“Oh, Lucky?” She stopped and looked over her shoulder. I realized Miguel had vanished, the empty space behind me a welcome relief. “News flash. Your Siren blood? Also not worth a damn for attracting men. Sorry about that.” And with a finger wave I concentrated and vanished, sure that I’d left her with a gaping mouth. Hah! I waited until I was a block down in another alley before I rematerialized and went to check on the shop. I’d got what I wanted—Lucky was leaving town. Things were running smoothly at Vintage Vamp’s so I just walked through to get my car from the alley.
Oh, she did not do this. But I had a feeling she did. I should have known Lucky would find a way to make me pay for slipping out of our contract. My tires were slashed and as flat as Diana’s wallet. I really hated to call in another insurance claim but four new tires… I loved my sassy new car but even the tires were expensive. I walked around the vehicle three times inspecting for other damage. If Lucky had keyed it or broken so much as a taillight, I’d find a way to freeze that bitch into a Lucky-cicle until New Year’s.
But apparently Lucky had some respect for a fine Italian sports car and had contented herself with ruining the rubber. I decided to let the tires go for tonight and called Erin, asking her to leave a message for the day crew to get the tires taken care of tomorrow. I kicked at one, hurt my toe, then shifted to fly out to Ian’s. This was not how I’d wanted to arrive.
He let me in with a smile. I was part of an experiment to him now and Ian loved his experiments.
“So, Glory, what have you found out about Sirens? Aggie won’t tell me anything. Claims it’s a sisterhood thing. Not for men to know, if you can believe that.” Ian was in a good mood as he led me into his expansive living room.
“She’s right. It is a sisterhood and apparently I made a lucky escape when Achelous kicked me out.” I settled into a comfy chair with a view of one of Austin’s lakes. There was no way I was accepting the glass of premium synthetic he offered me.
“But he left you ignorant. Unforgivable not to know you were a Siren. What about the blood? Did you find out if it carries any powers?” Ian picked up an electronic tablet off of a glass coffee table, then settled on the couch.
“Not a speck.” I jumped to my feet. “And, Ian, I don’t appreciate the lies you told me. Clarity? Here’s some for you. That b.s. about drinking my blood and getting off to it was obviously a ploy. A way to drive a wedge between me and Jerry, wasn’t it?”
“Glory, how can you say that? I told you. The feud is ancient history. And Penny took the drug. She gave you her statement.” Ian looked like he wanted to smile.
“Get her in here. I want to interview her about that little experiment.” I sat again. Lying bastard. “Damn it, Ian, if you laugh at me, I’ll show you a power that will make you very uncomfortable.” I entertained myself with visions of Ian as a garden gnome. “And look at my face! You slipped me another drug and now I’m wearing a permanent flush.”
“Calm down, Gloriana. That night you were overwrought. I thought I was doing the right thing. And I might have a cure for your residual redness. If you’re willing to take another drug.” Ian got serious. “Forgive me. As a doctor, I always turn to medicine as a cure.”
I settled back in my chair. “No more drugs. Now call Penny in here. I know she was supposed to work tonight.”
“Yes, she’s here.” Ian’s finger hovered over his tablet. “But first won’t you tell me what powers you got as a former Siren?”
“Did you hear me? I’m furious with you. You drugged me. Lied to me. I do have some of the powers the Sirens have, but I’m sure not sharing anything with you.”
Ian tapped the tablet. “Fine. I’ll get Penny.” He walked over to an intercom and buzzed another room, asking for her to join us.
“What’s up, Glory?” Penny smiled at me as she walked into the room. She wore a white lab coat over her jeans and T-shirt, looking cute and very professional.
“I want to show Ian that I’m on to him. You remember when he let you have that dose of Clarity? Supposedly made from my blood?” I frowned at Ian. “Experimenting on Penny. So not cool.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Penny is a scientist. She was a willing subject, weren’t you, my dear?” Ian put his hand on her shoulder.
Penny jerked away from Ian when I nodded. “What do you mean ‘supposedly’? What did you do, Ian?”
“I told you, I made a drug from Gloriana’s blood. She’s here making wild accusations, just because she and Campbell apparently broke up.” Ian smiled. “Not my fault, Gloriana. The man is a hothead.”
“We’ll see.” I couldn’t resist. I froze Ian with a look. He stood there, his eyes burning and not able to move a muscle. “How do you like that Siren power, Ian?” I turned to Penny. “Now remind me exactly how you felt after you took Clarity.”
“I had hyper vision, hearing and an enhanced libido.” Penny flushed. “It was really cool and a breakthrough drug.” She glanced at Ian. “You shouldn’t have done that, Glory. I can tell Ian’s furious. When he thaws, he can call in his guards and you’ll be outnumbered.”
“No worries. I have more tricks I can play. And he can’t be mad at you. I’m the villain here.” I tapped Ian on his chest. I read his thoughts. Wow. He was steamed. Being helpless was like his worst nightmare. He and Jerry were more alike than they’d ever admit.
“Now I want you to drink some of my blood. Straight from the source, Penny.” I held out my wrist. “Just enough to be sure you have a good sampling. Then we’ll see what effects it has on you, won’t we, Ian?”
“You sure? It was kind of embarrassing the first time. I was so horny.” Penny looked at her feet. “Well, let’s just say I shifted over to N-V and dragged Trey into a supply closet. He was thrilled but I was mortified.”
I laughed. “No worries. I have a feeling none of that will happen this time. What do you say, Ian? Oh, I forgot, you can’t talk.” I concentrated and thawed just his head. “Now you can comment.”
“Gloriana, you will regret this. Thaw me out this instant.” I swear spittle came out of his mouth Ian was so enraged.
“I’d rather not. Come on, Penny.” I sat on the couch and held out my wrist then patted the seat next to me. “Have at it.”
“Penny, ignore her. She is trying to make you look foolish.” Ian made this sound like an order.
“It’s an experiment, boss. I think I should do it. In the interest of science, don’t you know.” Penny sat and took my hand. “Here goes.” She bit into my wrist delicately, like she was afraid she’d hurt me. “Mmm.” She sent me a mental message that I tasted great.
I timed her then pushed her away and told her to lick the punctures closed. “Okay, how do you feel?”
Penny looked around the room. “Sight’s normal. Say something, Glory. No, let me listen and see if I can hear the guards outside. Last time, I could hear conversations from a block away.” She screwed up her face, concentrating. “Nope. No luck.” Then she sat back on the couch and looked Ian over. Uh-oh.
“Penny, if you value your job…” Ian growled.
“Sorry, boss, but you’re not my type. I’m in love with my shifter and I am not in the throes of lust like I was after I took Clarity, whatever that was.” Penny turned to me. “Glory, you’re right. It wasn’t made with your blood. You’ve got rich, delicious vampire blood, but it’s not an aphrodisiac.”
“Good to know.” I got up and felt her get up beside me. “Ian obviously has created a new drug that he can market but it’s nothing to do with me. Right, Ian?”
“Obviously.” He lifted his chin. “Penny, don’t you have work to do in the lab?”
“No, I don’t think I do.” She pulled off her lab coat. “I can’t work here anymore. Not when I’m used to deceive my friends.”
Ian’s face was a thundercloud. “You won’t find another job like this one.”
“I hope not.” She took my arm. “Let’s get out of here, Glory.”
I was proud of my fledgling but worried that Ian would retaliate in some way. “Hold up a minute. Ian, you will give Penny a good recommendation, won’t you? I don’t think the council would like to hear about your deceptive practices here.”
“I never sold Clarity, Glory. It was just a little experiment.” Ian frowned at both of us. “But she is an excellent scientist. Don’t be impulsive, Penny. We can surely work something out.”
“No thanks. I have some money saved and some time to think about options. Maybe I’ll just hang out with Glory in her shop for a while.” Penny smiled at me, pretty relaxed for someone who’d just given up her dream job.
“Actually, I’m heading to Scotland.”
“Scotland?” Penny wasn’t in any hurry to leave. “What’s up?”
Ian seemed interested in the answer too.
“Jerry’s gone home to the family castle. Since he left, I found out that only a Siren’s song can enthrall a man and, when we met, I didn’t have one, thanks to Achelous. I need to tell Jer that. To relieve his mind.”
“You could do that with a simple telephone call.” Ian smirked. “Even the primitive Campbells have cell phone service.”
“Yes, well, we didn’t part on good terms. Thanks to your interference.” I hated Ian’s amused expression, like he was above my little love drama. “I feel the need for a face-to-face.”
Ian made a noise. Was he laughing? That brought my chin up.
“Fine. Maybe I’ll beg for his forgiveness. Though what I did, I have no idea.” I sighed and let my shoulders slump. “Obviously I have no pride where Jerry’s concerned.”