Unremarkable Read online

  “Deal. I will make sure of it and not leave your side until you are on the float.” TJ held his hands over his hearts.

  She glared at him. “What kinds of dessert?”

  His grin was slow. He had her, and they all knew it.

  Ally sighed. For her friends, she was willing to be the token human. Just this once.

  Chapter Two

  She had sold her body for cream puffs and her favourite ice cream. Ally wanted to smack herself in the forehead the moment she woke up to TJ knocking on her door. “Coming.”

  She pulled on sweats and a t-shirt. She didn’t need anything else.

  “What?”

  He looked at her and snorted. “We are going to the gym for a final run-through, and you need to get the clothing fitted. Your curves are more noticeable than Suzie’s.”

  “She’s an athletic critter. Okay. Let me get my shoes.” She checked her phone and said, “Good god. Why so early?”

  “We need to have you tested and on the float by four. We get into start position by six, and the moment the sun goes down, we light it up, and you are going to be on for an hour. Bring a change of clothes to go for cocktails afterward.” He grinned.

  “No. I am doing this and going to bed. That’s it. I am not up for any frivolity.”

  “Aw, come on. It’s tradition. The different clubs offer free drinks for the night to float participants.”

  “We will see. If they let me in like this, I will consider it.”

  He sighed. “You are no fun.”

  “That’s going to be on my tombstone.”

  He smiled. “But you are getting my butt out of the fire.”

  “It’s a cute butt. Let’s go and get me coffee on the way.”

  He hugged her, and they left the house at ten in the morning on a Saturday. It would be a rough day, but she had her friends to help her out while she helped them out.

  * * * *

  Ulric woke after two hours of sleep, and he was shocked. His body was still showing signs of the blood magic, and he felt amazing. He felt bright and strong and didn’t have the normal fatigue he had during the daylight hours.

  He got out of bed and pulled on a robe, picking up his phone while heading into his living room. Thom, his housekeeper, stared at him. “Master Ulric, you are up.”

  “Apparently.”

  “Can I get you something?”

  Ulric looked up from his phone. “What is appropriate for this time of day?”

  “Brunch, sir.”

  “Give me something suitable for brunch. I would like to try it.” He nodded and settled on his couch to watch the progress of the sun through the tinted windows. His light-sensitive eyes would normally have been flinching, but he felt fine.

  His overall sense of wellbeing was due to the mousy woman with soft brown eyes. He pulled up security footage, and it showed him that her small body had toned muscle, and she moved swiftly when she wanted to.

  Her waist had been tiny when he set her on his desk. The dress she was wearing did an amazing job of removing most sexual characteristics while making her look stylish.

  He rubbed a hand over his face, feeling smoothed skin. She wasn’t his type. He was sure that she wasn’t his type. He just wished she would stop flitting into his mind.

  When Thom called him to the kitchen, he sat and looked at the combination of fruits and fat and textures that all were served together. “Is this standard?”

  “Fairly. In a restaurant, you would have to order them separately, but you have never asked for them before, so I thought you should have a sampling, Master Ulric.”

  He nodded, and Thom poured him coffee, so he started with pastries. Half an hour later, he decided that he liked brunch. He was going to have to seek it out around the city.

  He quirked his lips. “So, what is going on in the city today?”

  “The live feed from the parade grounds is being broadcast. The party is prepared for the night, and your clubs are ready to host the float participants.”

  “Good. Anything on my agenda?”

  “Not until this evening.”

  Ulric nodded. “Excellent. I think I am going to head out and watch the prep for the parade. I have never done that before.”

  “Uh, Master Ulric? Why are you even awake?”

  He smiled and headed back to his bedroom for a shower and change. “Something I ate. It will wear off, so I am going to explore the city a bit while it lasts. With the festival today, I think it could not have happened at a better time.”

  He let his guards downstairs know that they would be doing some travelling that day. He was going out to see the festivities. He paid for them. It was time that he saw all the prep for the festival in person. He wondered how surprised the organizers were going to be.

  * * * *

  Ally was glad she had insisted on the cloak. The outfit was cool, and the warehouse where the floats were stored was icy. She shivered with the cloak around her and waited for confirmation that she was human. She could see Sunar making the rounds, and it was nearly four. Time to get on the float, blast the music, and pretend that she was a one-woman rave for a few hours. After that, nap time.

  TJ was nearby with his clipboard, his green muscles oiled up and ignoring the cold. He smiled. “Just a few more minutes, Ally. He’s just one float away.”

  The others were lounging and chatting, their monster class on display in skimpy outfits and body glitter.

  The festival celebrated one hundred and eleven years of peace between the warring factions of monsters, mages, and humans. Each float had to have at least one human or mage on it to be considered for the grand prize.

  There was a cluster of people that Ally thought must be judges, but no one was on the floats yet, so the judging couldn’t start.

  “TJ, what is that cluster of folks over there?”

  “No idea. Maybe one of the float sponsors.”

  Sunar leered as he approached her. “Ally Rathmark. How lovely to see you again.”

  She had her arms in the cloak. “Proceed, Sunar.”

  * * * *

  Ulric felt deep unease, followed by stifled panic. He looked around and saw a woman radiating discomfort. Her hair was concealed in a glittering headpiece, and her head was averted, but the verifier had her arm in his hand and was pulling her toward him, the tongue snaking out toward her breasts.

  Ulric grabbed the verifier by the back of his shirt and lifted him up and away. He kept his grip on the woman, and she slammed up against Ulric.

  She looked up at him with frightened eyes and then recognition. He looked at her features, the brown eyes looking at him like a scared rabbit. “Ah, little courier. How nice to see you again.”

  He kept the verifier in his grip and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Funny meeting you here.”

  The tiny squeak of panic might have had something to do with his arm being under her cloak and the warm heat radiating from her narrow, supple waist. Her figure was impressive for an average-sized lass.

  “Master Ulric, I didn’t know you were looking at the floats this year.” The buff goblin that had been standing next to her looked at the woman and tried to distract Ulric. It was an interesting effort. Futile but interesting.

  * * * *

  Sunar had lunged for her breasts, and she had cringed and looked away, but the cool, wet slime of his tongue never landed. She was jolted forward, and she slammed into a hard body wearing a sports coat, jeans, and a t-shirt. Sunar let her go.

  Ally looked up and saw Ulric. Her heart thudded, and she was terrified. He looked amazing. The thug aspect was still stamped on his features, but his skin was smooth and had a golden cast, his scars were silvery, and there was no trace of grey. He looked positively healthy.

  “Ah, little courier. How nice to see you again.”

  His arm slid around her waist. “Funny meeting you here.”

  Ally felt petrified. He was wide awake. Vampires
were usually pretty sleepy in the afternoons and mornings. They could get around, but they looked dozy.

  TJ tried to diffuse things. “Master Ulric, I didn’t know you were looking at the floats this year.”

  Ulric’s head slowly looked away from her, and she exhaled in relief. A slight smile curved his lips. Fuck. She tried easing away, but his arm was like iron.

  “I woke up early today, and it sounded like a fun thing to do. I have never managed to gain enthusiasm for moving around during daylight until today.”

  “Master Ulric, we need Ally verified as human for the contest authorization. Sunar is still... uh... necessary.”

  Ally blinked when Ulric took her hand, folded all but her pinky in, and extended the hand to Sunar. Sunar quickly licked her pinky. His eyes flared blue. “Human. Verified.”

  Sunar filled out the paperwork, and when it was done, Ulric let him go.

  She swallowed and licked her lips nervously. Her hand was still held in his, and Sunar’s slime was drying on her pinky. “Thank you for your help.”

  “There was a heavy air of panic from this part of the warehouse. Sunar is known for getting aggressive with women he fancies.”

  “Uh, yeah. Can I have my hand back? TJ has the sanitizer ready.”

  To her surprise, Ulric pulled out a handkerchief, and he wrapped it around her finger, cleaning it up for her. When he pulled her hand to his own mouth and sucked her finger in, her jaw dropped. He cleaned it for her and then pulled it free. “There you go.”

  She looked at her hand.

  “He had some aphrodisiac in the venom, so I thought it best to clear it for you.”

  “Uh, that won’t cause you a problem?”

  He grinned. “I will be fine. If I am out of my mind with lust, I will take it out on Sunar. That should teach him a lesson.”

  She giggled and then covered her mouth. She never giggled.

  She looked, and TJ was looking at her with wide eyes.

  She closed her eyes and went through all the photographs of Ulric with women. The parade of leggy blondes cooled her off, and she blanked her expression. “Could you let me go, please? I need to get my makeup finished and then take my position. Time is almost up.”

  He looked surprised. “Of course. I was just enjoying the contact.”

  “Consider it payment for the rescue.”

  “Ah, my rates are far higher than that. We will negotiate a proper reward at our next meeting.”

  He let her go, and his words dropped into her like lead. “Next meeting?”

  “Oh, yes, little courier. This is not the last time we will see each other.”

  Hot blondes. She cooled down again and stepped back, inclining her head. “Thank you.”

  “Have fun at the parade. I will be watching for you.”

  She swallowed, thought of his preferences, and held that up in her thoughts to keep her from falling for the charming smile.

  She felt her memory ringing a gong in case she had forgotten when she had last written that phrase down.

  TJ frowned. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  “Not a ghost, a fantasy. I am going to have to keep my head in the game. Where is Yalthea?”

  “Flirting with the guys from the bakery on Eighth.”

  Ally whistled sharply, and Yalthea came over with her pallet of colours and applied them to Ally’s skin. When the works were set with the sweat-resistant treatment, she dropped her cloak, and Yalthea folded it up as the first floats rumbled out and into position. The representatives of the gym jumped into place, and they waited for their turn. Time sped up, and the final hour whizzed by as they trundled into their position. When the sun finally set, the floats moved at a set distance, and they each started up their music. Ally was getting ready when she saw a vampire dressed in Ulric’s uniform at the edge of the alley when they trundled out. He made a call as they passed, and she had to turn her attention to the others as TJ started the music when their float turned onto the main route. The music started up, and she started to dance her version of Suzie’s routine. Her early years of family dance training kicked into gear with a vengeance.

  She had ninety minutes of dancing to get through, so she would fucking dance.

  * * * *

  Ulric watched the videos of the approaching float. Ally was quite a surprise. She had grace, strength, and she had control of her body, which was fascinating. Her hips rolled, her shoulders shimmied, and her arms wove patterns in the air.

  He was sitting with some other business owners from the area, and they were watching and commenting on the floats as the representatives of their businesses and industries went by, throwing presents and prizes to the gathered citizens.

  The gym was the third to the last float, and the perfect physiques and dancers were admired by the crowd. They had walking staff handing out certificates, but as the music reached him, he watched Ally moving with every beat, every slide of sound. She rolled, bucked, and twisted. Ulric noticed that the men in their private box were leaning forward and commenting on her.

  “Is that the human?”

  “Must be.”

  “Nice body painting.”

  “Those hips are something else.”

  Masculine laughter rippled through their group.

  Ulric looked down, and he had crushed the arm of his chair.

  Jinson looked at him. “Master Ulric? Something wrong?”

  “I have an attachment to that woman and have just experienced jealousy. It is uncomfortable, and I am not sure what my next action will be. If you will admire her and speculate, do it silently.”

  The box went quiet.

  Jinson cleared his throat. “She isn’t like the women you normally are seen with.”

  “No. She isn’t. I am still dealing with that. Please. Compliment the curve of her ass. I want to see what I will do.” He grinned and flashed his fangs.

  The men chuckled and agreed that she was lovely and charming but didn’t dissect her in their commentary.

  Ulric felt smug, but it felt right. He had just about declared that she was his mistress in front of the movers and shakers of their city, including her boss. Would she come to him when she needed help? He doubted it. He would have to do the gentlemanly thing and go to her. Saving her that afternoon had given him a warm and bright feeling in his chest. He wanted to catch her up and keep her safe. It was a new sensation.

  How long is this damned blood magic going to last?

  * * * *

  Exhausted, she climbed down from the upper stage, and Yalthea handed her a garment bag and ushered her to the ladies’ changing area.

  “I don’t even get the makeup off?”

  “I did an amazing job, and you are wearing it until I help you get it off.”

  Ally glared at her. “Never tell me you are going to help me get off. That way lies nightmares.”

  Yalthea laughed. “Change so we can party. I think we made it into the top five out of twenty.”

  “If I change, can you put me in a corner and let me sleep?”

  “Of course, sweetie.”

  That was as good as it was going to get. She went to change, and a few of the other ladies congratulated her on making it through the parade. Most of the humans involved in the parade were males. There was a draw of personal energies for the celebrations, which was why she was so sleepy. Many of the species lived off the life force of others. Tonight, they were drawing hard at the population around them. It was why kids had different events and pregnant women were discouraged from attending. It was a hard pull.

  She hung up and unzipped the garment bag, and yelled out, “Yalthea! You are out of my will!”

  The bright tinkle of laughter came through the walls, and Ally stripped the costume from her, putting the lacy black bra on and then getting her panties in place before the skirt came off. When the shiny fabric was in a pile, she pulled out the black stretch-lace cocktail dress and four-inch heels.
She put the dress on, stepped into the heels, and tried to get the headpiece off. She couldn’t figure it out.

  The other ladies had already left as their floats had been way ahead of hers. She put the costume into the garment bag and came out, looking at Yalthea. “Help. This thing is on with pins I can’t find.”

  Vresh came over and helped her find the pins and freed her from the headpiece, taking it and the garment bag off to put in safekeeping.

  Her hair came down in soft curls around her face and shoulders, and Yalthea linked arms with her to lead her to their party bus. They were going to be assigned to a club and get free drinks, courtesy of the establishment. TJ helped her into the bus, and she repeated her plea that she be allowed somewhere to sleep.

  “Yeah, sweetie. No problem. We will tuck you into a corner, and you can sleep through the party.”

  She snorted and nodded, taking a spot on the bus behind the driver. TJ sat behind her, and Yalthea sat next to her.

  Her ears were roaring, and she felt like she was underwater. She heard the driver speak, everyone was silent and then cheered, and they were on their way. Time for a well-deserved party.

  Chapter Three

  Ally held onto TJ’s arm as they walked past the bouncer and into the club. The hostesses came toward them, led them to a private space, and trays of beverages were brought by servers. Ally sighed. “It’s fine, TJ. Go nuts. Don’t worry about me. Have fun.”

  She tucked herself into a corner and nursed one of the tall shot glasses with something that smelled like apples. The group did several shots and then tumbled onto the dance floor. Ally was exhausted. Normally, she would have stayed inside on the night of the festival. After the first year, she had learned that festivals were just tiring for humans. It was better to stay at home.

  She watched the dancing and admired that they still had the energy to dance. She looked around at the club that she had only ever sprinted through before. The clothing on the clientele was expensive. The dresses that the waitstaff were wearing cost more than Ally’s outfit, including underwear and shoes.