Chapter Twenty
Miranda kept playing with Darren’s hair after she ended the call. He had buried his head in her lap again, feeling her warmth, taking in her scent. It was more comforting than anything after listening to her conversation with Jack. Remembering Scott.
Whenever Darren thought about what had happened in the park, he wanted to stand up and punch through the wall. Then tear the wall down and hurl the pieces through the window.
But this was Miranda’s home. It was where they’d first made love. He didn’t want to destroy it. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing on her.
“Are you doing okay?” Her voice was as gentle as her touch.
“I don’t know how to answer that.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear me talk to Jack about Scott. I didn’t think you’d want me to leave.”
He tightened his hold on her waist. “It would have bothered me more if you’d left the room.”
“Do you need to talk about it?”
“I need to not talk about it. Or even think about it. I can’t ignore that it happened forever—that he’s gone. But I need time. I need to let my subconscious work on it for a while before I really think about it. If I try to right now, I feel like I’ll lose it.”
“Then don’t think about it.” She bent down and kissed his head.
“You can’t imagine how much that helps.”
“What, not thinking about it?”
“You touching me. Kissing me.”
“If that’s a line, it’s a great one.”
“I don’t know how I would have made it through this without you. Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me.”
“This isn’t a chore for me.” There was a bit of a bite to her tone. “Being with you…it’s what I’ve wanted for a long time. I know we’re dealing with awful stuff right now, and I feel kind of bad admitting this, but I’m happy. About us, at least. That we found our way to each other.”
“I wish it had happened sooner. Starting a relationship in the middle of all this is kind of stressful.”
“Maybe this is the way it had to be. Maybe our bond will grow even stronger because of all that’s going on.”
“I can’t imagine feeling a stronger connection to you than this.” Then again, she hadn’t turned yet.
He thought of what it would be like to hold her, make love to her, with no fear of getting carried away and hurting her with his new strength. A wild feeling surged through him as he imagined her at his side as a werewolf.
He leaned up so he could kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close as she lay back against the pillows.
Her phone rang again.
“Would you mind terribly if I smashed that?” he said.
She laughed as she picked it up. Her heartbeat sped as she read the screen.
“What’s wrong?” he said.
“It’s Eden.”
Miranda quickly answered the call, sitting back up as she did. “Eden?”
There was a pause before Eden said, “Hi.”
Darren could hear every word as if they were both standing in the room with him. It’d been the same with Jack’s call. He sat next to Miranda so he could offer his support, like she had supported him when talking to Jack earlier.
“Are you okay?” Miranda reached for Darren’s arm, clasping his wrist gently.
“I don’t know,” Eden said. “It’s a lot to ask, especially with the way I walked out before, but could we meet? I need to talk to you.”
“Of course.” Miranda’s grip tightened. “Where are you?”
Eden let out a little sigh. “We can meet in front of my office. Do you know where my storefront is?”
Miranda nodded, the phone pressed tight to her ear. “Yes. We can be there in ten minutes.”
Eden paused for a moment. “We?”
“Um…” Miranda smiled at Darren. “Yeah. Darren will be coming along. I hope that’s okay.”
Eden’s voice picked up. Darren could hear the grin in it.
“Darren?” Eden repeated. “As in ‘hunky Darren that you’ve been drooling over for weeks’ Darren?”
He lifted his eyebrows at Miranda and mouthed, drooling?
“I’m pretty sure he can hear you,” she said.
Eden paused for a moment. “Oops. Sorry.”
Miranda shrugged. “It’s okay. He’s well aware of me drooling over him now.”
“That brought…not the mental images I’d like to associate with you guys,” Eden said.
Miranda laughed. “Well, you can see us with your own eyes shortly. We just need to get dressed.”
“Not helping,” Eden said.
“Sorry.” Miranda swung her legs over the side of the bed, pulling on Darren’s arm. “I don’t live far away. We’ll see you soon.”
There was another pause. Darren could hear Eden’s breath hitching, as if she was crying. Miranda was still smiling blithely. She must not be able to hear it. He touched her shoulder to get her attention.
As quietly as he could, he said, “Is she okay?”
Miranda’s brow furrowed as she parroted his question to Eden. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” Eden said. “I just need to see you.”
Miranda’s voice was filled with tension. “Okay. We’re on our way.”
“Thanks,” Eden croaked out. “Bye.”
“Bye.” Miranda looked down at her phone. The call had already been ended. She gazed up at Darren with eyes full of worry.
“Something must have happened,” she said.
He pulled her into a quick hug. “We’ll find out what’s going on faster if we hurry. Come on.”
They were pulling up in front of Eden’s business office within eight minutes. The streets had been empty this time of night, and Darren’s car still had its speed, even if it had lost most of the front grill. A woman stood beneath a sign that read, Landscapes by Eden.
Darren chuckled. “I like the name.”
“She told me once she’s always loved plants and decided to put her name to good use,” Miranda said.
They hopped out of the car and headed across the street. A woman Darren assumed was Eden turned as they approached. She had large blue eyes and curly black hair that hung past her shoulders.
Her skin was beyond pale—it looked almost bloodless. There was a purple tinge around her mouth and nose.
Her scent was even more distressing—a sharp cast to it that reminded Darren of the feeling he always had in hospitals. Beneath the sharpness, he caught a scent like rich potting soil mixed with blood.
And…sex.
He felt his cheeks heat. Miranda had mentioned that Eden was working on a “moon garden” for some rich client. That probably explained the soil smell. Maybe she’d cut herself and the guy had…comforted her?
He shook his head, as if that would rattle the speculations out of his brain. His werewolf senses were definitely giving him TMI.
Miranda had said Eden wouldn’t live till the end of the week. After seeing and…sensing her, Darren wondered if she’d make it through the next day. He understood Miranda’s urgency around the matter now. If they were going to save Eden by turning her, it needed to happen soon.
“Hi.” Eden and Miranda spoke simultaneously as they embraced in a huge hug. Eden buried her face in Miranda’s shoulder.
Darren didn’t know what to do. He felt like a third wheel. Miranda glanced over at him, her face pinched with worry.
His heart started to pound. This was his potential pack—his future standing before him. If Eden was involved with someone, that might complicate matters.
“What happened?” Miranda said.
“I’m not even sure where to begin.” Eden pulled back from the hug, but kept holding onto Miranda’s arms. She looked unsteady.
Darren took a step closer so he could catch her if she fell.
“First off, I owe you an apology,” Eden said.
Miranda shook her head. “There’s no need.”
“Yes, there is. I’m so sorry about how I left the other day.”
“I understand,” Miranda said. “It’s okay.”
Eden smiled, but then tears started streaming down her cheeks. Miranda pulled her back into a hug.
“Tell me,” Miranda said.
“Shade lost his best friend yesterday. I told him about our fight, and he reminded me that none of us knows how much time we have and we can’t waste it fighting. He didn’t even know about…about my…” Eden gasped a huge breath, then said, “I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, Eden.” Miranda leaned back and kissed Eden’s forehead.
Darren’s heart lurched again. He wanted to protect them both. It was obvious how much they cared for each other in every gentle touch and gesture.
He couldn’t help but think about how had always Scott kidded around with him. He’d had a habit of elbowing Darren in the ribs when he’d thought Darren was taking himself too seriously.
Darren hadn’t been able to save Scott. But if Eden wanted Darren to try to turn her, he would. In that moment, his mind was made up.
“It’s okay,” Miranda said. “Really, it’s okay. You’re only human.”
Eden let out a snort. “It’s funny you should say that.” She looked over at Darren. “Can Miranda and I talk privately?”
“Darren and I don’t have secrets.” Miranda smiled at him, gaze intense, letting him know she meant it.
He believed her.
He wanted to grab her and kiss her, but that would just be awkward. Luckily, she stepped over to him and put her arm around his waist. He held her close against his side.
“You can trust him,” Miranda said.
“But I need to talk about your…” Eden cocked her head to the side and shrugged. “You know.”
Darren felt his eyebrows hitch up his forehead. “Um, maybe I should give you guys a minute.”
“She means my powers.” Miranda cast a mocking scowl at him, then smiled. “Darren knows about what I can do.”
“Wow. I guess if he’s on board with that, then this won’t be so weird.” Eden paused for a moment, then said, “No, this is still going to be weird.”
“Out with it,” Miranda said.
“Okay.” Eden took a deep breath, then let it out through pursed lips. “Have you ever had a vision that involved… How do I even say this? Non-humans. Like people who aren’t—”
“You mean like werewolves?” Miranda asked.
Miranda had perked up, but Darren felt his stomach drop at her words.
Eden laughed. “No, not werewolves.” Her expression turned serious suddenly. “Wait, are werewolves real?”
“Yes.” Miranda nodded. “Werewolves, vampires…zombies.” Miranda’s voice trailed off at the end and she squeezed Darren’s waist.
“Vampires.” Eden closed her eyes and let out another breath. “Vampires are real.”
She opened her eyes again. There were tears glittering in them, but she was smiling.
“That’s what I needed to know,” Eden said. “Thank you.”
“Hold on a minute.” Miranda cocked her head to the side. “You can’t get away with calling us out here and asking us if vampires are real and then not explain. Where is this coming from?”
“I can’t tell you,” Eden said. “It’s not my secret to share.”
Eden smelled like freshly turned earth, but there wasn’t a spot of dirt on her outfit. Wasn’t there something about vampires sleeping in coffins filled with dirt? If that was the case, they would carry the scent with them. That plus the smells of sex and blood…
“Her boyfriend’s a vampire,” Darren said.
Miranda and Eden both turned to him and gasped.
“How did you know that?” Eden said.
He shrugged, feeling his cheeks tingle again. A blushing werewolf. Great.
Miranda wouldn’t let it go. “Yeah, how?”
He sighed, then pretended to scratch his nose, hoping Miranda would get the message. She did, but her reaction wasn’t what he expected.
“Oh, you could smell it with your werewolf senses,” she said.
“Miranda—” He let out a sigh.
“What?” Miranda said. “We can know that her boyfriend is a vampire, but I can’t tell her that mine’s a werewolf?”
He glanced at Eden, trying to read her response. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open, but then she closed it and smiled.
“This is a really strange night,” Eden said.
“Tell me about it.” Miranda shifted closer to Eden. “I’m guessing the vampire boyfriend is Shade?”
“Yes.” Eden smiled and her gaze became a little unfocused. There was wonder and affection and longing there.
Darren couldn’t resist putting his arm around Miranda’s waist and pulling her against his chest.
“He offered to turn me,” Eden said. “But it was just too much to process. I’ve been so light-headed lately, I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating or not. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I figured if anyone would know about this, it would be you.”
“Ask the oracle. I get it.” Miranda laughed. “Wow, you’re a woman in high demand. We were going to offer for Darren to turn you.”
“Really?” Eden’s eyes widened.
“We were going to try if you were interested,” Darren said. “I’m not even sure if I could. I’m still new to this all.”
“Do you have like a werewolf mentor who’s helping you through it?” Eden asked.
Darren snorted. “If only.”
“Maybe Shade can help,” Eden said. “He says he’s old. Like hundreds of years old. I bet he’s come across werewolves before.”
Darren wasn’t sure if that would be a good thing. “Isn’t there a rivalry or something between vampires and werewolves? That’s how the movies usually show it.”
Miranda shook her head. “I don’t remember my dad telling me stories about werewolves and vampires interacting at all. If I’d known it would be this important, I would have paid more attention to them. I was always more into the fairies.”
“I’m not complaining about that,” Darren said.
Eden’s face lit up. “Are fairies real too?”
Darren and Miranda shared a look.
“Yeah, but that’s not a good thing,” Miranda said.
“Oh.” Eden actually looked disappointed.
He hoped she never had a chance to meet a fairy and find out just how wrong her apparent ideas about them were.
“If Shade is as old as Eden says, maybe he knows about fairies too,” Miranda said. “We can ask him about the coin and the Fairy Lord. He might even be able to help us with the full moon.”
Darren’s misgivings were still there. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why?” Miranda craned her neck to look up at him.
Darren stared at Eden, not wanting to voice his concerns in front of her. She must have read his doubts in his expression.
“Whatever else he is, Shade is a good man,” Eden said. “If he can help you, he will.”
Darren shook his head. “We’re still learning about all this. For all we know, Shade could be working for the Fairy Lord.”
“The full moon is in two days,” Miranda said. “Jack can’t help us. If Shade is willing to, I don’t think we can shut that door.”
Damn.
“I don’t really understand everything you’re talking about, but Shade did say that we might have to run after her turns me,” Eden said. “I think he’d be breaking some sort of rule, but if it means we get to be together forever… We’re both willing to risk it. If he’s working for this Fairy Lord you guys are worried about, he’s already open to leaving him.”
That was only somewhat reassuring.
Miranda turned to Darren and said, “We need all the help we can get if we’re going to stop the zombie apocalypse.”
She was right. What they were facing was so much bigger than dealing with his own…issues.
“Zombie apocalypse?” Eden let out a laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
He didn’t know what to say. Miranda was uncharacteristically silent as well.
Eden’s smile vanished. “I know the other night you said something big and bad was coming, but a zombie apocalypse?”
“I’m not one-hundred percent certain yet, but my visions have been…pretty horrific lately.” Miranda shook her head. “At the moment, I’m most concerned about you.”
Miranda held out her hand to Eden. With barely a pause, Eden took it. Miranda closed her eyes. They both took a deep breath, letting it out in synch. They must have done this before.
Even with all of Miranda’s talk of Eden, Darren hadn’t realized how close they were. Hopefully, that bond would last through their respective changes.
Part of him was disappointed that Eden wouldn’t be joining their pack. That part was drowned out in how happy he was for her to have found someone to love. Like he loved Miranda.
Miranda sucked in a breath, her eyes flying open.
“What? What is it?” Eden said.
Miranda shook her head, then grabbed Eden’s wrist, half-pulling her friend toward the car.
“We’re leaving,” Miranda said. “Now.”
Darren fell in step beside them. When Eden stumbled, he put his arm around her waist to help her.
“What did you see?” Eden asked.
He looked at the grim expression on Miranda’s face and knew before she answered.
“Nothing,” Miranda said. “Nothing at all.”