Night Fever (A Rue Darrow Novel Book 3) (13 page)

Chapter Sixteen

I hesitated outside Nathan’s door. The repairs hadn’t been done yet, but Zander knew a guy who knew a guy. The landlord did not need to be informed. Since most of the residents of the building were sympathizers or nonhumans, no one would tattle. Thank goodness. I had of course told Nathan about the mishap but downplayed my loss of control. After all, how could I lecture him about keeping his cool if he could use this incident to combat my argument? Then again, my attacking Cam did reinforce the need for keeping our heads.

At this moment, the damage to the front and bedroom doors wasn’t what made me ease into the apartment as silently as I could. What did was the werewolf on the other side. When I entered the building, I heard Nathan’s slower heartbeat, equivalent to the way it pumped when he slept. I had hoped to slip in, shower, change, and then talk to him later.

Nathan waited for me fully alert. He wore boxers and nothing else, and normally that would have been nice. Except his eyes were those of the wolf, and his teeth were bared. The canines were sharp, and a low constant rumble emitted from his throat.

“Nathan, honey?” I called out. “It’s me.”

He sniffed. Nathan already knew it was me. I crept closer.

“Are you in there, big boy?”

For a moment, I thought he was sleepwalking, but he had never done it before. He sniffed several more times, and I sensed his anger rising. Mentally, I went through the calendar. Crap on a cracker, the full moon was two days away. Worse, I entered his den smelling like a ghoul while he had been sleeping. I hadn’t told Nathan about Georgia because I wanted to discuss it face-to-face.

“About this scent…”

How could I tell him now when he looked like he wanted to take a bite out of me? I’d had enough creatures chewing me lately, thank you very much. My thoughts returned to when I first came back from the past, having changed the present. This was different, right? I mean, I didn’t disappear on Nathan and leave him worried. My intentions were to tell him everything. A little voice in my head said,
“yeah, after the fact as usual.”
Well, at least I’m consistent.

My boyfriend’s tolerance reached a breaking point. He lunged at me. I leaped to the side and cracked his nose while shouting, “Down, boy!” The ploy had worked before, but this time no dice. Nathan swept me off my feet and hauled me to the bedroom. He still hadn’t spoken more than a growl. Once we were there, he threw me across the room to land on the bed. I sprung up right away and spun to face him on all fours. The werewolf wasn’t backing down.

“I thought you were fresh back from training. You broke into New Orleans to protect me, didn’t you?”

No response.

I gazed down at my soiled clothing and recalled all the rolling about Georgia and I had done trying to get her to see reason. Her scent must have covered me from head to foot. My last option was to strip, and I did so, leaving my undies and bra in place. That calmed the beast a little. Or rather interested him in a different way, but the yellow eyes worried me.

This battle would come down to who was faster, and you already know the answer to that one. However, I had multiple steps to make before Nathan destroyed more of his apartment. He was going to make up for this for weeks, if I had anything to say about it.

I rotated my shoulders and rolled my head on my neck. The bones cracked and popped. While I didn’t keep my gaze on his, I remained aware of his intentions and whether he was ready to attack again. He had revved down quite a bit.

Okay, bathroom, leave door open so he doesn’t rip it apart, and shower. Fast as you can. You can do this, Rue.

I moved. So did he. The explosion had to have been heard all over the building. That and the wolf’s howl.

* * * *

“You did what?” Nathan snapped.

I folded my arms over my chest, crossed my legs, and swung a foot back and forth with negligence. “You’re judging me after what you did?”

His cheeks pinked to my satisfaction. “I didn’t hurt you.”

“Only because I’m not a delicate flower.”

“Rue, you know that’s not true. I never attacked you.”

“No,” I admitted. “You attacked the wall. That hole is going to cost us.”

“It’s not the first time.”

“I thought it would be the last time after your trip.”

He harrumphed, and I felt sorry for him. Not sorry enough to quit using his loss of control to make him accept my letting Georgia live. A ghoul was dangerous. I knew that, especially with the problem of them overrunning New Orleans still going on.

“I wasn’t out of control,” Nathan insisted. “I turned too fast and smashed into the wall. Then you…”

“I know.” Holding up a hand, I stopped him right there. Nathan’s howl had come when I stripped in the shower. Crazy animal close to the full moon was all the explanation anyone needed. Our argument, if you can call it that, had ended then, and Nathan and I made up in the best way a couple could. The kind that lasts hours. You get the picture.

“My issues have nothing to do with your bad decision, Rue.”

“It was not a bad decision.”

“I nearly killed you because of her scent!”

“I thought you never intended to hurt me.”

He blew out an impatient breath. “Either way, she can’t live.”

“I’m not killing her.”

“Then I will.”

“I’ll stop you.”

He glared at me, and I moved to sit on his lap and wrap my arms around him. We were in his dining room, a few steps away from the front door and all its damage. Nathan simmered with anger, but he held me close.

“Just meet her, Nathan. I know you’ll like Georgia.”

“I’ve met her countless times.”

“As a ghoul, I mean.”

“Mindless? Hungry?”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“I’m being rational, and you’re not. A ghoul is dangerous.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“Will you be serious for once?”

I kissed him. “Come on, big guy. You know I can handle anything, and I can keep Georgia in line. She’s my vassal now. She can’t disobey me.”

“You say that as if it’s not a big deal to order another person around and have them unable to go against your word. It’s a big deal.”

“I’m making light of it because it’s serious, a coping mechanism if anything. Nathan, I won’t say it was an easy decision. It wasn’t, but I’m determined to make it work. Georgia and I even went shopping for hair.”

He gave me a look of confusion. I decided not to explain.

“All right. Fine. Have it your way, but Rue, if she gets out of line—”

“I know, I know.”

“I have to think about my pack.”

I gaped. “You have a pack?”

His eyes glittered in his excitement. “Yes, three people who also went to the conference looking for an alpha in this area. They’re not officially under me yet, but they will be. Plus there’s you and Violet.”

“Have you spoken with her?”

“I will now that I’m back.”

“Give her a bit of time, okay?”

He frowned. “Why?”

Her secret wasn’t mine to share. Come to think of it, if Violet joined Nathan’s pack, he would have an instant additional member in her baby. He’d be thrilled. Well, that is, if he didn’t mind a half human one. I doubted he would since he didn’t mind a vampire.

I hopped up from his lap. “So, what are we doing tonight? Hunting together?”

He seemed excited by the prospect, too excited, but he shook his head. “No. Too close to the full moon. If I shift… How about bowling?”

“Bowling? I thought we would use your nose to run the ghouls to ground. Didn’t you say you would settle this whole thing in a matter of minutes when you returned?”

“I don’t remember being that big-headed.”

I smirked and shrugged. After I teased him some more, we headed out. In truth, I was glad Nathan had put off looking for the ghouls. Georgia’s death and turning had hit me hard, and having him back in New Orleans meant more than I had initially thought. I wanted to concentrate on our relationship and push the negative experiences to the back of my mind. Call it irresponsible or immature. A woman was still a woman even undead. She needed downtime and love.

At the bowling alley, Nathan and I rented shoes. As we approached our reserved lane, I thought about how much we would both need to curb ourselves so we didn’t smash a ball through the back wall. The other patrons were mostly human, but I scented a couple fae at the other end of the row of lanes.

“I’ll grab some pizza and a drink,” Nathan said and disappeared. I admired the fact that he was doing better in temperament this month than last, the previous incident notwithstanding.

“Oh, bowling! I love to bowl.”

I turned at Georgia’s voice. “Georgia, what are you doing here?”

“Just tracked you down, Rue. This nose is amazing.”

She smiled and sat down near me. I scooted over on the bench to get more room as I tied my shoes. From the corner of my eyes, I noted the way she twisted her hands together. I sat up and studied her face.

“Georgia, did you eat?”

“Yes, of course.”

“
What
did you eat?” I didn’t want to know.

She widened her eyes and gazed around as if she expected someone might overhear. “I went to the hospital.”

“The morgue?” I cringed. “Oh, Georgia.”

“No one saw me, Rue. Just like you said.”

“Yes, but they tag those people and keep track of them.” I wasn’t having this conversation. “Why didn’t you go to the cemetery or something?”

She hesitated. More finger twisting. The poor thing was agitated, and I needed to dig it out of her. The thing was Nathan returned with an entire pizza and two large colas. I wasn’t surprised. He spotted Georgia and did a double take. I kicked him. He raised his eyebrows, but I pointed him to a table. When he turned his back to set his food down, I reached out and straightened Georgia’s wig.

“Thanks, Rue. I just hate it that these wigs aren’t brighter, but the styles are wonderful. Aren’t they?”

“Pretty awesome,” I agreed. “And I bet we can figure out how to dye them. Much more healthy than…” I let that last thought go, recalling how pointless it was.

Nathan wolfed down his food and joined us again. “Georgia, it’s good to see you.”

“Nathan, I was wondering when you were going to notice me.” She scooted along the bench to snuggle to his side and linked her arm with his. “Can you tell I’m different?”

“Hard to miss.” He shifted in his seat, trying to get free of her grasp. I think the idea of what Georgia was bugged him more than anything. To my great relief, she didn’t smell like the ghouls that had attacked us. Perhaps it was a simple matter of personal grooming and not hanging out in graveyards.

“I won’t hurt you,” Georgia informed Nathan. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

He growled, and I hid a smirk. “I am not afraid of anyone.”

She started to respond, but then her head jerked hard to the left as if she had a tick. A whimper escaped her, and she began to rock. I zipped to her side. “Georgia, what’s wrong? Something has been bugging you since you arrived.”

She clutched my hand with both hers and swiveled her head back and forth, scanning the bowling alley. “They’re calling.”

I froze, and so did Nathan.

“
Who
is calling?”

She started boxing her ears, but I caught her hands and pulled them to her sides. Would this work out? Was she going crazy? Over Georgia’s head, Nathan aimed a glare at me that said this was why I shouldn’t have meddled with life and death. At the moment, I had to agree with him.

“I hear the voices,” Georgia said. “I don’t like it. Make it stop, Rue.”

“I’m sorry, honey.” I hugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure I can make it stop.”

Could a simple order give her the peace she needed? Surely, her mind wasn’t so simplistic as to believe she didn’t hear voices because I said so. Then again, it was worth a try. I cleared my throat.

“Georgia, you don’t hear voices.”

Both Nathan and I stared at her. She kept rocking but had added a moan to it.

“That wasn’t exactly a command,” Nathan said. “Not anything she could act on.”

Heads turned our way, and on the opposite side of the building, the fae started toward us. I’d forgotten that other nonhumans would identify what Georgia was right away. Human sympathizers would take exception to her existence. Nathan scented their movement right away and stood. I grasped his arm while trying to wrest my own from Georgia. She refused to let go. As her master, I seemed to provide her a little comfort with my presence.

“Nathan, don’t start anything,” I whispered under my breath.

“I won’t, but I’ll finish anything they do.”

The two fae reminded me a little Orin and Pammie, who I missed. They were both tall, both incredibly beautiful, but they had chosen—I assume—to appear brunette rather than blond unlike Pammie and Orin. The man and woman stopped in front of our area and flared delicate nostrils beneath long, arrogant noses.