Bo yawned and opened her eyes. She looked out and up and noticed Lauren's curtains were open. That means she's up. She pulled some hand wipes and mouthwash from the passenger seat and freshened up. She checked her face and threw the trash into a bag she kept for trash. As expected, Lauren emerged from the building. The brunette ducked down and watched her get into a Mustang and speed away. Slowly, she pulled off from the curb and followed the blonde from a safe and discreet distance.
She thought about last night. Kenzi storming over to tell her Lauren is dying. While she doesn't believe it, she can't help but worry something is wrong. Or is going wrong with the doctor. Keep calm, and breathe, she told herself. After a couple of miles, Lauren finally turned into a parking lot. Bo drove past the place and parked on the other side of the building. She checked her appearance again and climbed out of the car. She stretched her arms out after she pulled her jacket on. It wasn't cold out, but she didn't know how comfortable the building would be.
After a few steps, she rounded the corner and entered the building. She smiled at the host and gestured towards the bar. She tapped the bar and looked around for Lauren. It didn't take long to find her. She was seated not too far away from Bo. But long enough for Bo to have to walk a bit to get to her.
She waved the bartender off and stood. Her eyes were focused on Lauren. The woman looks so beautiful that it made Bo regret not asking the bartender for a glass of water to quench her impending thirst. She smiled when Lauren smiled and suddenly stopped. "Lauren!? She screamed. "Who is this?! What is this?! You are supposed to be dating me! She screamed again.
Lauren turned her eyes to the ceiling and took a deep breath. How this woman found her, she doesn't know. But Bo's about to know not to ever do this again. "I'm sorry Kelsey. Please, read over the paperwork and I will be back soon". The blonde stood and angrily turned towards Bo. She gestured her hand towards the doors and they walked step for step. The host held the doors open and they walked past her.
Lauren turned to walk towards the side of the building. Once she was there, she turned back around. "Bo, what the hell was that?!
"You tell me. You are dating someone from what I saw. I thought we had an understanding about this. My time is running out and you're wasting it on another woman!". Bo snapped.
"I'm working, Bo!". Lauren's face was almost a complete red.
"Hey, I work too and I don't flirt and smile like that. That doesn't look like work. You were practically holding her hands!". Bo snapped again. She can't help it. Her Succubus is about to get riled up too.
"I am interviewing a new Doctor for a clinic I am about to open up. You saw me hand her some paperwork, right?". Lauren seethed.
"A job interview this early?". Bo asked.
"Bo, we are not a couple. There is no reason for you to be jealous or be intruding in my life like this!". Lauren paced back and forth.
Bo took a breath. "Lauren".
"No. You don't get to do this. How many lovers have I had to watch you with? How many times have you come to me reeking of Dyson? You can't have two lives. Not anymore.". Lauren rambled off.
Bo jumped back. Lauren's eyes did go green and gold just then. "You're my mate". She gasped.
"Now what are you talking about?". Lauren stopped.
"I get it. My eyes go blue. Yours turn yellow and then green. Yellow and blue make green. You're my mate, Lauren." Bo stood stunned.
"That's not possible. We haven't slept together since you wrote in that book. I am not your mate". Lauren stood back.
"I don't know how it happened. But we are Lauren. I can feel it. I know it. Kenzi came to me last night saying you and Dyson had a heated argument. I was in a scuffle myself yesterday. Afterwards, I wasn't as wounded or felt the need to feed. If we were fighting at the same time, your eyes went those colors when mine went blue". Bo spoke softly. This is good. It could be really good.
"We will have to talk to Trick. But what if I don't want to be your mate? What then, Bo? Am I going to have to move out of town to get away from you? Am I going to have to die to get away from you intruding like you did just now?". Lauren asked.
"If Trick confirms my hunch, just date me like we agreed. If you don't want to be my mate this time next week, we'll burn the book and I will respect your decision. I wanted you free and happy Lauren. If this doesn't work, I will drop the entire thing." Bo stepped forward.
"I still have to finish my interview. Go to the Dal but don't say anything to Trick yet. I'll meet you there in about an hour". Lauren looked at her watch. Kelsey has to be done reading the paperwork.
"I will be there, waiting". Bo bowed and walked off. She wanted to skip but she didn't want to be presumptuous either. Lauren has the right idea. She doesn't need to get this conversation started without the doctor being there.
She did pump her fists when she got in her car. Breathe, she'll know when you get riled up. Bo breathed like she was doing a breathing treatment. Her Succubus is right. She needs to stay calm or they both could lose Lauren. Seems the ole girl is happy too that Lauren is giving one of them a chance. But they will enjoy every single moment. Bo finally drove off and when she arrived at the Dal, she parked her car, closed her eyes and smiled.
Lauren and Kelsey
"Kelsey, I'm sorry this is your interview and it was improperly interrupted. Did you finish reading the contract?". Lauren asked shyly.
"I did and I accept. Even with the succubus intrusion". Kelsey smiled.
"You know she's a Succubus?". Lauren asked.
"I do. I've studied the Fae too like I explained in my application." Kelsey sipped on her beer.
"Excellent, that will suit you well in my clinic. I am bound to have some Fae come in every now and then. Bo may be one of them. But others will likely come too. I hope that won't be a problem for you. I want you to be able to work with confidence and feel safe in my clinics. I plan to open two of them". Lauren stacked the papers neatly on the table.
"Everyone knows about the Succubus and the wolf, being an avid hunter, I don't fear him". Kelsey set her glass down.
"Well that's it. You're hired!". Lauren extended her hand. "I want someone on staff when I'm not there that can handle things in an emergency. You are the perfect fit".
"Thank you Dr. Lewis. Thank you very much". Kelsey smiled.
"I have another meeting. So, we are done here". Lauren waved for the waitress and paid their tab. "I'll call you soon". Lauren smiled as they walked to their cars respectively.
Lauren took some deep breaths. She could tell Bo had been riled up when she left her earlier. Bo is still a puzzle to the blonde. She did agree to date her, but is starting to wonder if that was in fact, a good idea.
She was on the run for weeks. The one time she called Dyson he told her to keep running. It all traced back to the first time he suggested she run. After Bo had killed the Garuda. She should've ran but she would have left a huge part of her life and heart behind. The wolf had his love back and wanted the Succubus to himself. Now that Bo hasn't slept with him or given him any indication that she ever will again, he's trying to play on Lauren's sympathies to step down from the brunette. Dyson had more women over the years than a prostitute has in a week. He wants what he wants and thinks he's entitled to everything.
Then there's Trick. The leader of Dyson's arrogance. While she doesn't fully trust him, she has to put that aside to see what he says about Bo's prediction.
This isn't about those men. It's about her and Bo. Their problems started long ago and they haven't overcome them, yet. But they haven't talked about them yet either. She breathed to calm herself. She needs to have a clear mind when she gets to the Dal. Bo is likely waiting for her outside. Going inside, she would be subjected to hundreds of questions from Kenzi and Dyson. She finally pulled up and saw Bo climbing out of her car. This is scary how much she knew where the Succubus was.
"I waited for you. Just like you asked". Bo stood waiting for Lauren to climb out of her car and set the alarm.
"I don't want to be here all day, Bo. I just want to ask him some questions and leave. If I so much as hear one snide remark from your people, I'm out of here". Lauren spoke as she walked.
"My people? Trick's my grandfather, I can't get rid of blood like that. But as far as the other my people, they won't say shit". Bo held the door for the blonde and the scents of the afternoon crowds hit them.
"Walk in front of me". Bo gestured. The music is loud and bottles and glasses can be heard hitting hard surfaces. Bo saw Trick had hired a few people to serve drinks.
"Trick, we need to talk to you". Bo stood in front of the man with Lauren next to her.
"Downstairs". He mouthed and the women waited for him to go first. Lauren stayed in front of Bo and Kenzi spotted them. It wasn't long before Lauren spotted Dyson. She mouthed "How's the arm", and smiled at him. He growled but stopped when Bo pushed him backwards.
They walked down the stairs and Trick's hand led them to a secret room. Lauren's eyes went wide because she never knew the room existed. They watched Trick lock the doors behind them. Once at the stairs and the room door. "I had them installed recently. Too many mouths and ears around here". Trick spoke as the women took their seats.
"We don't want to be here long Trick, so tell us the truth. Is Lauren my mate?". Bo asked.
"Dyson told us last night about your eyes, Lauren. My answer is yes. If Bo ever gets upset or emotional, it will trigger your eye color change. From Bo's blue to your yellow and then green. My eyes used to do that with Isabeau. But once she died, it stopped." Trick answered.
"So, you've had this mate book before?". Lauren asked.
"I did. But it was stolen. Thankfully I have it back and it will never be stolen again. Only I know where it is. To answer your next question, only a Succubus can write her mate in the book. As Isabeau did with me. She had to, to protect our lives and love. Kind of fitting since I'm a blood sage". Trick rubbed his chin.
"So, Lauren's a blood sage?". Bo looked at the blonde.
"No. She's the equivalent of your Succubus. She can do whatever yours does. I could do the same but I'm not a woman like Lauren is.". Trick explained.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?". Bo asked angrily.
"I didn't know about the eye thing. But when Dyson and Kenzi left last night, I thought about it. I was going to come and see you, Lauren. But I got too busy here and had to hire people". Trick stood before them. He could tell they still have tons of questions. "Lauren?".
"I don't know. I don't know how I feel about this. I thought Bo did this on her own". Lauren shook her head.
"I did too". Bo rubbed the blonde's back.
"Bo is always a Succubus. Whatever she writes in that book, it's as a Succubus. Bo and her Succubus are your mates Lauren. If she was human, it wouldn't work. Which is another reason I hid the book. Too many hands upstairs". Trick looked back and forth between them.
"He means Kenzi". Bo spoke.
"So, to conclude, we are already mates. There is no way to reverse it other than burning the book, should we decide to?". Lauren asked.
"That's an idea but we can't do it". Trick shook his head.
"What? Why not?". Bo asked.
"There are other Succubus out there with mates. They chose them. If we burn the book, they will lose their mates. They know the book still exists. It could be dangerous, for everyone should the book ever be burned." Trick took a seat.
"Well, I don't know those other Succubus or their mates. I certainly can't destroy someone's lives if mine sucks". Lauren spoke.
"Ouch". Bo whispered.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do". Trick said.
"Bo's Succubus is not like any other Succubus. Can't she do something? Something to break it, should we decide to?". Lauren asked.
"That's a good question too". Bo asked.
"I don't know who Bo's father is. Only the maternal side of her family". Trick cleared his throat.
"She's alive, isn't she?! Bo and Lauren screamed.
"Who?". Trick asked.
"Aife, she's alive!". Bo and Lauren screamed again.
"Aife is an asylum. Nothing can bring her back". Trick waved them off.
"That's your wish, not a diagnosis. I'll let a Doctor tell me that". Bo turned to Lauren.
"I'm not a mental health doctor, Bo". Lauren spoke.
"You're a Fae doctor. That's good enough for me. Besides, we need to find her before anyone else does. This dumb bastard put her in danger like this". Bo stood.
"I've never met the woman, she may not respond to my voice". Lauren shook her head again.
"She knows my voice sweetie. That could be all we need". Bo held her hand out. "The Dal Riata is closing at this time. Make it happen, Blood King, because you're coming with us".
"I can't just close my bar down. I have customers. Lots of customers". Trick pointed upstairs. It sounds like a lot of people are dancing too.
"Let's go, Lauren". Bo pushed Trick out of the room and up the stairs. The crowd gasped at the light surrounding his neck. "Ladies and gentlemen, this barkeep thanks you for your patronage and is shutting the bar down, right now".
"Bo? What the hell?! Kenzi pointed at her shot glasses.
"Go home and drink, Kenzi". Bo walked past them and didn't wait to be followed by the customers. "This bar will explode in five, four...". She stopped when she heard feet going out every door. Even the emergency doors.
"Are we taking separate cars?". Lauren asked.
"No. We can take mine. He doesn't deserve to sit in yours". Bo threw Trick in her back seat.
"Bo. I can explain..". Trick started and stopped.
"You're a bastard, like I said. It's just that simple. Now where to?". Bo turned to him.
"Make a left and keep driving until I tell you to turn". Trick loosened his tie. Bo has no idea what she's dealing with. But then again, he hasn't seen her full arsenal before either. He didn't like not knowing who her father is. Bo may have the power to reverse her mate with Lauren. He just isn't sure about that.
Bo stared straight ahead. Her mind wasn't on her driving but her succubus is. She protected Lauren when Bo didn't even know she had done so. Bo freed Lauren but her Succubus went further with it. She has the power to take over at any time. But she's resolved to let Bo handle things for now. To fix the damage between her and Lauren. That will be her first priority but first, she has to get Aife help. Real help before the Fae finds out where she is. She already knows Dyson is probably in on this too. Trick doesn't shit without Dyson knowing about it. Once Aife is out of there, she can protect herself.
Lauren stared straight ahead. She was thinking about Bo. She felt for the woman. Her mother is alive and all this time Bo thought she was dead. She thought of all the sleepless nights she must have had crying over the Succubus. She can be a friend for now and think about their relationship later.
Trick was shivering in the back. Both women hadn't said a word to him since they took off. He shuddered to think of seeing Aife like that. Even if by some miracle they wake her up, his nightmare will start the second her eyes open. "Turn left". He said.
"I'm tired of driving, Trick. It better not be another mile". Bo's voice was hard when she spoke.
"Make a right and we're there". Trick adjusted in his seat.
"Get out". Bo practically yanked him from the back. She had already helped Lauren out.
The trio walked inside and Trick led them down a long hall. Once he spoke to one of the staff members, he nodded for Bo to enter the room.
"Stay close to me". Bo whispered to Lauren. The women all but tiptoed into the room. Bo held Lauren's hand as they got closer to the bed.
"Anything?". Bo asked.
"Trick's right. It's a mental diagnosis. She's been here for some time and nothing they've tried so far has been proven to work". Lauren read the chart that was handed to her.
"Well, we can't leave her here. I can't do anything for her but talk to her". Bo frowned.
"Try". Lauren gently nudged her.
"Mom. Mom, can you hear me?". Bo spoke.
"She doesn't respond to voice commands. Trick had us use your voice before". A nurse spoke.
"I can try". Lauren walked closer and bent over. She looked Aife over. Her arms looked terrible due to needles and restraints. She thought about Bo touching her the first time. If she's her mate, it's worth a shot. She gently placed her hand on the woman's head. After a few seconds, the brunette opened her eyes.
"Mom?". Bo called softly.
"Isabeau". Aife looked around.
"She's right here". Lauren pulled the young Succubus forward.
"We're getting you out of here". Bo snapped into action. She grabbed a few hospital gowns and used one as a robe. She grabbed a pair of socks and pulled the woman out of the building and to her car.
"She'll need somewhere to heal". Bo spoke.
"I have an idea". Lauren pulled her phone out.
"Ladies. I'm okay. I can find my own feeds". Aife spoke.
"No killing, mom. Lauren went to great lengths to help you. Don't disrespect her gesture by killing someone". Bo spoke.
"Okay. Okay. No killing. But I need to get away from this bastard before I break that promise". Aife slowly turned her head to Trick.
"We can drop her off in Dark Fae territory. That way she won't piss off the Light Fae". Lauren suggested.
"Evony!". Bo and Lauren smiled.
"That works for me". Aife replied.
"Lauren and I are mates, mom. We'll catch up with you tomorrow. But for now, we need time alone". Bo pulled up to the compound and watched the woman climb out. They literally pushed Trick out of Bo's car after they arrived at the Dal to get Lauren's car.
"Where to?". Bo asked.
"Let's find a hotel suite. We can be waited on hand and foot while we talk". Lauren started her car.
"I'll follow you". Bo smiled.
TBC
