Chapter 11 #2
Carleigh answered for him, which he didn’t mind at all.
“Gemi texted Bayu and asked for his address. I think we need to be cautious in case the Black Lotus have captured her, so he responded ‘why,’ and she sent back that she needs to send him a package. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I’d rather not risk Bayu’s life.
” Carleigh took a seat on one of the sofas, patting the cushion next to her.
Bayu sat close, but Carleigh scooted over until their legs were touching and took his hand.
“I have a suggestion,” Silas said. “How about we give her the address to one of the safe houses? Dominic has already gathered some males together, so I say we send them to watch the house. If Gemi sends a package, they can bring it here. If the Black Lotus shows up, then we know it’s a trap.
Plus, we won’t have to go looking for them. ”
“Won’t that compromise the location of the safehouse? The addresses are a secret for a reason.”
Silas shrugged one shoulder. “That’s possible, but Bayu’s safety is more important than losing the use of one property. Hell, I’ll purchase a new one myself if it comes to that.”
Carleigh squeezed Bayu’s hand. “Is that okay with you?”
Bayu wasn’t okay with Silas buying the place, but he didn’t say that. “Yes. You all are the experts here.”
Silas pulled out his phone. “Excellent. I’ll text Tabitha and find out which of the safehouses are available. We should use one that isn’t too close in case it is the Black Lotus.”
“I think Dom should take Nekoma with them when he returns from Evyndral. His magic is powerful, and he might learn something we could use against them, if it is them instead of Gemi,” Carleigh added.
“It’s also possible he learned something when visiting his mother that he could use against them to slow them down or put them out of commission. ”
“Good idea.” Julian downed his drink and set the empty on the end table. “Bayu, is it possible the members of the Council of Shen are still alive?”
“If they are tiger shifters, maybe. I don’t know when the scrolls were written. If it was in the last five hundred years, then it’s probable.”
Julian stood and pulled his mate to her feet. “While you wait on Tabitha to respond, I’m going to begin researching them. The scanned pages and images are running in the background.”
“I appreciate everything, but don’t you want to call it a night?”
“I’m good for a few days without sleep. Kat is going to turn in.
While Juniper is watching over Juni, you and Carleigh should rest too.
You’re the ones who’ve traveled back and forth without stopping.
Plus, you now have a little one to look after.
Just maybe leave your door unlocked in case Juni decides he wants to crawl in bed with you. ”
Bayu hadn’t thought of that, but it was a good idea. He was glad Jon had brought Bayu’s larger bed. “We can do that, but if anything comes up during the night, please don’t hesitate to wake me.”
Julian placed his hand on Bayu’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Only if it’s an emergency. Issues like this one aren’t solved in hours, Son. It might be months before we have answers, but we will get them, and when we do, The Clan will take care of these bastards.”
Bayu inclined his head in appreciation even though he didn’t like the sound of it taking months before he felt safe. Carleigh leaned against his arm. “Do you want a drink while we wait on Tabitha to respond? Or some dessert? You didn’t eat yours at supper.”
“A drink would be good, but I’ll get it. Would you like something too?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a glass of wine. The white one in the fridge please.”
Bayu kissed Carleigh’s cheek before standing. “Silas? Would you care for a refill?”
“If you’re pouring. I’m drinking the Pappy Van Winkle.”
Bayu took Silas’s empty to the bar and refilled the glass.
He passed it to the male as he made his way to the kitchen.
Bayu retrieved the bottle of white and filled two wine glasses before returning the bottle to the refrigerator.
He wasn’t a big wine drinker, but having the same thing was easier than choosing something different.
Easy was good since his mind was ready to shut down after the last few days.
Bayu wished he could get drunk and forget about his worries for a while.
Silas’s phone beeped. “Tabitha sent the address to a location across the Tennessee border in Kentucky. I’ll send it to you now.”
Once Bayu had it, he forwarded it to Gemi.
Or Gemi’s phone, since they weren’t sure if she was on the other end.
If she wasn’t, that was going to suck. Other than Juni, his aunt was his last living relative other than his mother’s parents, but he wasn’t certain they were alive.
He didn’t want to consider that Gemi wasn’t the one sending the text.
He didn’t want to consider much of anything, so as soon as he and Carleigh finished their wine, he took the glasses to the kitchen and washed them.
Carleigh leaned against the counter, watching.
“You ready to head upstairs?”
“Let me dry these, then yes.”
Carleigh pulled a clean cloth out of a drawer and dried them herself, then returned the goblets to the cabinet.
She folded the towel and left it beside the sink.
“Come on, my tiger.” Carleigh took his hand and they made their way up the curved staircase.
They stopped to peek in on Juni. Both he and Juniper were asleep, so Bayu didn’t enter the room.
Once inside Carleigh’s – their – bedroom, Bayu found a pair of basketball shorts to sleep in.
He would prefer to wear only his briefs, but with so many others in the house, he opted to put on something with more coverage.
Carleigh told him to go first in the bathroom, so he did.
He changed clothes, dropping his dirties in the hamper inside the closet.
He then brushed his teeth. While Carleigh prepared for bed, Bayu turned down the covers and sat on the side.
Carleigh had changed into sleep shorts and a tank top.
He wanted to peel them off her, but he wouldn’t with her family in the house.
“Which side do you sleep on?”
Carleigh turned off the overhead light, then crawled onto his lap, straddling Bayu’s legs. “I starfish in the middle, so you might get an errant elbow or knee during the night.”
Bayu pushed her hair off her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her neck. “I guess I’ll have to spoon you and hold on tight.”
“Bayu,” she husked, angling her neck so he had better access.
“Soon, my Sayang.” Bayu lay back and rolled them so Carleigh was facing away from him.
He tugged her butt against his crotch, which was going to be torture, especially when he woke with a morning stiffy.
She reached for the bedding, pulling it up over their legs, then Carleigh threaded their fingers when he placed his arm around her stomach.
“You are so very tempting, and I cannot wait until all this is over so we can make love.”
“The first time, my Gargoyle is going to claim you, so it might be more along the lines of rough sex than making love.”
“Are you going to bite me?”
“If you allow it. That’s how Gargoyles claim their mate. Do white tigers do it differently? Is there a ceremony?”
“Not a ceremony, per se, but words are spoken.”
“And you don’t bite your mate?”
“Oh, we do, but it is the words that bind us. The biting is the beast agreeing to the bond.”
“I can’t wait,” Carleigh whispered around a yawn.
“Me too.” Bayu would have to get Tiger back for that to happen though. If he got him back.