Lilly frowned, "Wait, huh? What do you mean? Keep in mind, I'm totally lost. Literally, I was put on a plane and told to come out here and had folders on the races. I lived in DC and there weren't many of the other races there. They typically stay fairly close to the Veil for some reason, so what do you mean, you were his bodyguard?"
"Before the Veil fell I was a mercenary, as are most of my people. Vhampires are very territorial, like Luhpynes. Which means either they need structure, or space. The clan I was born into were all fighters, mercenaries, guns for hire and so forth. I was hired by Gavriel's mother when he was maybe six summers old, just after his birth father's death. She still resides with her other mate, but the bond isn't quite what it should be with the missing piece. Anyway, there was an attempt on his life as a child, and she figured he needed continual watching. So she hired me to trail him and watch him, and in time we became friends. I have many a story I can share with you that will completely and thoroughly embarrass him until his dying day."
She grinned at that and nodded. "That's too cute. Is it like that?" Lilly's mind switched gears on the fly. "If something happens to one mate, the other remaining living mates aren't quite right after? If so, that's very sad. I dislike that immensely, so please never let anything happen to you guys."
"We're not mated yet so if anything did occur now, you'd never notice. But yes, when one of a mating is killed or dies, it changes things. The balance is thrown off and while they can still be happy there is usually some anger, resentment and other emotions," he explained. He slowed the vehicle and spun it onto another road, speeding up as he took them down the ramp to the highway. "He hates the fact that I don't seem to forget anything he's ever done. He claims I have faulty memories or am taking creative license in the telling. I've never once done so, which I believe really irritates him."
That had her smiling and shaking her head. "I like it," she admitted to him. "Well I hope that when we all get to know each other, we will all figure out just what life might hold for us, and we will be able to see if we think that a mating would be a good thing or a bad thing between the three of us. I'm just curious, though. How would that work? Would you guys trade off nights or something?"
"Not sure what you mean." He shot her a frowning look once he'd changed lanes. "What are you talking about, Lilly?" he asked with a curious tone. He shot her another look and smiled. "I think I missed something there, so clarify it for me if you would."
"You know." Lilly was blushing again. Dammit to hell and back again. "In the bedroom," she mumbled and suddenly found her jeans really damn fascinating. "That's my question, when we … well, you know. How would that work?"
He burst out laughing and seemed to be having trouble getting himself under control. After a time he got himself sorted out. "Sorry. I had a feeling you meant that, but I had to hear you say it." Artaxias shook his head. "As mates, we'd be together at all times unless you wanted specific time with one of us. Does that adequately answer your question, or should I go into much more intimate detail?"
"Please don't. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that two such hot guys want me. I mean, it's a lot for this wallflower to take in." She knew she wasn't ugly, but she wasn't exactly the first girl asked on a date or to dance or any of that fun stuff.
"You are hardly a wallflower. Yes, I know the term, though I will admit I had to look it up when I first heard it. If the human males here cannot appreciate you for the beauty you are, then it truly is a shame. You will find that the males of the realms are not as stupid as your human males appear to be, Lilly."
"Well, I don't care about the others of the realm, just you guys," she said with an honest shrug. "I think it's going to take some getting used to, though, to be honest. So bear with me? Be here for me when I need and want and need you?" She knew she'd said need twice, but damn it was worth saying.
"You're repeating yourself." He looked her way with a smirk. He knew what she was thinking again. "But we will be there for you through it all. So you needn't worry, Lilly. Just ask questions when you have them. Be blunt and straightforward with us and we'll be the same. We don't lie and will expect the same courtesy from you. So whatever you ask, know you will always get the unvarnished truth."
"Oh I know that I am, but you boys are totally worth repeating," she admitted bluntly. "And don't worry, I know no other way to be than blunt. Well, there is shy and backward, but you seem to understand that mode for me as well, and I appreciate the hell out of that. As for that, I don't lie. I will tell you like it is, like it or not. Sorry but that's how I'm built."
"Good." He nodded. He turned onto an exit ramp. "We're about ten minutes from the scene. Anything you want to know before we get there?" he asked. "Any questions you want to throw out now so you don't suddenly spout them off in front of witnesses?" His lips were curling up, blast that man!
"Yeah, what kind of kill are we looking at?" She wouldn't lose her composure. She might seem like she would with how she had been acting, but Lilly was actually very, very damn good at what she did and had earned herself a name for being as stoic as one could be.
"It was a little unclear from the reports. And since Briar, the ME, won't go near the body until one of us is between the Veil and the body … " He shrugged. "Best guess is that the body was shredded, but we don't know if it's one of the races or another one of those human whack jobs with the metal claws."
"God, I hate those," Lilly mumbled. "All right, so why do I have a feeling that I'm here to deal with the ME? Is he afraid of you boys?" She hadn't met Briar yet, she had nothing to go on. "I mean, yes, you guys are like whoa holy hell huge, but still it doesn't seem right that they would be afraid of you."
"She," he emphasized, "was attacked by one of the Luhpynes a number of months back. She's still shaken and doesn't like getting near the Veil line. She doesn't trust any of us much further than she could throw us. You're here, so she'll talk to someone about her findings since she won't even look at any of the races. And Vhampires she really has a hate-on for, I think. She always gets this creeped-out expression whenever I'm around. I am the wall between her and the other side. You're here to chat." He turned the vehicle off the pavement onto a dirt road and slowed. "Don't mention anything about the attack. Very few people know about it, less than a dozen total."
"That poor woman," Lilly whispered. "Has she been to a counselor? What happened to the one that did it to her? Please tell me that he's been punished," she whispered and licked her lips. Damn, suddenly she didn't feel so safe, and fear began to roll off of her because all of a sudden, she had no idea who she was dealing with. Not the two men she was with, but the Veil.
"Hey"-Artaxias reached over-"there's no reason to be afraid. The Veil line isn't to blame for this, but a sick, sadistic Luhpyne. He was caught and is currently standing trial before the Regents of the Luhpynes. I don't know if she's seen or talked to anyone beyond Lacey. You'll meet her later. Nothing is going to happen to you, Lilly, I swear it."
Lilly relaxed immediately and sighed. "I know. Weird, isn't it? I've just met you, but I know that the safest place for me is right here with you. I know that with the two of you near, there will be no more getting shot, stabbed or beaten. It's a good feeling. One I like a lot."
"Obviously I need to read your file," he grumbled. Pulling to a stop next to a marked vehicle, he stopped and turned off the engine. "That's Briar." He pointed out the windshield before he slid out of the truck. "Coming?" he asked her before he shut the door.
"Why would you need to read my file?" Lilly asked and then nodded. Looking to the ME, she nodded again. "I'm ready." She got out of the vehicle, adjusted her weapons, and approached the woman, trusting the man with her to stand guard between the women and the Veil.
"Get to know you better," he said with a wink. Then he left her and moved toward the body, giving it a wide berth, and stopped between the line of the Veil and it.