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I was still feeling a little odd and shaken when I joined Orion in the office. It was too much all at once. I didn't know what to focus on so I could work myself up to monumental amounts of pointless worry the way I so wanted to do.
Orion was sitting in one of the wingback chairs—not lounging, like a normal person might, but sitting absolutely ramrod straight, not a wrinkle in his clothing, not a hair out of place. The incubus was as much a mystery as my mage. But he wasn't my mystery to unravel.
Light blue eyes met mine, and the visible half of his pretty face transformed into a soft smile. "Hello, Gesa."
I smiled back reflexively. I couldn't help it. Everything about the incubus's energy was the complete opposite of his stiff exterior. His aura was welcoming and warm. All the better to put his potential meal at ease. "Are you here to visit, or did White send you?" I asked tiredly.
His smile turned wry. "I wish I could say I just stopped by to chat."
I held up a hand as I sank into my office chair. "Then let’s just say that. Don't go and ruin my day by mentioning your employer."
He shook his head. "Mr. White really does hold you in high esteem, Gesa."
I laughed. "Right. I'm sure." Like one held a well-used tool in "high esteem." Please. Derek fucking White didn't do anything unless it benefitted him in some twisted, roundabout way.
Orion sighed. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Gesa." He held out a thick envelope. "Mr. White thought you should have copies of these. And he wanted me to let you know the children of the sea are being looked after."
I opened the envelope and pulled out copies of driver's licenses, birth certificates...all the things the siren kids needed to prove they existed in this society. Why the hell did White think I needed the crap? It wasn't like I was their damned mother.
"What do you mean, looked after?" I asked suspiciously. For all I knew, white had the kids running drugs or pole dancing or something.
One corner of Orion's mouth lifted in a wry smile, like he knew exactly what I was thinking, and he shook his head. "The Ontonagon trade and cultural center will open up next week. It is part of Mr. White's most recent charity endeavor. The siren crosses will be the first class of young hopefuls to be trained in the trades or arts of their choice and placed in community internship and apprenticeship positions within the county."
I narrowed my eyes. "That seems...like overkill." How the fuck much was I going to end up owing him for that little favor? Because it seemed like making friends with one awkward teenage girl was not an even trade.
Orion lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. "He just wants to make sure you are satisfied with your bargain. And...I know you think it is silly now, but there may come a day when your friendship with Miss Troya will become...a bit harrowing." His eyes held sadness that I didn't understand. "The girl's life will not be an easy one, I'm afraid. It will be good if she has friends who can support her when she needs it most."
I lifted an eyebrow, completely confused. "I have no idea what the hell is going on there. Care to enlighten me...since we're friends and all?"
He sighed. "My employer is notoriously stubborn when it comes to sharing the things that are close to his heart. But rest assured," he said with a smirk, "I'm sure he'll turn to his new best friend with all his troubles eventually. I’ve been working on him."
I gritted my teeth together. "I am not friends with that asshole."
Black only laughed, the sound like a rippling caress. "Of course."
I growled and he stopped laughing at my expense to pull another envelope out of his shiny leather briefcase. "I delivered White's message, now I have one of my own." He handed me the envelope, which had Con's name scrawled across it in script that looked too perfect to be hand-printed but probably was. "Can you please give this to Concord?"
I took the envelope warily, like it might explode at any moment. Because, demons. They were from an entirely different realm than ours. Who knew what they were capable of? "What is it?"
He ignored my suspicious gaze. "Con has been kind enough to help me with my...issues." His one visible cheek flushed at that admission. "But he refuses any sort of payment or favor on my part. I feel obligated to help him in some way, as he has helped me."
I narrowed my eyes further. "You can't have my human, incubus," I muttered, only half joking.
He shook his head. "I know he won't accept anything from me in exchange for his handiwork. But...it really has been beneficial. I want him to have this," he gestured at the envelope, "and I think he will take it from you more easily than from me."
I slipped a finger under the flap of the envelope and peeked inside. It was a stack of papers, like a report. The top page was a black and white photo, a copy of a driver's license. I pulled the papers out and flicked a glance at Orion when I recognized the wide eyes staring back at me from the woman's picture. "Is this...?"
He nodded. "His mother. I know Con is saddened by his upbringing. His father is deceased—which, quite honestly is probably a blessing. From what I understand he was not a nice person. But I was able to find his mother. It would have been impossible using purely mundane routes...but I have my ways. Her contact information and history are there, if he should wish to contact her. She was an immigrant. I believe she was...coerced into abandoning him when his father found out about her witch blood. She would be very happy if Con wanted to know her."
I gaped at him. This was...I didn't even have words.
He gave me a shy smile. "Do you think this will satisfy my debt to him?"
I snorted. "I don't know what it is with you demons and your deals and bargains. But...Godsdamn, Orion. All this for some ED muffins? Do you even realize how much this will mean to him?"
He smiled then, a full, happy expression I hardly ever saw on him. "I had hoped he would be pleased."
He stood, scooping up his briefcase. "I will let Mr. White know you are pleased with your deal with him as well?"
I frowned at him as I shook my head. I didn't get it. It was like there was some weird, awkward subtext here that I was missing. "The trade center thingy? It's as much of an overpayment as your gift to Con."
He nodded. "He will be pleased. Thank you, Miss Lionheart."
I watched the incubus leave with a growing headache. What the hell was going on with those two?
And why the fuck did I care? I had a potential vampire problem to deal with.
I pulled my keyboard closer and opened my email. Nothing from Kai. I supposed that was to be expected. I mean, after all, she was probably out delving the depths of the ocean for her fellow kraken. It wasn't like stopping by dry land just to email her paranoid girlfriend was a high priority.
Still, I didn't like it. I didn't like her being so far away. I didn't like her interacting with the sirens. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Though...thinking of flinging the haughty bitches around did put a smile on my face. I took a deep breath and told myself to stop being such an uptight alpha lion.
Con had left me some notes about the vampire bat thing, and I skimmed them. According to Oswald at the police station, the animal deaths had started to taper off. A few farmers were reporting seeing odd things or having livestock that seemed to be weak or anemic, but it was dwindling.
Which was good, right? Maybe the vampire and his legion of batty, blood-gathering minions had just passed through and they were moving away.
Or, maybe there was another reason the animals were suddenly faring so well.
I picked up my phone and called my police liaison. "Call me back when you can," I said when I got his voicemail. "I need your clearance to go talk to the hospital and local clinics. I don't think our bat problem is really gone."
And if I was right, we'd need Derek fucking White's help. Again. But I sure as fuck wasn't going to ask until I was sure.