Chapter 10
It's pandemonium in my sitting room and all the noise and energy is starting to give me a headache. So far there has been a lot of growling and shoving and shouting but nothing has been settled. No one wants to claim Faith. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and smirk at her lazy sprawl. She manages to make the high backed throne look downright comfy and all of this hoopla damn boring. If she's bothered by not being welcome you couldn't tell it by looking at her. Though if I'm riding that honesty train I've been on lately I'd have to admit that it bothers me. A little. I reach out and play with the long scarred fingers of her right hand.
Faith glances my way with half-smile half-grimace. If I didn't know her I wouldn't see it. If I didn't love her I wouldn't feel it. That fleeting disappointment that even after everything she's done. Everything we have done. She's still not good enough for them. I'm considering getting up and telling them all to fuck off but I know that even if I would, Faith wouldn't. She wouldn't kick them out even if they don't accept her. In that way, she's the better woman. It isn't that the demon wearing my oh so Buffy skin is overly hostile. Well. Not JUST that my demon is overly hostile, but since my death and subsequent unlife I just can't be bothered with the bullshit anymore. And I don't accept someone else torturing Faith with her deepest desires only to withhold them. That. Well that's my sexy privilege.
She must know my thoughts are wandering because Faith very deliberately turns to look at me with one raised eyebrow. Funny. She doesn't even have to say anything, all she has to do is give me a cocky smirk and that sub-audible growl and I forget the world around me. Any other time I'd take that sexy little growl as an invitation to crawl between her legs right here in front of the PtB and all of wolfdom. I couldn't care less, honestly, but this is important to Faith and that makes it important to me.
And my demon doesn't hate the idea of expanding our empire. So I manage to make the effort to pull my gaze away from hers. It's easier now that her eyes have gone back to that soft rich brown I'm so used to but I'm not so sure the starry black eyes won't be back. With an irritable growl she stands and swaggers down among the gathered werewolves, parting them from her path with just a glance. The thing that makes me so attracted to her is the way she controls the space around her. She doesn't move in to a space and fill it with her presence like most people do, Faith swims, like a shark, in her own personal bubble of self-assured strength. Maybe that's what made her so… enthralling. The first night we patrolled I just couldn't help but watch her move. Just the act of walking.
It's the way she owns the very air around her. I watch her wend her way through the group, making her way to the midst of the loudest opposition. Her voice is an easy low rasp and I realize she's doing it on purpose. She's intentionally pointing out that she isn't a wolf like they are. "I'm hearin' a lot about how I don't belong an' how I don't fit in. You know what I'm not hearin' a lot of? How someone is gonna step up and protest Enzo's challenge. Or maybe how someone is gonna figure out how to keep Enzo from stealin' any more of Ama's life away."
There are resentful mutterings in the thick silence after her words drop like stones. "It's not that easy. Pack law is complicated. Any one of us could protest but he'll kill us just as soon look at us." I pin the owner of that voice with a stare that he blinks uncomfortably at me before lowering his head and shifting his body behind others standing nearby. He thinks that if he's not in my direct line of sight that I won't see him. I lean to the right and Danni takes the signal, leaning in toward me to whisper the name of the loudest of the naysayers. "You're not a werewolf, and you know, god bless ya for taking us in, all of us, but if you protest and die, everyone that accepted and backed you gets a giant target painted on their asses."
He has a point. It's a big risk, not just for Faith but for these wolves. If they back an outsider, someone they know Enzo hates, and she fails, they're as good as dead themselves. It's brutal and violent but it's the way life is. I'm not sure that I wouldn't annihilate everyone that stands in the way of me claiming and keeping what's mine. Faith tips her head to take him in, all six foot and change of him. He's tall but almost delicate for a man and if he weren't a werewolf I'd say he'd be easy pickings. "At least I'm willin' ta stand up for this pack."
I notice that she didn't say "your" pack specifically. It's a nice touch and I give a slight nod more for myself than anything. "Well maybe you shouldn't. Enzo might be a good Alpha if given half a chance. I'm not so convinced he's as horrible as you keep trying to make us think." It's a good point and I raise a finger to signal Danni who leans closer again. I know the gesture isn't lost on the group because another round of quietly distrusting murmurs rises from the group. "And since it's all out there Faith, I'm just not sure letting you close is a good idea. Not with…your friend, being the way she is and all. I don't judge and I got nothing against you both. Like I said. It's real good of ya to take us all in here but I just don't see how you, either of you, belongs."
As soon as she's close enough to hear me I whisper softly to Danni. "Now would be a good time to bring your grandmother out here don't you think?" She's hesitant but nods and takes my order. I'm mildly surprised but act like I'm not.
"You sayin' because B's a lil sunlight impaired I can't have a place by your side?" When she says it so reasonably everything he's just said sounds stupid and closed minded. "You sayin' I'm not as good as you because I'm different?" I don't think he realizes the can of worms he just opened because his mouth flops open and shut a few times as he tries to come up with some basis for his firm statements. He's looking for the trap he knows is in her words but he just isn't smart enough to see it. I have to give him credit, he switches tactics easily, trying to keep up the opposition by picking a different reason not to allow Faith to play with them.
"A wolf's power comes from their shift, from the animal inside, you'll never be as powerful as a wolf. If you were a real one you'd know that." It's a low blow and I think it was his Hail Mary pass. Not a few heads nod in agreement and I frown. I'd say something now in her defense but A. I don't think she needs my help and B. The tension filled silence of before is nothing to the creepy hush that falls over the group as Danni and Avi gently bring Ama in front of the group. Avi kneels lowers Ama in to the throne I vacate. I could have stayed where I was and let Avi rest her in Faith's chair but I want these wolves to know that Faith and I have a united front.
As I step back a warm dry hand grabs my wrist firmly making the collective gasp in surprise. "You stay girl, you the only thing here makin' me look lively." The humor in her tone makes me smile and I catch myself kneeling a little to make it easier for Ama to speak. She pats my shoulder in a motherly way and uses all the strength she has left to stand. Ama sways on her feet a little but shoos Danni away, opting to use my shoulder for a crutch as she totters down the three steps from our thrones. "Take a good look Robere, all you. Look real good." The nightgown she's wearing hangs on her thin frame and I'm afraid that if I let go of her elbow she's going to keel over. "You think a wolf's power comes from the animal inside, you think that makes a real wolf?"
Her keen, sightless eyes scan the faces and several turn away or look down in shame and submissiveness. Now that. That is an impressive display of power. Even in her current state, she still rules them and they still respect her. Robere nods slowly as if he's unsure that he should be agreeing with his stance now.
"Then what that make Enzo? He can shift sure as the moon rise up, but that don't make him an Alpha. Power makes an Alpha, the power inside a body makes them a wolf worthy of Alpha. That kind of power can't be taken." The conviction in her words gives her enough strength to shuffle forward a few steps toward Faith. She reaches out, letting go of me to take a hold of Faith's arm like a lifeline. "I'm not long for this world, Faithless."
"I know. I wish I could change it." Ama nods at Faith's words as if they're having a conversation and no one else is around. "I know what I have ta do. Pack or not." A bittersweet smile crosses Ama's face and she nods.
"So you found it then?" I flick my glance to Faith hoping for some clue as to what Ama really means but I'm slightly startled to see Faith already staring at me.
"I know who I am." I smile at that because I know who Faith is too. I've always known. "I'm Faith fuckin' Lehane, I'm the Slayer, and I'm your friend. An' I'm takin' it real personal what Enzo is doin' to ya."
That's not good for Enzo. The pack might never accept her as their own, Faith may never be good enough to be werewolf enough for them, and Enzo might even survive the night as Alpha. Maybe. But he won't survive the next moonrise. Faith will kill him outside of pack law and if she doesn't, I will. No matter what the pack decides Faith is going to save their asses. It's admirable in a lame selfless martyr way. I personally am not above fighting dirty to ensure my survival, it's less lame and no less selfless. Well. Maybe a little less selfless. Ama chuckles then making me wonder if she's amused at Faith or if she somehow read my mind.
"That couillon don't fight fair, remember that. Both of you." Well that does nothing to make this any less creepy. Faith gives a nod and Ama turns to scan the wolves again. "You all choose now. You take her in as kin or you go now from this place. Leave this sanctuary and take your chances, you." There's another murmur but this one is more fearful than resentful. Sorry puppies, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Ama gives a tired sigh and starts to wilt, unable to hold herself up longer.
Faith catches her and there's a breathless moment when the pack hovers around them, unsure what to do. And then Faith tips her head back to let loose a thunderous roar of loss and righteous rage. I feel the force of her power pull through me with a satisfying jolt a second before my heart makes that very sluggish thump. I feel my demon rise and I sigh happily at the cold burn in my gums as my fangs lengthen. It hurts in the best way and my lips curl in to a grin when Avi echoes Faith's roar followed by Danni and several others. I mark them as ones to watch, ones to protect. Faith's head slowly tips forward and another jolt of power courses through me. The energy around her is wilder, more frenetic now, highlighting the recent physical changes in her. I feel my lips curl in a loving smile when she blinks her shiny new eyes at me.
I close the distance between us and kiss her gently, mindful of Ama still cradled in Faith's arms. I give a hum of surprise and Faith grins at me flashing me two sets of perfectly sharp, white fangs as long as mine. I shiver at the knowledge of what she can do to me with those. I'll have to find a way to really get under her skin later. Avi gives a grunt and kneels at Faith's side and bows her head submissively. "You don't need that pack to accept you. Me and mine of the last survivors of the Los Angeles Pack will follow where you lead."
Well. That was unexpected. I mean. Okay. It's a pack of two but I know it means something because Avi and Oz are two badass mofos and NO ONE gives up a position of power like that to just anyone. Avi is an Alpha born of Alphas, she's probably been bred to lead. But she's willing to bend a knee to whatever the hell it is Faith has turned in to. Color me impressed. And smug. Because I knew Faith was the balls. Ew. What a gross thin…never mind. I can't even. I need to stop spending so much time with Xander and Faith.
Danni pads forward, warily eyeing Faith as if she's afraid she'll bite, but curious as a puppy. Her head tips to the side and she darts her face forward to sniff at Faith. Like. Right in her ear space. I would take that as a biting offense but Faith just flicks her eyes to Danni once and ignores it until she gets closer to her neck. That's when Faith snaps her teeth close enough to Danni's face to make the wolf back up a step as quickly as she darted forward. "Rougarou!" I…don't know what that means but she drops to a knee and bows her head like Avi did. "I speak for Ama now, hear? We follow the Rougarou!"
Several people drop to their knees, all of the ones that howled before and a few more. There are only five or six hold outs and one of them is good ole Robere. He gives a snarl and thrusts his arm out in a dismissive gesture. "Rougarou is just a legend. Just because you call her that, girl, don't make her The Rougarou!" A meek thin woman that looks too much like Robere to be anything but a close relative pushes forward from behind him and reaches out tentatively to pet at his chest comfortingly.
"Non, Mon Cher, look at her." She gasps when he pushes her away roughly but the other members of the pack nearest reach out to support her, keeping her from falling almost like a group thought. "Robere!"
"Quiet you, Dolucila. The Rougarou is a legend, she's no legend. She's just uh… just a freak. Ain't right, Cila. Ain't right."
Right. Well I've had about enough of this. I give Faith a look that she gives a shrug at letting me know she doesn't care if I hurt him or not. "Let me get this straight, by your very strict pack laws if you don't accept Faith as the high fuzzy Roogroo, you have to leave. My house. Is that correct? Or did I mishear your Alpha?"
Danni snickers from her spot as the other few wolves lower themselves in submission. Robere is the only one still standing and I smile sweetly at him. It makes him pale a little and look around furtively as if he just now realized that he's the only one standing. "You don't understand. It's not real. It's a bedtime story to scare bad little human children. She can't be something that ain't real." He's really desperate if he's hanging on to that as a reason. He's a freaking werewolf for crying out loud. Danni looks to Faith almost for permission before standing up to glare at Robere.
"You know the legend Robere. We all do. Rougarou roams the swamps with the body of a human and the face of a wolf with starlit eyes. Punishing dem that do wicked deeds in the night. How you turn a blind eye, uh?" Her Cajun accent is getting stronger as she pushes in to his personal space, gesturing at Faith as she speaks. "You know it's a matter of time. Ama gon' be gone, now. You know in your bones Enzo done it. Mon frere. Dat maudit diable killed our Alpha an' justice is come."
Robere looks at Faith who finally stands with Ama in her arms. He gives a slight nod more to himself I think then kneels on one knee with his head bowed. "I will follow The Rougarou." His voice is weary but firm and I believe him when he says he'll fall in line. Because if he doesn't. I'll kill him and leave bits of his body around as an example to anyone even thinking of betraying us.
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"Mistress?" I just got done makin' sure everyone is all tucked in an' cool for the day. Most of the wolves opted to stick close, bunkin' three an' four to a room. They might accept be but they still don't feel comfortable around me. Maybe they just aren't used ta bein' around a real predator. "It is important, Mistress." Buffy gives a huge sigh and nudges me in the leg with her foot. When I still don't answer she props her head on an elbow and waits.
"Whadd'ya want Gus?" The door cracks open enough for him to see we're dressed. Not that it matters. He's been here a long time and seen it all. "Couldda taken that trip to Costa Rica ya know. Less work. More fun…." I'm tryin' to tempt her an' she even looks like she might be considering it. Gus closes the door shut behind him comes to the side of the bed quietly.
"There are two wolves waiting to speak with you. The bony long wolf and his blood." B snickers an' I raise a brow at her. I dunno what's so funny so I look back an' forth between her an' him.
"I don't think Gus likes our new friend, Robere very much." I glance back at his passive face but he says nothin'. Maybe it's not just Robere, maybe it's all wolves. Sure every now and again a wolf comes in either for pleasure or a short run of work. They're usually just passin' through town on the way to somewhere else. Still, never knew the big guy ta have beef with them, any of them.
"He put his hands upon one weaker than he in anger. There is no honor in a creature such as that." Buffy an' I share a look but the truth is we don't know much about Gus or his people. We know pretty much nothin' about Gus except that his brother, Darwin, seems ya know, loyal. To Oz anyway. Wonder what he's gonna think about all this. "And he smells." Now I'm the one snickerin'.
"What do they want?" I don't feel like goin' another few rounds with this guy. I just got my face ta go back to normal an' I'm pretty sure if he pisses me off I'll go back ta lookin' like a freak show.
Gus rolls his massive shoulders in a shrug. "They would not say but the long wolf's blood, she was most insistent. She said she could not sleep until she'd spoken to you herself."
Dolucila. If it had just been Robere I might maybe tell him ta suck it. But if she's quiet, meek even. She wasn't meant to be a wolf an' it makes me wonder how she even got ta be one. An' now she's my responsibility. Yeah Costa Rica is lookin' real good right now. "Send 'em in." He gives me a nod and leaves the room quietly. Buffy sits up when I do and follows me to the couch in the sitting area. We're gonna need ta make this room bigger if we're gonna keep havin' team meetings in here.
I stretch my legs out as I lounge an' Buffy takes it as an invitation ta curl up close against my side. One bare pale leg sliding out from the cover of her silk robe to rest over mine as she nuzzles in ta my neck. It's a nice distraction from the wolves settling uncomfortably in a couple of chairs across from us. "Rougarou we would like to speak with you…"
Ya know. I really don't like this dickwad. I nuzzle the top of Buffy's head and cut him off with a glare. "Speak Fido." His lip curls a little but Dolucila rests her hand on his arm and squeezes lightly. It's a warning gesture like the one Buffy is givin' me by strokin' my ribs soothingly. I give a grunt an' sit up a lil forcin' Buffy ta stop. "Gus said ya had somethin' ta tell me Dolucila."
She jumps a little startled that I know her name but puffs up a little like she's encouraged.
"I do Rougarou, but…" She goes quiet and starts shakin' a lil bit. Robere gives me a death glare like I did somethin' ta scare her. My irritation kicks up a notch an' the electric prickle of energy bites at my skin. Robere puts his arms around his cousin's shoulders and rocks her gently, whisperin' in French. Since it's not curse words I don't know what the hell he's sayin'. I glance ta B but she frowns an' gives me a shrug.
"Reason number 2146512134 why I miss Will. She did my French homework for me." I almost forget ta breathe when she says that. I glance ta Buffy out of the corner of my eye 'cause it's the first time she's said she missed Red specifically an' not in a homicidal kinda way either.
"Listen, Rougarou, Cila's just scared is all. She didn't know she was doing wrong, see?" Buffy an' I both focus in on the pair an' it makes her shrink in on herself even more. "Shhh mon Coeur, shhh. It will be well."
"Why don't we start at what she did before we start decidin' blame?" I lean back again an' gesture for Dolucila to speak. "G'wan. I'm listenin'." She's still shakin' but at least she's talkin'. Even if she isn't lookin' at us while she does it. Buffy lays back on the couch an' rests her feet in my lap, purposefully relaxin' in front of the wolves. It helps a lil an' I give B a lil grin.
"See, Enzo, he came to me months ago and said he needed some strong magic to draw out the darkness in someone. He said it was a cure see?" Both my brows come up. "I wouldn't ever hurt Ama, she taught me so much and I love her. She's my Alpha. He told me it would be okay." She's workin' herself up in ta a frenzy again so I move B's feet an' squat down in front of her. The wolf goes still an' I can smell her fear on the air. It's sweet an' innocent, not sour an' acrid like the fear of a liar. I feel my face shift as I sniff the air around her face as I hold her hands.
There's somethin' almost childlike about her an' I realize she's a lil slow. I shake my head ta let my features slide back ta human. Probably I don't need ta do that but it helps clear my mind, helps me push back the animal in me. "S'okay, just tell me what Enzo asked ya for?" She nods quickly an' squeezes my hands.
"He asked for a charm and brought me relics of the person he wanted to draw evil out of. I didn't know Rougarou! I swear it! I would never ever." I believe her. I just nod once an' wait as she gasps in a few breaths. "I made him a gris-gris just like Ama showed me. But it was supposed to help!" Now I know why she's a wolf, an' why she's in this pack. I look slowly over ta Robere an' he cringes.
"How many users are in the pack?" The question takes him off guard an' he blinks at me a few times before relaxin' again.
"Just Ama and Cila. She's gifted, what some call, touched." I nod slowly at that but give her hands another squeeze. She smiles tentatively at me, so trustin', so gentle. Enzo is gonna come for her now. She knows his secret even if she didn't know she knew it. "But Rougarou…" I sigh 'cause I already know I'ma hate that title. "She didn't invoke it, see? She just made the amulet. Enzo, he musta invoked different magic to make it do what it's done."
He's tryin' so desperately ta make me understand. I got it though. It was just a tool, Dolucila was just a tool, and the real magic is out there. "Why didn't you say anythin' earlier?"
"Scared. Anyone would be. But…" The defensive jut of his chin tells me he's not happy admittin' something. "You're fair. I asked 'round here with your pack. You can always tell an Alpha by its pack." Huh. So wha? I'm like the Alpha of a pack of whores? It almost makes me smirk.
"Yeah? And what did my…pack… say?" Robbie boy squares his shoulders an' meets my eye evenly. It makes me take him more seriously.
"It wasn't what was said, Rougarou. People lie with their words as easy as they breathe yeah?. It was the way they walk about, easy like. No cowering. No fear. I asked 'em straight too. But I couldn't find a lie in a single one of 'em. If you look after us as well as they say you look after them, then….then I'll cast my vote for your Ascension." I don't really know what that means so I grunt an' raise my brow questioningly. "I will vote for you to be Alpha of this pack. I will be your loyal wolf to call, Rougarou. It's all I got to the world but I'll give it to ya."
I hate that I gotta admit this but I think I need Avi in here. An' probably Danni. This is her grandma's pack an' all. B must know what I'm thinkin' because she gestures ta Gus to bring him closer. "Yes My Lady?" Every time someone calls her that she preens like a fuckin' bird. I roll my eyes with a chuckle an' move back to the couch.
"Would you please bring Avi and Xander, who else? Danni?" I nod once an' B turns back ta Gus. "Danni. Have Xander bring in a few chairs." He nods an' starts ta leave but she stops him with a hand on his arm. "And send Denna, I'll want a snack later. Thank you Gus." If I didn't know better I'd say Gus has a big ole demon crush on B. He bows impossibly low an' beams like a kid on Christmas. Not my Christmas. But ya know. A normal kid on Christmas.
"And for you Mistress?" I almost thought he forgot about me. I snort at it but wave him off.
"Nah. Think I'll just share with B." She hums happily at that an' somehow that lil happy hum makes everything okay right now. B leans forward an' rests her head on my shoulder. It's late for her an' she's tired. I can almost feel how tired she is. And then it happens. The slow weak flutter from her chest resting against my upper arm. I look down at her an' she smiles her knowing lil secretive smile before restin' my hand over her heart. It flutters again an' I have to shut my gapin' maw before anyone asks what's up.
Oh ya know. Nothin'. A vampire with a beatin' heart is all. Sure it's really slow and real weak. But I felt it. The door opens again to let in our people an' even though I wanna talk about this heartbeat thing I know I hafta focus on one thing at a time.
"You sent for me oh mighty Rougarou?" I turn my gaze ta look at Avi an' growl at her joking smirk. Ass. Gotta admit, I kinda like that she punked me on it. I gesture for them all ta sit an' let out a breath.
"This talisman you were talkin' about Avi, could it be a gris-gris?" She thinks about it a long time before nodding.
"Yeah, sure. With the right invocation you can make any tool of that caliber do what is being done to your Ama." Dolly gasps and sobs in to her cousin's shoulder. Avi looks at me in question but I wave it off. Danni lifts her head and frowns slightly.
"A gris-gris? Enzo been wearing a gris-gris long time now." Yeah. Months. Months before all this shit went down. That son of a bitch has been planning ta kill his grandmother long before our little dust up. Probably around the time we beefed up security for the Slayer attack. "Who? Who would make this dark magic for Ama?" The rage in her face is familiar an' I let her have it. I'd be fuckin' pissed too. I AM fuckin' pissed.
"Got a friend might could help with that." All eyes go to Xander an' his smilin' face. Buffy goes still beside me an' I know she's thinking about what that could mean. She's thinkin' about Red an' probably Dawnie. I look from her ta Xander an' nod.
"Do it." He gives me a salute before takin' off to make whatever arrangements he needs to. The way he's so happy about it makes me think he's been talkin' ta Red a hell of a lot more again. It doesn't bug me. The way Ken an' Red ducked out on that whole bullshit assault let me know she's not judgin' me too harsh. Besides, maybe this is somethin' B needs. Somethin' ta reconnect her to her humanity. Not that I care. I like her a lil less human than before. But this isn't exactly about me an' what I do or don't want. It's about B, an' what she needs. What we need to pull this shit off. I nod at Danni an' she blinks at me a second. "Where's he keep this gris-gris?"
She raises a hand an' draws a finger across her left upper arm. "On his heart arm." I can tell she's still tryin' ta process shit but she's strugglin' not ta break down. I kinda feel for her. "It won't save Ama will it?" Avi is the one who shakes her head sadly and Danni just nods at it a lil. Like she didn't wanna really be hopeful about it anyway. Her dark eyes turn cold an' she holds me in her gaze. "You kill that petite batard but good, you hear? He's no kin of mine." I wouldda anyway but I nod at it.
"I kill him, then what?" That's the part no one wants ta talk about. Ama ain't comin' back from this. Without Enzo they got nothin' for leadership. Danni's not strong enough yet an' none of the strongest wolves will do right by the pack. Leavin' them with no Alpha is just as bad as leavin' Enzo in place. Maybe even worse. Avi stands and crosses her arms over her chest as she paces a lil bit.
"Typically a pack will open the floor to the strongest wolves. Whoever wins or goes uncontested gets to be Alpha." It makes me wonder how Ama got ta be Alpha. Did she challenge her old Alpha an' win or do she bust some heads in a battle royale? Robere shifts in his seat uncomfortably an' looks ta Danni. She nods at him slowly before squarin' her shoulders ta face me.
"There is one other way. A member of the pack can nominate a wolf for Alpha, if another seconds it and it goes uncontested, the appointment stands. Alpha elect. But…it hasn't happened since…" Her words cut off an' she clears her throat. So Ama didn't even have ta raise a paw. Somehow it seems right, ya know? "I would not vote for the Rougarou." Yeah I expected that much. She's got as much right as any of the wolves ta throw themselves in the ring. "But I will vote for my friend, Faith. I don't always like you, yeah? That's how it goes with kin, but I know you do right by us."
"We will second." I give Robere a nod an' glance ta Avi who's leanin' against the wall. She's thinkin' about somethin' but she's savin' it for later. Maybe I just don't wanna seek out another problem ta solve right now, so I let it go an' jerk my head for the wolves to leave. All of 'em. Robbie stands up an' stops like he's gonna say somethin' then shakes his head an' starts ta walk off again. He gets maybe two steps before he turns back around an' holds out his hand ta me. "Was wrong about you. Wrong about you both."
I grab his forearm in a gesture a lil more meaningful than a handshake. He gets it an' matches the gesture with a smirk. "You did the right thing comin' ta me. I'll remember that." For a second he looks unsure then flicks his eyes ta Dolly.
"I only ask you remember if I'm gone and none be left for Cila." I give him another nod an' let him go. My eyes close an' I lean back in ta the cool body behind me. B's arms come around my waist before everyone's finally out the door. It's been a long fuckin' night. So long that I forgot Denna was here until she starts liftin' my tank over my head. I let her work at undressin' me as I let my thoughts wander.
"You're still thinking about Costa Rica." It makes me smile that she knows me so fuckin' well. I step outta my jeans an' smile at B. She's watchin' Denna undress me an' I can tell she likes what she sees.
"Gonna say you're not?" B shakes her head an' stalks over ta us so she can pull the sash free on our girl's robe. It slides off her shoulders ta pool on the ground an' we both give a growl of hunger. I know there's a million things we should talk about right now. The pack, this Ascension thing, Willow an' Oz, and her fuckin' heartbeat. But right now I only care about one thing. I watch B drop her robe an' hook a finger through one of my nipple rings ta tug me an' Denna with her to the bed. I gotta say. I love how my girl distracts me.