Danea (3 page)

“A book expo in Seattle about a week after she bought the property for the daycare,” Wade stared off toward the bar, remembering the afternoon. “I felt like a stalker
. I followed her around the expo and tried not to be conspicuous. Okay, not true. At first I tried to ignore it. I thought it was…I didn’t believe it. Maybe I didn’t want to believe it, hell, I don’t know. So I went in the opposite direction for all of fifteen minutes.” His laugh was low and dry, his head shaking. “Then I found her again and it was like walking straight into a wall of hormones. Made me think I was thirteen again, and believe me, that was too damn long ago.”

“So you followed her?”

Wade exhaled and drained the bottle in his hand. “I hope it looked like we were just going in the same direction. She was buying up books for the daycare. I talked…vague stuff…she responded and smiled and even looked curious. Interested. But...I’m not sure how to explain it.”

“It’s like she fighting something and only part of it is herself,” Noah supplied thoughtfully, remembering the look on her face after he’d kissed her.

“Maybe that’s it. Anyway, I got lucky and knew one of the vendors she bought from,” Wade raised a palm and held up two fingers at the waitress. “That’s where I found out who she was and where she lived.”

“That was over five weeks ago.” Noah said thoughtfully.

“When’d you meet her?”

Noah waited until the waitress deposited the fresh, chilled bottles before speaking. “The first Monday after she moved into town. About seven weeks now,” he took a long drink, recalling his disbelief at what he watched.
“I was returning from a night issue in Newport and saw her wagon on the sand at a little after six in the morning. Didn’t recognize the vehicle so I ran the tag and parked beside it, checking things out. It was locked and there was a big towel hanging from a pike about ten yards from the waters’ edge.” He took another long drink. “This is going to sound really out there and if she was some kind of shifter, I could maybe rationalize some kind of explanation…but I swear she’s got gulls protecting her.”

Wade laughed, his head shaking. “Have you looked at her roof? Or the stretch of beach across the street from the main road?”

“But you get the same impression…right? She is human,” Noah asked cautiously.

Wade nodded slowly. “That’s all I sense, Noah. Which made the gull thing all the more interesting. You met her at the beach?”

“I waited. I tried going to the towel and the gulls wouldn’t allow it,” he met the surprised look with a nod. “Swear to god. At first, they were on the ground, pecking at me. When I wouldn’t stop, bigger ones started diving at me and I took the hint and retreated to the jeep and just waited.”

“Dive bombed you,
” Wade repeated skeptically.

“I was stone cold sober,” Noah growled back. “Ten minutes later, I finally saw her surface about twenty feet out. She sat on the sand and then climbed to her feet and walked toward the towel. I’m pretty sure she didn’t see me until she got to the towel.”

Both men took a long drink from the cold bottles.

“And when she did see you?”

“Believe it or not, she behaved like it was no big deal, which considering she just threw me out of her office, embarrassed, is totally fucking with my head,” Noah admitted in confusion. “I introduced myself and she calmly dried off and got dressed. I suggested that she not swim alone because it wasn’t safe. She placated me and agreed and drove off. I felt the brick wall, Wade. Like I slammed face first into it. I went to the daycare that afternoon when I finally woke up, thinking I’d dreamt the whole thing.”

“She swims in the ocean. Naked.” Wade exhaled steadily for a long minute.

“And she didn’t stop. Every Monday at six, she’s out there. Only I never see her surface,” Noah met the frown with a raised brow. “No lie. Seven weeks, Wade. Seven weeks and I have not seen her come up once and I’ve even taken binoculars out to watch for her.”

“I swear, I’ve used all my senses and she comes up human. Your senses are just as attuned to other species as mine
, if not more so,” Wade considered his remarks. “And let me guess, she acts like you have some contagious disease when you get near her.”

“Yeah…and that’s putting it mild. Except for you…we’re only a year or two older than Nick and Jase…not that unusual,” Noah said thoughtfully.

“It’s not about age. I’ve talked to Breanna as well as others,” he paused, drawing on his information with a slight frown. “All the Fae elders attribute it to a female strong enough to elicit a kind of attunement that kicks in only with the proper mate. Or in this case, the possible pair of mates.”

“You’re the brain, prof,” Noah drained the bottle and reached for his wallet. He tossed some money onto the table. “Now what?”

“Two options,” Wade followed his movements. “One of us walks away or we don’t. In which case, if that’s the decision and I’ve waited too damn long to walk away, we devise a plan and I’d recommend a direct frontal assault. Keep her off balance and puzzled.”

“You think you can do this with another guy?” Noah pushed a puff of air between his lips. “Not what I meant.”

“We’re friends. But neither of us is into guys,” Wade spoke the words they had both been circling. “I don’t know. We’ve both done it before but there wasn’t the same…”

“Tomorrow wasn’t on the line,” Noah supplied with a slow nod. “Agreed. I can’t walk away,
Wade. I was starting to believe it was all a hoax, no matter the people I know who claim otherwise.”

“Then it’s going to be up to us and Danea,” Wade responded.

“In which case, meet me in the parking lot for the daycare center at five-thirty. The breach begins this evening,” Noah said confidently. “What have you learned from Nick and Jase?”

“From observing? It’s…the aura around the three of them is like something out of a book. No jealousy. No possessive behavior toward her. It’s as if they were one unit, the men. They almost take it as an extension of one another, with Breanna being the only thing important to their lives. It’s more of a three pointed circle, than a triangle. And believe me, it’s not perfect. I’ve seen her throw things at them, individually as well as together.
I’ve heard them disagree, vehemently at some points, but it always simmers and ends in long, mostly rational conversation. I’ve seen her storm off but the crux of that revolves around her safety.”

“Her grandfather still hasn’t come up with any names?” Noah walked with him along the sidewalk toward the parking lot. “It’s been a few months since the original attack on Breanna.”

“Five months and believe me when I say that Sullivan is pulling out every possible contact he’s ever had,” Wade shook his head. “Whoever
was responsible for the initial attack on Breanna, has vanished for the time being. I’ve been in contact with the Institute in Devil Hills and Seth is baffled by it. He has his people in a few different locations but hasn’t been able to turn up any hint of anything organized.”

“You can’t believe it was random or that it won’t happen again,” Noah went over the report that was made back in April.

“What I believe is irrelevant. I’ve conducted research on what her blood and the blood of others would possibly be used for and it has too many uses. Not merely hers, Noah. Hybrids all over are likely to be targets when their heritage is known.”

“Old fashioned witch hunts all over again,” Noah ground out angrily.

“Their use though, is not to kill off the hybrids, but to take their blood for use in rituals and experiments,” Wade sighed heavily. “All the years I’ve seen and species of all kinds continue to baffle and disappoint me. Maybe for a little while, I was actually grateful I hadn’t found a mate. Imagine the danger to her and any offspring because of this latest craze,” he met the low simmering outrage in his friend. “Now imagine what it would feel like if it were Danea. Breanna had the power to heal herself from the slices to her wrists. How many will die because of ineptitude in their attempt to take blood from someone?”

“I can’t begin to…” he pulled his words and just dragged in a deep breath.
“Maybe that’s why nature is pairing two to one. I don’t know. I do know I’d be hard pressed to remember I’m a police officer if anything were to happen. I keep thinking I’ve been a cop or involved in security long enough to have seen it all but there doesn’t seem to be an end.”

“I’m going to finish a few errands. I’ll meet you here at five-thirty,” Wade pulled keys from the pocket of his pants and headed to his car when Noah merely nodded. So much to think about.

Chapter Three

Danea finally managed to wash the last of the afternoon snack out of her hair and from the side of her face. She made a face in the mirror of her office and reattached the clip that tried to hold the wild curls off to the side above one ear. Sometimes it worked, sometimes, not so much.

She sighed at the reflection. There were times she wished she hadn’t cut her hair. And it wasn’t like it couldn’t grow back…if she allowed it. But then she’d look like them…in different colors…and not quite as skinny…Danea sighed and grabbed her little purse from the door knob, her keys jangling in her hand.

Everything was neat and locked down for the evening as she stepped from the back entrance and set the alarm behind her. Mentally going over what she wanted to buy at the store, she paid little attention to people passing by. It was almost six and she was sure they had just as many errands to run as she did, if not more. She was ready to slide the key into the door lock when the very loud thump struck the roof of the car a foot from her.

Danea spun angrily on the offender, staring at the redheaded woman.

“Exactly what is wrong with you? This is my car and I’d prefer you kept your ham-fisted hands to yourself.”

Noah held up a palm when Wade went to step from the side of the building.

“Demon,” Noah said softly.

“Then we should…”

“Watch for a few minutes,” Noah nodded toward Danea. “I can move pretty fast if need be and I know you have some tricks
, too .”

Skeptical, Wade remained in the shadows.

“I have a message for you.” The woman looked her up and down. “You don’t look like the others.”

Danea felt her chin go up. The woman was too much like her sisters. Perfect. Slender and tall with luxurious long curls that never seemed to stray.

“Use the post office or email or leave me a message on the phone. I’m going shopping,” she reached for the lock again, gaping at the hand that surrounded her wrist. “I do not like being handled. Especially by strangers with the smell of a demon.”

“So you can recognize us,” came the cold sneer. “I heard you were nothing more than a throwback in genetic breeding. Kind of plain and more than a little mousy.”

“And I heard most demons were brainless and smelled like sulph
ur,” she paused with a slight tilt to her head. “Thanks for confirming that tidbit. Now…” Danea brought her free hand over and gripped the woman’s thumb with a strong twist upward. She held it tightly in her fist, twisting a little more. The hand holding the keys came up and grasped the woman’s other wrist when she shot it toward Danea’s face.

She forced the woman to her knees. If there was one thing her mother stressed, it was self-defense. She sighed. Given who and what her father was, it was probably smart.
She stopped when she heard the familiar ‘plop’ on her car roof.

“Galileo,” she said with a little sigh. “I can handle one demon.” She was silent, her eyes raised to meet those of the large Glaucous gull. “But I do appreciate your concern. Would you like to meet our new friend? I don’t know her name…”

The woman simply glared until her gaze took in the razor sharp beak and sharp, alert eyes. She swallowed hard and made an attempt to move away.

“Now. If you touch me again, I’ll break something,
or maybe I’ll let Galileo watch you for a few days. He’s a scavenger, you know. Eats anything, though he pretends to be a gourmet,” she rolled her eyes at the loud squawk and released the woman and waited for the swearing to end. “What’s the message? Like I can’t guess at it…”

“Your father says to return home. Immediately,” she growled, rubbing her w
rist and hand to ease the pain, her gaze shifting between the large gull and the woman.

“Oh, now there’s a surprise,” Danea rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the message.”

“I should have just dragged you to the pier and thrown you in for him,” the redhead took a step back, visibly shaking when the bird took a step off the roof of the car and paced toward her.

“You could have tried,” Danea shrugged. “You’re just a pawn
. Go away and don’t bother me. He always pays up front, so unless you go bothering his people, they won’t bother with you again. I know his pattern and his style. If you even think he’s interested in you, you’re lying to yourself.” She saw the momentary look of surprise on the woman’s face. “Oh, you’re pretty enough. But he’s bred his limit and he doesn’t dabble and he never settles. So run off and find a nice demon to settle down with.”

“You’re a bitch.”

“Maybe. But I’m also realistic. I didn’t get seven sisters because he’s faithful,” Danea laughed and shook her head. “Last I heard he was still toying with a little witch down in the Caribbean.”