Page 90 of Throwing Shade
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“I apologize for Nav’s behavior,”Laurent said, once we were on our way.
“Forget it. I’m only surprised I hadn’t encountered that attitude sooner. So, Evani named Boo?”
“Yeah. It was supposed to be her pet but Daya is allergic.”
“And you take care of the kitten for the little girl?” I chuckled.
He shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not a big deal. I barely keep it alive.”
“Again you lie,” I said. “You’re like that big dog Marc Antony in those old Warner Brothers cartoons where he has that tiny kitty he loves so much and he’s scared that Mom has baked it into a cookie.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” His accent grew more pronounced when he added huffily, “But I am not a dog.”
“No, you’re not,” I said, tamping down my mirth.
We helped Emmett into the hotel and my heart sank. I’d forgotten about the break-in and how Laurent’s sanctuary had been violated.
Emmett whistled. “Dude, get a housekeeper.”
I elbowed the golem, but Laurent didn’t seem to hear him.
Laurent’s stare went from the wreckage to the blood on the floor. He rubbed a red gash running up from his collarbone and the fight drained out of him. His expression was so blank he’d either disassociated or retreated into some faraway memory.
Boo scampered in and rubbed herself against his bare shin.
Laurent blinked slowly at her and then at me, his brows faintly creased, like he’d forgotten I was there.
“I can help clean up.” I winced, remembering the extent of the damage, both collateral and not. “Can vampire bites speed up the timeline for possession?” I said gently.
He swung his head in the direction of the elevator and scrubbed a hand over his face with a soft “merde.”
“I’m sorry.” I placed my hand on his shoulder to help steady him against the shock of this news. “Can I do anything to help?”
The offer was barely out of my mouth before he’d turned a mocking gaze on me.
I dropped my hand.
“It’s fine,” he said sharply and picked up the kitten. “Leave the mess alone. I’ll deal with Rupert and lose the demon illusion so no vamps can get in.” He placed Boo on his shoulder, one hand on her back like she was a talisman, and headed for Rupert, but his steps were heavy and slow, unlike his usual confident stride.
I’d assumed Laurent would be able to save Rupert, because that was what he did. He solved problems. But beyond my initial lame attempt, I’d done nothing to help. Laurent rarely requested assistance, and I hadn’t appreciated how much saving enthralleds had to matter for him to push himself out of his comfort zone and ask me.
I picked up a book, dusted it off, and set it on a shelf.
The elevator door closed from further back in the room.
“Wow, this place is a real sty, huh? I know the dude’s an animal, but it’s hard to believe that anyone could live like this.” The golem stuffed a cushion under his stump of a leg, and kicked aside a broken frame. “What a mess.”
“He was literally attacked by vampires right here, Emmett.” I pointed to the blood on the floor, resisting the urge to scream. “Do you have to judge everything all the time?”
Emmett sunk into himself. “Sorry.”
I took a breath, trying not to think about what Laurent was doing. “Look, I wanted to ask about Jude.” I sat down next to him. “When you told Zev about the dybbuk, had he already mentioned it to you?”
“No. He asked me where she was.”
“You didn’t know the answer when I asked.”
