“How do you do?” Killian asked, standing and holding out his hand.
Val shook hands with him, nodding. I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes because he was wearing the ever-present pair of sunglasses that he seemed to wear. “Good to meet you. So, you’re the boyfriend.”
I wasn’t sure exactly how he did it, but somehow Val made “the boyfriend” sound dismissive. He turned back to me, dropping Killian’s hand. “You look lovely tonight, January. So, have there been any more complaints about the Stellarview acreage?”
I shook my head. “No, so far your fences seem to be keeping people out. Thank you again for helping.” I didn’t like acknowledging that Conjure Ink owed him one, but the fact was, we did, and without him, chances were there would be more victims popping up dead from that whole mess.
“I’m happy I was able to help. Listen, I’m having a cocktail party next week. I’d like it if you would attend.” He paused just long enough to make his point before adding, “Your companion is welcome, as well.” Turning to Killian, he smiled, and I could see the edge of his fangs peeking down behind his lips. I couldn’t help but think there was an implied threat there.
“I think I’m busy—”
“You don’t even know which night it’s on,” Val interrupted me. “A week from Wednesday evening, eight p.m. I’ll have my secretary mail you an invitation.” Before I could say another word, he turned and headed toward the front of the restaurant.
I rested my head against the back of the booth. “Damn it, he’s the last person I wanted to see.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty full of himself,” Killian said, glaring at the departing vampire’s back. “You aren’t going, are you? To the party?”
I let out a sigh. “I don’t know if I need to put in an appearance or not. Technically, he did a huge favor for the company, but he considers it more a favor for me. I have the uneasy feeling that someday, he’s going to call in his marker and demand some favor in return. I’d like to stay on his good side.”
Killian’s eyes narrowed. “So we’re going, then? Wonderful. Just how I want to spend my time—around a bunch of fangsters.”
I cleared my throat. I had taken the whiny attitude off my ex for too long. I wasn’t going to put up with it from my boyfriend.
“We all have to do things we don’t like. You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to, but I should put in an appearance. I’m sure I can get Tad or Hank to go with me.” I knew I could have goaded Killian into attending if I dangled the “If you don’t go, Val will think we aren’t really together” line, but I didn’t feel like playing games. I was tired and Val’s appearance had done nothing to shift my mood.
Killian stared at me for a moment, then frowned as he ducked his head. I knew him well enough by now to know that was how he knew he’d been playing the ass a little too convincingly.
“I’m sorry. Of course I’ll go with you. I know you aren’t looking forward to attending.”
“Thank you, and you’re right—I’m not. Now, where’s the waitress? I’m hungry.” I went back to studying my menu. The next moment a carnation was tickling my nose. “Stop it,” I said, trying not to grin. Killian had slipped one of the flowers out of the vase on the table and he was trying to tease me with it. “It’s not going to work—I don’t like it when you get sullen.”
“Please, beautiful lady, please take pity on the poor wolf shifter. He just doesn’t like other men assuming they can harass his girlfriend,” Killian said in a goofy falsetto.
“Oh, all right.” I set down my menu and grabbed the carnation out of his hand. “I forgive you. Give me that.” I put the flower back in the vase, but I was laughing now. “Honestly, I appreciate that you want me all to yourself, but dude, all Val did was invite us to a cocktail party.”
“No, all he did was to invite you. I was a deliberate afterthought.” But Killian shook it off, and called the waitress over.
I ordered mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, and a bowl of soup, and Killian ordered a big fat steak, and the rest of the evening passed comfortably.
“Do you mind if I stay over?” he whispered after we were home and snuggled in bed after a vigorous tryst—sex with shifters proved to be more athletic than sex with humans. “I want to make love to you again, and afterward, I’ll probably just be so drowsy that I’ll fall asleep. I can get up early and go home to dress for work.”
“Of course you can stay,” I said, sliding back into his arms, the sheets soft against my skin. He was warm, and musky, and he had already sent me round the moon and back several times. But he was still aroused and hungry for more. In answer, I pressed my breasts against his chest and draped one leg over his hips beneath the covers. As he murmured softly in my ear and once again, slid deep inside of me, I felt like the luckiest woman on earth.
Killian surprised me by waking me up at six a.m. for yet another go-round. I was still a little sore from the night before—the predatory shifters were ardent lovers and Killian was almost overendowed—but I gave in, just happy to have a wonderful sex life again. Ellison and I had chemistry at first, but that shifted as the weight I had dropped from having mono began to reappear. By then we were married, and he seemed to lose interest once he put the ring on my finger.
I padded into the shower, stopping Killian from joining me. “If you take a shower with me, we’ll both be late to work. I know how much you love shower sex, and while I do too, just…no. I’ve got a busy day and I’m sure you do too. You can take a shower in the guest room, if you like.”
He laughed. “No, I have to get home anyway. I’ll feed Xi and Klaus before I go, though, and I’ll make sure to lock the door behind me.”
I nodded, kissing him before he headed out of the room in just his jeans. He was muscled, and looked mighty fine bare-chested, but I still couldn’t fathom how he could run around outside without shoes or shirt in the winter. He told me his wolf nature helped, but I had decided he was just hot-blooded and the chill in the air would act like a cold shower.
As he headed downstairs, I walked over to the window and looked out. The backyard was a brilliant green, and the Mystic Wood was clouded in mist that rolled out from the interior of the massive thicket that abutted Moonshadow Bay. I paused at the window, watching as a golden figure darted out of the wood, then paused in the yard. From here, I couldn’t tell what it was, but it gave me goose bumps and I quickly swung away from the window, then edged back for another peek. The figure was gone again, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
You’re right to shield yourself. Esmara’s voice echoed in my head. That was one of the Woodlings, and they don’t care for people—be they witch, shifter, or human.
What’s a Woodling? Have I ever met one before?
Once, when you were very young but I doubt you remember it. Memory is such a curious concept. So many things can disrupt it, even when it contains vital information we need to recall. Guard yours, and ask yourself, do I remember everything I need to?
And then, before I could ask what that was all about, Esmara was gone again. I could feel her pull away. Frowning—it irritated me when the Ladies spoke in riddles—I headed into the bathroom for my shower.