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We're sitting opposite one another in Trick's office. I have a million questions going around in my head, but the fact that I'm sitting with only the second succubus I've ever met has thrown my thoughts into disarray.
She seems to sense that I'm struggling and she leans forward in her chair. "Bo I'm not going to tell you where she is, so don't bother asking that."
I look up at her at the mention of my name, I knew she recognised me earlier. "You know who I am?" She smiles, "yes, Lauren talks about you. I must say Kenzi sounds like my kind of girl."
My mind boggles at what Lauren has said about Kenzi and me for that matter. "How is she?"
She straightens up in her chair and doesn't even try to cover the anger in her voice, "well considering that everyone in her life is a low life spy, she's just great."
I can't help sounding defensive, "not everyone." She nods her head, "I know, Lauren knows that too."
We fall into an awkward silence. "Look Bo, things haven't been easy for Lauren. She feels betrayed and unsure of herself, but she knows you weren't part of this and it means alot to her."
She glances at her watch and stands, "I really need to get going." I block her path, "is she ever coming back?"
Sighing she rubs her forehead, obviously debating with herself. "Look, there is nothing here for her. Lauren will be safe where she is, there are people there that will do anything to protect her."
I'm really beginning to get pissed off. "There is plenty here for her. We can protect her just as easily as anyone else."
She steps into my personal space, anger rolling off her. "Look, let me lay it out for you. Lauren's head over heels in love with you, but she can't stand being here when she knows you don't love her back. She knows you love Dyson and she accepts that. So just leave her be, let her get on with her life."
Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach. She steps around me and moves towards the door. Lauren loves me. She loves me but thinks I don't love her and then the realisation hits me. I've been bouncing around between her and Dyson, only worrying about what I wanted. I never talked to her, never told her. How is she supposed to know how I really feel, she's not a damn mind reader.
I spin around. "Wait!" With her hand on the door knob, she turns to face me.
"Look I don't know why she thinks I love Dyson." I suddenly feel a little uncomfortable talking to a complete stranger about my love life. "We've always been more about the physical. Don't get me wrong, I do care about him."
I take a few steps towards her. "But I don't love him. I love Lauren and I want to find a way for us to be together."
We stand there staring at each other for what feels like forever. Eventually she looks away and I fight the urge to cry. Looking back at me her expression softens and I suddenly feel anxious. "Look Bo, things are difficult, no one knows what the future holds. You might just have to let it go and walk away."
She's out the door before I can reply.
After she left I sat and sulked, feeling numb. I have no idea how much time went by before Trick appeared from nowhere and sat next to me.
We sat in silence as my thoughts and emotions swirled around inside me, walk away my ass. I suddenly remembered why I'd come to the Dal in the first place. I grab the folder off the table and flip it open. Removing some pictures I hand them to Trick and point. "Who is this?"
Trick looks at the various photo's I've given him, all of which show Lauren with the same woman who is quite clearly not your average person. "Her name is Myka, she's a Fae Elder."
I then hand him several reports, "explain this to me." He reads through them and then hands them back to me, for a second I think he's not going to say anything but then he sighs. "One of Myka's sons fell in love with a human. She fell pregnant but there were complications."
Trick goes through the photo's again and hands me a picture of Lauren talking to Myka and a heavily pregnant women.
"Myka and her family came to me for help. Lauren was here assisting me with another matter when they came in. Despite me warning against it, Lauren helped them. As you can see from the reports, she treated her for the last month of her pregnancy and even delivered the baby."
I already knew all this from reading the reports, but there seems to be parts missing after the birth and there are some things I don't understand. The only thing I can tell for sure is that Lauren got into big trouble for helping. Grabbing the last of the reports on the matter I find the correct page. "What is a Redemption Cleanse?"
He's reluctant to answer, but he knows I won't let it go. He goes to his desk and retrieves some pages from his desk draw. As I read them I can tell they are pages from Lauren's file. I can feel my anger bubble to the surface as I glance at Trick. He seems upset and won't look at me.
"How could that mother fucker do this."
When the Ash had found out that Lauren had helped Myka and her family, he had locked her in solitary confinement and had his thugs beat the living daylights out of her. As I read the list of injuries Lauren had sustained I'm filled with an anger and hatred that I'd never felt before.
My need for revenge is soon replaced by the burning need to find her. Find Lauren and spend the rest of my life loving her and keeping her safe.
"What Lauren did for this Myka is huge, do you think that Lauren would call it in to get protection?"
Trick shakes his head, "the Ash has already been watching Myka and her territories, they haven't found any proof that Lauren has been anywhere near there."
For a moment I feel disappointed, but then I decide to listen to my gut, which is telling me this is the place to look. I gather all the documents and photo's and put them back in the folder.
"Well I want to see for myself."
