Once downstairs, she found Kell sitting with Otto at the corner table with a bag of stuff for her. He really did not seem happy that she had stayed at Sanctuary the whole night and all day.
As Roxie and Colt walked up to the table, Kell growled at Colt. Colt took it all in stride. "If I was in your shoes, I would hate me too." He leaned over and kissed Roxie's cheek. "Want something from the bar?"
"Soda please." She said as she sat next to Kell. "Please be nice to him. Ultimately, this is what you wanted. And he is a really good guy."
Kell wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "If you decide that this is serious and you want to complete the ritual, then I promise that I will try. Until then, he is just some uncommitted fling who is defiling my little girl. You can't expect miracles here."
She laughed. "Alright. That is fair. Just as long as you don't hurt him." She hugged him back.
Colt returned with her soda and he had a bottle of water. "How are you handling everything Roxie?" He asked as he sat across the table from her.
She looked around. "It is all rather overwhelming. All of the scents, all of the sounds."
Kell tensed under her. Roxie looked up at him. "Kell. Remember, this is what you wanted. I am becoming more bear. I really hope that you can accept that."
The Dark-Hunter kissed her again. "I told you before. I will always love you. All of you. I just don't want to think about the things that lead to you opening up so much. OK?"
Roxie shook her head. "Men. You lot are almost more emotional than women. At least I have an excuse."
Aimee and Dev stopped by to chat for a bit. Fang even came over to officially meet Roxie in a non-confrontational setting.
Damien and Angel started setting up the band equipment. They stopped when they saw Colt and Roxie and walked over to apologize for their inconsiderate behavior Saturday night. Kell was not ready to forgive them for scaring her. So, he left to go patrol for daimons.
"Don't mind him." Roxie said as Kell left. "He is just protective of me."
"That part is rather obvious." Damien laughed.
Once Kell left, Colt moved over into his seat and put his arm around Roxie. She melted into him.
Roxie enjoyed having a chance to get to know the band members that Colt counted as his friends. Eventually Trip and Teddy joined them as well. Even Otto joined in on the conversation. They all seemed like nice guys, a bit juvenile, but she supposed that was to be expected of a rock band. But, she was amazed that she knew what kinds of animals they all were. Just by scent. They didn't have to tell her to connect the information. She just knew. Angel was a leopard, Teddy was a jaguar, Dame and Trip were both lions, though one was Kategaria and the other was Arcadian.
"So, are you going to play Colt?" Trip asked. "I don't want to be the only guitar up there."
"I don't know." Colt said. "I have calmed down, and I might ultimately forgive you all. But, you know I have this other person on my schedule now."
Roxie spun on him. "Don't you dare! Playing is important to you. And I like watching you perform. So, get your ass up there before I have to kick it on to the stage."
They all roared in laughter. Colt just beamed. "Yes ma'am." Then he kissed her. Passionately. Publically. Making sure she understood what she just gave away. Damn, she should have thought that through. She really wanted to continue that in the bedroom, ripping all of his clothes off.
When he pulled away, she was breathless. "You suck."
He grinned wickedly. "Well, you know from experience. But, we will get back to that, after the show." He gave her one last kiss, then he stood up to join his band mates.
Roxie blushed furiously. Then she saw Otto still sitting there looking uncomfortable.
"Oh gods! Seriously? You have be here for everything?" She covered her face with her hands.
Otto stood up. "Yeah, the council does not need those kinds of details. Hell, I need a bottle of brain bleach now. I think that it is safe to assume that you are not likely to leave too quickly, right? So, I just need to officially make sure you are here every day until you give me your final decision. Unless you have one now and I can save myself from more awkward moments?"
Roxie shook her head. "Not yet. I mean, I know where I am leaning. But, there are a few things to sort out first."
Otto tilted his head and left the bar. Then Samia came out to join Roxie as the band finished setting up and started to play.
"For the record Colt, I like her. She seems to be really good for you." Slash said.
"No, for the record, this goofy school boy grin on your face is absolutely freaky." Trip interrupted.
Colt shoved Trip out of the way. "Shut up." He growled.
Angel laughed. "If I were you, I wouldn't be up here now."
"And are you going to argue with her on it?" Colt questioned.
"Hell no." Angel shook his head.
Damien sat down at the drums. "I just don't need to know about how much you suck." He shuddered.
Colt tried to hide his smile. It felt good to be on stage with the guys, knowing that Roxie was out there watching him. As much as he would rather be back in bed with her, he knew that he wanted a life with her. And that meant that they had to get out of his room and live life… at least sometimes.
By the time the band wrapped up their show, Roxie and Colt were desperate to get back to his room. They laughed and smiled as they finally made it behind his locked door. Neither could get enough until they were once again asleep in each other's arms, passed out from exhaustion.
Colt jolted awake as he heard Roxie start to cry out. Her hands quickly covered her mouth, tears rolled down her cheeks and thin layer of sweat covered her skin. He wrapped his arms around her as she clung to him and cried. It had obviously been a nightmare.
"Are you still dreaming of me being there?" He asked quietly. She shook her head no. That helped him feel better.
Colt lifted her chin. "You are alright Roxie. Just look at me. I am here for you."
Once she calmed, Roxie gave a small smile. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Don't ever be sorry for something like this. I just wish I could help." He told her.
"You do help. In ways that I can't explain." She said as she nuzzled into his neck. Then she pulled back. "I am sorry. I am all sweaty. I should go wash my face."
Roxie conjured a robe and went to the restroom down the hall. Colt waited in bed.
But, when Roxie returned to the room, her eyes were wide once again and she had a look of panic.
"What happened?" Colt sat up.
"I, I- I just saw cubs." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Real, covered in fur, bear cubs."
She looked at him. "You are half Katagaria. My mother was half Katagaria. Would our children be babies or cubs?"
Oh gods. Colt was starting to panic. Would she be like her grandmother? Would she abandon her own cubs if they were not the species she wanted?
"I don't know Roxie. I would think that since we are both Arcadian, we would have babies. But, I am not sure." He said hesitantly.
She quickly crossed her arms over her chest. "My body is not made for nursing a cub with those kinds of teeth!"
Colt broke down into the deepest laugh that Roxie had seen from him. And that sparked her frustration.
"I am serious! Baby bear cub teeth would hurt!" She said as her arms wrapped tighter around her chest protectively.
Colt stood up. "That is absolutely the cutest panic attack ever."
She growled at him. But, he pulled her into his arms. "Roxie, if we have cubs, you can always turn into a bear to nurse. Your bear body is built for those teeth." He chuckled. "But, the fact that you are even thinking about having kids with me at all has me beyond happy."
She looked up at him. "So, you do want kids?"
"Yes. Will you be alright if they are cubs?"
She took a deep breath. "If they are your cubs." Then she nodded.
The next several days were a whirlwind. Roxie basically moved into Colt's room. Together, they would wake around 3:00 pm as Colt helped Roxie learn how to use her magic, even getting her used to changing into a bear and putting clothing back on after she returns to being human. Colt was impressed with her abilities and control. She learned a lot faster than most people. Later, then he performed with the band. And by the time he was finished with the performance, Roxie was so hot and bothered, that they followed everything up with the two of them closed off in his room, entwined in each other limbs one way or another. She couldn't focus on anything else. He certainly didn't complain.
Roxie was starting to get to know other members of the extended family around the house and the bar. Even Serre was starting to lighten up around her.
She was finding a level of comfort in the routine of it all. The only thing that she really missed was Kell. She wasn't used to being away from him this much. She had found out that Acheron had even given Kell the numbers of some of the squires in New Orleans that didn't serve a specific Dark-Hunter. So, if Kell needed anything, he had been calling them.
It was sweet that they wanted to give her time to sort through things, but she felt a twinge of jealousy. She loved Kell. As her father. As her friend. And she wanted to share her life with him. She just could not figure out how to do both. Kell lived in Texas. Colt lived in New Orleans. And she could not ask either to move.
By early Tuesday morning, Roxie was cuddled up in Colt's lap with her back against his chest as he reached around her to play a soft song on his guitar. He sang with an amazing voice. She was surprised that he did not sing more on stage. They were both naked as they just enjoyed the soothing music and feeling each other's skin.
Roxie ran her fingers over his thighs as they wrapped around her.
Once he finished the song, Roxie turned to look at him. She reached to cup his face, letting her thumb graze over his Sentinel markings. He always showed them now when they were alone.
"I love you Colten. I want to finish the mating ritual."
Colt didn't know what to say. His heart soared, as he looked in her eyes. But, he knew how much she would give up to be with him. Her family legacy. Her life with Kell. She loved Kell. He knew that it hurt her that she was not out there with him as he fought. But, she chose him.
Tears pricked the back of his eyes. "I love you too Roxanne. But, you have to be sure."
She turned completely so that she could look him straight in the eyes. "I know that I love you."
"And what about the squire thing?" He asked.
"Being Blood Rites takes a commitment that I can't give. Not anymore. Not now that I know more about the Were community. Not now that I know everyone here. And certainly not when someone else already holds my heart and my loyalty."
She took a deep breath. "But, I can still be a squire. Just a generic, unassigned squire who is on call for whenever they need me. And since I have been apprenticed to Kell for the past ten years, I know my way around metals. I can help with things around the bar, soldering, welding, making lots of small pointy things to stab demons or daimons with."
"But, could you leave Kell?"
"He and I have already talked about this. I can go visit. He is only a few hours away. He wants to volunteer to be here every Mardi Gras to see me. And there is always the phone or something."
Colt shook his head. "You can't give all of that up for me. I am not worth that much."
Roxie frowned. "You are worth it to me."
Colt cupped her face. "But, you are worth so much more to me. You should have a house, and privacy, and money, and everything that I can't give you living here."
She nuzzled into his right hand and kissed his mating mark. "Well, I am a squire. I get paid just fine. And I have saved most of my salary enough to retire if I wanted to. As for a house, I will leave that up to you. I don't mind staying here, I'm getting used to it. But, if you want to move out, we can. There are plenty of places just down the street so we can stay connected here. My only request is that I get a workshop for the metalworking. You haven't even seen my sculptures yet. And I was thinking of getting into glass blowing."
Just the thought of her in a tight tank top and jeans, getting all sweaty as she worked near the forge made him instantly hard and he moaned.
"What is with you woman? Even the thought of you sweaty and playing with fire turns me on."
She smiled and raised a brow at her bear.
"You know that you still have a week and a half to make your decision."
"Well, if you really don't want me. Then, perhaps I should be going." Roxie climbed out of bed and conjured clothing around herself.
But, Colt reached up and pulled her back into his arms, removing her clothing with his own powers. "I didn't say that." He growled. "I just want you to be one hundred percent sure."
She reached up to his face. "I am. I have been sure about you since you opened your door to me a week ago. I just needed time to experience everything to double check that there were no more surprises with me and my life."
Colt laughed as he rolled until she was on top of him. "Remember what I told you. This is all your choice. All of it. And when the urge to bond comes, it is intense, but you can ignore it." Colt had told her about bonding. It was a mixing of life forces that had some advantages. But, it also meant that if one person dies, so does their mate. It is romantic in a way, loving someone so much that you don't want to live without them.
"And what if I do want to bond with you? Wait, forget that was a question. I can't handle you telling me all of the reasons why I shouldn't. I am saying that I would like to bond with you. So, for you, it's a simple yes or no. Would you like to bond with me?"
He smiled. "Yes."