Time slowly ticked away. The dark haired woman paced back and forth. Her succubus spoke when the door opened. "I didn't know what you were doing. I wrote in that book so you would be protected in your quest. But you, doctor, are going to speak. You are going to tell the both of us that you don't love us. That you never did. This time when you lie, it better be good".
"Well". Lauren laughed. "Good morning to you too, succubus".
Bo stood and shook her head. "She's right. You have skeletons in this relationship too, Doctor. Did you honestly think I wouldn't know you slept with someone too? I could taste her in your kiss at Evony's party. You want to throw stones, get out of the window".
"So, this is where we are? We are going to finger point. My list is short compared to yours". Lauren raised an eyebrow.
"They meant nothing to me. But this woman is of so little importance to you that you wouldn't even tell me about her. Ouch, that knife cuts both ways doesn't it, Lauren?". Bo brushed herself off as she stood there. She had been sitting there all night. Going back and forth with her succubus about their relationship with the doctor. While the succubus had always been in the background, she came to the surface when Lauren was threatened. Not when she died like Dyson. She wouldn't ever let it go that far. When Bo found that book she took a chance that her hunch was right and made it so that Lauren would be a mate in the Fae world. But most importantly, she would be protected.
"Crystal was trapped like I was with Nadia. Either she helped Evony or she would die. Can you say the same for your wolf? Was he wounded in the boxing ring? Was he threatened by anyone other than my existence?". Lauren stood just a tad away from Bo.
Bo walked over to Lauren and took a deep breath. "He's mated to me, it's easy with him. Like it should be with you because I chose you. You wanted to run after Nadia died. That's what I thought you had done until I found you at that party. Dyson said he had been keeping tabs on you, I thought you guys were closer, but I see now, you were using that to your advantage. You find opportunities in everything, Lauren. I don't and won't fault you for that. But you should trust me. You should have trusted me enough to tell me the truth. You didn't trust Hale either. That's understandable. But you should have trusted the one you love".
Lauren laughed and Bo watched every movement she made. "That's our problem. You don't find anything wrong with sleeping with someone that we both know. Feed or not, you will always want him.".
"I could have anyone that I want in the world. I could. I could smile. I could flirt. But none of it would matter. It would all be a con. A game. A game they would lose because I want you. Just you". Bo licked her lips.
Lauren didn't say another word. She walked to the phone and ordered breakfast. A huge one. She hung up the phone and stayed in her seat until the food arrived. "There's enough for you".
"Gee, thanks". Bo shook her head and sat at the small table to eat with the doctor. "Is this Karen Beattie or Lauren Lewis?".
"I'm sorry, what?". Lauren raised her head.
"This person you are now. Are you Karen or Lauren?". Bo asked again. "I only ask because you seem a lot different".
"It's probably your doing. When you wrote in that book. No, it's not that. It's me, Lauren Lewis. Karen died when Nadia did because I knew I was never going to be free of this shit. Being judged by the Fae. Being judged by you". Lauren answered through bites.
Bo took a drink. She can't talk about Nadia. Not after she killed the woman. Even though it was to protect Lauren. She felt like instant shit knowing she got upset about Lauren having a girlfriend. Of course, of course there had to be something big chaining the doctor to the Fae. "Noted".
"Oh come on, Bo. You wanted honesty, I gave it to you. What? Nothing other to say than noted?". Lauren set her fork down.
"I'm sorry about Nadia. I'm sorry about getting upset about Nadia. I should have known it was something big keeping you chained to the Light Fae". Bo popped her neck. "That's what I was just thinking".
Lauren picked her fork up and started eating again. "Lauren!". Bo screamed.
"I'm just eating. I wasn't thinking about anything". Lauren looked at Bo and back at her plate. It was almost empty but she was still hungry. Probably from not eating enough last night. She plated more eggs, fruit and toast and dug in again.
"He's not a threat to us, Lauren. He knows that I love you. He knows it. Nobody is a threat to us. Not if we don't let them be". Bo spoke so softly that she sounded like a little girl.
"You mentioned my servitude. How will things be any different if I'm your mate or hers? They will still come around. They will still scheme. That's not much different than being the Ash tool". Lauren filled her mouth with food.
The succubus laughed. "If you're my mate, those fools won't get close enough to breathe on you without dying, instantaneously".
"Bo?". Lauren called.
"What she said". Bo shook her head.
"You won't kill, Bo. You like the little clique you have going. Your grandfather, Kenzi, Dyson. They are at your beck and call and vice versa when we're in bed". Lauren finished her food and rubbed her stomach. She drank her juice and burped into the glass. Her stomach felt better.
The Morrigan and Aife
"Are you ever going home? Somewhere other than here?". The Morrigan asked.
"When I get bored, I'll leave". Aife pulled another thrall to her and they went at it on the Morrigan's desk. Evony walked out. She didn't want to see or hear another round of that.
The Dal
"Set him down over there". Hale rolled his eyes.
"Hale?". Trick called from across the room.
"This is your wolf. I warned him to leave last night and he didn't." Hale watched Dyson try to move his broken arm.
"Still not better huh?". Kenzi asked.
"No. I warned him. He went after Lauren and got his ass kicked. Never mess with a succubus mate, mate". Hale laughed.
"She's not Lauren, Lauren, anymore". Kenzi shook her head.
"Which makes him even dumber for going after her in the first place. The woman could kill you with her science too". Hale stood side by side with Kenzi. Dyson couldn't do anything but groan and twitch in frustration from being without the use of both arms.
"Join me for breakfast?". Kenzi turned to Hale.
"Kenzi?! How can you eat at a time like this? With Bo out there and away from us?". Dyson growled. When Kenzi looked at Trick and back to Hale, he growled. "Where is she?".
"Where she belongs". Kenzi looked Dyson dead in his eyes and pulled Hale with her.
"Dyson if you would rest, you would give that arm time to heal". Trick pushed him back down when he tried to follow the two.
"I'll rest when Bo's back!". Dyson screamed.
"Bo's back". Bo walked in with Lauren beside her. The doctor walked past Dyson and he growled. He screamed when he was pushed back down, hard.
"How did she do that?". Dyson groaned.
"You know how". Lauren laughed.
"Take him to the compound". Trick stood between the three of them as Dyson was picked up and carried out.
Bo and Lauren took a seat in a corner. "I don't want to be here, Lauren".
"Then I'll leave. I won't come back, Bo. I won't ever need to". Lauren stood and Bo gently grabbed her wrist. "Wait". Lauren looked down and almost laughed at the irony. She sat back down. "This is the lion's bed of our problems. To see if you can resist running off and doing something for thousand year old Fae that can do those things for themselves".
Bo shook her head. This was not what she expected to be doing. She just wants to be with Lauren. They aren't pressed to date anymore. Lauren just needs to accept the mate. Accept Bo and right now, she doesn't. Bo closed her eyes thinking of how this started. She and Dyson were having sex in his boxing ring to a listening audience. The Morrigan had recorded word for word. She hoped she didn't record Bo doing more than speaking because Lauren will never get that sound out of her head. She cleared her throat and looked around. She saw Kenzi and Hale eating and laughing. Trick was busy behind the bar. "You help people, why can't I?".
"Ahhh back to that? Okay. I help people that could live or die. Tell me when a Fae needs a human to help them live? Two Ash died under my tenure". Lauren sat with her back against the booth and nothing behind her.
"You help me live!". Bo screamed. The sound rattled bottles and glasses. "You help me live. I wouldn't be here without you and neither would they". Bo lowered her voice. "You are the best part of me, Lauren, but you are sitting there thinking the worst of me. I can't undo what I've done with Dyson but I can promise that it will never happen again. I can't not unwrite in that book but I can promise you that I never want to. I did what I thought was right and it was. You think you can just up and leave? So can I. I can go too. I can leave all of this and never look back. I'm a succubus, remember? I can get around. I can have sex with anyone that I come in contact with. I can do all of that outside of this world. But I'm staying. I'm staying for you." Bo's back was to everyone as she spoke but it wasn't important because the only person that needs to hear her is right in front of her. "Not now, Trick!". She screamed when she sensed him.
"Yep. That's a mated succubus". Trick gulped and walked away from the table before he reached it. Bo sounded like her grandmother just then. There were many times when Isabeau screamed at Trick in that same tone.
Bo's eyes went wide when Lauren's turned green and yellow again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lauren". Bo gently touched the woman's hand and pulled back.
"Can you warn me next time before you do that?". Lauren shook her head and waited until her eyes settled down.
"Let's get out of here". Bo stood and didn't wait for Lauren to follow. Either she would or she won't but Bo needs air. A change of scenery. She took in all the air that she could breathe in and closed her eyes. What are they doing there? There of all places? It's not that it bothers Bo into feeling guilty about Dyson. It does bother her that Lauren thinks she needs to prove herself in there of all places. Trick is a bastard and her grandfather at the same time. Kenzi is her human and looks like she's on a breakfast date with Hale. She better be working at some point of the day or Bo will find another working partner.
"When I fell in love with you, Lauren, it never stopped. It never wavered. Not even when you were with Nadia. It probably grew even more during that time. You were happy and I was happy that you were happy." Bo spoke over her shoulder. She just knew the blonde was standing behind her, somewhere.
"The human has returned. Seize her! A woman screamed.
Lauren laughed as they ran to her. "If you want an autograph, all you had to do was ask". She snapped neck after neck as Bo stood shocked at the sight. The brunette snapped out of it when the woman that ordered the attack got close. "I'm so fucking tired of you". The succubus drained the woman dry as Lauren finished hers off.
"Hey, Lauren". Bo reached out and held the woman's head in her hands. "It's okay. They're all gone". She pulled the woman to her and squeezed her.
"I don't need to be coddled, Bo". Lauren spoke over Bo's shoulder.
"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay". Bo pulled back.
"I was fine when it started, I'm fine now". Lauren popped her hands.
"I didn't like that, Lauren. You're not a killer. You're a healer". Bo shook her head.
"I was defending myself. That's not exactly being a killer. They have been after me for months and I finally stopped running. I finally stood my ground. I won't be that weak, meek Lauren again". The blonde walked away from Bo and to her car. Bo followed and climbed into the passenger seat. She didn't ask if she could go too but Lauren never said no either. She didn't want to think about them right now. She didn't want to think about what she just saw. She just wanted to be near Lauren in the peace and quiet. She felt her body shift as the doctor drove them to wherever they were going. When the car stopped for good, she opened her eyes and climbed out.
Lauren walked into the Dark compound and right into the Morrigan's office. She threw something across the floor and Evony stood to see what it was. "That better not be a bomb, doctor".
"That's your Keeper's necklace. I thought you should know she's dead. All six of them are dead, actually. There won't be anyone that you can send after me again." Lauren breathed, hard.
"You have grown a set since you've been with this bitch". The Morrigan kicked the necklace towards Aife.
The Succubus laughed and picked it up. "That ugly bitch is finally dead. I only wish she had a broom so I should shove it up Trick's ass".
Lauren left the two Fae standing there. Bo looked at them and followed her out.
"You know they are mates now, she meant what she said". Aife laughed as she threw the necklace at the Morrigan.
"The Una Mens were a means to an end. They were never going to kill her." The Morrigan melted the necklace in her hand.
"Go near them crooked again and you will meet your own end". Aife took a seat and the Morrigan rolled her eyes. "It's not so much as you babysitting me as it is me babysitting you. I don't trust your ass around the corner". The Succubus laughed.
"I just want you people out of the colony. You and the baby succubus. You're too unpredictable and she's too predictable". The Morrigan took her seat and pushed the chair against the wall. She needs to be ready if and when Aife finally makes a move.
"Keep your back there and you won't get your ass kicked". Aife laughed and pointed.
The Morrigan looked up and rolled her eyes. She needed a drink but the Succubus had drunk everything and they were waiting for a fresh supply to be brought in.
Bo kept her eyes open this time as Lauren drove them to parts unknown again. She looked at the doctor. She looked out the window. Whatever she had done, this was not the Lauren she knew before. Hell, this is not even the Lauren she knew last night. She tensed in her seat when the Doctor seemed to make an unexpected turn. She breathed in relief when the blonde said she had missed a turn.
They drove for a few more miles before Lauren stopped and climbed out. Bo had no idea where they were because she had never been there before. "Take my car if you want, I'm going to stay up here for a while".
"Lauren". Bo looked around. "We need to talk again".
"Again, Bo? Honestly, I'm a little talked out. You will profess your love. Tell me that they mean nothing to you. Tell me that I'm your mate. Tell me that I broke your heart. Tell me that I was wrong to ask for a break. Tell me I was wrong about this. That I was wrong about that. None of that is up for debate with you because your friends are always right and I'm always wrong". Lauren raised her head to the sky.
"I wasn't going to say that but since you brought it up. I do love you. They do mean something to me but not what you think. You are not my mate, yet. You weren't wrong to ask for that break. They aren't always right but you are not always wrong. You had the right to ask for a break because you weren't happy. I was blind to it. I was so happy that I passed that alleged scary Dawning that I missed every clue that my relationship was failing. Now that I have said all of that, what I was going to say is that I don't think that you are my or her mate, I think, maybe, we are yours". Bo explained.
"Oh? Well, then I can't wait to hear how you will explain this". Lauren took a seat. Bo looked like a student caught without their homework but still opened her mouth to speak.
TBC
