Free Fire in the Blood by Robyn Bachar

might’ve beens . It is what it is.”
    “Practical as always, my dear.”
    I smiled. “That’s why they pay me the big money. So how long have you known that Simon wasn’t dead? Or completely dead, anyway.”
    “I never saw him during the trial. I heard the name Simon St. Jerome, but had no idea that he was my son, Simon Wroth. Then I spotted him at the Duquesnes’ magician meeting. It was like seeing a ghost. I thought for certain that I was mistaken, but Zachary knew his True Name. One of the other councilmen, Vargas I think, had known him before he took the St. Jerome name as his own.”
    “And you were willing to let the assassins get him to get back at Mrs. Black?”
    Faust snorted. “Any son of mine can certainly handle a master necromancer. Simon was remarkably talented in life. I’m sure the centuries have allowed him to learn more than a few new tricks.”
    “Centuries,” I repeated, and then set my coffee down. Fuck me. My honey had a kid older than the country I paid my federal taxes to. If I married Faust, would that make me Simon’s step-mom? That had to be the most fucked up thing in the history of ever.
    “Okay then. Come here and sit down.” I patted the spot next to me on the couch, and he did as ordered. I straddled his lap, and he took off my specs and set them aside before resting his hands on my thighs.
    “I do like this skirt,” he commented.
    “You should, you made it. Now pay attention. You did the right thing by warning them, but they won’t thank you for it. You’re a bad guy, like me. Blaming us for everything lets the good guys sleep at night. And I’m fine with that. Powers know I don’t lose any sleep over the things I’ve done. I’m not interested in yesterday. I’d rather hear about tomorrow.”
    Faust smiled and kissed me lightly. “And that is one of the many reasons I love you.”
    “Ooh, there’s more than one reason?” I teased.
    “Quite a few. You’re special, Patience. Remarkable.”
    “If you say so. I’m still adjusting to this idea. You never said anything romantic before. Not once.” My voice was a little too whiny on that last bit, and I frowned. I wasn’t the needy type.
    “It would have scared you away if I did, and I couldn’t risk that.” He caressed my cheek and I blushed, my face burning as though it’d burst into flame.
    “So if you’d sworn off kids, how come you want them with me? I mean, I’m a career woman. I don’t give off maternal vibes.”
    “But you don’t give off the vibes of a woman who hates children, either,” he replied. “Do you?”
    “No. I like kids fine enough. I’m not sure I’m good mom material. I’m hardly human anymore.”
    He shook his head. “You’re not that far gone.”
    “I am. I really am—” I stopped and cleared my throat. He didn’t need to know that. I unwound myself from his lap and rose, grabbing his hands and tugging him to his feet. “Enough talking. It’s distraction time.”
    Faust chuckled as I insistently led him into the bedroom, and we stopped talking.
     
     
    “We can’t stay here,” I said. Or rather I mumbled it against Faust’s naked chest. I envied his skin. There wasn’t a mark on him, unlike me, who had enough ink to be a circus freak. Well, my arms and back were full, but there was still a bit of blank canvas left on my chest and legs.
    He brushed a kiss against my hair. “I know. It’s safe for now.”
    “Kris’ll find it. I assume that since you’re spending all this time with me that Harrison’s going to notice you’re missing, and he’ll figure out something’s up.”
    “He hasn’t called for me.”
    I peered up at him. He’d changed his hairstyle a few weeks ago and grown it out so that it brushed his shoulders, and the sleek black mass of it looked fabulous against the white of his pillow. I was forced to admit that he was prettier than me, but I was strangely okay with that.
    “Is that normal? Aren’t you his right hand man?” I