Wicked Fantasy (33 page)

“Goody, you're awake.” Sparkle's amber eyes gleamed with excitement. “I brought you this totally sensual outfit for tonight.” She paused. “Try not to get any blood on it.”

“I had a visit from Banan and Destiny this morning.” Edge's expression suggested that begging for her life would do no good. “They told me about your little confession.”

“What confession?”

Edge ignored Sparkle's question. “Normally, I would've just killed you, but since they seemed pretty happy with each other, I may let it slide.” He offered her a tight smile. “But I feel completely justified in returning your . . . friend.”

“Hi.” Jinx grinned his happy-ferret grin at her. “I'm glad I'm back with you guys. Edge wasn't any fun. I couldn't find the dude's jewelry stash. That's major frustration for a professional like me. Where do you keep
your
stuff?”

Conall smiled down at her. “I figured you'd want them to take their shots right away and then I could kick them all out.”

“Hello? Sparkle Stardust standing right here while Edge ignores her question. This irritates me. I am
so
not fun when I'm pissed.” She made ugly eyes at Edge. “What confession?”

Edge's gaze darkened as he stared back at Sparkle. “I'll tell you later. And don't threaten me, lady.” The sharp, angry points of power from both troublemakers jabbed at everyone in the room.

Gerry groaned. Her brain was wide awake now and busy making a list of all the things that would, should, or might happen tonight. So much to worry about when all she wanted to do was make love with Conall.

“Edge, we need to talk.” Conall's comment snapped the dangerous tension building between Edge and Sparkle.

“Pay attention, sister. I've left your outfit for tonight on the chair and the rest of the clothes hanging on the handcuffs. Check out your choices for sensual sleepwear, because those jammies you have on now would qualify as nightmare-wear.” Sparkle gave Gerry a speculative glance and Edge a furious one before slamming from the room.

Gerry didn't want to be anywhere around when those two sat down for their friendly chat. Thank heaven Edge hadn't blurted everything out here. She couldn't take a full-blown battle before she even got out of bed.

Next, Conall turned his attention to Jinx. “You. Go to your room. Do. Not. Leave.”

“Sure, sure.”

Conall might scare Jinx, but Gerry knew the shifter wouldn't be able to control his larcenous impulses for long.

Gerry admitted that Conall had handled things better than she would have. She'd have gotten into it with Edge about returning Jinx and probably ruined any chance of convincing him to help tonight. And yelling at Jinx would've had no effect besides raising her blood pressure. Oops, no blood pressure.

Her admission sort of surprised Gerry. She was starting to relax with Conall, not always thinking she had to do everything. It was nice to be able to share responsibilities. This boded well for their partnership.

As Gerry climbed from the bed, she glanced longingly at the indentation of Conall's head on the pillow beside her. From now on, maybe he could go to bed a little before dawn and then climb back into bed right after sunset so she could get that great feeling of falling asleep and waking up with her man.

From now on? Reality check. She was assuming a lot if she thought he'd want to fall asleep and wake up with her for longer than it took her to check out of the castle. He'd be forced to go wherever she chose to take him. And if she decided to tell him about Conalla's prediction? No, she wouldn't be his favorite vampire.

Grabbing Sparkle's new outfit, she hurried into the bathroom. Hey, she was no dummy. Her last girlie outfit was a hit with Conall, so she'd see what reaction this one got.

When she finally emerged, she was tugging at the tiny piece of silky material Sparkle had laughingly called a top. Nope, no way was there enough to cover up her tummy. And the stilettos were incredible-looking, but she'd have to kick them off to do any serious running.

Okay, so she'd stay positive. Dell would fall into their hands like an overripe apple with worm still in residence. No pursuing required.

Eric was busy on his PDA, Edge was studying the iron maiden, and Conall was looking at her.

“What can I say?” Conall's gaze was gray smoke backed by hot flame.

Something joyous and giddy bubbled inside her where only worry and fear should be. “Don't say anything. Just keep looking at me that way.”

Edge turned to Conall and Gerry. “Talk. I have to get back to that damn candy store. I'm looking forward to a serious discussion with Sparkle about who's on top.”

Gerry gathered her courage and jumped right in. “We need another favor.” No use working up to it gradually.

He raised one tawny brow. “And the other favors I've granted have worked out so well for me.”

She chose to remain calm in the face of whatever snarkiness he flung her way. “You're right. And I'm sorry for that. But you did say Banan and Destiny were happy with each other. Conall and I were the ones who brought them together. So technically we helped you.”

Edge thought about that and then nodded. “What do you want?”

“We're working up a plan to trap the demon tonight and then send him home. Ganymede recommended you for the job of portal-to-hell opener. Do you want all the details now?”

He shook his head. “Don't need to know. Just tell me when and where to show up. Scratch the where. There's only one place in the castle where a portal can be opened, the hearth in the great hall.”

Conall frowned. “Tonight's the Vampire Ball. The great hall will be crowded with humans.”

“Cancel it.” Edge, a man of few words.

“If things don't look normal, Dell will suspect a trap.” Argh! So many details to worry about. Fine, so Gerry wanted all the planning over so Conall and she could be alone.

Eric joined the conversation. “We can cancel it and still make things look normal. I'll call in some favors.” His smile was all wicked anticipation. “I'll contact a few vampires I know. Tonight, the great hall will be filled with the real deal. Vampires love a battle between good and evil. Sure, they don't always know which side to root for, but that won't get in the way of their fun.” He grew thoughtful. “It would make it easier for me if I let them in on what's going down, but with that many vampires, one of them might accidentally give things away. Besides, I don't trust all of them. Someone might tip off the demon.”

Conall still seemed uncertain.

Eric looked like he was mentally rubbing his hands together. “The reality I create will blow everyone away. I can make the vampires appear human to the demon so he doesn't get nervous. Gerry can stand in front of the hearth while I make it look like Conall's talking to Holgarth, Brynn, and me on the other side of the great hall. I'm counting on Dell figuring he has her trapped between him and the fireplace. All he has to do is wait until her back is to him and then stake her. I'm betting on his ego being big enough for him to think he can kill her and still get away.”

Gerry's head was beginning to spin. Not a comforting sensation. “Okay, break it down for me. Where will everyone
really
be?”

For the first time, Eric looked uneasy. “This is the tough part. Conall and the rest of us will be in the crowd surrounding you. We'll only be a few feet away.”

“Uh-huh. Sounds good. But where will
I
be?”

“Umm . . .”

“Umm” was not good. From long experience, Gerry knew that any sentence starting with “umm” would end badly for her.

“Manipulating the minds of two people is no problem. But this time you're asking me to work with a roomful of mostly nonhumans. I can't let any of the vampires in the hall see what Dell's doing because they might scare him off. So I have to change all those perceptions at exactly the right moment for this to work.” He met Gerry's gaze. “The only way I can pull this off is if I save you till last. You'll be standing exactly where Dell sees you standing. But just as the demon is ready to strike, I'll switch all my concentration to the two of you. He'll miss you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“But not by much.”

“Ooookay.” Gerry glanced at Conall. Here's where he'd jump in to nix the “not by much” part. She already had her mouth open to refute his argument.

He met her gaze and remained silent. Nothing in his expression revealed his emotions.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him. He trusted her to make the right decision. Without him. Probably one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

She looked back at Eric. “What time?”

“That's up to you.” What Eric didn't say was it depended on how long she and Conall wanted for their fantasy.

Try forever. “Let's go for two a.m.”

Edge looked impatient. He wasn't a detail type guy. “I have the time and place. I'll be there.” Without further comment, he left.

Conall finally spoke. “I don't want Dell sent back to hell until I know what his game is. He could still be working for someone else. Can we do that without endangering Gerry more than she already is?”

Eric nodded. “Once he thinks he's killed Gerry, we'll surround him before he can escape. Since he can't disappear, he'll be trapped. Morrigan will make her appearance and declare Gerry officially dead and you human again. If we assume this is what the demon's been waiting for, he should jump at the chance to battle you.”

“Battle Conall?” Had she missed something? Conall fighting a demon wasn't acceptable.

When had she grown so protective of him? A few days ago, the plan would've sounded fine to her. He was immortal, for heaven's sake. But now? Everything inside her tightened at even the suggestion he might get hurt. Why?
You know why. Self-deceit is not an admirable character trait.

“Uh, maybe it's just me, but I can't seem to remember when the Conall-battling-demon decision was made.” She tried to look bland, definitely
not
freaked out. Conall had just let her make her own decision, so she'd have to do the same for him. Damn.

Eric smiled. “I have a few years on you, Gerry. That means I can rise a little before sunset. Conall and I talked while we waited for you to wake up.”

“Oh.” It didn't sound like a gracious, approving “oh.” It sounded like an I-can't-believe-you-did-this “oh.” So she wasn't a great actress. Sue her.

Conall exhaled deeply and raked his fingers through his hair. “Understand why I have to do this. I'm a warrior. You can dress me up in jeans and a T-shirt, but the heart of me still lives in my ancient roots. I need to personally defeat this thing that's almost taken your life.”

Uh-oh. He was going all medieval on her. “Isn't that being a little self-indulgent? I don't want you putting yourself in danger for me.”
Not when I love you.
The thought came so easily, so naturally. And it rang so true.

His stare was all hard alpha male. “I allowed you to choose. Do the same for me.”

He had her. She couldn't refuse him. “How do you see the battle playing out?”

“I'll back the demon into the hearth, Edge will open the portal, and Ganymede will fling Dell into hell. Then Edge will close the portal.”

Then what?
She didn't have the courage to look beyond the battle.

So Gerry forced herself to relax and concentrate on what would come before the battle. “Fantasy time!” Jeez, she sounded ten years old again. Only then it was, “Disney World time!” But it was still all about the fantasy.

“Why don't you guys get comfortable on the bed.” Eric leaned against the door and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

Conall didn't hesitate. He flung himself onto the bed and folded his hands behind his head. “This better be good, Eric. I've had to listen to Brynn bragging on you until I thought my ears would start bleeding. You have a lot to live up to.”

“Hey, I'm good.” Eric looked expectantly at Gerry.

Gerry joined Conall on the bed, but she wasn't quite as confident as he was. “We could always just make love the old-fashioned way. This bed is nice.” She patted it. “Soft, comfy. A making-love bed.”

“Getting cold feet, Kavanagh?” Conall grinned at her.

Actually, yes. Nerves made her hands and feet cold and clammy. “I want to believe this is going to be a defining moment in my sexual life, but I can't help having doubts. Logic tells me it can't be that good.”

“Be prepared to say good-bye to logic.” Eric captured her gaze. “I took a look into your mind, Gerry. I slipped right on past your surface thoughts and the fantasy you
said
you wanted. I went deeper and found something else altogether.”

She frowned. “Hope you had a good time rattling around in there.”

Eric grinned. “The mind never ceases to amaze me. Oh, and thank Conall for your fantasy. What I found in your subconscious would never be
his
favorite fantasy. But when I told him about it, he didn't hesitate. He wanted you to have the fantasy that burned brightest for
you
.”

Horrified, she stared at Eric. “You told him what was in my subconscious?”

“Sure did. You'll be living it in a few minutes anyway.” He was unrepentant.

If she had the nerve, she'd ask Eric to tell her what he'd found in her mind, because she hadn't a clue. But then he'd say it out loud. Total embarrassment.

Puzzled, Gerry watched Eric straighten and open the door. “I don't get it. Is that all there is?”