Tristan laughed out loud. Poor Sydney just had no idea what was going on with her and Kade. And Kade didn’t seem to be doing a very good job communicating it. Kade had a tiger by its tail, one that had sharp teeth and bit. This was going to be fun to watch. “Listen Syd, I didn’t come all the way down here to get you riled up. Look what your Alpha brought you...a pretty, pink backpack with all kinds of fun toys.” He held up the bag and smiled.
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Thanks, Tristan.” She took out her cell and glanced down at the time. “As much as I’d like to soak up the sounds of the city, we’d better start making our way back to Kade’s. Let’s walk back down Royal, and then we can take a taxi back. The sun will be down in an hour or so, and I don’t want to waste time finding this bastard.”
Tristan stood and left money on the table. “Okay, let’s roll.” Looking around, she'd disappeared from his view. Where was she now? Sydney was already half way through the maze of tables by the time he found her in the crowd. She waved to him, smiling as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Oh yeah, this was going to be fun all right.
Kade finished talking with his overseas contacts regarding business. As much as he wanted to hang up the phone and go make love to Sydney again, he needed to take care of Issacson’s investments. Issacson Securities was a business he’d built over the years that catered to supernaturals. He’d been neglecting the business while in Philadelphia, so completing the call was a necessity. Kade was a man who honored his commitments and his clients trusted him with their finances.
Just as Kade was about to go look for Sydney, Luca entered Kade’s office holding a note in his hands and seated himself in the chair across from Kade’s desk. “So, did you hear from the witch?”
Kade nodded. “Yes, and interesting news, the address she gave me matches the address we got from the bartender last night. A mage by the name of Asgear bought Vin Vin oil around six months ago...fits our time frame. So, maybe we’ll get lucky tonight and find Simone. When is everyone coming over here? We should prep Sydney and the others.”
Luca smirked knowingly. “Yeah, about your girl. Do you happen to know where she is?”
Kade’s lips tightened. “She is here in the house. I just saw her a few minutes ago standing at my door. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you might be interested to know that she took off to meet Tristan in the French Quarter, alone.” He threw the note across Kade’s desk. “You must have been on your conference call a little longer than you thought.”
Kade read the note, feeling blood rushing to his face. “Damn, stubborn woman. I specifically told her not to go out alone. She does not follow instructions,” he muttered.
“Or simply does not wish to and ignores them on purpose. She’s with Tristan, though. Surely, he will protect her?” Luca could not resist stirring the pot.
“She is mine,” Kade barked.
Luca was one of his oldest, closest friends. He suspected that Kade was going to claim the human but now he was confident that it had been done. “I see,” Luca said quietly. “I must inquire, Kade, does she understand how you feel? Does she know that she has been claimed, or what that means? That she is yours? She is only human after all.”
“Hell, I don’t know. You know me better than anyone, Luca. I’ve had many women over the centuries, but only a handful of actual lovers, women I cared about. But this human woman, she...she makes me crazy. Crazy with lust, crazy frustrated, infuriated at times. She won’t obey orders...putting herself in danger left and right. Worse, danger is part of her job, so she acts like it is perfectly normal. And as insane as she makes me, I cannot resist her. There has been no one like her, ever.” He rubbed his brow with one hand and stretched his neck from side to side. “I must talk with her when she returns. This nonsense has got to stop. And if she has been with Tristan....” He could not even go there. He loved Tristan, but would rip out his heart if he touched her today. He knew they had a past relationship, but he informed Tristan of his intentions with Sydney, which Tristan agreed to honor.
Luca rose and patted Kade’s shoulder. “Listen, Kade, Sydney will return safely. It is daytime, and Tristan will escort her back here. Even I must admit that Sydney is a very capable woman.” He sighed. “You know that I am generally opposed to getting humans involved in vampire business; their weakness puts us all in danger. But the woman has staked two vampires so far and rescued Dominique, so I have to give her that. I am still not crazy about having a human working the case with us, but she is proving her worth.”
Luca walked clear across the room to the doorway, knowing he needed distance for what he was about to say to Kade. The two friends met each other’s eyes. “As for Tristan, you are friends. He will honor your intentions with Sydney...as will I.” Kade knew what Luca was thinking but wanted to hear him say it. “Last night, on the dance floor, dancing with Sydney...with you and her. It was intimate. I have not danced with a woman in a very long time. She is...” He lowered his eyes in submission. “She is very desirable, but Tristan and I are your friends. Even if Sydney doesn’t yet understand the extent of your feelings, we have a pretty good idea. None of us will pursue Sydney knowing she is yours. Well, not unless you invite me in on the fun again,” he joked trying to diffuse the tension. “So, no worries, huh?”
Kade knew Luca was aroused last night. But Kade controlled the situation, gave Luca permission. He felt no jealously, as he danced erotically with them both. It wasn’t as if he and Luca hadn’t shared women in the past. But there would be no sharing Sydney. Dancing was one thing, making love was another. Kade was falling in love with her. Sydney was his, and he needed to make her understand they could have a future together.
Sydney pushed through the front door feeling refreshed. Kade stood erect in the foyer, his arms crossed with a menacing glare aimed at Sydney and Tristan. Tristan retreated a few steps back and held his hands up in surrender. “Look, man, I told her you’d be pissed for not telling you where she was going. And before you vamp out on me...No, I did not touch her.” Deciding to remove himself from the fray, Tristan hustled toward the kitchen. “So, looks like you guys have a lot to talk about. I’m gonna get something to eat.”
Sydney rolled her eyes. What was it with these Alpha men? Geez. It wasn’t as if she worked the case without Kade. She just went out for a freakin’ beignet. And Kade was obviously too busy for her anyway. Since he had his way with her last night, maybe he was finished and moving on to greener pastures? Either way, she just went out for food and weapons. She even left a note for God’s sake. “Listen, Kade, I'm not sure why you're boring holes into me, but I just went out for beignets and I needed to get my weapons and...”
Kade tore across the room possessively grasping her arms and pulling her into him closely, her bag dropped to her feet. So very close, chest to chest, face to face, forehead to forehead. He would never hurt a single hair on her head, but she needed to understand the seriousness of running around in this city alone. Most importantly, she needed to understand that she belonged to him for the rest of time. “Sydney love, what don’t you understand about my directions about not going out alone? Outside this house, Simone can get to you, any time, any place. You scared the life out of me,” he growled.