“Better.” Dusk nodded more soberly, sitting back in his tall dining chair. Crossing one ankle over his knee, he showed tasteful grey and maroon argyle socks beneath his suit, matched by a maroon tie and pocket square today. “He’ll be in bed today, but I imagine he’ll be well enough to deal with the Owners by tomorrow. Rake and I are giving him healing treatments in shifts. I can’t stay long right now, but I thought I’d just pop in and see how you were.”
“I appreciate it.” Layla smiled, taking up her coffee. “Adrian looked like hell when he came through. Were those Vampire-bites on his arms and neck?”
“Yes.” Dusk’s energy spiked, churning restlessly as Layla saw a flash of fury in his eyes, though she could tell he was trying to control it. “Heathren likes to play a little game ofhow many Vampires can I sic on Adrian before he breakswhen he has Adrian in custody. You’d think he’d learn by now that Adrian’s remarkably resistant to them. Heathren could torture Adrian himself, using his own magic, but so far he’s not gone there. He may, though, next time. Being drained physically and mentally by thirteen Intercessoria Vampire Interrogators is a lot. I’m actually surprised Adrian wasn’t in a coma when he came back through.”
“Heathren does what he has to, to achieve his aims, doesn’t he?” Layla spoke, feeling a seething bitterness rise inside her at the way Adrian had been treated.
“You have no idea.” Dusk’s dark glance held it all. “He operates within the letter of the law, technically, but the law is very broad when it comes to how much force Juds are able to use when investigating a case. It’s a good thing you cooperated with him, Layla. I think we all got off far more easily because you were forthright and honest with them, and willing to help the investigation into Hunter.”
“I couldn’t have been much help if they treated Adrian that badly.” Layla growled, sipping her coffee.
“Adrian and Heathren have history, Layla.” Dusk lifted a straight dark eyebrow at her. “Heathren was going to lay into Adrian no matter what you did. But because of your help, we got Adrian back in a week rather than a month or three. How much worse do you think he’d be after a whole season in Intercessoria care?”
“Not good.” Layla hated to even think about it. Dusk gave a sober nod, an understanding passing between them. Even though Adrian was powerful, he wasn’t immortal. He had weaknesses, and in that moment, Layla knew that part of how Dusk looked out for his adopted brother was by keeping Adrian safe. Layla felt grateful for it suddenly, and reached out, taking Dusk’s hand on the table top. He smiled, a beautiful smile that lit his eyes as he set down his coffee and curled his strong, warm hand around hers.
They shared a moment, feeling each other’s closeness as Dusk’s thumb brushed over her fingers. But then with his usual restlessness, Dusk glanced around the room to Layla’s walk-in closet. Rising, he stepped over, throwing the doors wide. Moving in, he rifled through her dresses. Picking out a sexy royal purple cocktail dress with an Audrey Hepburn boat-neck, he hung it on the door. It was stretchy with a subtle shine, attaching across the shoulders and leaving the back bare. Picking out a royal purple silk thong and a matching strapless bra from her underwear drawer, then a pair of creme silk heels from her shoe-rack, he hung those from the door also.
“There.” Dusk’s critical gaze glanced over the outfit, before he nodded.
“Why are you prepping my wardrobe? Am I going somewhere?” Layla spoke, still sipping her coffee at the table.
“I thought you might want to visit Reginald.”
“What?” Layla blinked, setting down her coffee cup.
Dusk turned, watching her with his crystal-blue eyes. “He did save your life, Layla. You might want to say thank you.”
Complicated emotions sluiced through Layla. Suddenly, she recalled her night of sex dreams with Reginald, where they had rolled in deep waters with each other all night long. She could still feel that delicious abandon rushing through her, and not just because she still wore his pearl bracelet and earrings to control her Dragon’s urges. A wave of heated bourbon scent washed up around Layla and she blushed, fidgeting with the bracelet.
“What if that’s not a good idea?”
Frowning, Dusk stepped back over to her. “You don’t have to go see him if you don’t want to. I just thought it might be a nice gesture. He’s been recovering these past days as much as you and Adrian – from changing into his Siren to save you.”
Layla fidgeted again, her fingertips feeling the silken texture of Reginald’s pearls. Part of her wanted to go see him, but part of her was afraid. She hadn’t told Dusk and the Intercessoria about her sex dreams with the Head Courtier. She had only mentioned that she’d woken dreaming of a drowning wave and choking on it, when Hunter had rushed in as Tempeste and snapped the pearl choker from her neck. Now that omission seemed enormous, as if that wave of passion and darkness had returned for her and she couldn’t escape it. Layla heard the sea rushing in her ears with a call of gulls. But she’d not dreamt of Reginald since that night and rubbing his bracelet again, Layla debated what it meant.
“No… you’re right. I should go see him.”
“As long as you feel well enough.” Dusk had picked up that there was something strange going on. As she looked up, he lifted his dark eyebrows at her. “Layla? Are you ok?”
“Yeah. Just… give me a moment.”
Though he frowned, Dusk stepped back with a nod. Moving to the closet, Layla closed the doors so she could get dressed. The stretchy satin dress Dusk had picked out was cozy enough for winter and fit her curves well. The undies and heels were comfortable, and Layla felt herself re-adjust to Hotel life as she did a tad of makeup from her makeup kit in the wardrobe, then combed out her curls and spritzed them with shiner, twisting them up with Mimi’s diamond hair-pins.
Stepping out of the closet and approaching the table, she adjusted Reginald’s pearl and diamond bracelet at her wrist. The pearls were snug, the feel around her wrist deliciously restricting. But the choker, the best part of the set, was still missing – maybe never to be recovered. Although the Intercessoria had searched the apartment in Manarola, they’d not found Tempeste’s effects, nor Reginald’s pearl choker. Layla’s bag had been there, but that was all, plus a fridge full of half-eaten food.
“Layla?” Dusk furrowed his brows, watching her.
“Hmm?” She blinked, glancing over, her strange reverie interrupted.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I… still feel odd. Probably just recovery.” Shaking her head to dispel the fog in her mind, Layla moved to the table. Her royal blue peacoat was there, and Dusk held it out for her.
“You’ll need this. Reginald is staying in the Crystal Cathedral out in the gardens right now, rather than his apartment.”
“Why?” Layla frowned as she donned her coat, buttoning it.
“He had his first shift,” Dusk’s face was grave as he adjusted her coat like a butler, pulling her hair out from the collar. “When a first shift happens, the likelihood of a second one increases exponentially. The Madame’s moved Reginald to the Crystal Cathedral, because with the Vault out of order, it’s the one place with enough concentrated energy to contain a Siren-shift. You and I were lucky that time you tried to shift at the Dragon party, that you were standing in that hall. It helped me stabilize you and stop the shift. Plus, you’re a Desert Dragon – a lot smaller if you shift than a Siren.”
