Oliver sighs. “Your story was in the newspaper the morning after I took you to the hospital, so I learned your name. I couldn’t help keeping an eye on you after that. It was a bad neighborhood, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out your home life was rough. It also didn’t take me long to realize you knew about the underworld. I didn’t mean to stalk you or anything; I was just worried that you’d somehow remembered me using magic.
“But then I realized you were different, too. Human, but hiding a secret of your own. I knew you knew of the underworld, knew you were researching it. But you only seemed to want to know more so that you could keep yourself safe. After the system bounced you through a couple foster homes, I lost track of you, but I still worried so I reached out online. I knew the screen name and the chat room you used. Anyway.” He clears his throat again. “Sorry if that freaks you out. I swear I only ever wanted to help keep you safe.”
He’s so sweet. He’s totally forgiven for the stalking. I pat his hand and smile so that he knows I understand. “I’m sure you did. Thanks for looking out for me. Just please don’t be a stalker about it anymore, okay? Friends?”
He’s staring down at my hand covering his, but glances up when I say friends. His eyes alight with hope. He can’t believe I don’t hate him right now. He’s wanted me to know him for so long, but he was afraid I’d remember him or figure out the truth, and he was sure I’d never speak to him again. He thinks I’m an angel. Perfect.
I pull my hand away, not wanting to hear any more of his thoughts.
“You’re really not mad?” he asks.
“That you saved my life when I was thirteen and have looked out for me ever since? That you’ve been helping me navigate the underworld? That you happen to be the closest friend I have in the world, even if we only know each other online? No. I’m really not mad.”
He grins at me, eyes wide in wonderment, as if he can’t believe this is really happening. I know the feeling.
Nick breaks up the moment. “Well.” He claps his hands together loudly, startling poor Oliver out of his skin. “This little reunion has been very sweet, but unlike the vamps, I’m not nocturnal, and it’s starting to get late. “Come on, Spitfire. Let’s get you home.”
Home. Even with the possibility of Xavier lurking nearby, the idea of sleeping in my own bed away from any vampires is heavenly.
It’s not until we’re in the parking lot out front of the Agency that Henry approaches me. I give him a flat look, and Nick crosses his arms over his chest. Nick’s not nearly the size of my troll bouncer friend—he has the build more of a UFC fighter—but he’s every bit as scary. Again, I wonder what kind of underworlder he is. I bet it’s something totally badass.
Henry puffs out a breath. “Nora—”
“Do I need to get a restraining order before I leave?”
Henry ignores my threat. “Are you really going home?”
“I’m sure as hell not going back with you.”
“I understand you’re upset with me, but your home isn’t safe. Come back to the estate. At least for the night.” When I roll my eyes, he grudgingly adds, “I won’t come near you. I just want you safe.”
Yeah. Not buying that.
“Hang on,” Nick says. “He has a point. That creep still lives next door to you.”
“Yes,” Terrance adds, abandoning his own car to join our conversation. “You can’t go home.”
One look at Terrance’s face, and I know I won’t be living in my apartment anymore. I give it my best shot anyway. “Xavier is a perverted psychopath, and he’s got an obsession with me. But I’ll be fine. I’ve been dodging him for months already. He’s probably still feeling the effects of his encounter with Cecile, and I only need a day or two to pack my stuff and figure out a plan.”
Terrance’s jaw clenches. When his pupils start to dilate to all black again, Nick places a hand on his arm. “Easy, friend. We won’t let any harm come to your young one. The Agency has a few housing capabilities. We’ll figure something out for her.”
I’m as surprised by Nick’s serious-but-gentle tone as I am by his choice of words. He’s talking to Terrance as if Terrance has a claim over me. “What do you mean his young one?”
“Nothing,” Terrance says quickly. His voice is gruff, and he rubs the back of his neck as if a flush is creeping up it. “It’s nothing. I’m sorry. Trolls have…very strong protective instincts. Sometimes those instincts take over.”
I let out a relieved breath. For a moment there, I thought he was going to go all crazy like Henry and try to claim I’m his mate or something. “Right.” I force a laugh. “I could have guessed that. Hey, it’s okay. I think it’s cool that I’m friends with The Hulk.”
Terrance’s nerves disappear, and he bursts out with a huge belly laugh. “The Hulk. It’s an apt comparison,” he says. “But I don’t like the idea of you going home to live next to that pervert. I have a couple spare rooms. You’re welcome to take your pick, if you’d consider bunking down at my place until you figure out where you want to go.”
Normally, I’d turn down the offer without hesitation. Stay at a single man’s place? No way in hell. But Terrance isn’t putting out any lusty vibes. He wants to protect me. It’s his troll instincts. I can’t deny I’d feel safer at his place than I would staying at home with Xavier close by. “Yeah, okay,” I say slowly, testing it out to make sure I’m really okay with it. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” Terrance grins. “It’s no trouble, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes, but my smile stretches wide. “All right. Sure. That would be nice. Thank you.”
“Awesome.” Nick claps again and starts up his motorcycle. “If that’s all taken care of, I’m out. I’ll see you around, Spitfire. Take care, and try to stay out of trouble.”
After he roars out of the parking lot, Terrance opens the passenger door of his red Caddy.
It fits him perfectly. “I like your ride, T-man. Very pimp.”
“Well, I am a nightclub owner.”
“I thought you were the bouncer.” I’m teasing. I’d already figured out he owned the place.
He gives me a terrifying grin. “That’s just a hobby.”
“And that’s why I like you.”
When he waves me forward, Henry hisses.
“Are you still here?” I snap. He’s seriously grating on my last nerve.
“You refuse my offer, but you’ll go home with him?”
“Oh. In a heartbeat. And I won’t lose a wink of sleep over it. Have a nice life, Henry.”
I flip him off and climb into Terrance’s car. Driving away from him seconds later is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
Terrance and I are quiet as we leave my apartment with a few of my meager belongings. I don’t have to read his thoughts to know he’s thinking of his missing potential mate. I want to tell him everything will be okay. That we’ll find Shandra, and everything will end happily. But I can’t bring myself to promise that. I know things don’t always have happy endings. In fact, in my experience, they rarely do. Even if we do find her, chances are we’ll be too late to help her. We probably already are.
I try to lighten the mood and distract him. “I may have had a hell of a last twenty-four hours, but I got you and Oliver out of the ordeal. I’ve never had real friends before. Thank you, Terrance.”
Terrance slides me a quick glance, and answers me with a grunt and a shrug of his shoulders. Then he flips the radio on. I turn my head toward my window so that he doesn’t see me smile. Note to self: trolls don’t do sappy, sentimental stuff. At least not my troll. I grin again. My troll.