City of Dragons: Of Flesh and Blood (17 page)

After all, she was only Human. And seeing how Humans were all “save-the-whales”…

Claire asked,“So you don’t care if you’re not treated as an equal to Humans?”

“Nope.”

“Then why do you”—Claire fluttered her hands —“you know,
impress
our forms?”

Farley coughed. Okay, there were just certain things you didn’t sit around and discuss with Humans.

Claire must have read something on his face because she put her hand on his. He froze and looked it. Her peach-colored skin made his tan look darker than it was.

“Tell me, Farley.”

He chewed more slowly but eventually had to swallow. “Look, you sure you…” Her hand tightened. Man, that felt nice. “Okay…” He sighed. “Human shapes are efficient.” There, that was easy. Claire moved her fingers back and forth across his hand. The friction made him warm. When he looked at her, she had that look on her face. The one which said she was waiting for him to finish. ‘Cause “efficient” sure as shit wasn’t the only reason. Farley put down his chopsticks. “True forms take a massive amount of resources, which means we have to consume an energy source to maintain them. As many of us as there are now, there isn’t enough food on the planet to sustain our numbers. We’d eat it barren.”

“And before now? Before there were people?”

Because Kin were old, really old. Farley shrugged. “Before there were Humans,

our species survived by eating its own and anything else. When we learned to walk around looking like you, or how we got here? I don’t think anyone really knows for sure. But most agree wearing Human shapes made you easier to hunt.” When Farley looked up, Claire’s eyes were huge. Great, now she was going to get all spooky on him. “You asked.”

“Yeah, I did.”

But going by the expression on her face, she didn’t know what to say. What had he expected? A revelation of some sort? No. Humans didn’t like to be reminded they were once food, and in some cases still were.

Claire pressed her lips together and blinked a few times. “Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“You know.” Claire’s hand squeezed his again.

Yeah, Farley had a pretty good idea what it was she wanted to ask. “I used to.” Her face paled. “But I don’t any more. Human blood and flesh is like alcohol to some of us. Some Kin can eat it, and they’re okay. Like some Humans can have a beer, and that’s it. But there are a few who can’t…” Farley picked up his chop sticks at the same moment he picked up his train of thought. “I just happen to be one of the few who can’t say ‘when.’ Or at least I used to be. I fell off the wagon, but I didn’t have any problems getting back on, so I’m not sure what that means.” Farley shook his head and put the full plate on top of the empty one. “Since I’d rather not find out, I stay away from it.”

When he emptied his glass, Claire pushed hers at him. He nodded a thank you while he chugged.

“Farley, why don’t you stay at my place while Haley is out of town?”

Coke shot right out of Farley’s nose and all over the table. He snatched up his napkin and sputtered into it. Claire unloaded the rest of the dispenser.

“That’s…” Farley winced. Man, carbonated drinks could be a bitch. When the burn banked a little, he said, “That’s really nice of you, but I don’t think…”

His words trailed off when he looked at Claire. Her gaze was on a table outside the doorway. A man and women were holding hands, their heads dipped in close, small private smiles on their lips.

Farley watched them kiss while he blew his nose. “Claire, I’m not going to lie to you.”

She looked at him and her beautiful cornflower-blue eyes were filled with hope.

Behind her the ice maker kicked on with a harsh rattle before dying off in a soft hum.

Farley sighed. “I like you, Claire, I really like you. I think…”
You smell great and taste better.
“You’re really beautiful, and I love being with you.” That should have probably been loved because it had been a while. “But…” Yeah. Okay. He just needed to say it. Just get it all out. “I can’t be what you need.”

Claire surprised him by saying, “I know.” The smile curling her lips made his insides liquefy. “And what if I’m okay with that?”

Farley bit his tongue.

“What if I’m okay with just the sex? And I can live with you having to go back to Haley?”

Okay. That was new. Farley blinked and dropped his eyes to his plate. He couldn’t take the way she was looking at him. He shifted in his seat, trying to adjust the ache between his legs. Man, he hated it when Haley was right. “Claire…”
God of Man.
He shifted again. “I…”
I’d love it
. “I’m just…” He shut his eyes a minute. Fuck, now his teeth were aching.

She said, “Can’t we at least try?”

Aw, man, now why did she have to go say something like that? Farley sucked in his breath, resisting the urge to find out just how anti-sex-in-public she was.

“Farley?”

He forced out the words, “I’m not sure that would be a very good idea.”
No matter what my dick says.

Farley risked looking at her. And holy shit, she was sucking on her bottom lip. Claire’s hand moved and her thumb pressed against his pulse.

“Claire…” He cleared his throat. It did nothing for the furnace in his face though. Or the one down there. Christ…

“Farley, if it doesn’t work, we can break it off. But what if it does? I mean…”

The blush in her cheeks went from pink to red, and Farley’s foot hit the table leg as his body responded to her scent when it changed from concern to arousal. If she noticed, she didn’t acknowledge it.

Closer now, Claire said, “I like being with you, Farley. And I really like the things you do to me. I love how you kiss me, I love how you take parts of me in your mouth, I love the way you lick and nibble.” Her eyes flipped up at him and her hand tightened on his wrist. “Please don’t tell me no.”

Farley opened his mouth to do just that, but “Just for a few days” fell out instead.

“Are you going to give me the silent treatment the whole time or what?” Haley glanced at Deshi. He stared out the windshield, his beautiful face a perfect vision of tragedy.

“No, I just don’t know what to talk about.”

“Well, think of something.”

Deshi sat back a little in the seat, adjusted the seatbelt, picked at one of the chains hanging off his pants. “Okay…” He continued to pick at his pants. Haley made a sound, and he stopped. “When did you become Medan’s Enforcer?”

Oh, great. Of all the topics. That’s what she got for complaining about the silence. “After Farley and I saw you last. I kind of didn’t have a choice.”

Deshi nodded. “You don’t smell like her. Except for…” He tipped his head to the side. “Back then. Earlier. You smelled like her then.”

“Am I supposed to smell like her?”

He made a half-hearted shrug.

“You know, some insight on this would be nice. ‘Cause Justice sure hasn’t been very forthcoming.”

“Justice — as in The Great White?”

“Is there another?” When Haley glanced at the Prince, there was a small, private smile on his lips.

“Do you know him?”

Deshi shook his head. “Not personally, no. I’ve just heard things.” He tugged at the shirt and adjusted his overcoat. “Has she given you her claw yet?”

“Her what?”

“It’s a mark.” Haley instinctively touched her shoulder, and Deshi shook his head. “Not that kind of mark. It’s like a Nevus. She will place it on your body. Her scent and her mark are how you’re identified by other Queens as being her Enforcer. Normally, she gives it to you when she takes your flesh and blood, but not always.”

Well, that might explain things. “I didn’t exactly give it to her personally.” Yeah, she’d been a little busy being pinned and playing Typhoid Mary meets Bride of Frankenstein.

Deshi laughed a little. “Well, it has to be you or your…Marked.” He stared at the dash. “Damn.”

Haley said, “What?”

“Farley’s your Marked.”

“Yeah, so?” Deshi’s looked like he was having trouble swallowing.

“What?”

“It’s not my business.”

Haley gave a snort. “Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?” She hit the clutch and downshifted as the long stretch of road approached the edge of town. Up ahead the traffic light turned red. Haley stopped behind an SUV playing Jay-Z loud enough to crack glass. She waited for the light to turn green and the SUV to pull away before trying to talk. The last stretch of Athens highway with its surprise popup red-lights always annoyed her. Just when she got the Mustang going, it was time to stop. “Deshi, if you know something I don’t, I want to know what it is.”

“Did Farley tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“I take that as a no.”

“Christ on a cross, will you quit trying to talk around me and answer my question?” Deshi flinched, which made Haley feel like a total bitch. Especially since she’d just threatened Emily’s life for doing the same thing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. But I really would appreciate a straight answer.”

Deshi folded his lovely hands in his lap. “Farley took your flesh and blood.”

“Yes, he acted as my vessel.”

“In order for Medan to form the bond, she would have to consume your flesh and your blood. That means she had to cut it out of him.”

Haley’s thoughts stumbled over what Deshi said. ‘Cause there was no way he meant cutting Farley open in the literal sense. But one look at the expression on the Jersey City Prince’s face confirmed the worst.

“God of Man…” It was bad enough Farley had gone to Medan, but the idea of her opening him up and…She blinked, trying to hold back the tears. “He never told me.”

“Knowing Farley, he just didn’t want to upset you.”

Haley took a breath. “I had no idea.” ‘Cause she would’ve never let him go.

“Don’t be mad at him. He just wanted to protect you.”

“I’m not mad at him. I’m mad at me, Justice, and Medan.” Justice especially. He should have told her. Medan, well, she was just being a Queen.

It didn’t change the fact that Farley shouldn’t be here. Not after a run in like that. It was a thought which left Haley feeling cold. But then, they’d both survived run-ins with Medan which shouldn’t have been possible.

Haley made a right onto I-10 and headed north. After merging into traffic, she reached over and took Deshi’s hand. He smiled and put his other hand over the top of hers.

“I’m glad you’re back with us.” Deshi’s fingers stroked the back of her knuckles. “Please don’t go away again.”

Deshi closed his eyes. “I still love her. Even if she doesn’t love me.”

Finally, he admitted it. It was a battle won. All this time Haley thought hearing Deshi say the obvious would make everything easier. But it didn’t. Somehow it made things worse. “That’s okay.” She squeezed his hand. “Farley and I will make up the difference.”

Haley eased the Mustang onto Highway 441 and stopped at a little mom-and-pop eatery. She went in and made an order to go, six hamburgers, four large fries, and two drinks.

Ten minutes later she was climbing back into the Mustang with an armload of food.

Deshi didn’t cram his food down like Farley. He ate like the Prince he was. His manners were so good Haley felt like a complete pig sitting next to him. How the Prince could make eating a hamburger into an act of elegance was dumbfounding.

She said, “Where did you say you made us a reservation again?”

“The Hilton.” Deshi wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

Haley winced. “Did you have to make it at the most expensive place possible? My credit card is still cooling off from my last spending spree.”

He shook his head. “It’s on me.”

“Deshi…” The Prince gave her an odd look from the corner of his eye, and a small smile curled on his lips. It was the kind of expression she’d expect to see on Farley, but not him.

Changing the subject seemed like a good plan.

“I should probably try and find Orin a lawyer.” God of Man knew, he was going to need one. Cops in small towns had a bad habit of shooting first and asking questions later. “And something tells me a public defender just isn’t going to cut it for him.”

“Do you have someone in mind?” Deshi took a bite of his hamburger. A big glob of ketchup threatened to drip. But of course it never did. It was like he repelled food stains.

Haley shook her head. “Not really. But I know who to call and ask.” When Deshi arched an eyebrow, she said, “Manny. He’s had his own troubles with the Atlanta PD. With the line of work he’s in, surely, he’d have a few lawyers on his rolodex.”

And if he didn’t, a few of his clients would. Manny ran a private cleaning service. As in, if you have blood stains, we’ll get them out. While he would never purposely take a job to hide a crime, he also didn’t discriminate. The Lesser-Bred had a real knack for keeping a secret, and so did the crew working for him. Haley met him when he took a job, only to be arrested for destroying a would-be crime scene and refusing to talk to the cops. Because the victim was one of their own, the cops took it personally and decided to teach Manny a lesson.

And Lesser-Breds don’t always heal as quickly as Kin. Sometimes they don’t heal at all.

Haley pulled out her phone and dialed.

Manny answered on the third ring, his thick South American accent oozing through the speaker like warm butter. “This is Manny.”

“Hey, Manny, it’s Haley.”

“Do not tell me you need your apartment cleaned again already.”

Actually.
“Yeah, I do. But I also have a favor to ask.”

He laughed. “I charge double for favors.”

“I need a lawyer. A really
good
lawyer.”

Manny’s tone went from amused to serious. “Are you in trouble?”

“No, not me. A friend.”

“Good for you, not so good for your friend. I am sorry to hear that. Where are you?”

“We’re staying at the Hilton in Athens.” She looked at Deshi. “What’s the room number?”

“Tell him to ask the clerk for Suite 208.”

Haley relayed the message.

“I will send someone in a couple of hours.” No goodbyes. Manny just hung up.

Deshi said, “So does he have someone in mind?”