The Fabled (26 page)

“I don’t think Roman would like me tagging
along.”

“Actually, he was the one that mentioned it
but thought it would be better if I asked.”

“Why would he possibly want me to go with you
to meet his grandsire?”

“So you’ll no more about where I come from.
My new family.”

“I’ll admit I’m interested in meeting the
guy. Especially after all the secrecy surrounding Roman’s
sire.”

“Yeah, I haven’t gotten much on that front
either.”

“I’ll go if you want me to, son. Hell, at
this point I’d go to the gyno if you said you’d meet me there.
Okay, that came out a bit creepier than I intended but I’m sure you
got my point.”

“Uh, yeah. Just for future knowledge, never
bring up the gyno in conversation with me again.”

“Duly noted.”

“I guess I should go. I’m supposed to be
resting. Roman said newly made Vamps tend to be more nocturnal and
it won’t be until I come into my full powers that I’ll be able to
survive on hardly no sleep at all or sleep whenever I feel like it.
Did you know there are some Vamps that are so old they get tired of
living so they just go to sleep and hang out in a basement or
something for a hundred years or so then get up and go at it
again?”

“That sounds like something a Vamp would
do.”

“Hey, just remember I’m one of those Vamps
you hate so much.”

“I don’t hate Vamps. Just a select few and
you are absolutely not on that list.”

“It’s a good thing. I’d hate to have to come
over there and show you a thing or two.”

“I think you’re getting a little big for your
britches. Just remember who raised you. I can still put you over my
knee.”

He laughed. “I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, Tristan. Take care of
yourself, okay.”

“Will do. I’ll call you in a few days.”

“Alright. Goodbye.”

I hung up. So Roman wants me to meet his
grandsire. That ought to be awkward. I’m the mother of his new
great-grandchild. I bet that’s not something that is dealt with
often.

Speaking of awkward family meetings. I pulled
up Brennan’s grandfather’s number. She agreed to meet with him so I
had better make that arrangement. After I find out why he abandoned
her.

“Hello.” The man who answered had a deep,
scratchy voice.

“Is this Mr. Shane?”

“I’m not buying.”

“Whoa! Wait. Don’t hang up. I’m calling about
your granddaughter.”

“Is this some joke?”

“Um, no. You are Brennan Shane, father to
Caroline Shane, grandfather of Brennan Shane, your
granddaughter.”

“Listen here. I don’t know who you are but
I’m not answering whatever questions you have about that fire.”

“I don’t need those questions answered
because your granddaughter already answered them for me.”

“Are you a medium of some kind?”

A medium? Why would he think that?

“No, actually I’m an agent of the council. My
name is Sunny Dubois and I recently met your granddaughter in an
asylum for the criminally insane.”

“Bullshit. My granddaughter died over two
years ago.”

“Why would you think that? There was the fire
and her parents and brother were killed but Brennan survived.”

“That’s impossible. They told me there were
no survivors.”

“Who? Who told you Brennan was dead?”

“Two Humans. They said they were from the FBI
and my daughter and her family were dead.” He took a deep breath to
control his emotions. “The last thing I ever told Caroline was that
she was abandoning her family and she could never come back. How
could I say that to my own daughter?”

“Why didn’t she teach Brennan to control her
magic? If she would have prepared her, she would have never lost
control.”

“You’re saying Brennan caused the fire? They
told me it was faulty wiring.”

“I think we’ve established that they lied to
you Mr. Shane.”

“I want to see her. I’m her family. She
belongs here with me.”

“She’s currently staying with the leader of
the council and being taught to control her magic. I told her about
you and asked her if she wanted to meet you. She said yes and
that’s the reason for the call. However, I will not force her to
stay with you if that’s not what she wants. I have already told her
she can live with me after she’s gotten a firm hold on her magic.
You haven’t answered my question either. Why didn’t Caroline teach
Brennan to control her magic?”

“Caroline was born a null, magicless, she
thought she was an outcast. I tried to tell her, the magic didn’t
matter but she never felt like she fit in. That’s why she
left.”

“And she couldn’t teach Brennan because she
didn’t know how herself.”

“She still should have brought the girl to
us.”

“Brennan said she hid it. She knew her family
didn’t like to talk about magic at all.”

He sighed. “I want to see her. I made
mistakes and I have paid but I want to know my granddaughter. She’s
my namesake. She’s all I have left.”

“I will call back with a date and time once
I’ve talked to Brennan.”

“You’ll tell her I didn’t know, won’t
you?”

“Yes. I’ll be in touch in a few days.”

I hung up and took a deep breath. That was a
very unfortunate situation. Hopefully, something good can come out
of it with Brennan and her grandfather. I really hope so.

That night Roman wasn’t at the club. Carly
just shrugged when I asked where he was. It didn’t surprise me she
was less than helpful. I wasn’t worried too much about it but I
didn’t get a chance to tell him I wouldn’t be here tomorrow due to
K’s wedding. I guess he’ll figure it out when I don’t show up.

I performed with the band and afterward
decided to meet with some of the fans. I could use a fill-up on a
couple of magics and after Roman syphoned off the excess last night
I wasn’t worried about over doing it. There were several different
kinds of Fabled there and I made sure to take a small amount from
each species. My bodyguard was a constant center piece in the room
while I met with people and talked. After a while I decided to go
out to the lot and meet the people who had watched my performance
from there. They greeted me with open arms and many drinks.

By the time the bar was closing I was
hammered and Beefcakes offered to drive me home. I gracefully
accepted since I knew I was in no condition to drive. Beefcakes
helped me into the backseat of his car and we were off into the
Fort Worth night. My mind instantly went to Roman. Why didn’t he
come to the club tonight? Was it because of last night? Was he
embarrassed by what happened? What did he have to be embarrassed
about? He was the one that turned me down. Where does he get off
getting me all worked up and then dropping me like a hot potato? I
ought to give him a piece of my mind. I should insert right here
that it is never a good idea to call a man who has scorned you
while you are drunk as a skunk but that’s exactly what I did. I
pulled out my phone and pulled up his number. I would tell him what
was what.

It went to voicemail. Oh he wanted to play
that game did he.

“How dare you treat me this way. You act like
a jerk last night then you don’t even have the balls to show up
tonight? You know what, forget you. I don’t need you and your
teenage drama. I was perfectly fine before you came along and I’ll
be just as fine when you’re gone so you can keep your fickled fangs
to yourself. I can’t wait for this case to be over so I can be rid
of you.”

I hung up. There that should teach him. I
looked in the rearview mirror in time to see Beefcakes eying me
before he turned back to the road.

When I got to my house it took three attempts
at putting the key in the lock before I hit pay dirt. I waved to
Beefcakes before walking through the door and locking it behind me.
I didn’t wait to kick off my heels and started undressing as I went
to my bedroom. By the time I was there I roughly took off the dress
I had worn tonight (not for Roman) and climbed into bed. My phone
started ringing or maybe it was inside my head. Either way, it
stopped after a minute and I was out like a light.

Someone was pushing my hair out of my face. I
managed to open on eye and saw Roman sitting on my bed.

“Whyareyouhere?” I slurred.

“I came to make sure you were well after you
drunk dialed me.”

“I’m fine. Peachy. Better than great.”

“You look it. Might I ask why you chose
tonight to get drunk?”

I attempted a shrug but since I was laying on
my stomach it didn’t really happen. “Adorin’ fans like buyin’
drinks.”

“I see. So you spent the evening with them
since I wasn’t there.”

I rolled my eyes and everything began to
spin. I sat up. “The world doesn’t spin around you, Roman. Right
now, it’s spinning around me.”

He pushed me down until I was lying on my
back then he pulled the sheet back up over my chest. Oops. Guess I
should have put some night clothes on.

“I wasn’t suggesting the world revolved
around me, Sunshine. Merely that perhaps you missed me.”

“I have missed you. But my aim’s getting
better.” I started laughing uncontrollably.

“If you weren’t drunk I would be worried
about that threat.”

I continued to laugh. When I finally stopped
he leaned forward and kissed me. My body reacted instantly. I tried
to pull him closer but he pulled back before it went too far.

“Sleep Sunshine. I will see you
tomorrow.”

“Tease.”

“One day soon. I will kiss you and I won’t
stop unless you tell me to. But I won’t do it when you are drunk or
under the influence of my magic. When I make love to you it will be
because
you
want me to.”

He leaned forward again and kissed my
forehead and I was once again unconscious.

“
Bridezilla”

The next morning I picked up Brennan and took
her to a local day spa for the works. Afterward we went back to my
house to get ready for the night’s festivities.

“Are you really going to wear your hair like
that?”

“What’s wrong with my hair?” I had pulled it
up in a bun.

“Nothing if you’re trying to look like a
school marm.”

“And, what would a seventeen year old girl
know about school marms?”

“More than you’d think. Come here and let me
fix it.”

“Okay, but try to keep it within a foot of my
head. I don’t feel like having to make sure I don’t poke anyone’s
eye out if I bend over.”

“Ha, ha. Oh ye of little faith.”

A few hours later we were on our way. Both
the wedding and reception were to be held at the Lakeview hotel in
Toronto.

“This is so cool. I’ve never been to Canada
before. Or through a portal. This going to be awesome.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Well, excuse me Mrs. Sourpuss. You’re just
mad because you have to get up in front of a bunch of people and
pretend to be nice.”

“I have fears too, Brennan.”

“Like?”

“Uh, falling on my face in front of a bunch
of people I don’t know.”

“Pfft. If you fall, all you have to do is get
up, shoot them all your evil eye and carry on like it never
happened. Trust me, no one’s stupid enough to laugh. At least not
to your face.”

“Thanks Brennan. That makes me feel sooo much
better.”

“I aim to please.”

We arrived at the hotel to find it packed
with people. I gave the keys to valet and we picked our way to the
concierge desk. They told me I would find the bride and her
entourage in conference room three and vaguely pointed which way we
should proceed. I turned to find the lobby even fuller than when we
walked in.

“Outta the way bitches. Hot chicks coming
through.” Brennan started into the crowd pushing aside the people
that didn’t move out of her way fast enough. “I said move it. You
don’t want to piss off the Thief. Not if you want to live that
is.”

All eyes were immediately on me and I ran to
catch up to her.

“Could you keep it down?”

“Why? If I had a nickname that made people
tremble with fear I would shout it from the rooftops.”

“That’s the difference between me and you. I
would prefer not to have the excess attention.”

She shrugged. “Suit yourself. It got us
through the crowd didn’t it? She said conference room three?” She
pointed to a sign on the wall that pointed down a corridor before
starting down the hall leaving me standing there frustrated.

When we got to room three I had barely
knocked when the door was flung open and I was drug into the
room.

“Sunny, oh thank the Gods. I didn’t think you
were coming. I mean, I knew you would come. I was just afraid you
wouldn’t. You’re such a good friend. What would I do without
you?”

There were streaks down her face and more
tears in her eyes waiting to fall.

“K. Get a hold of yourself. You march over
there and fix your makeup right now. I’ll not have my best friend
getting married with mascara streaks and rosy cheeks. Well? On with
you.”

She looked shocked for a moment before she
nodded once and turned for the mirror setup in the corner. A glance
at the other ladies in the room showed looks of relief. I looked
behind me to see Brennan had managed to sneak in and take up
residence in a corner. I decided to change the subject off the
wedding and all the stress that went with it.

“K, I’d like you to meet my date.”

K turned around with a look of shock on her
face. “Date? How could you bring a date?!”

“Uh, the invitation said plus one. Doesn’t
plus one equate to bring a date?”

“Not for you! All the invites said that. How
could you? This is a disaster!”

“One extra person a disaster does not
make.”

“You’re really dense aren’t you?”

I raised a brow at her. “I’m going to pretend
you didn’t just say that. K, I would like you to meet Brennan, my
date for this evening.” I looked at Brennan in the corner.
“Brennan, this is K the psychotic friend I told you about.”