Motor City Wolf (13 page)

Aidan and Elise waited outside at the circular drive, their faces drawn and anxious. Meagan was right beside them. Greg leaped out of the car, opened the back door and was lifting Fee out even before the engine shut off. As the others clambered out behind him, Greg followed Aidan and Elise into the house at a run.

“In here.” Elise pointed to the door of a first-floor bedroom, one Greg hadn’t noticed on any of his previous visits.

Greg lay Fee down on the sheets. He sat on the edge of the bed, still holding that one hand, a lifeline, though he couldn’t have said whether hers or his. Elise dropped to the bed on Fee’s other side and laid both hands on Fee’s bared neck and shoulder.

“The poison is eating away at her nervous system,” Elise said after a moment. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Aidan, a little help.”

Her husband put his hands beside her on Fee’s skin. “Draw as much from me as you need,
leannan.
”

A pair of Aidan’s servants appeared in the doorway. “Us too if you need us.” Greg recognized Tobias and Mairead Bootle, the brownie who was Aidan’s right-hand man and the half Fae, half gnome who served as nanny to Aidan and Elise’s daughter.

“And the rest of us.” Wallis Silverwood, Aidan’s head of security, stood behind Toby, along with Bronwyn, the housekeeper. More of the staff crowded behind them.

Greg felt a sting at his eyelids. All these people had gone from hating Fee when she’d been acting on behalf of her uncle, to loving her when she’d foiled her cousin’s plans and stepped between little Dina and a bullet.

Gradually, over the next fifteen minutes or so, Fee’s convulsions began to ease and her breathing grew stronger and steadier. Aidan sagged aside and was replaced by Wallis after maybe five minutes. Next, Bronwyn took a shift, then Mairead. As Toby lifted his wife away from the bed to take her place, there was a commotion in the hallway, and five-year-old Adina Greene shoved her way past to stand by her mother’s side.

“It’s okay, Mommy. I need to help.” Sometimes the child’s words were far more mature than her body. The look in her emerald-green eyes was even older. “It’s the same kind of magic I have in me. I can fix it.”

Aidan stopped in his tracks and nodded. “She’s probably right if the drug is Gravaki. It’s a long story, but she…absorbed a bunch of magic before she was born.”

Instead of staying beside her mother, Dina climbed onto the bed and slipped her tiny hands under Fee’s sweater. She closed her eyes and hummed for a moment, rocking back and forth.

After a few seconds, she popped open her eyes and smiled.

“Everybody’s okay now. Mommy, you can stop.” She yawned and didn’t object when her father picked her up into his arms.

“She’s right.” Elise lifted her hands and slumped back against the headboard. “The magical toxin is completely gone now. Fee and the babies should all be fine.”

Greg felt the room spin around him. “Babies?”

Dina held up two fingers. “A boy—I think he might marry my little sister someday. And a girl. She’s going to like Aunt Meagan’s baby, but it’s gonna be a lon-ng time before he likes her back.”

Silence descended in the wake of Dina’s announcement. Finally, Aidan blinked. “Sweetie, you don’t have a little sister.”

Dina shook her head. “Not yet. Maybe next year, maybe later.”

Greg was still reeling. “Twins?”

He felt Lana grip his shoulder and squeeze. “I told her the wedding better be soon.”

Fianna remembered pain. The stabbing agony in her shoulder and spasms of torture racking her body. They must have been a dream, though, because she felt nothing but comfort and softness when she woke. Sunlight warmed her cheek, and she opened her eyes to see it glinting through a mullioned window, the sparkling light reminding her of Faerie rather than the smoke-clouded sunshine of autumn in Detroit.

“Hey there.” Lana sat beside the bed in an armchair, smiling. “How’re you feeling?”

Fianna stretched. “A little stiff but otherwise fine. Where are we?” The luxurious bedroom looked familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. When she turned, she saw Meagan propped in a second chair, a book lying closed in her lap. “What’s going on?”

“You’ve been out for almost a day,” Meagan replied. “But Elise swears you were only sleeping. You and your little ones are going to be fine.”

“What?” Fianna bolted up to a sitting position. “Little ones?” Slowly, the memory of her attack was coming back to her—Lana’s scream, the pain, the fall. “Damn it, did I get shot again?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Lana moved over to sit on the bed beside her. “It was an arrow, coated with the designer drug the guys have been investigating. It was an almost lethal overdose.”

Nausea rumbled through her stomach, and she cupped her free hand low on her abdomen as she looked up at Meagan. “And the other part? Did you say little
ones?
”

Meagan nodded. “Fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Both of them are fine, I swear.”

Lana squeezed her hand. “You can stop wondering, cuz. It’s official. Announced by Elise, confirmed by Dina. I thought Greg was going to pass out cold when he heard.” She let go and busied herself plumping the pillows behind Fianna’s back.

“Where is he?” Fianna looked around the room. “For that matter, where are we?”

“Oakwood, Aidan’s estate Underhill,” Meagan replied. “We thought this would be a safe place for you to recover. Greg’s in the next room. He sat up with you all night, but we finally talked him into taking a nap.”

“Was anyone else hurt?” Discovering she was still weak now that the shock had worn off, Fianna sagged back against the pillows. Though she needed to know more, a big part of her brain was still busy processing the word
twins.

“No, but we weren’t able to catch the shooter,” Lana said. “Or even figure out how they got into the compound. All we know is that it was another lupine and another drug user.”

“Ric, Des and Aidan led a strike team down into the salt mines early this morning,” Meagan said. “They rounded up some demons and a few addicted witches and lupines, but no one who knew anything. Nightshade is still at large, along with your archer.”

Fianna nodded. Her mouth felt like someone had stuffed it full of used bar rags and her eyelids were growing heavy again.

“Here.” Meagan had probably read her mind, because in an instant, she handed Fianna a mug of cool water. “Sorry I didn’t think of this sooner. Are you hungry?”

After draining the mug, Fianna shook her head. “No, thank you.”

Lana jumped to her feet. “I promised Greg I’d go get him the minute you woke. You can’t go back to sleep before he gets to see that you’re all right.” She fled from the room.

Meagan stood as well, a conspiratorial smile on her freckled face. She patted her own growing belly. “We’ll have to talk later, once things have calmed down.”

Fianna nodded. Her pregnancy didn’t seem real enough to discuss yet—particularly not with anyone else, when she hadn’t had a chance to talk to Greg. All she could feel was a powerful relief that the drugs in her system hadn’t harmed the child—children. Oh, Goddess, how was she supposed to care for twins? She’d never even been allowed a kitten.

When Greg stalked into the room, bleary-eyed and clad in nothing but a pair of sweatpants, Meagan slipped out with a wave and closed the door behind her.

“You okay?” He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Fianna’s hand. “No pain?”

She shook her head. “Just still a little tired.”

“Elise said you’d probably be pretty out of it for a couple of days.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “It’s been only one.”

“So I heard.” She swallowed hard and looked into his eyes. “You didn’t go with George and Des and the others to raid the salt mines.” It must have been awful for him to let his brother and friends go into danger without him.

He shrugged, but she couldn’t make out any expression on his face. “I couldn’t leave you. Not when you hadn’t regained consciousness yet.”

He was so worried, so sincere. Had he come to care for her? “I’m sorry I wasn’t careful.”

“Damn, Fee, it wasn’t like you got shot on purpose.” He lifted the covers and slid into the bed beside her. When he held out his arms, Fianna fell into them and curled against his chest. “You should have been safe in the compound. I’m so, so sorry, princess.” He held her so tightly it was almost uncomfortable, but she needed that. “At least we know it wasn’t Sofia. I was busy telling her to go fuck herself when I heard you scream.”

“You were right, though. It isn’t only myself I have to worry about.” She felt so warm and safe wrapped in his embrace, but for this, she wanted to see his face. She pulled back to gaze into his eyes. “Twins, huh?”

He reached out and cupped her cheek. “So they tell me.” His eyes searched her face in much the same way as she studied his. “You okay with that?”

Fianna shrugged. “I haven’t really had time to think about it. Though I suppose it’s too late to be upset. I wish I knew what I was doing. I don’t have any idea how to take care of a child. What if I make a mistake? And you? How do you feel about being a father?”

“Scared to death.” He kissed her lips. “I can barely remember my own parents, and the last thing I want is to use my grandparents as a model. On the other hand, I’m also kind of excited. It took almost losing you and the babies to realize I do want to be a father. Mostly, though, I’ve spent the last twenty-four hours being worried about you. For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to do beautifully as a mother.”

“Thank you.” It was perhaps the nicest thing anyone had ever said about her. “And you will be a most remarkable father. I think I feel as you do—both excited and frightened.”

“There you go. We’ll get through it together, just like every other couple.”

“We will likely make mistakes.”

“Every couple does. But we’ll both love them, and that’s what matters.” He said that with such absolute certainty she was touched.

“Your grandfather is not going to be pleased.”

“On the contrary.” He tapped her nose and smiled. “I’ve been in touch with the old man. He’s delighted about the babies and is putting through the wedding paperwork today. Don’t forget, my uncle Max is a judge. As soon as we get back to the compound, he’ll perform the ceremony. I’m not waiting one day longer than necessary to make you officially mine.”

“You don’t have to marry me just because I’m pregnant.” She still wasn’t sure that a wedding was in Greg’s best interest. Among the Fae, like among modern humans, a child didn’t always mean a marriage. She would never deny Greg access to his children, but he didn’t have to marry her out of obligation.

“No, I don’t. But we’re getting married, all the same.”

She was too tired to argue. “Very well,” she managed around a yawn. “Will you stay?”

“Of course. I could still use a little downtime, too. Didn’t sleep much last night.” Greg snuggled down under the covers, still cradling her in his arms. “Good night, princess.”

The last thing she felt before dozing off again was his lips moving gently on hers.

The following morning Greg was wakened by a rap on the door. Elise had popped in periodically yesterday to check on Fee, along with servants bearing food, but Fee had done little more than sleep, eat and eventually take a bath with Greg. He’d loved every minute of holding her and taking care of her, even though she’d been too tired to make love. Intimacy without sex was a novel experience for him, though one he expected would become routine as her pregnancy advanced.

This time, it was Meagan at the door, a worried look on her face.

“The queen has found out you’re Underhill,” she said. “She wants to see us all.”

Their respite was over. Greg thanked her, and turned to wake Fee with a kiss. “Come on, princess. The real world calls.”

One thing about being around Fae, they didn’t need to worry about details like clean clothes or even toiletries. What wasn’t already provided, one of the elves could get or modify with magic.

That explained how he found himself in a staid black business suit and gray tie as he walked beside Fianna in a simple, long-sleeved navy velvet gown, into the audience chamber of Llyris Astrella, Queen of the Seelie Court. Meagan and Ric, and Elise and Aidan led the way in full Faerie-Court finery, while Lana, wearing a sedate—for her, anyway—maroon dress, stood on Fianna’s other side. Several of Aidan’s security staff brought up the rear.

The queen’s hair was an even lighter shade of blond than Fee’s—almost a true white, and she wore it up in an elaborate arrangement of braids and gems, and other stuff Greg couldn’t put a name to. Her gown was sort of Napoleonic era crossed with drag queen, cut low but covered with so much glitz it was practically blinding. She sat on a dais in a silver-and-velvet armchair, or maybe throne, surrounded by armed guards. This wasn’t his first visit to Faerie, or even his first presentation to Queen Llyris, but he still instinctively recoiled from all the glitter and ceremony. The old man, with all his pomp and protocol, had nothing on this.

“Fianna of the Meadows.” The queen’s voice boomed out, silencing the general chatter of the couple dozen courtiers scattered about the room. “I may be mistaken, but I thought I had exiled you from this realm. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Head high, Fianna let go of Greg and Lana, stepped between Meagan and Elise, and swept into a curtsey that put her forehead on the marble floor immediately below the dais. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I was unconscious when my friends brought me Underhill to be healed.” She spoke without lifting her face from the floor, making Greg want to howl and yank her back up into his arms.

Lana tugged on Greg’s sleeve as Meagan and Ric stepped up on one side of Fee and bowed while Elise and Aidan did the same on the other. As coached by Aidan, Lana and Greg bowed, though not as deeply, from where they stood behind Fee.

“It was my decision to bring her here, Majesty,” Aidan said. “Partly for her own safety, but also because her attack has ramifications that could affect all sidhe.”

“Rise,” she said, waving a hand. “Lord Green Oak, explain.”

Aidan nodded as he stood and spoke softly. “Your Majesty may wish to hear this in a more private location.”

“Very well.” The queen picked up a jeweled staff and thumped it on the floor. “Madog, remove everyone except yourself and one other guard.”

The big bruiser behind her left shoulder glowered at a couple of the other liveried guards, who scurried to chase everyone else out of the room. He was part ogre or giant or something but scary as hell and Greg had never seen the queen without him.

In less than a minute, the room was cleared except for them and the two guards who stood behind the queen.

“You.” Llyris pointed at Meagan. “Sit.” A small silver-gilt chair appeared next to Meagan. “And you, before you fall over.” Another popped into existence by Fee, who was still pale and shaky. “What kind of attack was it that Lady Green Oak couldn’t fully heal in two days?”

“A new drug, Your Majesty.” Ric stepped right up to the platform, one hand on his wife’s shoulder. “One aimed at those with magic in their blood. The dose she was given was meant to kill.”

Now they had her interest. Ric and Aidan explained everything that had happened over the past several days regarding the drug and the attacks on Fee.

“I see.” Llyris inclined her head. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. However, an exiled Fae seems an unlikely target for assassination. Why you?” Her ice-blue eyes glared so sharply at Fee that Greg had to force himself not to jump between them.

Fee held her own, her expression respectful yet confident. “I believe the attacks are against Mr. Gregory Novak, Your Majesty. Since we are to be married, it seems the assassin may be trying to hurt him through me.”

“Married?” The queen’s gaze narrowed. “I do not believe mating with a ranking werewolf was one of the provisions allowed in your decree of exile.”

“That was before she carried my children, Your Majesty.” Greg had been told not to speak, but he did anyway. He placed his hands on both of Fee’s shoulders. “With all due respect, that changed everything.”

“You are with child?”

Fee nodded. “Twins.”

“Very well. You may marry the werewolf.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Fee dropped her head into another bow and he felt the tension leave her shoulders.

“I do not believe I know of any lupine-Fae hybrids,” Llyris said thoughtfully. “It should be interesting to see how they turn out.”

“But, Your Majesty, I am human now.”

The queen waved a hand. “Your powers are blocked, but your inherent nature is unchanged. Without the magic extending your life, your physical rhythms may have altered somewhat, but underneath it all, you are still Fae, and your offspring will be halflings.”

“Thank you for that information.” Greg squeezed Fee’s shoulder. “Now may I ask for a favor? Fianna and our children are in danger in Detroit. May she stay with the Green Oaks until it’s safe?”

Llyris pondered, but shook her head. “No. And I dare not return her powers right now. That kind of influx could be deadly. I can and will release Lords Rose and Green Oak from any duties at court until the situation in Detroit is resolved. They may act in my interest in this matter.”

Damn it.
While he didn’t want to be separated from Fee, he wanted her safe, and he couldn’t even count on that at his grandfather’s compound. Damn, but she was going to hate being confined to the house and having full-time bodyguards.

Fianna stared at her hands during the long and mostly silent ride back to the Novak family compound. Aidan had loaned them an armored limousine and driver, so they sat in comfort, with Lana sprawled on the rear-facing seat across from Greg and Fianna.

They were almost to West Bloomfield when Lana broke the silence. “We really need to stop by our place for more clothes if the wedding is tomorrow.”

Since this was also the last thing she’d said before they’d left, Fianna and Greg ignored her.

She ground her teeth. “Come on, Fee. You can’t tell me you don’t at least want your own makeup and stuff for your wedding.”

Fianna bit her lip and looked over at Greg. “She has a point. Though I don’t even know how formal this is going to be since it’s so hurried.”

Greg lifted one eyebrow. “My grandmother is organizing it. What do you think?”

Fianna winced. “I think I need a dress.” Elise had offered to loan her something and magic it to fit, but somehow that hadn’t felt right. “There’s an evening gown in my closet that I’ve never worn. Strapless and white with a full skirt and silver embroidery. I could wear that with the silver Ferragamos I wore the other night.” She’d actually never worn it because it had ended up looking too much like an American bridal gown—a concept she hadn’t understood when she’d ordered her original wardrobe. A smile teased her lips. All those designer things she’d owned as Aidan’s assistant—who’d have thought she’d need them again so soon?

Greg sighed. “Make a list. George and I will go get whatever you need. I’m gonna have to get my tux anyway. You, too, munchkin.”

“Oh, I am so not letting you paw through my underwear and makeup,” Lana said. “We’re going with you.”

“Not a chance.”

It was Fianna who growled. “This is ridiculous. At least let Lana go with you. There’s no indication that she’s a target, and she’ll know what I mean when I list things like liquid concealer, eyelid serum and a diffuser.”

“What?” Greg cocked one eyebrow. “You’re making that shit up.”

“Skin-toned makeup to hide dark circles, a lotion that helps prevent them and a hairdryer attachment to add volume.” Lana rolled her eyes. “Jeez, cuz, thought you were smarter about women than that.”

“Just because I’ve dated my share of females doesn’t mean I paid any attention to all the crap in their bathroom cupboards. And all that’s in the past, anyway.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides, Fee’s fucking gorgeous. What does she need all that shit for?”

“Thank you.” She patted his leg. “Think of it as psychological armor. I feel much more confident if I have all my bits and pieces in place.” Sometimes she envied women like Meagan, who didn’t care if they had makeup on or even if their clothing matched. Not that Meagan wasn’t lovely in her own way—she simply didn’t seem to know or care about it. Lana was somewhere in between, confident no matter what she wore—or how outrageous it was. Fianna didn’t have that kind of insouciance. She knew men found her attractive in the bar, with a ponytail and no makeup, but she
liked
the feminine beauty rituals of creams and lotions and colors, enjoyed the way they made her feel. The girly products were among the few things she’d truly appreciated about the human realm.

And tomorrow she was getting married, with no time for a new manicure or even a hairdresser’s appointment. Hopefully one of her magic-wielding guests could touch up the chips in her nail polish before the ceremony. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Are you sure it’s safe for our friends to come?”

“Des cast a warding spell around the house and garden,” Greg reminded her. He took her hand in his. “Nobody will be able to get in without Grandfather’s personal invitation. And he’s cleared everyone but immediate family, his closest friends and his personal staff out of the main house. Guards will be posted outside to watch for snipers. Plus, the guests will be coming in armored cars, like this one. They’ll be fine.”

“Thank you.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. Though she was stronger than she’d been yesterday, she still didn’t feel like herself. If they hadn’t turned into the drive right then, she’d have strongly considered a nap.

Once they’d been escorted inside, she had too much to do. The first task was making a list of everything she needed from her apartment. She and Lana worked together, brainstorming.

“I need a ring,” Fianna said, tapping her fingernails on the desk. “How am I supposed to get Greg a wedding ring if I can’t even go out to a store?”

Katy, who had joined them, grinned. “You get the store to come to you. Give me twenty minutes.” She darted from the room.

“Grandmother has a jeweler she’s known for decades,” Lana explained. “He’ll run out to the house with a selection of rings, no problem. He can come while I keep Greg busy at the apartments.”

“Will he be allowed in?” Fianna still had her doubts about anything coming together for this wedding. Instead of a celebration of affection, it was turning into one headache after another. Worse, she still wasn’t sure Greg truly wanted to go through with it.

“He’ll be guarded, but Peter and the others know him.” Lana gave her a reassuring smile. “Peter may have his head up his ass about Greg choosing you over his daughter, but he’s not going to betray the pack. We Novaks may not have magic, but in this world, money works almost as well. I know you don’t always see it with Greg, but believe me, he has plenty of it. Order whatever you need, and don’t worry about a thing—other than what color you want your bridesmaids to wear.”

“Bridesmaids?” Panic swelled. “How many am I supposed to have? What do they do? How much of an imposition is it to ask?”

“Hey, chill. It’s not that bad.” Lana held Fianna’s gaze until Fianna was breathing properly again. “You’ve got me, and Katy, if you want. I know she’d love to be asked. Meagan and Elise, too, probably. But it’s all up to you and Greg. Neither of you have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Except maybe for him marrying me.
Aloud, she said, “Thank you. I’ve never had a real friend before, so I may not say this properly. But thank you. For everything.”

The last thing Greg expected the night before his wedding was an impromptu bachelor party.

His plan had been to stick to Fee like a tick. But when even his grandmother had gotten involved in gathering all the females in her private sitting room for what passed as a bridal shower, he put up only a token resistance when George, Jase and Derek hauled him down to the library. Since the house was filled to the rafter with cousins and family friends, the room was crowded with all the adult males.

“Okay, I am
not
watching a stripper with my uncles and grandfather,” he muttered to George. “Not even porno flicks on DVD.”

“Chill. I think poker and drinking are the only entertainment,” Vince added, slapping him on the back. “Maybe a little pay-per-view after the older guys go to bed.”

“And in honor of the occasion, we’re even allowed to smoke cigars in the house.” Derek passed around the humidor and a lighter.

Based on the fact that he and Vince both smelled strongly of tobacco, they’d started that part of the evening before Greg had come down. He took a cigar and pulled a chair up to one of the poker tables, between Derek and George.

“You know, your grandfather’s been trying to talk me into replacing my father-in-law as bodyguard,” Derek said a little later. “He doesn’t seem to get that I’d rather fight in the courtroom than with my fangs.”

“The Bartoks have been the betas to the Novaks for a lot of generations.” Greg called the bet and puffed on his cigar. “Since Peter only has daughters, and you are family, it’s no big surprise the old man would tap you. Just say no. There’s no reason you should do anything you don’t have to.”