I heard Zack snicker behind me and sent him a look too. Lee frowned at me, but after a moment nodded McKenzie’s way. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I really am just here to do my job.”
“Are people going to try to kill you, Mrs. Donovan?” McKenzie asked, a frown on his face.
“Oh, it’s probably inevitable.” Halfer was still out there. We had decided the possibility of him showing up here was very small. We’d talked endlessly about the fact that it hadn’t worked on Zack. He’d felt absolutely nothing when close to the artifact. It had made Lee sick. The Strong Arm of Remus had been a bust so he couldn’t use it on the wolves. He didn’t have an army with him so we felt fairly safe from Halfer here among the werewolves. Of course, I had more problems than just him. “Is Mitchell Roberts here?”
“The Dallas alpha? Yes, I believe he’s due to arrive here in the morning,” the assistant replied, checking his clipboard.
I smiled. It was good to know exactly who would be coming after me. “Then yes, I expect at least one attempt on my life.”
McKenzie’s eyes got wide. “Do we need to supply you with extra security? Matthew, perhaps we should bar Roberts from the Gathering.”
I shook my head, not at all worried. “Please, don’t trouble yourself. It’s nothing Lee can’t handle if I don’t kill him myself.” I smiled brightly at the thought. The last week had been tension filled. A good fight might clear my head. I turned to my boyfriend. “Baby, this whole purging myself of impurities thing, does that include killing?”
“Well, murder is not the purest act, lover,” Dev replied with a serene look on his face. “I would prefer you waited to kill Mitchell until after the ceremony is over.”
I sighed. “Fine. If he needs killing before the ceremony then Lee can do it. See, Mr. McKenzie, there’s nothing to worry about. You’ll find we always try to handle our own problems. You won’t even notice we’re here.”
McKenzie shook his head like he was having a hard time following the conversation. “You’re an interesting group.”
“You have no idea,” Dev replied.
* * * *
It was almost nightfall when we finally made our way into the valley. This was all McKenzie’s land and it went on for miles. It was completely isolated and the valley was filled with werewolves. They were everywhere. There were small tents, large tents, and simple setups with sleeping bags. Everywhere we went, the wolves smiled at us and shot Dev looks of great respect and gratitude. I wasn’t used to being respected. People were wary around Daniel. When I played companion to Daniel’s vampire, people tended to ignore me completely for the most part. That wasn’t the case at this outing.
“Good evening, ma’am,” a female wolf said as we walked through the valley.
“Hello,” I replied, my arm still through Dev’s. “Whatever you’re cooking smells heavenly.”
Her husband was behind her now and beamed down at his wife. “She’s the best damn cook I know. Please join us. It’s her legendary beef stew. We have more than enough.”
Dev shook the man’s hand. “It does indeed smell lovely. Unfortunately, my goddess and I are abstaining from animal flesh until after the ceremony. Purity of the body is important to the ritual.”
The woman’s eyes went wide with fear. “We didn’t know. They didn’t say anything about changing our diet.”
“Not at all, dear lady,” Dev said, charm oozing from his pores. “There’s absolutely nothing you need to do but show up with your husband and desire in your heart. My goddess and I will handle the rest. Though be kind to her. She’s been forced to give up burgers and cheese. It’s made her cranky.”
I punched him in the arm. “Has not. The lack of alcohol made me cranky. I need a beer.”
The wolf couple laughed at our banter, and I was glad we would be able to help them. It was like that everywhere we went. We were offered food, drink, small gifts. A little boy welcomed me with a handful of wildflowers and I tried really hard not to cry because he was so sweet. He thanked me and said he wanted a baby brother.
By the time we made it to our tent, I was filled with a sweet sense of belonging. I stood beside the massive structure it must have taken several men days to erect and realized Dev’s version of a tent was different than everyone else’s.
“Seriously?” I asked because the damn thing had windows.
Smiling slyly, Dev pulled the flap open. “You didn’t think I would have us in tents and sleeping bags, my lover? I thought you realized I don’t camp.”
I walked into our little movable palace and quickly found it had several rooms.
“Good evening, mistress.” Albert greeted me as he was lighting a gas lamp. It gave the room a romantic air. “Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. It’s a lovely spinach and strawberry salad with a saffron risotto.”
“That sounds delicious, Albert,” Sarah, the vegan, said. She’d been thrilled at my forced vegetarianism. She firmly believed that once I got used to it, I wouldn’t go back.
“You know what would make it better? A side of beef,” I groused lightly.
Albert smiled. “I’ve been informed to greet you with a pound of bacon three mornings hence.”
“Now you’re talking, Al.” I was already looking forward to that little breakfast treat. Dev kissed my cheek and walked away to find our bedroom. I was left with our butler. “So did you pick out where you want to set up your 401k?”
He shook his horns and looked down at me, confusion in his blue eyes. “The master said you wished to free me. Have I done something improper? Has my work not been to your liking?”
Quickly I shook my head in the negative. “Not at all, Albert. You’re the best butler anyone could ask for.”
He pulled himself up to his impressive height, pride in every inch of his body. “Then why does my mistress wish to force me from my home?”
“Whoa, now, I never said anything about that. I just thought Dev should pay you,” I quickly explained. Felix and Sarah laughed at my discomfort.
“It’s insulting, mistress,” Albert replied. “I could never show my face again if I accepted anything so vile as money for serving my master. I was hurt by the insinuation I would even want that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, hoping the slave would accept my apology.
Albert nodded in a superior, not at all slave-like fashion. “I will ignore the insult, mistress. I’m sure in your world it was a sweet gesture. I look forward to one day training your children in the ways of our world.”
“Children?”
Albert smiled at the thought. “Yes, mistress. I’m also a well-trained nanny. The master made sure of it.” With that little tidbit dropped, Albert went to the kitchens to make sure all was ready for dinner.
“I’m sure he’ll be an interesting fixture at the playground, Z,” Daniel said from the door. I turned to see a wry smile on his face. “Good evening, Sarah, Felix. I’m going to steal my wife for a moment. She’ll join you for dinner shortly.”
He took my hand and started to lead me away. Daniel took me down a corridor and I knew he, at least, hadn’t been surprised by the opulence of the structure. He knew exactly where he was going.
“I will?” I asked, surprised I would be joining anyone shortly. Daniel usually took his time when he fed. He might not be willing to spend a ton of time with me talking lately, but he damn sure enjoyed himself in bed.
“I have to meet McKenzie in an hour,” he explained. “You’ll be dining with Felix and Sarah. Dev and I will be at the big house for most of the evening. It’s just a preliminary meeting but it’s important. If I can convince McKenzie, then he’ll call in the other alphas.”
He pulled me into a small room. There was no window here, and I drew in a startled breath at the sight of a coffin.
“I’ve got to sleep somewhere,” Daniel said and pulled me to the couch which was the only other piece of furniture in the room. There was a single suitcase on the rug and a briefcase I was sure held his laptop.
“Why aren’t you sleeping with us?” Dev would never have brought a small bed. There would be more than enough room.
“It’s too dangerous,” he said shortly, and I knew he was lying.
“Are you mad about the stuff Albert said?”
“The stuff about kids?”
I nodded. The worst fight Danny and Dev ever had revolved around the possibility of Dev knocking me up.
“You sleep with a fertility god, Z.” Daniel’s voice went low, his hand scrubbing through his hair. “He can be as careful as possible but someday… You don’t want kids anymore? You always did before.”
“I knew I wasn’t going to have kids when you turned, Danny,” I admitted. He couldn’t have kids and I had accepted that a long time ago.
“And Dev? You just expect him to not have kids because I can’t? That doesn’t seem fair.” Daniel took a long breath, his eyes turning weary. “You’ve already given up a hell of a lot for me, Zoey. I never meant for you to sacrifice so much.”