“Was it Volan or the reds? That’s what I can’t quit worrying about.”
“The reds. Volan doesn’t know where you live.”
She looked up at him. He gave her a small smile. “I sniffed around the wreckage when you were sound asleep last night. I didn’t want you to worry, but I knew you’d be more concerned if it was Volan.”
“I couldn’t make myself check it out.” She let out her breath and, for the first time since they’d found her greenhouse on fire, she relaxed.
“Come on inside, Bella. I know Chrissie’s kids are back at their dad’s, but I don’t want Thompson to see me dressed like this, if he’s still at Chrissie’s house, in case anyone peeks over your fence.”
Bella glanced down at Devlyn’s nudity and her lips rose a hair. “You are one big, very bad wolf, you know?”
“And all yours.” He coaxed her back inside the house, ready to prove it.
“What about investigating the reds further?”
“We’re done with that for now, honey. Time for the big showdown as soon as the moon makes its appearance. I’m sure at that time we’ll resolve the issue of the murdered girls once and for all.”
Later that morning, Chrissie pounded on the back door, her face solemn. Bella let her in and glanced at the blueberry pie Chrissie was holding.
Chrissie handed her the pie. “I’m so sorry about your greenhouse. I wanted to come over last night and say something more, but Henry stayed late and helped me take the kids over to their dad’s place. Then, well... “ She shrugged.
Saddened about her greenhouse, Bella managed a small smile, glad that Chrissie had found someone she enjoyed being with after her husband had dumped her for a much younger woman. “I’m thrilled the two of you hit it off so well. Come in.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been kind of distant, too. Henry and I have been dating up a storm, and, well, you know how it is when you’ve getting involved with someone. I have to make time for the kids, too, so it’s been a juggle.”
“No problem.” Bella headed for the kitchen and Chrissie followed, glancing around the living room. Bella was sure she looked for signs of the naked hunk and was glad Chrissie hadn’t come any earlier in the day.
“Devlyn still sleeping?” Chrissie took a seat at the dining room table.
“Devlyn’s looking over some emails. Want a slice of pie?” Bella carved up a piece.
“Sure. Things have been awfully quiet over here. Well, except for the insurance people and the arson investigators tromping all over the place.” Chrissie took the plate Bella handed her. “I wondered if you needed me to run out and get you anything. I imagine you don’t want to leave the house after what has happened, and Devlyn shouldn’t leave you alone.”
No one needed a neighborhood watch program with Chrissie acting as the eyes and the ears of the whole community. “We’ve been rather preoccupied, but we have plenty to eat and are just fine.”
Chrissie sat at the table and considered Bella’s neck.
This morning, at least, Bella’s appearance was neater, although she imagined Chrissie was looking at the hickey gracing her throat. Bella’s hair rolled in shiny waves over her shoulders and down her back. No one would suspect Devlyn’s hands had tangled her curls in the throes of pa.s.sion only half an hour earlier.
Chrissie scooped up a bite of crust, stained blue and dripping with berries. “Are the two of you getting married?”
“We’ve already done so.” In the lupus garou way.
Chrissie’s eyes widened. “When?”
“About the time we first had our reunion.” How could Bella explain that, for lupus garous, selecting a mate meant for a lifetime and the traditional human-contrived marriage vows meant nothing? h.e.l.l, half the human population ended up divorcing the same mate they promised to share their lives with together forever. Hmph. Look at Chrissie, even!
Chrissie seemed saddened not to have been told earlier. But then she looked at Bella’s unadorned fingers. Explaining the lack of a wedding ring would be even harder.
“Allergic to metal.” Bella flipped her hair back and pointed to her ears. “No earrings, no bracelets, no necklaces. Can’t wear any kind of metal.” In truth, most jewelry hindered their turning into the wolf. If it didn’t, it would be lost with the change. Or, in the case of pierced-ear jewelry, what would someone think if they found a wolf with pearls or gold secured to the leather of their ears?
Chrissie glanced at Bella’s wrist. “Jeez, I never realized.” Her gaze met Bella’s. “I never noticed you don’t even wear a watch.”
“Nope. Can’t.”
“How do you tell time?”
“Clocks. When I’m in the Escape, it has a clock. The computer has the time. The oven, microwave, my alarm clock in the bedroom... clocks surround me. If I’m somewhere that I don’t know the time, I just ask.” She couldn’t let Chrissie know she had an innate ability to know the time, from the elevation of the sun in the sky.
“I would have liked to have been present when you got married,” Chrissie said softly. “I would have gotten you something.”
Bella’s heart wrenched. She hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings. Bella gave her a hug, and Chrissie reciprocated with a heartfelt embrace. “Chrissie, you have been the best of friends, and I don’t want to ever lose that. But I imagine you know I left my heart in Colorado, and, now that Devlyn has found me, we’ll be returning there soon.”
“Oh,” Chrissie sniffled. “Oh, sure, I knew it would happen someday because of all of the pictures of your family you keep on the fridge. I can’t tell if it’ll ever come to that, but, if you’re back there and Henry and I, well, if he, you know... “
“Asks you to marry him?”
“Yeah, I realize it’s way too early, but, if it did happen, would you be my matron of honor?”
Bella smiled. “You bet.” She might even entice Devlyn to come with her to the wedding. Actually, she was certain he wouldn’t let her return alone.
“Devlyn, too. I’d want him to come. You could use my extra guestroom.” “He’d love to.”
Devlyn walked into the dining room, but despite the smile that lifted his lips, his countenance was dark.
“What would I love to do?”
Chrissie groaned and the two ladies separated. “Tell him later. I’d hate for him to think I was scheming where Henry was concerned.”
Bella smiled. “We’ll keep in touch. What with the Internet, you can keep me posted. We can email each other daily. I’ll check your blog every day, and you can upload your kids’ drawings. It’ll almost be like I haven’t left.” She waved at the pie sitting on the counter. “Chrissie baked us one of her famous blueberry pies. Want a piece?”
“Yeah, I could use some quick energy.” He winked at Bella. “You know how much I like blueberries, and... “ He reached into the fridge. “Whipped cream.”
Chrissie quickly finished the last bite of her pie. “I’ve got to go. Enjoy. I’ll talk to the two of you later.” Her cheeks colored crimson as she hurried out the back door.
Bella touched Devlyn’s arm. “You embarra.s.sed Chrissie.”
“She loves it.” He dabbed whipped cream on top of his pie.
“So what’s the bad news, Devlyn?”
As he met her gaze, his brown eyes darkened. “Alfred wants us to meet him, and he wants to fight me for you. His whole pack will be there. He’s laid down the challenge and — “
“You’ll win, Devlyn. I have no doubt about that. But we need to find the unknown killer, not establish your right to have me to the satisfaction of a bunch of reds.”
“It’s a challenge I can’t refuse. If we weren’t in their territory and you weren’t one of their kind, I’d have to agree with you. But under the circ.u.mstances... “
She growled at him and stabbed her fork into her pie. “We have more important concerns. We don’t know for sure that Alfred killed anyone.”
“This is important to me, Bella. At least while we’re here, I have to prove to the reds that you’re mine. That no one can make a claim to you.”
She attempted to curb the annoyance she felt. She hated this part of being a lupus garou. The part that could mean her losing Devlyn. She was certain he could win against the red, but the problem was that two more reds wanted her. They wouldn’t allow him time to recuperate. And she couldn’t help feeling that the reds should be handling this matter with Ross and Nicol. Neither one of them was the leader and both of them had murdered girls. So why didn’t the pack take them down?
Because Alfred approved it.
Fine. Despite the objections Devlyn would raise, she’d take her gun, to even out the odds a bit if he needed her help. Even if the bullets weren’t silver, they’d do enough temporary damage to save Devlyn’s hide until he could heal. No red would have her who hadn’t earned her justly. h.e.l.l, no one but Devlyn would have her.
Then the image came to mind of Volan, standing before her one second, lying on the ground dead the next, and alive after that. She squelched a shudder that threatened to undo her resolve. Still, the bullets had knocked him out for a time. Thinking it might work better, she’d aim for the head this time.
“When and where are we to meet?” she asked, not at all happy about the circ.u.mstances.
“Wolf Rock, as soon as the moon makes its appearance. I still say you should have stayed with my cousin.”
“Well, I think you already decided I was a better a.s.set here with you than off with some distant cousin of yours.” She raised a brow, hoping that was his reasoning.
He grunted. “The notion had occurred to me that he might make a play for you himself.”
She laughed. “So that’s the real reason you agreed to let me stay by your side, mate of mine.”