Chapter Twenty
“If there is anything I can do to change your mind, please let me know.”
The prim vampire shook Theo’s hand and nodded once, curt enough to know that she wouldn’t be changing her mind.
The moment the door clicked shut Theo’s head fell into his hands. She wouldn’t even give the city her three months’ notice. Two weeks, that’s all she offered. How, in Phoenar’s name, was he supposed to find a new Director of Housing in two weeks?
A light rap at the door and Stella popped her head in.
“Did she…?”
Theo nodded, unable to look up. “Two weeks,” he grumbled.
There were few people he would allow to witness him in such defeat, but Stella had stood at his side for decades. Never complaining, never demanding more. No, that wasn’t true. She complained plenty, but Theo liked that about her. At least he knew where he stood.
She closed the door, leaning against it. “Her assistant seems competent,” she mused. “I can call him in for a meeting? See if he can hack it while we check out alternatives?”
Theo nodded. When had the job become so hard? It had always been a lot, but in recent months it was one trial after another. “Anyone applied for the Conservation Officer role?” he asked.
“I’ll call the assistant,” Stella replied, her avoidance answer enough.
She slipped out and Theo returned to the paperwork strewn on his desk, trying to remember what he had been doing before the impromptu meeting.
Donor numbers.
He sighed, finding the report he was cross-referencing. It was the kind of busy work he would normally give to Stella, but she had enough on her plate.
A number of key pieces of information were redacted, most irritatingly, the username of the person who supposedly printed the damning spreadsheet.
The numbers didn’t match. Every donor listed on the mystery document was in the Ashhaven database, but many of the ones on the Ashhaven register failed to appear on the new log.
The Stonehaven log, for despite much of the identifying information being missing, that was indeed the crest of Stonehaven’s council in the top right corner.
He ran a finger down the list, pausing when he found a familiar name.
Verity Harper. Finding her on the database, he clicked on her name, bringing up a photo of his Verity.
Beautiful, if a little nervous-looking. The picture would have been taken at her first interview, warm golden brown hair, big green eyes, cheeks a little rosier than normal.
Maybe she didn’t like her photo being taken. He’d have to test that theory.
Reading over the rest of the file everything seemed in order, not that he looked at donor records often, that was Harris’s job. Blood type, medical history, employment, relationships. Theo didn’t look at the relationships tab. It didn’t feel right.
Clicking back, he was about to select another when the intercom buzzed. “Sir? Verity’s here.”
He checked his watch. Early. Not that he minded.
Their late morning donations had become the norm, her arriving as he finished work and hanging around, working, talking, or just being together.
She wouldn’t mind him continuing his investigating while she busied herself.
In fact, she would probably be better at it than him, but he wasn’t about to ask. Not with something this delicate.
“Send her in,” he told Stella, smoothing his shirt and standing.
His useless heart jumped at the memory. They were going to try. Once Abe left and everything calmed down. Once he could give her the attention she deserved.
The door cracked open, Verity slipping in, and Theo’s smile fell when he saw her face. He hoped she'd be happy to see him after their agreement but the tight draw of her brow and hard line of her mouth told him different.
“What is it?” he asked, hesitating. Unsure if he should go to her or if he’d misinterpreted their messages.
“Abe.”
The one word had his throat tightening, eyes searching her for injury as he rushed to her side.
“What happened?” he asked, taking her face in his hands.
“He came to the cafe,” she murmured, trying to hide the wobble in her voice.
“What?” Abe approached her, out in the open for all the world to see. For her friend to see. “What did he say? Did he do anything? Did he touch you?”
Theo’s mind raced as he checked her body again, turning her, searching for harm, for sights or scents that didn’t belong. He was going to fucking kill Abe.
“No,” she said, pulling back, eyes widening when he pulled her hand to his nose and sniffed.
There he was, not human, not vampire, that rare scene that didn’t make scent. Theo growled, eyes on hers.
“He kissed my hand, when he left, but that’s it.”
Fighting the snarl forming on his lips, Theo took her hand, soft and delicate, and scrubbed it on his sleeve, desperate to rid her of the Blessed.
“You’re staying with me,” he told her. “Until Abe’s gone…”
“I am not,” she demanded, pulling away and rubbing her hand.
“Yes, you are. And no more cafe, you stay where I can keep you safe…”
“Like fuck am I.” She turned her back on him, marching across the room to where he kept his whiskey.
“Verity…”
“No.”
“How am I meant to protect you if…”
“I said no, Theo,” she snapped, taking out two glasses and pouring herself a generous drink. “He isn’t going to just… steal me.”
“You don’t know him, what they’re like,” he said, beseeching her to see reason. She needed to stay where he could keep an eye on her. He’d set up the spare room for her, and she could work on her festival and…
“And what about my mum? And my dad? He knows where I live. And Cora? I’m not leaving her in the lurch because you’re being a territorial dick.” The whiskey hit her tongue, and she grimaced before taking another gulp. “No,” she said, and he knew that was final.
Striding to her side, he downed the drink she’d poured him before scowling at her - this fiery, disobedient beast - and the corner of his mouth quirked.
This was Verity. This was the exact reason he was willing to…
the reason he wanted to try. Because she would say no.
Because he knew she wouldn’t be pushed around and blindly agree to his demands.
He needed someone who pushed back, who told him he was being a…
territorial dick. Didn't stop it being as annoying as all hells though.
“What did he say?” he asked again.
She ran a finger around the edge of the glass, staring into the amber liquid as though it might answer for her before finally meeting his gaze. “He’s been in Cliffhaven.”
“What?” Why Viv would take Abe there was beyond him, what purpose would it serve? But he supposed that was her business. Either way, he shouldn’t be telling Verity about it. “What did he say?”
“Just that it was boring. I mean he didn’t say anything about…” her eyes darted to the door and Theo nodded.
“Right,” he said. Well, at least Abe wasn’t a total idiot.
“What about the flu?” she asked. “I know vampires can’t carry it but… he isn’t a vampire and…” she looked down to her hand again, nose scrunching. “You got a hanky?” she asked.
Finding his jacket hanging from the door, Theo fished out the pocket square and handed it to her. She dipped it in the whiskey before wiping it over the spot he’d kissed.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” he told her with a smirk. At least she wouldn’t smell of that arsehole anymore. “They aren’t vampires, but they’re close enough. Don’t tell him I said that though.”
Verity didn’t smile. Eyes downcast, she stared at the floor, unseeing, lost in thought and wiping that spot over and over. Theo took the whiskey soaked cloth, cradling her hands in his.
“Please, stay with me,” he tried, brushing a stray hair from her face.
Verity shook her head, refusing to look at him.
“Fine,” he grumbled, running a hand up her arm, giving her all the time in the world to pull away before wrapping her in his embrace. It took a moment for her to soften, to lean into him, breathing deep as he drew circles between her shoulder blades. “What else did he say?”
She only shook her head again, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
“You mean to tell me, he didn’t try to woo you?” Theo asked.
“Well, yeah,” she said, voice muffled in his shirt. “He kept calling me sweet Verity. Made me want to punch him.”
Theo snorted. “Well, that would send a message.”
Verity pulled back before sinking into a chair and Theo savoured her lingering warmth in his arms. She still wouldn’t look at him.
“Verity?” There was something else, there had to be.
“A couple of weeks,” she murmured.
Theo waited. She was still tense, still wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“And...?” He pushed, voice calmer than his mind. What was bothering her? What was worse than that Blessed sniffing around her?
She shook her head. “Nothing. Just… it’s a long time to have him around.”
Lie. Not a total lie, it was a long time to avoid him, but there was something beneath it, an unspoken truth that she didn’t dare voice. Her heartbeat was off, that steadfast thrum that his own subconsciously matched stuttered as a thought crossed her face.
Was it something Abe had said? Or… was she having second thoughts about their conversation last night?
They shouldn’t have spoken about it by text.
How dreadfully unromantic of him. She wore her affections on her sleeve, in her body and her scent, for weeks, and when he finally made a move - minor as it was - he did it by text.
Idiot. Gods she deserved better than that.
“Is Jesse coming to town soon?” she asked, snapping Theo from his thoughts. “With all the Abe stuff, him helping and everything. I’d like to thank him.”
Something warm flickered in his chest. She wanted to meet his brother. That had to be a good sign. Asking about his family, his only family, that meant long term. Right?
“That’s… sweet of you,” he said, smiling at what her words meant to him. “I doubt it though. He works a lot beyond the wall.”
And thank fuck for that. The last thing he needed was Jesse and Verity in the same room.
“Oh, does he come home for holidays?” she asked.
“Sometimes. I’ve mentioned your Ostara festival to him, I’m sure he’ll come if he can.”
Her lips scrunched, fighting a smile as pink spread across her cheeks. Warm eyes found his, far softer than they’d been moments ago. “You told him about that?”
“Of course.”
“And you’ve told him…” she trailed off, brows suggestively high.
Fighting a smile of his own, Theo held out a hand. “Come here,” he said, and was filled with no small amount of relief when she stood and willingly curled into his arms.
Something else bothered her, something she held back, but she could keep her secrets, Phoenar knew he had enough of his own. As long as he was there, by her side as she faced whatever haunted her, Theo could accept that.
“Two weeks,” he murmured into her hair. “We just have to manage two weeks. And then…” Theo held her tight as whatever seed of fear and doubt Abe had planted quickened her pulse again.
“Two weeks and we’re free,” Verity whispered.
It wasn’t until Theo climbed into bed, his hand reaching for the place that Verity might one day sleep, that he wondered: when had he told her Jesse’s name.