Beyond the door was a plethora of creatures that most people believed were nothing more than myths. Vampires, werewolves, fairies…
Granted, Anna had already suspected that there were more than humans walking around. Hell, she was living proof. And over the years she had more than once considered the possibility that Cezar was a vampire.
But suspecting that Hollywood monsters might creep around in the dark was considerably different from being their houseguest.
She was still weighing the pros and cons of cowering in the bed, when the door to the room was pushed open and Styx’s mate, Darcy, peeked her head inside.
“May I come in?”
Anna instinctively smiled. Darcy didn’t look like a werewolf. Actually, she looked like an adorable urchin with her spiked blond hair and huge green eyes in a heart-shaped face. She also possessed one of those in-love-with-life-and-everyone-in-it personalities that made you melt on the spot.
Even the grim-faced Styx hadn’t been able to conceal his absolute adoration for the woman.
“Of course.”
Pushing the door wider with her foot, Darcy entered with a large tray that she set on the bed next to Anna.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
Anna sucked in a heady breath of the delicious scents filling the air. “Actually, I’m starving.”
“Good.” With a charming lack of formality, Darcy planted herself on the bed, tucking her bare feet beneath her and staring openly at her guest. Anna hid a smile, thinking the woman looked more like a teenager than a fearsome beast in her ratty jeans and T-shirt. “I brought a fresh-fruit salad and zucchini lasagna. I’m afraid I’m a vegetarian so I didn’t have any meat in the house at such short notice, but I can get whatever you want tomorrow.”
Anna blinked in surprise. “But I thought…”
“Yes?”
Ducking her head in embarrassment, Anna took a bite of the lasagna. “Nothing.”
“Please ask me whatever you want, Anna.”
Anna swallowed, inwardly wondering about the etiquette of asking about a person’s species.
“I just thought that Cezar said that Styx’s mate was a werewolf.”
“I am.”
“Oh.” Anna lifted her head to meet the amused green gaze. “But you don’t eat meat?”
Darcy wrinkled her tiny nose. “I won’t bore you with my life history, but basically I was genetically altered so that while I possess a few werewolf traits I never shift and I never feel the pangs of bloodlust.” She gave a sudden chuckle. “Well, except on those occasions when my mate needs to be put in his place.”
Ah, a woman after her own heart.
Anna smiled as she took another large bite of the pasta. “If he’s anything like Cezar I would think that he needs to be put in his place on a daily basis.”
“It does seem to be a vampire trait.”
Actually Anna was quite certain that it was a man trait.
She popped a piece of watermelon in her mouth. “This is delicious.”
“I can’t take credit.” Darcy reached out to nab a breadstick. “I lured away Viper’s housekeeper, who happens to be an artist in the kitchen. She’s helping me to open a new health-food store that offers prepared meals.”
Anna polished off the last of the lasagna before her sticky-fingered companion could snag a bite. “If this is anything to go by it’s going to be a fabulous success.”
Together they demolished the fruit salad, and with a deep sigh of pleasure Anna wiped her hands and set aside the tray.
Once Anna was comfortably settled on the mound of pillows at her back, Darcy returned to gazing at her with that open curiosity.
“Cezar mentioned that you are a lawyer?”
“In L.A.”
“Do you like it?”
Anna shrugged. She had chosen to enter law school only after a large corporation had purchased an entire block of low-rent apartments where she was living and happily tossed the elderly and poor onto the street so they could make a profit.
There would always be injustices in the world, but Anna was tired of sitting on the sidelines. She had decided that day it was past time to get into the game.
“I like it when I win,” she admitted with a rueful smile.
“That makes sense.”
There was a short silence as Darcy tilted her head and studied Anna with a strange intensity.
At last, Anna cleared her throat in discomfort. “You can ask whatever you want, Darcy,” she said, repeating her guest’s words.
“I was raised to believe I was human so this whole demon world is new to me,” she admitted, startling Anna. “I know you’re not a vampire or werewolf, but…”
Anna recalled Darcy mentioning that she had been genetically altered, which would explain why she hadn’t realized her heritage. It made Anna feel even closer to the woman. She wasn’t alone in this wild and wacky world. Darcy would understand her confusion.
“Actually, I don’t know what I am,” she confessed, feeling oddly relieved to unburden the secret that had kept her trapped and separated from the world for so long. It seemed that the truth really did set you free. “I hoped that Cezar could tell me.”
Darcy didn’t appear at all shocked. Actually she looked nothing more than curious.
“Why Cezar?”
Anna blinked at the unexpected question. “We knew each other long ago. Centuries ago. When I spotted his picture in the L.A. Times, which mentioned that he was in Chicago, I flew here to confront him. I thought…” She grimaced at her naïve assumptions. “I blamed Cezar all these years for making me different.”
“Why would you blame Cezar?” Darcy wondered, then as Anna blushed at the intimate memories, she offered an impish smile. “Ah, never mind.”
“I was a fool to come here.” Anna gave a shake of her head. “I came here for answers, but every time that vampire makes one of his cameo appearances in my life everything goes to hell.”
“You weren’t a fool, Anna.” Darcy reached out to lightly touch Anna’s arm. “As difficult as it might be to discover the truth, anything is better than wondering and fearing that there’s something wrong with you. Trust me, I know.”
“Yes.” Anna managed a weary smile. “You’re right.”
“And you can be certain that both Styx and I will do everything in our power to keep you safe.”
“You’re very kind.”
Darcy waved aside Anna’s sincere gratitude as she rose to her feet, a smile on her lips. “And you know, Cezar is rather fine even in the vampire world, where fine has a whole new definition. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy the view while you’re here.” She ignored Anna’s startled expression as she crossed to the door. “I’ll let you relax in peace and return later with something for you to sleep in. If you need anything just poke your head out the door and give a yell. I have excellent hearing.”