Make Me (7 page)

Oh, no, he was not going to put this on me. But since he asked, I was going to tell him the absolute truth. “I don’t know. But this would answer the question either way, right?”

YES, Fang agreed. LET THE GROUP DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

Micah’s lips tightened. I guess that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “All right,” he bit out, “I don’t think it’s necessary, but you’ll have your ritual.”

“When?” David asked.

“After Christmas. I don’t want to interrupt anyone’s holiday plans. Will that work for you?” he asked David stiffly.

David and Pia both nodded.

“Good,” he said, practically biting out the word. “I assume you can see yourselves out.” Without waiting for an answer, he strode out of the room like he couldn’t get away fast enough. Or like it hurt too much to stay.

I watched him go, disturbed that I might be the cause of his pain.
Did I do the right thing?
I asked Fang.

DON’T WORRY, Fang said. HE’S NOT MAD AT YOU. HE’S MAD AT HIMSELF, THAT HE DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING. HE PRETTY MUCH JUST GOT THE CRAP KICKED OUT OF HIS BELIEFS. HE FEELS A LITTLE GUILTY AND HE’S WORRIED THAT THE RITUAL WILL GO AGAINST HIM AND SHOW THAT HE’S BEEN SCREWING UP ALL ALONG.

And I’d just gone and said it was necessary. Crap. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut? No matter what happened with this ritual, I was afraid my easy, cousinly relationship with Micah had just changed forever.

And why me? Why didn’t David pick on someone else?

LIKE HE SAID, IT’S BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE SEE YOU DIFFERENTLY. DAVID AND MICAH KNOW HOW INFLUENTIAL YOU ARE, JUST BY BEING YOURSELF, EVEN IF YOU DON’T.

Ridiculous. Why did everyone forget that I was still only eighteen? Sure, I felt years older in experience, but I was too young for all the responsibility everyone kept trying to shove off on me. And I sure didn’t want it. But the Demon Underground didn’t have the same social conventions tied up with arbitrary age numbers. They didn’t see years. They saw something else. If I could figure out what it was, I’d darned well stop showing it to them.

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE? Fang challenged. DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Maybe not, but I wanted to be the one to make the choice, not have it shoved down my throat.
Don’t push me. This is not going to make me want to forgive you yet. And don’t even think about getting pizza until I do.

OKAY. He sighed heavily. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

We rode in silence the rest of the way home. When we arrived, David and I exchanged phone numbers and Fang and I got out of the truck. It was near dawn, but all the lights were blazing in the house. Guess my roomie, Gwen, was up.

Inside, two people and a hellhound sat in the living room, their postures tense. Gwen looked worried, her short red hair more tousled than normal, and Shade’s general swirliness was an agitated mess.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Princess demanded. MY HUMAN WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

Shade was seven-eighths human, but I always thought of him as demon. Apparently, Princess didn’t. And I noticed that the part hellhound, part Cavalier King Charles Spaniel didn’t say
she
was worried. She’d always been self-centered, but now that she was pregnant with Fang’s pups, she was more demanding than ever.

At least Gwen and Shade looked relieved to see us. Gwen said, “When I got home from the ER, I found your motorcycle here and your cell lying next to it.”

I patted my pockets. Sure enough, my phone was gone. It must have fallen out during the struggle.

“I called Shade,” Gwen continued, “but when you weren’t at his place, we both got worried.”

That explained why he was here. “Sorry,” I said. “But it wasn’t my choice.” Privately, I asked Fang,
You didn’t tell Princess about this?

NO, he answered ruefully. YOU TRY REASONING WITH A HORMONAL HELLHOUND, SEE HOW FAR YOU GET.

I hear ya.

Shade moved around the couch to envelop me in his arms. Oh, my. Lola liked. Now finally free of the sticky web of the drug, Lola was able to reach out and touch. She wanted to drink up all the yummy goodness that was Shade, but I wouldn’t let her. Not right now anyway. For now, it felt good just to be wrapped in his arms, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. Knowing someone cared enough about me to worry infused my being with a warm glow of happiness.

Sappy, I know, but Shade affected me that way. Home again with friends surrounding me—it didn’t get better than this.

“What happened?” he asked, holding me at arm’s length.

Since he was still touching me, the swirls were gone and I could see his face. That made me happy, too. Our relationship was still new, and I never got tired of his hot studliness. Didn’t think I ever would.

GAG ME, Fang said, pretending to choke.

Ignoring him, I sat down on the couch and wondered how to explain. “I’m sorry, Gwen, but most of this is Demon Underground business. I’m not sure how much I can tell you.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she said and rose to give me a hug. “I’m just glad you’re safe.” Sighing, she added, “Time to get some shut-eye.” As she left the room, she tossed over her shoulder, “Oh, and don’t let Jack eat
everything
in the kitchen, okay?”

Jack wandered into the living room, carrying a heaping platter of food, still looking like a lumberjack instead of the former keeper of the
Encyclopedia Magicka.
“I heard that,” he said, waving a drumstick in Gwen’s direction

“You were supposed to,” Gwen called out, then shut her door firmly behind her.

“You brought Jack with you?” I asked Shade, bemused.

Shade, who sat next to me and snuggled close, shrugged. “He insisted.”

HE LIKES THE FOOD, Princess, always bluntly honest, put in.

The former keeper had been imprisoned in a sort of pocket universe for decades. Since he’d come back to this world, he didn’t seem to be able to get enough chow to make up for all his lost meals. He spent most of his time eating and watching television, which fascinated him.

Jack placed a hand over his heart. “I’m hurt.”

I chuckled. “We might have believed you if you’d taken the drumstick out of your hand first.”

He shrugged and set the plate on the coffee table. “I heard you come in, so I brought extra to share. I reckon you’re hungry.”

I was. And so were Fang and Princess, so we all chowed down on Gwen’s scrumptious fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob as I told the demons about my night and what was going on in the Underground. Jack admitted he was disturbed that Micah hadn’t kept some of the old ways, but Shade was unreservedly on Micah’s side and seemed upset that I could possibly doubt him.

“I’m withholding judgment until the Naming Ritual,” I told Shade soothingly. “Micah said he’ll hold one after Christmas.”

“And when were you going to tell me your plans for the holidays?” Shade asked.

I’d never heard that particular tense tone in his voice before. His expression was tight, like he was trying to hide his feelings. Surprised, I said, “You know I’m going to Mom and Rick’s for their annual Yule and Christmas celebration. You’re invited, too.”

“No, I mean before that. With Alejandro and Austin.”

“I just learned that tonight,” I told him. “It’s not like I was keeping it a secret. A few things have happened since then…” I glanced at Jack, who was still stuffing his face. “Micah told Jack, I take it.”

Shade didn’t relax much and I wondered what his problem was. He handed me my phone. “Yes, and Austin called you earlier. We thought it might be about you, so I answered.”

“No biggie. What did he want?”

“He wanted to tell you he’ll be picking you and Jack up here tomorrow evening, shortly after sunset.” Shade still sounded stiff and defensive.

“Okay. Makes sense, what with luggage and stuff. Is there a problem?”

Princess filled us in. WE TOLD THE VAMPIRE YOU WERE MISSING BUT HE SAID YOU COULD TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND MADE MY HUMAN SOUND LIKE A WHINY LITTLE PUP.

Shade didn’t look happy that Princess shared that with us, but I laughed. “Well, to Austin, I guess we do seem like children. He must be at least a hundred years old, right? An old geezer.”

Shade relaxed. “I told him I’m coming with you.”

“Can you do that? I mean, will the vampires in Austin let Alejandro bring more people?”

“Who cares?” Shade said. “I’m going to be with you, not him. You need someone other than vampires by your side. I’ll take the Ducati.”

IN CASE YOU HADN’T NOTICED, HE’S JUST A WEE BIT JEALOUS OF AUSTIN, Fang said privately.

Now that was dumb. And strange. He was cool with my ex, Dan, who was fully human, but he was jealous of a vampire? There was no reason for it, but hey, if it meant Shade came with me, I was all for it.

Shade glanced at his hellhound. “Gwen agreed to take care of Princess while I’m gone.”

SHE PROMISED TO PAMPER AND PET ME, AND GIVE ME A PINK BED OF MY VERY OWN, the pregnant diva shared with us.

I hid a grin, secretly glad we wouldn’t have to deal with her drama. “Sounds good to me.”

“Will you help protect Gwen, too?” Shade asked, sounding totally serious.

Princess tipped her head up. OF COURSE. I AM AN EXCELLENT HELLHOUND.

“Good,” I said. “And I’ll text Micah and ask him to check in on both of you.”

Jack said mournfully, “Can we not bring Gwen along?”

“Don’t worry,” I told him. “There are plenty of places to eat in Austin. You won’t starve.” Heck, he’d be lucky if he didn’t balloon up to twice his size, the way he’d been eating. “But that’s not why you’re going, remember? You’re supposed to be teaching me how to use the books.”

“I will,” he said.

“When?” I pressed him. “You haven’t taught me anything yet.”

He swallowed a bite of mashed potatoes. “What’s your hurry? We have a great amount of time.”

Annoyed, I snapped, “Maybe, maybe not. I’m going to the capital to meet some strange vamps and demons and face unknown dangers. If the books can help me, I’d like to know how before I go.”

HE DOESN’T WANT TO TELL YOU, Fang said.

I glanced at the hellhound and grinned.
Oh yeah,
that’s
why I keep you around. You can be handy sometimes.

DOES THAT MEAN THE PIZZA BAN IS LIFTED?

Don’t push it.
Turning to Jack, I asked, “What don’t you want to tell me?”