Dark Solace (10 page)

Devlin turned to him curiously. “I thought
you wanted to see—?”

“I don’t think it’s safe leaving Venus here
alone with just the bears as guards,” Lash interrupted, folding his
arms across his chest. “Titus is at Leri’s house in town, and he’s
not going to want to leave their bed to come up here on his day
off.”

“TMI,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Why don’t we
just stay in and rent a pay-per-view movie?”

“Good idea,” Devlin agreed. “While I’ll feed
Venus, you can go shower, Sar.”

I shot him a curious look. Not only had I’d
showered this morning, I’d done nothing but lie in the sun all day.
“I’m good.”

“You have leaves in your hair from lying on
Lash’s rock,” Devlin said, pulling a few out. “There is dirt all
down the back of your T-shirt, and your jeans.”

“Oh,” I said with embarrassment, getting to
my feet. “Thanks for telling me, I didn’t realize. I’ll go
shower.”

When I was done showering and dressing, I
peeked into the nursery. Devlin was feeding Venus, her bright
golden eyes wide as he sang to her softly. She was going to be just
as breathtaking as he was, when she got older. Giving Devlin an
affectionate look, I went downstairs. Lash was waiting on the
couch, his hair still wet.

I didn’t think he had been dirty, either, but
whatever. “What should we rent?”

Lash turned the TV up, and then turned to me.
“Devlin didn’t think you were dirty,” he hissed softly. “Don’t be
offended.”

“Then what—?” I whispered.

“Because I lay on that rock a lot,” he hissed
more softly. “It smells like me. You smelled like me, and it made
Devlin remember us together. He doesn’t like to think of that
now.”

I flushed. “Thanks for telling me. I didn’t
know.”

“Forget it,” Lash hissed, working the remote
to channel surf. “I think we should watch Bloodrayne—”

“That sucked,” I said, making a face. “How
about Legend?”

“That’s old,” Devlin said, coming down with
Venus. “How about that comic book hero—?”

“I thought you didn’t like action movies?” I
interrupted.

“I could maybe sit through it,” Devlin said
bravely.

“Your demon barber movie is on, Dev,” Lash
said, clicking on it. “I vote for that.”

“How about it?” Devlin said to me. “I could
watch that again.”

“Sure,” I said, settling back. “I’ll take one
for the team. Hit play.

Chapter
Four

The next week passed slowly. By now, it was
mid-September, and the days were getting cooler. As the seasons
changed, the workload from Solutions Inc. was decreasing. I was
glad of the break. Since Danial had launched the website, we’d been
hammered with queries, and the backlog of cases was as long as I’d
ever seen it. Also, in keeping with Theo’s request for us to spend
more time with Devon, Danial had cut back on accepting any new
cases for the rest of the year. All this meant that I had more free
time now in the afternoons to spend with Elle, Devon, and Theoron.
Theo also took most afternoons off, and spent them with us, even if
it was just walking, going for a picnic, or sharing a DVD and
popcorn with some of the werefoxes.

Cia and I were back on speaking terms. It was
all business, though: we were still sharing the cleaning duties at
Danial’s. She could no longer avoid me, as we needed to help each
other sometimes. She still hadn’t really forgiven me for being
friendly with Serena, and I hadn’t asked her to. In my mind, I
hadn’t done anything wrong that needed forgiving. For now it was
enough we were working together.

The reason for our cooperation was not only
dismaying, but worrisome: Mary’s daughter, Jenny, was still dying
from cancer. Mary had told Danial a few days ago that she thought
it wouldn’t be much longer. He’d reassured her he’d try to turn
Jenny into a vampire, if it came to that. But he’d told Mary point
blank that Jenny would have to agree to any stipulations he set
forth, as well as truly want to be a vampire, before he would do
it.

“Mary got quiet,” Danial told me later that
evening. “I’m unsure how it’s going to end.”

“You’re going to have to turn her,” I said
reluctantly. “She’s got no other choice, really.”

“It’s the age-old dilemma,” he’d said,
stroking my hair as we lay on his couch. “Everyone wants not to
die, and no one wants that longevity to come with a price. But it
always does.”

I wondered if he’d talked more with Theo,
regarding his mortality, but I didn’t ask. I had enough other
things to keep my mind busy.

Elle was being more social now that Danial
had given her more freedom. She had been meeting Violet every
weekend for a movie at the mall. Terian had been tailing her, and
so far, he reported that they were just doing normal girl things,
like getting fast food, trying on lipsticks, and giggling their way
through teen romance movies.

As I’d promised Titus, I’d continued to keep
an eye on Terian, watching for signs he was succumbing to his demon
nature. So far, I’d seen nothing. He was harder and tougher than he
had been, but I still ascribed that to the work he was doing now
with Theo. Sundown and he still spent most of their free time
together. They acted absorbed in each other, whether the activity
was nighttime walks or just her helping him in his lab. Seeing them
so much in love, I reassured myself that Terian was okay.

When I visited Devlin that following Friday
night, I made sure to see Titus first, to report that to him. “He’s
acting happy and in love. There’s nothing else to see, Titus.”

“Keep watching him, please,” Titus rumbled,
his red eyes worried. “I know you don’t believe anything’s wrong,
Sar. But it means a lot if you’ll keep doing this for me.”

I gave him a shrug. “Sure.” Maybe Titus knew
something I didn’t. “See you later.”

When I went upstairs to the main floor, Lash
was there reclining on the sofa. Oddly, he looked dressed to go
out. While his solid black clothes were the usual type he
wore—jeans, heavy shirt, and turtleneck—they looked brand new.

I gave him an odd look, curious. “Do you have
a hot date?”

Lash looked over at me and then switched off
the TV. “I’m hoping like hell.”

Who was he going out with? What he had done
with Cin couldn’t be called anything more than hooking up. Did one
dress up to hook up? Devlin hadn’t mentioned a new girl, nor had
Lash. Was there someone new, someone he was trying to impress?

Lash got to his feet, then threw the remote
down on the couch. “Want to go out and get dinner?” Lash hissed,
eyeing me. “My treat.”

I was surprised and touched to find out that
I’d been the one he’d dressed up for. “So your date’s with me?”

“It’s probably the last sushi trip,” Lash
hissed awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“I knew you were coming, so I thought, what the hell, I’d ask.”

I almost said no. I was tired, and sushi
seemed a pale alternative to warm soup, toast, and possibly some
cake, if there was any to be had in Hayden’s kitchen. But Lash had
never asked me for anything before, really. I still remembered how
I’d felt years ago, before Danial had come into my life, when I’d
wanted to go out and had no one to go with. Besides, I was sure to
have a good time.

“Sure,” I agreed. “Let me change into warmer
clothes while you warm up the truck.”

I quickly went upstairs, and changed into the
brown top and jeans he’d picked out for me a few months earlier
when he’d guarded me during a shopping trip, and then put on the
tan leather duster I knew he liked. It was just warm enough outside
that with it, I wouldn’t have to wear a coat.

“Sushi again?” Devlin grumbled from the bed.
“You’re going to turn into an eel.”

“Probably,” I said, kissing him goodbye.
“We’ll be gone a few hours or so.”

“Be safe,” Devlin said, turning over and
shutting his eyes. “I’ll be ready for you when you get back. Just
wake me up.”

Ready for what? He must mean sex. “I
will.”

I hurried downstairs and out into the garage,
then got into Lash’s truck.

He hit the overhead door, then gave me an
appreciative look. “You look nice, Mrs. O’Connor.”

“You look good yourself, Mr. Lash,” I teased
back. “But if you don’t hurry, we won’t make the restaurant.”

“We’ll make it,” Lash hissed confidently,
zooming in reverse as he turned to look over his shoulder. “I
rented the whole place.”

* * * *

We had a good time at the restaurant. Like
Lash had said, the place was empty except for us, a row of
waitresses watching for every empty glass or plate. The table was
crowded with plates, some of the sushi elaborate kinds I’d never
before seen. It was enjoyable, but in some weird way also a little
oppressive, as if this night was some kind of celebration that I
wasn’t privy to.

“This is very good,” I said, eating some of
the strange pieces. “Try some.”

“I did,” Lash said, downing his third sake.
“You go ahead. I’m sticking to the crab tonight.”

I grabbed a couple pieces. “You aren’t
gorging like me,” I teased. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Of course,” Lash hissed, giving me a funny
look. “I feel fine. But winter’s coming. My body is slowing down,
getting ready for hibernation.”

“But you don’t hibernate,” I said, looking at
him strangely.

“I still feel the urge,” Lash hissed softly.
“My snake side is always present, Sar. It’s not like it is with
Theo, or the other weres you know. The animal inside me is always
there, influencing my thoughts and actions. It’s telling me to go
to sleep until the weather warms.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I sipped my
wine.

“We probably won’t come out like this again
until spring,” Lash hissed softly. “So I thought it would be nice
to go out one last time and get some of these delicacies I’ve read
about online.”

“Everything is wonderful,” I said graciously.
“It was great to try some of this stuff, even if I’m not sure what
it is.”

Lash smiled. “Good. I’m happy things are
working out with you and Dev.”

“Thank you for that,” I said softly, reaching
out and taking his hand. “You were right. He is trying. I’m glad
that you helped us get back together, Lash.”

Lash opened his mouth.

I squeezed his hand. “I’m not ever going to
tell him. Don’t worry about that.”

Lash squeezed my hand back, then gently
withdrew it. “Good. Venus needs both her mother and father.”

* * * *

Lash and I were just coming in the front door
of Hayden when Devlin came down the stairs dressed in his
motorcycle leathers.

“Glad you’re back,” he said breezily. “I’m
ready.”

To say I was surprised was an understatement;
I gaped at him.

He grinned back at me, then turned to Lash.
“Do you want to come?”

“Not tonight,” Lash said, settling himself on
the couch under a blanket. “I’m more interested in keeping warm.”
He flipped on the TV and began surfing.

“Suit yourself,” Devlin said with a shrug,
and turned to me. “Let’s go, Love.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, looking at him
uneasily. “On the bike?”

“For a ride,” Devlin said vaguely, leading me
into the garage. “I got you a set of lightweight armor. I want you
to wear it. That way if anything happens, you’ll be safe.
Come.”

Reassured, I took off my leather duster, laid
it on Lash’s front seat with my purse, and then began strapping on
the armor. It was a simple Kevlar suit, dull black in color, the
leather-like material covering everything but my feet, hands, and
head. There were leather gloves with it, and also a Kevlar helmet
of the same dull black color reinforced with steel and hard
plastic. Devlin helped me strap it all on, and then he got on his
bike, motioning for me to get on behind him.

“Does Lash have his own bike?” I asked
casually, settling on behind Devlin.

“Sure,” Devlin said, giving me a funny look.
“It’s pretty similar to mine. It’s right over there.”

I glanced past him. In a small alcove off to
the side, another bike stood draped in a black dust cloth. It had
to be the same one Lash had been riding the night he had followed
Theo, saving his life. “I figured you rode together,” I said,
giving Devlin a smile. “It wouldn’t be as fun, alone.”

“He only rides in summer, when it’s warm. I
should now, too. I’m a father, and I have to be more careful. This
will probably be our last ride until next spring, Sar.”

“Then let’s make it a good one,” I said,
clutching him around the waist.

We rode for at least two hours. The moon was
almost full, and it shone down on us, illuminating everything in
its glow. It reminded me very strongly of the night he and I had
last ridden together, those many months ago. Everything was just as
beautiful and magical, the stars just as bright. But the weather
was warmer, as I had wished it to be on that long ago night. We
stopped by a bridge, and drove the motorcycle into some bushes. He
and I got off for a while, walking down to the edge of the river.
It was rippling black and shiny in the light from the street lamps
above. Devlin and I sat on a fallen tree for a while, just watching
the stars, and the water passing under them. Then Devlin took me by
the hand, led me under the bridge, and left me there. In a moment,
he was back, his arms full. He’d carried an oversized down blanket
and two small pillows in his motorcycle saddlebags, as well as a
silenced explosive bullets handgun. The latter he got out and lay
within reach of the makeshift bed, before helping me unstrap my
armor, and taking my clothes and his off. Devlin made love to me
there under the bridge by the banks of the river. Again, he didn’t
draw it out, using his skill so that when I came, he came with
me.

We lay afterwards in each other’s arms,
gasping for breath. As our hearts slowed, I clutched him to me,
worried suddenly that something was going to go wrong, as it
usually did when things between he and I were going so well.