Dark Solace (14 page)

“Was Dev burned before?” I asked. “It’s bad
this time, Danial. Really bad.”

Danial held my eyes. “Was he red, or
black?”

“Black,” I replied queasily. “He’s taken the
blood of five weres plus Catherine, and he’s still not healed—”

“Who is Catherine?” Theo asked.

We both ignored him. “This sounds like it’s
the worst so far,” Danial said with a sigh. “He never learns, Sar.
He should not be going out with you alone, not unless you can
teleport.”

“And even then, not without guards,” Theo
growled. “He’s supposed to be protecting you. Instead you’re in
more danger than you were before—”

“Lash saved us,” I interjected. “And I helped
him. I killed at least ten of them.”

“You?” Theo said, giving me a shocked look.
“With what?”

“You fought, Sar?” Danial said, looking at me
as if I’d grown a third arm. “How? They were much stronger—”

“Yes, me,” I said, suddenly irritated for
some reason. “I’m an excellent shot, especially with a rifle.” I
paused. “I need to get back to Devlin. Danial, I’ll be back later
in the week to help you with e-mail, and hopefully see Theoron and
Elle. Maybe we can see a movie here and get a pizza or
something?”

Danial nodded. “That sounds like an excellent
idea, Dearheart. Let’s wait to make plans, though, until Devlin’s
healing progresses a little further. He needs you beside him, until
the worst is over.”

I nodded in return, relieved at his
understanding. “All right,” I turned from him to my werecougar
husband, who was looking a lot less receptive. “I’ll see you
nights, Theo—”

“What?” Theo said incredulously. “You need to
come home with me now. Devon needs you.”

“Devlin needs me,” I said angrily. “Devon has
you, Theo. But I’d appreciate if you’ll let him stay up to visit
with me when I come later—”

“Do it, Theo,” Danial interrupted. “Devlin
needs to go with us to see the Rulers shortly. He needs to be
recovered by then completely. You and I both know Samuel is not
afraid of me.”

I felt a chill.

Theo shut his mouth and nodded. “All
right.”

“I’ll see you later, Sar,” Danial said
softly, giving me a hug. “Help Devlin call me later tonight, if
he’s well enough to. I want to hear his voice.”

“I will,” I affirmed, and then turned to
Theo, holding out my arms for a hug.

He didn’t move, his expression jealous and
angry. Annoyed, I nodded to him and headed to the front door.

* * * *

All that week was more of the same. I left
Devlin most nights and went to Danial’s, telling Dev that I was
trying to keep up with the workload. The truth was that I needed a
break of a few hours daily when I did not smell burned flesh and
blood. The odor lingered faithfully on Devlin, no matter that he
showered each dawn.

Devlin regenerated a little more each day. By
the end of the week, he had healed everything except his lost eye,
and his privates. In the meantime, he had taken to wearing a black
leather eye patch, something that oddly just increased his sex
appeal.

“You now look as dangerous as I know you
are,” I teased. “It gives me a thrill.”

“
Good, because these will take
longest,” Devlin replied. “Repeated injuries heal slowly, Love. But
in another few weeks, I should be fine.”

“I’m glad,” I said. “I saw your donors
leaving at dawn.”

“I don’t usually take from five at a single
session,” Devlin said tentatively, as if he wasn’t sure how I’d
take it. “But I need a lot of blood. Luckily I have a lot of
regulars, as I’m out of prisoners.”

I’d known he would kill all of them, but the
offhand way he referred to it took me aback. “Whatever helps you
heal quicker,” I said a little too brightly.

Devlin turned to me, his expression one of
reluctance. “Vampires can drink from the dead,” he said, “but it’s
not often done. The blood congeals quickly, and the taste...I’d
liken it to eating rotten or overripe fruit. The sensation is
unpleasant. But most of all, with the heart stopped, the blood
doesn’t flow, so very little can be sucked out. You can bite
repeatedly in several places, but you’re not going to end up with
much for your trouble.”

“I’m not judging you for killing people who
were torturing you and would have killed me, too,” I said, an edge
to my tone. “Please don’t feel badly about what you had to do.”

“On the contrary, I’m feeling much better.
I’ll be well enough to meet with Samuel and Perseus,” Devlin said,
some of his old arrogance back in his tone. “Don’t worry, Sar.”

I hugged him gently. “I’m not. I’m more
concerned that I still can’t hold my only daughter. Serena says
that Venus bites her every night without fail.”

“V,” Dev corrected. “I’ve been calling her V
for short. But Serena’s right. She won’t let you go if she tastes
your blood. It’s better to wait until she’s older. How is she?”

“Healthy and happy,” I assured him. “Now get
some rest.”

“How was the doctor visit today?”

“My virus levels are still very elevated.
Stephen said they may go even higher.”

Devlin made a disgruntled face. “Then I’ll be
good until we know for sure. Is Theo still giving you the cold
shoulder?”

“Pretty much,” I admitted. “But he does have
Devon there at Danial’s every night to see me.”

“How is Dev Jr.?” Devlin teased. “It’s almost
like having a son.”

I rolled my eyes. “Devon is growing fast;
he’s got to be twenty pounds or so. And he always bounds up to see
me, letting out a little welcoming chirp with his tail held
high.”

“But Theo is distant?”

Was he concerned for me, or hopeful that
my marriage would breakup?
“He acts standoffish. I’m hoping he
works it out on his own.” I turned to him. “But I am worried about
Lash. I wanted to thank him for saving us. Titus always tells me
he’s resting and not to disturb him. The bedroom door is always
locked. Was he hurt in the fight?”

Devlin shook his head. “No, his armor was
intact. It’s top of the line, Sar, and made to last. Lash is just
in his room because it’s going to be winter soon. He hates winter,
he always has. He stays inside under blankets as much as possible,
going out only when he absolutely has to. He gets cold easily, so I
try to send him out with Titus when he has to go somewhere.”

“Titus probably loves that.”

“Northeastern winters are hard on weresnakes.
But don’t worry about him,” Devlin assured, reaching up to stroke
the underside of my chin. “He’s going to be sleeping or in his room
for most of the winter. When spring gets here, he’ll emerge hungry
and horny.”

“TMI,” I said, appalled. “Now enough talking.
Get some rest.”

* * * *

Finally, that Friday just before I left to go
home, I found Lash sitting on the couch reading a book with a few
blankets piled over him. It was an old illustrated children’s work
called The Fossil Snake, one I remembered from my youth.

“My mom used to read that to me,” I said,
sitting down next to him. “I always hoped I’d find a fossil snake
myself, but I never did.”

“Are you making reference to my age?” Lash
hissed, baring fangs in a smile. “I’m not old enough to be stone
quite yet.”

“I don’t think of you as a pet,” I assured
him. “Plus you aren’t the length of a pencil—”

“Careful,” Lash hissed meaningfully. “You’ll
hurt my pride, making cracks about my length.”

I flushed. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know you didn’t,” he laughed. “Long time
no see.”

In spite of his good mood, Lash looked tired.
“I’m going to have lunch before I leave for Danial’s,” I said. “Do
you want me to heat you up some liquefied steak?”

“Yes, please,” Lash hissed. “But only a
little, as I ate already today. But a little would do the
trick.”

It had gotten much colder this past week. By
the reports, it was going to be an early fall. “Do you want another
blanket?” I offered, getting up.

Lash shook his head. “The one below me is
heated,” he said, grinning happily. “It’s not my rock in the sun,
but it feels pretty damn good.”

“Why don’t you have Devlin install a sun room
here, some kind of atrium, with an indoor pond?” I asked, seized
with sudden inspiration. “You could sunbathe indoors in the
winter.”

Lash raised his eyebrows. “And give any
attacker a built-in torture chamber for Dev right inside his home?”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t risk it, Sar. Heated blankets are
enough.”

I bit my lip, irritated with myself for not
thinking of Devlin’s weakness to the sun, especially in light of
recent events. “Stay there where you’re warm. I’ll be right
back.”

I brought my soup and his concoction into the
living room after heating them up in the microwave. “Tell me if
it’s not hot enough,” I said, handing him the mug. “I don’t have
anyone here to taste it.”

Lash sipped it. “Plenty hot,” he said,
wincing a little. “But better too hot than too cold.” He eyed me.
“So what’s new?”

“Nothing,” I complained, sipping my soup.
“That’s the trouble. Everyone is waiting for my teleportation
powers to come back. The vampire virus is still spiking, according
to Stephen’s last test.”

“No wonder Dev’s not more cheerful,” Lash
hissed, smirking. “He needs to dip his prongs.”

“You’re a piece of work,” I replied, rolling
my eyes.

“I try,” Lash hissed, taking another sip.
“Some people like my efforts more than others.”

I bit my lip, clutching my mug with both
hands. “Thank you,” I said emotionally. “For rescuing me.”

Lash looked up at me, his expression
unreadable. “Don’t go out again with him alone,” he hissed softly.
“Not without at least two bears, not for any reason. He asks you to
ever again, you refuse.”

I nodded “I will. Tell me, why didn’t you
tell anyone we’d been kidnapped?”

Lash’s flat eyes bored into mine. “Because
Theo would have cared about getting you out, not about saving
Dev.”

“But Theo could’ve helped—”

Lash shook his head. “Ulysses is good. This
isn’t the first time he’s tried to hurt Dev. I knew Devlin would be
well guarded where you were being held. Theo’s strong, but he’s not
quiet, at least, not compared to me. He would have got to you, and
then shot his way out. If they found you missing or got wind of an
attack, they would have killed Dev immediately, rather than risk
him being rescued. I had to save you both.”

It was hard not to feel like my safety had
been last on his list. “Why not rescue Devlin and then me?”

“Because I needed your help,” Lash said
meaningfully, flashing another smile. “I’m sure you’ve been waiting
to hear that.”

I blushed. “You are giving me too much
credit. I—”

“No, I’m not,” Lash said simply, fixing me
with his eyes. “You covered us. You did it well. And you saved my
life.”

“Not that I’m not bursting with your praise,”
I said, embarrassed. “But why not go in with one of the bears as
your partner? They’ve got to have more training than me.”

“Because I trust you to do what I tell you,”
Lash replied. “The bears do have training, and some of that would
have made them act and react differently than you did.” He sipped
again. “I needed you, not them.”

“Are you going to take me on jobs?” I
quipped. “We did make a good team.”

“Don’t let my accolades go to your head,”
Lash hissed tersely, looking over the top of his mug at me.
“Ulysses isn’t gone for good. He wants Devlin dead. Next time, he
might decide you are the best bait to lure Dev to his doom. Be
careful.”

“I’ll be careful,” I said, cowed. “And I’ll
make sure we don’t go out alone.”

“I’m glad he has you,” Lash hissed softly. “I
don’t think he’ll mess up again, Sar.”

Why was he bringing this up now, of all
times? “Hopefully not—”

“You’re taking care of him,” Lash interrupted
suddenly. He paused, staring at me. “I thought you were another
flavor of the month when I met you.” He lifted his lip, his
expression disgusted. “I’m sorry for how I acted, back at the
beginning.”

“I know you are,” I replied. “It’s okay. It’s
in the past.”

Lash looked away. “For a long time I’ve had
Dev, and that was enough. But now there’s you, him and V. It’s nice
to have relations again.”

“Yes, it is,” I replied.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t kiss me,” Lash
added, baring one fang. “In families, it’s expected.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“There you go.”

“Fine, be that way,” Lash hissed jokingly. “I
guess we have to be in danger for me to get any—”

“You’re going to be wearing my soup,” I
warned.

“So long as it’s warm,” he retorted. “And
chicken or beef. I don’t wear vegetables.”

I gave him a confused look, he gave me a
toothy grin, and then both of us burst out laughing.

* * * *

“Remember you aren’t coming next week on
Friday,” Devlin reminded me later that evening. “That’s September
30th, to be exact. Danial, Theo, and I will be in Canada giving
your health data to the other Rulers. You are going to stay with
the children at Danial’s.” He hugged me. “I’ll miss you next week,
after having you so much to myself this week.”

I nodded. “I’ll be with him that whole
weekend. It’ll work out well. Danial and I haven’t seen much of
each other since Theo and I moved back into our own place. Maybe we
can carve pumpkins or something with Theoron and Elle.”

“I heard that the Harvesters had dropped off
the face of the earth,” Devlin said pointedly. “I’m not surprised;
they had more than a few enemies that were just waiting for them to
show up stateside. I am surprised how fast Theo decided it was safe
for you he and Devon to return home, given no actual bodies have
been found yet.” He handed me my hair clip. “Danial said Theo had
moved your things back to your house a few days ago.”