Real life got majorly in the way for a very long time, so I really, really apologize for such a long gap between chapters. I was rereading this fic earlier, and decided to try and finish it! So here's what's next, and hopefully more soon to come!
Tamsin
"Bo!" Kenzi yelled, poking her head up from behind a now scratched up car. "Man, it is good to see you guys," she breathed, rushing over to hug Bo.
I looked inside the building through the hole that used to be windows. The blast had killed most everyone and the authorities would look for any survivors, though I doubted there would be any besides the Djinn himself.
I turned around to see Kenzi and Bo releasing each other from their embrace. "We should leave. The Djinn left out the back, I think, and the cops are going to show up soon. We fae should scram. And pet," I added, glancing at Kenzi. Being called a pet got under her skin and I had to admit it was rather amusing; granted, I didn't actually think of her as a pet. Not really. Kenzi shot me a glare.
I tilted my head and smirked, but Bo hit my shoulder with a hand, pushing me back just a little.
"Hey!" I complained, rubbing my shoulder. It didn't hurt (well maybe a little), but it was the show that counted. "What was that for?"
"Stop hurting yourself for me!" she growled.
I scoffed at her, chuckling lightly. "I didn't get hurt, and you're the one that just hit me. Come on, babe. I saw the Djinn about to unleash, so I covered you. It's no big deal," I told her. I had just wanted her safe, and here she was hitting me for it. She gave me a glare and raced toward the car.
"I can heal, Tamsin!" she said, throwing her arms up.
"Yeah, I know. But it's better if you don't have to in the first place," I told her, following closely. I looked around for any sign of the Djinn and touched her arm as I opened the door for her.
"Says you," she mumbled as we all climbed into the shabby vehicle.
"Uh, guys, random question, but why do you look like you took a blood bath before getting here?" she asked, picking at Bo's clothing while the succubus drove us out of there. Honestly, I'd almost forgotten we were covered in fae remains, another good reason we left the scene when we did.
"A fae exploded at the Dal," was Bo's offered explanation. Kenzi immediately withdrew her hand. She took out her phone and dialed a number.
"Hale? Yeah, the restaurant's a no-go. Rain check? Yeah. I'll fill you in later. Yes, I promise. No, I'm not standing you up, duh. Okay, call you later," she said into the phone before hanging it up. I snickered at her over my shoulder and she stuck her tongue out at me.
We drove back to Bo and Kenzi's, deciding it was best not to go after the Djinn just yet. Not while we looked like we committed a murder and the back of my clothes were singed from the blast. I thought back on the look on Bo's face when she yelled at me for protecting her. Damn that Succubus. I couldn't see her hurt.
Kenzi disappeared to wherever it was she generally disappeared to, and Bo grabbed my wrist and tugged me up the stairs, immediately heading for the bathroom, and my earlier comment about us both needing a shower took over my mind.
She closed the door and then turned to me, her brown eyes now shockingly blue. I opened my mouth to say something, but instead she crashed hers over it, slipping her tongue past my lips.
I groaned against her lips. She tasted like blood, but also like mints and flowers and wine. I gripped at the edges of her jacket, savoring the feel of the rough zippers against my palms as I gripped her closer to my body.
She reached up and pulled my hair from its bun, and I pushed the jacket from her shoulders, relinquishing my grip. Her shirt came off next, then mine.
We broke our kiss, both gasping for breath and she backed me up, pressing her palms to my stomach until we reached the tub, and she turned on the water. The rest of our clothes hit the floor and she gave me a hungry look that had me kissing her this time. We somehow managed to get ourselves into the water, which was gradually heating up.
She broke the kiss early, the water rushing over her back and shoulders as she shook her head. Why was she shaking her head? She didn't want this?
"You have to stop putting yourself in danger, Tamsin. What would I do if I lost you because you were saving my life? I can heal," she murmured, her striking blue eyes delving into my own.
I clenched my jaw, moving my hands to her face. I brushed my thumbs across her cheeks lightly, studying her face.
"What happens when you get hurt so badly you can't heal, Bo? What am I supposed to do then?"
Instead of an answer, she kissed me again, playing against my tongue with her own. If anyone could make me weak-kneed…
She began to explore every inch of my body with her hands, and I did the same with her, my fingers travelling fleetingly over her skin.
We worked with our hands, causing sensations I hadn't experienced with anyone else. We somehow found ourselves in Bo's bed, still wet. I licked droplets of water from her breasts, and she pulled my face to hers, her eyes their wicked, arousing blue.
I brought my mouth to hers as she moaned with our movements, smiling into our kiss. She began taking chi from me, and by the gods, it was incredibly pleasant. I allowed myself to let go of everything. All the worry about whatever the chaos fae was up to, and the Djinn that was still out and about, murdering humans. I let myself relax into my Succubus, and drift off in the pleasure we supplied for each other.
I woke up with Bo snuggled against me, my arm draped lazily over her waist. I inhaled deeply, a smile playing at my lips. Since when do I smile as I wake up in the morning?
Since her.
I gazed down at her before getting up. I quickly showered, an actual cleansing shower, and got dressed hastily before heading to a scene Dyson had called me about just as I'd finished getting ready. I left Bo sleeping, not wanting to wake her.
"Hey partner. You're looking…aglow," Dyson said, looking me up and down.
Why was it that I always ended up talking about Bo with her exes?
"New skin lotion. Can't live without it." It took me a minute to realize we were at the restaurant the Djinn had exploded the night before.
Dyson gave me a look I couldn't read. "I caught the Djinn's scent. Come on."
My phone buzzed in my pocket as I followed the wolf, and I answered without checking caller ID. "Talk to me."
"You could've woken me up to say goodbye," Bo said huffily, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Now come on, babe," I said, and Dyson cast me another look. "I wanted to let you sleep." I stopped when Dyson gave another look, putting a finger to his lips to hush me. I glared.
"Where are you?" she asked. She sounded almost sidetracked.
"Following Dyson around while he sniffs out the Djinn from the restaurant. We were called to the scene this morning," I explained. "It looks hideous in daylight."
"You're what?" she demanded. "That thing almost killed me, Tamsin! Get your ass away from him, okay? Oh. That's just great."
"What?"
Dyson cast me another impatient glance.
"The Morrigan is at the Dal. Please be careful, Tamsin," she said, her tone desperate.
Shit. I needed to talk to the Morrigan. She was going to just get more pissed the more I dodged her, and she could really inflict some hell on my life.
We hung up and I looked at Dyson. "So? Are we getting anywhere with this?"
He shook his head. "We'll have to wait for him to show again. Of course, you were breaking my concentration. We're on the job, Tamsin." He sounded bitter, and I peered at him closely. Maybe I should talk to him. "But I think we're done for now," he snipped, rubbing a hand quickly over his mouth. He turned and stalked back toward the crime scene.
"Right. Well, I'll just go to the Dal," I muttered, turning on my heel to follow.
The Dal was empty due to the midday time, except for Evony, Bo, a pissed Kenzi, and Trick.
"Tamsin," Evony said, a sickeningly-sweet, and false, smile on her lips. Bo's eyes locked on mine, but I broke the contact to grin wickedly at Evony.
"Been looking for me?" I asked.
"For a while now. I've transferred the Taxim to another location already. You're to come with me. I want you to interrogate him, and we have … other… things to discuss," she said, taking her leave. She looked over her shoulder at the doorway to see if I'd follow. Bo took a step toward me, but I shook my head, lifting my hand a little by my side to stop her.
"I'll be back soon. I promise," I told her before following Evony out and into the back of her car.
"Bo killed Fae, and I asked you to punish her for her crimes against the law," Evony said. "Instead you lied to me."
I smirked at her. "That's nothing you can prove. And you can't prove that she killed any fae either." Truth was, Bo did take out that fae that I killed in the hospital. But again, I killed him. Not her. She just…fed a little too deeply.
"Oh, you've joined the sunshine gang, then? That's got to change, Valkyrie. You play for my team, or have you forgotten?" The car started to take us away from the Dal, and I sighed.
I clenched my jaw, but at least she wasn't threatening my girlfriend yet. My girlfriend. Gods, that sounded strange.
"I'm not one of them," I told her, repeating our conversation from the day I helped Bo find Kenzi. That day I knew I wasn't one of Bo's gang, but today I knew I was becoming one of them.
"Build that case around Bo, or I'll send for you. And when that happens, you won't be returning to the Succubitch."
"Bo," I corrected her, allowing the entirety of my attitude to lace my tone.
"Excuse me?"
"Her name is Bo." I turned my attention to the world beyond the cage of a limo I was sitting in. She was taking me to the Dark compound; that much I realized.
"Let's get this straight, honey. You're expendable. You're dying, and I can replace you with someone else who will get the job done. I want Bo in my possession for murdering my Fae, or I want her head on a platter. Do it yourself, or I'll send someone to do it for you. Do you understand?"
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Good," she said, her sickeningly sweet smile returning to her features.
"You said I'm to interrogate the Taxim?" I asked her, opting to change the subject.
She waved a hand at me. "You won't get anything from him. There's someone else who wants to talk to you, and I can see that I haven't gotten through to you. So maybe she will."
I raised a brow and shut my mouth until we reached the compound. As predicted, I learned nothing from the Taxim. His brain was so bubbled he could barely manage speech, none of what he could say even understandable.
I found myself transported by Evony's driver to one of the few gyms on the compound property. Upon walking inside, I noticed it was empty, and I sighed in irritation.
"I don't want to play your games!" I yelled to the cameras, positioned in the corners. She was most certainly watching me. I'd had enough of her.
"Aw, come on, Tammy," a voice answered, drawing my attention to a door to the side of the room. Demitri grinned at me as she sauntered into my personal space, her face close to mine. "Games are awfully fun."
"What are you doing here?" I asked, stepping back unconsciously.
"Evony's orders. And I don't disobey her. You know she can melt people? Down to a sticky, disgusting goo."
Ugh. "And what are your orders?"
"To get you to obey yours. Come on, Tams. You're a Valkyrie under contract. Just get your shit done," she said.
I raised a delicate brow at her. "Or what? You can't do anything to me. Obviously Evony won't kill me, or I'd be dead already. I'm too close to Bo for her to waste, and I'm going to end my cycle soon anyway. You can't make me do anything." My tone was matter-of-fact.
Demitri sighed, reaching toward me to curl a piece of my hair around her finger. "No, but I could make her seriously doubt you," she murmured.
I swatted her hand away angrily. "You go near her, and I'll kill you." I was good on my threats. Just ask anyone from my very long history.
"You're treading in deep water for now, Tamsin. But soon you'll go under, and you will drown. You think she loves you? Do you think anyone could love you? Check yourself, hon. How much have you told her about your past?"
Nothing left my mouth. Her icy gaze met my own, and she smirked. "She can't truly love you, and you know it. You can feel it, right in here," she sneered, touching my chest just above my heart with her first two fingers on her right hand. I started to back away, but she gripped my hair into her fist. I hadn't realized she still held it in her left hand. Demitri's face started to sink in, revealing her true face. I widened my eyes, trying to break free of her grip.
"You can't do that! I'm one of your own!" I told her, but her whispers filled my mind. Damnit, it hurt like hell, and what's worse, I couldn't fucking think. Did Bo love me? I couldn't see how that was even possible.
"Sorry, Tamsin. You need a push," Demitri murmured. "You're old. It's a shame, because this is way too easy. You give no thrill."
Gods, my head. My thoughts were chaotic. How long could I last? So near my death, I was weak. Demitri's comment reached me through my haze, though, and I lashed out, jabbing her in the throat with my knuckles.
She made a choking sound, and I was free from her grip, able to fall back. Her true face fell away, and she shot me a glare that probably would have spilled blood had it been possible. But the pressure in my mind didn't ease.
I pulled my gun on her, shaking my head. "Stay away."
She was still holding her throat. "Calm down, Tamsin. Run back to your girl with your doubt-filled head," she managed, her voice sounding strange as she massaged her neck.
I swallowed. My girl. Bo. I lowered my weapon unsteadily and turned around, barely managing not to sprint away from her.
Can't fucking think. I left the gym, wincing at the sunlight. But while it was bright, the shadowy whispers still played in my head. And I knew they would for a while yet.
