Blood Bonds (12 page)

“Never is a long time, Deshi. You’re very young. You’re very controlled, but still very young. You’ve been married to her, what, two years?” She counted off the months on her fingers. “Yeah, two years and two months. And how long have you been coming to my bed because Emily won’t do what she needs to do to
feed
you?” Haley made a big show of counting down again. “Oh, gee, that’s right, twenty four months. That’s two years! What a shocker!” The steaks hit the counter with a thump and she shredded the plastic and threw it into the sink. Cabinet doors slammed and plates rattled. Haley pushed the meat onto a platter, opened the microwave and set it for thirty seconds. Just enough to knock the chill off.

“So tell me...” She put her hands on the counter. “Did you ever tell her what really happened to the dog? Or does she still think that Chihuahua ran off when you opened the door?” Deshi blanched. The dog was the reason the affair started. Barely two months into their marriage the issue of Emily
Belonging
reared its ugly head.

Linking meant Deshi and she would share a metaphysical tie transcending any kind of marriage vows. But
Belonging
to Deshi conflicted with Emily’s constitution of women’s rights.

What Emily didn’t know was not long after their extended honeymoon, she’d almost become a midnight snack. All because Deshi wasn’t getting fulfilled.

“That’s not fair. You know how I feel about that.”

“Well, how would you feel if it had been her instead? You ate her dog, for Christ’s sake. Because it had her scent on it.” Deshi crunched down, and hugged himself, looking more like a scared little kid, and less like a six foot six Male.

Haley growled and dug her fingers into the counter. She was careful not to extend her
chelae
or she’d shred the cheap aluminum. “I just don’t want to see you executed because of Emily’s selfishness.” She took a breath. “I care about you, Deshi. You’re my friend.”

“I know.” He sniffled and swiped at the sliding down his cheeks. It was a bad habit he’d learned from her.

“God of Man...” Haley came around the counter and made him sit on one of the bar stools. His baby blues spilled over and a sob escaped his lips. “Deshi...” She wiped the tears away but they kept coming. “Oh, Deshi, don’t cry. Please...” Haley pulled him to her and felt him tremble. She hated what Emily did to him. It pained her to see that Human woman reduce the Male into a weak sobbing shell of himself. He was a strong Kin, strong about anything, except when it came to Emily.

Haley rocked Deshi and thrummed in her chest. She stroked his head and neck. His hair had been long once. But Emily had insisted he cut it off, too.

Emily had gotten everything she wanted in Deshi: a trophy husband, a sports car, a big house in a gated community, membership at the exclusive resorts, nights out on the town, and the bank roll of a Draconian empire. So far, the only thing Deshi had gotten was a lot of mental anguish and a serious case of bad self-esteem.

It was fact. Kin just couldn’t deal with a monogamous Human relationship, unless the Human was willing to do what it takes to fulfill metaphysical needs, as well as physical ones. The Jersey City Prince needed Haley in ways he was still too young to understand.

The racking sobs finally stopped and the tears followed. Deshi’s body relaxed under Haley’s constant petting and deep purr.

Beautiful Deshi opened his mouth against Haley’s neck and pressed his tongue to her pulse. She fell still. If he wanted to take from her, she would freely give it. But she didn’t want to make any movements that would push him over the edge of his control.

‘Cause right now it wouldn’t take very much.

The Prince’s hands tightened on her hips and he pulled her closer. She didn’t resist, but she kept hers on the back of his head and neck.

“I love Emily.” Deshi’s teeth raked her throat. “I love her and I want to be with just her.” Heat flickered across his skin and the scent of his
need
became over-powering.

When Deshi stood up he took Haley with him, making desperate noises in the back of his throat. Her butt landed on the counter and she rolled her head back, letting him know he could take whatever he wanted.

Haley straddled him while he rubbed himself against her core. She could feel the length of him under his expensive suit and knew from experience he’d be wearing silk boxers. Deshi snarled and pulled his face out of her neck. When Haley looked at him, everything Human was gone from his eyes. They swam solid gold. The color of
need
.

His lips drew back, flashing long sharp teeth. Every muscle in Deshi’s body shook with resistance. Had he looked at Emily this way the night he killed her dog? What would have happened if he had woken her up and she had seen his beautiful face, contorted with fangs and dragon eyes?

She probably would have screamed, and without the bond, the Prince would have seen her as only one thing.

Prey.

But instead of killing and eating her while she slept, Deshi had grabbed that stupid dog from its sleeping place at the foot of the bed. He’d made it into the bathroom before losing control and chewing out its throat.

According to Deshi, he didn’t remember actually eating it, only waking up covered in blood. He panicked at first because it was red. But the scent was unmistakable. Mitzi the dog had taken one for the team.

Deshi pawed at Haley’s T-shirt. He almost lost it, and bit down on her shoulder, but didn’t break the skin. Haley wished he’d just let go. Tear off his clothes and sink his teeth into her up to the gums. But his control was remarkable.

Lucky for Emily.

Deshi’s grip loosened and he backed away. Haley put her knees together and watched him regain his composure.

He exhaled a shaky breath. “I should go.”

No. You need to stay. Please. For your sake
. Haley kept her thoughts to herself and watched him as he smoothed out his shirt, fixed his tie and adjusted his pants.

When he looked at her all trace of Kin was gone. “Thank you for everything.” Deshi headed towards the door. Haley watched, wishing she could change things for him.

Deshi paused with his hand on the knob and Haley said, “If you need me, my door is always open for you. Key’s still in the same place.” He nodded once then left.

Haley died when she went to sleep. But all Kin slept like the dead. It’s why Humans were able to kill so many of them with primitive weaponry. It’s also why Females surrounded themselves with dozens and dozens of Marked Males. That way there was always someone awake.

And willing to die in order to protect her.

By the time Haley hailed a cab it was ten after nine. She finished tucking in her blouse in the back seat. Her blazer was green, her skirt cream like the blouse. Haley tried to use the rearview mirror to fix her hair, but the cabbie kept getting in the way because he was using it to try and see down the front of her top.

She buttoned the last three buttons to make a point.

Late again. This was getting to be a bad habit.

Claire waved at her as she came through the front office and headed down the hall. Haley ignored her. She didn’t have time for chit chat.

Bauer was in her office, standing there like he’d just walked in. Haley knew damn well he’d been waiting a while.

“I’m sorry, I overslept. I know I promised to be here at nine--” He held up a hand and stopped her. Great. This couldn’t be good.

Bauer put his hands into his jacket pockets. It was no Baroni, probably a Men’s Warehouse special, but it still looked nice. His wife really knew how to adjust them to fit. Today he was wearing soft gold tweed. It made his skin look like chocolate.

“I just came in. Thought I would wait. Everything went fine. Creyal met with Lemmons again this morning with the A.D.A. and he was a total gentleman.”

“Total gentleman?”

Bauer laughed. “Okay, maybe that was a little too generous. But he didn’t hit anyone, bite anyone, and he only made one request for someone to bleed, and took the rejection better than most.”

“So what happened?”

“The A.D.A. took your suggestion and gave him six months mandatory counseling. Lemmons got him ninety days in a communal prison. If he behaves himself, he’ll do thirty days at the most. If he agrees to work as an informant, and gets us a few locations, he’ll never see a day.”

This was good.

Haley said, “He’ll do it.”

“How do you know?”

“He’s mid-ranked at the most. Doing time, even thirty days, could potentially kill him.” And no matter how bad things got, dying wasn’t something Kin embraced.

Haley tried not to think of Niles and how he’d begged her to kill him.

But then, he’d also imagined a Brother.

A knock on her door made her look up. Claire poked her little blond head in and tossed her eyes back and forth between them. Haley started to tell her to get lost, but Bauer excused himself before she could use him as an excuse not to talk.

“I’m busy, Claire.” Haley turned to her desk and moved papers around. By the look on Claire’s face, and the way she smelled, things must have not gone so well last night. But she didn’t leave. In fact little-miss-secretary just invited herself right in and shut the door.

This was it.

The coming to Jesus moment where Claire would to cry all over Haley and demand to know if she and Farley were sleeping together.

Which was a capital Y-E-S.

Haley put down the file she’d been pretending to look through and faced the woman. Her cornflower eyes couldn’t quite meet the Haley’s stare. Haley sat back on the edge of her desk, crossed her arms and waited for Claire to get on with the show.

Her small bird-like hands fluttered and her thin face flushed until her nose glowed.

This was it. Any moment. Waiting ... waiting...

The dam burst and the tears spilled out. Right behind it was a flood of vocabulary, butchered by sobbing. Haley could only catch bits and pieces, something about
movies, dinner, friends, birthdays
and
bitch.
She gathered the bitch must have been a reference to her.

Haley handed Claire a couple of Kleenex from the box on her desk when it became obvious her sweater sleeve just wasn’t cut out for the job. Claire blew her nose into the extra aloe silky-softs, doing a very good impression of a goose.

Claire hiccupped.

“Claire, I’m sorry.” Haley stood up and handed her another half-dozen tissues. “I’ll tell you what I tell all the women who come in here crying. Farley is Kin. He’s never going to offer you a ring. He’s never going want to meet your parents. And he sure as hell is never going to get married. He’ll have all the sex you want, whenever you want, but you’re Human and I’m Kin--” The slap came out of nowhere. Just one hard blow which set Haley’s cheek on fire. She slid her gaze over to Claire. Haley touched her hand to her lip to check for blood. It was clean. “I think you’d better leave now.”

“Whore!”

Farley was right. When Claire was mad, her voice did sound remarkably like a cat caught in a blender.

Claire swung her hand, but this time Haley caught the woman’s wrist.

Haley stepped forward until they were toe to toe. In two inch heels, they were the same height.

“As I was saying...” Haley gave Claire a little shake to emphasize each word. “Farley will fuck you, every day if you want it, but you cannot give him what he
needs.
You will never be able to give him what he
needs.
He can only get that from his own people. If you can’t stand the idea of him sleeping in my bed, or in the beds of other Males ... look at me ... that’s right, Males. If you can’t share him, then don’t initiate any relationship. He knows how to take no for an answer.”

The tears flowed again and Claire’s bottom lip trembled. Haley let her go, and Claire rocked back cradling her wrist.

“But why last night? Of all nights to keep him away from me...”
What?
“It was my birthday, Haley. It was my birthday, and instead of being with me, he stayed the night with you.” She burst again, crying all over the place.

Haley rewound what she said and shook her head.

“Claire, Farley didn’t stay at my place last night.”

“Liar!”

“Look, Claire, Farley doesn’t turn down free sex. Trust me. If he had plans for an all-nighter with you he would have been there.” Haley stepped back, trying to think.

“He wasn’t with you?”

Haley frowned. “No. Did you call him?”

“Are you sure he wasn’t with you?” She sounded worried now. Like maybe she should have been more concerned for her date, instead of wallowing in her own self-pity.

“No ... no ... do you have your cell phone?” Claire shook her head. Haley looked around her office. Her briefcase was on the floor next to her chair. Garrett had lived up to his promise--now hopefully her phone hadn’t gotten lost in the melee. She found it in the pocket where she kept her pens. It looked intact and the battery was still good.

Praise Nokia.

Haley quick keyed Farley’s cell phone number and the line rang. If he didn’t show at Claire’s, it meant he’d probably never left his apartment. “Did you tell Garrett that Farley didn’t show up?” The look on Claire’s face suggested she would have died first. Haley rolled her eyes. “Look, go tell Garrett that...” The line picked up. Haley expected voicemail or Farley, but what she got was a Male voice she didn’t recognize.

“Medan was wondering when you’d call.” His Olde Tongue accent was heavy.

Haley said, “Who is this?”

The Male laughed. The sound suggested bad things done in dark places.

“Names aren’t important. Her Greatness is very disappointed in you, Haley Night.”

Haley looked up at Claire, who stared at her with wide eyes. Haley said, “Where is Farley?” The Male growled. There was a shuffling sound, then a rattled breath. “Farley?” She could barely say his name.

“Hey...” There was a lot of pain in that one syllable. Haley felt her heart stutter and leaned on her desk. Before Farley could say anything else, the unknown Male came back over the line.

“Why are you doing this?” Haley tried to think of protocol. Who did she need to inform? Who should she call? But her brain refused to form an organized thought. All she could think of was Farley’s pitiful voice sounding ... broken.