Henri – 13

The apartment was small, taking up—Henri thought—half of the second floor, with the second apartment on the other side of a common wall. He figured the entrance to that one was via the stairs he'd seen when they went into Mrs Dean's office. To the left, off the entryway from the porch, there was a hallway that ran the full length of the apartment, with the kitchen and bedroom off it to one side. On the other side was one large room. The bathroom was at the end of the hall. The whole apartment smelled slightly of fresh paint and the lacquer that had been used on the highly polished hardwood floors.

 

"Nice big windows in here," Taegan said, standing at one in the living room. "Makes up for the fact there aren't any in the bedroom, " he added, chuckling.

 

After checking to make certain Mrs Dean wasn't listening, Henri replied, "Not a problem. It will feel safer, knowing the only way someone can get in when I'm sleeping is through the door."

 

"True. Are you going to take it?"

 

"Yep. It's not a mansion, but, truth be told, I'll be glad to have a place where I don't have to walk half a mile to get from my bedroom to the kitchen."

 

Taegan laughed. "That's why I like my place. There's something to be said for compact."

 

Henri went in search of Mrs Dean, finding her on the small porch at the top of the stairs. "The Realtor insisted on calling this a balcony in the listing," she said, shaking her head. "I'm afraid there's barely room enough for a chair."

 

"No problem. If you're willing, I'd like to rent the apartment."

 

"More than willing. Come back down to my office. There are, of course, papers to fill out—ID, work history, the usual.

 

"Work history is easy," Taegan told her before Henri could get past the panic he'd felt about that statement. "He's been one of my employees for the last four years."

 

"Very good," Mrs. Dean replied.

 

Henri took a deep breath, whispering, "Thank you," to Taegan.

 

"One of the reasons I came along," Taegan replied softly, patting Henri's back. "To cover your ass if there was something you needed help with."

 

Henri smiled weakly, then began filling out the paperwork. With Taegan there, Mrs Dean didn't have to call to verify Henri's supposed employment. After reading everything, she said she was satisfied, accepting Henri's check for first and last month's rent. Then she handed over the keys to the apartment and the two men left.

 

"Next stop, taking Miranda up on her offer of furniture for you," Taegan said, once they were on the road again.

 

"Meaning I'd better rent a truck."

 

"Strangest thing… I happen to have one," Taegan said with a grin. "When was she going to pick you up?"

 

"When I call her."

 

"Then do so, and tell her we'll meet her at the house after we get the truck."

 

"Why are you so willing to help me out?"

 

"Because you need it?"

 

 "It seems I need it from everyone." Henri sighed. "I haven't made a very good showing of handling things on my own."

 

"I disagree. You did the most important thing possible. You managed to escape Xavier not once, but twice."

 

"Three people died because of me," Henri said morosely.

 

"No, Henri. Three people died because of that bastard. If you'd stayed and tried to fight for them, they still would have died and you'd be his prisoner again." Taegan rested one hand on Henri's shoulder. "The man is insane, in case you haven't figured it out yet."

 

"Believe me, I know," Henri replied. He liked the fact Taegan was touching him, even though he was well aware it was just out of friendship—if that.

 

"Call Miranda," Taegan said.

 

"I can't, unless you have a phone. And don't—" Henri essayed a grin, "—say 'strangest thing, but I do'."

 

Taegan laughed. "Okay, but…" He took out his phone, handing it to Henri. Henri made the call and Miranda said she'd meet them at the house in an hour.

Henri - 12

 

 

"Call me when you're finished," Miranda told Henri when they dropped him off in front of Taegan's home. "We're going shopping." She grinned at John's groan of disgust. "You will survive, my dear."

 

"Uh-huh," John muttered.

 

Henri watched them drive away, noting they stopped longer than necessary at the corner. It made him feel better to know they were there, even though he was certain Xavier wouldn't try anything in broad daylight on a busy street. That thought didn't keep him from swiftly entering the gallery.

 

"Ah, there you are," Taegan said, ceasing his discussion with what Henri presumed was one of his employees. "Come. My car is out back."

 

Henri was surprised to see Taegan's car was a normal, everyday SUV. For whatever reason, he had expected at least a Jag or a Mercedes.

 

"I've had ritzy cars," Taegan said when Henri asked. "They were worse than useless for hauling things I need for the gallery. Yes, I do grunt work as well as meeting and greeting favored clients. It's part of the reason I'm successful, I suspect. I'm very much hands-on."

 

"The best way to be," Henri agreed, having no other response that wouldn't make him sound foolish. He kept his gaze locked on the sideview mirror, trying to determine if anyone was following them.

 

"Relax," Taegan said. "We're fine. I'm taking the long way around to where we're going. If our friend tries to tail us, he'll be SOL. I do know what I'm doing."

 

Henri chuckled. "Your secret agent gene kicking in?"

 

"I was a spy during the War Between the States," Taegan replied. "Of course, back then, I wasn't driving a car, looking for anyone trying to figure out where I was headed."

 

After studying him for a moment, Henri said, "You're serious, aren't you?"

 

"About cars? Sure. They didn't come into general use until the turn of the century." He winked at Henri. "But that's not what you meant. Yes, I was a spy, for the Confederacy. Not a bad one either, if I do say so myself."

 

As they talked, Taegan made several turns, rights and lefts, then declared, "We're safe enough now." He took another right and two minutes later they pulled up down the block from a house Henri recognized from the Realtor's website.

 

"Let's take a walk first," Taegan said. "Check out the neighborhood."

 

When they got to the block behind the house, Henri saw there was a tall privacy fence at the back of the building, separating it from the field that stretched from there to where they stood. A chain-link fence ran along the side of the house to the street, effectively protecting the stairs leading up to the apartment, while not hiding the view of the rest of the field.

 

"Now let's go meet your landlady," Taegan said when they were in front of the house again.

 

"My presumed landlady," Henri pointed out.

 

"Presumed." Taegan smiled as they went up the porch stairs and he rang the bell.

 

An older woman came to the door. She looked them over with a jaundiced eye until Henri said, "I'm here about the apartment."

 

Her whole demeanor changed as she stepped aside. "Come in. Come in. I'm Mrs Dean, and you are?"

 

Henri introduced himself and Taegan, as they followed her into a small office, at the foot of a flight of stairs, off to the side of the living room. "Tell me a bit about yourself," she said, at the same time that she began digging through a desk drawer. Henri barely got his mouth open to do so when she held up a set of keys. "I knew I'd put them in here. Come on. I'll show you the place. It was just redone about a month ago. My last tenant… Well, he wasn't very neat, to say the least."

 

By then, they were back outside the house. She took them up the outside stairs, telling Henri they were the only way to access the apartment. "So, you'll have all the privacy you want," she commented, unlocking the door.

Henri - 11

 

 

"Not bad," Ransom commented seconds later when he and Henri landed in the middle of Henri's living room.

 

Henri chuckled. "You were expecting a run-down cabin?"

 

"Maybe?"

 

"Sorry to disappoint." Henri went into his bedroom, returning a moment later to find Ransom wasn't where he'd left him. The open door to the front porch told him where Ransom had probably gone. He felt a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the cool breeze from the channel.

 

What if Xavier had someone watching the house? By now he might have found out I own it. They could have…

 

He inched his way to the door and peered outside. With a sigh of relief, he saw Ransom across the yard, staring at the moonlit bayou.

 

Ransom turned with a smile, which immediately became a look of concern.

 

"I didn't mean to frighten you."

 

"I was more frightened for you," Henri replied. "I was afraid maybe Xavier was around and had done something to you."

 

"Hey, if he tried, I'd shift and make mincemeat out of him."

 

"I'm sure," Henri said, but he couldn't stop from checking to be certain they were alone.

 

"It's just us." Now Ransom smiled again. "I can see why you liked living here. It's peaceful and there's plenty of space to run."

 

"It was, until Xavier showed up. I wish I could figure out how the hell he found me."

 

"Best guess… Had there been any rumors at the time about a wolf—or wolves—in the area?"

 

"Yes, a few. Mainly that a red wolf had been spotted. Generally it's because some tourist, who doesn't know the difference, saw a coyote. Seeing a wolf of any kind in this area is highly unlikely."

 

Ransom nodded. "That's what I'd figured. So he didn't just happen to be here. If he'd heard stories of a wolf around here… Meaning you—if a hunter saw you."

 

"I am careful, but you're right, that could have happened. A lone wolf, in an area where they are a rarity, would have piqued his interest."

 

"I think we may have solved the mystery of how he found you."

 

"Meaning, he could know this is my house. I'm glad I had sense enough not to come here after I escaped." Henri shivered. "Let's go back to Taegan's before I start seeing Xavier behind every bush."

 

* * * *

 

Henri and Ransom returned to find Taegan and Miranda in a deep discussion about the merits of a local artist who was showing at Taegan's gallery. Apparently Miranda had found him very derivative while Taegan had thought he'd had a unique style of his own. At least that's what Allyn told Ransom when he asked.

 

Taegan ended the conversation with, "Let's agree to disagree," before asking Henri, "Did you find it?"

 

"Yep. Right where I'd left it before I stripped to shift. It was in the top drawer of my dresser. I guess that means no one prowled through the place since I've been gone. I also grabbed my bank book and checks."

 

"Smart man. We can go look at the apartment first thing in the morning."

 

Henri cocked an eyebrow. "We?"

 

"Sorry," Taegan replied. "You can go look."

 

"Actually I… I wouldn't mind your company, but I don't want to take you away from your business."

 

"I have very good help at the gallery, so my being gone isn't a problem."

 

"In that case, when would you like me here?"

 

"Why not stay the night? It will save Miranda from having to drive you back in the morning."

 

Henri gulped and shook his head. "Thanks, but no. I…have to change clothes and…and all that."

 

"No problem," Taegan replied, disappointment flashing across his face momentarily before he smiled.

 

"Say, nine? Nine-thirty?"

 

Henri glanced at Miranda. "Is that too early for you?"

 

Miranda snorted. "Contrary to popular opinion, I do get up before noon. That would be fine."

 

"Then nine-thirty it is," Henri told Taegan.

 

"Now, we should all get out of here," Ransom said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Taegan."

 

"You as well." Taegan led the way down to the street. "I'll see you in the morning," he told Henri.

 

"Indeed." Henri was a bit flustered at the intense look Taegan gave him, so he was glad when Miranda and John started down to where they had parked the car. He hurried to catch up with them.

 

"I think you have an admirer," Miranda said to Henri, once they were on their way out of the city.

 

"No. He's just… I think he likes helping people is all. And he wants Xavier stopped as much as the rest of us do."

 

"We'll see," was all she replied.

 

Henri leaned back, closing his eyes. He didn't really believe what she'd said. But…

 

Taegan's a nice man. It would be… No. He's a nice, helpful man is all. Nothing more. Attractive? Sure. Sexy? Uh-huh. Interested in me? Not in less than a day. Hell, not in this lifetime.

Henri - 10

 

"You all know the city better than I," Henri said. "Where would be a good place to look for an apartment?"

 

"Why an apartment?" Allyn asked.

 

"Less expensive for starters. I do have some money squirreled away in a bank account, but not a lot, in the grand scheme things."

 

"I can—" Miranda started to say.

 

Henri interrupted her. "I will not accept anyone but me paying for this—end of story. I've sponged off of you long enough."

 

"Henri, you weren't—"

 

"I—"

 

"Hold up, both of you," Allyn said. "Henri, you know why she let you stay at the house. You weren't taking advantage of her so…you weren't sponging. Mandi, you have to understand where he's coming from. He can afford to rent his own place without our help. If it was me and I was in the same position, I'd resent your offer, and tell you to butt out."

 

"I don't resent it," Henri quickly responded. "I appreciate it. It's… I have to start taking things into my own hands."

 

"Very capable hands, I'm sure," Taegan said.

 

"I haven't proven it so far," Henri replied ruefully.

 

"You escaped from Xavier," John pointed out.

 

"And until today, I've done nothing but cower in fear…but no more. So, back to what started this conversation. Where can I find an affordable apartment?"

 

"Let me get my laptop and we'll see." Taegan did, putting it down on the coffee table. Once he was online, he went to a realty site. "How much can you afford?"

 

"Cheap?" Henri said wryly. "I guess…no more than a thousand a month, if possible."

 

"Definitely possible," Taegan told him. "Ransom, would you join us, please? You'd have a better idea than I do of what's defensible."

 

 Ransom did, leaning over the back of the sofa as Taegan scrolled through the site. He quickly eliminated three of the ones Taegan found.

 

"No fast exterior exit. If Xavier did manage to get inside and sedate you, Henri, he'd have to take you out via the hallways and elevator. Given what happened at Mrs Graham's, I wouldn't put it past him to try to eliminate anyone who saw him."

 

Henri hissed in a breath, nodding.

 

"What about this place," Taegan suggested. "Each apartment has its own entrance onto an exterior walkway."

 

"Better. Keep looking," Ransom said.

 

Taegan chuckled. "You're not easily satisfied."

 

"I want him and his neighbors safe. Wait. Stop." Ransom pointed to one listing. "Not bad. Reasonable neighborhood. Do the outside stairs belong to the apartment?"

 

"Yes," Taegan said after checking. "To one of the two on the second floor of a house that's been renovated and turned into rental units."

 

"The field next door is good," Ransom said. "It and the stairs will make Xavier think he can abduct Henri with no real problem."

 

"Happy thought," Henri muttered. "Still, considering why I'm doing this… The interior is nice."

 

By then, Miranda was standing beside Ransom so she could see as well. "I've got some furniture you can use, if you want," she said.

 

Henri looked up at her, replying tongue-in-cheek, "Thanks. I don't think borrowing it will impinge on my new-found independence."

 

She laughed. "I'm sure it won't."

 

"Are you all right with the rent, Henri?" Taegan asked.

 

"Yes. Hell. One small problem. ID."

 

"You do have some, don't you?" Ransom asked.

 

"Yeah. But it's in my house in Paradis. Or I hope it is."

 

"Only one way to find out. You want one of us to come with you?"

 

"No thanks. It should be safe enough."

 

"Famous last words," Taegan said. "Take Ransom."

Henri – 9

 

Henri shuddered. "Trying to clone me?"

 

"No," Taegan replied. "That would be done in a test-tube—using your DNA." He smiled. "Okay, I'm not a scientist, but I believe that's how they do it."

 

"In that case, he'd be extracting DNA from everything he took from you, Henri," Ransom said.

 

"So even if he destroyed the lab, he'd have taken all that with him…and anyone he was injecting it into. God, can you imagine being the test subject for that?" Henri shuddered.

 

"I'd rather not," John said dryly. "As a human, the idea is terrifying."

 

"Henri," Taegan said, looking directly at him, "why didn't you tell anyone what had happened when you first escaped?"

 

"Who would I tell? I'm a loner. No pack. My family was killed by hunters—one of the reasons I'm so willing to work with Allyn on what he does."

 

Taegan cocked his head in question, so Henri and Allyn explained.

 

"Admirable," Taegan said when they finished. He chuckled. "Your cover story—if that's what you call it, Allyn—definitely makes it hard to believe you have that in you."

 

Allyn grinned. "That is the idea."

 

"Back to my original question, Henri. You didn't know any shifters?"

 

"Isn't that what I just said?" Henri replied irately.

 

"Easy now," Taegan said, reaching across the space on the sofa separating them to grip Henri's shoulder. "I know this is hard on you, and I'm being…nosy, to some extent. But I need to know everything you've told them."

 

"Actually," Miranda said, giving Henri a look of pity, "he never did tell us about his family."

 

"It wasn't germane to what happened to me," Henri muttered, staring down at the floor.

 

"Still—" she shook her head, "—no family, no friends."

 

"Stop," Taegan said, sharply. "Henri doesn't need this right now."

 

"Sorry," Miranda whispered, putting her hand on John's arm when it seemed as if he was going to reply angrily to Taegan's words.

 

"Why don't we take a break for a minute until everyone calms down," Ransom suggested. "We're not here to fight."

 

"A good idea." Taegan got to his feet. "Would anyone like another beer…or more coffee, Miranda?"

 

Allyn and Ransom said they would, and Taegan left the room to get their beers.

 

"Are you all right?" Allyn asked Henri.

 

"Yeah. Pretty much. He does have a way of pulling things out of me I haven't talked about."

 

"Which is good, even though I'm sure it feels like an inquisition at times," Ransom said.

 

"No kidding," Henri grumbled. "But if it helps us find the bastard, it's worth it."

 

"Are you talking about me?" Taegan asked with a grin as he returned, handing out the beers. "I brought you one too, Henri. The one you have is probably warm by now." He sat again, saying, "I'm sorry. I know I can come off a bit dictatorial. It's just the way I am sometimes."

 

"It's okay," Henri replied, getting affirming nods from the others.

 

"No, it's not. I'll try to tone it down." Taegan's gaze went from person to person, ending at Henri. "We have to come up with a plan for finding Xavier."

 

"Place a classified ad, saying 'Dog found' with a description and a phone number," Ransom suggested, though it was obvious he was kidding.

 

"One thing to consider," Taegan said seriously, "except he'd probably smell a trap, after all this time."

 

Henri rolled the beer bottle between his hands. "I put myself out there today, going to the barbecue. That might bring results. If I keep doing that… If I found a place of my own, instead of impinging on Miranda's hospitality, perhaps the word would get out that I'm around?"

 

"You are not impinging, Henri. I love having you staying with us," Miranda said firmly.

 

"Thank you. Still, while I'm there, I'm too…protected, I guess would be the right word. Xavier's a human. Even if he knew where I was, his getting inside would be well neigh impossible. Him or any of his men."

 

"He does have a point," Taegan said.

 

Ransom nodded. "Also, we won't know if Xavier is still looking for him if Henri stays hidden. On the other hand, we don't want you somewhere we can't secure, Henri."

 

"Believe me, neither do I," Henri replied.

Henri – 8

 

Taegan's home took up the second and third floors above his gallery. The rooms were spacious—at least the ones Henri saw. The living/dining room was painted golden beige with cream trim. The kitchen had uncarpeted hardwood floors and cream walls. The floors in the main rooms were also hardwood, covered with area rugs.

 

"You like antiques," Henri commented, taking in the various pieces of furniture scattered throughout the rooms.

 

"I do. Antiques and Oriental artifacts," Taegan agreed, pointing to several small sculptures set between the books in his study, and the paintings on the walls. "Don't get me wrong, I love the artwork I sell in the gallery, but on a personal level, I prefer what you see here."

 

At that point, Allyn and Ransom arrived. Taegan offered everyone drinks—coffee, beer or hard liquor. The men all chose beer while Miranda settled for coffee.

 

As soon as everyone had been served and seated in the living room, Taegan asked for exact details on what had happened to Henri. Between them, Henri, Ransom and Allyn went through the story—from Henri's kidnapping until he had ended up living at Miranda's.

 

"That's twice he's found you, Henri," Taegan said when they finished. "From what you said, the first time you think he must have seen you shift. However, as you pointed out, he had a laboratory already set up for his experiments. That presupposes he does know of our existence."

 

 "Agreed," Ransom said. "Not a pleasant thought."

 

"No it's not," Taegan agreed. "Then he managed to find Henri again, after his escape."

 

"Six months afterward," Henri pointed out. "I'd say he wasn't locked on to me, so to speak. We think, perhaps, he might have placed classified ads in the papers and on something like Craigslist, looking for his missing dog."

 

"If he did, it was a clever ruse. Although, why wait so long to do it?" Taegan said.

 

"Perhaps," Allyn suggested, "because he'd wanted to make certain Henri didn't bring reinforcements back to the lab."

 

Taegan nodded. "It makes sense. Or, he packed up the entire operation and moved it somewhere else. Henri, you said your home is close to where he'd captured you. Did you have any reason to believe he'd known where you lived?"

 

"Like, had I ever felt watched? No. Besides, if he had, why wait until I was out on a run to grab me?"

 

"He'd wanted you in your wolf form? Were you ever in your human form after he had you at the lab?"

 

"Only at the end, during the last experiment when I'd managed to escape. The rest of the time I'd been so doped up that I hadn't the strength to shift. Do you think that's important?"

 

"I don't know," Taegan replied. "What is important right now is finding a way to stop him. For all we know he's found another victim to experiment on."

 

"Or several," Henri said tightly. "There were—" he closed his eyes, trying to picture what little he remembered of the lab, "—more cages. I can't say for certain but I'm fairly sure of that. Or at least one more, next to mine. I vaguely remember seeing bars beyond the ones around me."

 

"Unsurprising. Another reason I suspect he might have moved the lab somewhere else—probably quickly—or at least taken the important things he needed, files and such," Taegan said.

 

"And destroyed the place afterward, I bet," Miranda said. "I would have, if I was him. Xavier would have had no idea how many friends Henri had—shifter friends—who would return with Henri to deal with him."

 

"Did he have assistants?" Taegan asked.

 

"Well, there was the man who had come with him when he found me at Mrs. Graham's home. Again, my memories of the lab are hazy at best, but I seem to remember Xavier talking to someone. And for damned sure, it wasn't me," Henri added sourly.

 

"What did he do to you?" Taegan asked.

 

"Took all sorts of samples—skin, fur, blood, other bodily fluids. Just about anything he could test was my impression. And it wasn't only once. It was ongoing."

 

"Perhaps," Miranda said pensively, "it wasn't only for testing. What if he was doing something with them, such as injecting them into a human…or an animal?"

 

 

Henri - 7

 

Although he was still tense—always watching everyone who came to close to him in case someone might be one of Xavier's people—Henri did manage to enjoy himself in Taegan's company. The man was clever, witty, and truly seemed to like talking to his guests about whatever interested them. Taegan introduced Henri to several people that he told Henri were real friends, not clients. Some of them looked at Henri knowingly, as if figuring he might be Taegan's…most recent conquest, I suppose. The majority of them, however, treated Henri as yet another one of Taegan's numerous friends, who happened to be accompanying him at the moment.

 

Eventually, the barbecue wound down. Guests began dispersing as the sun lowered behind the trees, each thanking Taegan for a wonderful afternoon before heading to their cars. The caterers were already beginning to clean up as well.

 

"Alone at last," Taegan said with a grin when it was just him, Henri, and Miranda and company. "I'd like to suggest we go to my place, if it's all right with everyone. I want to know more about what happened to you." He put his hand on Henri's shoulder. "And what's being done to find your captor, before he finds you again."

 

"Why are you interested?" Ransom asked him.

 

"Because, as with the rest of you, I have a vested interest in stopping this man before he does something we all regret."

 

Ransom nodded. "I can accept that."

 

Taegan shot him a look. "I take it you're the one in charge, so to speak."

 

"Not in charge. We're all in this together. But I am a cop—a detective—so I have resources the others don't."

 

"Makes sense to me. Do you know where I live?" Taegan got nods from the others. "All right. I'll see you there in, say…twenty minutes."

 

"He's unquestionably a take-charge guy," Henri commented as he, Miranda and John walked to the car.

 

"He's definitely an alpha," Miranda agreed, "both in his human and wolf forms. He's also been around a lot longer than the rest of us."

 

"How old is he?" Henri wanted to know. "Like us, he only looks in his twenties."

 

"He tells people he's twenty-eight. From what I understand, he's actually at least a hundred and seventy."

 

Henri pursed his lips in thought. "That's not bad."

 

Miranda grinned. "Only fifty years older than you, in case you didn't do the math."

 

"I did," Henri replied before getting what she was implying. "Uh-uh, not why you're thinking. I just like to know what's what."

 

"Right."

 

"Mandi, quit teasing him," John said.

 

She arched one eyebrow, but did as he asked, much to Henri's relief.

Henri – 6

 

 

Henri was having some of the same thoughts as Ransom, wondering if Taegan was the sort of man who flirted with everyone—well, every man, if he was gay—who caught his eye.

 

"What looks good to you?" Taegan asked Henri when they arrived at the long row of barbecue pits, each one manned by a server wearing a bright red apron.

 

"Everything?" Henri admitted, as he tried to surreptitiously scan the crowd in the area for anyone who might be a bit too interested in him.

 

Taegan chuckled. "I'm not certain the plates are large enough. You can come back for seconds though."

 

"We all will, I'm sure," Miranda said, as she looked over the offerings. "At least twice."

 

John rolled his eyes. "She eats like a…a horse, and never gains a pound. Me, I look at food and have to work out for a week."

 

 "As if." Miranda patted his stomach. "All muscle and not an inch of fat."

 

The group, including Allyn and Ransom by then, bantered about what to select from the varied choices. Henri did fill his plate, then started toward the pavilion, looking for a vacant table. He felt a hand on his elbow.

 

"If you don't mind eating at my table…" Taegan said, gently steering Henri to one at the far end of the pavilion. "There's room for all of us."

 

"Surely you have a ton of friends you'd rather be eating with."

 

"Most of the people here are clients from my gallery. The barbecue is my annual thank you to them. My friends…? I see them often enough that their feelings won't be hurt if I don't invite them to join us."

 

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Allyn said from behind them.

 

Taegan chuckled. "Not certain I'm a horse, but he's right."

 

By then, they were at the table. It seated six, which seemed to Henri to be somewhat strange, considering that the rest of the tables were long enough to hold a dozen people each. But then, he is the host.

 

"I like being able to actually hear the people I'm talking with, without shouting," Taegan said, smiling at Henri as they sat.

 

"Am I that easy to read?" Henri asked.

 

"You have a very expressive face." Taegan studied him for a moment. "There's something you're afraid of, and it's not me," he said quietly. "At least, I hope it's not me."

 

Henri tried to shrug casually. "I'm just not big on crowds."

 

"I see. Then why are you here? Surely Miranda told you this was going to be a big bash."

 

Miranda, who was seated on Henri's other side, leaned in, saying to Taegan, "I did, so he knew. Do you mind if I tell him, Henri?"

 

"I guess not," Henri replied hesitantly, after glancing around to be certain no one was within hearing distance.

 

"Henri's one of us," Miranda said very quietly. "Someone is looking for him because of that—or at least we're presuming he still is."

 

"That's doesn't sound good," Taegan replied, frowning deeply. "Is this someone able to…to sense what we are?"

 

"I wish I knew," Henri said. "He managed to capture me a few months ago. I think—although I can't prove it—he might have seen me shift. Still, he has to know we exist since he took me to a lab to experiment on me. A lab that was already set up for that purpose."

 

Taegan drummed his fingers on the table before saying, "We should talk more about this, but not now. Let's enjoy ourselves, eat excellent food and just relax. That is, if you can relax, Henri."

 

"I'm trying to."

 

"Just stick with me and you'll be safe. I promise," Taegan told him.

 

"Surely you have other things you want to do. After all, it is your party. I'm fine staying with Miranda and Allyn."

 

"I should be hurt you'd pick them over me," Taegan replied with a laugh. "Still, I understand. If you change your mind, I wouldn't mind having a handsome man keeping me company while I play the gracious host."

 

"Henri," Miranda whispered, amusement in her expression, "you're blushing again."

 

He swallowed hard, replying to Taegan, "I guess, if you need a buffer…"

 

"Great. Now, as I said a while ago, let's eat."

Henri - 5

 

 

 

"There's a million people here," Henri murmured as he, Miranda and John joined Allyn and Ransom outside the pavilion.

 

Ransom laughed. "Not quite that many…maybe a hundred."

 

"How can someone know so many people?"

 

"If you're rich, famous and charming," Allyn said, "it's not hard. Taegan is all that and more."

 

"Allyn and Miranda are no slouches in the friends department themselves," Ransom said, getting a nod of agreement from John.

 

"More like acquaintances," Allyn protested. "It's one thing to hang with the social elite. It's another to really call most of them friends. We know them from the events we go to. To most of them, we're just those rich kids with too much time on our hands."

 

"Too true," Miranda agreed. "Or we were until we got married. I don't think we've gone to a fancy ball or charity event more than what?" she looked at John "once a month since then?"

 

"We missed February, I think," he replied with a grin.

 

"You're right. And Allyn's really been slacking off."

 

Allyn nodded. "I'd rather spend my time with him." He hugged Ransom. "Much more…entertaining."

 

Ransom snorted. "You just like getting involved with some of the cases I'm on."

 

"Well, that too."

 

Henri listened to their bantering, then sniffed, and his mouth began watering. "I didn't realize I was hungry until just now."

 

"If you'd eaten breakfast…" Miranda said.

 

"I was too nervous."

 

"I know. So we'll make up for it. Let's go see what on the menu."

 

"Ribs, steaks, brisket, chicken, corn on the cob—that's just for starters."

 

Henri turned to see who was talking and couldn't resist staring at the man that he knew instantly, from the hair, had to be their host. Damn and double damn. No one has a right to be that good looking.

 

"Taegan," Miranda exclaimed, when the man hugged her—before he greeted John and Allyn.

 

"You must be—" Taegan looked at Ransom. "—Allyn's husband?"

 

"I am," Ransom replied, chuckling. "Ransom Carlyle."

 

Taegan turned his gaze to Henri, asking with a brilliant smile, "And you are?"

 

"Henri Bosier, a friend of theirs."

 

"Welcome to my party. I overheard that you're hadn't eaten this morning. Saving your appetite for what I have to offer here?"

 

"Perhaps?" Henri tried to smile back at him, though he had the feeling he'd failed miserably.

 

"There's no need to be so nervous," Taegan said. "I'm perfectly harmless—most of the time. Ask Miranda."

 

Miranda laughed. "He is."

 

"Come on then, Henri. Let's get you fed." Taegan grinned at the others. "You might as well join us, since you're with him."

 

"Is he doing what it looks like?" Ransom whispered to Allyn, as they followed Henri and Taegan.

 

Allyn nodded. "Probably. Taegan likes to flirt."

 

"Isn't he being a bit presumptive? There's no way he could know Henri's bi."

 

"I don't think that would stop him. If Henri shoots him down, he'll just move on to the next man who catches his attention." Allyn glanced around. "There are a few here who might."

 

"A player. I'm not sure I like that idea," Ransom said, eyeing Henri worriedly.

 

"Henri's an adult, and he has been around for a long time. He can take care of himself."

 

"He's also very vulnerable right now, because he's worried about Xavier."

 

Allyn slipped his arm around Ransom's waist. "Then having Taegan flirt with him is perfect. It'll take his mind off Xavier, at least for a little while."

 

"True, I guess."