"No, I think it might be great . . . but can I wait?"
"Sure, no problem," Fox Lisa said. A native of New Orleans, she embodied the easygoing mood of the city. "Want to go to the clubs?" she asked. "I've been thinking all day about some live music." She gave him a wicked look from under long eyelashes. "Got me in a good enough mood to share."
Griffen grinned. "Sounds great," he said.
"What does?" Mai asked, at his elbow. Griffen watched cautiously to see how Fox Lisa would react to Mai. The two of them were Griffen's lovers, even joining him in the same bed at times, but both had let him know they liked their private time with him. He felt fortunate that they were on such good terms, but he did not like to push it. Even considering bloodlines, no man wanted to stand between two strong-willed women.
Fox Lisa tossed her head. "We're gonna go out and listen to some music in a while. You can come, too, if you like." So her good mood extended to others that evening. Griffen relaxed. No matter how it ended, it should be enjoyable.
"I am hanging out with Val this evening," Mai said, tilting her small head toward the tall blond girl. Val had not made it in past the doorway before she was greeted by friends who sat at a table near the door. Griffen glanced at his sister. She had been more tired than usual lately. He didn't like the shadows under her eyes. "I will ask what she wishes to do."
"What do you want to drink?" Griffen asked. It was a Saturday night. His week's pay was still in his pocket from the day before, and he felt generous. The gambling operation was doing well. Five games in various hotel rooms around the city were going on that evening, and so far Jerome had not called him with any problems. Val's drink was diet cola, as it had been since she found out she was pregnant. Mai asked for a Cointreau. She liked fine wines, but he knew she felt liqueurs were more reliable in bars. It wasn't really true in the Irish pub, where the bartenders were careful about corked or bad wines; but when Mai got an idea in her mind, he had never been able to persuade her to shake it.
Val looked up and waved to Griffen. She squeezed the hands of the friends in farewell and made her way around the bar to them. Unusually, she barged in between him and Fox Lisa. The redheaded girl made a face but said nothing.
"I've got something to tell you, Griffen," Val said, in a low voice. Mai sat poised on her bar stool. Fox Lisa's annoyance turned to concern.
"Me, too," Griffen said. "But you first."
Val glanced past Griffen to Mai. Mai nodded encouragement to her. She wished Fox Lisa hadn't been there. Val got along with her, but she didn't want anyone else involved in what might turn out to be nothing. Still, Lisa had been a friend to her, too, and she didn't want to upset the balance. Griffen was so oblivious to the byplay between his two lovers. They got along, but each was determined to be the last one standing on the ground. But they did like each other. It was a complicated relationship. Griffen was wise not to inquire into the specifics. He would not want to know them.
Hers were just as complicated, but she didn't have a choice. And she needed help.
"That . . . that woman!" Val sputtered out.
"What woman?" Griffen asked.
"Melinda," Mai said. "She is here. She wants to see Val."
"Where is she?" Griffen demanded, looking around.
"Not here, here," Val said, exasperated. "She is in New Orleans. I don't know where. But she knows about the baby. She wants to be involved with it."
Griffen looked furious. He clenched his fist on the edge of the bar. "She doesn't get to make that choice. You do. What do you want?"
Val had been scared to pieces at the Halloween ball, facing Lizzy. Though Melinda's daughter had been tiny, she had the strength of the completely insane. Their fight was as fearsome as a nightmare. Lizzy was strong and faster than a normal person--all right, dragon--but Val had won out in the end. On the phone, Melinda sounded as sane as the US Constitution and just as firm on her rights. But did she really have any? Val hardly knew what normal human family life was like, let alone dragon. Val and Griffen had been orphaned while still young. Their uncle Malcolm had stepped in to raise them, but he had been a distant guardian, leaving them in the care of nannies and housekeepers as he took care of his extensive business interests. As a result, they had developed little family feeling or loyalty for anyone but one another. To have a mother come in to fight for her child . . . Val frowned. She had probably better think about that a good deal herself. Would she kill or die for this unknown lump she was carrying?
The answer surprised her: an unequivocal yes. It wasn't just biology. This child hadn't chosen to be conceived; she had been tricked, but it was helpless, and it was hers. One day it would be out in the world and able to make its own choices. Val had to give it that time to be born and live and learn. To her surprise, she felt deeply about nurturing it and loving it. She had never had a little brother or sister, but she looked forward to experiencing all the baby things, the sounds, the feel of silken infant skin, the tiny hands that reached out for her. She found herself smiling stupidly at the bar mirror and took a hasty drink of her soda. The bubbles went up her nose and made her sneeze. She could not wait to be able to go back to whisky and soda. The fizz did not take the edge off her feelings. Those experiences were hers, and not to be taken away by the mother of her unscrupulous seducer. She resolved to withstand Melinda and her demands. She was a dragon, too! She was powerful . . .if untrained. Lizzy had been the one who attacked her. Didn't she get any points for that?
"Absolutely not," Val said. "I don't want anything to do with her."
"Then she had better leave you alone," Griffen said. "I'm behind you."
"And I," Mai promised.
"Who's Melinda?" Fox Lisa asked.
"The mother of the crazy girl who attacked Val on Halloween," Mai said.
Fox Lisa's eyes flashed. "You can count on me, too, Val." She had a little dragon blood as well, though as yet Griffen hadn't found the appropriate time to explain it to her.
"Thanks," Val said, her throat tightening. She didn't know what any of them could do, when Lizzy had had no trouble finding her. Melinda undoubtedly had resources her crazy daughter didn't. "All right, I'm ready to talk about something else," she said, turning to Griffen. "You said you had some news. Good news, I hope?"
Griffen grinned sheepishly. "Well, I think so. But I'm not sure if it's something I'm going along with."
"Enough with the prologue," Mai said, pushing his shoulder impatiently. "What is it?"
"Well . . ." Griffen found that he was enjoying the suspense. He glanced at each one in turn. "You know Mardi Gras is coming up in March."
"Ye-es," the three of them said in unison. Fox Lisa caught the others' eyes and giggled.
"Well, a man named Etienne de la Fee asked me to be in his krewe's parade."
"Big deal," Fox Lisa said. "Thousands of people ride on floats. It's fun, but it's their way of raising money. Cost you between two hundred and five hundred for a year's membership. Maybe more if it's a big krewe. You'll have to supply your own throws. Maybe another three hundred on up for those."
"But that sounds like fun!" Val exclaimed. "You get to ride on a float! That'll be awesome. I'll have to tape it."
"Oh, he'll have to wear a mask," Fox Lisa corrected her. "Riders are anonymous in most parades."
"Well, what fun is that?" Mai asked, waving her hand. "I would not pay sums of money for the privilege of anonymously flinging cheap plastic toys to screaming hordes."
"A lot," Fox Lisa said, her nose turning red in annoyance. "People enjoy being generous at Carnival."
"Useless," Mai said. "If you want to give charity, pick something worthy. Junk means nothing. Don't waste your time, Griffen."