Page 22 of Destined for Dreams
“According to all our sources, the demon is somewhere in Europe. You shouldn’t have a problem taking Tormod along for that or finding other means of transportation.”
He supposed that was true enough. “There is just one more thing.”
“Yes?”
Bartol stepped in front of the desk. “I need Cori taken care of while I’m gone.”
“Wait.” His mate came up beside him, turning to glare at him with her hands on her hips. “I don’t need to be taken care of.”
He gave her a patient look. “I don’t deny you’re strong and capable, but you can’t handle everything by yourself any more than the rest of us.”
She clamped her lips shut, still not appearing happy.
“Of course.” Lucas sat back in his seat. “You should know you don’t even have to ask.”
“I don’t just mean watch out for her and protect her.” Bartol laid his hand on the desk, leaning closer. “Her business is being hurt because she’s apparently instilling unusual properties in some of her work.”
“I heard about that,” Lucas said, grimacing.
His response wasn’t very encouraging. “I promised I’d help her deal with it before her shop goes bankrupt, but I can’t do that if I’m not here.”
Cori sighed. “I asked for your help, but I didn’t want to make a big thing of it.”
“I need you to go along with this, or else I can’t go on this trip,” he said, meaning every word.
She clenched her fists. “Fine.”
“We’ll help her,” Melena promised.
Lucas shot his wife a look. “We can’t force supernaturals to get tattoos from someone if they don’t want to.”
“Of course not,” the sensor argued. “But we’ve figured out they’re discouraging humans from going there as well.”
“My business is down to being almost non-existent,” Cori said, finally going along with the conversation. The resistance in her eyes was almost gone now that they’d gotten to the heart of the matter.
“That is something I haven’t heard.” Lucas tapped his pen against the desk. “I’ll take you to see Derrick. If anyone can make this problem less difficult, it would be him.”
Cori appeared to mull it over. “That’s…not a bad idea.”
Some of the tension left Bartol’s shoulders. Derrick was the master of Fairbanks who ruled over all the supernaturals in the region. He’d heard the alpha werewolf was reliable and trustworthy, so he should prove useful. “Thank you.”
Lucas nodded. “We’ll do everything we can for your mate while you’re gone—I vow it.”
And if Lucas made a vow, he kept it. Bartol could leave knowing Cori would be in good hands. Even his mate seemed relieved now that they’d come up with a possible solution to the matter. She brushed his hand lightly, and he squeezed it back. None of the others appeared to notice the small exchange.
They discussed their plans for a few more minutes before everyone began filing out of the office.
Directly outside, Bartol found his tray waiting for him.
“Your food is getting cold,” Cori said, gesturing at it.
“Thank you.” His stomach rumbled. Bartol took his meal from the side table where he’d left it and moved to sit in a large leather chair.
Cori waited for the others to leave. “I could warm that up if you like.”
“It’s fine.” Even cold, her food wasn’t bad.
Cori said nothing, waiting in silence until he finished. Bartol made a point of drinking every drop of water in his glass just to give himself a few more precious seconds. He knew without a doubt she had a lot of questions, and he was surprised she held back in the office as well as she did.
