Page 4 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

F riday evening, Devon and I were running a little late, but I'd warned Alexis that might be the case.

Bypassing the street in front of the house, I directed Devon to pull his pick-up into the small parking lot at the back of the property.

I led him through the gate leading into the yard where most of the group had already gathered.

"I didn't know there was a parking lot back here." He followed me through the gate.

"Alexis told me about it when I was helping her out in the clinic. It's mostly used by patients, but I thought it would be easier for tonight."

"It was." He agreed.

It looked like there were only two couples here.

The men were standing near the large brick grill on one side of the patio, while the women were seated beside the large patio table.

Their chairs were turned sideways so they could keep an eye on the children running wild through the large yard.

Alexis called, out as we approached the porch.

"There you are! I'm so happy you could make it.

" She pulled me in to a hug as she greeted us.

"Jan called, one of the kids is sick, so she and Will won't be able to make it.

" Barely taking the time to breathe she continued.

"Lauren, this is Nickie and Devon. They both grew up around here, we went to the same school, though not at the same time.

" Alexis laughed. "Nickie, Devon, this is Hank's sister, Lauren.

Her husband Aaron is at the grill with Hank, and these munchkins are Jenny and Andy.

" She motioned to the two kids, still running through the grass.

"They're visiting from Houston, and it's their first time here,"

"It's nice to meet you." Devon said politely, shaking Lauren's hand. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go see what Hank and Aaron are up to?"

"Go ahead. I'll stay here and visit." I waved him off toward the other men.

"It's great to meet you, Lauren. How are you enjoying it out here?

" I asked the smaller woman. She was several inches shorter than me, maybe 5'4", and very slender.

She had long dark hair that she'd pulled back into a high pony tail that still hung below her shoulders.

Her greenish hazel eyes were friendly, though never still.

She met my look, but quickly looked away, keeping an eye on the kids. I kept a friendly smile on my face.

"It's a lot less humid here. It makes it seem not as hot as back home, though I know the temperature is actually pretty comparable." She smiled back.

"It'll get humid here during monsoon season, but then, it also tends to cloud over and rain, cooling us off most afternoons, so it's not so bad.

" We made small talk while we watched the kids chase each other around the yard.

By the time Hank asked for the food to put on the grill, I was pretty sure I could shift Lauren, if she wanted to try.

We ate and visited a while longer, when Lauren and Aaron went inside to lay the kids down for the night I knew it was a good time to speak to Hank.

The four of us were sitting around the patio table, relaxing with a beer, while we watched the flames from the wood fire he'd built in the large brick grill for us.

"Was it enough?" He asked, before I figured out how to bring it up.

I nodded slowly, my eyes still on the flames in front of me, before I realized he might not be able to see me in the dark.

"It was." I spoke up, "I can sense the wolf inside her, and I'm pretty sure I can call it.

Assuming the reason she hasn't been able to shift is the same thing that kept Devon from shifting of course, Alexis and I should be able to do it, with little difficulty. "

He was quiet for a moment, considering. "I'll talk to her about it, but I don't know if she'll want to. Aaron's not one of us, and children of non-shifting Kindred often don't shift. She may decide she's happy with the life she has."

I nodded. "That's fine, at least she'll know that the option's available. If one of her kids shifts later, she'll know it can be an option for her too."

"I'll be sure to mention that."

We hung around a while longer, catching up with each other before Devon and I called it a night. We thanked our hosts for the meal, and having us, and headed home.

Devon pulled his truck into the parking lot of our apartment complex and killed the engine. I twisted in the seat until I was facing him.

"How about you come up to my place and spend the night with me?" I asked.

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't."

"Okay. Why don't you go on up. I'll stop by my place and grab a couple things, and I’ll be right there."

"All right." I opened the door and slid out of the seat.

I closed the truck door, leaving Devon to go to his apartment, while I headed up to mine.

When I got to the bottom of the stairs leading to my apartment, I picked up Brandon's scent.

I looked up and found him sitting on the steps, right below the landing in front of my door.

He'd already seen me, so I couldn't very well turn and walk away, at least not yet. He stood and started down the stairs. Not wanting to get trapped on the narrow walkway, I waited at the bottom.

"Why are you here Brandon?" I asked, my tone wasn't friendly.

"I wanted to talk to you. I waited for you to come home."

"You've been ordered to leave me alone." I wasn't going let him draw me into small talk.

"That's part of what I wanted to talk to you about. Where were you?"

"I went to dinner at Alexis and Hank's house."

"But you didn't go alone did you?"

"That's none of your business, Brandon." I said tiredly.

"Your car was here, but you weren't. You were out with him again, weren't you?" It was an accusation.

"Again, not your business."

"It is. I'll make you see that you're mine, just wait."

"I'm not going to stand here and debate this with you.

I've told you no. I've told you I'm not interested in you.

Yet you continue to harass me. Bill's told you to leave me alone, and yet here you stand, for the second time in as many weeks.

I don't know how to make you understand.

" I saw Devon headed across the courtyard toward us.

The way he moved told me he'd seen Brandon, and wasn't happy about it.

Hang back a sec, let me see if I can get rid of him before he sees you . I thought at Devon, I think if he sees you headed up to my place with an overnight bag it will make this a lot harder. Devon nodded slightly and stepped around a staircase, out of sight.

"I have to make you understand." Brandon said. "You're my mate."

"No Brandon, I'm not, and I've told you that. Just like I've told you to leave me alone. It's time for you to go. The next time I see you, I won't be calling Bill, I'll be calling the police."

"You can't do that."

"I can and will." I said with conviction. "What you're doing is harassment, and borderline stalking, and I won't put up with it any more than I'll put up with someone who hits me."

"The Anikitos won't let you involve the police."

I felt a smile spread across my face, and I knew it wasn't a friendly smile. "You've known me for years, haven't you figured out that no one lets me do anything?" My voice had dropped to that calm, quite tone that means I'm really angry.

"You'd risk defying the Anikitos, just to get me in trouble?"

"I'm not going to ask first, so it won't be defiance. I'm not doing anything to get you into trouble. Anything I do, will be to put an end to you harassing me, to get you to leave me alone."

"You hate me that much?"

"I want you to leave me alone that much." I looked him in the eye, waiting for him to realize how angry he'd made me. I saw it on his face the instant he realized he couldn't push me any further tonight. The stubborn determination faded, it was replaced by a caution that I'd rarely seen in him.

"All right, I'll go." He said, slowly moving around me so that I wasn't between him and his escape.

"But I'll be back." He turned and walked away.

I watched him go, waiting a few seconds after he'd gone out of sight before I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, draining the tension I'd held in my body with the air.

He's gone, you can come out now. I sent to Devon and I headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time in my hurry to get inside. Devon was up the stairs before I'd closed the door behind myself, he followed me inside.

"What did he want this time?"

"Same thing, me." I hung my bag on the inside door knob and collapsed onto the sofa. "Thanks for hiding until I could get rid of him, by the way." Devon set the small bag he'd picked up at his apartment on an end table.

"You're probably right, he wouldn't have left if he'd seen me. If he'd tried to hit you again, I don't think I would have been able to hold back."

"But he didn't, and you didn't have to beat the shit out of him. We all win." I kicked my shoes off and propped my feet up on the coffee table in front of me.

"Doesn't feel much like a win to me." Devon grumped.

"I know you wanted to pound on him. You have ever since he slapped me.

I understand that. You know Bill's already had it done, but you want to get your two kicks in too.

I don't blame you, I would too. But in the long run, it would only cause more problems. Wait until he gives you a reason, before you let go with the fists of fury routine. "

Devon sighed. I had enough brothers that I understood his desire to protect me, I even appreciated it, but sometimes the testosterone overloaded good sense.

"Will you hand me my purse?" I pointed at the door where it hung. "I need to call Bill, and let him know what's just happened."

"No problem. You still want me to stay? I can go if you'd rather."