Chapter 13
thirteen
RAE
I made it through another day without the stalking website. Barely. There was a lot of pacing involved.
Callum's people wiped out all mention of Darius on the site I'd used, after Dare found me researching him obsessively. I didn't ask if he was involved. I knew he was.
We stuck with the schedule I'd given him.
I now regretted it, because I had no way of knowing what he was doing when we were apart.
Our sexual encounters grew hotter by the day, but Darius found a way to stop it before we actually had sex every time. I wasn't sure whether to be irritated with him for that or not.
He brought me a few new brands of black lipstick to try, and one of them really was streak free, so I decided to forgo the irritation for the moment.
On my fourth day without being able to stalk him, I texted Kat again.
Me
Can I have the login for your security cameras at the café Dare works at?
Kat
I think I could go to prison for giving you the login
But Dare would be excited if you stayed at the shop with him while he works
You could hang out behind the counter with him.
I made a face at my phone.
Me
I'm not going to just stand there while he works
It would be awkward, and people would stare
Kat
Yeah, probably
Being mated to a fae usually means people are going to stare anyway, though
Me
That sounds miserable
Kat
It's just different
You get used to it
Me
Maybe YOU got used to it
Kat
He would love it if you were there
Me
I'd probably kill someone for flirting with him
They all do it
I've seen it
Kat
Yeahhhh they do, but they probably wouldn't if you were there
Me
Maybe
I might kill them just for looking at him with my current state of mind, though
Kat
I get it
Tbh I would probably kill someone for flirting with Callum too
Me
That bastard is way too scary for anyone to attempt to flirt with
Kat
Right
I love it
I snorted.
Maybe I could be friends with Kat.
Kat
I think people have been less flirty with Dare since the media team posted about him being mated
I can watch the security footage to check, if you want
Me
You can watch it, but I can't?
Darius would let me watch if he knew it was an option
Kat
Want me to ask him?
Me
No, he might say no
Kat
He wouldn't
But I still couldn't give you the login
Me
Bitch
Kat
My wolf is wagging her tail now that she's been recognized
Me
Cute
Kat
Now she wants you to cuddle with her
As if she doesn't get enough cuddles from Callum
Me
I can't picture him cuddling
Kat
Neither could I, when I met him
You adjust to the fae, eventually
Me
Doesn't seem likely for me
Kat
Technically, if I was looking at the security footage to see if people were still flirting with Dare, I couldn't stop you from watching over my shoulder
Me
Omg yes
Where and when?
Kat
You have to bring me cake if you come
A slice, from my coffee shop
I ate the whole cake in my fridge already, and I don't want to admit it to Callum
Me
He tries to limit how much cake you eat?
I'll kill him for you, for free
Kat
Lol, no
My office is currently overloaded with chocolate thanks to him
He does that when I'm going into heat
He won't admit it, but he'll be offended if I only want the cake, so I don't want him to know I'm eating more. You have to bring it, and let me eat it, but claim it's yours when he inevitably peeks in while we're watching the cameras
Me
Do I have to socialize to pick up the cake?
Kat
I can text an employee and have them run it out to you, so you only have to see one person
Me
I guess I can manage that
When?
Kat
Right now?
Me
K
Kat sent me the information.
I got dressed, threw my hair in a high ponytail, and put on my usual heavy cat-eye eyeliner along with some mascara. Both were also courtesy of Darius, and I grudgingly loved the products. My black lipstick followed them on, and I felt a lot more ready to face Kat and a café employee.
My skin was significantly less gray than it had been before I started drinking Dare's blood, but I didn't mind it. I actually kind of liked it.
When I was ready, I focused my shadows on a gas station near the coffee shop Kat had texted me the location of.
My magic responded significantly slower than usual.
My forehead creased at the slowness.
Was transporting through them still safe if they were acting like that?
I wasn't sure.
I debated an attempt silently for a few seconds before throwing caution to the wind and going for it.
Usually, the landing was smooth when I transported.
This time, the magic dropped me across the parking lot from where I told it to. One of my feet was higher than the other, too.
I lost my balance and stumbled to the rough asphalt hard enough to leave a gash in one of my knees. My groan of pain was quiet, but impossible to suppress.
I felt eyes on me as I stood up and brushed myself off with a shaky hand. There was blood trailing down my leg from the gash, but I was still in the parking lot, and people were looking at me.
So, I ignored the wound.
And strode in the direction of the coffee shop, only wobbling a little, as I pretended nothing was wrong at all.
My cropped tee had the name of a video game on it, courtesy of my new personal shopper (aka Darius). The casual clothes made me feel slightly self-conscious as I walked.
I didn't look exactly like myself. Usually, I tried to come off a little scarier. I didn't want people looking at me too closely or, god forbid, trying to talk to me.
Hopefully, my makeup would achieve what my outfit couldn't.
No one tried to talk to me as I walked behind the café and took a seat on the concrete, next to the employee entrance.
I grimaced as I checked out the wound.
I hadn't really bled before I bit Darius. On the rare occasion that I got hurt, there was only shadows. It had been pretty weird.
This was worse, though.
At least blood was normal?
I grabbed my phone with a shaky hand and texted Kat.
Me
My transportation of choice isn't going to work out, but I'm behind your café
Can you send the cake out? I'm going to download a ride app
Kat
Your shadows? What happened?
Me
I'm turning back into a vampire unfortunately
Too much blood in me to travel that way now I guess
Kat
Are you okay?
I stared down at the phone.
That question was... different.
I didn't interact with people enough for any of them to care about me, other than Darius.
It was strange that this woman I'd never even met was now asking if I was okay. It kind of made me feel something. I didn't know what.
Me
Yeah, I'm fine
Kat
Good
I don't think you'll need to worry about a ride app
Me
Why not?
The back door of the café opened, and I looked up immediately.
Darius stepped out with a to-go box in his hand
Oh.
Right.
Should've seen that coming.
I texted Kat.
Me
You're sneaky
Kat
You pick it up when you hang out with the fae long enough ;)
Dare's entire expression brightened when he saw me.
That made me feel something, too.
"Hey, Shadow." He covered the distance between us and kneeled beside me, dropping the to-go box and grabbing my leg. He tipped my knee toward him. "What the fuck happened?"
"My shadows don't like me anymore."
"Why not?"
"You're turning me back into a vampire."
"So they're hurting you?"
"Nah. I tried to transport with them, but they didn't respond right. I crashed. I don't think I can transport anymore."
His expression tightened. "Shit. I'm sorry. I'll get you a car."
"That seems drastic."
"You need a way to get around. I'm going to grab the first-aid kit. Don't move."
He was inside the café before I could respond, and came back quickly with a small, hard plastic box in his hand. He pulled things out while I watched.
"I don't know how to drive," I said.
"Darke didn't teach you?"
"He offered a few dozen times, but I turned him down. When I learned how to travel through the shadows, he stopped asking."
"You'll pick it up fast. I'll teach you." He tore open two cleaning wipes. "This is probably going to hurt."
I winced as he carefully wiped my wound, and cleaned the blood off my leg too.
It felt strange to have him take care of me. Intimate, almost. I wasn't sure whether to love that feeling or hate it.
"You don't have to teach me."
"I know. I'm the one who offered." He bandaged my knee much faster than I would've.
I had never used bandaids of any kind. I'd never really been hurt before, and most vampires would just drink blood to speed the healing of any small wounds. This one would probably be gone pretty soon after I bit him again.
"Do you want to teach me?" I asked.
"It sounds like fun, and I want you to be able to get around the city safely. You don't have to decide now. We can go to a car dealership after work."
"I'll think about it."
He flashed me a small grin. "You can think about it while we look at vehicles so I can surprise you with one if you can't choose." Darius let go of my leg and closed the first-aid kit. "How did Kat charm you into hanging out with her?"
That must've been the excuse she'd given him, so he didn't know that we were spying on him with the cameras.
"She said she needed someone to smuggle her cake without her mate knowing. I think everyone else was busy."
"Bonding over cake, huh?"
"I guess."
"Their place isn't far from here. I'll give you a ride."
"You have work," I pointed out.
"It's near the middle of my shift, so they owe me a break anyway." Darius stood up and offered me a hand. When I took it, he hauled me to my feet and pulled me to his chest.
He kissed my nose. "You'll heal faster if you bite me."
My fangs itched at the suggestion. "Theoretically."
"Definitely."
I made a face.
"I'll be right back." Darius squeezed my hip lightly and stepped back. "I want that lipstick on my throat alongside your bite marks when my break is over."
He still hadn't let me heal the ones that were now scarring, just like he wanted them to. I was pretty sure he'd gotten something from a spellcaster to make them scar more, and faster, but I hadn't asked.
Anything the spellcasters created to work on scars was incredibly painful. I wasn't sure why. I'd tried one of the scar reduction creams a year or two after I got out of the cellar, but it hurt so badly for so many days that I threw the ointment out and never tried it again.
Tattoos were less painful, and the pain was over quickly, so I'd gotten an assload of those to hide my scars instead.
Darius went inside with the first aid kit, and returned a minute later with a gigantic chai latte. He draped an arm over my shoulder, and though I hesitated a beat, I tucked an arm around his back as we walked to his Ducati.
If anyone saw us, they'd definitely be taking pictures.
For once, I didn't mind.
"Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?" he asked.
"Nope."
"You'll either love it or hate it." He lifted me onto the bike and climbed on behind me, taking my latte from my hand and putting it in a cupholder in front of him.
"Have you ever ridden with someone on a motorcycle before?" I asked him, eyeing the setup and feeling less certain about it by the moment.
"Nope." He pulled his helmet over my head and leaned forward, squashing me toward the speedometer a little.
"It's not too late to book a ride," I called out, as he started the bike.
"It is. I want you to be my first," he teased, tickling my side lightly.
I bit back a laugh, squirming away from him. "Don't try that while we're moving."
"I won't." He kissed my shoulder before starting the engine, lifting part of both our shirts so his bare abdomen met a slice of my back. "Probably should've put you behind me, but there's always next time."
"Wait, wha—"
The motorcycle rolled forward smoothly, and I bit back a shriek as I grabbed Dare's thighs.
He laughed and called over the rumble of the engine, "I'll take it slow!"
"Fuck you!"
"You should!"
I would've elbowed him in the side, but I wasn't willing to risk my life to do it.
I was tense at first, but he really did drive slowly. I relaxed a little more as the ride went on, and by the time he parked in front of a cold-looking modern mansion, I was even disappointed it was over.
Darius held my hip to keep me balanced as I slipped off the motorcycle and pulled my helmet off. He held on as I turned back toward him, passing the protective gear over.
With his free hand, he tapped the side of his throat. "Come on, baby."
I did want to bite him.
And I was craving his blood.
I was pretty sure that feeling was going to be constant until I'd completely replaced the shadows in my veins with blood. Maybe even after.
"I want your bite. Tell me what you want in exchange," he said.
"You already give me everything I want."
"There's got to be something."
I studied him.
There was something bothering me. I wasn't sure how he'd feel about it, though.
"I'm tired of staying at the hotel. I need a place to live that doesn't have so many other people around. I could go back to my apartment, but—"
"No. The whole city knows where you used to live, now. Your neighbor was the one who told me where to find you. I'll have someone print up a book of the properties I own around the city. You can pick any one you want. They all have plenty of security."
I agreed.
Darius dropped his helmet and tugged on my hip. I let him slowly pull me back onto the motorcycle, so I was sitting on his lap, facing him.
He lowered his lips to my ear, and my eyes fluttered shut as he nipped my lobe lightly. "You'd better bite me before I'm any more tempted to fuck you on this bike than I already am."
"Biting you isn't going to help with that temptation."
"I don't care."
I laughed softly, and gave him what we both wanted as I sank my fangs into his throat.
He was fucking delicious.
I forced myself to let go before I was ready, and managed to heal the new wounds I'd left on him before he could tell me to leave them.
Darius slid me off the Ducati, put the chai latte in one of my hands, and placed the cake slice in the other before he swatted my ass. "I'll pick you up after work. Have fun. Tell Callum to fuck off if he tries to talk to you."
I doubted it would be fun, and wasn't going to tell Callum to fuck off (again), but I did have just the smallest shred of hope.