Try Me (12 page)

Alejandro's eyes narrowed. “You're questioning everyone about an item that was stolen . . . right after Micah announced the Encyclopedia Magicka had been returned. That's what's missing, isn't it?"

The surprise on my face must have answered for me. Alejandro said, “Of course. It must list the strengths and weaknesses of my people, including something that can poison their blood. That's a very dangerous weapon to leave in anyone's hands, much less an enemy's."

"Yes, we know. We haven't let anyone else know it's missing, and we're doing everything we can to find out who took it and why. I know you don't have any reason to believe me, but—"

"On the contrary, I do have reason to believe you.” At my surprised look, he added, “You are the one person respected and trusted by both sides. A part-demon who fights evil, a vampire slayer who can discriminate between the good and the bad . . . you are our best hope to avoid a war between my people and yours."

That sounded way too much like, “Obi Wan, you're our only hope.” I gulped. Crap—I was no Jedi Knight. Good thing Fang wasn't here. He'd be laughing his butt off.

Alejandro smiled at my shell-shocked look. “I know it is a great deal of responsibility to lay on your shoulders, but won't you help us?"

Find the missing encyclopedia, catch the person responsible for the blood poisoning, and avert an inter-species war? Oh sure, piece of cake.

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Even reluctant heroes needed to sleep and eat once in awhile, and it was time for me to do both. When I got home, I found Shade asleep on the couch, with Fang and Princess sacked out on the floor beneath the coffee table. The female demon watching Shade told me he'd insisted on leaving my bed free for me. I didn't see any sense in arguing with her and Gwen was in bed too, so I grabbed something to eat, texted Micah with my suspicions about Andrew, then crashed.

When I woke, it was to the delicious smell of frying sausage and the sound of laughter. I dressed, grabbed my phone, and followed my nose to the kitchen. Shade sat at the table along with two of his demon friends—Mood and Josh. Mood had her hand on Shade's to keep him grounded. Though Shade was normally pale—which came with being all blond and gorgeous and working at night—he wasn't as white as he'd looked yesterday, so I guessed he was feeling better.

Gwen was dishing out the sausage with her famous banana pecan pancakes and maple honey butter. Oh, my. “Any of those left?” I asked hopefully. Gwen's cooking was the best I'd ever tasted.

"Sure,” she said with a grin. “We're all having seconds now, so there's plenty."

I grabbed a chair and a plate then took a bite and closed my eyes in pure bliss. Heaven.

IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU JOINED THE LIVING, Fang said as he came in through the doggie door with Princess.

Hey, someone has to work to keep us in pancakes and sausage, I shot back, ridiculously pleased to see the little mutt. I scratched his ears and asked out loud, “Have you eaten?"

"Don't let him tell you he hasn't,” Gwen said with a laugh. “He and Princess pigged out already."

Princess sniffed. I AM NOT A PIG. I AM A PUREBRED CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL.

Shade stifled a laugh and leaned down to assure her she was a beautiful dog.

Feeling guilty, I said, “Gwen, how much do I owe you for all of this food? I can't expect you to foot the cost for me and all of my friends . . . and cook for us, too."

She waved it away. “Don't worry about it. Your cousin Micah thought of that already. He sent over some money for groceries. Plus you know I love to cook. It's fun to have so many appreciative mouths to feed."

The mouths she spoke of were full of pancakes and sausage, so they all grunted, made yummy noises, and nodded to prove their appreciation.

Fang snorted. TALK ABOUT PIGS . . .

"See?” Gwen said with a laugh. “It also gives me a chance to make some of my favorite things."

Well, if she was cool with it, who was I to bite the hand that fed me?

Fang groaned mentally.

Okay, okay. I'm not up to your standard of humor, Fang, but come on, admit it, you missed me.

ALWAYS, BABE, he assured me.

But there was something in his tone . . . something that sounded like guilt. He'd probably been too wrapped up in his new girlfriend to notice I was gone. I was happy for him, I really was, but couldn't help but feel a little jealous at the loss of some of his affection.

NEVER, he asserted, licking my hand. YOU AND I ARE A TEAM. BESIDES, HOW COULD YOU FUNCTION WITHOUT ME?

I probably couldn't. Smiling, I asked him, Any leads on who took the books?

NOPE. NOT A CLUE.

Has Shade asked Mood and Josh about that night?

NOT YET. THERE HASN'T BEEN A GOOD TIME TO BRING IT UP.

Okay, then I would. And it seemed like a good time to learn more about Andrew, since they all seemed to be such good friends. Tell Shade to guard his expression.

Shade jerked a little and looked at Fang, then nodded at me. Oh great. We'd have to work on that. Josh and Mood had been very careful to keep in contact with him at all times, so his naked emotions were on full display.

HE'S DOING BETTER, Fang said defensively as Shade froze his expression into a mask of fierce concentration and focused on his breakfast.

I knew that, and I hadn't meant to be snarky. Fang accepted my apology but before I could ask them anything, my phone rang—Micah calling to return my text from last night.

I haven't been able to find Andrew,” he said. “Are you sure he's the thief?"

"Pretty sure."

"I take it you can't talk now?"

"Not really.” Not freely, anyway. I had to be careful what I said around his best buds.

"Okay, I'll keep looking. Call me when you can."

"Will do, I said and Micah hung up.

"That was Micah,” I told everyone. “He's looking for Andrew. Do you know where the fire demon hangs out?"

Josh shrugged. “Rivercenter Mall, mostly. Why?"

No sense in lying. They'd find out the truth sooner or later anyway. “I ran into him last night,” I said, trying to sound casual. “He tried to flash-fry a vampire. One of Alejandro's gang. An innocent vamp."

Mood looked surprised. “He did? Why?"

"I was hoping you could tell me why. He said something about a ‘Veronica?’”

"Oh,” Mood said. She and Josh suddenly looked sad. “She was his sister."

The operative word being was. A motive, maybe? “Killed by a vamp?” I asked, pretty confident I knew the answer.

"No,” Mood said, surprising me. “She died of ovarian cancer. She was only twenty."

Geez, that shocked me.

"Cancer happens to people of all ages,” Gwen said softly.

Fang added, SHADE ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT A FIRE DEMON'S NATURE MAKES CANCER WORSE, SPEEDS THE GROWTH OF THE CELLS. VERONICA WENT VERY FAST.

Everyone looked depressed. Dang, not my intention. “I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

Mood nodded. “Andrew has . . . anger issues. He was probably acting out of grief, needing someone to take out his rage on."

I hated to ask, when they were obviously so upset, but still, I needed to probe. “Maybe the Encyclopedia Magicka will be able to help demons like her in the future."

I cast a glance at Fang. How are they reacting to my mention of the books?

NO GUILT THERE. MOOD IS CONCENTRATING ON SOMETHING, AND JOSH IS WITHDRAWN AND QUIET—ZONED OUT.

Crap. Though Mood had been busy calming the crowd during the time the books had been stolen, I'd hoped Josh had noticed something odd with Andrew.

"Don't you know if the books will help?” Mood asked. “You read them, didn't you?"

"Not really,” I said. “Stupidly, I didn't know how important they were. I didn't read much of them."

They were the only gifts my suicidal father had left to me, so I'd kept them. But the fear that I might turn out like him had made me reluctant to read much about our kind—only what I needed to survive.

Then, realizing Mood didn't know the books were missing, I added, “I figure they're better off in Micah's hands."

Mood smiled. “Yes, they're safe with him."

Fang snorted, and I shoved him with my foot in warning.

Shade touched my arm. “Can I speak to you privately?"

"Sure. Let's go to my room."

Mood smirked, and I felt strangely flustered. Should I explain? I couldn't tell them he probably just wanted to find out what I'd learned. Should I tell them I didn't think of Shade in that way?

BUT MAYBE YOU DO, Fang said, and I swear he smirked, too.

I glanced at Shade and saw his feelings for me written all over his face. My face heated, and I felt warm all over. Oh, crap.

JUST GO, OR YOU'LL MAKE IT WORSE, Fang said, sounding exasperated.

Grabbing Shade's hand, I pulled him toward my bedroom so we could talk. I heard everyone else laugh behind me and Mood sang softly, “Shade and Val sitting in a tree . . . “

"Oh, yeah. So grown up,” I called back and was met with more laughter.

I pulled Shade into my bedroom and suddenly felt awkward. I'd never noticed before how big the bed was, how boring my room was, or how big Shade looked in it. Though I kept hold of his hand to ground him in this reality, I deliberately glanced down and to the side. “Uh, we need to work on your control of your facial expressions . . ."

"I have been,” Shade said. “I've been practicing. That expression on my face just now? It says, ‘I adore you, Val.’ Fooled everyone, didn't it?"

Huh? I raised my head to look at him and saw amusement and fondness on his face. Oh. He'd been acting, to throw them off as to the real reason he'd asked to talk to me in private. Feeling my face heat even more, I said. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean that you're in love with me or anything. I was just . . . “ Acting like a complete fool.

AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF IT, Fang agreed from the other room.

Grrr. Go away for a little while, would you? I don't listen in on you and Princess.

OKAY, OKAY, Fang said, sounding disappointed. I'LL TUNE OUT. JUST BE NICE TO THE GUY. HE'S MY FRIEND.

I will. He's my friend, too.

"It's okay,” Shade assured me, sinking down onto the bed. “I think I am a little bit in love with you."

Oh, wow. No one had ever said that to me before. Tears stung my eyelids, and emotion clogged my throat. I plopped down on the bed next to him, still holding his hand. “I-I—” I didn't know what to say.

"I didn't mean to weird you out or anything, but I thought you should know.” When I didn't say anything, he added softly, “You don't have to say it back."

Hell, the way I was feeling now, emotions all mixed up and kind of sappy, maybe I did feel the same way. “Are you sure it's not just Lola?"

He shook his head. “You and Lola are a package deal. How could someone love only part of you?"

My family had no problem with separating the two of us . . . and Lola was definitely persona non grata there. “Good question,” I muttered.

"Poor Val . . .” Shade put his arms around me and hugged me to him.

Oh, wow. This was so great. He smelled really good, and his warm arms made me feel protected and safe.

Lola stirred, wanting more of Shade . . . a lot more. I snapped her back, desperately trying to remember how the candle flame had helped me find an inner space where I could be free of her. I started to pull away, but Shade stopped me.

"It's okay,” he whispered. “Remember, Micah said to use me to help keep Lola under control. It's better if you do it now and don't wait until she's so hungry that you have no control.” He laid down on my bed and pulled me down beside him, looking all sexy, longing, and hopeful. “Let go, Val."

Lola wanted him bad, and I had to admit the rest of me did, too. But it was hard to let loose when I was a whole lot more used to holding back. I laid in the circle of his arms like a stiff pole.

Oops, bad choice of words. Desperately, I said, “I thought you wanted to ask me what Fang found out about your friends."

He kissed me on the forehead. “I'm guessing he cleared Mood and Josh, but you're not so sure about Andrew.” He followed up with a snuggle and kiss just below my ear.

Lust and longing shot through me, but still I managed to keep a lid on Lola. “If you knew that, why did you want to speak to me?"

He chuckled into my neck. “For this. You need to satisfy Lola, and I'm here to let you."

Oh. He continued to place soft kisses in strategic places, and I felt myself melt in his arms, feeling all gooey and warm, yet dizzy with emotion. He was right. What would it hurt? “But you're injured,” I protested half-heartedly.

He kissed my lips softly. “We aren't going to do anything but kiss,” he promised me. “I know you won't take too much energy. I trust you."

I could see in his eyes that he meant exactly what he said. His faith both humbled and seduced me. Convinced he really meant it, I relaxed and kissed him back, letting Lola emerge, slow and easy. I felt my energy flow into him everywhere we touched body to body, smooth and thick as sweet syrup. He gasped and his whole body quivered with desire. For me.

Our kiss broken, I held on to him as if he were my lifeline and let the energy ebb and flow through us, enjoying the waves of sensation as much as Lola did, as we explored his nerve-endings psychically, stroking and pleasuring here . . . there . . . everywhere. His desire fed back to me, filling the empty wells of my demon self, making me strong and whole. I felt fully in control, confident and assured . . . and very, very turned on.

But Shade had asked for only this, no more, so I resisted the urge to strip off our clothes and offer up my virginity. Though I wanted very much to lose it right then, I was also too conscious of the people in the kitchen just down the hallway, wondering exactly what we were doing in here.

But when Shade grasped my butt in both hands and clutched me to him, I lost it. Pure lust shot through me, directly into him, where we were pressed together at the hips. I arched into him and Shade stiffened, then gasped and shuddered, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of my backside.

He relaxed, then lay still, leaving me feeling like I still wanted something, but wasn't quite sure what it was. Lola knew, though, and drank up all that lovely energy he offered us. Well, not all. I had enough control to take only what I needed, not so much that it would leave him totally depleted.