The Dal

Hale sighed. "Trick, my man, we have been at it for hours. We have gone through every book. I'm ready to head home." The siren rubbed his eyes. He felt like he had read a thousand books.

"Thanks, Hale. I just wanted to be sure. Be sure there wasn't a book that I have forgotten about." Trick rubbed the back of his neck.

"This is scary though, Trick. Bo may have had innocent intentions but something tells me her succubus wasn't about to let Lauren go. She wanted a mate and wrote it down for all the Fae to see and to know." Hale shook his head in disbelief. He had heard of the book but never thought it really existed. They were lucky that it was in Trick's possession. Any other Fae getting their hands on it could have proved to be messy.

"My books held and hold my blood and anything that I command. Bo's blood is far more powerful. Anything she leaks in or writes down is like a child's scribble compared to mine." Trick took a seat and rubbed his hands together. Bo has his blood but his is limited.

"Well, I'm just glad that part is over. I will be around but not all up in her business. I like my body in one piece and on that note, goodnight, Trick." Hale popped his hat on and walked up and out of the bar.

Trick stood watching as Hale walked away. He looked at the clock and saw it was in fact later than he thought. So, it was time for bed and dread. Bed to rest and dreading what Bo's succubus will want next. He can only hope Bo maintains control.

Aife

"You would be proud of her, mom. You would be proud of me. We are strong succubus not taking any crap from any Fae. I named her after you in hopes she would grow up to be exactly like that. She was raised by humans but she's good and bad. Good for her wants and bad for those that stand in her way of trying to get it. She has her mate. She's on her way to the happiness I will never find. Her conception turned me hateful and heartless. It goes without saying that I will never be hateful to her but I will always be heartless to the other Fae. They don't deserve good Aife. Not when they were all ready for me to die for wanting vengeance for your murder. But on to the life I have now and know you are loved and I bow to the Queen." Aife bowed and turned around to walk away from her mother's tomb.

The next morning.

Kenzi and Hale were walking into the compound when she shook her head. She needs to be a mother to a thousand year old wolf. She herself told him that she wanted him to be around to protect Bo when she dies but Bo didn't want that. She was wrong. She should have let Bo make her choice without verbal pom poms for the Fae. Had she been unfair to the other human in Bo's life? The doctor could be exactly what Bo has needed and will need all her life. Life? Kenzi will be dust and Bo and Lauren will still be going at it. Loving each other. Something she was blind to see back then too. When the Morrigan put the hit out on humans, Kenzi felt and was a little worried about the blonde but when Trick said he had people out looking for her, she trusted him at his word. But since when has Trick cared about the welfare of humans? That human? He only cared for them when he found use for them. With Lauren being a book of Fae like he is, she was always useful from that standpoint. Bo was right not to want anything in the Fae world. They can't be trusted. The only full blooded Fae the succubus probably trusts is her mother.

"He's in here." Hale opened the door and Kenzi walked in. Dyson was staring directly at them.

"I would say good morning but you don't look like you're in the mood for that." Kenzi stopped her steps.

"Where is she!?." Dyson screamed.

"Get Dr. Caldwell in here. I have an idea." Hale spoke softly to a nurse that stood far on the other side of the room. "Yes, sir." She nodded.

"What are you thinking?." Kenzi asked.

"I am thinking he needs to sleep so he can heal. Otherwise, he will be running the staff ragged and his constant screaming about Bo will continue." Hale explained.

"I will not be sedated." Dyson growled.

"Dyson, if you get out of here in that condition, every dog in the streets will want a bite." Hale shook his head.

"I am not helpless! I can defend myself." Dyson raged but couldn't move with his arm in a harness.

"Lauren?." Kenzi spoke. Dyson growled and slammed his head into his pillows. "Heal here, Dyson. You would die out there. Lauren is not the same woman you thought you knew. She's not even the woman that I thought I knew. She's the woman Bo wants to know. Bo doesn't want you. She doesn't. She used you to feed and it was never about love. She only went to you when she thought she couldn't trust Lauren. Well, that trust has far been restored." Kenzi pulled his blankets up. "Hell, they have nurses that can do this job." She stood back.

"Bo was mine. She was mine! I mated with her! She said I was hers! She said that. I didn't have to force her to!." Dyson gritted his teeth in anger.

"Again, she thought Lauren was off the table." Kenzi shrugged.

"You wanted to see me, siren?." Dr. Caldwell walked into the room.

"Doctor, how would you feel about putting your wolf in a coma or doing something that would force him to rest and heal?." Hale asked.

"Is that what you want, Dyson?." Dr. Caldwell asked. He had heard about Dyson's overnight grumblings.

"No. I want to be released." Dyson replied as softly as he could under his anger and frustration.

"I will speak with Trick and see what he recommends." Dr. Caldwell turned back to Hale.

"Trick is the only one Dyson will somewhat listen to." Hale turned back to Kenzi and they both followed the doctor out.

"Can I drop you anywhere, Kenz?." Hale asked.

"I have a meeting with a client. It shouldn't be a long one." Kenzi replied.

"Ahh. So, you're telling me you need a ride home." Hale laughed.

"I'm asking you to join the meeting. I don't know this client, like that, yet." Kenzi climbed into his car.

"I can do that." Hale replied. This is good. Kenzi is focused on something positive while Dyson is stuck on the negative.

Bo

Bo laid in her bed, on her back, with her hands under her head. She blew out a breath and closed her eyes. Opening them again she blew out another breath. Last night had been nice. They didn't stay up too late because Lauren had retired to her own room.

Bo smiled at her own self. There she was, in her bed and nervous like a teenager in love. Why was she though? Is it because eventually Lauren is going to want to date her succubus? But what will she miss? Nothing. She will see and hear everything. She can't blame the doctor for her decision. She needs to know who she's getting involved with. She doesn't know her succubus the way she knows Bo. Or knew Bo. Bo cringed at that thought but still continued on her mental dance. While she trusts her succubus not to kill the doctor, she doesn't trust her not to open her mouth and ruin any chance the both of them has. She felt something inside and knew it was the succubus response to move on from that thought. While it is Lauren's choice, Bo thinks she should date her succubus a lot more consistently. But that's all up to Lauren. All up to Lauren.

Lauren

The blonde stood under extremely hot water. It felt good. The quiet felt good. Massaging her head as she washed it felt better. She's not unmindful that Bo is awake. She knows it. She can feel it. She's not unmindful that the woman knows she wants to date both of them. She has seen Fae mated to each other but never a Fae mated to a human. Not even Lou Ann and her human.

She gently scrubbed the bottom of her feet, washed and rinsed the rest of her body. She dressed and walked out to the small kitchen. Rubbing her hands together, she started to cook breakfast. "Scrambled or fried, Bo?." She asked over her shoulder.

"How did you know I was here?." Bo asked.

"I'm a doctor. I notice things. Like how you breathe. It's also how I know when your Succubus is here." Lauren answered.

"Scrambled." Bo replied and stood to help. She had been sitting in the dark ever since she showered and heard the doctor taking her own. "I will handle the toast and juice." She spoke softly. Lauren nodded and they quietly went about making the food.

Lauren took her seat first and Bo followed. She rubbed one hand on her jeans and took a sip of water with the other. "Last night was nice."

"It was." Lauren nodded.

"That's it?." Bo asked. She rolled her eyes when Lauren's popped in her direction. "I'm sorry."

"Ok, let's talk about this." Lauren wiped her mouth and put her napkin down. "Bo, I meant what I said when I said I want to date the both of you. Sounds like I need to date you more since you can't be patient with my decision, yet."

"Lauren, I'm sorry. I can be patient. I just want you to be as excited about this as I am. As we are." Bo corrected herself.

"Bo, I am excited but I don't need you pushing or projecting my emotions on me. Just in case you have forgotten you have already done a few things to me. Things I am learning how to handle. There are powers. There are physical strengths that I never had before. Now, you are probably not going to like what I am about to say but I am going to say it anyway." She watched Bo prepare herself. "I am probably already mated to your succubus. There is a closeness there that I haven't ever felt with you, yet. But that's what I'm learning to process. I used to keep my mouth shut when I felt disrespected, those days are gone. Yes, I am excited about everything that we are about to do but know this. I can just as easily do those things with another Fae. Like I used to watch your wolf do."

"You have some of her darkness." Bo whispered and bowed her head.

"It is not darkness, Bo. It's self-respect. Something I had to hold in for years with the Fae when Nadia's and my life hung around my neck." Lauren softened her tone. It was too early to ruin what could be a good, productive day. "I accept your apology but I won't a second time."

"Thank you." Bo picked her fork up and started to eat. If she kept her mouth full, she could calm down and enjoy the day. She can't even blame her succubus for her impatience because Lauren already saw it wasn't her.

"What are we doing today?." Lauren asked.

"Take a nice long walk? Bundled up, of course." Bo suggested as she looked out the window.

"That will take care of the morning but tonight will be our first date." Lauren replied.

Bo swallowed hard. "Our?."

"Ours. Yours and mine." Lauren nodded and finished her food and juice.

"That quick, huh?." Bo looked at her outfit. "I don't have anything newer to wear."

"Whatever you have will be fine. It's not formal." Lauren stood with her plate and glass. Bo grabbed hers and followed the woman. They freshened up and walked out of their hotel.

Lauren inhaled the fresh air and took a deep breath. It was chilly but she dressed appropriately. Bo looked at her clothes again. Lauren is going to look beautiful in anything that she wears but Bo wants something new. She will have to think of something in the next few hours to make that happen.

Lauren gestured in one direction and started walking. Bo looked down at her hands. She longed to hold one of them as they walked but they aren't a couple yet. That's a couple thing. Lauren said she wants to be a true mate. So far, she's keeping that word. She's being fair to Bo's succubus by keeping a nice distance between them. She looked up when Lauren started talking about everything that she saw. Bo felt self-conscious again as the woman proved her brilliance, again.

"Don't do that, Bo." Lauren spoke softly.

"Do what?." Bo looked around.

"Don't act like I'm too good for you. For this." Lauren pointed between the two of them.

"Well, you are beautiful, Lauren. Inside and out. You are definitely smarter than I am. I can't fake it anymore. I can't fake thinking I know more than you. I certainly can't fake thinking I know the Fae more than you. I thought the Ash was your boss. No boss should have employees with chains around their necks 24 hours a day. I can't fake knowing about any of the buildings that you know about. The structure. Any of it." Bo spoke up and felt a little better getting all of that out.

"Bo, you are beautiful and smart too, in your own way. I only know about these things because I kept my head in books most of my life. You didn't grow up like that. You weren't given the chance to." Lauren stared directly at the woman.

"I was just being honest." Bo bowed her head and kicked a small rock.

Lauren walked over and lifted Bo's head. "Stop it." Bo nodded and Lauren released her.

"Do you mind if we cancel this walk?." Bo asked.

"Is something wrong?." Lauren asked.

"No. Nothing is wrong. I just want to check in back home but most importantly I want to go shopping for our date and if we keep talking now, we might run out of things to talk about tonight." Bo smiled softly.

Lauren nodded. "I understand that but I will never run out of things to talk about."

"I know this." Bo laughed and jumped out of the way when Lauren swiped at her arm.

"6:30, Bo Dennis." Lauren turned around and left the succubus dialing on her phone.

The blonde shuddered at how good that felt. They are getting close again but also giving each other space when one of them needs it. She didn't lie about Bo needing new clothes, she doesn't. But she also overdressed for their sex date at the Dal. Lauren showed up in jeans and a top and Bo showed up like it was a real date. The blonde is still flattered at that.

Bo

"Before I call Trick and get told lies, what's going on back there?." The young succubus asked into her phone.

"The stupid wolf is being treated at the compound for his broken arm and heart. Your human is busy with Hale and a new client. Your mother just gave your grandmother verbal flowers. That's it sweetie. That's all the tea. That and me pissing the Morrigan off for kicks." The old succubus laughed.

Bo looked around before she spoke again. "Lauren wants to date me and my succubus. We need that time and space."

"You will get it. I will watch the village dumbfucks back here." Aife smiled. Be a pain in the fae asses? Hell yes.

"I can't screw this up, mom. Do you know how ridiculous it would look to pine for a mate that wants nothing to do with you?." Bo asked more for herself.

"Kind of like Dyson looks." Aife laughed.

"I have to go and shop. I want to look my best tonight." Bo started walking.

"Leather. No succubus looks bad in leather." Aife looked at her own outfit.

"Keep them in check. I will drain them from here if you don't." Bo said her goodbye and hurried into one shop.

The Hotel

Lauren dressed down to shorts and a tank top. Grabbing a few towels, she left their hotel room and walked towards the exercise room. She sighed in relief when she found it empty. Good. She can go at her own speed, not that she wasn't going to do that anyway.

She started on the treadmill, then went for free weights. When she put them down, she watched her eyes change in the mirror. She wants you to date me more. I know you. I know everything that makes you tick, and I'm that tick tock. When our date starts tonight, I will see if Bo is really ready to clock in and put the work in. I did not lie. You will get your chance but for now, I prefer to date Bo first.

When her eyes went back to their normal color. She turned around to look for boxing gloves. Once they were on, it was on with the punching bag. Then it would be on with her shower and her date. I hope you are serious Bo because I do know the Fae and a way out of this.

TBC