Wicked Fantasy (18 page)

“Oh, it'll be a few days yet.” She sounded unsure. “I think.”

Great. Just freakin' great. Okay, how to ask the next question. “I've never been around when a demon detector gave birth. How . . . ?” Damn, he was messing this up.

Fo's laughter was a happy trill. “Through my SD card slot, silly.”

Conall decided to pass on the question of how Fo got pregnant in the first place. Some things he didn't need to know. “Makes sense.” Next tough question. “What if there're complications? Will you need help?”

“What kind of complications could there be?” She didn't sound worried.

Conall shrugged. “Just a thought.” Guess popping out a memory card didn't involve much risk. Right now he had other things to worry about. The pouches drew stares. With a demon detector in each pouch, he looked like a man with a kangaroo complex. But he needed Fo and Gabriel. They could root out paranormal entities in the park as well as give him a chance to get some sleep.

It was possible a human had gotten into Gerry's room and lit the candle, but this second attempt on her life was definitely the work of something nonhuman and powerful.

“I'm sending the milk and anchovies right now, beautiful mama.” Gabriel's voice seemed too big and deep to be coming from his small case.

Brief pause in conversation. Conall assumed the sending and tasting was in progress.

“Mmmm. Delicious. You take such good care of me, daddypoo.”

Conall gritted his teeth. How long could he live with expectant mom and happy dad before barfing? Drawing in a deep breath, he searched for a distraction from the “beautiful mamas” and “daddypoos.” “How do you do the taste thing?”

Fo looked up at Conall. “Gabriel's brilliant. He can do anything with a computer.” Pride glowed in those big purple eyes.

“I did some upgrades on our PC, and then I developed a few new programs for Fo and me. We're both synchronized with the computer. Now we can taste, smell, and do other human things in our own ways.” Gabriel slanted a glance at his love. “I only wish I could give us human bodies.” Sadness touched his voice. “But we're just glad we found each other. And we do what we can with what we have.”

I envy you.
Usually he'd block that kind of thought as soon as it surfaced, but this once he let it simmer. What if he wasn't cursed? What if he could have a real relationship with a woman? Let's get specific. With Gerry.

He firmed his lips along with his resolve and pushed the thought back into the dark corner of his mind where it belonged. If he hadn't escaped the curse in eight centuries, what were his chances now? Right, none.

Besides, if Morrigan released him from the curse, what would he be? At best he'd be mortal with a mortal's short life span. Gerry would go on without him. At worst, he'd turn into a pile of dust, because without the curse he'd be long dead.

And why the hell was he even thinking about this? Gerry and he didn't have anything in common except the curse. Yeah, the lust, too.

His thoughts shifted as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Gerry sat on a chair in front of Jinx's door.

“I know you're in there you sneaky, thieving shifter. Now come out and give me that bracelet. If I have to break down this door, I'll add resisting arrest and whatever it costs me to replace the door to your charges. Oh, and don't think you can wait me out. I'm not leaving.”

Conall grinned. She made him smile. Not an easy thing to do. “Your prisoner giving you trouble?”

“From the moment I got this case.” She glanced at Fo and Gabriel. “Hi, Fo. And I guess you're Gabriel. Anyone know how to open a door without ripping it off the hinges?”

Conall looked down and almost groaned. Asima had followed him. “Anything I can say to make you back off?”

Asima blinked up at him.
“Of course not. As long as you're hanging around this Kavanagh, you're in danger.”

Gerry huffed. “This Kavanagh has a name. And he's immortal. He can't die defending me. Not that I
want
him defending me.” She grew thoughtful. “Well, not all the time anyway. He can be a big help apprehending some of the more powerful entities I'll be facing. And maybe I do need someone at my back when I'm out of it during the day.” She brightened. “He's not a protector, he's a partner. We'll share the profits when we bring down one of the bad guys.”

Conall figured Gerry was way into rationalizing, but at least she was accepting him into her future. That was a good thing.

“Whatever.”
Asima looked bored.
“Let's get this door open.”

She stared at the door, and it swung open.

“See, that's what I have to learn how to do. Can you teach me?” Gerry didn't look as though she expected a positive answer.

Asima sniffed.
“Perhaps.”
Then her gaze turned sly.
“We could exchange favors. You do something for me, and I'll teach you a few things.”
Satisfied with that arrangement, she sat and waited to see what would happen.

“Done.” Gerry fixed her attention on Jinx's open door. “I'm waiting, Jinx.”

He came to the door and yawned as he hooked his thumbs over the top of his jeans. “Crap. Can't a guy get any rest in this damn place? Whatta you want?”

Gerry raised one eyebrow. “The bracelet.”

“What brace—”

He didn't get any further. Before Conall could blink, she stood, bent down to grab Jinx's ankles, and then leaped onto the chair.

“Aaagh!” Jinx screeched his outrage as Gerry held him off the floor by his ankles.

Conall muffled his laughter. Fo didn't muffle anything. She shrieked encouragement.

Gerry shook Jinx. Up and down, up and down, until a bracelet and a pair of earrings fell from his pocket. Then she let him drop to the floor, jumped from the chair, and retrieved her loot.

“A bracelet
and
earrings. Busy, weren't you? Don't make me do this again, Jinx.” She looked pleased with herself.

Without a word, Jinx stumbled back into his room and slammed the door shut.

Conall picked up the chair as they walked to the dungeon. “I'm impressed. With a few more vampire skills you'll throw terror into the hearts, or whatever passes for hearts, of all evil entities.”

Gerry studied his face for sarcasm, and then nodded. “The enhanced strength and speed come in handy, but I'll need a lot more than those to move up the ladder.”

“Oooh, a dungeon. I've never been down here before.” Fo bubbled with excitement. “Take us out, Conall, so we can see everything.”

“Don't overdo it, honey. You need to rest.” Gabriel looked at Gerry. “Fo's due in a few days.”

“Oh.” Gerry looked a little worried. “How will Fo—”

“Through her SD card slot.” Conall was becoming an expert on demon detector births.

He took Fo and Gabriel from their pouches and held them up as he circled the dungeon. While he walked he listened to Asima and Gerry.

“Okay, what do you want for helping me, Asima?” Gerry sounded suspicious.

Smart woman.

“Such as?”

“I have a DVD of
Swan Lake
. Watch it with me tomorrow night.”

Conall was never sure what Asima was really feeling because her cat face didn't show emotions well. But he figured she was expecting rejection. The rest of the castle hadn't tuned in and turned on to her brand of entertainment.

Gerry nodded. “I've always loved ballet.”

“I never thought I'd find anyone in this castle who appreciated the finer things in life. Come up to my room tomorrow night.”
Asima didn't try to hide her excitement.

Gerry looked bemused as she watched Asima pad happily from the room. “Do you know she spent last night outside this door? I tripped over her when I left.”

That bit of news made Conall uneasy. Of course, everything Asima did made him uneasy. She'd shown up at the castle one day and stayed. No reason. She'd just given everyone her “I'm a messenger of Bast” speech. But she was a powerful being, and no one wanted her gone badly enough to try throwing her out.

“We'll watch TV for a while. Gabriel can get all kinds of channels that no one else can get.” Fo peered at Gerry. “When dawn comes we'll be very quiet. Kimmie said she'd hook up our computer in here so we can play games and surf the Web for interesting sexual sites.”

“Well, that's . . . nice.” Gerry glanced helplessly at Conall.

Conall gave her his don't-ask look.

The TV clicked on. Obviously Gabriel didn't need out-of-date technology like remotes.

“Conall, would you get our cradles from the pouches?” Fo was already engrossed in the program.

Holy shit. Conall stared.
When Computers Go Wild?
“What the hell is this about, Gabriel?” He groped for the cradles.

“It's a video about chips interacting with other chips. Lots of sexy dialogue and erotic graphics.”

Conall set the cradles on the coffee table and then put Fo and Gabriel in them without taking his eyes from the screen.

“Not exactly mainstream, is it?” Gerry stared unblinking at the TV.

Gabriel chuckled. “Artificial intelligence has a world all its own. We didn't even know it existed beyond us until I fooled around with our computer. There's a whole alternative artificial intelligence culture out there.”

“It's sad though.” Fo was in thoughtful mode. “AI fantasies are all about having a human form. We're not very accepting of how we look.” She blinked. “Of course, I think Gabriel's form is supremely hot.”

“Yo, no one told me about the party.” Ganymede padded in and leaped onto the coffee table. “Good thing I thought of refreshments. I ordered a few chips, a few dips, a few . . . Anyway, the goodies are on their way.” He glanced at Gerry with those amber eyes that looked so harmless. “I charged it to your account, babe. After all, I'm here to protect you. Gotta keep my strength up while I'm doing all the tough stuff.”

Gerry glared as a hotel employee delivered Ganymede's snacks. Conall sucked in his breath. This wasn't going to end well.

“I can't believe this.” Gerry flung her hands in the air to emphasize how much she didn't believe it. “I'm a vampire, people. V. A. M. P. I. R. E. Deadly creature of the night. Voracious bloodsucker. I'm fanged, ferocious, and one scary gal. So why do I have a roomful of protectors? I don't need you. Go home.” She hissed at them.

Fo never took her eyes from the TV. “Oh, look, Gabriel. The pretty PDA is having a fantasy about being human and . . . Can a man and woman really do that together? I don't think human body parts bend that way. Did you research that position?”

Ganymede tore open a bag of chips with his teeth and then looked at Gerry. “Sure you need protecting. All women need a strong guy to keep them safe. Uh, don't tell Sparkle I said that. How about opening the dip for me, sweet stuff?”

Conall could see Gerry thinking about what kinds of creative things she could do with that dip. Time to defuse the situation. Without saying anything he nudged her toward the break room door. “Let's talk.”

Surprised, she let herself be guided. Once inside, he closed the door and switched on a light.

Gerry felt like her head would explode if she couldn't go back into the dungeon and rip out a few throats. Something else to add to her “unfulfilled wishes” file. “I want everyone gone from my dungeon. I need some downtime to think. I can't concentrate with weird sex on my TV and Ganymede littering my coffee table with popcorn and chips. So if you'll move out of the way, I'll go back in there and kick some ass.”

“Relax for a minute.” He locked both doors to the room before sinking onto a plush green couch and drawing her down beside him.

Relax? How could she relax when she had so much to do? Discover who wanted her dead. Ride herd on Jinx the Slippery. Find another wife killer in the castle with amber eyes and a grim reaper tattoo so she wouldn't have to go after Edge. And toughest of all? Satisfy her gnawing need to touch and be touched by Conall without Morrigan's vengeance descending on both of them.

Wow, can we say overwhelming? She leaned her head back against the couch and really looked at the break room for the first time. What the . . . ? “Some break room.” She ran her fingers over the arm of the couch—smooth, sensual.

Conall watched her from eyes dark with need.

She knew
her
eyes promised she'd do a much more thorough job of touching and smoothing if she got her hands on his body.

“This stuff didn't come from Danny's Discount Furniture Barn.” Gerry looked past the designer chairs and tables to the far wall. “The wall looks like one giant screen. What's with that?”

He picked up a small remote from the table beside him and clicked it. The wall became a beach scene complete with wild surf, sun-warmed sand, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Amazing, she could actually smell the salt air and feel the sea breeze drifting across her face. This had to be as close to virtual reality as you could get with today's technology.

“I'm totally impressed.”

He grinned, and Gerry knew she was in deep doo-doo because his smile actually looked boyish to her. She suspected Conall had
never
had a boyish moment. He probably popped from his mama's womb, picked up his sword, and went forth to do battle wearing diapers and a gorgeous scowl.

“Gabriel did the programming. He's our secret weapon. There's not much he can't do with a computer.”