she was worried about Smoky—and why he’d left.
Delilah and Shade pushed to their feet. “We’re heading up to bed, too.” She winced. “My ribs are still sore, but they’re healing.”
Chase yawned, and it occurred to me he shouldn’t be on the road. “Listen, Johnson. Sprawl on the sofa. Iris will wake you in the morning, won’t you?”
Iris, blurry eyed herself, nodded. “I’ll bring you a blanket. We don’t want you causing some accident because you’re too tired to drive.”
As we headed in our different directions, it occurred to me that we probably had one of the closest families ever.
When we were alone in the parlor, I flipped on the stereo. David Bowie came blaring out with “Sister Midnight” and, sliding into the beat, I turned to Nerissa. “Are you tired? I really, really want to fuck you. Now.”
She let out a low growl. “Never too tired for that, my love.” As she moved toward me, I held up my hand.
“First, I have to tell you something. Do you remember me talking about Roman?” As she nodded, I spilled out everything that had happened. “So, I slept with him, and I have a feeling that will happen in the future. But . . . he’s . . .”
“A man. And not me.” She softly traced her finger over my lips. “Sometimes I need a man, too, and sometimes he needs to be a Were. But that doesn’t mean he could ever replace you. I get it. You and I are on the same page. I honestly don’t think I could ever fall in love with a man.”
“Except for Venus the Moon Child . . .” I gave her a soft smile.
“I can’t imagine
not
loving Venus . . . but that’s a whole different ball of wax. I love you, Menolly, and I love how our relationship works. That’s what matters—that our arrangement works
for us
. And if Roman said he won’t interfere with us, then what the hell?
I
hold your heart in my hands. He doesn’t.”
not
loving Venus . . . but that’s a whole different ball of wax. I love you, Menolly, and I love how our relationship works. That’s what matters—that our arrangement works
for us
. And if Roman said he won’t interfere with us, then what the hell?
I
hold your heart in my hands. He doesn’t.”
I pressed her hand to my heart. “That you do, my love. That you do.”
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