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She went out like a light almost as soon as he crawled into bed with her. She had used too much energy arguing with him trying to keep him from leaving again. She was bound to sleep the rest of the evening into the morning. He lay with her about an hour, enjoying the warmth their bodies together shared. It couldn’t be like this for her with Omar- and certainly not with his brother. The way she made his blood quicken when she got angry with him was special, he felt it. Her love was alive. She was alive, thank God.
“Odaiji ni,” he whispered against her cheek and kissed her. He began licking the sores on her face and top of her head. She grimaced in her sleep at the discomfort, but she was out, her slumber too deep to fully awaken. He paused to allow her to relax a few moments before continuing down her throat and chest. Then again before continuing down her lower body. It wasn’t a complete healing because her wounds weren’t fresh. The pain would lessen and her natural healing factor should get a boost. He hoped so anyway. “How could they let this happen to you? Where the hell were those bastards who claim to love you so much? I’m here now and I’ll be here for you, I promise. Always.”
“Troy...”
“Get well soon, my love.” She was asleep and snoring again. “Odaiji ni, my love,” he whispered again kissing the top of her head and slipped out from her bed.
On the other side of the bedroom door stood Hazel. She regarded him sternly with crossed arms. With a loud sigh, she turned and walked down the hallway. He got the impression she wanted him to follow her down the stairs. In the living room, she walked past Carmen sitting on the couch and waited for him to join her at the front door.
“Takeru!” Carmen laughed and scooted off the couch.
“Carmen, did I tell you to get up?”
“No.”
“Then get back up there.”
“I want to play, Grandma.”
“Bad little girls don’t get to play. And I told you to be quiet.”
“She’s adorable,” he said. “Surely, she didn’t mean to be bad.”
Hazel raised a brow and gave him a quick appraisal. “Troy. Finally.” She made a move to touch his arm, he pulled out of her reach. “Well, I wasn’t going to hurt you! I’m Hazel, Velvet’s grandmother.”
“I prefer you not touch me. No offense.”
“And I prefer you not sneak into my house and climb into bed with my sick child!”
“This house is not off limits to me, but I beg your pardon all the same. However, I was determined to give her some relief from her pain and discomforts. I wasn’t going to let Rankin or anyone stop me.”
“Is that what you were doing crawling all over her?”
“Why didn’t Devon do something for her?”
“He tried and I made him quit. It was causing her too much distress. Is there anything else you want to ask me?”
“How did you know I was Troy?”
“Takeru is Japanese. Or his wolf spirit is.” Hazel stepped closer keeping her eyes trained on his face. He easily held her gaze. “You don’t trust me enough to let me read you directly. I respect that wholeheartedly. But will you answer a few questions for me?”
“About what?”
“You and Tak.”
“I don’t think I should.”
“Why not?”
“Because I think Tak has you prejudiced against me.”
“Son, all I care about is my girl’s wellbeing. You have her going every which way, but the right way. Now, I will figure out what is with you soon enough and I will get Velvet’s head straight again, even if that means getting both you and Tak away from her for good.” She stepped back and opened the door.
“What does for good mean?” He pulled the doorknob from her hand and clicked it shut.
“I don’t mean to harm you, but I won’t have her going between the two of you.”
“Neither will I. I’ve shut Tak down, but Velvet has her own work to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Omar Henderson. She wants to love him and wishes she could forget about me. Neither is going to happen. Until she accepts what’s really in her heart, there is nothing I can do for us, except keep waiting.”
“For my Velvet?”
“What else can I do, Grandma? I’ve fallen in love with a woman that loves me too. I can’t risk losing her and never finding real love again. ”
“Troy you are young, anything is possible.”
“No. I know Velvet is my once in a lifetime.”
“But are you prepared to love a witch without her powers? For a while, she may not seem like herself. And I fear she’s in for a long recovery period. I know you werewolves are impatient, reckless, impulsive creatures.”
“She waited for my return, I can do the same for her. I just promised her.”
“Even if she pushes you away?”
“What are you saying?”
“Your brother has complicated things. I believe she can’t really tell you two apart. Or maybe she doesn’t want to. Either way, Tak has confused her, even made her ashamed of her feelings.”
“Tak is no longer among us, Grandma.”
“That isn’t exactly true and you know it,” Hazel spoke sharply placing her hands on her hips. “Neither of you are truthful. You won’t allow me to touch you to find out the truth, but I will.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I love her and that is all that should matter.”
“What matters to me is that she is healthy physically and spiritually. So far, neither of you has shown me you can help maintain her health.”
“I suppose you think Omar Henderson is the better man for your granddaughter? You’ve been encouraging her to see him! Why? What has he done that was so wonderful?”
“It’s more like what he hasn’t done, Troy. He hasn’t used his sex appeal to get between her and someone else! He hasn’t declared his undying love and left her the next instant! He hasn’t been involved in activities that are harmful to this city! He hasn’t ever raised his hand to her! He hasn’t slept with every woman in his department. But most importantly, he didn’t keep his lust filled evil twin brother a secret!”
“Grandma, what you say is probably true, but there is one fact that is in my favor.” He looked down into her watery eyes and said, “She loves me. I’m the man she loves. Omar Henderson being a better man is not going to change her feelings. She’s not going to wake up and realize her error! I’m her man, Grandma!”
“Hah! You gave her up for that wishy-washy pack of yours. All you had to do was stand up to the Brotherhood like Tak did. No wonder she-”
“She what, Grandma?”
“Never mind. You just better remember something, young man. Velvet is my heart and soul. You mess her over again, I promise I will kill you and Takeru both.”
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I mean it!” Tears streamed down the little woman’s face. “My girl was burned and lost her light power! She suffered a stroke and managed to pull through somehow! Now, that is enough hardship for her in this lifetime. She can be happy with Omar even if she isn’t in love with him. But you and Tak are just confusion and shame. Momentary pleasure is not happiness.”
“You mean to interfere on Omar’s behalf?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma, don’t do that. Things can only go badly for Omar.”
“I am protecting Omar. So you just better watch what you do, or else you’ll find your mess coming right back at you.”
“You wouldn’t put a curse on me. Velvet won’t allow it!”
“Velvet is in no position to stop me! I’m not in love with you and I will hurt you bad if I have to!” She marched to the door and opened it wide. “Get out and remember what I told you, boy!”
~*~
“Well, that was the longest quick visit I ever saw.” A short, stout purple haired demon whose skin was covered in gray scales leaned against the passenger door of the silver Land Rover. “I take it she made a scene?”
“If she had the adequate energy, I’m sure she would have.”
“What does that mean? Is she as bad off as the slayer told you?”
He eyed the woman before him. “Koudo, are you sure about the penthouse? Darnell and his crew have taken up residence?”
“Yes. Vampires love to roost in familiar settings. Legally, the penthouse belongs to Jerome, not Wilder. However, the way vampires lay claim, it would go to Wilder in the event of Jerome’s demise- or disappearance.”
“So, Wilder is responsible for the property and the creatures who inhabit it.”
“You believe Wilder is involved.”
That was the question. He ran it through his mind again. Wilder loved Velvet and swore one day he’d have her back as his lover. Instead, he’d gone and reclaimed his former life as lord of his brood as if giving up on Velvet. But why, when she’d spent months alone without even a date? He left her wide open for Omar to make his move. Yes, the vampire was up to something. Only, using Suzanne and taking advantage of Velvet’s vulnerability didn’t seem likely to be part of his plan. “Damn, who knows what he might do? The vampire Wilder is one crafty son of a bitch.” He walked around the back of the vehicle to get to the driver’s side door. Koudo watched the street as he got behind the wheel. She wrapped her scaly tail around her middle before climbing inside the truck.
“You don’t think she suspects anything?”
“Velvet?” She was sharp, but he’d gambled that her emotions would lead her wherever he chose to lead her. “She wanted to see Troy, I believe I gave a convincing performance.” He pressed the ignition and pulled from the curb.
“She really can’t tell you apart? Affecting that American accent worked?”
“Seems like it with Velvet. However, the grandmother, I’m not sure she bought it. She’s clairvoyant and tried to touch me. I get the feeling she might not need to touch me.”
“If she suspects your real identity, she will tell her granddaughter.”
“I can’t worry about that now, Koudo.” He glanced over at his companion who fell silent. “What?”
“Have you fallen for her for real?”
“What?”
“For real, Tak? You love her, don’t you?”
“Troy loves her. I’m just along for the ride.”
“That’s your story and you’re sticking to it? You humans are a dumb ass breed,” Koudo sighed and clicked her seatbelt in place. “Never understood your need to claim each other. Rather selfish.”
“You have a mate, Koudo.”
“For having my children. It is a rare bonus that we feel genuine affection for each other. Therefore, I don’t require another lover.”
“Oh.” Must be nice to have such a clearcut and orderly love life. But then he wondered if Koudo had ever known the thrill of a true chase? The euphoria of possessing the one your heart desires for the first time, even if merely for one night?
“Why are you grinning at me with a mouthful of long teeth?”
“I was just thinking of Velvet and the night Troy went after her, pissed as hell over Jasmine and got his throat slashed.” He recalled becoming aware when she pulled the dagger from behind her back. He’d felt the cold blade penetrate and cut through Troy’s hide. That was the night he first got a good look at the world through Troy’s eyes again.
“She sounds like something else.”
“Yeah, did I tell you about when she ran me through?”
“Yes, you did. I think you are both crazy as hell.”
Velvet was the first woman both his spirits desired at the same time. Was she the reason he hardly knew who he was these days? And found it so hard to keep Troy in the dark sometimes? The confusion was fine as long as he got to see her and breathe her scent. “Yeah, she’s something else, all right.”
“What about the beast?”
“Velvet is recovering. He is calm.”
“Are you sure? Taming two beasts-”
“I am a super Alpha, Koudo. I can tame three beast spirits if I had to.”
“As long as you have the pack under your control,” Koudo said as if reminding him. “And my band of demons at your disposal.” She turned to him with a smile. “Your witch can make you stronger. As she’s vulnerable now, you could claim her with just a bit more attention.”
“Claiming her would mean nothing if her heart does not fully accept me. She is ill and conflicted, I won’t add to her trauma for my own selfish desires.”
“Not even for Fairlight? With her on our side-”
“Believe me, I have thought of that, Koudo. Now, is not the time.”
“Your call. However, allowing the detective more time with her is a mistake.”
“He’s already had his chance and blew it.”
“Right.”
He spared a glance from the road ahead to check out Koudo’s face. “I don’t get what you mean exactly.”
“She’s waiting for Troy,” Koudo clarified patiently. “Not you. From what I’ve heard from you, Craig and Reiko, Velvet chose Troy over Omar Henderson because he let her down. Recently, she was seeing him again then she responded to you. And you dare get cocky about it.” Koudo paused as he frowned at her. “Tak, you aren’t so far ahead of Henderson as you seem to think. He’s her concerned romantic friend who is just one more advance from getting her in bed. You gave her excitement and sexual release. Now you need to romance her and act like a friend.”
“Why?”
“To beat the detective’s time. You need to send her flowers and gifts. Make her think you are thinking about her even though you aren’t with her. Because he will undoubtedly be by her side all the time. He means to win her love, Tak. And I believe he is doing it.”
“What do you know about human relationships?”
“I’ve studied your breed. Your motivations and emotions aren’t so different than demons.”
“Is that right?”
“Are you willing to bet her love for Troy is enough to keep her from another man’s bed? Or do you think your sexing her a few times was enough?”
“Frankly, Koudo,” he said, realizing he was gripping the steering wheel far too tight in his now furry hands. “Frankly, I do!” He felt the angry jealousy rise from his belly. How dare she suggest a normal could satisfy a woman like Velvet so much that she forgot about his ardent sexual prowess? Velvet craved him, damn it. Even if she allowed Omar to have her, it would only mean she was just doing what it took to get through the days and nights without him. “Besides,” he said then pushed his fangs back up into his gums and swallowed the spit collecting in his mouth. “Besides, we’ve time to make a few moves before she’s in any shape to even think about sex and romance with anybody.”
“She was that badly burned?”
He considered how much to share with the demon riding shotgun with him. She was a longtime colleague from back in the day. Still, she was a demon and an opportunist. He could trust her against vampires and witches maybe for a piece of the pie. But this was Velvet’s life. No one else needed to know she was without her powers. “Fortunately, she has a team and magiks in place to watch over her while she recovers. She’s coming back just fine.”
“Well, that’s good,” Koudo said. He felt her stare linger on the side of his face. When he glanced her way again, she was gazing idly from the passenger window into darkening streets.