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He finally put his feet in motion and set her up with a brush. He showed her some other things she could make use of, like a toothbrush and toothpaste. He finally left the bathroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. “We should eat,” he called out.
“I’m starved. Do we have food here?”
“No, but I can take care of that.”
Rumy would help out in a heartbeat.
Once he’d connected telepathically with Rumy, he sent a mental image of the cave. Rumy promised he’d bring a meal and a few other provisions. Marius suggested some girl-type stuff for Shayna, including some clothes if possible.
By the time he hung up, he felt grateful all over again for having a friend like Rumy. He knew he wouldn’t have survived otherwise and not just recently but probably a dozen times over the past several decades when a battle against the darker forces in his world had turned bloody and lethal. More than once, Rumy and his team at The Erotic Passage had patched him up.
When Rumy arrived, Marius didn’t leave the bedroom doorway. He didn’t want Rumy to see Shayna even in his robe, though th
e garment hung well past her knees. None of his rooms had proper doors and he felt protective of her. She didn’t need another vampire looking at her until she was dressed.
“Thank you,” Shayna said quietly.
Marius had his back to her while she slipped into the jeans and T-shirt Rumy had brought. There were other clothes as well, but the casual set would do in his home.
She’d already blow-dried her hair so that it hung in two straight lines over her shoulders. Her eyes and face had a healthy glow, a real sign she was siphoning his power. “Any aches?”
She shook her head as she straightened the bottom of the T-shirt. “How do I look? Presentable?”
One thing that was true of either human or vampire females: They worried about their looks.
He went to her and settled his hands on her shoulders. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” She put a hand to her stomach. “I’ve been smelling the food and I’m starved.”
“Then let’s eat.”
As he led her into the living area, Rumy held up one of Marius’s antique LPs. “How the hell did you find this Billie Holiday?”
“I have an agent, always looking. Paid a fortune for it.”
“No doubt.”
Marius turned toward Shayna. “I’d like you to meet Rumy, a good friend and owner of The Erotic Passage.” He turned toward Rumy. “Meet Shayna Prentiss.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Rumy.”
“And you. I hear you saved our boy’s ass here.”
She glanced at Marius. “And he saved mine.” She nodded several times, but when she looked back at Rumy her gaze fell to the LP and she blinked.
Marius asked, “What is it? Something wrong?”
* * *
Shayna stared at the vinyl record that Rumy held in his hands. Marius had asked her something, but she was too caught up in staring first at the LP then at the cave’s different living areas to process his words or to respond.
She moved slowly in the direction of the sitting area.
“Shayna,” Marius said quietly, tracking next to her. “Are you having another vision?”
“She has visions?” Rumy sounded stunned.
She turned and shook her head at Marius. “Not a vision this time. I’m just … looking.”
