Fangs and Fennel (The Venom Trilogy #2)(12)

“That was not very smart.” I stared at her as I bore down.

She screeched, even though I knew I wasn’t putting that much pressure on her. Of course, I’d not thought about the keys. The smell of blood rolled up from her hand, and I let go.

She jerked back, clutching her hand to her chest, the keys embedded in her palm. “You are a monster. I will have that bakery; it’s mine. And there is nothing you can do to stop me.”

The snake in me uncoiled a fraction, a silent question coming from it. How badly did I want to stop Colleen?

Short of actually killing her, I knew she was right. She would be able to get the bakery from Roger. All he had to do was apply for duplicate forms from the business offices. Maybe three weeks at the most, and she would have all the paperwork in hand, and they would be able to finish the deal.

I drew myself up. Challenge accepted. I had three weeks to change how the world viewed supernaturals so I could save the thing I loved most in the world.





CHAPTER 3


Once more, Remo pulled me back, his hands tight on my upper arms. “There are more ways than one to make sure you retain your bakery, Alena. Do not follow through.”

What did he mean? I glanced up at him, and he gave me a half smile.

“I see the way your eyes narrow, the thoughts rolling through you. There is no way you would ever forgive yourself if you hurt her.”

I let him tug me backward, even as Colleen glared at me, still clutching her hand. “I’m going to destroy Vanilla and Honey just to spite you.”

My shoulders tensed, and a low hiss slid out of me. Remo turned me around, put an arm around my waist, and hurried us away from the courthouse. “Let it go, Alena.”

“She’s . . . she’s awful!” I spit the word out like it was a cuss.

“I know.”

Shaking, I let him guide me down the street. “Where is Tad?”

“Said he had something to do. Suspect he’s gone looking for Dahlia. Don’t worry, I saw him and he still had all your papers.”

I folded the paper I’d taken from Colleen and held it out to Remo. “Do you mind hanging on to this? I seem to be out of pockets at the moment.”

He took the paper and tucked it away into a back pocket.

“Are you okay with Tad and Dahlia dating?” I blurted the question out before I thought better of it. Taboos were taboos, and cross-species dating was a no-no. Kinda like baking with garlic and chocolate. Nobody ended up happy with the results, no matter how you mixed the two ingredients.

“For now. They seem to be only testing the waters.” He winked at me.

I couldn’t help the small smile. Dahlia was my best friend; we’d met when we were both dying from the Aegrus virus. She’d made me laugh when I should have been doing nothing but crying. The fact that Tad was dating her couldn’t have made me happier. Even if it meant they were breaking the rules, dating outside their species. Tad was a naga, and Dahlia a vampire. Sure, they both had fangs, but I doubted that would be enough if anyone tried to enforce the no-hanky-panky-between-species clause.

They were good together, and as long as they were happy, I was happy for them.

My thoughts were swiftly brought back to the situation at hand, though. We were still in the shadow of the courthouse when a man approached us. He wore a black suit, with hints of silver flickering through the threads. His hair was a dark blond, slicked back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. It seemed that the lights behind him highlighted his body, giving him a strange otherworldly glow. Like he’d set up the approach, timing it like an actor strutting to center stage for a soliloquy.

Obviously he was a lawyer. Maybe he’d seen the scene in the courthouse and thought he could bank on it and get himself a job. Judge Watts had said I should get a lawyer. Not that I had any money to pay one, but still it might be a good idea to at least listen to him.

He stopped in front of me, forcing us to stop as well. “Are you Alena?”

I clutched my robe around me, and Remo tightened his hold on my waist. “Yes, and you are . . . ?”

He smiled, and the world seemed to dim around him as he held out his hand. I took it, my manners automatic.

“Of course, let me introduce myself.”

I tried to pull my hand back, but he hung on tightly enough that if I pulled too hard, I’d end up throwing him through the air. “I can’t afford a lawyer, so unless you are willing to go pro bono, I’m not sure I’m your client.”

His grin widened and his eyebrows shot up. “I’m not a lawyer.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “How did you know my name then?”

A cold feeling swirled around my belly as he put his other hand on top of mine, holding me fast. “We were destined to meet, Alena.” A slow hum caught me off guard, a resonance I didn’t understand.

His smile filled my vision, a little burst of light sparkling in front of my eyes. The snake in me hissed, recognizing him as an enemy before I did. “Oh no.”

“Oh no?” Remo whispered. “Do you know him?”

“I’m guessing here, but . . .” I tried again to pull my hand back again, carefully, but the man in front of me held on. “You’re Theseus, aren’t you?”

He let go then, and I stumbled back a few steps with the backlash. Remo caught me, steadying me.