Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf (Black Swan 4) (7 page)

Elora worked at hiding a dash of melancholy. She felt like she had come so close to her fantasy of a small Irish farm/kennel only to have it slip from her grasp when she had barely gotten a taste. Still, she knew there were far worse scenarios than sharing smallish quarters with the two boys who put stars in her heaven. Several hundred times a day she told herself that it wasn't that steep a price for Helm's safety and Ram's peace of mind.

Sol had asked her to resume her hand to hand classes for active and in-training hunters in exchange for free room and board and she was glad to do it. It kept her skills tight, kept her in good shape, and, more importantly, something one of the knights learned from her might save a life someday. It's rare that an opportunity with
no
downside comes along.

Ram had been right about having a legion of in-house babysitters. Helm was precious, magnetic, and fun. Put that together and it meant there was never a shortage of hands ready to grab for him. In other words, there was no question about the baby's paternity.

One nurse, who was hired after Elora left Jefferson Unit, said she didn't want to offend, but that she worried that the chemicals used in dying the baby's hair that color might not be good for him.

Sir Hawking, Black Swan Knight, Retired, quickly grew tired of nothing to do. He commandeered a couple of classrooms not in use and established a new music department. He used one to teach music as an extracurricular to the trainees who were interested. The other was being outfitted as rehearsal space for the band he was forming with some of the kids who played instruments.

He told Elora that he had never forgotten what she'd said about warriors in her world being required to also write poetry or play musical instruments so that they would be balanced.

"Rammel." She laughed at him. "I was talking about pan pipes. You don't balance warrior energy by plugging into heavy metal. That kind of music makes angst simmer like lava that's always threatening to erupt."

"There you have it then. 'Twill be a great release for the boys."

She just shook her head and smiled.

Ram thought it would be romantic to retrace the steps of their first date, even though it hadn't been officially called a date at the time. When the anniversary of that occasion came around Manhattan was, once again, decked out in all her glory for Yule. They left Helm with Elsbeth, the nurse who had become Elora's first female friend in Loti Dimension, and Sir Finnemore, who had been spending a lot of time hanging around Elsbeth lately.

On the way out Ram said, "Remember that you two are supposed to be babysittin'. Bottles in the refrigerator and, tonight, the only 'uck' word you're interested in is suck."

The babysitters stared at him like they weren't sure he'd been listening to himself speak. Finally Elsbeth laughed. "Sure thing, Ram. We'll concentrate on sucking until you get back."

Finnemore blushed.

Elora pinched Ram, who said, "Ow. What?"

They got a picture of the two of them taken in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center as a pair who was an official couple.

What a difference a year had made. The mission of Black Swan knights to eradicate vampire had transformed from kill to cure. They had retired, had a mating-wedding-handfasting, and a baby. They had bought an Irish farm and renovated the house then been forced to flee back to Jefferson Unit where it all started. As they smiled for the photo, Elora was thinking.
Here we are. Full circle.

On the way to Bloomingdale's they passed by the little storefront where the gypsy fortune teller had so accurately predicted Elora's future. It was empty and dark. No sign or indication that the space was occupied. She had planned to stop and insisted they scour a four block area just to be sure they hadn't misremembered the location. Elora looked disappointed. It wasn't really logical, because her own sister-in-law was probably much more talented as a seer. She could go to Song anytime, but it wouldn't be the same.

Ram pulled her away from passersby and gave her his best little sexy crooked smile. He linked her arm under his. "Come now, my darlin' girl. Stay close. Warm me up and take me to shopaholic heaven. The future is ours to make and we're goin' to make the most of it. Startin' right now."

There was an unmistakable light in her eyes when she looked up at him. She pressed her body into his side as she nestled her cold nose into the crook of his warm neck. "I love you, Ram."

Just something about the way those words were put together never failed to make him smile. He didn't think he would ever get enough of hearing that. "Thin's change, Elora. Gypsies come and go, but by Paddy, there's one thin' that will no' change."

She stopped him right there on the city sidewalk and gave him the kiss he deserved.

It was just after midnight when they opened the door to their newly renovated living space. They would have been back ten minutes sooner, but Elora had pulled Ram close just outside their door. She intended to give him a "thank you" kiss for planning such a romantic, sentimental, and memorable first date anniversary, but Ram caught the sparks she was throwing off and they had gotten lost in heavy breathing and groping in the hallway.

When Sir Clivemoor whistled as he came down the hall, Ram pulled back and whispered, "Inside 'tis a very comfortable place where we can be naked and horizontal in private."

Elora concurred.

Elsbeth and Finnemore were sitting on the sofa talking. They were close together and holding hands, but everyone was dressed. Ram and Elora, on the other hand, stumbled in looking flushed as teenagers getting caught making out. They thanked Elsbeth and Finn, checked on Helm, and fell into bed laughing quietly so as not to disturb their sleeping baby.

The next morning, they were having breakfast in the solarium. As always, Helm caused a stir. Ram and Elora took turns grabbing bites and chewing between graciously thanking people for saying Helm was gorgeous. Helm loved the attention. He flirted with everyone, returning coos and giggles on cue.

Blackie sat by the baby carriage and watched the goings on with keen interest. He really didn't care for so many people coming so close to his baby. He tolerated the women with an aloof disinterest befitting his position as "most magnificent dog in the world". He tolerated the men so long as they kept their hands to themselves. Reaching toward Helm earned them a concentrated focus and a low growl. If pressed, he would put his nose on an outstretched hand and bump, which was an overt display of aggression. The guys who were smart changed their minds about touching Helm's cheek and took a prudent step back, especially the ones who had been at Jefferson Unit long enough to remember how Blackie behaved before he was adopted by the Lady Laiken.

During a break in Helm's fan base action, Elora turned to Ram and said, "Our baby pulls women in like a magnet. And it worries me."

Ram cocked his head and looked completely mystified. "Why?"

Elora gave him a half smirk. "Because I don't want him to end up being a slut like his father."

He stared for a minute until he realized she was being serious. Then he laughed so hard he had to hold his side where she had once - accidentally - broken two ribs.

"Elora, you're soundin' like a human. We do no' see prematin' sex as a bad thin'." He leaned into her ear. "Surely 'tis better to have a mate with skills to please you." He punctuated that by nibbling on her ear before he pulled back.

"
Surely
there's something in between a little healthy experience and being a total man whore."

Ram responded with an ear to ear smile that left no question he was unrepentant about his past. "You can no' possibly be jealous of the ghosts of single, nameless encounters!"

She thought about it. "Actually. Yes. I think I am."

"In that case, just let me finish these bangers. Then I will stand up on this chair and ask who might be up for babysittin' for a couple of hours while I take the milf beside me back to bed and remind her why she has no' a thin' to be jealous about."

Elora tried to contain a smile, but it bubbled up anyway. "The milf?"

"Hmmm." Ram nuzzled her neck right there in front of the entire morning coffee crowd.

"Stop, Ram." She pushed at him. "It's not dignified for someone in your position to put on public spectacles."

"Dignified? You did no' seriously use that word in a sentence describin' me."

"Yes. I did. Hoh. Hoh. Hoh."

He pulled back. "You know you're makin' me wish I'd never heard of the fuckin' Hall of Heroes."

"Lady Laiken?"

Ram and Elora looked up to find one of the young trainees.

"Yes?"

"Dr. Monq sent me to ask if you could come to his study."

"I guess. Did he say why?"

"No, ma'am."

"Okay. Five minutes." She turned to Ram. "You got this?"

Her eyes slid to Helm sucking on his fingers and kicking his feet like he was trying for all the world to dance an Irish jig.

"You're no' afraid to leave us unsupervised with all the females prowlin' the premises?"

"Very funny," she shot back, but her smirk quickly turned to a frown. "You're right. You two need to come with me."

"Great Paddy, Elora. You know I would no' be touched by another hand."

She beamed at him. "Yes. I do know that. I was just kidding, but I never get tired of hearing you say you're
all
mine." Elora leaned over the table and gave him a kiss to remember. "And don't forget it. I'm insecure and need constant reassurance."

She put her hand on Helm's chest and wiggled it just enough to make him laugh. "Later."

Ram sighed with contentment as she walked away. He never got tired of watching her go or seeing her come.

When Sol received a memo that the king of the Elk Mountain werewolves was coming to Jefferson Unit for a visit with Monq, he had called around to ask who had met the reclusive werewolf alpha and knew something about him. The trail quickly ended with Simon Tvelgar in Edinburgh, who reported that, so far as he knew, the only person Stalkson Grey respected was Elora Laiken.

As she approached Monq's offices, he emerged from his study. "Hello, my dear." He gave her a welcoming peck on the cheek. "We're entertaining a guest who says he knows you."

"Oh?"

Monq opened the door to his study and gestured for Elora to proceed. Stalkson rose when she entered and gave her a slight bow. The movement made the natural blond streaks in his beautiful head of hair catch the light.

"Mrs. Hawking."

He looked her in the eye with a self-confident and slightly arrogant gleam, but she didn't see an outright challenge this time, other than trying to push buttons by calling her Mrs. Hawking when he knew that was not her preference. Or her name. She decided to ignore it. This time.

"Stalkson Grey! What a surprise! Are you here to pick up a stray?"

He managed to laugh without compromising his smug, arrogant manner in the least. "Not this time."

"Well, how is Harry?"

"He's... well, he's Harry."

"Oddly enough I think I know what you mean."

Monq motioned for Elora to sit in one of the stuffed chairs by the warmth of the gas fire. "I'm going to put a couple of people on looking into the problem of too many boys and too few girls. I understand that seeking me out was your suggestion."

Elora looked over at Grey and nodded. "I did say that, if anybody could help, it would be you. I may have gone so far as to call you a miracle worker."

"Schmoozing me, Lady Laiken?"

"I
sincerely
hope you can get to the bottom of it."

"We're going to try." Monq sat in the chair behind his desk. "Our guest will be here for at least a day. I'm afraid we're grilling him with questions, trying to eliminate as many dead ends as possible. I thought that, since the two of you are already acquainted, you might like to give the king a tour of the non-classified areas."

Elora looked between the two men. "Of course. Just say when."

Stalkson crossed his arms over his chest and looked amused.

"I was thinking now?" Monq gave Elora a pleading look. "We need to analyze some data before compiling another round of questions. Should take a couple of hours or so. If you would be so kind as to show him around the facility and take him to lunch, we should be ready to resume by then."

"Alright. I was just going to come down and see if I could do something to help the IBD team."

Monq glanced at Grey and decided it couldn't hurt to clarify that. "We've just formed a new team to develop an Interdimensional Breach Defense System. It's a project that's very personal to the Lady Laiken."

Grey looked at Elora with open curiosity.

She pulled a phone from her pocket. "Let me make a quick call to see if Ram wants to have lunch with us later."