Chapter 9

 

Parris watched April carry a beer box from the storage fridge to the back of the bar. The girl shifted, almost dropping the box when she saw Parris. Standing at the counter, running down the pre-open check list, Parris smiled.

“You’ve been busy.” Parris nodded at the list. “I came down to help. From the looks of it, you didn’t need me.”

April grinned. “I’ll always need you, boss. You’re the only one who can sign the paychecks.”

“Thank God for that.” Parris slipped onto a bar stool after grabbing a bottle of club soda. She’d dressed in work clothes, however April didn’t need help tonight. The girl kept a tight grip on the bar. Parris felt the energy of the room. April would have an easy night. Plenty of regulars, not a crowd, if the pattern held true.

April shoved longnecks into the glass door fridge at the side of the bar. “You working tonight? I thought you’d taken the day off?”

Parris gave in, realizing she didn’t have to be here. Going into work was an excuse she gave Ty to get him to leave. She needed some time alone to think about what happened on her couch. To recover from the overwhelming feelings running through her. Now, she felt tired.

“Actually, I think I’m heading back home. I hear a bubble bath and a book calling my name.” Parris smiled. “I’ll do the bank run first thing in the morning. You should be set for a big Friday night.”

“Don’t forget to get quarter rolls. Last Saturday with the dart tournament, we ran out.” April cut a new box of bottles open, discarding the empty box in a pile on the floor.

“The machines take paper money.” Parris opened the other flaps on the box, turning the cardboard flat to stack in the recycling bin.

“Dart players have routines. Superstitions. Players like their quarters.” April looked up at her. “Haven’t you noticed that? I’d think with you playing league, you’d pick up some of these habits. Like the team who does Jaeger shots right before the game starts. Those girls are a blast.”

Parris sighed. “Sometimes the dart crowd is too intense.”

“For a few of the better guys, it’s not a game, it’s their job.” April shrugged. “They buy a lot of beer.”

“So you’re telling me it’s worth the trouble of picking up more quarter rolls.” Parris stood, pulling her oversized bag on her shoulders.

“I guess I am.” April paused. “I know the business better than I thought.”

“I think you know people. That’s all a business, any business, needs to succeed is staff who knows and likes working with people.” Parris tapped the ancient bar. “Have fun tonight. Call if you need me. I’m only a few blocks away if you get in a jam.”

“I won’t need you. Besides, you look slammed. I’ve never seen you this tired.”

Parris sighed. “Bone weary tired.” Using the side employee’s entrance, she walked the alley to the next street. This way shaved two minutes off her walk home. First, a stop at the French bakery for some soup and bread.

Turning the corner, her senses prickled with danger.

Everything went black.

* * * *

Ty drove back to his condo on the other side of town. He punched in a number, reaching Alex on the first ring. As their summer intern, Alex was a keeper. Always willing to help out, always available. Ty liked the kid.

After making arrangements to have Parris’ keys picked up at the condo’s front desk, Ty took the elevator to the nineteenth floor. He needed a shower. He checked the fridge hoping to find something to make for dinner. Partially finished takeout boxes lined the shelves. His housekeeper didn’t come until tomorrow. Calling for Chinese delivery, he headed for his bedroom, stripping clothes as he walked.

Stepping under the steaming water coming from the four sides in his walk-in shower stall, he relaxed, mentally reviewing his day. Thinking about Parris. He remembered the taste of her desire, hot and desperate, matching his own. He’d never felt this way about a woman, even Rowena. Parris fed something not only in his body but his soul. How’d she stay undetected all these years? For Matilda’s protestations on being a lowly level five, he knew she lied. From what he discerned about Parris’ natural abilities, untrained, both Parris and Matilda might be a level one. He shook his head.

The Council would have a field day with this if they ever found he’d known and not reported both women.

Thinking of the repercussions from The Council banished any memories of his afternoon with Parris. He needed to trace her roots, quickly. He didn’t have time to wait for Derek’s report. With a new purpose, he soaped, rinsed clean and grabbed a heated towel off the rack. In his black and white bedroom, he quickly dressed in jeans, pulling on an old Princeton tee shirt.

Heading down to the study, Ty grabbed his cell to call Derek. Too early to expect anything, Ty wasn’t surprised when his call went directly to voice mail. Looking at the clock, it was after seven. Derek would be at some ritzy party. He almost never carried his phone, especially on a date. He’d told Ty answering calls on a date was rude. Grinning, Ty left his friend a message telling him to call when he got back to his apartment. Or when he was alone.

He wouldn’t hear from Derek before nine tomorrow. The doorbell rang. Ty’s stomach growled. Food.

He tipped the delivery girl, taking the food to his study. Waiting for the computer to boot, he took a large bite of Peking duck with orange sauce. Starving. His appetite was always stronger after sex. Especially great sex. Parris’ face filled his thoughts. He remembered her insistence on going hard, fast. The way her face looked falling over the edge. Then, he remembered the blackness he felt, following. There was a definite connection between the two of them. If they were to have any future at all, she needed to be cleared through The Council. Matilda’s cover wouldn’t hold up under the vetting process. Not when The Council vetted a hunter’s possible mate.

Ty sat back stunned. Mate?

A small smile formed on his lips. Mate. Yes. A connection. Parris McCall may not know it yet, soon she’d be a large part of his life. If she complained the relationship was going too fast, he’d remind her she came knocking on his door.

He pushed aside the empty carton, opening a second, smaller container of rice. He’d consume this, then focus on work. Typing his code on The Council’s research website, he hoped he’d get enough time before the sweepers noticed his activity. He needed time to develop his case to protect Parris and Matilda from The Council’s attention. The research site booted up. Ty started his search.

Three hours later, he sat back, done. He had a theory about where Parris came from and why her latent powers were high even without any training. He couldn’t quite prove it. However, his research led him to believe Parris McCall was a direct decedent of Originals. Her mother and father were Originals or what The Council liked to call, first bloods.

Originals were the first families. The families who developed The Council. Who wrote the rules. Forbidden to mate outside The Council’s selection, their unauthorized offspring brought The Council to the brink of discovery by the human population too many times. The Council played on the image the human world had of witchcraft being a cult, a play toy of a disturbed few. They cultivated the image. Detractors, like the church, followed the fake trail.

Except when Originals came into full view. After humans saw Originals, bad things happened. Like the Salem witch trials.

Matilda had been right to conceal Parris from The Council. After what Ty’d read, he’d have no qualms saying The Council may have staged the accident killing her parents. Thinking they’d killed Parris in the same accident.

If they found different, Parris wouldn’t be alive long.

Ty’s heart ached. He pushed his chair away from the desk running his fingers through his hair. No way he’d fix this.

This afternoon, he’d found his soul mate.

A few minutes ago, sitting at his antique desk eating Chinese food, he’d lost her forever.