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Zaybarz . . . yum . . . they were delicate elfin wafers, and they provided a much-needed shot of energy to the system, although it was short-lived. Excellent for that middle-of-the-battle fatigue. I wondered if Sharah might have one to spare but decided I didn’t want to hang around any longer than necessary. Best to avoid running into Chase again.
Smoky acquiesced for once, backing away as she shakily maneuvered toward the front of the building. He followed a couple steps behind, and I found myself getting a little irritated. She was my sister; I should be by her side, not him. I flashed a nasty stare at his back and caught Morio looking at me out of the corner of his eye. He dropped back to walk beside me.
“Are you okay, Delilah? Did Smoky do something to piss you off?” he said, his voice barely audible.
I frowned, then sighed heavily. “No, no. Something happened—something that doesn’t involve him, or you, or even Camille, and I guess I’m just looking for a place to vent.” Swallowing back tears, I gave him a little shrug. “It just sucks. I really need to talk to Camille, but she’s had such a rough time that I don’t want to make her feel worse.”
The fox demon shook his head, his dark eyes glittering with understanding. “She won’t mind. When we get home, Smoky and I’ll go buy takeout for everybody, and you and Camille can have a long talk. That work for you?” He gave me a sweet smile that made me choke up again.
Maybe Camille was onto something. Maybe I shouldn’t be dating FBHs. I might be part human—all too human—but maybe I needed somebody who understood the Fae side of me. Or the Were side, I thought, my mind flashing to Zachary. He’d predicted a depressing outcome to my liaison with Chase, too, but I’d thought it was just jealousy. Now I wondered if he’d just been trying to spare me heartbreak.
I managed to eke out a smile. “Thanks, Morio. Camille’s a lucky woman. I hope she knows it.”
His eyes crinkled, and he let out a short laugh. “Oh, she does. Trust me. Camille never lets Trillian or Smoky or me feel like we’re just window dressing. She may not show it to the world, but she’s got a terribly romantic side.”
I nodded, then took a deep breath and quickened my pace until I was walking at Camille’s right side. Smoky glanced at me. Whether he had overheard my conversation or whether he just sensed my need, he dropped back, leaving me to steady my sister as we headed to the parking lot.
Camille glanced at me as I helped her over to her Lexus. “Something happened. I can tell. You need to talk about it?”
“Yeah,” I said, “but not here. Morio said he’d take Smoky, and they’d go get dinner after we get you home. Maybe we can talk then, if you’re feeling up to it?” Sometimes I still needed my older sister’s advice. Menolly and I’d relied on Camille ever since our mother died. Camille smoothed over the frayed edges; she picked up the pieces and put them back together again. She was the glue that held our family together. Maybe that’s why we indulged her whims most of the time.
“No problem,” she said, wincing as I helped her slide into the passenger seat. “It’s a good thing Morio has a license. I’d hate to see what Smoky would do behind the wheel.” She flashed me a big old grin.
“He’d probably end up behind bars.” I laughed, then sobered. “Thanks, I needed that chuckle.” I kissed her on the cheek before heading back to my jeep, where Rozurial and Vanzir were taking turns playing some sort of Game Boy game. I hopped in the driver’s seat, motioned for them to fasten their seat belts, and started the engine.
“She going to be okay?” Roz said quietly, as if he could sense my mood.
I nodded. “Yeah, she’ll be fine. But I’m all talked out, so if you boys don’t mind, can we limit the conversation on the way home? I’m beat and tired and not feeling very good.”
“Sure thing,” Vanzir said. We made the rest of the trip in silence.
Iris hadn’t returned from the library by the time we got home. Roz took the hint when I asked him to make himself scarce. He mumbled something about checking out a lead he’d thought of regarding who had summoned the venidemons, and he took Vanzir with him.
I impatiently waited as Smoky tucked in Camille on the sofa. Only then did he allow Morio to drag him off to the store. The dragon hated going shopping, but he was getting accustomed to it.
As soon as they left, I dropped into the rocking chair and stared at Camille, who immediately pushed off the blanket and propped herself up on the cushions.
“You’d think I was dying,” she said. “I love the dude, but damn, he’s overprotective.”
“Just wait until you find Trillian.” I winked at her, not feeling up to chatter but realizing she was as bereft as I was, although for entirely different reasons. “I can hardly wait to see the fireworks when he finds out you’ve married both Morio and Smoky. And that you expect him to join in the fun.”
She sniffed. “You know perfectly well that Trillian’s straight. And so is Smoky.”
“And Morio?” I was killing time, and I knew it. When I finally told her about Chase, it would make it all too real.
“The subject’s never come up. I can tell you that if he tried to put the moves on Trillian and Smoky, they’d eat him alive. And not in the good way.” She shrugged. “Now, will you tell me what the hell happened? You look like death warmed over.”
“Two things, actually. First, and we’ll talk about this later when Menolly wakes up, the Autumn Lord has ordered me to go back to Otherworld, to the forest of Darkynwyrd in search of a plant to help me control my shifting into a panther. He insists that I do so now—as in yesterday.” I expected her to nix the idea, but instead, her eyes lit up, and she pushed herself to a sitting position.
“Home?” Camille’s voice trembled. “If we went back home, then Morio and Smoky and I could test our bond to see if it will lead us to Trillian. We’ve been working on strengthening the soul link. I had no idea when I agreed to marry them in the binding ritual that the chain created would turn out to be such a strong force. Kitten, I can feel it if they’re too far away from me. It’s like part of me feels stretched. Kind of freaks me out, to be honest.”
“That would be nerve-racking. So you don’t object to the trip?” It was good to know I could count on her, and the thought of having Morio and Smoky along was also reassuring.
“Hell no, I’m so there. Menolly probably won’t be able to come. I’d rather not journey into the Darkynwyrd forest during the night, so she’s stuck here.” Camille rubbed her head and slid back onto the pillows. “The pain reliever Sharah gave me is making me dizzy. Now tell me what else happened—because this sure wasn’t what was making you cry.”
Voice shaking, I spilled out the whole story. “I can’t believe I feel so betrayed. Isn’t our father’s blood supposed to cushion us against jealousy?”
Camille laughed. “Oh Kitten, honey, no. No. Our father’s blood only gives us that potential, but it’s so much more complex than just blood. And think—you’re part cat. You have territorial issues. That’s the only reason I haven’t gone out and picked up a few kittens. I knew we couldn’t bring a cat into the household because you’d hiss and spit and make a fuss and pee on the floor instead of in your litter box. Which—speak of the devil—Iris is complaining about again.”
