Beverly looked around her, confused. "Where is he?"

"He's gone."

"Obviously. He was just here."

"You were so into your rant that he gave up and left."

Beverly straightened her suit jacket then crossed her arms. "Good, my mouth chased him off."

"Uh-huh."

Beverly pivoted around then marched away, talking to herself. Her bedroom door closed.

Ilida rested her weight against the counter, shocked by the power he displayed. At least he unfroze time. How much more was Daedalus hiding in that strange and powerful head of his?

Chapter Eighteen

Alec stared out the window at the high-rise office building while he waited in the office of his good friend, werewolf and master detective of Canada, Horatio. They could have met in an unofficial capacity but he wanted Horatio to know it this was extremely important. The job needed to be done quickly and under the radar. Though Daedalus didn't use his psychic powers largely, he was extremely adept at utilizing them.

If Daedalus had paid attention, he would've known that he was out of the country, but Daedalus wasn't paying attention. Daedalus should have tracked him down at LaGuardia Airport for an explanation as to why and where he was going without the Queen. He should have demanded to know when he'd be back. Alec was sorely disappointed when Daedalus was nowhere near the airport.

Alec had a right to know whom Daedalus was inviting into the camp. He was the King and had to protect the Kingdom at all cost. So why did he feel such nagging guilt?

Alec felt his brain tingle. It was the feeling he and all vampires got when other vampires and werewolves were near. He could see Horatio in his mind with his b.u.t.tery face, handlebar mustache, and physique of a Roman gladiator walking down the hall towards the office.

The door opened behind Alec and he stood up, happy to see his old friend who'd brought him so much: Tania and Daedalus.

"Thank you for meeting me at such short notice, Horatio." He said holding his hand out to him. Horatio held it. They shook hands then hugged warmly.

Horatio was famous for giving bear hugs that could crack a human's ribs.

"It's been too long. How is Tania?"

"Tania is great. She sends you and Luisa her love. By the way, how is my 'little sister'?"

"She whipped our clan into shape. She's a good leader," he said with a sweeping arm motion. "Please sit down."

Alec unb.u.t.toned his suit jacket then settled into the grey, ergonomic chair. "Thank you."

"It sounded urgent on the phone."

"First, I want to thank you again for finding my brother."

"I know how it feels to be disconnected from your family." He stood up and made his way to the mini bar. "Want a drink? I have the best blood in Canada. Or would you prefer some meat chum."

"Blood, please." Alec crossed his legs. "A woman I'm suspicious about is seeing Daedalus."

Horatio stood in front of the mini bar pouring blood into a tumbler. "Does he know you want to investigate his woman?"

Alec could tell from Horatio's body language-the way his shoulders hung, and the slight movement of his eyebrows-that Horatio was uncomfortable. He was sensitive to it even though Horatio had his back turned to him. "He knows I don't trust her."

"What's her name?"

"Ilida Davis."

"Born in America?"

"In New York." Horatio handed him the gla.s.s of dark red life. "Thank you." Alec examined the rich color. "I don't know which Borough. She's African-American mixed with Caucasian. It's subtle but if you examine her features long enough you'll see it."

Horatio shook his head and whistled, drawing the sound out slowly. "Daedalus will be p.i.s.sed off when you give him the file. He gives feral a new meaning." He pushed away from the desk and walked to the small kitchen. "Mind if I eat something?"

"Your office. I can handle Daedalus's wrath." Alec watched Horatio take out a blue plastic container, lift the lid, and with tongs plucked out two-inch clumps of chicken innards. He s.n.a.t.c.hed a clump of it with his teeth, chasing it down with water. "I've never known you to back away from investigating werewolves or vampires."

"You're brother has a rep for slowly demolishing anyone who gets in his business. You might be included in that."

Alec shook his head as he wandered over to the window staring at nothing in particular. He had a right to protect his family, even if that meant controlling whom they saw and when.

"You're messing with his heart, Amigo. That's dangerous."

"His feelings are irrelevant when his safety is at stake."

"What's going on with Daedalus?"

"A rival group of vampires killed his daughter," Alec said. Even then, Alec couldn't believe that the niece he barely knew was no longer around.

"How is he?"

"Whatever he's feeling he won't tell me or lean on me for support." Alec had to admit that deep fissure in his gut wasn't indigestion. He should have been the first vampire Daedalus went to for help. Instead, he went to an outsider.

"You think this woman had something to do with it?"

"Possibly. She established a psychic connection with Daedalus without the aid of blood."

Daedalus never mentioned if he'd bitten Ilida or not. That's personal between vampires and their mates. But what if Daedalus doesn't know he bit her? If that's the case then-no, Daedalus is on top of his game. Nothing could distract him not even grief for his daughter.

"This Ilida Davis could find out sensitive things about you and the Kingdom."

"And tell the wrong person about us." The wrong person being vampire hunters. The Jacquerie and hunters on his plate were the last things he wanted. One problem at a time was all he'd asked for.

"Do you know where she works? Does she work?"

"She's a recreational therapist in Long Island."

"Interesting. I'll suss her out for you," Horatio said.

"Thank you. I'll keep your name out of it."

Horatio could take of himself. He was a werewolf smart, cunning, but he didn't have to draw him more into the storm between him and Daedalus. "Have you ever fought a vampire with twenty-five percent wolf in him and who can morph into a large werebat?"

"Can't say that I have."

"I hope you won't ever."

The next morning Ilida, readied herself to embark on her two-hour-long journey to Long Island. With keys jangling in her hand, she opened the door to a man leaning in the doorway. She jumped back.

Short black hair, high forehead, hooded hazel-brown eyes smiled at her. Olive skin and five o'clock shadow made her pause. Something about him reminded her of Daedalus. Maybe it's the olive skin. Ah, the lips. While Daedalus's upper lip had a p.r.o.nounced yummy M shape, this guy had a longer version of it.

"We do look similar don't we?"

Then she remembered. It was Daedalus's brother Gauge. Another handsome psychic. She was surrounded by psychics. The very people she didn't want to be a.s.sociated with. The idea ticked her off. Can I have my normal boring life back, please? Where it was safe, predictable and not filled with gorgeous men surrounded by mystery. Thanks to Daedalus, if she went back to plain old nice guys, she would be bored.

He filled up the doorway with his height-not trying to come in, just standing there watching and waiting respectfully. He leaned on one leg, both hands clutched the doorframe. "So you are my protection?"

"That's right. Daedalus asked me to watch over you."

"Can I say I don't need protection?" I only want to see Daedalus, she wanted to say.

"The threat is real and Daedalus would kill me if I'd let you go to work alone. I'm Gauge, his twin brother," he said as he held out a long elegant hand.

Ilida took his offered hand and shook it. He had big calloused hands as if he'd been working with them all his life. "You don't look like him."

"We're paternal twins."

"My roommate should have protection, also."

"Taken care of."

"How?"

"Daedalus, of course."

So he thought of everything except that she wanted to be with him. He was keeping his end of the deal staying away from her. That is what she wanted after all, wasn't it? After she locked the door behind her, Gauge followed her down the stairs. His footsteps, she noted, didn't make a sound. He's like some panther or wolf, like Daedalus. This was becoming unbearable and she couldn't keep that high school question from coming out. "Does Daedalus hate me?"

"He doesn't hate you. I don't know what happened with you two recently but I can a.s.sure you he doesn't hate you."

She couldn't feel him, not a tingle-nothing, and the result made her feel alone, like she was the last person on Earth. "Why don't I believe you?"

"I like you. Reading my thoughts would probably be better."

Daedalus talked about her. How much did he know?

"There isn't much he can hide from me."

She remembered him now. He'd held Juliana's body in his arms, but he was badly burned? Now he looked as if he'd never been in a burning building. "You were there when Juliana died."

"Daedalus told me you tried to warn my niece. For that you have my eternal grat.i.tude."

His eyes softened towards her. Ilida had to shield herself from the sorrow there. "I'm sorry I was...too late," she said as he locked the front door.

"Juliana did what she wanted. She was uncontrollable so don't blame yourself for her death."

"You should be blaming me not consoling me."

"Would you rather I hate you for the rest of your life? Would that bring her back?"

"Y-you brothers are strange people."

Gauge was as good as his word. He escorted her to Tilly House, and promised he would be there when she got off from work, but not before her nosey co-workers saw him.

Gauge made a quick exit at her urging and she fielded questions coming from them. She held them off, promising to fill them in at lunchtime. She had to make copies for the morning meeting. She was safe until Beverly cornered her in her office while she prepared for the residents' forty-five minutes.

"Who was the hot, white chocolate?"

"He's a... friend. Yep, just a friend."

"Just a friend looked good."

"You and Kwame are together," she reminded her.

"I'm not dead. Tell me about your friend."

"He's Daedalus's brother." She didn't know what to call Daedalus-her almost lover, her non-boyfriend. He'd balk at that label "boyfriend." He didn't want to be tied down. "Just a friend, that's all."

"Why did he bring you to work?"

"Why all the questions? I'm sure other men have brought me to work before."

"Yeah but they weren't white!"

"He's Greek."

"Okay, Miss Thing. He's white with flavor," she stated making an 's' in the air with her finger.