Chapter Text
Bernard’s patrons didn’t change much from the previous and only time Kate had visited the establishment. They all looked like rich and powerful people that knew they were being watched by other rich and powerful people. Kate didn’t care for them, but at least she didn’t stand out too much.
To achieve this great feat, Kate, together with Julie and Jezebel, had gone into the city to buy a new wardrobe. Curran had insisted on it. He said that since her aunt had destroyed all her belongings, she couldn’t wear only one pair of jeans and pack sweats. Kate had inquired whether he was ill, considering he preferred her wearing nothing at all. But in the end, she hadn’t really resisted. She got to spend time with Julie and not worry about the cost. It had been a nice Christmas present.
Now Kate was standing in the foyer of Bernard’s wearing dark jeans, an emerald green sweater, a brown leather jacket and soft leather boots, the kind she would never have been able to afford barely a month before. Her hair was braided down her back. She had even applied a bit of make-up. She had no idea why she’d done it. Maybe the fumes from the new clothes had made her lose her mind.
A medium height man with the beginning of a receding hairline wearing black slacks and equally black sweater entered the foyer, saw Kate and stopped.
“Kate! What are you doing here?” well, what do you say, Ghastek actually sounded surprised.
“Hello, Ghastek,” Kate replied, aiming for pleasant and casual. Her shapeshifter babysitter straightened from the wall and went deeper into the restaurant. “I’m here for the Conclave.”
The other Masters of the Dead flowed around Ghastek and her, deeper into Bernard’s. Only Rowena nodded her head in Kate’s direction. The others ignored her. Someone was in for a surprise. Kate noted each one as they passed. No Nataraja. Interesting.
Ghastek frowned at her. “Why?”
Kate heaved a terrible sigh. “I was bribed.” This was too much fun.
Ghastek’s frown deepened. “What? You’re not making sense.”
Kate shrugged. “My honey-bunny promised me that if I suffer through the Conclave, I’ll get a proper dinner afterwards, with actual food.”
Ghastek opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Apparently, she had managed to short-circuit his brain.
Before Ghastek thought of a response, Curran entered the room. He wore jeans and a dark grey sweater, and he looked scrumptious.
Maybe she’s been having too much sex and now she was losing her mind. It was the only explanation to this insanity.
Ghastek had clearly decided that he had bigger things to deal with and turned to Curran. “The People greet the Beast Lord.”
Curran inclined his head half an inch in response. “The Beast Lord greets the People.” He came to a stop beside Kate and placed his hand on the small of her back. “Our room is ready. Shall we?”
“Of course,” Kate smiled at him over her shoulder.
Curran pressed lightly at her back and led her deeper into the restaurant. Ghastek had no choice but follow them.
Bernard’s had reserved a large dining room on the second floor for the Conclave meeting. The Pack and the People sat at either side with an assortment of delicate looking entrées arranged between them. All the Masters of the Dead, except for Ghastek were already seated. They had left a seat for Ghastek in the center of the table, next to Mulradin Grant. No seat was reserved for Nataraja. Extra interesting.
On the Pack side all the seats were taken as well. Only two seats, directly across from Ghastek and Mulradin were unoccupied. They had a full house tonight, everyone wanted to see the People’s reaction to their little announcement. Kate and Curran reached their seats. Curran pulled Kate’s chair for her and only sat after she was seated. The Masters of the Dead stared at her from across the table.
“Shall we begin?” Curran asked casually. He was enjoying this too.
Mulradin nodded, cleared his throat, glanced at Ghastek, and said, “Yes. Ahem. The People formally great the Beast Lord and the Pack.”
“The Beast Lord and the Pack great the People, for the second time,” Curran answered levelly. He had noted Nataraja’s absence as well and was testing the water. Good.
Mulradin narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ghastek but said nothing.
“I shall begin,” Curran continued. “We have some organizational changed that we would like to notify you of. I would like to introduce Kate Daniels.” He gestured at Kate, a smile tugging at his lips. “She is my mate. She is now the female alpha of the Pack.” Curran stopped and let that announcement sink.
Ghastek and Rowena only blinked. Mulradin frowned. The others looked in varying degrees of shock, some openly gawking.
“Her title is Beast Lady,” Curran continued. Kate fought a grimace. “You and all your employees are to treat and address her as you would treat and address me.”
Mulradin cleared his throat. “Welcome, Beast Lady.”
Across the table Ghastek mouthed “Honey-bunny” at her. Kate flattered her eyelashes in reply.
***
One thing you had to give Curran, he was a man of his word. Kate had suffered heroically through the Conclave, and he dutifully took her to a grill house. They had a booth to themselves and Curran had ordered what appeared to be a whole cow.
The restaurant was busy, despite the late hour, but Kate didn’t feel crowded. It was just the two of them, sitting across from each other and she felt herself relax little by little. They didn’t say anything, just sat and looked at each other. Kate thought that maybe it was a little awkward, but then the food arrived, and they concentrated on eating.
She finished her ribs before Curran was done with his three steaks, so she sipped her iced tea and watched him. He looked so handsome in the grey sweater. She had brushed her hand over the fabric and knew that it was soft. Really, he was handsome in any sweater. She really looked forward to taking it off him.
Curran finished the last steak and looked up at her. Kate smiled.
Hmm, she might have drunk too much tea. Kate slid from her seat and brushed her hand over his. “Bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
Curran nodded and leaned back in his seat.
A server appeared beside their table and started to clear the empty plates. The boy glanced at Curran. “You’ve got a fifty-fifty chance, I reckon.”
Curran leaned forward, studying the server. “What do you mean?”
The server tilted his head in the direction of the bathroom. “With her. A lot of couples come through our doors. I’d give you fifty-fifty.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You haven’t said anything to each other the whole time you were here, but on the other hand she won’t take her eyes off you,” the server shrugged with arms full of plates, not a small feat.
“What’s it to you?” Curran leaned an elbow on the table.
“Successful dates tip better,” the server grinned.
Curran allowed a pleasant smile. “Noted.”
When Kate returned to the table, it was clear of plates, and Curran was studying the dessert menu.
“Anything interesting?” she asked.
“Our server thinks that I have a fifty-fifty chance with you,” Curran answered, putting the menu down and sliding it over to her. “Apparently not speaking is hurting my prospects.”
Kate laughed softly. “We’ve been spending all our time together. I can’t think of anything new to tell you.”
Curran smiled at her. “You’re not taking dating seriously.”
“You’re right,” Kate made a face. “This is a date. Goddammit.”
Curran laughed. “What’s wrong with a date?”
“I don’t date,” Kate sighed, then thought for a moment. “This would be the fifth date I ever been to, in my whole life.”
“Well, I’ve been to lots of dates,” Curran answered her. “Doesn’t help me with you in any way.”
“How so?” she arched an eyebrow at him.
“Dates have one of two purposes,” Curran lifted one finger. “One: to flaunt one’s date. I have no intension to do that. You’re mine and that’s the only thing that’s important. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” She wanted to kiss him for that.
Curran lifted a second finger. “Or two: to convince one’s date to have sex with them. I don’t need to do that either, you’re coming home with me.” He flushed her a satisfied grin.
“So sure of yourself, Your Furriness.”
Curran spread his hands on the table, his smile almost blinding. “We’ve been together for a month, in that time you have told me ‘no’ exactly once – at five in the morning after we’ve been having sex for six hours. I’ll take my chances.”
That bastard. She needed to take him down a notch or two. “That’s such a guy reason to date. It’s revolting.”
“Is that so,” he smiled at her like a cat who knew there will be cream at the end of this conversation. Kate wanted to punch him. “What’s the female reason to date then?”
She feigned nonchalance. “Last time I went on a date a friend advised me to see if the guy was fun.”
Curran leaned forward. “Was he?”
Like he didn’t know. “No.”
“Am I?” the self-satisfied smile was back. Curran relaxed back in his seat.
“Please,” Kate rolled her eyes at him. “Your idea of fun would make most women run away screaming.”
“But not you.”
She had completely lost her mind. It was the only explanation. When in doubt, change the subject. Kate tapped her finger on the menu. “Do you want anything?”
Curran shook his head, happy golden lights danced in his eyes, and Kate almost forgot how to breath. “I’ll have desert at the Keep. But they have chocolate cake, if you want.”
She was going to have that chocolate cake if only to make Curran sit across from her and stew a little longer. It had nothing to do with the chocolate whatsoever.
“So, why would you date?” Curran asked, once the cake was requested.
Kate tilted her head and looked at him. They were sitting in a busy restaurant, so many possible threats, the magic was up, and yet he was completely relaxed and focused on her. He made her feel so important and cared for. Warmth and happiness spread through her in his presence, the likes of which she had never experienced. She had never expected love to feel so good.
“I would date to get to know the other person. To see who they were, if they were worth dragging myself out of the safety of my wards for.”
Curran was looking at her with characteristic intensity, completely focused on her. Kate fought not to shiver. “And?”
“I don’t need to do that with you,” Kate smiled. “I know who you are. I may not know anything about you, but who you are I know.”
It was Curran’s turn to arch an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Kate reached over the table and placed her hand on top of his. “You’re in charge of fifteen hundred people and you feel responsible for every single one. If one of them gets so much as a splinter you take it like a personal failing. But when someone who you’ve nurtured since they were a child, pushed and encouraged in the right direction succeeds, you say it was their own achievement and had nothing to do with you. You untangle their messes for them. You sit and listen to them moan and complain without any indication it bothers you. You care so much. But you don’t have anyone to care for you. There’s no one to tug at your wrist and remind you that you’ve reached your limit. No one that would wrap you in a blanket and just hold you because even you need comfort.”
Curran turned his hand under hers. Their fingers wrapped around each other, palm to palm.
“I may not know what your favorite book is, or what music you like to listen to, but I know you.”
Curran lifted her hand and kissed her finger. “I’ve got you now. Everything else, we have the rest of our lives to discover.”
The server brought them her cake, and Curran let go of her hand. Kate took her fork and slid her foot against Curran’s leg under the table. Curran lifted his eyebrows and Kate winked at him.
When they were done, the server was tipped generously.