Extended Family Issues

     The slam of the front door shook the entire haven as Nathan stomped into the entryway. Growling under his breath, he slung his keys into the Waterford crystal dish the pack used as a "key rack," and stormed into the living room. The sounds of "Knights of the Old Republic" abruptly died as Honoria Wingate turned to look at him, the controller in her hands.

     "What the fuck? Now you’re coming in here, too?" Nathan snarled as he stomped over to yank the controller out of her hands.

     "Hey, fucktard, I always come in here. You know that," she snapped, pulling the controller away and scooting back along the floor. Violet eyes narrowed as she looked up at him, one eyebrow lifting. "What the hell crawled up your ass and died?"

     The vampire flopped back onto one of the haven’s matching couches, his dark blue eyes narrowed. "Fucking Kitty." He glanced at Honoria, his mouth twisting wryly. "Knowing you the way I do, I’m guessing you saw our new girl."

     "Yeah," the sidhe said, turning her gaze back to the game. "She left with Slate after you guys took off earlier tonight."

     Adjusting the leather cord around his neck, Nathan put his feet up, turning to watch the game. "Dodge left or you’re gonna fry."

     Snarling as her character took a hit, Honoria focused on the game, slender fingers manipulating the controller with ease. "So what does Kitty have to do with that new chick? She’s a vampire, right?"

     Nathan nodded. "Yeah. Ventrue named Devyl. And she’s got Kitty’s hackles up but good."

     The fae smirked. "Can’t handle someone else being pretty around her."

     "And Kitty hates Ventrue. I mean really hates Ventrue. Not to mention Slate’s bein’ all snuggly with her."

     Honoria snorted. "God forbid Slate ever have someone he’s close to other than Kitty, huh?"

     A pillow was flung from Nathan’s direction with a laugh. "You remember how long it took for him to like you, even if you did hit that ‘Daddy’ issue he’s got dead on. What was it, a year?"

     She nodded, dodging the pillow without looking away from her game. "Yeah. Just my luck I was sixteen and a redhead with a dead vampire at my feet. If I’d been blonde or brunette, well…I’d probably be dead."

     Nathan laughed. "Yeah, Slate and his damn redheads." The Assamite antitribu frowned for a moment, considering. "Devyl’s got red hair…I wonder why Slate hasn’t hit on her yet."

     The fae shrugged, cursing as her character took more damage. "Damn Sith…um, maybe ’cause he’s feeling too daddy-ish to notice the body?"

     A lascivious grin spread across Nathan’s face as he looked the sidhe over. "Yeah, curves on a redhead…who would have guessed that would be appealing?"

     Honoria turned lethal violet eyes on him, her hands stilled on the buttons. She glared just long enough for him to smile in apology and look away, then returned her attention to the game. Nathan Talbot sighed heavily as he watched for a moment.

     "Jack called and told me he took her to see Spider," Nathan said, poking Honoria’s back with a booted toe. "You know what that means."

     "He wanted Spider to check her out?"

     Nathan nodded. "Yeah. Spider and her nose for trouble. Gotta love that girl." He twisted on the couch, unclipping a cell phone from his belt and tossing it onto the floor. "Whatcha bet he tries to find Lancaster to make introductions?"

     The sidhe shook her head, reddish-gold braid thumping on her back. "Ain’t gonna happen. Lancaster took off two days ago. Said something about a hunt up in Oregon."

     "Figures," Nathan grumbled. "Just when I actually want that creepy priest around, he bolts off to go kill another vampire."

     Honoria looked back at him, one eyebrow lifted. "I’d figure you’d be happy he kills them elsewhere."

     He shrugged, flicking a lock of midnight-black hair from his face. "I’d be happier if he’d stick to werewolves, but that’s not going to happen." He turned to glance at the grandfather clock standing near Valentine’s rocking chair. "Fuck…I gotta head back out. I promised Kitty I’d eat with her."

     "Suckin’ necks isn’t as much fun alone, huh?"

  &n

bsp;  Nathan laughed as he rose, retrieving the phone and giving the sidhe a nudge with his foot. Cocky as he was, even Nathan knew better than to touch her with his hands. "No, it’s not. And if you weren’t a fairy, I’d make you one of us so you could find that out."

     Her hands stilled on the controller for a long moment, and he saw the line of her jaw spring out through her soft cheek as her muscles clenched. "Yeah. Whatever. Get the fuck outta here so Kitty won’t kick your ass."

     Knowing full well that apologies just made her angry, Nathan nodded, heading for the door. "Play as long as you want. I think Kitty put some Mountain Dew in the fridge last night, in case one o’ y’all that eats stopped by." He left quietly, closing the door delicately behind him, unwilling to make more noise to irritate the sidhe’s raw nerves.

     Honoria sat quietly as she listened to Nathan’s motorcycle tear down the street, violet eyes rimmed with unshed tears as she gazed at the screen. Quietly, she turned off the game and curled up on the floor, resting her chin on her knees as she listened to the clock tick the seconds away. Honoria thought about the woman she had seen, and her lips curled bitterly.

     "Damn lucky bitch," she murmured, hiding her face in her arms. The clock continued to tick away the seconds which were precious only to the living.