Page 8 of The Healer and The Vampire (Bay Harbor Wolves #11)

Remi spoke with the Master and explained further the current situation. "I will head home as soon as it is safe to do so, sir."

“Do you need support?”

"No, sir, I have it in hand, but thank you." He closed the call and stared at Koa. "So, what's going on now?"

"Sasha did an intensive sweep of the Hotel and the grounds. The protections are holding strong, but he detected a presence beyond the barrier."

“Something is watching?” Remi erupted, a new tension coursing through him.

“Is it Patrick?” Conrad asked, also alarmed.

Koa shook his head. "It's demonic, and it has been following your Conrad since he left Louisiana." The idea that a demon had trained its sights on Conrad hit hard because such beings do not give up until they are dead. Instantly, Remi began running ideas through his head on how to end the creature.

"Is it a danger to anyone other than Conrad?" Remi asked, concerned for the paranormal staff.

"As far as Sasha has determined, it is focused on Conrad singularly, but as we know, a demon will cut through anyone to get to its desired goal." Remi nodded, his mind still running possibilities and plans. He glanced around the room speculatively.

“Is this an interior room?”

“Yes.”

"I'll keep Conrad in here. The further he is separated from the demon, the better."

Koa pointed to a room off to their right.

"That's an office, it's even more interior than this room.

It is surrounded by the kitchens, storeroom, and a string of offices and closets.

" Remi walked over, still holding tight to Conrad, and opened the door to inspect the room.

It was a basic office setup with a desk and chair, along with a sofa and a matching chair.

"It's deep into the center of the Hotel with no windows or access points apart from the door there and one that exits into the main lobby. Both can be secured if need be." Koa stood in the doorway. Remi looked down at Conrad and saw panic and fear in his face, and felt him trembling in his arms.

"You're safe here, nothing is going to touch you. They will have to go through me first."

“And me.” Koa chimed in.

"And us." Javier, who had just entered the outer room with Sasha, joined.

Conrad laughed. “I guess I’m pretty safe.” He said.

"We'll handle this, don't worry, and very soon I will take you to my Coven on Old Mission Peninsula and introduce you to Master Emmanuel. You're going to adore him and his sweet beloved." Remi was attempting to get Conrad's mind on something other than the demon, and it was somewhat a success.

Sasha stepped up. "I'll stay with Conrad, and it will give you a chance to do some surveillance." Remi did the introductions and explained Sasha's skills, which put Conrad at ease, although he seemed reluctant to part from Remi.

Remi walked him over toward the sofa and bent, placing a soft kiss on those lips he wanted so badly.

Timing was not working in his favor, but as soon as he figured out the demon problem, he planned to take Conrad home and get to know him properly.

I won't be long." He said and then left with Koa and Javier.

Walking away from Conrad was difficult, but he knew he was safe and protected.

Conrad sat down on the sofa, and Sasha took the chair.

He could easily feel the power radiating off the man and knew he was something special.

Remi had called him a mage, but Conrad wasn't exactly sure what that was.

He assumed it was like an enchanter or a wizard, but he wasn't sure.

The energy he emitted was clean and pure, so that was good, and it was natural; the guy was born with it, he didn't barter for it.

“The demon knows that I’m here?”

“Yes, and he waits and watches.” That wasn’t spooky at all. Conrad gave a slight shiver.

“What does he want?”

"Your gift, he wants to drain the power of your gift.

It will make him stronger. He's been following you for a while, but he was unsure of who possessed the healing power.

" Conrad sat back and stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds, trying to process where he was and what was happening.

He wished Remi were still there. The guy gave him stability, and being near him kept Conrad's mind clear.

He didn't understand it, but he welcomed it.

He had a grasp on the whole beloved and Fated bond aspect of their relationship and was thrilled to be Remi’s beloved.

It was something he envied when he first found out that many paranormals were given forever partners and that they found them throughout the course of their lives.

It was just so fucking romantic and he never thought for a second that a vampire would choose him.

Conrad never had any real connections to anyone and had been raised with an every man for themselves attitude.

Discovering his gift when he was young had made him feel a connection to the universe, but still, he lacked anything concrete, and he had no one to lean on.

The very idea that he would now have a connection and a home and a purpose and maybe even love was making him so happy that the demon threat seemed secondary.

"Remi is a great guy," Sasha interjected into Conrad's musings. "He's the director of intelligence for the Coven, and he was here at the Hotel advising them on security upgrades."

“I’m glad he was here.”

“It was Fate’s design.”

“I can see that now.”

"Things will settle down and get back to normal, and you will have a wonderful life ahead of you, Conrad.

" Conrad nodded his head, agreeing. Remi had saved him from the irate security guy, standing up for him and making sure he was protected.

That was a rush he'd never experienced before.

He was self-reliant, as Remi had stated, and never looked to others for anything personal.

Now he had someone who did not need to be asked, he just seemed to know what Conrad needed.

"Everything will be okay," Conrad stated more to himself than anyone else.

Sasha was a decent person, but he could tell that he'd prefer to be working this case rather than babysitting.

And really, he should be helping to deal with this entity.

As a powerful mage, he was wasted sitting here making small talk.

“I know you were asked to stay with me, but I’d rather be alone if you don’t mind.

” He said as a way to let Sasha leave. "I'll stay here in this room and not leave.

There is no reason for you to sit here." Sasha looked at him with an expression that was unreadable.

"I'll be fine. No one is getting in here.

" He watched as Sasha took out his phone and spoke to someone, explaining the request.

“Don’t leave this room.” He said as he stood. “It may take a while, but someone will return for you.”

"Got it." Conrad gave him a thumbs up and stretched out on the sofa. "I won't move." With that, Sasha left through the door that led to the lobby and then closed it behind him. It locked automatically.

Conrad closed his eyes not to sleep but to contemplate his position and his next move.

Remi dominated his thoughts in a lustful and shameless manner, and he felt his body heating to the thoughts and memories.

The kiss had been sensual, but too short, he wanted more.

He pulled his thoughts back to the danger at hand, pushing his wanton desires to the back of his mind.

Then something else touched him, it was steeped in shadow and despair, and it slowly colored everything in his mind.

Fear spiked over Patrick and his threats to never let him leave, over the shifters and vampires that held him, and what their true intentions were, and guilt over being the one who brought a demon down on this Hotel and the people working and residing within.

Conrad sat up and ran his hands through his hair roughly, wondering suddenly what he should do, and the urgency of that decision was eating him up.

His state of mind was becoming chaotic. "Remi isn't going to want me.

I'm deluding myself." He said and abruptly stood and began pacing the room as his eyes darted frantically from side to side.

This was stupid. How was it that he had fallen for such romantic fantasies? His previous mood, so hopeful and eager, was now wallowing in the depths of despair and confusion. He needed to get out of here and leave all this pain behind.

He moved for the door and felt the wash of anguish overwhelm him. His entire life had been useless and a waste, as he never achieved anything of value and was nothing but a drain on everything around him. No wonder everyone left him, and no wonder his brother hated him.