Around 1:00 pm I woke up with Samson still stretched across the foot of the bed. He was snoring and twitching in his sleep, probably dreaming about chasing rabbits, his favorite occupation. I started to sit up, then let out a little squeak when I saw Liam sitting in the armchair next to my bed. His golden eyes glittered with unleashed fury and his fingers, digging into the arms of the chair, threatened to rip the heavy fabric. He was staring at my left foot, which was sticking out from under the covers, still red from the burn.
Holy shit. He was the last person I expected to see.
His power rippled around the room, causing my whole body to tremble. “Liam, I’m okay.” His eyes moved to meet mine and his entire expression changed in a blink. Violet eyes scanned my face with concern as his hands relaxed on the chair arms. He didn’t look well, as if he hadn’t eaten or slept in quite a while. His clothes were the same he’d worn during the fight with the Brownlow pack, still ripped and stained with their blood. He didn’t smile, he just waited for me to speak again.
Seeing him here, obviously worried, gave me hope for our friendship. I tapped the lines and looked at his aura. It was muddy and pale. I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Whether he knew it consciously or not, he’d come to me for help. Liam was a healer like me, and it was terribly difficult for him to adjust to the consequences of taking a life. He’d killed and tortured Kent Brownlow along with many of his pack over the past eighteen hours, and it was eating him up. I could help him. He’d helped me so many times in the past.
I rose from the bed and pulled on a thin robe, steady on my feet once more. In my dresser, I found a pair of plain black sweatpants and a dark tee shirt. I walked to Liam and held out my hand. “You could probably use a shower and some food.” He hesitated only a few seconds before taking my hand and rising up gracefully from the chair to follow me. His hand was cold, colder than Garrett’s was when he hadn’t fed. I led him to the bathroom door and handed him the clothes. Liam was close to my size and I knew they’d fit fine. “Use whatever you need. I’ll make you some scrambled eggs and bacon. It’s the only breakfast food I can cook.” I pushed him gently through the door and closed it after him.
Samson followed me into the kitchen where I fed him and opened the patio door so he could go out. I made coffee and did my best with the eggs and bacon. At least I didn’t burn them. I even managed to make toast and cut up some fresh fruit, which I put out in two small bowls. Feeling pretty proud of myself, I poured coffee and dished the eggs, bacon and toast onto two plates and sat at the table just as Liam came in, his long hair still wet from the shower.
I had to smile at the picture we presented. My fifteen hundred year-old fae friend was dressed in my sweatpants and a One Republic tee shirt, his long, golden blonde hair hanging around his face in wet strands. I sat across from him, still in my PJ’s and robe, both of us taking small bites of my feeble attempt at breakfast. Not exactly the typical morning scene across America, but it seemed just right to me. In fact, I laughed thinking about it and Liam raised his head and smiled for the first time that day.
“Sorry if the food isn’t great.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.” Already I noticed his aura brightening so I sighed and dug in, shocked to realize I was starving. We ate until we’d finished every morsel, then sat and stared at each other, neither one wanting to be the first to break the peaceful silence.
“If I go and take a shower, will you still be here when I get back?”
He nodded solemnly. “Yes, I’ll be here.”
I relaxed my shoulders in obvious relief. There were things that Liam and I had to work out between us so we could get past them and move on. I think I took the fastest shower humanly possible then dressed and ran back, skidding into the kitchen just as he finished loading the dishwasher.
“Thanks for cleaning up.” I gasped, a little out of breath.
“It’s what I do…”
“I know, but thanks anyway. Let’s sit outside on the patio.” He followed me through the door and we each stretched out on adjacent lounge chairs under the colorful awning. The air was thick with the promise of rain, so I thought it was best to stay under the awning’s protection just in case. Samson yawned and curled up next to my chair, placing his head between his enormous black paws and closing his eyes.
I observed Liam closely. He seemed lost and unsettled. I opened myself to his mind and held out my hand, following my instincts. He seemed surprised at first, but took the offering in his, grasping it as if it were a lifeline holding him up above the chaos of his feelings. His mind was in a state of turmoil—unstable from so much emotional pain. I decided to send him waves of healing energy, hoping he’d be able to sort it out, if he could just feel a little more hopeful, a little more like himself.
“Please show me what happened.”
“It is very ugly.” He glanced at me and looked away, ashamed.
“I want to help. Show me.” He nodded and instantly all the deaths beginning with Kent Brownlow and the two weres standing with him in the clearing were sent to my mind. I watched as he hunted down the others and killed them, sometimes in front of their families. With the exception of Kent, it was always quick and clean, but it cast a shadow on his spirit and left him feeling dirty and out of balance. I was crying when he’d finished, and he used his sleeve to dry my eyes.
“You did what you had to do for your people. You’re a little bit broken, but you’ll heal. I’ve been there myself, so I do understand.”
“You understand because you’re a healer. My father and brother kill without an emotional connection. They do what they must and then continue on with their lives. They do not understand why I am in pain. My mother is a generous, loving woman, but she can’t help me. I’m alone but for you, Jackie. I know you’re very angry with me because of your sister. I’m surprised you have been so—so generous today. I shouldn’t have come to you, but I could think of no one else.”
“I’m not angry. If you’d killed her, then…” I forced those thoughts out of my head. “But I saw the rage in you. You hated me for protecting her and I was sure you’d never forgive me. What I felt was a huge loss, as if my close friend had died. If I was angry at anyone, it was Bridgett.” I smiled wryly.
“It is true. I was furious with you. I felt that you valued her above my people and our friendship. I was completely out of balance and couldn’t see past my desire for revenge.” He squeezed my hand to get my attention and I looked into his eyes. “We can’t lie to each other. I still feel she should be imprisoned as they were. I still want her to suffer.” He shrugged. “I am willing to see if she’s been spared by my people to serve a greater purpose.”
He looked out at the garden, the garden he always tended with such care. The rain had arrived and the sound of the drops hitting the stone walkway was soothing for both of us. “I spared four of the Brownlow Pack wolves. I could see in their minds they didn’t know about the imprisonments. I probably wouldn’t have done that if not for you standing up to me. You reminded me that change for good is possible.”
“I think you’re giving me too much credit. I couldn’t let go because she’s mine—my sister, my blood—and because she’s never really had a chance to make the right choices. I was being very selfish, but I’d do it again in those circumstances.” His eyebrow arched. “We agreed to tell the truth.”
“And I would react the same way again as well.” He smiled at me, reminding me of his father. I thought about my dream and shuddered.
“Will you show me your dream?” I played it all out again in my head, showing him what happened afterward.
“I will kill him for you.” He spoke this pledge out loud; gold flashing in his eyes and his mouth turned down in a grimace.
“Thank you, but I’m determined to kill this particular asshole myself.” He looked at me with the strangest expression, then burst out laughing, making me happy enough to join in. Although his mood had lightened, he couldn’t hide his exhaustion, so I rose up from the chair and offered him my hand once more. “Come with me Liam.”
He followed me to my bedroom. The bed was a rumpled mess, but it seemed silly to straighten it now. “Sleep for as long as you need to sleep. If you’re not comfortable here, I can get one of the guest rooms upstairs ready for you. You’re welcome to stay with us until you want to leave again. However long that takes.”
“Thank you.” He looked at the bed with longing. It was easy to forget sometimes that Liam was half human, especially after I’d seen him with his father in Faerie and witnessed the power surrounding him as he’d killed and tortured Kent and opened the entrance to Faerie. But this afternoon it was his humanity that needed tending.
As I left him there, I checked his aura again. It was much healthier, so I smiled smugly, feeling I’d accomplished something important today. I went to the kitchen and got a piece of oak tag, a marker and a pair of scissors. I made Liam a bootleg ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and hung it on my bedroom’s doorknob, then laughed when I thought of Garrett’s face when he discovered it there.
I decided to make some phone calls and Maya was first on my list. As soon as Maya picked up I asked, “How is she doing?”
“She was up all night, crying. She finally fell asleep around dawn. I did my best to comfort her, but, well, I’m not really the motherly type. We’re going to pick up some of her things at her house later today and then I’m sending in a cleaning service to clean up the house and the club. I’ve spoken to her father’s lawyer and she’s inherited everything, of course. She won’t lack for money, but she needs quite a bit of training. I’d like to keep her with me for a while.”
“Thank you. Tell her I was asking about her. She can call me tonight if she wants to talk.”
“I will.” We said our goodbyes and I felt better when I hung up. Ethan was next.
“You had more trouble with Kennet, I hear.” Ethan’s voice was tight with rage, although I was shocked that he'd heard so quickly about the dream. I replayed the whole story from start to finish, including the confrontation with the weres, the rescue of the fae, my taking in Bridgett then handing her off to Maya, and finally my dream and quick recovery, thanks to Lord Caelen.
“Maya will take good care of her. Look, Sinc, Kyle and I think we should be there to protect you when Garrett’s not up, so we’re coming over to stay until this whole business with Kennet is over. Don’t argue, we’ll be there in two hours. We’re stopping first to get groceries. Sinc and I will do all the cooking and Kyle will do the laundry.”
“Ethan, I appreciate your offer, but I have three vampires living in my basement, Liam is staying overnight and Garrett’s with me most of the time. You're very sweet, but I don’t need any more protection.”
“We’re coming, even if we have to sleep on your front lawn. If you have to go out, a couple of us will always be with you. It’ll be better all around, Jackie.”
They wanted to help in the worst way and they’d probably felt left out of all the excitement lately. It would be good to have them here where I could keep an eye on them, safe from Kennet’s grasp. And maybe I did need them. I felt like I was walking on the edge these days, flipping end over end down a long hill, praying that I wouldn’t crash when I reached the bottom. With my team here, I’d be able to relax for a few hours—maybe even have some fun.
“Okay, we’ll try it. But I’m going to send you home if you make my life any crazier than it is already.”
Ethan laughed. “We're low maintenance.”
“You are, but Sinc and Kyle?”
“Will be on their best behavior.”
“I'm holding you responsible.”
“Deal.” Ethan sounded so happy and excited.
“I’ll get the upstairs bedrooms ready for you.”
“See you in two hours.” When I ended the call, I was grinning ear to ear.
“And who are we getting the upstairs ready for?” Garrett was leaning against the doorway, looking scrumptious in jeans and no shirt. “And why is there a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door when you’re out here?”
I smiled. “To answer the second question, Liam is sleeping in my room and I told him he could stay as long as he wants. He’s really out of whack from the last twenty-four hours.”
Garrett swayed gracefully toward me and took me in his arms. “I’m very glad you worked things out with him.” He kissed me gently. “But where are you sleeping if he’s in your room?” he teased.
“In your room, which is really our room, isn’t it?” I kissed him back a little harder and felt his fangs lower, so I stuck my tongue in his mouth and pierced it on the sharp point. I heard him hiss and begin to suck until he’d swallowed several drops. Tiny silver dots danced in his beautiful eyes as he kissed me again. I melted against his firm body and sighed. If only I could stay in his arms forever.
Stroking my hair, he grinned at me playfully. “That was wonderful, angel, but I believe I never got an answer to my first question.”
“Ethan, Sinc and Kyle will be staying for a while.” I started to kiss his bare shoulder, but he pushed me gently away and held me at arm's length.
“Did you just say, Ethan, Sinc and Kyle?” I nodded. “Are we having a party? Are they staying the night because they don’t want to drive home after the festivities?”
“They’re staying until Kennet isn’t a threat anymore.”
“Do you truly feel this is wise considering our new guests in the basement are particularly fond of shifter blood?” He was smiling, but I could tell he was a little stunned that I’d agreed to Ethan’s plan.
I smiled and ran my hand down his chest and over his stomach. “You can control your nest, Garrett.”
He closed his eyes, definitely enjoying the caress. “Can you control the team, Jackie?”
“Theoretically, it’s Ethan who’s supposed to control the team, but I’ll lay down some rules when they get here and you can do the same with your nest. It'll be fine.” I looked up into his eyes with a touch of longing. “I’ll be glad to have them around.”
He smiled at my honesty. “And that’s the reason we’re going upstairs together to get everything ready for them.” He lifted my chin to look closely at my face. “But are you sure you’re feeling well enough?”
“I’m perfect. All I needed was a dose of gooey green medicine and a heart-to-heart with our sleepy fae friend.” He grinned as he took my hand and we started toward the stairs.
“What’s up?” Sasha was standing in the doorway that Garrett had vacated thirty seconds ago.
“You get up early too?” I asked, feeling a little put out.
“Garrett and I were turned the same year. I’ve been a vampire two months longer than him, so yeah, pretty much. Of course Garrett was a hundred-year-old cheetah shifter when he was turned and I was only a twenty-five year old human, so magically he's stronger. I can’t stay out in the late afternoon sunlight like he can. A quick dash is all I can manage. And I need blood…I can’t do that energy drain thing.”
“Please tell me Heinrich and William sleep until sundown.”
“Usually they’re up around five.” He smiled at my obvious irritation. “Do you want me to stay downstairs?”
I had an idea. “Actually, you can help. We have more guests coming. How are you with a vacuum?”
“I guess we’ll find out today.” Sasha grinned and seemed happy to be asked to join us. I suspected that smile might disappear when I told him to clean the bathroom. I snickered and directed him to the broom closet.
“It should be another entertaining evening,” said Garrett, mischievously nuzzling my ear.
I narrowed my eyes and put my fists on my hips in mock annoyance. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Would you rather dust or make up beds?”