His eyes locked in mine. "There are one or two scenarios where that could happen. But are you certain that you would want that?"
I thought of my family's general ignorance toward everyone who wasn't like them. About how I’d always been so different to them, an outsider, even if we shared DNA. And I thought about having calm, strong Warin by my side through what was bound to be a nightmarish experience. "I am absolutely certain. But…" I sighed. Full disclosure needed. "I have to tell you that it probably won't be a pleasant experience. They are not… very nice people."
Warin watched me with his head cocked for a little while, then nodded. "Very well. In return for your participation and compliance with the meeting I am making you join me for, I shall book plane tickets to Denver when I get home tonight."
I sighed in relief and leaned back in the couch. "A million times thank you. You really are the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"As you are for me," he said quietly.
A blush spread across my body alongside a warm feeling of happiness. I still had no idea why he chose to spend just a little bit of his immortal life with me, but one thing was for sure: every fiber of my being was thankful for it.
“We also need to talk about the meeting with Joana,” I said, changing the subject before my stupid heart got any grand ideas. Clearly the little fucker couldn’t be trusted. “Do they have information on how to find the skinwalkers?”
“They do.” Warin sighed, clearly unhappy. “But I wish you would let me handle this, Liv. I don’t want you further involved.”
“Do we really have to do this again? You know I’m not going to accept it. And, if you recall, the only reason you had that meeting with Joana and her merry band of witches was because of me. I know I’m not part of your supernatural club, but as long as this involves me, you’re going to keep me in the loop. Got it?”
“Got it,” he sighed. “The High Priestess have given us the location of one of their main cells, but she also confirmed my suspicions that they have a vampire patron. She couldn’t tell me who, or why, but whoever it is, he or she have fed the skinwalkers their blood. They are much, much stronger than regular skinwalkers, and even my Guard and I will have to be cautious when we attack. But I can’t move on them before we have discovered who this patron is. If we take down the skinwalkers without unveiling who’s behind them, they’ll slip between my fingers. And that… that I can’t let happen. Whoever they are, they’ll be very, very sorry they picked Chicago for their schemes.”
The look on Warin’s marble features was so grim any sane person would have recoiled from the sheer threat emanating off him. I, however, just shot him a half-smile before I nuzzled deeper into the couch. “You gonna go all Night Lord on their asses, huh?”
He snorted, the seriousness on his handsome features cracking for a small smile. “I’ll do much worse than that to anyone who thinks they can hurt you on my watch, little one. Much, much worse.”
* * *
We spent the rest of the night watching Vampire Diaries, occasionally interrupted by Warin’s contemptuous snorts, and at some point I fell asleep with my feet in the vampire's lap. I half-woke by the sensation of floating, and tiredly cracked an eye open just as I was put down on my bed.
"Hmm?" I groaned.
"Dawn is almost here," Warin said softly above me. “I’ll send a car to pick you up at six.” The press of my duvet being wrapped around me made me contentedly sigh before I went back to sleep.
18
It was once again pretty late when I woke up, and I had a groggy thought that keeping vampire hours probably wasn’t the best thing for my circadian rhythm as I stumbled to the bathroom to pee. Should probably start supplementing with some vitamin D or something, since I wasn’t seeing much of the sun these days, save when driving in for a shift for work.
I spent some extra time in the bathroom, remembering I had to get ready for Warin’s fancy-pants party tonight. He hadn’t gone into much detail about what was expected of me, but judging from his manor-like house, it’d probably be prudent to at least shower. And maybe even do my hair.
* * *
It was five before I walked out of the bathroom with my hair in rollers and a fluffy bathrobe wrapped around me. I wasn’t entirely sure how getting attacked by evil shapeshifting witches meant I was now the sort of person who got made up to go out twice in one week, but even if I would have preferred to spend the evening on the couch… it felt kinda good to primp. It made me feel pretty. And feminine.
A flicker of Warin’s expression as he’d looked me up and down in my skimpy dress the other night had a flush of shame heat my cheeks. Yeah, okay, so the main reason I now liked hanging out in front of the mirror like a teenage girl with a crush was that I’d liked how he’d looked at me. I seriously needed to pull myself together, or the next time I got drunk around the poor guy would likely be the last time I’d see him. He’d been very clear on the no nookie policy.
No sooner had the thought ‘nookie policy’ flashed through my brain before my gaze landed on a big, white box on my kitchen counter. The pizza box, however, was nowhere in sight. Apparently Warin had made a trade on his way out this morning.
Curious, I slid up the counter so I could inspect the box closer. It was clearly made from high-quality cardboard, and though I didn’t recognize the logo stamped in gold across the lid, it only emphasized the impression that whatever was inside was hella expensive. Only one way to find out!
I couldn’t help the small gasp at the revelation of a the pile of exquisite, ruby-red fabric once I lifted the lid. Pure silk, no doubt. A small, white card lay on top of the pile, with my name scrawled across it in a slanted handwriting.
* * *
Liv,
Please remember, whatever I ask of you this evening I ask only so I can keep you safe.
Warin.
* * *
I arched an eyebrow at the cryptic message, but put it aside to focus on the red dress. No doubt he was aware I didn’t own anything remotely this fancy, and didn’t want to cause offense.
Though, to be fair, it’s kinda hard to cause offense when you give a girl a dress this exquisite.
Unable to rein in my glee any longer, I picked the magnificent piece of clothing out of the box. It was a full ball gown, with a fitted top delicately adorned with beads and a long, flowing skirt. But before I could get too swept away in the beauty of it, my eyes fell on what had been hiding in the box underneath the dress.
A skin-colored strapless bra.
Now, how Warin knew I didn’t own a strapless bra I had no idea, but my eyebrow crept up again at its appearance. One thing was getting an amazing silk dress to go to the ball in. There was a certain Cinderella quality any woman would find hard to resist.
But a plain bra?