I could tell by the way she asked the question that Kat had no idea she was on speaker.
"Well, yeah. That's what we were doing when you called."
I thought Bade was going to choke. I put my hand over his mouth as she said, "This is Bade we're talking about right? The big, blond, Greek god looking guy down at Original Sin?"
"That's the one," I said, winking at Bade.
"I hate you," she said. "Are you really? Does Marco know about this?"
"Oh yeah, it was his suggestion," I said.
My eyes were beginning to water with the effort it took to keep from laughing.
"I don't believe this," she said, sounding frustrated. "Not that I'm deprived with Judas or anything, but Bade had to be hung like a horse, you saw the way those silk pants fit." When I didn't comment she said, "Well then, if you're going to sink to the depths of depravity, I want know: How big are we talking here? 'Ooo and Ah?' Or more like 'holy shit?' Or do you just put a saddle on that horse and ride?"
"How about more like you're on speaker, love?" Bade drawled.
"Oh. I hate you too," she said, but she was laughing. "You're not really having sex are you?"
"Not at the moment," he said with a laugh while I said, "No, Kat, we're not."
"Did you at least get a look at the goods?"
"Sweetheart, the goods have been pressed against her backside for most of the morning," Bade teased.
Before she could say anything else I said, "I'll explain later, Kat, I promise."
"I want details," she yelled as Bade flipped the phone shut.
"Lovely friends you have, darling," he said, faking Alek's British accent.
"For crying out loud, put it on silent," Dracula called from the fireplace as Bade put the phone back on the charger.
"Yeah," Bade said to me, "why didn't you think of that?"
I turned my back to Bade and looked over at the vampire. He was sitting beside the hearth in a large red chair with a high back. There were little round glasses resting on the end of his nose with red tinted lenses. He didn't need them to read. They were used for decoding maps and secret messages in old books, which made me wonder what he was looking at. He had removed his mask, but his hair still covered the scars.
I wasn't sure how much longer I could avoid trying Mathias's solution. After all, his life was only out of danger from one source. If I didn't give him my love soon, blood and bodyguards might not be enough. This was the last thought I had before Bade wrapped his arm around me and we both went back to sleep.
* * * *
Dracula and I were on stage that afternoon rehearsing when I suddenly realized now was the time. If ever I needed to act on Mathias's ideas, it was now. I touched Dracula and let him know what I felt. He was in full costume, and I was breathless as The Phantom stole me away from the crowd. Before I knew it, we were alone deep below the theatre.
As our boat touched the bank he turned to me and I kissed him. My tongue sought his as if attempting to pull him down into my desire. We rushed to his bedroom and he flung his cape over the bed with a dramatic swish of fabric. Neither of us spoke, there was no need for words.
I grabbed the front of his shirt and ripped it open. I ran my hands over his chest, [and -add] then licked the exposed flesh. I opened the shirt wider, grabbing a handful of cloth at the shoulders. Just like the first time we were together, he seemed shocked by my desire, but not intimidated. I snatched the shirt down his arms and he gasped.
I ran my fingertips over the perfect skin on the left side of his face. I traced his lips with my finger, but I avoided the mask. Then suddenly it was gone, and I screamed.
* * * *
Bade still held me though he was now trying to calm my screams.
"What's wrong, love?" he asked patiently.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Dracula asked as he sat on the bed beside me.
"Yes," I said, trying to catch my breath.
I looked at Bade waiting expectantly to hear what it was about. But then I turned to Dracula and he seemed to know the subject of my dream without being told.
"Perhaps you need a sleeping pill, my angel. It has only been fifteen minutes since you closed your eyes."
I felt like I should apologize as he handed me the pills and a glass of water. But I hadn't done anything. I couldn't help what my unconscious mind had dragged up. And I was actually afraid of seeing what had been done to my beautiful vampire. So, I took the medicine and settled back against Bade while Dracula went back to the ancient looking book by the fire.
"Was it something awful?" Bade whispered against my hair.
"No. Just something I wasn't ready for."
* * * *
We were scheduled for rehearsal that night. When I woke up around six o'clock Dracula informed me that they were practicing the ballet numbers that didn't require our presence. He was already in full costume and I could hear Bade in the shower.
After I got into costume Dracula led me back up to his office while he told me, "Marco has ordered the pack to hunt tonight."
"But it's still two weeks before the full moon."
"He will hunt again on the full moon."
"What are they after?" I asked.
"Khan. He wishes to be reasonably certain that Khan is out of the country or dead before you return home. Many of our cast members will be joining the hunt after rehearsal."
Luther was waiting for me when we arrived. His arm had healed enough that he could return to the theatre. I knew it had been broken, but Marco neglected to tell me in how many places. All the cuts and bruises he had sustained in the accident were already healed, and it had only been three nights.
Bade had been excused from the hunt to remain with me. Marco called him while I was on stage and said that he wanted me well guarded just in case. After rehearsal Luther left with the other wolves and Bade and I were going to the liquor store.
"You cannot be serious," Alek and Dracula objected.
"If I have to spend the night wondering what Marco or Luther, or someone else I care about is out there tearing apart, or being torn by, I'm going to drink," I informed them.
"It'll just take a minute," Bade said.
"That won't be necessary," Johnny announced as he made his way down the aisle. "I heard about the hunt tonight." He paused, handing Bade a large bag. From the clinking sound I assumed it was full of liquor.
"Enjoy," Johnny said with a smile.
I hugged him. "Sometimes I really love you, Johnny."
"Would these be the times you pull down my swimming trunks, or when I bring you alcohol?" he teased.
"Both."
When Johnny and Alek left, Bade and I followed Dracula back down to the castle. For some reason the thought of Marco hunting Khan really bothered me. Most likely, they wouldn't find him, but what if they did? He was stronger than the others and I couldn't seem to shake my worries.
I changed clothes before joining Bade in the kitchen. Alek had enchanted the bottles of alcohol before he left, so this promised to be quick and painless. Bade was sitting at the large table wearing only a pair of jeans and a smile. But as I entered the room I could tell the smile was just for my benefit. He was worried too.
Knowing Johnny like I do I had expected a bag full of rum. I was a pleasantly surprised when Bade poured me a glass of red wine.
"There's rum too." He laughed at my expression. "But I feel like wine tonight, love."
"Me too," I said softly as I took a seat beside him.
We sat there in silence for several minutes, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I felt like I should say something, but I wasn't sure what to say. I took a deep breath and finished my drink before turning toward Bade.
"Richard called me today," he said while he poured us both another glass.
Dr. Richard Stacey and I had been friends for almost seven years now. We'd met when a colleague of his wolfed out in a club one night. Richard got a broken nose, but wasn't seriously hurt then. However, last summer he had been kidnapped by a lunatic, whom he also used to work with. Dr. Bill Williams had found a way to mutate the lycanthropy virus. He had somehow extracted the part that is wolf and replaced it with the DNA of other animals.
Apparently he wasn't the first to do this, given the number of other were-creatures that were showing up. However, werewolves are still the majority and anything other than wolf is very rare. Before Bade and I were able to save Richard he was injected with the virus. Richard was now a snake man, and he hated snakes. Poor Richard.
?
Chapter Eighteen
"How is he?" I asked, glad for something else to think about.
It had been several weeks since I'd spoken to Richard. He had been having a hard time dealing with what had happened to him, and Bade was sort of his mentor. Some days he would be like his old self again. Then I wouldn't hear from him for weeks. It's bad enough to be a werewolf or something, but to be a snake man and hate snakes. I had spent many sleepless nights wondering what would have happened if we'd just gotten there a few minutes sooner.
Bade and I had still been enemies at the time and I had reluctantly agreed to his help that night. If only we had spent less time arguing and more time working our way to Richard.
"Stop that," Bade said softly.
"Stop what?"
"You're worrying, I can see it in your eyes. We did what we could for Richard," he said, taking my hand in his. "You can't beat yourself up with what might have been."
He was right. I took another sip of wine and repeated my question, "So, how is he?"
"He's really stirred up over The Werewolf Registration Act."
The Werewolf Registration Act required all lycans to register themselves as "a living biological weapon." Even the ones like Judas who are shifters, but not werewolves. Unfortunately, Richard fell into this category too.
"He's afraid that if people know their physics professor is a snake mutant, it might cause him to lose his job," Bade said.
"What about David?"
Dr. David Kane also taught at the university with Richard. He was the werewolf who'd freaked out on him in the bar way back when.
"Kane's keeping quiet. He figures if he lays low and doesn't let word get out then no one will be the wiser."
"What about you?" I asked.
"I've already registered," Bade said bitterly as he turned up the bottle, ignoring his glass. "I'm not a fucking biological terror," he said, as he sat the bottle down.
"I never thought so," I said softly, touching his arm.
"Thank you."
"If it's of any consolation, you make a really good teddy bear."
Bade smiled down at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"I'd even wear a bowtie for you, love."
"Before we start to try on lingerie, can I come in?" Dracula asked from the door.
"Oh, nothing kinky, mate," Bade assured him.
"That depends on what you would wear with the bowtie," Dracula said with an evil grin.
It was difficult to worry about Marco when in the presence of two such gorgeous men, but I somehow managed.
* * * *
Several hours later after Bade had fallen asleep in front of the fire Dracula turned to me and asked, "What were you dreaming today?"
His voice was soft and sad. I wanted so badly to tell him the truth, but I couldn't bear to hurt him.
"It's not important," I said as I slid into bed beside him.
Marco had called twenty minutes before to let us know there was no sign of Khan. However, they planned to look until dawn. If there was still no trace of him then this might be my last night with Dracula. At least until I could bring myself to accept Mathias's suggestion. Even if Marco said he understood, how understanding can a man really be who gives you permission to sleep with someone else? I think he was alright with it in theory. Reality is a different matter entirely.
"But you were frightened," he said as he reached for me.
"Of something that ceased to scare me as soon as I opened my eyes," I said softly.
I rested my head against his chest and handed him the book I'd selected from the library.
"Read to me." It was more of a question than a command.
"As you wish, my angel."
I fell asleep to the sound of Dracula's soft seductive voice as he read Little Red Riding Hood.
* * * *
I returned home the next day and Bade went with me. Luther would be over shortly as extra protection, and Marco was on Terra meeting with my uncle Aldan. I could tell Dracula hadn't wanted me to go and it nearly killed me to leave him. As I walked through the door to the sound of Johnny and Alek arguing in the kitchen I realized I would rather have stayed with him. I longed to feel the draftiness of the castle even while the sun shone through the kitchen window on my face. And when Alek called Johnny "Mr. Angel" for a moment I thought I'd heard "my angel" and I turned to look for him.
I was unpacking my clothes upstairs when Kat walked in. I was focused so intently on organizing my lingerie drawer that I didn't notice her at first.
"You won't find him in there," she said.
"Who?" I asked, jumping a little.
"Dracula."
"What makes you think I'm looking for him?"
"Even if you hadn't just told me, your eyes gave it away," she sighed. "Lil, they give it away every time you look at him."
She sat down on the bed while she talked to me and her words hit so close to the truth that I couldn't even manage a smile.
"No matter how good things are with Marco, you love him. I can see it. I don't need psychic abilities or werewolf senses to feel the vibe you two give off when you're together."
I put down the panties I'd been folding and sat down beside her.
"Does that make me wicked?" I asked.
"No. I don't think it makes you anything," she said softly.
"I want to do the right thing, Kat. I'm just not sure what that is anymore."
"Who knows? I love Marco, just like I always loved Alfred. Marco is good to you." She paused. "But Dracula needs you," she said and her eyes filled with tears. "I never thought I'd encourage you to be with anybody but Marco … but the way Dracula looks at you makes my heart hurt."