I Kissed a Dog (22 page)

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Chapter 27

Teeth nibbling on my right ear pulled me from the thickness of sleep.

I stayed quiet, keeping my breathing slow and steady. I wanted to keep my now-awake
status concealed from Zane so I could enjoy the tempting tortures he’d use to rouse,
or, more accurately,
arouse
me.

The room was bright. Even with my eyes closed, I could detect a sunny Sunday morning
… or afternoon. I had no idea how long we’d slept.

Following last night’s argument about whether or not to form a truce with our mutant
prisoners, we’d fallen, mid-sentence, into an all-encompassing and much overdue state
of deep sleep. Sex had been the furthest thing from both of our minds, but now, with
Zane’s tongue winding leisurely down my neck, I felt pretty willing to reestablish
our wedding night bliss, the bliss that I’d missed out on the first time around.

Zane nuzzled my neck and nipped at my ear. His hand moved in slow, tantalizing circles
over my belly, blazing a trail of heat across my skin. Forgetting my reasons for feigning
sleep, I turned on my side, pressing myself against the heat of my husband.

“Ah, Chloe,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“No. I should have minded my own business. Dropping into conversations and minds uninvited
can be pretty unsettling.” I kissed his bare chest, sighing with delight as I ran
my tongue down his smooth, warm skin.

We were at last going to consummate our marriage with me fully aware and participating
at full capacity. An old love song about afternoon delights drifted through my mind.
I moved lower, my tongue winding and flicking along the way.

Before I could straddle the prize, a loud banging shook the front door.

“Dear Lord, now what?” Zane groaned like a man in pain.

More pounding rattled the living room window. I grabbed the alarm clock.

“It’s 1:30 PM,” I announced, as if that would somehow explain the rude visitors still
knocking.

I pushed myself up. “Where’s Mack? Michael?” Couldn’t they answer the damn door?

Zane was on his feet, “Honey, they don’t live here. We needed some alone time.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now,” I pouted.

“I’ll deal with this. You wait here.” Zane slid his arm into a sleeve and stalked
to the door, pulling the shirt all the way on. “Just a minute!” he barked, with no
attempt at civility.

The door swung open with a bang. “What … ?” I heard him stutter.

Grabbing my robe, I dashed to the door. What I witnessed terrified me far more than
any blood-thirsty vamp, spell-casting sorcerer, or mad-munching mutant.

My mom and stepdad stood staring up at Zane. Bob reached inside his jacket; where
I knew his firearm waited. He scowled, clearly looking for any reason to draw his
weapon.

My mom was visibly trembling, holding back a sure stream of tears.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” my mom cried. “An elopement … how could you do this to me!”

I glanced at Zane, who gave me a very unhelpful you-get-to-handle-this look.

“Mom, Dad, sometimes things happen fast and you just go with the flow.” I knew by
my mom’s narrowing eyes and Bob’s reddening face they weren’t buying my simple explanation.

Bob stepped forward. “You’ve never been a ‘go with the flow’ kind of gal. Are you
in some kind of trouble? We’ve tried to reach you. After stopping by your house, we
tracked down your boss, and he told us you’d gotten married.”

“Luke …” I grumbled to myself. How was I supposed to trust him to help me when he’d
blabbed my marital status to my parents?

My mom wiped her eyes with a tissue. “Luke is such a nice man. I always thought …”

“Mother! Please! I love Zane.” Feeling awkward, I looked at Zane. “Mom, Dad — sorry.
This is my husband, Zane Marshall. He is a veterinarian. We met at work.” I reached
for Zane’s hand.

My mom was deescalating. I could tell she liked the idea that I’d married a man with
a college degree. Her approval would come easier than Bob’s. No guy — college educated
or not — was good enough for his little girl.

“So, Zane.” Bob made his move. “My daughter wasn’t worthy of a real family wedding?
Why all the rush? Involved in any illegal activity we should know about?”

“Honey, please tell me you’re not …”

I groaned feeling like a teenager caught in the act. “Mom, I’m not pregnant. Dad,
I didn’t want a big fancy wedding. Mom did.”

“That’s not …”

“Yes, it is. You’ve been talking about
my
big wedding
since I was in diapers. Just because
you
never had one.” I clapped my hand over my mouth, wishing I could erase those last
words.

“Why don’t we all calm down, go have a nice lunch, and talk about this. We’re sorry
about the suddenness, but the romance of Vegas accelerated things. We figured we’d
have a big wedding later,” Zane explained, an assuring smile pasted on his handsome
face.

“I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean that.”

“Yes, you did. I just can’t accept this. Something is not right.” She crossed her
arms, refusing to look at me or Zane.

“What about all the murders, Chloe? I’m not sure it’s even safe to live down here
anymore.” My dad changed tactics. He couldn’t handle my mom’s messy emotions. It was
time for him to retreat to his comfort zone — law enforcement and crime.

“Dad, I know you’re already well aware the victims were men. That pretty much rules
me out, don’t you think?” I couldn’t even begin to imagine his response to everything
supernatural happening in my life. Seeing him now, like this, gave me another reason
to be thankful for Zane’s wisdom. At one point, I’d been ready to tell Bob about werewolves.

Ignoring my little appraisal, Bob crossed his arms. “We’re leaving. You’ve upset your
mother. When you have time to talk, sensibly, we’ll be at our usual hotel for a few
days before heading home. And you …” Bob glared up a Zane. “Better take care of my
daughter or you’ll be answering to the entire Troutdale police force.”

Zane tensed, but answered calmly, “Yes, sir. She’ll be safe with me. You can count
on that.”

“That remains to be seen,” he added before taking my mom’s arm. “Believe me, Mr. Marshall.
I will be counting on that. And I
will
be using everything at my disposal to find out who you are.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. My stepdad was no dummy when it came to technology
and he had more than a few favors he could call in. Sending Alcuin to change his perception
about this unhappy reunion might be necessary. Messing with his memories wasn’t what
I wanted, but Bob learning more about Zane was unacceptable. Protecting them from
each other was yet another task to add to my lengthy to-do-list, especially with Bob
lurking around Plum Beach. I’d try to slip by the hotel later and encourage them to
go home; the perfect time for them to meet Alcuin and for him to work his mind magic.

It took three very strong cups of coffee, following their departure, before I felt
semi-sane. I hadn’t expected my parents to find out about my nuptials from a secondary
source, and I kept replaying our horrible conversation over and over in my head. Zane,
knowing I needed space, had hurried out to “visit” with our guests. I could no longer
refer to them as prisoners. Guests seemed more civil.

How could I have hurt my mom like that? What was wrong with me?

So much for a restful day of exquisite love making with my husband. I stood instead
washing the few dishes we’d left in the sink, thinking about tomorrow.

Monday was the big day. We’d teleport to Seattle for the board meeting, and later,
I’d try my hand at deceiving Zane. I was already feeling guilty about sneaking off.
But now, more than ever, I needed some time away from this supernatural soap opera
to think. I’d locate the Smart kid and maybe I’d visit my folks if they’d returned
to Portland after Alcuin’s mind message. They deserved that much.

“Knock, knock! Anyone home?” Michael called, cheerful as always.

Grateful for the distraction, I hurried to unlock the door. Playing the polite hostess
came naturally even when I was wallowing in self pity. I could count on the youngest
M to lighten things up. “Coffee?” I was already pouring.

“Sure. You okay?” He pulled out a chair and made himself as comfortable as he could
at the tiny table.

“My parents stopped by.”

He listened while I poured out my sad story, patting my hand several times.

“How are our mutant friends?” he asked when I was done.

“Zane’s out with them now. I think Stryder might prove useful. There’s something about
him. I don’t know why, but I like him.”

Michael looked suddenly uncomfortable. “Chloe, I wanted to tell Zane at the same time,
but you need to know this. When I vanished at the park, I was chasing something or
someone that looked like Agent Green, but not like him. I’m not sure how to explain
it, but he was transformed, ready to feast on the zebra again.

It must have been him the first time Missy was attacked. It’s too coincidental. But
I have no idea what he is or how he figures into all this.”

A slow chill spread down my spine. “I guess I’m not surprised. When Mr. FBI pulled
us over last night, he mentioned something that seemed strange about the zebras and
wolves.”

“Did Alcuin talk to you yet?” Michael asked, to my surprise, sounding anxious.

I shook my head.

“He ran into his own trouble out at McCray’s trailer park.”

“What kind of trouble?” Zane pushed through the front door.

Michael told Zane the same thing he’d told me about Agent Green and then went on to
describe Alcuin’s failed attempt to claim the coin. According to Michael, Alcuin had
never even made it into the trailer. Another unfamiliar vampire was on the premises
and Alcuin had chosen not to engage the outsider.

“That doesn’t sound like the Alcuin I know,” Zane pondered out loud.

“He didn’t say so, but I think he was afraid of the new bloodsucker.” Michael looked
guilty even suggesting such heresy. “He said that the out-of-town vamp was in the
ultra
-
ancient
vampire category. Alcuin is old, but not ancient according to vampire history.”

For several very obvious reasons, the whole conversation bugged me. I felt as guilty
as the young werewolf looked over sharing Alcuin’s secret fears. I hadn’t told anyone
about my most recent vampire rendezvous during the reception, nor had I bothered mentioning
the possibility of sharing my blood with that same, ultra-ancient vamp in Vegas. Zane
wouldn’t be happy to hear any of it.

Now wasn’t the time to reveal my Valamir encounters, not with another looming secret
so near.

“You okay, Princess?” Zane reached across the table and slid his hand over mine.

Just his touch provoked a myriad of emotions: Love, lust, guilt, fear — a not so nice
combination. I’d tell him the truth the minute I returned from my little fact-finding
mission. I could blame my behavior on my parents and my desire to make things right
with them.

“I’m okay.” I heard myself lie. “Mind if I take a nap?” If I stayed with him another
second, I was going to blurt out all my secrets, damn the consequences.

He squeezed my hand. “Sleep tight, babe.”

“Sleep tight.” Michael smiled, weary.

Not tired at all, I tried to read. Something I’d loved doing pre-Zane. Now, with my
life as exciting and scary as a bestseller, it was difficult to focus on an author’s
fictional world.

Tossing the paperback onto the dresser, I paced our small bedroom.

The guys had stepped outside to greet Mack. I assumed Alcuin wouldn’t be too far behind.
If they stuck to their typical pattern, they’d gather around the table and compare
their findings, searching for common themes and suspects.

Zane had mentioned that Rita was working to decode the sigils on the coins. We still
needed to find the fourth. Four murders, four coins. Where was my cloaked helper when
I needed him?

Chloe, are you there? It’s me, Stryder.

What now? Other than Zane, no one had ever sought me out telepathically. How was Stryder
able to make the connection with such ease?

I’m here. How did you …

I just focused my thoughts on you and kept repeating my question
.

Maybe our unexpected link was the result of my hijacking him at the trailer park.
I’d pretty much possessed his mind and all his senses. Yet another reminder that my
powers were developing in ways I’d never expected. Making me wish, for the trillionth
time, that someone who could explain my gift would appear and offer their wise council.

I decided to use this latest mental enhancement to my benefit. Perhaps I could persuade
Styder to join our cause. I’d try keeping the conversation casual for starters, build
a rapport.

Wow! This is kind of new for me. Are the guys treating you all right? all right?
Focus on his well being, a perfect opening.