Page 24 of Fight
I looked at him and smiled."Do you mind if I tell him?"I asked Raine.
"I'd rather it not be public knowledge, but you can tell him.I have to go though.My lunch is nearly over and I still need to get something to eat."He stood, preparing to leave.
"Thanks for bringing us home, and taking time from your lunch to make sure we're all right."I stood to walk him to the door.I hugged him before I let him leave and closed and locked the door behind him.
"What does Raine not want public knowledge?"Devon asked from the couch as soon as the door clicked shut.
I turned around, wanting to see his reaction."He's a seer.He has visions showing him bits and pieces, sometimes future, sometimes past, and from what he's told me, sometimes real time."
He blinked."Well, that's different.I don't think that's a power that the kindred have."
"As far as I know, it's not.He gets it from his Native American blood.Apparently his grandmother taught him to hide it from a very young age.I only found out recently, when he confronted me about being a shape-shifter.He said he'd seen me shift."I thought about it for just a second."Actually it was the day we went running on the mountain, the day you over did it and I doubled back for the truck."I went back to the couch and sat down facing him."He called me to his place a couple of weeks ago, and confronted me about it.Said he's known about the kindred, though he didn't have the name for us, for a long time.Since he doesn't want his secret out, he's kept ours too."
Devon could only stare at me, at a loss for words.
"When I found out, I went to Bill, I told him what Raine had said, what he knew.Bill said if he's kept the secret this long, we really have no reason not to trust him.He told me I could tell Raine whatever I felt the need to."
"That's good."A look of relief washed across his face."I almost had a heart attack when you started telling him about pack business."
"I wouldn't have, without permission.But at the same time, I figured he's another pair of eyes and an outside witness if we have to take this to Bill."
"That's true."He leaned towards me and pulled me into his arms again."I'm sorry our date was interrupted with this."
"Me too, but I'm glad that now I know about your being harassed."
"I wish you didn't.I don't want you worrying about it."His voice softened as he buried his face in my hair, inhaling my scent.
"It's not that I want to worry about it," I resisted the draw of his body, so close to mine."but that I don't like secrets."
"I can understand that, and I'm sorry I kept it from you.I didn't mean to hide it, I just didn't think it was that important."
"All right.I guess I'll forgive you, this once."I smiled against his neck as I turned and inhaled his scent.I could smell the tang of the pack beneath the deep smoky scent that was uniquely Devon."But we don't have to let a little interruption stop us."I gently bit the side of his neck."We would have ended up here anyway."I pulled back slightly and pressed my lips against his.
Saturday afternoon Devon and I were taking it easy.We were both off, we'd gone out for a run together as wolves early that morning, and now we were lounging beside the pool, resting from swimming laps and drying off a bit before going inside, when Brandon approached the pool area.Apparently he'd been on his way to my apartment when he spotted us, and decided to confront us then and there.
"Is this why you don't return my calls?"He said snidely from the other side of the fence surrounding the cemented pool deck."You're too busy lounging around the pool with the impostor?"
Startled, I sat up and turned to look at him.I was fed up with this.He behaved like he had some say in what I do, and who I spend time with, and I wasn't taking anymore.
"No, this isn't why I don't return your calls."I said calmly."I don't return your calls, because I have nothing to say to you."I looked away, thinking that the best course would be to ignore him, to not give him the scene he was trying for.
"Don't turn your back on me!How dare you?You are my mate, and I won't have you hanging around with this scum."
I stood, and moved closer to Brandon.Not close enough he could reach through the fence and grab me, but close enough I could speak normally and not be overheard by casual passersby.
"Brandon, my not returning your calls, has nothing to do with Devon and everything to do with you."I looked him in the eye as I spoke my voice quiet, but firm."You've changed, Brandon, and I don't like who you've become.I don't waste my time with people who judge others on things they have no control over.People who think that they're superior, simply because they have an ability that most of the world doesn't, even some unfortunate members of their own species, disgust me.And frankly, I would have thought, that after twenty years of friendship, you would know that."
"But, you're my mate."He acted like this was supposed to make a difference.
"No, Brandon, I'm not.I may be a potential mate for you, I have to take your word for that, but you are not one to me."
"I have to be.We're meant to be together.If only this impostor would stop trying to steal you away from me."He motioned to Devon.
I stepped a little closer, lowering my voice even further, knowing he could still hear it."First, Devon is not an impostor.He is as kindred as you are, and probably more than I am.Any relationship I may be having with him, has no impact on my relationship, or again, lack thereof, with you.I am an adult.I make my own decisions about who I spend my time with and who I don't.Right now, you are on the don't list, and you'll remain there as long as you feel the need to treat me as property, or treat Devon, or any non-shifting Kindred or human, as somehow less than you.Second, it's impossible for someone to steal something from you, that never belonged to you.I am not, nor have I ever been 'yours'."
"You can't do that-" He started.
"Wanna bet?"I challenged him, stepping closer again.
