“Okay,” Hannah says, running through the details. “What time do you want me to be here?”

  “What time does she get done with work?”

  “She’s done at two a.m.”

  “Be back at one and we’ll ride over together,” Iris says, with the finality of a settled plan.

  “Okay, I better get back then. I told Lily I would shop with her this afternoon before she has to go to work.”

  “Oh, the agony,” Indio whines.

  “Tell me about it. If I have to hear ‘Do I look fat in this?’ one more time I am going to gag.”

  “I don’t know how you put up with it,” Iris says.

  “I’m not sure why I put up with it. The only plus is that Sebastian will be with us and his new friend,” Hannah says with a sly smile.

  “That would work for me,” Indio says. “Ooh, he has a new friend? One for you and one for me.”

  “Exactly! Take some aspirin and drink some water. You’ll feel better,” Hannah advises as she gets up and carries both of us to the door.

  Iris stops her before she can leave.

  “I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this would be for you if you warn them, do I?”

  “No, you don’t. I shouldn’t have to prove my loyalty. Just my being here should do that.”

  “It goes a long way, sister,” Iris smiles. “Go in peace.”

  “Peace out.”

  Hannah flips her a peace sign and then we bounce down the hallway and the sagging steps to her car. Again they didn’t see her glimmer as she left. Perfect. Once we get in and drive away, I move over to the passenger seat. I wait until we’re a couple of blocks away and then transfigure into my male self. Hannah screams.

  “Dammit, Aidan, my nerves are shot. Those bitches have got me looking over my shoulder and seeing things around corners. For fucksake they want to STAKE Lily! What the hell are we going to do?”

  “I know, Hannah, calm down.”

  “I am fucking calm!” she yells.

  “You are all theoretically protected from the immobilizing spell they plan to use tonight. It’s probably going to back fire on them.”

  “Theoretically… funny how that doesn’t sound so good anymore.”

  “If that doesn’t work I’ll break the spell on Sebastian and Lily like I did Julian and Helena yesterday. I won’t let them get Lily. Trust me. You are going to have to do a very convincing act in the car when it fails to work. Do you think you can do that?”

  “I think so. I have a more difficult time acting when I think their schemes are going to work.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  26 . LILITH

  Sebastian and I are sipping some mulled wine when Hannah and Aidan rush in – if a djinn can rush. Aidan takes one look at how close together we’re sitting and shakes his head. He’s been scouting out the witches and risking himself for me in the process and here I am cozying up to Sebastian. I am a tramp.

  “Lily, girl, they are gunning for you,” Hannah groans as she flops down in an antique chair. I wince as the chair protests.

  “Take a deep breath, Hannah,” Helena says as she pours some wine and hands it to Hannah.

  “Thanks, Helena. They want to kidnap Lily tonight after work and then they plan on staking her. There, I said it. Oh my god. I can’t believe I had to be the one to tell you.”

  “I’ll be picking up Lily, won’t that stop them?” Sebastian says quietly, no mistaking the fierceness beneath the calm.

  “No,” Aidan sneers. “Oh gallant one. The girls plan on immobilizing you and then taking Lily right out from under your nose. They say the effects won’t last long and you won’t be hurt. If that’s reassuring,” he adds snidely.

  “Merde!”

  “You can say that again,” Aidan agrees.

  They look at each other and look away, bonded by a more pressing concern than getting under my sheets.

  “You can say that a couple more times,” I pipe in. Sebastian puts his arm around me and pulls me close to him.

  “You must not go in to work tonight, Cherie,” he says.

  “I have to. I don’t want them to know that I’m afraid of them, Bast.”

  “She has to. As much as I hate to take the chance with her, Iris warned Hannah that they would come after her if she warns Lily. We would just trade one girl for another,” Aidan says.

  “I really think that new spell will protect you, Lily,” Helena says after consideration. “It kept Julian from being bound by Aidan. If not, Aidan can stop them. We must trust our defenses and improvise if we can’t.”

  “It looks like we have no other choice,” Sebastian says reluctantly. “But I am still taking her to and from work and trying my best to shield her from the spell.”

  “I think that would be a good idea,” Aidan says. They regard each other again, all pretense of humor and competition gone.

  “I feel like you think I’m helpless,” I put in. “I’m not you know.”

  “I know you’re not, Cherie. Why should you face them alone? This is something I want to do because I love you and want to take care of you. Not because you can’t take care of yourself.”

  “And I will be watching over you just in case there is any mishap you can’t get out of yourself. I have faith in Helena’s spell, too,” Aidan says.

  “Thank you, both of you.”

  I still feel like I need to scream. It is suffocating, and nauseating at the same time. Every step of mine is choreographed for me. At least at work I will be free of everyone and everything for a while. I can concentrate on someone else’s trouble and forget about mine. I can throw myself into something I am passionate about and have a blissful four hours of freedom. Of course there is the messy little part of the witches trying to kidnap and stake me when I walk out. That might put a damper on my evening.

  Helena and Sebastian need to feed and they decide to go out together. Sebastian has a hard time leaving me even for a short time.

  “Maybe I should wait. I can go another day without feeding.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Sebastian, you need to eat. I’ll be fine, Bast. I’m going to go to my room to read for awhile.”

  “Okay, just promise me you won’t leave the house for any reason, please?”

  “I promise.”

  I had no intention of going anywhere anyway.

  “I’ll be back soon, Cherie.”

  He gives Aidan a nasty look that says ‘Don’t go near her when I’m gone.’ Aidan just raises an eyebrow and smiles. Sebastian grunts.

  I go upstairs and Aidan follows me, of course. I’m beginning to think I will never have another free moment until these witches are contained – whatever that takes.

  “I know you probably want time alone, but I want to see you for a few minutes.”

  I sigh. “It’s okay.” It’s hard not to not to smile at him. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Well it would be better if I showed you.”

  And he kisses me. A lot. And I don’t stop him. In fact I fully engage in the process. Savoring his tongue against mine. The heat of his body makes me warm up and melt into him. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer and he makes a little noise in the back of his throat. Man, what is wrong with me? Vampires often have insatiable sexual appetites but I’ve always had some morals. He slides a hot electric hand up and under my blouse and I moan. Yes, that sound is coming out of my undead throat. This can’t be happening. Aidan starts kissing my neck down to the top of my blouse. My breath (what there is of it) catches.

  “Aidan, we shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Mmmm…this.”

  “It appears to me you’re enjoying this.”

  “Yesss… I mean no… I mean we need to slow down.”

  I try to say this as his other hand unsnaps the top button on my jeans.

  “We don’t have much time,” he murmurs as he sends a current of vibration through my body ending in the little bundle of nerves every woman is partial to. I knew shagging a jinni would be amazing.

  “Oh God,” I moan. “That’s my point. I don’t want to rush anything like this. And I’m not sure I want to do this yet.”

  “Oh, I think you want to do it.”

  “Okay, I want to do it, but I don’t know if I should do it.”

  “Lilith, I have never in all my long years ever wanted to be with a being in the way I want to be with you,” he says.

  It’s very hard to concentrate.

  “Do you love me?” If he loves me maybe… He feels so good and I need to feel this good.

  “I don’t know if I know what love is,” he whispers against my neck. “But I’ve seen it and it is both terrible and wonderful and those are the feelings I have running through me.”

  “At least you’re honest.”

  “My whole essence wants to be near you, in you, with you. If that’s love, than yes, I love you.”

  I can’t do this just because it feels good. I want to care as strongly for Aidan as he cares for me. I’m just not there yet. Not with Sebastian in my life too.

  I gently pull his hand out from my blouse and he sighs.

  “I need time to think. I’m really confused and I don’t think it’s fair to you or Sebastian to keep going on like this.”

  “Let me be the judge of that. I am perfectly happy to keep being abused,” he says with a wicked grin.

  I can’t help laughing. He takes this as an invitation and starts kissing me again, with more restraint. Not much, but a little. At least his hands are on top of my blouse this time. It’s hard to think straight while he touches me. I crave his body and his lips and he so readily gives them up. My mind spins. The front door opens and closes.

  “Sebastian’s back.”

  “So?”

  “Aidan…”

  “Let him assume.”

  There’s a knock at my door.

  “Lily? Can I come in?”

  Sebastian must know Aidan is in here and he is trying to respect my privacy. Usually he comes in after knocking. Aidan adjusted himself a little and just holds onto my waist, a position Sebastian has taken every chance he can lately. I quickly button my jeans.

  “Please come in, Sebastian.”

  He comes in, his face carefully neutral when he sees Aidan holding me. Aidan has the decency not to smirk.

  “I wanted to let you know I’m home and will be in my room when you’re ready to leave. Let me know.”

  He turns to leave. The guilt is killing me, well killing me again.

  “Sebastian, I was just telling Aidan that I need to take a little break from both of you. Romantically that is. I need to sort things out completely.”

  I wiggle out of Aidan’s arms and walk over to Bast and take his hands.

  “Please understand. I can’t stand putting you each through this, it’s not fair and it’s too confusing to me. So if you have to leave me you won’t have to worry about what’s happening again while you are away. I need both of you to respect this.”

  “Cherie, I think we are stronger than you think.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not. It’s really hard on me and it’s confusing as hell.”

  “As you wish, dearest, you will have to set the limits because I will test them,” he warns.

  He bends down and kisses my kiss-swollen lips. A small jet of heat flies past me and sends Sebastian flying on his ass.

  “Ooops, sorry. My bad,” Aidan says, a big grin on his face.

  “Aidan! Did you hurt him?”

  “No, Cherie,” Sebastian hisses. “Not hurt, just knocked down.”

  If looks could kill, then Aidan would be dying a thousand deaths right now. Sebastian retracts his fangs.

  “I guess simple affection is out of bounds?”

  “I think that it is,” Aidan says.

  “I’ll remember that, Glow Boy.”

  “That’s Glow Man to you.”

  I take a deep breath. This is turning into a habit, again. Where is my hand sanitizer? Where is my toothbrush? I need to freshen up. Do djinn have germs? Maybe they have super germs. Yikes! I run to the bathroom and start a major hygiene regimen.

  “Now we’ve done it,” Sebastian sighs.

  “Done what?” Aidan asks.

  “Stressed her out, she is in full-blown germ warfare.”

  “Is this common? I think she might be a bit mental. I didn’t know my girlfriend is damaged goods.”

  “Yeah like every girl wants to date a jinni,” I yell from the bathroom.

  Aidan laughs.

  “She’s obsessive-compulsive,” Sebastian explains.

  I know Sebastian’s hoping this little idiosyncrasy will scare Aidan away.

  “Well, that I can live with. This need to be germ free when she is stressed is going to complicate things. Doesn’t she know jinni have super cooties,” Aidan says loudly.

  Damn him!

  “Ahhh. I knew it!” I get the handi-wipes out. “Sebastian, do you think I have time for a shower before work?”

  “See what you’ve done?” he growls at Aidan.

  “I couldn’t resist. Lilith, love, djinn have no germs. We don’t have normal bodily fluids to secrete.”

  I peek out of the bathroom in my towel to two pairs of ogling eyes.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “I promise.”

  Aidan crosses his heart.

  “Maybe I won’t have to take a shower then.”

  “I don’t think that will be necessary, Cherie.”

  Although Bast looks like he still thinks it would be a good idea. I think he wants all traces of Aidan washed off me.

  I walk to the closet. I feel those eyes on me again, making me feel uncomfortable, and yet flattered. I find a new pair of jeans and a vintage tee shirt and clean pair of undies, some socks and a pair of tennies. I dress in the closet again. Good thing it’s so big, it comes in handy when you have two hot men in your room. I throw my towel out and ask Sebastian to hang it up for me. I come out of the closet and give Aidan a pouty look. He tries to smile at me but sees I’m pissed.

  “That was a mean trick, Aidan.”

  “It was funny and you know it.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe yes.”

  “I thought it was childish. Lily, are you ready to go to work?” Sebastian asks.

  “Let me get a jacket.”

  Aidan summons a beautiful blue-green pea coat that matches my eyes perfectly and helps me into it.

  “I assume it is still okay to give you gifts?”

  “This is the perfect color, Aidan. Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome, have fun at work. I will be watching for you the moment you step out after your shift is over.”

  I turn and take his hand.

  “Thank you, again. Good bye.”

  “See you soon, Lilith.”

  I wave to Helena, Hannah and Julian as Sebastian and I leave. We step into the night. Sebastian holds the door of the car for me and then gets into the other seat.

  “Can we cheat just a little? I’m dying to kiss you, Cherie.”

  “Sebastian, you are the hardest person in the world for me to say no to, but I need to right now. Maybe a little kiss on the cheek when I get out of the car?”

  “That will have to do then. I will be pining for you all night you know.” His laugh takes the pressure off. “Not quite the response I would have given a year ago, is it?”

  “How long have you loved me this way, Bast?”

  “It’s been happening over the last year. Little things you did made me think of you all day. The way you tossed your hair, the way you smiled or laughed at something. Soon I thought of you while I talked to other women and then while I was with other women, I imagined them as you. I knew I was completely lost when I stopped going out nights and rushed home to make sure I was there when you came by. That was about five months ago.”

  I’m stunned. I had no idea this has been going on for so long. I thought he had just decided one day that he liked me this way. I hadn’t trusted his change of behavior. He’s played the field for over three hundred and fifty years and had never settled down or indicated a desire to be with just one woman and now he wants me? He is even willing to put up with me trifling about Aidan. That’s pretty convincing - still three hundred and fifty years to five months – we’ll see.

  We pull up to the SF Suicide Prevention building and he gets out and walks me to the door.

  “Thanks Bast.”

  I let him give me a chaste kiss on the cheek. I know he wants more but I’m sticking to my guns.

  “Thank you, Lily. I’ll be right here at the door at two am exactly. Do not come out unless you see me, please.”

  “Okay. I promise.”

  Sebastian gives me one of his five hundred watt smiles. It lights up the night and my heart. How could I not love him?

  I weave through the maze of gray cubicles and sit down in my broken chair at my impersonal metal government issued desk. Ahhh, sanctuary. I don’t even mind my mission control headset. I only have to spray it with Lysol once. I handi-wipe the buttons on the phone, use my hand sanitizer. Then I fill in my log book and am ready to rock and roll when we get a bomb threat.

  “How could they get a bomb in here? We are key-coded in,” one of my co-workers is saying to Meredith, my extremely righteous supervisor.

  “It doesn’t matter. Protocol is that we exit until the bomb squad can clear the building,” Meredith answers.

  This sucks. No one is going to be left with unanswered calls. We have an emergency plan set up where our calls are forwarded to another agency, but that will mean a backlog at that agency and long wait times on the phone. Some people will hang up and that is never good. We all hate what this means. I agree with my co-worker, I doubt this is for real.

  We get our coats on and shuffle out of the building in an orderly manner. Everyone stands out front in a huddle as the police, the bomb squad and the fire department get here.

  “Now everyone just stay calm. Aren’t you all glad you didn’t have any personal items to retrieve from your work stations? I told you all it was a good policy,” Meredith says.

  Sebastian gets out of his car from across the street and walks over to me, frowning.