Chapter 39 #2
Dagger held out the dice to me. “Blow for good luck?”
I pursed my lips and blew into his fist like I’d seen in a movie once.
He ducked to kiss me as I straightened, and I let out a little laugh.
“That’ll do,” Hunter said, putting a hand on my lower back. “We’ve got to get the lady some food and find her friend.”
“All right. Save me a dance, Cowgirl.”
I patted Dagger’s muscular chest. “Only if you’re good.”
He kissed my satin-clad hand. “I’m the best.”
I smiled despite myself as I let Hunter lead me toward the buffet, still in the circle of guards.
As we walked, Hunter whispered into my ear, “I want you to have a great time tonight, and I don’t mean to make you paranoid… but I’d like to ask one favor.”
“Sure. What is it?” I asked, returning the hushed volume.
“Stay cautious, all right? Any of us will be happy to escort you anywhere you want to go. Until Dagger’s got Conrad in cuffs, the thought of you all alone in a crowd makes me nervous.”
I had the same worries he did, but didn’t want to tell him and make him any more paranoid.
I reminded myself of Seb’s reassuring words and tried to put on a brave face for him.
Then I discreetly gestured to all our private bodyguards, plus the uniformed police stationed in pairs all around the place.
“Handsome, there’s more security here than the whole of downtown. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”
“I know.” As our escorts stopped in the buffet line, he pressed his forehead to mine. “But if anything happens to you, I’ll…” He pulled back with a sigh, shaking his head against the thought, and the tug on my heart lifted me onto my toes to kiss him.
When I pulled back, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close again with a soft gasp.
“Nothing’s going to happen. I’m with you.” I stroked his cheek. “I promise to stay close, but promise me you’ll let yourself relax tonight.”
“I will, I promise.” He squeezed me. “Just, after what happened at the Grand Sapphire, it’s harder to shake that feeling, you know?”
The security detail shifted as Bryce moved down the line, pointing out items for the staff to heap on several plates. Hunter and I scooched along with them without breaking our embrace.
“That’s because we’re dwelling on it,” I told him. “Trust me, I’ve been the same way, but there’s nowhere more secure in the whole state tonight.”
“You’re right.” He kissed my forehead. “Now let’s make sure Bryce is picking out some real food and not just—”
“Oh fuck,” Bryce blurted, shocking me with the curse.
I peered between the bodyguard gaps to see a male and female couple approaching, arm in arm.
Bryce’s face sank longer with each step they took.
“Please have that sent to my VIP table on the terrace,” he told a red-vested staff member, who began putting the plates on a silver tray.
Bryce signaled his team to step away from the buffet and faced the oncoming guests with the look of a soldier headed to the trenches.
“Overseer Clyde Blunton, leader of the Temple of the Pure Breed,” Bryce said out the side of his mouth. “Just nod and smile, everyone. I’ll deal with him.”
So, this was the guy whose religious organization who’d unwittingly spawned me and Seb’s work projects.
He was dressed immaculately in a dark gray three-piece suit and a priest-style collar.
But the collar’s central white square had the Temple symbol depicted in what looked like real gold, with diamonds studding the column tops and dove’s wingtips.
As they came closer, Bryce sighed and gestured for the grizzly squad to part several feet.
Hair and trimmed beard both frost white, the “Overseer’s” wild blue eyes and thin smile made me feel like I’d walked into the eyeline of a wolf.
He looked like he was in his sixties, but his frame was robust and his skin minimally wrinkled.
He was tall, but not by paranormal standards, about the same as Seb or Bryce.
His younger, platinum blonde wife was mature but fit looking.
Dressed in a white ballgown with matching gloves, her diamond necklace was sparkling harder than any of the chandeliers hanging above.
I couldn’t work out their species. Whatever they were, I wanted them to go away very soon.
“Well, Bryce Harding, as I live and breathe.” Clyde Blunton extended his hand, but before Bryce could offer his own gloved palm, Blunton pulled back, a glint in his eye. “I do apologize. I forgot that you’re… afflicted.”
His wife eyed Bryce up and down. “But oh my, you do look exceptionally dapper this evening, Mr. Harding. I just feel so sad I can’t ask you for a dance.”
“That would have been my honor, Mrs. Blunton.” Bryce locked eyes with her husband. “Perhaps in the next life, God willing.”
The Bluntons’ accents were strong southern United States, straight out of some old cowboy movie. It would have been endearing if they both weren’t so creepy.
“And who is this lovely flower?” Blunton asked, extending his hand to me. “I don’t think we’ve been properly acquainted.”
Dammit. At least I had my elbow-length gloves on. “Serenity. Nice to meet you.”
His grip was uncomfortably firm, the kiss on my glove the same, as he rose, letting go. “Why now, if you aren’t the second human we’ve bumped into in as many minutes. You little ladies are practically swarming the place tonight.”
I assumed him meant Ceci and looked around for her, but didn’t see her or her guys nearby.
Blunton was drenched in a cologne blend that smelled like coffee grinds and earthy musk. It might have been oddly pleasant, had he not taken a bath in it. My nostrils stuffed up and tongue frozen, I stammered through a nervous smile, “Well, we bought our tickets, just like everyone else. So…”
He scoffed and smirked at Bryce, before telling me, “Oh, I very much doubt you bought your own ticket. Much the same as the other one of your kind in attendance.” He sucked in air, shaking his head and sighing.
“Seems these days paranormals of means always have money for fun but never for advancing the greater good of this fine state.”
The glints from his wife’s chunky diamond necklace were starting to irritate my vision. And me.
Scowling, Hunter motioned to reply but was interrupted by Bryce. “I have money for lots of things, Overseer Blunton, but not for causes I don’t believe in. So, if you’re looking for a different answer from last time, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.”
A thumping whoop of voices surged from the casino area. Dagger was high fiving people at his craps table, where an energized crowd had gathered to watch him play. I was glad he was enjoying himself after all his recent suffering. I smiled despite the company in front of me.
Blunton shook his head. “Are you absolutely sure an astute businessman like yourself doesn’t want to make a lasting impression with this gilded cage’s future governor? A modest—by your standards, of course—campaign donation could see to that.”
“The answer’s still no, I’m afraid. I’ve never met this candidate you’re referring to, but if he or she has your support”—Bryce paused, breathing deeply and smiling—“then I think it’s safe to say I see the world differently from them.”
Blunton tutted hard and shook his head slowly. “That’s a real shame then. Cause you ain’t in the world, Bryce. You’re in New Nebraska. You ought to think about that and the future…”
“I’m doing exactly that,” Bryce replied, slipping off his glove and clasping my bare shoulder, making the Bluntons’ eyes bulge.
“I’m more than my money, sir, and not as afflicted as you might think.
By the way, this delightful woman is both human and my partner, and I’m afraid I could never give my support to anyone with your views. ”
Overseer Blunton’s cheeks flushed a fraction as he smiled broader, revealing a gold tooth.
“You’re just full of surprises now, ain’t ya?
But, come now, Bryce, I’m not heartless.
I acknowledge the tragedies the human species has faced, despite most being caused by their own constant foolishness and follies.
Why just earlier this evening, I heard a plane crashed in Los Angeles.
Three hundred and two humans on board. All perished.
Maybe could have been prevented if they let us lead things and work among them.
” He pulled a white handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and dabbed an imaginary tear as he churned out purposefully theatrical sobbing.
“Damn near broke my heart, that did.” He wheezed laughter, wiping real tears now. “Cause there were six empty seats.”
His wife joined him in laughing. I didn’t know her name. Didn’t want to.
Bryce put his glove on and slipped his arm round my waist. His snug hold was reassuring as he said through pursed lips, “Right, I think we’d better get to our table. Enjoy your evening, please.”
“Oh, you folks too. You never know when the next life’s gonna come callin’, after all,” Blunton said over his shoulder as they ambled away, his wife winking at Bryce when her husband wasn’t looking.
“Come on,” Bryce said in a huff, tugging on his suit jacket like it had suddenly become too tight. “Let’s get a bite to eat and get the taste of those two out of our mouths before we mingle anymore.”
“They were absolutely horrible. I mean, they’re not wrong to wish paranormals could work openly among humans in the rest of the country, but all that other stuff!? What species are they, anyway?”
“Creeps.” Hunter was close behind me, peering at and inspecting any vampire attendees or staff that we passed.
“Rare creeps,” Bryce expounded. “White tiger shifters. There must be only a few hundred in the whole state. Which means the whole world. Unless they’ve hidden away somewhere. But all the DNA tests required by humans now make that unlikely.”
I squeezed Bryce’s forearm. “Why did you show him we can touch?”
“I’m proud to be yours. I hope you don’t mind me not hiding it.
And I also want that old viper Blunton to always second guess himself when it comes to me.
He’s always thought he’s too good for anyone who disagrees with him.
Anyway, never mind him. He has one goal and that is to take as much control as he can.
That shyster isn’t getting a single cent from me.
He’s already had way too much free advertising.
” He gestured to two lofty, open doors with guests gathered beyond on polished marble or strolling in lush gardens.
“Our table’s out there on the Grand Terrace. Care to eat under the stars?”
“Mr. Harding,” I said with a theatrical gasp, hand flying to my chest. “You do know how to spoil a human girl.”
“One in particular, yes,” he said.
Smiling, I took a breath of the fresh air coming through the doors and resolved to forget Blunton and Conrad and let myself enjoy tonight.