Chapter 621
Two hours later Torina hunted for the right dress. She settled on a sheer-ish blue sleeveless with a white underlay and a knee length skirt. She shoved it at Katelina, with a pile of support garments Katelina thought vampires didn't wear.
"Of course I do," Torina said. "How could I wear a dress to a fight without something under it? When Jorick borrowed clothing he didn't bother to get you any undergarments. He's a man, after all. They may enjoy the silhouette the brassiere creates, but they find you more erotic without it."
"Bras aren't good for you," Xandria said. "They cut off your air or something. I read an article about it."
"I'm sure you did." Torina added pantyhose to the stack. "Go get dressed. But don't mess up your hair."
Katelina hurried to the bathroom, grateful she didn't have to strip in front of them. Xandria probably wouldn't think anything of it. Hell, she was probably the girl they showed on TV jiggling her friend's breasts. Katelina couldn't imagine that. She wasn't a prude, she just liked her bubble space.
It took her a few tries to get everything fastened. When she was done she felt constricted, considering how little was actually covered.
"There's no way I'd do this every day."
Though the dress was pretty, and she secretly admired it, it looked silly on her. Like the beautifully arranged hair, and the perfectly applied makeup. She didn't look like herself.
With a breath for courage, she plunged into the hall. Torina ambushed her and held her at arm's length. "You'd be better with shoes, but your feet are too big for mine. Let's find Jorick. After reading that romance novel all day, he should have plenty of implanted ideas. Of course, since you're not in your own house, completely alone, you won't give in to him, but it will add to the excitement when you finally do surrender."
Torina practically dragged Katelina down the hall, Xandria on their heels. "I don't see why you'd need to be completely alone in the house. How do you ever get laid that way?"
Katelina wasn't sure who she wished would disappear, Torina or Xandria. Either one would improve her day.
Jorick was stretched out on a couch in a room near the library. It took Torina two tries to get him to look up from his book. "What do you" His gaze landed on Katelina. He gave her a once over, then turned to Torina. "How did you talk her into that?"
The vampiress crossed her arms and cocked her hip impatiently. "I didn't give her a choice. So?"
"Yes?" he asked innocently. Katelina felt his amusement.
"You could compliment her! I spent nearly three hours on it."
Jorick chuckled. "I won't say you wasted your time, but it takes less than that to make her beautiful. All she has to do is wake up."
Katelina looked down at the sheer-ish blue skirt, fighting a smile.
Torina rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"
"Of course. But she's beautiful now." He laid the book down and moved to take Katelina's hand. "She's always beautiful."
Xandria squealed. "Oh my God, that's so sweet!"
"And annoying," Torina said. "She looks much better."
Jorick kissed Katelina lightly on the lips, probably afraid of smearing the three layers of carefully shaded lipstick. "I already told you my opinion. Though I do like the dress. You don't wear dresses enough."
"Jeans are more comfortable," Katelina said.
Jorick's eyes glittered. Whatever he had in mind was lost when Kai opened the door and held the phone out.
"What do you want?" Torina eyed the device. "Who's it for?"
Jorick snatched it before Kai could answer. "Hello?" His amusement melted into a scowl, then morphed into something unreadable. "I see. There isn't time tonight. It's at least two hours to an open airfield from here-Yes-" The scowl returned. "It doesn't surprise me. All right. Tomorrow then." He snapped the phone shut and handed it back. "We've found out where south is."
Before she could ask where, Micah stuck his head in the door. "What's going on?"
Jorick made an impatient noise. "That was Verchiel. There was 'significant vampire activity' in Texas. He said it sounded like the attack here."
Xandria lit up. "Are we going? I'm dying to get out and do something."
Katelina bit her lip. Texas. She was eager to save Sarah, to save Estrilda, but going more than a thousand miles while her mother was lying in the hospital... Not visiting was one thing, but to not be in the same state- "Mom's still-"
Jorick cleared his throat. "You may have to choose. You can always stay here, and we can go."
"But if Lilith is in Texas, so is Sarah."
Micah shrugged. "Pick whichever's more important."
"They both matter."
A thought whispered through her mind. Though it sounded like her own inner voice, she knew it wasn't. You already know who matters more to you.
She did, but the answer left her guilty. Sarah had been through so much, she deserved to be first with someone. So why wasn't she?
Because your mother is your mother.
She recognized Kai's logic, but didn't bother to acknowledge his intrusion. What was there to say? He was right. Still, she'd have to go. It wasn't just Sarah. There was Estrilda to think of, and she'd promised Annabelle they'd bring her back.
I'm sorry, Mom.
Xandria didn't notice the tension. "What's Texas like? I think I've heard of it."
"It's where cowboys are from," Micah said.
Katelina shook off her melancholy. "No, cowboys are from the west. Texas is the south."
"The Texas Rangers are cowboys, girlie," Micah said.
"Whatever."
"Look, I used to watch all those cowboy shows on TV, and I'm tellin' ya, Texas is where the cattle ranches and all that shit are. You'll see. They probably still wear spurs."
"Right," Torina said. "Because television is such an adequate representation."
Micah glared threateningly. "Don't you disrespect Bonanza. Sexy or not, I'll turn you over my knee."
"You're disgusting," Katelina said. "Besides, Bonanza takes place in Nevada."
"That's it. I'll take you out back and" He broke off, his eyes bulging. "Holy shit! What happened to you?"
Torina seemed happy to get the reaction she wanted, even if it was from the wrong man.
I guess we all have to settle.
