Her Secret (13 page)

Terian’s chest wound closed in a few minutes,
until his chest was unbroken flesh through the bloody hole in his
shirt. Terian opened his eyes, looking with surprise at us all
gathered around him. He pulled his mouth from Theo’s arm, leaving a
ragged wound. “Thanks.”

Theo hissed with pain, and leaned back from
Terian, cradling his arm. “You’re welcome. Now what the hell
happened? I didn’t even know you’d gone anywhere.”

“How did we get back?” Terian said, looking
curiously at me.

I shrugged. “I thought you teleported
us.”

“It wasn’t me who got us back.”

“Well, it wasn’t me,” I said defensively. “I
can’t teleport.”

“It had to be you,” Terian said slowly,
looking at me as if I were something dangerous.

Danial rose to his feet. “Stay put, both of
you.” He went into the bathroom to wash the wereblood out of his
mouth. Theo followed him to clean off the blood on him, his wound
already healed.

As I got up to wash the blood off me too,
Terian grabbed my arm. “Sar, there’s demon blood in you. I don’t
know why I didn’t scent it, but—”

“Terian, just rest,” I said calmly. “You
almost died. We can talk about this later.”

He got to his feet, swaying a little. “No. We
have to know what happened, how you did it—” He staggered.

When I reached to steady him, I noticed the
bloodstains still on my hands. “Maybe this did it?” I said, showing
him. “I tried to stop your bleeding. Your blood was burning
hot.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the
kitchen. His blood came off easily with warm water and soap,
leaving my hands clean. “You’re okay, you aren’t burned.”

Something was off about that. It should be
harder for me to get off Terian’s blood...

“You have the same scent you’ve always had,”
Terian said, confused. “Maybe you’re part something else? Other
supernatural races can learn teleportation, with a lot of hard
work—”

“I haven’t done any work,” I replied flatly.
“I tell you it wasn’t me.”

“Demon blood can penetrate human skin, given
enough time,” Terian said slowly. “It’s a powerful mutagen. But we
got it off you, and there wasn’t very much on your hands—”

“Not today,” I said, my face whitening. “But
there was a lot years ago, when you fought Danial.”

Terian looked at me, aghast. “What?”

“I gathered up your weapons after the fight.
I carried them inside, and washed them off. The blade and stake
cleaned off fine, but your blood wouldn’t wash off my hands. I
scrubbed my hands almost raw getting it off.” Suddenly, I had a
headache, the pain at the edges of my mind reaching like tendrils
inside my skull to influence my thoughts. I rubbed my temples.

“You rubbed it into your skin,” Terian said
heavily. “Why did you have to go out and get the weapons? Why
couldn’t you leave them there?”

“I was protecting you,” I retorted. “Theo and
Danial wanted to kill you then, remember?”

Theo came in to the kitchen, Danial on his
heels. “Sar, what happened?”

“Devlin’s sorceress, Leri, attacked us. She
said she was Terian’s mother. Titus is his father.”

Danial’s mouth dropped open, but he quickly
recovered. “I’ll call him,” he said. “If he tells Titus about
Terian, Leri will give up her attacks.” He left the room.

As I resisted the urge to grab the nearest
phone to listen in, Theo said, “How were you able to get back?”

“Sar has been infected with demon blood,”
Terian said, resigned. “She got exposed to mine that night Danial
and I fought, years ago. She gathered up our weapons—”

“How was I to know there was something to
fear?” I interrupted angrily. “As I recall, you didn’t say anything
that night about it. Danial had Terian’s blood all over him and he
wasn’t upset—”

“Danial is vampire—” Terian began.

“That’s not news,” Danial said as he came in,
his phone pressed to his ear. “What’s the matter?”

“Sar got my blood on her that night you and I
fought. Did you know that?” Terian said.

Danial went still. “Shit.”

“What is the
matter
with all of you?”
I yelled. “Tell me what is so bad about getting a little demon
blood on your skin if you’re human!”

Danial handed me the phone. “Devlin said he’d
be glad to tell you, Sar.”

SHIT
. I couldn’t refuse the phone, or
Theo and Terian would know that something was not right. I looked
at it like a live electric wire that was sparking and ready to
electrocute me. Gingerly, I reached out and took it. “Hello?”

“Sar,” Devlin’s voice rolled out of the phone
like music. “I’ve missed you.”

I shut my eyes so no one could see the desire
that was forming in them, however weakly, and then walked into the
other room with the phone, trying to find my own voice.

“Shall I sing to you, my lover?” Devlin
purred. “I would do other things, but you are not in reach—”

“Just tell me what you have to tell me about
the demon blood,” I whispered.

“But lover, I miss you,” he purred teasingly,
lust threaded through every word. “Give me just a few kind words.
Say you’ll—”

I heard the kitchen extension pick up.
“Devlin, what’s the deal?” Theo asked. “I know demon blood can
corrupt, but Sar’s not any different than she used to be when I
first met her.”

Devlin had stopped speaking the instant he’d
heard Theo pick up. In his normal voice, he said, “It can corrupt,
but that’s pure demon blood, like Titus’s. Half demon blood would
be much less potent, Theo. I don’t think you need to worry,
especially if it’s been years since exposure.”

Danial picked up another extension. “You’re
sure there’s no danger?”

“It possibly could change her, but that would
have happened years ago,” Devlin said. “It wouldn’t suddenly
manifest itself now.”

“But what if the small re-exposure to my
blood today altered her further?” said Terian, talking on another
extension.

“Has she tried to teleport again and
succeeded?” Devlin asked. “That would seem the best course of
action to try first, before having hysterics.”

“Dev’s right,” Danial said. “You don’t know
that you didn’t just do it, Terian, when you were badly injured.
We’ll have Sar try again in the great room shortly. Thanks,
Dev.”

“Yes, thanks for your help, Dev...lin,” I
said quickly and hung up.

A few moments later, I stood in the middle of
the great room, Terian, Theo, and Danial watching.

“What do I do?” I asked Terian.

“You need to want to go somewhere, Sar. When
you think about it, picture the place in your mind. You can say
words to focus yourself, but what matters is your
concentration.”

I concentrated, and tried to put myself out
on the lawn. Nothing happened.

“Where are you trying to go?” Terian asked,
after a minute.

“Just to the front lawn,” I said. “But
nothing’s happening.”

“Try again,” he encouraged. “That shouldn’t
be difficult at all.”

I tried again. Nothing happened. “I think it
had to be you.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Terian said, shrugging.
“I did want to escape, and I was thinking that I had to get you out
of there, had to get us back here somehow. Maybe I did do it.”

“Try once more, Sar,” Danial interrupted.

I concentrated with all my might for several
minutes. Nothing happened, other than my headache getting worse. “I
give up,” I said irritably.

“Terian must have done it,” Theo said, coming
to stand beside me. “If Sar could do it, take both of them across
that great a distance, she would have no problem taking herself a
few feet.”

“Yes,” Danial agreed. “Sar, why don’t you go
home early today with Theo? It’s already been a harrowing day, and
you’ve got blood all over your clothes. Terian, you take the rest
of the day, too. I’ve only got one conference call to take later
tonight. The foxes can handle security.”

“Thanks,” Terian said, and vanished.

“It can’t be easy to be him,” I said sadly.
“That Leri is a world class bitch.”

“She is,” Danial agreed. “Devlin said he
would talk to Titus about what happened. He hadn’t known about any
of this either. Apparently, Titus and Leri have been staying at his
home in Hayden for the past few months to take care of the place
and work out some problems. Dev gave them until the end of the
year.”

“Those two are always fighting,” Theo
scoffed. “It’s a wonder they find the time to work at all.”

“This might be a good thing, odd as that
probably sounds to you both,” Danial said. “Terian had no family
and now he does. I know how I feel about my brother, despite his
actions.” Danial caught my eye pointedly, then looked away.

“Maybe you’re right,” Theo said, shrugging.
“Maybe he can connect with his father, have someone to be close to.
Titus’s reputation is not bad, all things considered.”

But would Terian want to? His human mother
had been terrible, could his demon father be any better?

“Let’s go,” Theo said, touching my arm. “Or
those stains are never going to come out.”

“He’s right,” I said, grimacing. “Danial, can
I put these in your washer now and borrow some clothes to drive
home in?”

Danial nodded to me. “If you want to undress
in the bathroom, I’ll give Theo some clothes to bring you.”

A few moments later, I was dressed in a
simple dark blue cotton dress from one of Danial’s trunks, and my
dirty clothes were washing. “Thanks,” I said, hugging him. “I’ll
bring it back tomorrow.”

“No rush,” he murmured, hugging me back. “You
look lovely. You’re sure you’re really okay? You aren’t hurt?”

“Yes, but I’d like to know if Dev is going to
take care of Leri. She mentioned erasing my memories like it was
nothing. I don’t want to have her coming back for another try.”

“I’ll find out,” he said, then darted in for
a quick kiss.

“What are you doing?” I said, trying to frown
and not smile.

Danial gave me a satisfied smile. “Stealing a
kiss, of course.” He helped me put on my coat and shoes. “Watch
your words, Sar. Devlin, not Dev.”

Flustered, I nodded, then quickly went
outside to the truck where Theo was waiting.

* * * *

Later that night, I reclined in front of the
merrily burning woodstove, dressed in layers of polar fleece. Theo
brought me a cup of hot chocolate with steam wafting from it, then
sat down beside me.

“Thanks. You know, you’re the perfect
husband,” I said, leaning into him.

“I know,” he said, prideful. He gave me a
quick kiss, then slipped his hands under my shirt. “I know a way
you can be the perfect wife.”

I smiled back at him. “I’m already a pretty
good wife.”

He stopped, startled. “I know you’re a good
wife, Sar,” he said awkwardly. “Better than I deserve—”

A slap of guilt hit me. I pushed it down.
“Hey, I—”

“—
and I think you’re wonderful.” He
slid his hand under my bra, cupping my breasts. “Are you too
tired?”

I put my cup on the floor before I dropped
it, my body shaking slightly under his touch, a soft sigh escaping
my lips before they met his. “No.”

* * * *

That Thanksgiving, per custom, Elle and I
went to my parent’s home. Theo accompanied us.

My inner turmoil overshadowed this happy
event. In the past week, my passionate nature had evaporated, my
desire withering to almost nothing. This terrified me, to see Theo
and not want him as I always had. I’d never been one to forgo sex,
or to fake an orgasm. But Theo’s appetites hadn’t changed as mine
had. Before much longer, I’d likely have to do one or the
other.

This pressure made me nervous, especially
around my family. I didn’t want them to know anything was wrong.
Adding to that, Theo, Elle, and I were heading to Danial’s after
this dinner, to celebrate there. It was a good bet the
werecreatures in attendance would all be able to scent how upset I
was, and figure out the cause. Even if they couldn’t, Danial would
before I’d finished my first sentence.

This stress led to me having two glasses of
wine before dinner even started. As we enjoyed a wonderful meal, I
continued to drink, finishing my third glass just as dinner ended.
I was laughing, having a great time and not thinking of anything
but that.

How drunk I was quickly became apparent after
a game of Ping-Pong with my stepfather. No matter how I lunged, the
ball was never where it was supposed to be. When my stepfather
bounced a ball off my forehead, I conceded defeat. Handing off the
paddle to Elle, I sat down on the couch, out of breath and
dizzy.

“Theo, here’s your pie,” my mother said,
handing him a plate. “Sar, you want some?”

“No,” I said, smiling weakly. “I’ve had
enough.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Theo said, giving her a smile.
As she walked off happily, he turned serious. “What’s wrong?”

“Mom,” Elle said. “Should we bring some home
for Theoron? He

didn’t—”

I blanched. “No,” I said sharply, praying if
she were overheard they’d think she meant Theopolis.

“Elle, go help your grandmother in the
kitchen,” Theo said kindly. “Remember what we all talked
about.”

Elle nodded angrily, then left.

Theo turned back to me. “We should go. She’s
not going to keep quiet for long in that mood.”

“You’re right. We should go,” I replied,
standing up.

Though my parents protested, we were soon on
the way to Danial’s house. I sagged back into the seat with
relief.

“What’s wrong with you?” Elle asked, worried.
“You’re upset.”

I hadn’t wanted to tell her, but suddenly
that added strain was too much. “Elle, I’m going through something
right now,” I said, turning in my seat to look at her. “I should be
okay in another month, but right now I’m stressed out.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Elle repeated,
concerned.