narrowed. He’d been to most of the covens in North America and quite a few in Europe.
“I was based in Houston and delivered to Galveston, Beaumont, Woodlands and the odd run to Austin. The drive out there was only a couple of hours, three if I got caught in traffic, but it was nice for a change.” Kee shrugged and put his water on the table. Dian did the same. “Most of the vamps were all right, you know. Friendly, always pleased to see me, kept their fangs to themselves. It was good.”
“Can’t have been that good if you’re on the run from one of them.”
“How is it my fault someone can’t take no for an answer?” Kee slapped his chest. “I delivered the blood bags, you know. I never offered anyone the right to take it from the source.”
“I’m not disbelieving you, mate, but vamps only become obsessed if blood’s involved. It’s like their whole physiology runs on it. How did you end up with one obsessed with you?”
“I guess I’m just that damned pretty,” Kee snapped back, but he lost his attitude immediately afterwards. “I’m sorry, I really am. I had no right to speak to you like that. It’s just, I’ve been on the run for months. I finally think I have found a home here with friends and a job I like. Then my mate, bam, comes into my life and it’s like a Hallmark moment. But between the vamp who’s been hot on my tail for so long, and finding out about orgasmic pixie dust, I’m fucked, Dian. Totally fucked, and now I’ve fucked your life up too.”
A single tear trickled down Kee’s cheek and that spurred Dian to pull his mate onto his lap. “It’ll be okay, my mate,” he said with more gentleness than his colleagues would imagine him capable of. “I promise, everything will be all right.”
“I just don’t know what to do now,” Kee sobbed.
Dian thought about all he knew about Arrowtown. It used to be run by asshole buffalo shifters who skirted the law on more than one occasion, and the council had always been keeping a wary eye on them. But then something happened, and the buffalos were gone. Dian had thought it was good the townspeople had obviously had enough and voted the corrupt officials out.
The current mayor was a tiger shifter who was mated to a half fae rabbit shifter. There were a high percentage of fated pairs in town, many of them between different species, so speciesm wasn’t an issue. The men he and Eagle met at the sheriff’s office were honest and decent. Dian already knew Cam and would trust him with his life. “I think we need to rethink our strategy of not telling anyone about your powers.”
“I don’t have powers.” Kee snuggled into Dian’s chest and sniffed. “I have freaky dust.”
“You do have powers – you’re a magical creature, a lot like the fae or the elves. It’s just with pixies those powers never manifest unless they’re true mated.”
“I’d better be careful what I wish for then, hadn’t I. What do you mean, tell people? What people? You didn’t even want to tell Eagle and I thought you two are best friends.”
Dian thought about how to explain. His gargoyle side agreed with his reasoning, now he had to get his words right. “I felt something when I arrived here. A sense of home and I know you like this place too, right?”
Kee nodded, but then said, “I’m not sure how friendly people will be with me once they realize what a pile of trouble I am.”
“That’s where I think you’re wrong. I think the people in this town will rally around you – around us - if they think you’re in trouble.” Dian warmed to his idea. “We need to tell them the truth, about you being half pixie, about the crazed vamp, all of it. We tell them we need their help.”
“I’ve only been in town a short while, and you only arrived yesterday. Why should they help us?” Kee looked up, and while his eyes were sad, Dian could see the hope in them too.
“Because they’re good people, babe. They care about each other and they’ll care about us too if we’re honest with them.”
“And if they don’t? If they run us out of town?”
Dian didn’t blame Kee for his attitude. Anyone who should’ve cared for him clearly missed the briefing. “You’ll still have me,” he said with a growl, “and