“I know,” she acknowledged solemnly. “Cliff explained it all to me.” Her lips curled up in a sad smile. “But I love him.”
Bastien reached over and rested a hand on hers. “And you will always have my deepest gratitude for that. I really do love Cliff like a brother. I’ve kept my silence since learning of your relationship with him, despite having reservations and serious concerns for your safety, because I’ve seen the happiness you bring him. The peace. He deserves that and so much more.”
“He makes me happy, too,” Emma said. “And you don’t need to worry about my safety. Cliff would never hurt me.”
Bastien hoped she was right. Leaning back, he took out his cell phone. “Let’s exchange numbers, shall we? That way I can keep you updated on his condition and you can call me if the wait grows too long or if you should have any concerns.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.” Rising, she retrieved her cell phone.
Once they exchanged numbers, Bastien bid her good night and stepped outside. He waited a moment for Emma to lock the door. Then he retrieved his phone again and dialed a number as he strolled down the front walk.
“What?” Zach answered, voice clipped.
“It’s Bastien. Do you have a minute?”
Zach appeared before him, face curious.
Bastien hoped his trust would not be misplaced. He liked Zach more than the other immortals. They’d both had turbulent entries into the Immortal Guardians family and were of similar natures. “I need a favor.”
“You helped Lisette tend my wounds after I was tortured, then aided me again when Lisette was felled. Any favor you ask I will grant without question.”
Bastien stared at him in surprise. “You don’t owe me anything, Zach.”
He just shrugged. “What do you need?”
Bastien nodded at the quaint home. “Cliff is seeing the woman who resides here.”
Zach looked at him sharply. “Seeing her as in…”
“They’re lovers. They’re in love.”
Zach frowned at the house. “Does she know what he is, what’s happening to him?”
“Yes. And she refuses to stop seeing him.”
“Then he’s chosen well.”
Bastien agreed. “I told her to call me if she ever has any concerns.”
“You mean if she fears Cliff might harm her.”
“I don’t know if she read my words that way but assume my number will be the one she’ll dial if Cliff has another break while he’s with her. If she does, I’ll need someone to teleport me here immediately.”
Zach nodded. “I’ll do it as soon as I receive your call.”
“Thank you.” He shifted. “And can we keep this between the two of us? No one else knows.”
“Of course.” Zach stared at the home for a moment. “Cliff has demonstrated immense strength and bravery. He deserves whatever happiness he can find before the darkness takes him.”
2
In the book, this scene takes place at the end of chapter 19 when everyone gears up for battle, but it was longer in the first draft.
Heather followed Ethan up to the armory and watched Ed help him gear up for battle. Ethan donned twice as many weapons as he usually carried on nightly hunts and added two tranquilizer guns.
She couldn’t help but stare at some of the other immortals who milled around the huge armory. Those who would fight in Russia wore odd, rubbery suits that fit their muscular forms like a diving suit.
Ethan touched her arm. “What size do you wear? I want Ed to find you some hunting clothes.”
A few feet away, Sheldon shook his head. “Dude. Good luck with that one. Women don’t like men to know what size they wear.”
Ethan looked down at Heather.
She shrugged. “I hate to admit it, but it’s true.”
“If I weren’t so good at estimating,” Sheldon went on, distributing full magazines to the many pockets of his cargo pants, “I wouldn’t know Tracy’s size.”
Beside him, Tracy snorted. “You don’t know my size.”
Sheldon grinned, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Sure I do. It’s 32C.”
Tracy’s mouth fell open. “Dude! That’s my bra size!”
Heather smiled, then laughed as a look of horror crept over Tracy’s pretty face.
“Oh crap. Did I just say dude?” Tracy asked with obvious dismay, then moaned. “Now he’s got me talking like him!”
Laughing, Sheldon looped an arm around her waist, yanked her up against him, and took her lips in a kiss that made eyebrows rise throughout the room.
Tracy’s face flushed bright red when she lowered her heels to the floor. “Sheldon!”
“What?” he countered with a grin. “It’s not like they don’t already know.”
Biting her lip, Tracy glanced at the immortals and Seconds around them. All nodded.
“Cool,” Darnell said as he armed David. “I won the pool.”
Groans filled the room.
Tracy frowned. “What pool? Are you…? Wait. Did you guys bet on whether Sheldon and I would get together?”
Darnell handed David a couple more throwing stars. “Yes, but Ed won that one a year ago when you two slept together the first time.”
Tracy’s mouth fell open.
Heather looked at Ed.
Ed shrugged with a smile. “It was so obvious.”
“This bet,” Darnell continued as he reached for a pair of wicked-looking daggers, “was about when the two of you would go public with your relationship.”
Tracy began to sputter while Sheldon laughed and a handful of Seconds accused Darnell of getting prophetic insider information from Seth and David.
Ready for battle, the immortals began to amble from the room, leaving the Seconds behind to arm themselves.
“Your turn, Heather,” Ed said.
Her eyebrows rose. “What?”
“Time to gear up with the Seconds.”
Ethan nodded. “I want you armed with every weapon you know how to use and as much ammo as you can carry.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Ed said. “You go ahead with the others.”
Ethan frowned and glanced at Heather.
Ed snorted. “I’ve been arming your ass for thirty years. You think I can’t arm someone half your size? Go. You need to familiarize yourself with where Chris’s men are stationed and see if Seth has any last-minute instructions before he and the others leave.”
When Ethan lingered, Heather smiled and gave his arm a squeeze. “Go ahead. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
As soon as Ethan left, Ed led her to a door on the far side of the room. Pushing it open, he stepped inside and flipped on the light. It seemed to be a bathroom/closet combo that was larger than her living room.
Ed crossed to the wall of hanging clothing, then returned in less than a minute with a black shirt, a pair of black pants, a belt, and boots. “Here.”
Taking them, Heather checked the sizes. They were all correct. “How did you—?”
“It’s my job to know. I’ll start gathering your weapons while you change.”
Once more, Heather donned the garb of a hunter.