Page 9 of The Healer and The Vampire (Bay Harbor Wolves #11)

R emi was in the security room, checking the exterior cameras, trying to get a sense of the thing that lingered outside.

The foul essence was traceable, but pinpointing his actual location was difficult.

He showed a pattern of crisscrossing the plaza and then circling the building very rapidly.

He lingers at the back entrance off the plaza, not staying long but long enough to be measurable.

He would keep his focus on the back entrance.

Demons have a corporeal presence, they were not fades or energy, so they could track him if they paid attention. Remi managed to force his mind away from the worry over his beloved and wondered what methods the demon would employ to gain access to the Hotel.

“You’re tracking him?” Alpha Henrik came up behind him, his eyes on the monitor.

"People have been coming and going, and he's paying them no attention. His focus is strictly Conrad, I believe." Remi's worry would not subside; he had to find a way to destroy that thing. "If I could get my hands on it, I could kill it." He said in a calm and cold tone.

"They're fast and their magics are rotten and nasty, you don't want that thing getting anywhere near your beloved." Alpha Henrik commented as he continued to study the monitor.

"He keeps returning to the back entrance off the plaza and lingers, but not long. I think we should concentrate our efforts there." He pointed to the area and traced the tracks of the demon, showing Alpha Henrik the pattern.

“Box it in," Henrik said as he continued to watch the screen and follow the shadow trail it left in its wake. "Sasha could design a cage."

“Circle the area that is within his pattern and then gradually contract the barrier until he is trapped.” Remi verbalized Alpha Henrik’s plan. The Alpha nodded and sent one of the guards to bring Sasha.

He had been with Conrad, but his beloved wanted time alone.

It wasn't what Remi preferred, but Conrad was not of a mind to be bossed around.

Their bond was fragile, and Remi needed to be mindful that Conrad was human and that they could be quite stubborn if pushed.

Remi didn't want to build any resistance on Conrad's part.

Conrad left the office where he had been told to stay put and stepped out into the vast lobby.

There was still a lot of hustle and bustle going on, and people coming and going.

He didn't see anyone he recognized, but he noticed the doors were guarded by wolf shifters, and other shifters filled the open areas.

The pack was on high alert but maintaining business as usual.

He stayed to the edges, not wanting to be recognized, and moved closer to the doors.

He should face this thing, it was his problem, not Remi's, and not the wolves; they shouldn't suffer for him.

He wasn't worth it. The sadness that gripped him was fierce and brutal, digging out every sad and negative on his part and others that he could remember.

It was an avalanche of depression and humiliation.

His heart ached for Remi, wanting to see him hold him, tell him that he was better off without his dead weight on his shoulders.

Moving closer to the back doors, he saw three guards there, but he wasn't familiar with them, so they might let him pass.

The demon was in the area of the plaza beyond the valet and beyond the circular drive.

He was waiting for him, calling for Conrad to come to him.

He wanted to talk to him, that's all. He just wanted to talk to Conrad, and then he'd leave them all alone and not bother them again.

The demon's voice was in his head, insistent and mean, telling heavily exaggerated old embarrassments and leaning on Conrad's weaknesses.

He continued to walk out the door and past the valet stand to the circular drive.

The air thinned suddenly, and Remi felt his heart drop. The demon moved quickly from the back plaza forward as if zeroing in on something, and then he saw it. "It's Conrad." He shouted as he raced from the room through the lobby and out the door.

He stopped several feet behind Conrad when the demon issued a warning.

“Any closer and I will gut him right here in front of you.” Remi reached out to Conrad with his mind desperate for a connection to pull him back to reality.

He was under the demon’s control, but they had a bond that was far and away more powerful than anything this abomination could conjure.

Conrad breathed, and Remi felt the connection snap into place.

Conrad was back and fully aware of what was happening and of his own level of peril.

He didn’t visibly react, but Remi could feel his response.

The demon moved closer and was reaching out to Conrad.

Remi comforted his beloved, keeping him calm and assuring him that there was a plan and that they would be back in each other's arms very soon.

"I'll just drain him of his gift, it might leave him an empty lifeless husk, but it might just leave him an empty husk.

He'll be gone, but his body will remain warm for a while.

" The thing laughed. "Honesty, they all die, and so will this beauty.

" Remi felt the trap begin to move and tighten. Sasha was following through.

The demon was still several yards from Conrad.

He channeled the instructions to slowly back up gradual imperceptible movements, and Conrad complied.

His fear was still there, which was expected, but there was a resilience and a solid resolve that took Remi a bit by surprise.

He didn't doubt his beloved was strong, but he had a soul that was unyielding. The demon was not going to win.

Remi channeled for Conrad to move back quickly when he gave him the sign.

Sasha was drawing the lines and reinforcing them with fire and ice.

The demon would be immobilized and then destroyed.

They could not endure the light and power of a mage.

It was odd that the demon had not sensed Sasha's presence.

He was apparently too high on the thought of draining a healer to do his due diligence and failed to ascertain his own threat level.

The energy surrounded them, and Remi ran for his beloved, who turned and leapt backward into his arms. Remi held him and sprinted toward the back door.

The demon exploded with an anger so thick it colored the air and shook the ground beneath their feet.

He was trapped, running over and over to throw himself against the barrier, screaming and twisting, while Sasha tightened his hold.

Remi held Conrad in his arms and watched from inside the Hotel as death took the immoral beast, reducing it to ash and smoke and then nothing.

Conrad was breathless at the sight of that monster being reduced to dust. It had nearly taken his life, had nearly ended everything if it weren't for Remi, the man who ran into the face of death and destruction to save him with no thought of his own life.

He carried him to safety and held him, raining kisses down the side of his face and neck, while squeezing him so hard that Conrad could feel the man's heartbeat against his own chest.

"You scared me so badly it will take a few minutes or maybe a few days before I can let you go.

" Remi's voice was laced with panic, and Conrad never wanted to hear that in his lover's voice ever again.

He put them both at risk, and the thought of what could have happened sent a shiver down his spine.

Remi held him tighter if that was even possible, and then the Alpha showed up along with a few guards. He recognized Koa, who came up and patted him on the shoulder. "Glad you're in one piece, Conrad." He said good-naturedly, and it seemed to calm the extreme tension that had filled the air.

"Yeah, me too." He responded and pressed his face to Remi's chest, taking in the scent and the safety of this man.

"His influence has dissipated with his death, the area is clear.

Sasha is doing a walk-through of the Hotel and grounds to make sure nothing lingers.

" The wolves were always thorough, and Conrad appreciated their eye for detail.

He had always considered the supernatural as untrustworthy and dangerous and people to avoid, but after meeting Remi and the shifters of the Indigo Hotel, he now understood that, like any species, not all were bad.

“I apologize for making things worse. The demon got into my head, and everything turned so dark and hopeless." Conrad attempted to express regret for his behavior.

"If you hadn't drawn him out and given Sasha a target, it could have taken ages to resolve this situation. By acting as bait, you expedited the end." Koa said with a laugh and this time gave Remi's shoulder a friendly pat.

"No more using yourself as bait," Remi spoke firmly. "If you feel the urge to throw yourself into the face of danger, please talk to me first."

"I will always talk to you first," Conrad told him. "I promise no more stupidity, well, I'll try to cut back on the stupidity. I'm not sure I can promise to eliminate it entirely."

"Just talk to me first, that's all I ask, just a heads up." Remi chuckled, and Conrad loved the ease and the comfort that sound brought him.

“Will do.”

"No offence, but I'm going to take my beloved and head home. I will complete the rest of your security review remotely." Remi stated and released Conrad just enough so that he could wrap his arm around his waist and point him in the direction of the elevators.

“No offence taken.” Alpha Henrik responded with a smile. “Go home and enjoy your beloved.”

Remi moved them quickly to the elevators, and soon they were in a beautiful black SUV pulling out of the underground garage and on their way out of town. Conrad felt relieved to be getting away from that Hotel and out of town. He desperately needed time alone with Remi.

"I tried to call Patrick earlier, he'd warned me about someone after me, and he said he was going to hide out until it was safe, basically, and for me to do the same.

I didn't believe him at the time. I assumed it was just another manipulation to get me to go home, but now I see that his warnings were valid.

" Conrad said and reached over to take Remi's hand.

Remi smiled and took his hand, holding it securely and filling Conrad with the peace that always touched him when he was with Remi.

"What did he have to say?" Remi asked.

“Nothing, I never spoke with him. His phone was disconnected. He must be in hiding.”

“Are you worried about him?”

"No, Patrick is very good at taking care of himself, and I prefer the no contact relationship with him." Conrad paused for a moment and then commented on something else he remembered.

"I thought the demon looked familiar when I got a good look at him coming toward me, and now I remember where I saw him. It was at our last appointment with a middle-aged woman in an upscale neighborhood in a suburb outside of Baton Rouge.” He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.

He'd pictured the man standing there smiling.

"He was there, standing behind Patrick, looking at me and smiling. I thought he was just part of the household, a friend or relative of the client, but it was him, it was the demon." Conrad felt Remi tighten his grip on his hand in response to his words.

“You’re lucky to have escaped and made it to Eastport.”

"At the time, he wasn't sure who in our number actually had the healing power. Patrick thought I was a fake, as did the others, so that might have thrown him off." Conrad fell silent for a while, contemplating how Fate had saved his life.

“You’re safe now, my love. No one human or otherwise will ever bother you again.” Remi made the pledge with a strength and sincerity that left no doubt in Conrad’s mind.

They pulled onto a country road cutting through forests and manicured lawns that then crested a ridge that gave a breathtaking view of vineyards stretching across the countryside, so beautiful.

"Vineyards," Conrad stated, and looked at Remi.

"Oh, yeah, the Old Mission Peninsula Coven is also a centuries-old vineyard. The Master has been making wine for many centuries before coming to America. Cabot Wines are the best in the region, and he has recently expanded to several vineyards in California." Remi spoke with pride.

“Wow.” He said at first and slowly took in the serene beauty of the land around him. “This is so perfect, so peaceful.”

"It's your home now, my love."

"Thank you... Remi... thank you for showing up for me when I needed you the most. Thank you for filling the void in my life for being the love, the friend, the presence that has changed my life.

I love you, Remi Toulouse." Conrad stated his feelings clearly, not wanting any more misunderstandings or things left unsaid.

“And I love you, Conrad Lowe. I'm looking forward to a future filled with your beauty and vitality.

You energize me, baby, you make everything sharper and brighter in my world.

" Conrad sat back and basked in the loving regard, knowing to his core that every word was sincere and heartfelt.

The bond that they were forging connected them in ways that removed the doubts and insecurities that would normally be crippling him.

Remi was who he claimed to be, and his feelings were on full display.

"Nothing good ever came my way, but meeting you has made up for every hardship. It was all worth it if it led me to you." Conrad responded with his own true feelings.

Gradually, Conrad saw the outline of a roof beyond the tree line, and then the entire compound came into full view.

It was a stunning and huge chateau with outbuildings and barns; it went on forever.

This was a small town all on its own. "You live here, Remi?

" He asked as he craned his neck to look up at the chateau.

"Yes, second floor east wing, amazing view of the vineyards, you'll love it.

" He beamed, and Conrad's heart swelled at the excitement and anticipation present in Remi's tone.

"Come, I'll introduce you later, but right now I want you for myself, just you and me.

I want to claim you, sweetheart. I want the world to know that you are the most treasured beloved of this vampire.

" Conrad wanted the same; his desire for this man was overwhelming him.

They parked in a space behind the chateau and entered through a side door. The anticipation was killing Conrad. He wanted this man so bad that he thought he would expire before he ever got to his room.