Smolder (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #29)(2)

You have to be a belt factory or offer kickboxing as a fitness class or something sell-out like that to earn enough money to pay full-time staff, full-time wages,” Peter said.

“You talked to Bill like I suggested,” Edward said.

“Bill owns the school,” Peter explained to me, “and yes, I talked to him. I’d need another job that paid better if I wanted to be full-time at the dojo.” He made quote marks with his fingers when he said full-time.

“How’s the double major going?” I asked.

“I’m really enjoying Preternatural Primates this semester. I never knew how many species of trolls there were, and did you hear new DNA testing split the Yeti into three species instead of just the two?”

“Really? I hadn’t heard about that.”

“I can send you the link to the article our prof shared with us.”

“Please,” I said.

“But now I want to see some of the trolls we have in this country in person.”

“I’ve seen the Lesser Smoky Mountain Trolls.” I almost added that I knew someone who had their doctorate on the trolls, but the person in question was my ex, Richard Zeeman, and the last time Peter had seen him, someone we both knew had died. Today was a good day; we didn’t need to rake up horrible memories and ruin it.

“Really, when?”

“They’re indigenous to the area of Tennessee where one of my mentors lives. I don’t remember if I’ve talked to you about Marianne.”

“The witch who helped you learn to control your magic, right?”

“Yeah, I guess I did talk about her.”

He shook his head. “Nathaniel told me after the trip when he went with you and Micah to try and learn how the magical energy worked between the three of you.”

I knew that Nathaniel talked to Peter even more than I did, and Marianne was out of the broom closet as a witch, so I guess it was okay that Nathaniel shared. Besides . . . I looked at his eager face so happy in college, learning new things that he’d call up to share, and realized that I trusted Peter. He knew how to keep secret whatever needed kept.

“Your face went all serious, Anita, what are you thinking about?” he asked.

I smiled. “My first thought was that what Nathaniel had shared could get Marianne in trouble, and then I realized that I trusted you. Trusted your judgment, trusted you to keep secret what needs keeping.”

He smiled at me like I’d said something wonderful; maybe I had, but it was one of the best smiles I’d seen on his face since he got to watch his parents walk down the aisle together. “Thanks, Anita, that means a lot.”

“You’ve earned it, Peter.”

“He’s starting to like his biology classes better than his criminal justice ones,” Edward said, still tugging at the perfectly tailored coat.

“Are you still fast-tracked for preternatural law enforcement, or did the trolls lure you to the biology side?”

“I still want to be a preternatural marshal like you and Ted, but I failed my blood test for lycanthropy so they’re letting me stay in the program, but they aren’t sure about my future in it.”

“I’m sorry, Peter, really,” I said, and patted his arm.

“It’s not your fault, Anita.”

“You got hurt protecting me.”

“If I hadn’t been there the weretiger would have killed you. I don’t regret what I did, and you shouldn’t either.”

I looked at that calm, wise face, and thought, When did he get so grown-up? “I’ll do my best to be all healthy and therapy-evolved, but I am sorry that you popping hot on the test is keeping you out of the military and law enforcement.”

“I don’t shift, and my test is undetermined just like Ted’s.”

“And it’s my fault both times.”

“I’m still a marshal, and that you and I got to keep our badges sets a good precedent for Peter to get into law enforcement.”

“True, but if it’s my blood getting all up in your wounds when we were both cut up by wereanimals, why don’t both of you show full-blown Therianthropy at least on the test? I mean I don’t change form either, but my test always comes back listing every type of Therianthropy I have inside me.”

“The doctors don’t know,” Ted said.

“They were interested in the fact that both Ted and I test the same because we were father and son and they thought they had a theory, until they found out we’re not genetically related.”

“I went in with Peter last time so the doctors could talk to us together.”

“And draw more blood,” Peter said.

Edward nodded. “And draw more blood.”

“Dr. Lillian wants to draw more blood tomorrow from both of you and from me so she can compare it. Sorry.”

“No, we came here to figure out what’s happening to us,” Edward said, then tugged on the jacket as if it didn’t fit right, but I’d never seen him in a piece of clothing that fit him better and that included the tux he’d worn for his own wedding.

“And to try on beautiful wedding clothes,” I said, smiling.

The seamstress rejoined us then; she had the pants that were supposed to go with the jacket instead of the temporary ones that she’d forced Edward into so she could see how the jacket fit. The pants were black leather.