Chapter 37 #2
There was a gigantic buffet of fine food, all imported from England and Scotland, along with a free bar as broad and bulky as a city bus.
Hunter, Dagger and Seb were all out mingling and sharing condolences.
But I’d stayed with Bryce. He’d said I should go meet people, but I’d told him I wanted to keep him company for a bit.
I braved the congestion of the bar and brought him back a large Scotch whisky in a delicate crystal glass shaped like a mini fishbowl.
Snuggling into his torso and savoring his citrusy cologne, I pulled back enough to look up at him with mischief in my eyes.
“You think you might be richer than the queen, Bry? Or are you a pauper compared to her?”
He laughed as I kissed him.
I pulled back quickly, not wanting to draw too much attention to us. I already felt like eyes were on me, prickling my scalp from my nape to my crown.
Bryce gave me another kiss, seeming not to care that we kept announcing our relationship and ability to touch to the world.
“It’s rumored she owns around a third of the prime real estate in London, so that’s billions of dollars on its own.
And then there’s the castles and palaces, the priceless jewelry, the superyacht, the estates in Ireland, Wales, France, the Netherlands, Scotland. ”
In those countries, along with England, Fae could live completely unrestricted and considered equal citizens, under the Agreement.
Hunter had even said Fae got long-term visas really easily in a bunch of other European countries, too.
Diamonds and gold opened a lot of doors. Or was it the threat of their magic…
Bryce had a mouthful of his drink. “Yes, that’s a lot of assets the Fae have in reserve, for sure.” He shrugged. “She’s probably got me beat, but only just.”
I placed a hand on his tightly tailored shirt, above his heart, feeling its calm, steady beat. “Well, I’d love you even if you were as poor as me.”
“I love that, but…” He rested his gloved hand over mine.
“You’re not poor anymore, angel. I know you don’t want to believe it, but I’m not going anywhere no matter what you decide about your future.
And you also don’t have to stay chained to this table.
Look, there’s Hunter talking to someone interesting.
” He pointed among the throngs to Hunter, standing glass in hand, chatting with a handsome vamp in a sharply tailored black suit.
“I know he’s a vampire. But I’ve heard he’s quite fair in how he runs his coven. And recently mated with a human.”
“Okay, I’ll have a wander round. I’ll come back soon though.”
Weaving through the crowd, I excused myself for the bumps and nudges as I navigated the large, round tables to reach Hunter in the giant slice of packed space wrapping around the bar.
“Hey, handsome.” I lifted on tiptoes to meet Hunter’s lips halfway in a quick peck.
The almost absurdly flawless vamp smiled and gently beckoned for my hand. I found myself extending it straight away, as if my body had decided for me. My fingers felt an invisible pull toward his awaiting palm. Weird.
He kissed my hand formally, stretching into a flamboyant bow fit for a royal court.
His arms knocked a few people behind him, causing grumbles and tuts.
He didn’t seem to give a damn. An older Fae male, dressed immaculately in a black tweed jacket and waistcoat, glared as he sipped his jade-green drink.
“Oh, I am sorry, sir, are you the king?” the vamp asked in the poshest of mock English accents.
Blond moustache rippling like walrus whiskers, the Fae grumbled, “No, of course not, you impertinent—”
“Then what are you good for?” he said dismissively, dipping his two top fingers into the Fae’s glass and sucking them for a taste. “A gin fizz?” He pulled a yuck face. “Really?”
Puffing out his chest, the Fae harrumphed. “Well, I never—”
The vamp turned his back on the flustered Fae, focusing on me with a friendly gaze. “Very pleased to meet you. I’m Xander, and you must be the delightful Serenity.”
“Uh, yes. And it’s nice to meet you too.
” Probably? The guy was giving off an intense, wild vamp vibe that made me slightly nervous.
Though he had a friendly, jokester air too, it was clear he was a bit of a wild one.
I didn’t think I’d ever meet more of a bad boy than Dagger.
He was definitely what a girl would call smoking hot though, with his high, pale cheekbones, athletic frame, and perfectly styled black hair.
Despite his brash behavior, his smile and aura were oddly enchanting.
“Your charming mate’s been talking about you, singing your praises, and I can see why.”
At the word “mate,” I swiveled my head toward Hunter. He usually wasn’t one to share personal details freely.
“Oh, pardon. Are you not mates? I just assumed by the way you spoke about her.”
Hunter’s eyebrows were still raised at the whole finger dipping thing, but now they climbed even higher. “We are.”
“Ah, good. One faux pas avoided.” Grinning, Xander feigned wiping nervous sweat off his brow. “But seriously, I am so sorry to hear about the nasty business going on with those fu—” He paused with his mouth half open. “Despicable Marchand Coven brutes.”
Hunter turned to me. “Xander’s the leader of the biggest coven in New Lincoln and shares a human partner with the Fae prince. He says he won’t deal with Conrad at all. Hardly any of the other covens will.” He looked at Xander. “Isn’t that right?”
He nodded. “Exactly right, big fella. They’re virtually a pariah coven. There are only one or two others in the whole state that’ll have dealings with him. And they’re monsters too.”
“Uh, Xander,” I chimed in, needing to confirm something even though it would probably make me want to leave New Nebraska even more, “would you say, with your knowledge on the covens, is the Marchand one particularly powerful?”
He sucked air through clenched fangs. “I’m afraid so.
Arguably the most powerful. He has his tentacles in all sorts of highly profitable corruption.
And that type of money buys a lot of muscle, a lot of influence.
” His levity melted into an earnest undertone.
“If Conrad’s obsession with you runs as deep as your jaguar says, don’t underestimate what he’ll do to get his hands on you.
Nothing’s too brazen.” He tipped his chin toward Hunter.
“If he’s developed the power of invisibility as you say, I wouldn’t even put it past him to be here—where you are—despite all the security. ”
A shiver ran through me.
Perfume and cologne from a thousand people combined to thicken the atmosphere with a scent like overripe bananas.
Black-clad strangers were constantly pushing past, brushing my back and arms. I didn’t know how much longer I wanted to stay.
Xander was right. For all I knew, Conrad could have been among us at the memorial earlier, invisible, watching me, waiting to pounce.
Ants crawled over my skin, panic closing my throat, and I grasped Hunter’s bicep and tapped it for him to bend his head down. I whispered, “I think I’d like to go. I felt like someone was watching me earlier. Probably just paranoia, but…”
“Of course.” Hunter, his head higher than most of the other mourners, scanned the attendees, scowling as his eyes went yellow. “I’ve learned so-called paranoia’s sometimes what keeps you from a coffin. Grip my arm tight, and don’t let go. We’ll go find the others, tell them it’s time to leave.”
Xander was nodding, seeming to understand my concerns. “I’m sorry if what I said upset you. I—”
“I hope you’re behaving over here.” A woman with thick blondish hair and a warm smile, threaded her arm through Xander’s. She was about my age and cute as a button.
Xander kissed her lips softly. “Always, my orchid, always.”
She raised her eyebrows at him, before turning to me and Hunter. “Nice to meet you both. I’m Cecilia. I hope he’s not been ruffling too many feathers.”
Hunter, still glowering across the crowd and holding me tight beside him, replied without looking. “No, not at all. He’s been very helpful. Was nice meeting you both. Sorry we had to meet on this sad occasion. We’re heading off—”
“Are you… human too?” I asked, feeling silly at the question, but in New Nebraska looks often didn’t tell the full story. Plus, it seemed like she was with Xander and the prince, and if so, that must mean she was in a similar position to me. I needed to get going, but I’d love to be her friend.
She smiled and chuckled. “Yes, boring old human, although I’ve come to suspect there may be a bit of the paranormal way back in my bloodline. Though I suppose in this place, a human lineage is more exotic, right?”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Cecilia. I’m Serenity. We actually have to be going, but could I give you my number? Maybe we can connect?”
Slipping her phone out of her purse, Cecilia took my number and sent me a text. “Just save me under Ceci.”
I waved her goodbye as Hunter, his eyes a striking bright yellow, began striding through the masses with me clinging to his side, the people parting like waves before his imposing size and burning glare.
We found Dagger and Seb talking to Prince Osric and a sweet-looking bearded grizzly—he had the size and look of one, at least. A sporty hunk with a gentle smile stood nearby, half-listening as he scanned the crowd in the direction Hunter and I had come.
The prince’s eyes turned to mine, and I felt myself blushing. A real prince. And here I was, eager to get away from him and this whole royal gathering. I curtseyed sheepishly, having seen it on TV when I was a kid, and blurted, “Your Highness, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
He dipped his head. “Please, call me Osric, and I’m deeply grateful for your kind words.” He looked to Hunter. “You must be Detective Pierce’s twin. It’s nice to meet you. Your brother was very helpful to my partners and I when we found ourselves in a case of self-defense recently.”
“It was nothing,” Dagger said, clutching a large glass beer tankard and showing off a hint of his jaguar tat beneath his suit sleeve. “Everyone was happy you took care of Jack 2. Your local cops were just being cautious. I just smoothed things over and appreciated you answering questions.”
“Well, we were thankful for your help. They started investigating us after the fact, like we did something wrong rescuing another girl from his clutches. Maybe their directive came from higher up. But some other law enforcement didn’t see our getting rid of such a monster as clear as you.”
“You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat, like he didn’t know how to handle Osric’s praise.
“Anyhow, I was just talking to the prince about my near-death tussle yesterday.” He caught sight of Hunter’s eyes, and his brow furrowed, his own irises shifting color.
“About the Fae magical armor and how this tattoo somehow obliterated it,” he finished stiffly.
“Yes, we should talk more about that soon, Detective. It’s extremely concerning, especially as I have my own experience to share, which may help. I have your number. I’ll be in touch soon.”
We made our excuses and left. With me in the middle, clinging tightly to their arms.
Dagger growled into his brother’s ear over my head. “What’s happening?”
“Maybe nothing. Just best to be safe. Let’s get Seb, Bryce and get to the stretch. If the invisible man’s in here, I want to draw him out into the car park.”
Both their nails lengthened into claws. It both scared and reassured me.
“You getting anything?” Hunter asked, sniffing the air.
“Can’t smell shit over all this perfume and booze,” Dagger snarled. “You?”
“Same. Let’s move.”
After updating Bryce, he enlisted the hotel’s security staff to form a circle around us as we walked through the hotel and into the car park.
They split only for Seb, who’d gotten Hunter’s text to meet us.
We pushed through the crowd, doing our best not to jostle anyone too hard.
One waiter, however, nearly face planted, stumbling seemingly over his own feet before we’d even gotten close to him.
Hunter tensed beside me and murmured to Dagger, “Did you see that?”
Dagger nodded, jaw tight, and I followed his gaze to the poor waiter, trying to collect the mess he’d dropped off his tray.
“Pick up the pace everybody,” Dagger ordered.
Gerald was waiting with the door open, sporting a slight look of surprise.
I motioned to enter the stretch, but Dagger blocked me with a fur-swathed hand.
“Hold your horses, Cowgirl.” He dipped into his jacket pocket and took out a switchblade.
The click and spike of the razor blade made me jump. “Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”
He lunged into the limo, swiping his knife in broad arcs through the air, side to side, up and down the stretch’s length. Then he clambered out, nodding at us. “It’s clear. Come on, let’s go.”
Hunter strode into the car park’s center, the security guards backing away from his rampant aggression.
He ripped off his jacket and shirt to reveal his enormous muscles coated in jaguar-patterned hair.
“Are you there, you fucking pussy?” Hammering his chest with his thumb, he bellowed, “You see me, you gruesome fuck? I don’t hide like a fucking sewer rat.
Not from anybody. You want her? You got to go through me and my brother. Come on, face us, you fucking coward!”
No answer came, except the whistling wind.
Hunter clambered into the stretch. Bryce and I got on one side and the others sat across from us. The twins were perched, alert, while Seb reached across and patted my hand. “It’ll be fine. You’d need an army to take on these two.”
That was the problem. Conrad had one.
The limo’s engine revved, and we roared off. I twisted in my seat to watch the giant hotel steadily get smaller in the rear window, ashamed that my anxieties seemed to be dictating everyone else’s behavior. It was probably just my imagination running wild.
A crumpled soda can danced across the asphalt far behind us, then suddenly flew in a wide arc, battering down the road.
The pre-winter gusts were strong in New Nebraska…