Chapter 68

“What stranger entered your room, Shaina?” “A man. He asked me lots of questions about you, but I didn’t answer or look at him. I retreated like I do. Into my own mind.” Shaina continued to look at the wall as if she were slightly ashamed of herself. Her hands were clutching the little stuffed animal until her knuckles turned white.

 “I don’t know if I can keep from doing it when I’m really afraid.” Miah gently pushed her hair from her forehead. She couldn’t wait to get the child home, where she would be surrounded by love, by feminine things. She couldn’t wait to do something with the wealth of hair that had been neglected for so long.

 “He’s a reporter, honey, nothing more. Someone told him a story about me and he wants to write about it. It has nothing to do with you, but I’ll make certain there’s a guard posted outside your door at all times. No one else will get in.” She should have posted a guard long before this. A small sound escaped Shaina’s throat, something between a laugh and a cry. 

“A guard? I don’t think you have to go that far. I think it’s a little late for guards.” Miah leaned over the teenager and brushed her forehead with her lips in a small caress. “You are so silly, young lady, to think it is too late for a guard. You are beautiful and unique, a rare treasure. I intend to guard you and keep you safe for all time. There is no need to have idiot reporters breaking into your hospital room and questioning you.”

 “He asked strange things. He wanted to know if I had ever seen you during daylight hours. Isn’t that a strange thing to ask?” Miah went very still inside. There were many people throughout Paris who would testify they had seen her during daylight hours; and there were photographs to prove it. Her picture had appeared more than once in the newspapers at various charity functions around the city. 

The reporter would soon lose interest in her if he was no more than a simple reporter; she wouldn’t fit the profile of what he was looking for. But if he was more than a reporter, if he was a member of the society hunting the  supernatural people, seeking proof of their existence, she needed to know. 

“Miah?” Shaina sounded tired and forlorn. “I want to go home with you. When can I get out of here? Everything scares me, even Dr. Bert, and I know he means well. I just can’t stand to be around him anymore. He doesn’t feel the same.” Shaina was very sensitive to the emotions of others. All around her, the plots were thickening. Miah had to get Bert to agree to allow the child to go home with her. 

She would have to face him and use the power of her voice if necessary. They could better protect her if she was in their home.

 “I think you’re right, honey. I’ll track down the good doctor and get his permission to allow you to leave. You’ll like the house. It’s big and roomy and filled with all kinds of books and treasures.” 

“I’ve seen stained glass in churches before. Is that what you do?” 

“Most of the time I create pieces for private homes. Sometimes I’m asked to do windows for a church or cathedral. I mostly like to do residences. I want to know all about the people and get a feel for who they are and what they need. I try to incorporate feelings of safety and comfort into the patterns.” Miah shrugged casually. 

“Sometimes I’m successful.” 

“Can you teach me how to do it?” There was interest in her voice. Real interest.

 “I drew pictures of wolves one time. They’re so beautiful. I used to read everything I could find on them. That’s why I love my blue-eyed wolf. I always wanted to study them, but I know it won’t ever happen. Not here anyway. But maybe I could do a picture in stained glass.”

 “You can do anything you want, Shaina, anything at all. If you wish to study animal behavior, I am behind you one hundred percent. And I know you can make stained glass. I would love to work with you. Rest now while I go to find Bert.” She patted the wolf gently and bent to kiss the girl’s head before leaving

Miah bit her lip as she quietly closed the door to Shaina’s room. The reporter was waiting as she had known he would be. She had heard his footfalls, the sound of his pacing. She read his determination to confront her even as she was speaking to Shaina. It was okay, it was what she wanted, too. She needed information and he was conveniently outside the door. She wouldn’t have to go looking for him.The man spun around with a determined look on his face. “I need to talk to you.” Miah’s smile was mysterious and inviting.

 “What can I do for you?” His eyes were devouring her, roaming freely over her body. There was something about her that made him a little crazy. 

The way she looked, the sway of her hips, the sultry smile. He had never seen a woman who moved him in quite the way she did. He liked women, in their place, but he had always bought the right to their bodies and kept it strictly business. No fuss, no emotional entanglement. This woman was very different from the average woman.

 There was something mysterious and sexy about her. He could stare into her eyes forever, listen to the sound of her voice for eternity. All at once his suspicions seemed totally ridiculous. This was no demon preying on the human race. She was a woman of extraordinary talents and he wanted to protect her from those who sought her for study. Miah could feel Alexander’s power flowing through her when she looked into the reporter’s eyes. It was not the same as hers, but far more aggressive. 

Alexander would make sure this man would never harm her, would in fact die to save her. He did it easily as he did all things, the commands flowing through her mind into the reporter’s. She had no idea how Alexander could do the things he did. 

He was helping her at the same time as he hunted the demon and watched for traps along the way. He seemed capable of operating on more than one level at a time. Even when the stakes were as high as his own life. 

“Nothing is more important to me than your life.” His voice was fading away as if he was in motion somewhere. 

Miah did not seek to sustain the connection between them. She wanted to concentrate entirely on the reporter. She needed to know everything he knew about the society he was a part of, a society that had hunted and murdered humans and Supernaturals alike, naming them demons. She smiled at him. 

“It’s Woods, isn’t it? Barry Woods? You said you were a reporter. I’m so sorry about the other evening. I was in such a hurry, late for so many appointments, I can’t recall exactly what we talked about. I promise to give you my full attention now. Would you care to go somewhere and have a cup of tea or something?”

 “Tone it down, Miah. He is very susceptible to you and that in itself can be dangerous.” This time there was a distinct growl in Alexander’s voice. She tilted her chin, although she knew he couldn’t see her. “Go away, I can handle this problem all by myself. You have bigger fish to fry.” She sounded faintly haughty, snippy, warning him to back off. 

Barry Woods was gaping at her, astounded that she was actively seeking him out. 

She leaned close, enveloping him in her mysterious scent. “You will never attempt to see Shaina Rose again.” The command was one of the strongest she had ever issued. She could read his acceptance of her authority, but all the same, Miah guided the reporter to the seclusion of one of the empty rooms with every intention of ensuring obedience by taking his blood. “You will not!” The command was sharp and authoritative. Alexander was not playing now. The threat was very real.