The Grey God

Darian didn't flee, but suddenly, Jenn wanted to.

The Grey God stepped around her, striding towards the door to Jonny's fortress. Jenn shivered involuntarily as a cool breeze replaced his body heat. She watched him, unable to identify why she felt the loss of more than his warmth. She had to keep pushing him away, or she wasn't the only one who'd probably end up dead in a few days.

She just had to drive him off before he found out.

When she entered, Darian stood in the middle of the foyer, surveying the vamps staring at him like the god he was.

"I'll show you around," she said. She led him first down the hallway where the gym was, pointing out the locker rooms and weapons room before taking him to the second floor to Jonny's wing and past her doorless room.

"I take it those aren't yours," Darian said, leaning in to look at the animal heads on her bed.

Jenn crossed her arms, irritated that the vamps had opened her windows, too, as if to make her room more uncomfortable for her. She strode in and rifled through the drawers for clean clothes.

"You got anywhere to be?" she asked.

"Just tracking Others."

"I'll go with you."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh?" She faced him. "Why not?"

"You can't kill them. I can."

"If I remember correctly, you were about to die when I rescued you from them."

Darian smiled faintly.

"I haven't had a decent shower in a week," she said, tossing him her knives. "They like to creep up on me when they think I'm unarmed. You mind waiting a few minutes?"

"Go for it. I won't say no to being so close to a naked woman."

Two weeks ago, she'd have laughed. After the strange exchange outside, the joke fell flat. Jenn eyed him. Darian flipped a knife in the air then sat down on a chair in the corner.

"Want me to clean up your bed?" he asked, gaze going to the animal heads.

"I sleep on the floor."

"After a zillion years sleeping on the floor, I won't waste another night outside a real bed."

"You're not sleeping in my bed."

The awkward silence fell again. Darian's gaze was intent and shadowed. Jenn shook her head and turned away. She entered her bathroom and locked the door, leaning against it.

Things were getting weird. She suspected part of it was the knowledge that Xander-and Sofi-believed her to be Darian's mate. She found it impossible to act normal around him with a potential fate that would put both of them at risk. Like Darian, she'd lost all she'd ever loved long ago. Since that fateful day, she'd sworn never to share herself with anyone. Her path as a spy for the Guardians had been lesson after lesson in how to fuck and walk. She'd built up a callus around her heart, one that got stronger and easier to maintain as she manipulated evil men.