Kindling Flames: Flying Sparks (The Ancient Fire Series Book 2) (24 page)

“Hey there,” Karl spoke softly to the fay as he moved a little closer to Vicky. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.” Zak waved a few of his ends at Karl but let the man kneel down next to the couch.

Reaching up to where the cloak was wrapped around her, Karl carefully pulled it back as Zak stretched out to wrap a tentacle around his wrist. “I’m not going to hurt her.” He twisted his hand under the touch, but the little fay didn’t let go. Zak held on softly as Karl pulled the cloak open and looked over Vicky.

Other than being a little pale, she looked to be okay. Karl checked over the skin on her stomach to make sure the ifrit hadn’t injured her. Zak gurgled at the wolf as he pulled the cloak back and checked out Vicky’s leg, showing through the split pants. There was just a hint of a red line running down her skin, but she was fine. Karl carefully folded the cloak back over her so she would stay warm. He pulled the pins from her hair so her head would rest more comfortably.

Zak purred his approval and released the werewolf’s wrist. Taking the wooden sticks from Karl’s hands, Zak waved them around, gurgling again.

“He thanks you for your concern,” Einin said from where he stood behind the couch, watching the wolf check over Vicky.

The werewolf looked up at the short, stocky fay. “You understand him?” Karl was surprised that the noise the little creature made had meaning.

“Sometimes.” Einin looked down at the little horror. “He can make his meaning known if he wants to.”

Zak sneezed and let out a bark at the man behind the couch.

Einin laughed and reached out to pet the fay. “He definitely has a mind of his own.”

Zak wiggled and hopped down from Vicky’s lap to wobble away up the steps with the silver sticks of wood.

Karl stood up and watched him go in wonder. He had seen many things, but a ball of tentacles with an opinion was new to him.

“How is she?” Dakine asked.

Karl turned to look at the fay. “Not bad, given the circumstances.” He looked down at the sleeping woman. “She’s lost a lot of blood, but some sleep and a good diet will see her right in a day or two. That creature left a fine burn down her leg, but it doesn’t look bad.”

Dakine’s brow furrowed as he listened to him. “Show me,” he ordered, and Karl pulled the cloak back to reveal Vicky’s leg and the mark. “That’ll go away soon,” Dakine said as he touched the skin around the line. “She just needs a little rest.”

Karl nodded his agreement. He then wrapped her back in the cloak and stood up to face the fay. “Do you think we should move her someplace more comfortable?” he asked as he looked first at the couch and then at all the people milling around the room quietly.

Rupert and Sue had found a seat on the other couch, while Phelan sat on the arm with his arms crossed, watching the vampires across the room. Clara, Daniel, and Rachael stood in the opening between the living room and family room, watching as Jenny and Josie tended to Darien. Brian and Roger stood against the wall with three more people from Elliot’s kiss. Elliot leaned against the angel stone of the fireplace and watched over the room, expecting trouble. Roisin had disappeared through the dining room and into the kitchen.

“I think it would be best to wait for Darien to recover before we move her,” the elf warned. He knew that the vampire was feeling a little overprotective of the woman at the moment. Dakine moved away from Vicky and headed towards the dining room to find where Roisin had gone.

Karl looked down at the sleeping woman before finding a place on the couch next to Sue to wait. It had been a long time since the wolves and vampires had spent any time in the same room, and tensions were high.

Clara stepped into the living room and stood behind the loveseat. She looked at Rupert and his wolves on one couch, then back to the woman resting on the other. A small smile slipped across her face as she thought about what this young woman had done. Without even knowing it, Vicky was responsible for getting two groups that had been fighting to sit in the same room quietly. True, they were here for Darien’s sake, but if the ifrit hadn’t attacked the girl, they would still be in the warehouse, exchanging insults and blame. “I know we have had our differences, wolf,” Clara locked eyes with Rupert, “and we’ll never see eye to eye on our past, but we have to come to some agreement.”

Rupert sat up a little taller.

“We’ve both been holding grudges, and it makes us weak.” Clara’s voice grew in firmness as she decided what was best for her people. Many would not be happy about it, but it was what needed to be done. “We have unknowingly relied on Master Darien to keep us safe as we have bickered. Without his protection, we would’ve been walked on by any number of things. Is there a way we can come to some understanding?”

Rupert let out a deep sigh and hung his head. He knew the truth in Clara’s words. The ifrit had been the first thing that had been brave enough to step into the city for a long time. Had the wolves and vampires been working together, they might have been able to stop it before all hell had broken loose. “I see your point, vampire.” Rupert looked up as he agreed with her. “If we call a truce, will you stop calling for the blood of my wolves?”

Anger rose in Clara’s face, but she pushed it back. “If you stop calling for the lives of my vampires
,
” she countered.

A matching anger flared in Rupert at not getting justice for his murdered people, but he bit his rage back and stood up. Walking over to Clara, he looked down at the shorter woman. He held out his hand, and Clara took it. “Let there be peace between us,” Rupert said and squeezed her hand, sealing the deal.

Clara squeezed back, accepting the truce.

“About damned time
,
” Darien said as he stood leaning against the partition between the family room and the living room.

Both Clara and Rupert looked at him and released the handshake. Darien pushed away from the wall to walk into the room. They could tell he was still weak, but he was looking a lot better than he had a little while ago.

“You’ll find life easier when you work together on things.” Darien reached out to steady himself on the couch.

“Are you feeling better?” Clara asked.

Darien shook his head. “I need to rest before we talk about what needs to be done.” He leaned heavily against the furniture for support. “You’re all welcome to stay.” Darien offered his hospitality to the group. “All the windows have blackout blinds that pull down from the top. I would suggest the vampires take the room on this floor, over there.” He pointed to the bedroom near the family room.

“It’s the darkest during the daytime. There are two more bedrooms upstairs that you can use. The green room contains Victoria’s stuff. You’ll have to answer to Zak if you mess it up, but you are welcome to sleep there. The yellow room is empty.” He paused, taking a breath.

“Please stay out of my office at the top of the steps.” This was one request he hoped everyone would heed.

“There is extra bedding and blankets in the laundry room upstairs, and there is food in the kitchen. My housekeeper, Odette, is around somewhere and will get you anything you can’t find for yourselves. Just ask for it and she’ll get it to you, but don’t go looking for her. She is very shy and easily frightened. Otherwise, try not to break anything. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed.”

Darien wobbled a little as he tried to circle the couch to where Vicky was sleeping but stopped at the arm, knowing he would not be able to pick the woman up. “Could someone give me a hand?”

Elliot pushed away from the wall and was at Darien’s side before anyone else could move. “I got her.” He pulled back Dakine’s cloak and lifted Vicky up against him.

“Thank you, my friend.” Darien turned to lead the way out of the room.

Elliot smiled to himself as he watched Darien bounce against the wall while climbing the steps.

Zak barked at him from the landing, and Darien leaned over far enough to pat the small creature. Zak skittered into Vicky’s doorway, waiting for Elliot to bring her in.

“Not in there tonight,” Darien said as he worked his way into his room. “We have company who will need Vicky’s room.”

Zak gurgled at him.

“Don’t worry. You can chew on them if they hurt anything.”

Zak yipped happily and wobbled after Darien.

Elliot chuckled again before following them towards the door at the far end of the hall.

Opening the door, Darien turned the corner into his room.

Elliot stopped short as the power of the cross hanging on the wall hit him. He felt his strength wane, and he leaned against the wall, recovering from the unexpected shock. “A little warning next time,” Elliot growled as he pushed himself into the room and past the holy item decorating Darien’s wall.

“What?” Darien looked back at his friend, slightly confused.

“You’re the only vampire I know that keeps a sacred item in a place where he has to look at it every day,” Elliot growled as he carried Vicky into the bedroom.

Enlightenment dawned on Darien as he remembered the cross. “Oh. I don’t even notice it anymore.”

“Liar.” Elliot snickered. He had seen the way Darien had leaned against the wall as he passed the cross.

Darien grinned and pulled back the covers on the bed.

Elliot carefully laid the woman down as he thought about the decoration. Darien had that cross for as long as Elliot had known him, but he didn’t know the story behind it. It always hung in Darien’s home somewhere he would have to pass it every day. Elliot had once asked him why he would keep something that weakened him displayed so prominently, and the man had just shrugged as a deep sorrow passed over his eyes. The cross must be something from Darien’s past that he didn’t like to talk about.

Darien tucked Vicky into bed before turning to his friend. “Thank you.”

Elliot chuckled again. “Get to bed, idiot.” He patted him on the back as Darien went to the other side of the bed. “We’ll be close if you need us.” Turning to head back out, he paused to watch Darien crawled into bed next to Vicky.

Zak had jumped up on the bed, turning tight circles near Vicky’s feet before plopping himself down in a comfortable position.

Elliot took one last look at the pair and the strange fay before turning out the light and leaving. He should go help the others sort out who was staying where. It had been a very long night for everyone.

***

Vicky pulled free of her dreams to a smell she was familiar with. Darien’s warm, spicy scent, with that coppery tang, filled her as she yawned. She opened her eyes to find herself staring at the light-blue ceiling in Darien’s room. The sun filtering in around the curtains was just enough to light the peaceful space. She paused for a moment as her brain unsuccessfully tried to work out how she had gotten there. Vicky rolled her head over to look at the man beside her.

Darien’s face was relaxed as he slept. No movement came from him, and she could feel his cooler skin against her stomach. His fingers had found their way in between the tears the ifrit had made in her shirt. Pushing away the uneasy feeling that filled her, she slipped carefully from the bed. Darien wasn’t dead—or at least, she knew he would wake back up later—but it had been weird waking up next to a body so still. She had woken up next to someone on many occasions, but they always moved, if nothing more than breathing.

Vicky looked down on the sleeping vampire and smiled softly. Even in this form, he warmed her heart. It had been a little weird, but she could get use to this. She stifled a laugh as she thought about the possibilities. If she did choose to stay with Darien, she would never have to complain about him snoring too loudly.

Movement from the foot of the bed drew Vicky’s eye, and she smiled again at the small fay sprawled across the bed. Zak looked like a pile of dark spaghetti as he snored away. Just the ends of his tentacles twitched lightly as he dreamed about something.

She stood, looking at the males who had changed her life. Her boys. Vicky paused as the epiphany struck her, and she looked back over the pair in a new light. They
were
her boys. Yes, one was a wobbly ball of tentacles with attitude, and the other was the oldest and most powerful vampire in the area, but they were hers, and she would do anything to keep them that way. Wrapping her hand around the wrist she had given to Darien, she thought about how much she had been willing to give to save him. Her thumb rubbed across her new scars, and she looked down at the two marks set the same width apart as Darien’s fangs. She let out a little laugh that made Zak’s tips twitch. Vicky covered her mouth so as not to wake either of them. She slipped quietly from the room and headed out to find something more suitable to wear.

Vicky was surprised when she entered her room and found several piles of pillows and blankets folded on the foot of her bed. Confused by the additional bedding, she got out some yoga pants and a T-shirt before heading into the bathroom to get a quick shower before finding food.

***

The noises coming from the living room drew Vicky as she flipped her damp hair back over her shoulder. It sounded like several people were arguing over something. Worry creased her brow as she turned the corner and looked into the living room.

Dark shades had been pulled down over the windows, and a woman she didn’t recognize sat on the end of the couch nearest the lamp, reading through Darien’s copy of Sherlock Homes. Vicky paused to consider her presence before following her ears to the loud cries from the connecting room. She moved quietly and was shocked to find a whole herd of people in the family room.

Karl
,
the werewolf
,
and Roger
,
the mechanic
,
were sitting on the floor in front of Darien’s entertainment center while a mess of people sat behind them on the couch, cheering. Karl and Roger each held a controller and were furiously punching the buttons, trying to beat each other in a fighting game on the screen.

Vicky had never played the iconic game, but it wasn’t hard to recognize
Street Fighter
from where she stood. Looking over the crowd in Darien’s family room, she realized she recognized most of them, but she was surprised to see them all in Darien’s home.