MySoultoSave (16 page)

Logan let out an unsteady breath. “Okay,” she said. “That
was crazy.”

“Are you certain you’re all right?” Jaeryth said.

“Yes.” She shook her head. “I think you should loosen up a
little. The poor guy was more flustered than me. He didn’t mean anything.”

“He nearly knocked you down.”

“And you caught me, so everything’s fine.” She touched his
hand. “Thanks for that, by the way. Again.”

“You are most welcome.”

She had to be imagining the husky note in his voice. And she
definitely had to get her raging hormones under control. Lusting after him
wouldn’t do either of them any good. “Well, come on,” she said. “We’ve got a
block and a half left. Maybe we’ll make it all the way to the house this time.”

“Logan…”

Something in his tone wrenched at her heart. She stared at
him. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” He closed his eyes. “We should go.”

“Right.”

They resumed walking, this time without incident. The
encounter with Nick still seemed surreal, as though she’d been watching it
happen to someone else. She’d never had a fan before. The idea that she’d just
run into someone, literally, who happened to have heard of her—after one
performance—was at once thrilling and disconcerting. Did famous people feel
like this all the time?

She smothered a laugh. As if one person seeing a YouTube
video made her famous.

“Logan,” Jaeryth said. “Were you expecting company?”

“What?” She jerked back to reality. Her place was visible
from here, and there was a familiar sedan in the driveway. Tex. “Oh, shit,” she
said, suddenly remembering Miss Turner’s caveat. She was supposed to provide
Tex with a urine sample today.

Great. How the hell was she going to explain Jaeryth?

She slowed her pace and Jaeryth matched it. “Okay, look,”
she half-whispered. “He can’t know why you’re here or anything about the
freaks. He’ll call the cops.” She shivered. That wasn’t even the worst he could
do. Tex was her friend, but he was still a counselor. And if he decided it was
necessary, he could have her sent back to rehab—especially if he thought she
was hallucinating. “We have to come up with a cover story.”

He frowned. “Perhaps you could tell him I’m a visiting
relative?”

“No. I don’t have family, except—” She pressed her lips
together. No sense bringing up Angie now. She wasn’t ready to explain that mess
to anyone, least of all a virtual stranger. Instead she said, “He knows too
much about me for that.”

“I see.” A thread of anger wound through his voice. More
jealousy?

She sighed. No time to ask about that now. “I don’t suppose
you play an instrument, or sing or anything.”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Didn’t think so.” There went passing him off as a fellow
musician. She stared straight ahead, at the house and the damning car in the
driveway. What believable—and innocent—reason would she have to hang around
with a complete stranger? It had to involve Jaeryth coming to her place,
because anything that involved her bringing someone home would sound
suspicious. It’d probably help if he lived around here.

Like right across the street.

“Got it,” she said. “You live over there, in one of those
townhouses. You came over to welcome me to the neighborhood and we went for a
walk. How’s that?”

He cast a dubious look at the unbroken row of houses. “Which
one?”

“Doesn’t matter. They’re all pretty much the same. Just
follow my lead, okay?”

“Very well.”

She felt about as convinced as Jaeryth sounded, but it was
the best she could do on short notice. Tex had already seen them and was coming
down the porch steps, where he must’ve been knocking on the door. She felt
terrible lying to him, but she couldn’t risk having Tex turn either of them in.
With a steadying breath, she put on a smile and waved.

“Hey, Tex,” she said when they met on the front walk. It was
tempting to just pretend she didn’t have a man tagging along with her—like
maybe if she didn’t bring him up, Tex wouldn’t notice. But then she’d seem
evasive. “Hope you haven’t been waiting too long. I wasn’t sure what time you’d
swing by. This is Jaeryth, one of my new neighbors. Jaeryth, my friend Tex.”

Christ, she was babbling. That probably wasn’t a good thing.

Tex’s faint, puzzled smile froze when he shifted his gaze to
Jaeryth. His eyes widened, and for just an instant, an expression of pure fury
flashed across his face. Then it was gone and Logan wondered if she’d imagined
it. She’d never seen him look like that. “Hi, neighbor,” he said, in a tone so
neutral it sounded fake. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Strained politeness sketched Jaeryth’s response.

Great. This was going well. At least Tex hadn’t questioned
the cover story—he was too busy going territorial on her. She’d have to talk
with him about this later. He was her friend and her counselor, not her father.

Attempting to diffuse some of the tension, she said, “We
were just out walking and we got pretty warm, so I offered to make some iced
tea. Did you want some?”

With apparent difficulty, Tex stopped glaring at Jaeryth and
looked at her with an apologetic smile. “I have to head to the clinic,” he
said. “More paperwork. I just stopped in to get—” He frowned. “What Miss Turner
mentioned.”

“I know.” She hadn’t told Jaeryth about her history, but if
he was going to stay, he’d find out soon anyway. “You have something for me to
fill, right?”

Tex glanced at Jaeryth, and his jaw clenched. “Maybe we
should go inside. Alone.”

“No, it’s fine.” She held out a hand.

He hesitated, and then produced a small, lidded, clear
plastic jar with a baggie tucked inside. She’d done this a hundred times during
rehab. It still stung that she had to do it now, but it was a small price to
pay if it meant she’d get to keep singing. She would’ve paid a lot more.

“Thanks. Be right back.” She took the jar and turned to
Jaeryth, who hadn’t bothered to stop glaring. “I’ll get that tea ready too,”
she said. “Hang tight, okay?”

“Of course.”

She almost told them to play nice, but an admonishment would
probably make things worse. Instead, she headed for the house, intending to
take the fastest piss of her life. She’d just have to hope the two of them
didn’t kill each other before she finished.

* * * * *

After the disastrous morning with the Tempter, not to
mention being forced to wear the ridiculous shirt, Jaeryth had decided this day
couldn’t get any worse. But the damned angel had proven him wrong by turning up
and interrupting his plans. Again.

“So…Jaeryth.” Tex folded his arms. “What did you say your
last name was?”

“I did not say.” He refused to let the woman-stealing
bastard intimidate him, even if it did seem he suspected something was not
right. He could prove nothing.

“How do you know Logan?”

“We’ve only just met.” He was tempted to tell the angel the
truth, just to see how he’d react. He doubted that Logan would believe he’d
been a demon, even if her good friend Tex told her. But Logan had asked him to
use this ridiculously thin story and he would not risk breaking her trust. He
couldn’t accomplish his mission without it.

Tex smiled suddenly. “I think we got off on the wrong foot,”
he said. “Logan seems pretty upset and I don’t think either of us want that. So
let’s start over.” He held a hand out.

This change of heart felt about as sincere as Lucifer’s
promises. Still, it would harm nothing to offer a token handshake. Angels were
held to the same restrictions as demons when it came to dealing with humans.
Concealing his suspicions, Jaeryth grasped the extended hand.

Immediately, his perception shifted without any effort on
his part. Tex stood before him in true form, terrifying as only a full angel
could be—clad in tattered wraps of linen like a winding-shroud, with great
crimson-feathered wings and a shaggy black mane streaked with gold. His eyes
blazed silver, and a red smile gaped his mouth.

Beyond the threatening form of Tex, the landscape also
revealed its truth. The light of Citadel bathed Logan’s house, transforming
shabbiness into beauty that spread beyond the confines of the structure. Its
golden glow bathed his own skin and the concrete on which he stood sparkled
like glass.

The angel was watching him closely, seeking some reaction.
He offered a frosty smile and pumped the hand that gripped his. “I’m pleased to
meet you, Tex,” he said.

Tex released him and the mortal plane reappeared around
them. His smile grew brittle. “Any friend of Logan’s,” he said.

“Agreed.”

Silence descended and stretched to an awkward length.
Finally, Tex relaxed visibly and cast a smug look. “Well, I hope you’re not
planning to stay long,
neighbor
,” he said. “Logan has plans with me
tonight.”

Fury flashed hot through him at the blatant implication, but
he calmed as he realized that Tex was simply twisting the truth. “Yes, I know,”
he said. “You are in her band and there’s a show. I’d planned on attending.”

He nearly laughed at the angel’s indignant expression.

“That’s great,” Tex said through clenched teeth. He relaxed
with obvious effort. “So, you live around here,” he said. “Close by?”

“Across the street.”

“Yeah?” Tex smirked. “What’s your house number?”

Damned persistent bastard. “I don’t think that’s any of your
business,” he said.

“You want to know what I think?”

“Not particularly.”

“I think you’re lying. In fact, I
know
you are. I
just can’t figure out why—but I will.”

The front door of the house opened and Logan emerged
carrying two glasses and a clear bag containing the jar Tex had handed her, now
filled with yellow liquid. Urine, he realized. She placed the glasses on the
porch rail, descended the steps and approached them to hand the bag to Tex.
“Here you go, counselor,” she said. “Don’t drink it all at once.”

“I’ll try to restrain myself.” Tex, all smiles and warmth
now, hugged Logan and kissed her cheek.

It was all Jaeryth could do not to strike the smug bastard.

“Hey, Logan.” Tex kept an arm around her shoulders, but his
taunting gaze fell on Jaeryth, daring him to say something. “Do you mind if
Blue picks you up tonight? I’ve got a little running around to take care of and
I’m going to be cutting it close.”

“Sure, if she doesn’t mind.”

“I already asked her. She’s cool.” He squeezed again, a friendly
gesture. “All right. I’ll see you tonight.” Releasing her, he turned to Jaeryth
and extended a hand. “Take it easy, friend.”

Clenching his jaw hard enough to hurt, Jaeryth took it.
There were no unearthly visions this time. He didn’t need them—he’d already
made his point clear.

“Later.” Tex grinned broadly, waved to Logan and strode
toward his car, whistling.

And Jaeryth decided that, human or not, he was going to do
something about that blasted angel.

Chapter Fourteen

After Jaeryth fell asleep, Logan went about doing mostly
normal things, and even managed to grab a quick nap herself. She was determined
to stay calm about all the weirdness that happened this morning and whatever
bug Tex had up his ass about her new friend.

But the upcoming show was another matter. By the time Blue
pulled into the driveway around eight that night, her nerves sizzled like hot
oil. She felt worse than she had before the first time. Maybe because of Nick
the Neighborhood Jogger and his YouTube video.

Or maybe it was Jaeryth. He hadn’t made her first show,
since he’d apparently been busy getting the shit kicked out of him. Besides,
even if he had, she never would’ve seen him in the crowd. But this time she’d
know he was there.

Why one person’s opinion of her singing should matter so
much, she had no idea. But her trembling hands and the film of cold sweat on
her back said that it did.

Blue got out of the car before they reached it, leaving the
engine running. She barely glanced over. “Just gotta shove a few things aside,”
she said. “I remembered you texted me about an extra, but I totally forgot to
check the—” She did a double-take in the middle of opening the back door and
pinned her gaze on Jaeryth. “Holy hell. You’re some extra.”

She couldn’t help smiling. At least Blue would give him a
better reception than Tex. “I guess I should introduce you two,” she said.

“You’d better.”

She glanced at Jaeryth, who looked more than a little wary.
He probably expected Blue to give him the third degree, like Tex no doubt had.
“It’s okay,” she told him. “Blue’s cool.”

His crooked smile made her stomach flutter.

“All right.” She drew in a quick breath and hoped she didn’t
look as flustered as she felt. “So, this is Blue, the kick-ass bass player.
Blue, meet Jaeryth.”

“Great name.” Blue held out a hand.

Jaeryth hesitated for half a second, and then took it. “You
as well,” he said. “Blue.”

“Wow.” Grinning, she mock-shivered and stepped back. “Can
you sing with that voice?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Pity.” She headed back for the car. “Nice to meet you and
we’ve gotta go. Gimme just a second.” She opened the back door and shoved a
bunch of loose papers and electrical cords across the seat. “Hope you don’t
mind riding coach, Jaeryth.”

“I don’t believe I do.”

Blue blinked at him and then shrugged. “Okay, then. Hop in.”

Jaeryth cast a dubious look at the car. But he moved toward
it and then climbed inside gingerly, rustling papers as he went. When he
situated himself on the seat, he had to shift his legs over into the other foot
well so he’d fit. “It seems a bit cramped,” he said.

“Guess I’m moving my seat up.” Blue flashed a smile, closed
him in and turned to Logan. “Damn, woman,” she half-whispered. “Where’d you
find him?”