“Where are you, girl?” her friend grumbled. “You’re so hard to get ahold of. I went to the library and Irina said you’d left. Got a better job offer?”
“Yes to both,” Darci said with a wry smile. “I’m in town now and on my way to the cas—I mean home.”
“Oh, wonderful. Please, please come out for a drink,” Nora begged. “I’ll meet you at our usual place?”
Her friend sounded frustrated. Nora’s brother must be on her back again. Besides, Darci really didn’t want to return to the castle. The place was far too quiet with Echo in a healing sleep and Blaéz gone. She didn’t even want to think of that, it hurt too much.
“If you want to go, I can wait. I’ll catch up on my reading.” Hedori gave her a quick look of understanding. With their heightened hearing, he’d probably picked up the entire conversation. At her hesitancy, he said, “I’ll be close and you’ll be safe. I promise my fighting skills are not rusty. Or I’ll call Týr, if it’ll make you feel better?”
She wanted Blaéz. But he wasn’t around. “No-no, that’s all right. And thank you.”
Hedori may downplay his fighting skills, but she’d seen him train with swords, and recalled he’d been Aethan’s protector back in Empyrea. Besides, Týr would probably insist on being present with her through her entire visit with Nora. At least Hedori would hang in the car and give her some space.
A short while later, Darci opened the door to the cheery ruckus inside Hannigan’s pub in Soho. The strong aroma of malt and grilling meat filled the place. Several people huddled over the small tables, chugging back beer. More gathered at the long wooden counter manned by two bartenders and watched a ball game on the flatscreen suspended above the bar.
Nora sat at a back table, frowning at a menu and munching from a huge bowl of cheese-drenched nachos. How she remained so slender with her addiction for those, Darci had no idea.
Nora looked up and leaped to her feet, her grin flashing. “Hey, you.” She squeezed Darci in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you came.”
A waiter appeared as Darci sat. Nora flipped back her dark, green-streaked hair and gave him a seductive smile. Then she lowered her voice, “I’d love a Screaming Orgasm. Two, please.”
The young waiter’s mouth dropped open, then he blushed. “Right. Two SO’s coming up.”
As the waiter hustled off, Darci laughed. “You’re wicked.” Yeah, her friend could do that, make her smile no matter how down she felt.
“Yup, that’s me…” Nora drummed her fingers on the scarred wood, looking a little distracted. “He’s too cute and too innocent not to corrupt with my evilness.”
“What’s wrong, Nora?”
A sigh. “Same old. My brother. He thinks I can wave a magic wand and get the job done.”
“Did you find what he wants—the vase?” Darci asked, playing with her cell phone.
“Yes, but this will take some time to get. So…” Nora rested her arms on the table, “tell me about the job, your new hunk. Yeah, Irina told me. Come on, dish it out, girl. I want details.”
The nacho Darci bit threatened to choke her at thoughts of Blaéz. The waiter reappeared with their drinks. She gulped hers and gasped. The vodka scraping layers off her throat, but it dislodged the food.
Nora reached across and rubbed her arm. “What is it? What’s wrong? Is it Grace?”
Darci shook her head. At the warmth and concern in her friend’s eyes, the words spilled out. “It’s Blaéz…” She told Nora about meeting Blaéz, moving in with him, his “special ops” job, but not what Blaéz really was. She wouldn’t betray his secret, she just needed someone to talk to. “He matters a great deal to me, but he doesn’t do emotions.”
“Why?”
“His job…” Darci lifted her shoulder in a helpless shrug, had no idea what else to say. “The violence, it reminds him too much of things he’d rather forget.”
Nora nodded and lowered her gaze to her still full shot glass. “I guess it’s like those soldiers stationed in war zones. Most have a hard time trying to live a normal life after that…”
Darci didn’t correct her. Nora would probably laugh her head off if she told her friend the painful truth.No, he’s not a soldier. My lover’s immortal. He doesn’t do emotion because he doesn’t possess a soul—you see why this is so difficult?
Her friend would definitely strap her in a straitjacket and dump her butt in the nuthouse.
Nora finished her drink, looked around. Snapped her fingers, and two more SOs arrived.
“Drink up, girl. After a good night’s sleep—and judging from the shadows I see lurking in your eyes, you haven’t slept much either—it will all be easier in the morning. Be patient. Hell, hump the life out of him. But seriously, he can’t be completely devoid of feelings. It’s somewhere there, hidden. He’ll soon lower those walls and be all over you like spilled honey.”
Darci found it hard to speak past the lump in her throat. If only it were that easy.
“Hey—” Nora reached out and grasped her hands. “All will be good. Trust me. I’ve been around a lot longer.”
