“Hold on,” Nick said. The demon lieutenant was dressed casually in black slacks and a gray shirt, his eyes onyx and his hair a dark blond. Tall and powerful, his voice nevertheless held a note of reason, as usual. Oh, he’d kill, but he’d think it through first.
“Cee Cee,” Daire said slowly, the consonants rolling off his tongue. “Your mother called you Cee Cee.”
She swallowed, half-turning to face him. “Yes.”
“Short for . . . Felicity. Felicity Kyllwood, to be exact,” Daire said, ignoring everyone else in the room.
Her hands trembled, so she tucked them discreetly in her pockets. “Yes.”
Fury. Hot and bright, the emotion blazed through the enforcer’s eyes. A swell of terrifying, searing, snapping heat filled the room. Anger etched into the hard line of his rugged jaw, and his lips pressed together. She took an involuntary step back.
Nick cleared his throat. “So, Felicity. How was the luxury cruise?”
She pierced him with a hard look. “Lovely. Thank you for asking.” She tried to summon dignity, but considering she wore no makeup, her hair had dried full of salt water, her jeans were too tight and her sweater was too large, she didn’t have much to work with.
“Everybody get the fuck out of my flat,” Daire ordered.
A ball slammed into her gut. She really had enjoyed their night together and had hoped they could remain at least friendly. Gently, she took her son’s vibrating arm. “Let’s go talk.”
Daire slowly, way too slowly, shook his head. “Oh no . . . Felicity. You’re staying here. We’re overdue for a little chat.”
She shivered, and a warning blast of heat flicked her skin.
Logan growled, Nick half turned, and even Garrett pushed clear of the table.
Testosterone, a whole barrel of it, rolled through the room like a prelude to a hurricane.
She shook her head. Logan was seconds from charging, and while Nick would try to stop the fight, in the end, he’d fight with Logan. Garrett was Logan’s best friend, and while he respected Daire, he’d have Logan’s back. “Are you crazy?” she whispered.
“If I am, it’s because of the last three days,” Daire said evenly, anger still swelling from him. “They want to fight? We’ll fight. But in the end, baby, you and I are having a long overdue discussion.”
Felicity winced. Her son wouldn’t like the baby comment.
Yep. Logan exploded.
He hit Daire full on, propelling them into the door. The steel door cracked. Daire grabbed his lapels, pivoted, and slammed Logan up hard. Surprisingly, neither Garrett nor Nick moved.
“Listen, kid, believe me, I get it.” Daire slowly lowered Logan. “But here’s the deal. Your mom’s an adult, and this is none of your business.” Daire released him and took a step back.
“I’m going to kill you.” Logan’s voice shook with rage, and he bunched his fists.
Felicity hustled forward. “Logan Henry Kyllwood.” She put every ounce of motherly snap she owned into the words.
He slowly turned his gaze from Daire to her. “What?”
She put her hands to her hips. “I realize this is confusing, but you will not provoke a fight. Got it?”
His ears turned red. Then his head went back. “Wait a minute.”
She bit her lip.
He cocked his head to the side, glanced at Daire, and then looked back at her. “There is no way I should smell him on you. You used the mutated virus?”
How did she admit to her son that she’d voluntarily undergone an experimental procedure to negate the mating bond she’d had with his father? “Logan, I—”
“Mom!” he exploded. “What the fuck?”
Daire put him back into the door with one hand. “Knock it off.”
Logan swiped Daire’s arm away. “You touch me again, and I’ll fucking rip off your head, witch.”
Oddly enough, Logan’s anger seemed to sweep some of Daire’s away. “That’s fair,” Daire said. He rubbed the back of his head. “Listen up. Your mom was in a fight with a witch, attacked by a polar bear, in a helicopter wreck, and nearly drowned.”
Logan’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened. “Mom?” he gasped.
She tried to keep from glaring at Daire. Her son didn’t need to know any of those facts. “I’m fine.”
“Who’s the witch she fought with?” Logan asked, his chin lowering.
Approval lit Daire’s eyes, and his lips twitched. “A mercenary by the name of Vegar. He’s polar bear food at this point.”
Logan shook his head. “Mom, I—”
“My point is”—Daire continued—“your mother needs a hot shower and some clean clothes. Then we have a matter to discuss, and after I’m finished, I’m sure she’d love to explain to you where she has been the last few days.”
Felicity’s chin lifted. “While I do not owe anybody an explanation, Logan, I would like time to shower and get refreshed before we sit down and chat.” She gave him her hardest look, swung it to Garrett, and then landed on Nicholai. “I trust that you three will keep my current location a secret?”
“Mom—” Logan started.
“I mean it,” she said, her voice hoarse.
Logan swallowed, shuffled his feet, and nodded.
Garrett cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”
Nicholai smiled as he shook his head. “Sorry, Felicity.”
Yes, she’d figured Nick would report back to Zane, her eldest son and the ruler of the demon nation. So she turned and smiled at Daire. “I suggest you speak with your friend, or your flat will be overrun with demons. If Zane shows up, you know Dage won’t be able to stay away, he’s such a busybody of a vampire king.”
Daire’s eyes flickered, but to his credit, his expression revealed nothing. “Nick? If you call Zane, I’m going to sic Simone on you.”
Nick’s eyes gleamed. “Please, do. I’ve been waiting for your cousin’s temper to explode so I can take care of unfinished business with her.”
Felicity sighed and glanced around, seeing an open doorway. “I assume the master and bath are through there?”
“Aye,” Daire said.
“Good. If there’s any way to get fresh clothing here by the time I’m finished with a very long shower, I’d appreciate it.” She moved to go.
Logan stopped her with one gentle hand on her arm. “Mom? Come with us. You don’t have to stay here.”
She swallowed and forced a smile for her youngest. No way did she want them all to fight, and after everything, she did owe Daire an explanation. Heck. Not only had she drugged him, she’d almost gotten him killed. More than once. “I know, but I do have matters to discuss with Daire. I’ll call you when I’m finished.”
Logan shook his head. “No.”
She stilled. “Excuse me?”
He kept her gaze, but his ears turned red again. “I’m not leaving you with him.”
“Why not?” she asked, her temper prickling up her back.
“Because you’re, I mean, you’re—”
Hurt smashed into her stomach. Of course her own kid knew how weak she was. How she’d failed him and his brothers. Even so, the agony of that fact spurred her anger. “I’m what?” she yelled up into his face.
He sucked in air. “You’re my mom!” he yelled back.
Oh. Her body relaxed. “Huh. You’re right. This has to be weird.” The poor kid. She gentled her voice. “Logan, I’m barely over a century old. That’s hardly an adult in human terms. I was young when I had you boys, incredibly young for a demon.”
“I know.” The blush moved to his face. “But . . .”
Nick strode toward the door. “The boys and I will go out to dinner, and you two can catch up later.” He opened the door and paused. “Felicity, I am going to have to report to Zane. There were a series of mines blown up in Russia earlier, and while I haven’t connected the dots as of yet, something tells me you weren’t attacked by polar bears on a tropical cruise.”