I just stared at her because anything that came out of my mouth would have turned into a rant. Instead, I just nodded and clenched my jaw. “Fine,” I uttered after her challenging stare down.
Valerie crossed into the kitchen and opened a drawer. It slammed closed and she stepped back into my line of sight tossing something in my direction. I caught the small pouch and stared at the potpourri wrapped in sheer webbing. “There’s already one in her pocketbook. Put it in your coat pocket and whatever badass is in the neighborhood leaves you alone.”
“What the hell is this?” I snapped.
“It masks the scent of our bloodline.”
“How?” I asked, this time with more patience, bringing the bag up to my nose to take a whiff. I pulled it away fast but the sickly sweet stench hung on the air making my eyes water.
“Michael gave them to me.”
“He had a way to... hide you from...” I trailed off, looking at the small package again. The scent was repulsive, yet familiar. I blinked and the origin of that smell slammed into my brain, making my gaze snap back to Valerie. “With demon blood?”
Both Naomi and Valerie blanched at the revelation. Naomi even moved her purse farther away from her body in an unconscious reflex of disgust.
“It works,” Valerie said.
I didn’t want the thing to touch me and I put it in the side pocket of my jacket, zipping it almost the entire way closed. Wiping my hands on my jeans, I gave a nod. “So what time is her appointment?” I asked again, but this time without the edge.
***
Valerie drove with Naomi and me crammed in the small back seat of the truck. The tiny side windows were tinted and the back had a stencil of the American Flag blocking the window, so we were virtually invisible to the outside traffic. Even so, I still tensed when we got into a more populated area.
The half glances toward the truck had more to do with the rumbling engine than the occupants, and by the time we drove into the medical center in Torrington, I had relaxed enough to let my guard down. The moment the truck shut off, the nerves jumped into action.
Valerie stepped out of the truck and pushed the seat down for us to exit. I got out and my gaze bounced around the quiet parking lot before I turned and helped Naomi out of the cab. I felt like a secret service agent protecting the President in a crowd, my gaze couldn’t move fast enough over the black top and cars, looking for threats. By the time we got to the door, I was wrapped so tight I almost attacked an old woman who pushed open the doors on her way out of the office building.
Valerie and Naomi gave me that shocked expression that I was used to and I let out a small laugh. I knew my strength and speed was superior to most humans, but if we encountered a demon, I would only be as effective as a fly swatter.
In the waiting room, I sat next to Naomi and my leg bounced in nervous anticipation. My back was safe against a wall, but the office had a half dozen other women in attendance and just the proximity to anything remotely dangerous left me on edge.
Naomi placed her hand on my knee and I turned meeting her gaze.
“Everything will be okay,” she whispered pushing down until my leg stopped moving.
I covered her hand with mine and gave it a squeeze, exhaling and offering a tight smile. It was a long half hour wait.
“Anna Andreas?” the nurse asked.
Naomi didn’t respond at first, but I gave her hand a squeeze and nodded toward the nurse.
“Oh,” she mumbled and collected her purse. She gave Valerie a quick glance and stood. I followed suit and the nurse gave me that high browed what do you think you’re doing glare.
“It’s okay if my husband comes in with me, right?” Naomi asked when she caught the nurse’s less than subtle glare.
The nurse dropped her gaze to Naomi’s and it softened. She nodded, but when it drifted back in my direction, the hard lines filled in around her mouth. When Naomi disappeared into the bathroom, I started nibbling on my nail, waiting for her to return. The nurse waited patiently, but ignored me long enough for my nerve endings to tingle.
“I guess you see a lot of nervous husbands,” I finally said to break the ice but the look she sent my way chilled me further. There would be no ice breaking with this one. I peeled off my coat and hung it on the chair, crossing to the window. I did a quick scan of the asphalt view.
“How old are you anyway,” the nurse asked and I glanced over my shoulder.
When she asked my age I caught my smirk in the reflection of the glass and wondered how she’d react if I told her my real age. Instead, I turned, meeting her gaze. “I’m twenty-five.”
“Pft. You shouldn’t be thinking about a family yet. Get established first,” she scoffed at me but at least the hostility was waning.
I glanced at my coat. Maybe it was the sachet that made her act like the ice princess and the minute I took my jacket off and put some distance between me and my coat, she thawed. “We’re good,” I said and crossed my arms, leaning on the windowsill and waiting for Naomi.