Real Vampires Know Hips Happen (Glory St. Clair #9)

Real Vampires Know Hips Happen (Glory St. Clair #9) Page 10

We arrived at the Edinburgh airport just as the small private plane taxied to a stop on the tarmac. Jerry's eyes were wild. He'd been watching the airplanes coming down since we'd arrived at the area where we'd been told to meet our friends. The noise was bad enough, but when a large jet roared overhead and then headed up into the clouds at a sharp angle right above us, I thought Jerry was going to dive under the car. Only the warrior in him kept him leaning against the hood, pretending this was business as usual. I touched his shoulder and could feel the tension vibrating through him.

"Relax, Jer. Planes have been flying people places for a hundred years. You'll enjoy it. Much better than taking wing yourself across the Atlantic." I slid my arm around his waist. "I honestly don't think you have the strength for that right now."

"Are you sure? Da said that's how I got home before." Jerry squeezed my shoulders. "I'd much prefer - "

"No argument." Bart had driven us here. "You will let them take you in the plane. I think a long shift would be too much for you. If you want to get your memory back, you need to conserve your strength."

"So this must be part of that shock therapy you talked about." Jerry managed a smile.

A joke? I hugged him then heard a squeal. Flo was coming down the stairs from the side of the plane.

"Gloriana! Jeremiah! You look wonderful!" She rushed toward us, arms outstretched. I met her halfway and hugged her tight, fighting tears. It was so good to see her again. I was dying to tell her everything - all about my witch of a mother, my dates, Jerry's condition. Later. She moved past me and hugged Jerry then leaned back. He looked awkward in her embrace and it didn't take her long to figure things out.

"Mio Dio, you don't know me?" Tears filled her dark eyes. "Don't worry. We will fix." She sniffed and gestured like she was checking it on her to do list. "Now. Who is this handsome man?" She turned to Bart.

"Bartholomew O'Connor, Jerry's doctor." He held out his hand.

"And I'm Jerry's sister Caitlin." Caitie had been chatting with one of the flight attendants who serviced the private planes but she had hurried over as soon as Flo appeared. Now she put a proprietary arm on Bart's. Interesting.

"Yes, please meet everyone." I ran to pull Richard forward to introduce him too. "This is Flo's husband, Richard Mainwaring. Jerry, do you remember him?"

Jerry smiled suddenly. "I think I do. Did we meet in Europe? Maybe it was Rome. Aren't you the renegade priest?" He looked at Flo. "Guess not anymore."

"No, I gave up the Church. At least as a priest." Richard slapped Jerry on the back. "That was centuries ago. You'd just been turned and were taking a grand tour, of sorts." He smiled as I introduced him to Bart and Caitie. "I hope to talk to you, Doctor. I've been doing some research of my own on Jerry's condition."

"Excellent. Your reputation precedes you and I could use the help. I have some cases to wrap up here and should be in Texas by the end of the week. But here's my card. You can call me, or we could set up a video chat." He passed the card over then slid his arm around Cait. "I'm hoping to persuade Jeremiah's sister to come with me to Austin. She's never seen the Wild West."

"Is it? Wild?" Jerry looked around the group. "Gloriana assured me it would be civilized. A big city."

"He's pulling your leg, Jer." I flushed when Jerry actually looked down at his legs clad in jeans for the trip. "It's an expression. Means he's joking." I glanced at Flo and saw her getting teary again. "Does the plane need to refuel or anything or are we ready to go?"

"The pilot says we'll be here about thirty minutes before we can take off again. There's paperwork." Richard grinned. "If you'll excuse me, I'll use some of my vampire mojo to clear the way there."

"What does he mean?" Jerry looked at Flo.

"Oh, he does this all the time. He'll mesmerize the authorities to overlook things like passports and all the little things they want to see when we land and take off. No matter. Come and get on board. CiCi, Freddy and Derek are inside. They are anxious to see you both. Best that they stay out of sight, though. These paper pushers - " Flo glanced at the airport security. "They don't need to get excited about all the people we are taking in and out of the country." She made a face. "Such a fuss we had in Paris until Ricardo got involved."

"You tried to smuggle out one of their treasures, my love." Richard was back. "Now let's go."

"Flo? What did you do?" I left Jerry and Richard to deal with our luggage. I saw them talking like old friends, which made me happy.

"It was nothing. A little trinket that belonged to Marie Antoinette. Some claimed it belonged to a museum. I say it belongs around my neck." She pulled a chain from between her breasts. She wore a to-die-for silk blouse in a deep green. The emerald on the end of the platinum chain was carved with a profile that did seem to resemble the beheaded queen.

"It's beautiful!" And had to be worth a fortune.

"Yes, and wasn't my Ricardo sweet to buy it for me? We got it from some shifters in the cutest little shop. But then they disappeared with our cash when the polizia showed up." She shrugged, typical Flo. "I don't care if they stole it. I won't give it back. It's mine now. The French, they are out of luck. Ricardo, he took care of everything." She tucked it out of sight again.

"Hmm. I hope so." We stepped inside the luxurious cabin of their rented jet and greeted our friends CiCi, Countess Cecilia Von Repsdorf, and her son Freddy along with his partner Derek. Then we had to reintroduce Jerry to them. Unfortunately he stared at them like they were strangers. This got CiCi upset and didn't make Jerry too happy either.

When the hatch was closed and locked, Jerry's mouth tightened and his eyes were wide. We all took our seats, Jerry beside me. I helped him with his seat belt, then held his hand. The whine of the engines starting made his grasp tighten.

"It will be all right, Jer. Once we're airborne, you won't even realize we're flying. We'll fall into our death sleep when it's dawn and wake up just before we land. Great timing." I smiled across the aisle at Flo.

"It's true. We always arrange our long flights this way. The pilot is an old friend of Ricardo's. He's a shifter and we trust him completely." She smiled at her husband and picked up his hand. "Once the seat belt sign goes off, you can get up and walk around." She frowned. "The pilot knows we can't be hurt when he takes off, but he insists everyone stay buckled in while he gets the plane off the ground. Says we will make the plane unstable or something. Pah!" She threw up her hands. "Stupid rule. So unnecessary."

"Florence doesn't like seat belts. Says they wrinkle her clothes." Richard smiled at her indulgently. "Are you all right, Jeremiah?"

Jerry nodded but I knew it for a lie. Flo and Richard whispered together.

"I remember my first time in an airplane." Flo threw up her hands again. "Madre di Dio! I was ready to smash a window and leap off the thing." She smiled at Jerry. "But I found that I loved it once we got off the ground. That was in the early days when airplanes were little more than sticks glued together. You remember those days, don't you, Ricardo? Glory?"

"She's right, Jerry. This is a five star modern jet." Which was now absolutely roaring. We had to raise our voices to be heard. I had both hands around Jerry's now.

"It's very comfortable. Your seat will lie back and we have movies you can watch, Internet once we're in the air." Richard frowned. "Oh, hell. You won't care about that. Glory, anything we can do?"

"I don't think so." I leaned against Jerry. He wasn't saying a word, just staring panicked around the plane while the engines got even louder and the plane started moving with a lurch. It hit a bump and I saw him reach for one of his knives. "Steady. We're not under attack."

"You sure?" He pulled out his knife anyway and laid it across his knees.

Flo noticed. "If you are thirsty, we have every kind of synthetic blood you could want. I'll bring you something as soon as we're airborne." Flo wouldn't give up. "There's a new one that tastes like a strawberry milk shake, Glory."

"Interesting." I didn't think I could drink a thing, not with Jerry looking so freaked out. I held up my hand to let her know I was through with the chitchat. She nodded, picking up a fashion magazine and popping in earbuds, satisfied that she'd done her best as our hostess. If Jerry wanted to slit his wrists then let me drain him dry, it was our business. That was my wild imagination at work. I'm sure Flo just hoped I could calm Jerry down. I glanced over. Richard didn't look too keen on this experience either, his eyes closed tightly while he gripped his armrests.

"I have to get out of here." Jerry struggled to open his seat belt with shaking hands.

"No. You can do this." I turned his head toward me. "Look at me. This is easy compared to some of the things you've faced. Battles where you've been outnumbered. Fighting vampire hunters who had technology that put them at an advantage. You have no idea how much I admire your bravery."

"I lost that when I lost my mind." He gritted his teeth. "Fuck!" He almost crushed my fingers when the plane hit another bump as it taxied toward the runway. "Sorry." He kissed my hand. "Mesmerize me, Gloriana. You know how to do it. Maybe it's the coward's way but make me think we're somewhere else. Anywhere else. Spin a fantasy for us so I'll forget I'm trapped in this metal box that, against nature, you say is going to leap above the clouds."

"Are you sure?" I hated to do that to him. It was the coward's way. So unlike him.

"Just do it, damn it." He almost crushed my fingers again.

So I looked deep into his eyes and sent him a mental picture. We were in a forest as far away from here as we could get. It was very quiet. Not even the birds were chirping, asleep for the night as we walked together, hand in hand. The air was cool, leaves crackling under our footsteps. We came to a clear pond and sat down beside it. We threw off our shoes and dipped our toes into the water. It was perfect, not too hot or too cold. We kissed, taking our time to taste each other. Then we undressed, watching as clothing dropped to the forest floor until we were naked.

He pulled me into the water, swimming to where a waterfall tumbled over rocks and into the pond. The water showered us as we laughed and chased each other, our bodies brushing from hip to thigh to chest. Finally he found a flat rock behind the falls and pulled me up to lay me down. There he kissed every inch of my body. My eyes drifted closed. We were both well into the fantasy now.

Jerry's hands were everywhere, stroking me, finding those pleasure points he knew so well. I tasted his mouth on mine. We were all warm skin and slick heat as he entered me, his rhythm perfect as he sent me to that place where only he could take me. We rolled over, touching, kissing and pressing hard against that rock as we searched for completion. His mouth branded me his, devoured me and sent us both tumbling into the water. We kept falling, locked together, all the way to the bottom of the pond. We couldn't breathe but didn't need to.

He sank his fangs into my neck, his steady draw on me another pulse of fire inside me. I came again, just from the force of his pull as he drank. Finally we burst to the surface, the moonlight shining down on us as we climbed out to lie panting on the grass.

This was the only thing that mattered. That we were together. The world could end in a minute, a day, a week. The plane could plummet to the earth. None of that mattered. Because we were together. We'd found what we needed. Each other.

I opened my eyes and stared at Jerry. He smiled and let go of my hand.

"I think we must be up in the clouds now." He brushed my cheeks with fingers that were no longer shaking. "Is it possible?"

I reached across him and slid open the window covering. "Look." Sure enough there was nothing to see but black night sky and white clouds down below us. The plane was rock steady and the others were opening their seat belts and getting up. Flo stood next to me and held out a goblet.

"Try this. It's probably the best thing you ever tasted."

I leaned forward and kissed Jerry's lips. "Nope. This is the best thing I ever tasted. Right here." I laughed and leaned back. Life was good.

Until dawn hit everyone around me, and I was still wide awake. I looked around and saw a familiar figure strolling down the aisle like she owned it. She gestured to me and I followed her to a pair of empty seats near the restroom.

"What the hell is going on, Mother? Why are you dropping in here? And why am I still awake? I assume this is your doing." I plopped down in the seat. Okay, staying awake past the dawn is cool. My friend Ray pays big bucks for a drug that lets him do that very thing. But in a vampire it's downright unnatural. The lights were dim and everyone else had pulled their chairs back until they were reclining. It was almost creepy the way they were laid out, still as corpses. Which is what I'd expected to be about now too.

"I thought you'd appreciate a little extra awake time." She smiled and waved her hand. My jeans and sweater morphed into a stylish pantsuit, black silk with a red and black print tank underneath.

"Stop that! I don't want to explain the wardrobe change. And I don't like surprises. I wish you'd get that." I glanced around. "Seriously. Put me back in my own clothes."

"But you look so much better now. Your friend Florence certainly knows how to dress for travel. Vintage Givenchy." She kissed her fingertips in a French gesture of appreciation. "And the countess looks divine in that new number from Chanel. Obviously she knows how to shop in Paris." She sighed. "Your friends have style and money. And look at you." She flicked her wrist and I was back in my jeans and old sweater. What could I say? It was the end of a long trip and I hadn't wanted to explain any of the clothes she'd given me to my friends.

"I'm a working girl. I do all right. Eventually I'll run across a nice Chanel of my own on consignment. Leave me alone." I tried to get up. She froze me in place.

"No, we need to have a little chat." She blinked and a glass of champagne appeared in her hand. "Want one?"

I licked my lips. I could have used a drink but didn't trust her. "No thanks. What are we discussing? Did you bring an antidote to that horrible spell Jerry is under? Can you cure him before we touch down in Texas?"

"Would that I could." She took a sip. "Mmm. Delightful. I only drink the best. Sure you won't have a glass?" She materialized a second flute and I took it in spite of better intentions. I sniffed and figured if it was good enough for her, it was okay for me. Hey, Mars had allowed me to eat, so why couldn't my mother figure out a way for me to enjoy champagne?

"Yes, you did dine with Mars." She smiled as she watched me sip. "He liked you."

"I kind of liked him." Uh-oh, her eyes lit up. "Not to run away to Olympus with but he was pretty cool. A warrior like Jerry. We came to an understanding. I could reason with him."

"Yes, he indicated as much." She frowned as she polished off her champagne and the glass disappeared. Mine she refilled.

"He give you a hard time?" Now this was good news.

"You could say that. He wants me to back off. Let you live your mundane little life with the vampire of your choosing. Can you imagine that?" She examined her nails and they changed color, a gold to match the trim on her beige wrap dress.

"I knew I liked him. He was sensible. Pay attention, Mother. Maybe he could help you find a cure for Jerry's amnesia." The chilled champagne tasted really good, the bubbles tickling my nose, and I finally started to feel sleepy.

"I suppose we could work together. He is a powerful ally. You did well there." She patted my hand. "Now I brought something for you to try. A sorcerer I know thought it might jog your man's memory." She opened her purse, a tiny jeweled number that had to have cost a fortune, and handed me a vial full of a bright green liquid. "Slip this into your lover's next meal. Blood I suppose." She shuddered. "Then see if he shows signs of remembering anything. If it works, I can get more, though the cost is high." She smoothed down her skirt. "The man is a freak and he likes me." She shuddered again. "He'll want me to, um, play his games in trade."

"Mother! Seriously? You'll have to sleep with him?" I set down my empty glass. "You'd do that for Jerry?"

"No. I'd do that for you." She smiled and touched my cheek. "But this man's games aren't exactly sexual ones, thank the gods. They are much more complicated." She shrugged. "I can't explain them but, trust me, they are not to my taste."

"Well, thank you. I'll let you know if it works. I have your number. I'll text the results." I held on to the vial and stood, moving into the aisle. I felt that pull of sunrise and almost fell.

"Go, lie back before your sleep overtakes you. I can only keep you awake so long though I'm working on that. I'm sure you'd like to see more daylight, wouldn't you?" She stood and grabbed me for a brief hug. "Oh, how I have waited for a chance to do that."

I shoved her away. "Tipsy on champagne or not, I haven't forgotten why Jerry is in such sad shape that he's terrified to fly. And quit with the bribes. Nothing you can do for me will get me to Olympus. Nothing."

She frowned and the plane lurched. "Careful, Gloriana. I could make this airplane drop like a rock. Do you think your lover or any of your friends would survive a fall of thousands of feet into the ocean?"

"Neither would I. Are you ready to give up on me?" I held on to a seat back as the plane lurched again. Air pocket or Olympus temper tantrum?

"Stubborn brat. I could whisk you away in time to save you of course." She tapped her chin as if thinking about it.

"All you'd gain is a daughter who would never ever forgive you. Mars is my ally now. I bet he'd help me make you pay for a trick like that." I was getting woozier, stupid dawn.

"Look at you, into Olympus politics." She smiled proudly. "All right then. Try the potion. Let me know the results." And with that she vanished, the woman did know how to use an exit line.

I wobbled my way back to my seat, the vial stowed safely between my breasts. At least she was trying for a relationship, but if she expected me to be a grateful daughter she would have to cut the threats and ramp up the cure efforts.

I looked at Jerry and sighed. He didn't deserve this, any of it. That was my last thought before I fell into my death sleep.

I woke up with a start. Everyone else was on their feet and milling around, pulling down their carry-on luggage from overhead bins.

"Where are we?" I pushed my hair out of my eyes.

"Austin." Flo stopped next to me. "You slept past sunset, amica. I helped Jeremiah get out of his seat belt. He and Ricardo are outside. Both of them were eager to get out of here. My husband doesn't like to admit it, but he's not comfortable with little places. Spent too much time in a cell as a monk, I think."

"I thought he was a priest." I undid my seat belt.

"Priest, monk. Are they not the same?" Flo patted my arm. "Come. It is good to be home."

"Sure. Just a minute." I felt for the vial. It was still there. Then I grabbed my purse and dug for lipstick and a brush. I had to look horrible and didn't want Jerry to see me this way. Oh, who was I kidding? I was stalling. I dreaded everything and everyone I'd have to face in Austin. Even if Jerry didn't get his memory back, I'd have to clue him in on what he'd forgotten. One thing at a time. I'd take him home. We could probably get a taxi. I headed out.

Well, we wouldn't need a taxi. Jerry's daughter, Lily, stood next to her father, holding on to his arm and talking a mile a minute. He looked a little dazed when she pointed to his car sitting next to a hangar. I hurried to join them.

"Glory!" Lily grinned at me. "Dad was just telling me that I'd have to drive. He doesn't remember how. Can you believe it?"

I couldn't believe she was acting like this was good news. Spoiled brat. "Lily, your father has amnesia. He's going to have to relearn some things. Give him some time to adjust." I took his arm. "Jerry? I guess you know by now that this is your daughter."

"Yes. And a bonny lass she is too." He smiled down at her.

She laughed. "Knock off the accent, Dad. It's just too quaint." She quit smiling. "Oh, is that part of the amnesia? That you talk funny? I didn't mean..."

"Sorry." Jerry frowned. "I've been in the Highlands. At your grandda's castle. Everyone speaks that way there. But the modern talk's coming back to me. I'll try not to embarrass you."

I sighed. This was not going well. "Lily, thanks for picking us up. How did you know when we'd get here?"

"Mother texted me. She got it from someone. Count on Mother to have spies everywhere." Lily picked up a bag. "Come on. Or do you need to tell somebody you're going?"

"Yes, let me thank Flo and Richard." I touched Jerry's back. "Go on with your daughter. I'll be there in a minute." I hesitated. I didn't live with them. Maybe..."Or I can catch a ride with someone else and you two can go on. Call me when you want to get together." Jerry had mastered his cell phone though he had no idea how or why it worked. I'd shown him his contact list. I was first on it, of course.

"No!" Jerry grabbed my hand. "We stay together, Gloriana." His grip was firm. "Don't give me any nonsense about it. Come home with me or we'll go to your place. Whatever you prefer. Lily, you understand, don't you? Gloriana is working with me to help me get my mind back."

"My place then." I saw Lily's face fall.

She looked from me to her father. "I get it." She dropped the bag. "Glory, you take Dad's car. I'll shift for myself. Mother explained everything. So I guess you owe him this TLC. Fix this, Glory." She stormed off toward the private plane terminal.

"What's wrong with her?" Jerry started to follow her. "What's TLC? Glory?"

"She's mad, Jer. Let her go. She's right to hate me now. Mara told her it's my fault you were hurt. I'm sure the way she spun it I practically gave the order. TLC is tender loving care. Which I'm glad to give you."

"I have to set Lily straight." He kept watching his daughter as she disappeared around the side of the large building. "Where's she going?"

"Somewhere she can shift without being seen. You can talk to her later. Give her time to calm down. I'll drive you over there and you can have a long talk. Right now let me thank Flo and Richard for the ride. Can you take care of our luggage?"

"Of course. I'm daft, not helpless." He grabbed a suitcase in each hand and stalked toward the car.

I leaned down and picked up the car keys Lily had tossed on the ground before she'd stomped off. She looked and acted like a teenager even after hundreds of years. The girl definitely needed her strong father back. After a quick conversation with Flo and Richard and promises to get together soon, I slipped into the driver's seat of Jerry's Mercedes convertible. The top was down and it was a perfect cool Texas night as I drove us toward my place on Sixth Street.

"This is a big city." Jerry had figured out the seat belt on his own and actually seemed fairly relaxed. He'd had plenty of practice riding in cars now. Compared to a jet, this was easy. Traffic got heavier as we got closer to downtown and my shop. My apartment was on a floor above it. "It's not the Highlands but there are hills. The weather is good."

"Yes, I enjoy this Texas climate. The winters are mild but the summers are terribly hot." What was this? We were talking about the weather? But it was a safe topic since the major one, the vial I could feel hard and cold next to my skin, was something to be discussed when we were alone upstairs. We arrived at our destination and I stopped in front of the shop. No parking places and the store looked busy. That was the good news. The bad news was that the window display hadn't been changed since I'd left. Hmm.

A honk behind me got me going again and I pulled around back to the alley to park next to my own car, a nifty sports model I'd acquired after a deal with the Devil's evil twin. Don't ask.

"We're here. I live upstairs. Look around. Is any of this ringing any bells?" I glanced at Jerry. He was in warrior mode, checking out the dark alley for predators. The light was burned out again. Not good. I can't tell you how many ambushes I'd endured back here. It was death alley as far as I was concerned. But parking was at a premium on Sixth Street. I had no choice.

"This looks a little run down. Are you sure it's a safe place for you to live?"

"No, but I can't afford better." I huffed, a little irritated. Not having this argument now. He didn't realize this was an old one. "Let's go." I popped the trunk. "Help me with the suitcases."

"I'll get those." The voice out of the darkness was achingly familiar.

"Rafe!" I lunged for him, hugging him tight. All the tears I hadn't shed yet came pouring out - my pain at what had happened to Jerry, my hurt that everyone had believed the worst of me, even the isolation I'd felt in Scotland. I laid my head on Rafael Valdez's broad chest and sobbed my heart out.

"Who the hell is this?" Jerry stood close, near my back, his voice edged with fury. "And why are you crying, Gloriana?"

"Rafael Valdez. You hired me to be her bodyguard. Glory and I are very good friends." He rubbed my back. "She trusts me. Don't you, Glory? So she knows she can let down her guard with me. Right, sweetheart?"

"Answer him, Gloriana. Are you his sweetheart?"

"Don't start this please." I pulled back and wiped at my wet cheeks. True to form Rafe came up with a handkerchief and I blew my nose. "I'm not going to watch you two fight. I love both of you. You don't remember him, Jerry, but Rafe has saved my life more than once. He's a dear friend. Shake hands with him."

"I'll not." Jerry pulled me back against him. "You need to cry, I have a shoulder for that."

"Relax, Blade. Glory and I aren't involved anymore. It's all good." Rafe shoved his hands in the pockets of his snug jeans.

I didn't want to notice how good he looked to me in his black N-V T-shirt. How had he known I was back here? Of course, I'd driven past his club, which was right down the street. He always had a man at the door, who'd probably spotted me in the slow moving traffic. All of his employees knew me and knew Rafe would want news of my arrival.

"Blade? And what does he mean 'anymore'? Were you lovers?" Jerry's hand went to his back. Oh, shit. Those knives. He'd loaded up with them before he'd left home.

"I can't deal with this now." Nothing like refusing to answer. "Jerry has amnesia, Rafe. He doesn't remember anything since right before he met me in London in 1604."

"That's convenient." Rafe smiled. "Who masterminded that?"

"My mother. She gives bitch a whole new meaning. I'll clue you in about that later." I stayed between the two men. It was obvious they'd decided to be enemies again. Instinct.

"You're a shifter." Jerry said it like it was the worst kind of insult. It was a pretty common vampire attitude unfortunately. Vamps hired shifters to work for them but didn't always see them as equals.

"Yes, and you were happy to hire me to protect Gloriana. I guarded her night and day for five long years. Long enough to know her very well." Rafe smiled meaningfully. "That's why we are so close."

Jerry had a knife in his hands. "How close?"

"Stop it!" I put myself in front of Rafe. "You are not fighting. Rafe was in dog form when he guarded me. You insisted on it. He slept on the foot of my bed."

Jerry laughed, a deep belly laugh that made Rafe's face darken. I threw myself on Rafe before he could launch himself across the alley at Jerry.

"Now that's brilliant. Gloriana fond of dogs, is she? Did she scratch you behind the ears? Rub your tummy? Play fetch?" Jerry wiped tears of glee from his eyes and put his knife away. "Come, Gloriana. I want to see this place of yours. We can handle our own luggage, Valdez."

"Don't you want to know why I called you Blade?" Rafe kept his hand on my shoulder when I started to reach for a suitcase.

"I suppose it's because I love my knives and am very good with them." Jerry lifted his jeans to show off yet another one strapped to his ankle. "Quit hiding behind my woman and I'll show you how I can throw one that will skewer you before you can shift your dog body out of here." He pulled a knife out of his boot, obviously ready to rumble.

"I have no need to hide behind anyone. You went by Jeremy Blade here in town." He glanced at me. "I did some research. Seems you were the one doing some hiding. Ask him, Glory, why he had to change his name."

Where had this come from? I looked at Jerry. Did he have a secret I didn't know about? As it stood, he didn't know it either. He'd shown up with the new name after one of our breaks. If he'd been hiding something, it was news to me.

"You're talking gibberish. I'm a Campbell, proud of it." Jerry gestured threateningly with his knife. "Glory knows who I am and is happy to be mine."

Rafe laughed. "Keep that up and she won't be for long. Your ancient Scot attitude doesn't play well with the lady here. She's not any man's woman." Rafe ran his hand down my arm. "Tell him, Glory."

"Don't confuse him, Rafe. Jerry's still trying to figure out this new world." I touched Rafe's cheek. "I appreciate your standing up for me. And I want to see you, to talk. But can we table this for now? I'm doing what I need to. Work with me."

"Playing nursemaid? I get it." He looked over at Jerry. "You get the pity vote this time, Blade. Enjoy it while you can. Glory knows she can always count on me." He leaned down and kissed me, a quick landing on my lips that I didn't have time to dodge. "Later, Blondie." Then he took off down the alley so fast that the knife Jerry threw stuck in a telephone pole instead of in his back.

"No!" I whirled around. "He's my friend, Jerry. If you'd killed him..."

"What? You'd never forgive me? Stop taking care of me?" Jerry's voice was tight as he pulled the knife out of the wood and examined the blade for damage. Apparently satisfied, he shoved it back in his boot. "I don't want your pity, Gloriana."

"You don't have it. I love you. I want to help you. To make up for what my mother did." I shut up, digging a hole for myself.

"Then I guess you do owe me. Tell your 'friend' to stay out of my sight. I don't like the way he was pawing you. It might have been all right when he was a dog, but now that he's on two feet, it needs to stop." He nodded toward the back of the building. "Now let's go."

Did he remember the door there led to my apartment? Probably not. It was the logical place to enter.

"Fine." I picked up my carry-on. He had the other suitcases.

"I'm fading. Guess I need to feed. You have a synthetic upstairs?" He was all business. Man to nursemaid. I wanted to slap him, hug him. Both.

"Yes, of course." I dug out my key. Time to decide if he should take the potion my mother had given me. Could I trust it? The last thing she'd brought from Olympus had ruined him. What would this one do? Did I dare find out?