Page 19 of Widow

"Did you know that all the stars in the universe are the lost souls of guardian angels?" I braved slipping my arm around her shoulder.

She let out a sigh. If I could only climb inside her thoughts and know what she was thinking.

A few raindrops hit my forehead. "Let's get you home."

* * *

It was wellpast midnight by the time I pulled Camellia's Camaro into the underground lot below her condo. We didn't say anything to each other as I followed her up the stairs to her second-floor unit.

She opened the door, and I followed her inside. She didn't stop me, and I tried not to overthink the fact. We had shared a moment, but it wasn't enough to warrant inviting me in.

Maybe she felt she didn't have a choice.

I shut the door behind me and shrugged out of my jacket, hanging it on a hook by the door. She had already entered the living room after kicking off her shoes.

Ric was sitting on the couch watching some television show. "Finally. I was starting to get worried." He paused the show and stood.

I raised my eyebrows at his lack of clothes. He was wearing boxer briefs but nothing else. At least he wasn't naked. I had found him on several occasions walking around my house naked.

"Umm..." Camellia's eyes went wide as she took in the sight of him.

Even I could appreciate that he had a nice body. Probably from always running around on all fours.

"What are you watching?" I looked at the screen that had a man with blood dripping down his chin. I thought he hated vampires. He liked to call them bloodsuckers.

The entertainment industry wasn't too far off on the fact that werewolves and vampires hated each other's guts. There were probably still a few vampires left from centuries ago when a horde of them had gone through the barrier to Earth.

It had been my fault and was the reason I never used other people's pens. You just never knew when a sharp blade could slice you open and allow someone with a little magic to steal your blood.

"Vampire Diaries. It's actually a pretty good show once you get past the fact that they're filthy bloodsuckers."

Camellia was still standing gawking at him. She seemed to snap out of her trance once Picard started jumping around, making noises. Sometimes I wondered if Ric could actually understand him or if he was just making up what the monkey said.

"Oh! I got you something!" Ric picked up a small box from the coffee table and handed it to her. "This is what you humans do, right? You give each other Christmas presents?"

I eyed the box suspiciously. It looked an awful lot like a jewelry box. It was wrapped in paper that looked like a candy cane and was the size of a box that a bracelet or necklace might be in.

"You didn't have to get me anything. We barely know each other." She took the box from his hands and looked at him thoughtfully.

She ripped the paper off, and her eyes lit up as she opened it. It was definitely jewelry. If he could afford to buy her a gift, he should be able to pay for his own place. Next time he asked to sleep on my couch, I wasn't going to let him.

She held up the small pendant necklace that was in the shape of a crescent moon. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"It's gorgeous, thank you."

An awkward silence fell over us. It was quite the scene with me in my security get up, her in her scrubs, and the wolf in his underwear. Add the miniature monkey to the mix, and it looked like some kind of comedic sketch.

"Well, I should get to bed. Ric, maybe you should go sleep on Lou's couch. I think I'll be fine tonight."

"Not a chance, chickadee. My task is to keep you safe."

"I doubt you can keep me safe from myself. Goodnight." She took off down the hall. We heard her bedroom door slam behind her.

"Really, Ric? You bought her a necklace? You do realize that she is an assignment, correct? No fraternization allowed."

She wasn't an official assignment. I just didn't want him sinking his claws into her.

It was then I realized I was fucked.

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