A Perfect Blood - Ким Харрисон 25 стр.


Wayde waited with the patience of a wolf, his arms across his chest and a tightness to his lips. I fiddled with my coffee cup, finally saying, Ivy came home smelling like a friend. She came home happy, I said louder when he started making noises of disbelief again. And Im glad for that. She deserves it. And Jenks.

I looked at the table and pushed my cup around some more. Jenks is never going to find another person like Matalina to share his life with, but seeing him and Belle together . . . They fit, you know? I said, not caring if he didnt get it. I used to be in there with them. Im seeing me starting to slide out. It needs to happen, but I dont like it.

Unfortunately, that was the truth. They were growing, and I wasnt. Or rather, I wasnt growing in the direction I wanted.

People change, Wayde offered hesitantly, but it was obvious that he didnt get it.

Tell me about it. I took another sip of coffee, feeling sorry for myself even as I enjoyed the rich, sweet caffeine. I used to be the one changing and they were the ones trying to keep up. Now Im sitting still and theyre the ones moving on. Without me.

Waah, waah, waah. Wayde reached for a scone, the bag crackling.

The Turn take it, Id opened up to him, and he thought I was being self-centered. Forget I said anything, okay? I said, wishing I had kept my mouth shut and let him believe Id left because I was mad about last night. Im not going to shrink down and be a pixy, and Im not going to sign my will over to a vampire, even if I do love her. It would destroy both of us.

Waydes chewing stopped.

This is good, I insisted, my eyes on the torn bag as I folded it up around Jenkss scone. All of it. Jenks and Ivy. Its good. They will live longer, happier lives without me, and Im glad. I just wish it didnt hurt so much.

I understand. Wayde put his hand on mine, stopping me from crushing Jenkss scone. I grew up surrounded by big egos, Rachel, and I get it.

I pulled away from him, shoving Jenkss scone into my bag. I do not have a big ego.

Yes you do, he said, wiping the crumbs from his beard and chuckling. Its probably how you survived living with Ivy. Get over it. Youve got a big heart to match, and your dad is just as bad. But as you say, theyre getting on with their lives and you arent. Why do you suppose that is?

Staring at him, I flopped back against the seat. If I knew that, I wouldnt be sitting here with you in your pjs, drinking coffee.

And still he smiled, looking far too disorganized to be giving me advice. Jenks and Ivy know their lives are going to be here. Right now and today, he said, tapping the tip of his finger on the table. Theyre making decisions to move forward. Ivy is letting go of her pastthat means youand finding partners who fulfill her emotional, intellectual, and physical needs. Jenks is doing the same. You arent, because you know in your gut that you wont find what you need here.

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The sweet coffee in me seemed to go sour, and I stiffened. Beg pardon?

He shrugged and leaned back out of easy reach, looking grungy and disheveled. For a smart woman, you are clueless sometimes. Youre a demon.

Frowning, I glanced over the coffeehouse to make sure no one had heard him. You want to say that a little louder, maybe?

His teeth showing in a quick grin, he took a sip of coffee, clearly thinking he had the upper hand again. I dont blame you for fighting it at first, but youre a demon and you need to accept that. All this about Kalamack giving you a choice that really isnt one aside. Its all you got, woman. Be the demon. The more you try to make the demon a witch, the more you hurt yourself. Why not try it the other way around? See what happens. If it doesnt work, theyll still be here. Waiting for you.

His attention was on my charmed silver bracelet, and I covered it up. It sounded so simple. Maybe he was right.

Wayde let a hand hit the table, making me jump. Never mind, he said in a tired voice. Dont listen to me. Im just pissed you snuck out. You belong here with Ivy and Jenks. Maybe all you need is some new friends. Some who you can just . . . hang with for a while with no strings attached.

My lips quirked. No strings attached wasnt how I worked. But not you, obviously, I said, and Wayde took another sip of coffee.

Obviously. Rachel, you are one crazy bitch. But I like you. Your loyalty impresses me. It makes putting up with the rest of your crap worth it.

Gee, thanks, Wayde. I lifted my cup to him in a salute. From you, Ill take that as a compliment. Again the coffee slipped into me, and the tightness in my shoulders finally started to ease. So, ah, how did you find me?

Wayde snorted. I have the bus schedules and routes memorized, and you left your coffee on the counter. There was only one place youd be, he said, and I sighed. When I read a person wrong, I really get it wrong. Your phone is ringing.

Yes, it was ringing, humming at the bottom of my bag. It had been for the last couple of minutes. It was probably Jenks, ticked that Id gone out without him. For crying out loud, Ivy knew where I was.

Yup, I said, my expression bland as I tugged my bag closer and reached in to get the phone, the multiple flashes of green from the amulets catching my attention as my aura touched them. I glanced at the incoming number, then froze. It was the church, but what gave me pause were the amulets.

They were activeand pinging on something.

Oh my God! I said as I dropped the humming phone into my lap and snatched up an amulet, not believing it when the green held steady. Its my scatter-detection amulet, I said, pulse racing as I pulled it out, thrilled. Holy crap, its working! Wayde, its working! Here, hold it!

What, me? he exclaimed as I shoved the amulet at him, almost knocking over his coffee. I dont know how to work this thing.

Just hold it, I said as I fumbled for the phone and flipped it open. If you have an aura, it works. Damn! I cant believe its working! Somewhere within a mile or two is something linked to that poor man they strung up in Washington Park.

From behind the counter, Mark slammed something shut, clearly having heard me.

Wayde was looking at the amulet as if it were a chunk of rotting flesh, gingerly cradling it in two hands as I flipped the phone open. You said you werent going to go out to any sites unless they were secure.

The I.S. and the FIB will be there, I said, excited. Besides, HAPA is long gone. Were going to find an empty room unless were really lucky. The receiver clicked open. Ivy?

No, its me, Jenks said, his tone sounding tinny over the phone lines. What the hell do you think youre doing going out without Wayde? Hes more ticked than a shaved cat.

I know, I said, looking at the uncomfortable Were sitting across from me. Hes with me. Were cool. Ivy knew where I was, so whats the big deal?

You ditched me! he accused, and I winced.

You didnt have your winter clothes on, and I had to catch the bus! I said, then lowered my voice. Wake up Ivy, will you? And get your working blacks on. The scatter-detection charms went active. Im at Juniors with Wayde.

Tinks little red panties, Rache! You ditching us?

No more than everyone seems to be ditching me, I thought, then shoved my mini pity party away. Did I not just say put your working clothes on? Get Ivy and get out here. Im calling Glenn next, and then Nina. I glanced at Wayde. Could you bring out a pair of jeans and a shirt for Wayde while youre at it?

Jenkss snort told me we were okay. Yeah, I got it, he said, his kids shrieking in the background. Ill ask Belle to watch my kids.

Ill wait for you here as long as I can, but if the FIB or the I.S. gets here first, Ill be with them, I said, wondering if I should try Glenn at home. He might be off shift, but hed come in for this, long night or not.

Gotcha, Rache! he said cheerfully, and hung up.

I cleared the phone and started scrolling for Glenns home number. Id try there first. I looked up when Wayde chuckled. What? I said, blinking at him.

Youre funny, he said, draping the amulet over my neck and tweaking my nose. Im going to see if they have a disposable shaver in the bathroom. Think about what I said, okay?

He stood, and I stared at him.

About having casual friends? he added, looking back at me. They dont make the pain any less when you move on, but they help cover it up. He hesitated, but I didnt know what to say.

Dont run off, okay? he finally added, looking good as he made his confident, casual, and scruffy way to the mens room, exchanging a masculine greeting with the barista as he went. And what did he mean by think about having casual friends? That hadnt been an invitation . . .

Had it?

Chapter Nine

Even at a slow thirty mph on the back of Ivys bike, the wind was frigid, and I pressed my head into Waydes shoulder, shivering. He was still in his boxers and T-shirt, and if he could take it, I could, too. The feelings of dread and anticipation had tightened my gut until I felt ill. The sweet coffee wasnt sitting right, and the rumble of Ivys bike under me, usually soothing, only wound my tension tighter.

We were down by the waterfront, the Cincy side of things, and when our momentum shifted, I looked up through the cloudy goggles that Ivy kept in her side bag for unexpected riders. We were at a stop sign, and whereas I knew Wayde would probably not have stopped under most circumstances, he did now.

I put down a foot to help keep us balanced. The smell of soap and Were drifted back, and I breathed it in as I pushed my goggles up and looked at the amulet in my hand. This was why hed stopped, not the sleek black new-model Lexus following us.

Keep going, I said loudly, seeing no change in the amulets glow, and Wayde nodded.

The heat from the Lexuss engine hit the back of my calves, and my foot rose to the rest as we accelerated. Nina was driving it. I suppose I could have done this from the comfort of her borrowed front seat instead of freezing my ass off out here behind Wayde with no real coat, no leather, and garden shoes instead of my boots, but I wasnt willingly going to put myself alone in a car with her, even if she had been polite at the coffeehouse. It was obvious she still wasnt happy about my forcing them to give primary jurisdiction to the FIB, even if I had agreed to see the run through. If I didnt finish this quietly and to their satisfaction, they were going to frame me or wipe my memory, or both.

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