«Almost twenty-four hours since you saved our lives and got poisoned for your troubles. I should thank you again, by the way, since I don't think you've really been with us since Mario's blood got into your system.»
Matt shook his head. «I spit it out. He tasted foul. I remember spitting as much as I could and then dragging my tongue along the side of the building for good measure. Even that tasted better than filthy Mario.»
«Still, some of his taint got into you. Cameron was worried enough to send us to you when we rose this evening.»
Matt nodded toward Christina, sleeping on Sebastian's lap. «You truly didn't have to do this, but I can never thank you enough. Looking at it clearly now, I don't think my natural ability to heal would've saved me from this poison. It kept getting worse instead of better. That's never happened to me before.»
«It's that way with evil. Once it takes hold, it grows roots and spreads. But we stopped it in time. It seems well and truly gone.»
«Thank the Lady for that.» Matt's eyes were as serious as Sebastian had ever seen them. «And thank you, Sebastian. For saving me. And for…» He gestured toward Christina again, his eyes going soft as he gazed at her. «For both of you being willing to share this…» He seemed to be at a loss for words as he waved one hand in the air, indicating the room, the bed, and them. «With me.»
Sebastian smiled, knowing their friendship would continue as it had, and be even stronger for sharing both danger and caring. «How much do you remember?»
«Pretty much all of it, but it has a hazy, dreamlike quality.»
Sebastian couldn't resist teasing his friend. «She made you purr in human form.»
«You're shitting me. I thought that part must have been wishful thinking.»
«I'm afraid not.» Sebastian smiled at Matt's stunned expression.
«You know how rare that is, don't you?»
«I've heard things, but I wasn't entirely sure.»
«Let's put it this way. My sire passed on only one piece of advice to me and my brothers where females were concerned. He said if any of us ever found a female who could make us purr, we should marry the girl before she could get away.»
Sebastian's arms tightened around Christina as she snuggled into his chest. «Sorry, Matt. This one's mine.»
«I know. That's the hell of it. Damn. It's gotta be that vampire mojo you all have. The only other time in my life I ever came close to purring was with Althea Williams. Remember her?»
«Do I ever. She was quite a woman. And quite a bit younger than me. Rumor has it she's barely a century. I didn't know you'd bedded her. How in the world did that come about?»
Matt sighed. «It's a long story.»
«And I'd love to hear it,» Christina chimed in, her eyes still closed, «but I'll thank you not to be talking, or even thinking, of other women after what we just did to save your miserable hide. Ungrateful cat.»
«Oh, sweetheart,» Matt said with some guilt, falling to his knees at her side, «you know I didn't mean-«
«She's teasing you, brother.» Sebastian squeezed her ribs, tickling a giggle out of her as she opened her eyes. «My woman has a mischievous streak, I'm afraid.»
Matt sat back on his haunches and sighed. «Damn, girl, you had me scared there for a minute. But I hope you know how grateful I truly am for what you did for me. I really like your kind of medicine.»
She leaned forward and placed her hands on his shoulders, drawing him close for a quick kiss. «I'm glad you're okay.» There were tears in her voice as she whispered of her happiness.
«Me too.» Matt brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear as she sat back. «Thank you both for caring enough to save me.»
«Just returning the favor, my friend.» Sebastian cuddled Christina close as Matt went back to the bed. They were all tired after the excesses of the previous hours, but it was a good kind of tired.
Sebastian scooted Christina off his lap and they both stood. She gathered their clothing and donned her top while handing Sebastian his pants. In short order they were both presentable.
«There's plenty of food in the kitchen,» Sebastian said on his way toward the door. «Hastings' people restocked earlier today, I heard.»
Matt's stomach rumbled at the mention of food and they all laughed. Christina glanced back and blew a kiss toward the werecougar before heading out the door. Sebastian lingered with his hand on the knob.
«You're part of us, Matt,» he said, finding it hard to express the thoughts in his mind, the feelings in his heart. «What you did…when you took down Mario…that's something I will never forget. Ever.»
Matt didn't speak, but as their eyes met, Sebastian knew the other man understood. Theirs was a bond deeper than mere friendship. For as long as any of them lived, the bond forged in danger and tempered by fire would stand strong between them.
Sebastian left and Matt showered and dressed. He went first to the kitchen, where one of the werehawks had made a rare roast. Matt chowed down and soon felt much better. Except for the disturbing idea that Christy had made him purr.
Cameron came into the kitchen as Matt was digging into a bowl of gelatin for dessert. The fey turned a chair around and sat opposite him, staring at him until Matt was forced to look up.
«What? Do I have Jell-O on my nose?»
Cam barked out a laugh. «No, laddie, but Sebastian mentioned you might be troubled.»
«And you thought you'd stick your nose in? Cam, your advice is what led to this little…difficulty.»
«You're very focused on noses for some reason.» Cam fingered the tip of his own nose for a second before his eyes cleared of laughter. «But I'm glad to see you looking better, my lad. That taint was nasty stuff and I was at a loss as to how to lift it.»
«So you sent them to me. Dammit, Cam!» Matt shoved the dish and spoon aside.
«Now you can't tell me you regret it.» Cam's knowing expression demanded no less than the truth.
«Of course not,» Matt swore. «But the whole purring thing. Fuck! That wasn't supposed to happen. Not with Christy.»
Cam sat back and eyed him. «Lad, I've known more than a few of your kind in my times in this realm. I've run across this problem before and take it from me. This is not the problem you might think it is.»
Matt didn't believe him, though he wanted to. He sat back and watched the other man, waiting for him to elaborate.
«It's true, the purr is rare for you werecats. Sebastian told me what your father said and your old man was right-for the most part. The thing is, in recent centuries, were and bloodletter haven't interacted much, so you don't realize that your reaction to Christy's new power is fairly common. In fact, I'm surprised it didn't happen in your earlier encounters. My only guess is that she wasn't as comfortable in her power at first and you weren't as susceptible as when you were so weak from the poison.»
«So you think it was to be expected?»
Cam nodded. «More than that, I think you can rest easy. The purr will help you determine your true mate, but such things don't count when you're talking about mixing weres and vamps. Among other werecats or even with mortals, you might find a woman who can bring out the beast in you, even in human form. Such a woman would be potential mate material and I'll admit, it's rare, but it is possible.»
«I didn't think I'd ever want to find a true mate, Cam,» Matt admitted in a moment of candor. «Not until I witnessed the bond between Christy and Sebastian. But now I wonder if there's someone out there who could complete me the way they complete each other.»
Cam's eyes clouded while the silence stretched. He blinked and came back, smiling with his customary cunning. «I'll tell you this, laddie. There is someone out there who could make you as happy as our vampire friends, but you'll have to be smart enough to recognize her when you see her.» Cam stood and pushed the chair back under the table as he grinned. «She'll lead you a merry chase, but I think you'll do all right. You'll just have to expect the unexpected. Not everything is as it seems.»