I Dated a Legal Devil Read online

  She opened the door, and Arcady walked in. Her dress was elegant, and it looked like she was coming from a date.

  Arcady sighed and looked at the food. “He said you assaulted him.”

  Drin blinked. “I blasted him back so I could get out the door. I didn’t hurt him; he got enough energy for a week or so. It’s more than he normally takes.”

  “Did you enjoy him as a patron?”

  “As far as I can tell, he just sketched me and then took the energy he wanted. I was an expensive snack.” She checked the location of the pizza.

  “Sketched?”

  “Sure. He picked an outfit, then had my lounge around, and drew me.”

  Arcady scowled. “Wait, wait, wait. No sex?”

  Drin laughed. “No. No sex. Light touches, but the power transfer was what he was after.”

  Arcady checked her files. “Huh. You aren’t mistaken. That is all that he requested.”

  “Yeah, he can get sex whenever he wants. He puts out seductive pheromones.” She shrugged and gathered up her takeout containers, recycling and disposing of them as needed.

  “So, you know him.”

  “Not that well. I know his family. His brother was my best friend growing up; he died six years ago. I was ordered not to associate with the family by the head of the family, and I didn’t know I was. He has only been using me for a few months, so there shouldn’t be an issue with the cessation of services.”

  Arcady grimaced. “Complicated. Your decision will stand. There are grounds for turning down the client, so no penalty will be imposed.”

  The bell rang again, and Drin got up to answer it. The extra-large pizza was set gently in her arms, and she smiled at the delivery guy before returning to her living room. Arcady was talking to Zera and explaining the situation.

  “Huh, I thought they were a match for sure.” Zera’s voice was disappointed.

  Drin came back in and put the pizza on the coffee table, opening the lid and grabbing a slice. “I didn’t think this business was about matchmaking. Arcady and her devoted trio are an exception. Dr. Kritz is a very generous soul.”

  Arcady smiled. “Yeah, he is. Sorry, Drin. On paper, he is a good match for you. Successful, generous, charming, sexy. Good family. Your link to them didn’t pop up. Can you tell us about it?”

  Drin mumbled. “Sure.” She finished her first piece of pizza, and then, she explained.

  “Vaka was a friend in school. We met in grade two, and he and I were buddies. We got older, and when the activations started, he went first. He was a flier who was wobbly and couldn’t carry any weight. When I activated, no one noticed, but I started to get really hungry.”

  She picked up another slice of pizza and started to eat. “Nothing happened until Vaka’s puppy died, and I hugged him. He went to show me his wobbly flight, and he shot upward with complete control. As we became teens, he picked up larger and larger weights. When it came to agent testing, it was no problem when he was near me a day or two before.”

  “Over time, I could give him time-release energy, and we could go over a week between contacts. When he was nearly twenty-three, he got leave, and his family left for a beach holiday all together. They were gone for eight days, and a stressful mission came up. Vaka wanted to meet with me before he went into battle, but his father insisted that he head straight to the ship. So from my home, I watched my best friend wobble through the air and get on the ship where he was taken to an emergency, and he died under weight he would have been able to lift if he had just come to me for a hug.” She sighed. “After that, my activation became more noticeable because I didn’t have control over it.”

  She grunted. “Vaka had a girlfriend. She tried to go to the funeral, and the family rejected her. Threw her out. I tried to intercede, and they did the same to me. So, now, I have a nephew I never expected, and that is where my happiness is.”

  Arcady’s eyes were wide. “His girlfriend was pregnant?”

  “Yeah, it was a planned baby, but he never told his family, and they wouldn’t let her present the proof that Vaka left behind. She had my best friend’s baby, and I have supported them for the last six years. Z-Tech and the BDC picked me up an inch from bankruptcy. I was running out of funds to maintain a shitty apartment and their house.”

  Arcady chuckled. “Now you have a nice shoe box of an apartment.”

  “And the little guy has a college fund and a good school district and has made it into one of the elite private schools. He’s going to be just like his dad one day. His energy signature is already developing. At that point, his father’s family is going to notice, and they will have to face the fact that they rejected the last piece of Vaka.”

  “So, seeing Vikor tonight must have hurt.”

  “Like a punch to the gut. If I had known he was that patron, I never would have gone anywhere near him.”

  Arcady nodded. “We will remove your match from his system, but he knows who you are now and is probably going to track you. He is very well connected in this country.”

  Drin shrugged. “So, what? The kid is good, and the savings are solid. My involvement with the BDC has done what I wanted it to. If he stalks me, I will just ignore him. He knows me, so it won’t last long.”

  Zera chuckled. “You have enough regulars to keep you financially flush for the foreseeable future. I wish I knew why they went platonic with you. It isn’t like Litha’s situation. She’s deadly. You are just... cuddly.”

  Drin chuckled. “Once they curl up with me, sex isn’t necessary. I give them energy, and they walk away boosted and feeling energized.” She grinned. “And then, they call back.”

  Arcady stared and checked the file. “Oh, man. No sex. It’s in your file, and I never looked. Damn.”

  Zera murmured, “This is not good.”

  Drin blinked. “Why not?”

  “I am fairly sure you have created addicts. You are on suspension from the BDC until the status of your patrons is investigated, and it is confirmed that lack of contact is not causing any kind of damage.” Zera’s voice was absolute.

  Drin’s shoulders fell. “Right. Of course. Vaka never had cravings, but he went back to normal when I was away for more than six days. None of my patrons repeat that frequently. They are happy to see me, not desperate.”

  Zera was soothing. “We will check on it, and if everything is fine and they still want you as their escort, we will resume your active status.”

  Drin sighed. “Okay. How long until you get the findings?”

  Arcady smiled. “Two of your patrons are available tonight. We will start there and work through the other three. It should be ratified in a few days.”

  Drin finished her pizza and dusted off her hands. “So, I should be prepared to be fired from the BDC. Fine.”

  Arcady smiled. “I am sure it won’t come to that. That hasn’t happened to any escort so far.”

  “I am not exactly ground-breaking.” She shrugged. “I can wait and see, but I am going to have to find an outlet for myself.”

  Arcady smiled. “If you want to do that at work, we can arrange some lab time. You can boost a volunteer, and we can record it. Zera and Kritz love that kind of stuff.”

  Zera chuckled. “I do. And if you volunteer for monitoring pods to be inserted under your skin, you will be making funds nearing what you would with the BDC.”

  “Okay. So, I don’t think I have harmed anyone, but you check on whatever you need to.” She sighed yet again. “I need to get some sleep for the health and safety meeting in the morning. We have an inspector coming in to check on the labs, and I am the designated helper monkey.”

  Zera chuckled. “Make sure you don’t tick them off. Those inspectors can be bastards when it comes to authorizing expansions or even ongoing projects. We need everything to go smoothly.”

  She straightened. “I will. No problem. I have done it before. I can tour him around. But... why not Arcady?”

  Arcady snorted. “Because I am the research.”

  “Oh. Oh. Right.”

  The rest of the conversation was pleasant, and when Arcady left, she giggled. “Kritz is waiting in the car.”

  Drin hugged her, and they laughed. “Have a nice night.”

  Arcady grinned. “See you in the morning.”

  Drin nodded and locked her door.

  She changed into pyjamas and went to bed. She had work in the morning.

  The call from security told her that her inspector had arrived. Drin notified Litha and headed up the elevator to greet their visitor with a tablet in her hands. It helped her when she was nervous.

  She exited the elevator and walked toward the security desk.

  She waved. “Hey, Mackroi. Where is the inspector?”

  “Waiting over there. I don’t know how you can miss him. None of the other ladies can.”

  She turned and saw black horns, black hair neatly tied in a queue, red skin, and he was reading a tablet. The suit was new. As long as she had known him, Vikor had skipped shirts and just worn trousers that were comfortable and loose. To see his massive frame in a suit was something else.

  She walked up to him, her heels clicking on the granite flooring. She walked within a few feet of him. “Inspector?”

  He looked up, and a slow smile spread across his features. “Drin. I didn’t think I would see you without a lot of research.”

  “I didn’t know you were a government inspector.”

  He rose to his feet. “Aw, you never asked. Everybody needs a day job. Shall we begin?”

  She nodded, verified that he had a visitors badge, and then she clicked her way back to the elevator. “Sir, may I see your identification?”

  He opened his com and displayed th
at he was Inspector General for Asksallan research facilities.

  “Thank you, sir. Can’t be too careful.”

  She swiped her access card and pushed the button.

  She stepped in and held the elevator for him when the doors opened. He stepped into the elevator that was designed for oversized actives.

  When the doors closed, she pressed the research floor. “Sir, where would you like to start.”

  “I do enjoy it when you call me sir.”

  She glanced at him. “Just being polite, sir.”

  “So, when can I try booking you again?”

  “I have been suspended, sir. My patrons are being interviewed to determine whether I have caused lasting harm, and my time with the BDC looks to be over.” She watched the door. “So, sir, where would you like to start?”

  “Biomechanics and cybernetics. They have been asking for expansion permission. Then, biological agents, textiles, and weapons development.”

  “Yes, sir. This way, sir.”

  She touched his sleeve lightly and walked him down the hall. “Nice suit.”

  “Thank you. I can dress for work, though I prefer my evening wear. Much more comfortable.”

  She nodded. “I could see that. So, running Hell is a sideline?”

  He chuckled. “It is. It lets me passively feed on the crowd. I prefer feeding on you, but if you are no longer available for me, I can make do with taking energy from the patrons of my establishment.”

  “Uh, is that legal?”

  He snickered. “Ah, Drin. I have a license.”

  She nodded. “Of course, sir.”

  He grinned, and she was reminded of his upper and lower canines. They looked like they could punch through her femur. They were just as over-built as the rest of him.

  They arrived in the territory of Dr. Kritz, and she made the introductions. When she mentioned Government Inspector Vikor, Arcady’s eyes widened. She tilted her head, and Drin gave her an imperceptible nod.

  Kritz got up, and the devil and demon faced each other. Drin smiled slightly. “Arcady, if you can let me know when the horn club for men meeting is over, I will take him to his next inspection site.”

  Vikor’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist. “Stay, please.”

  “Um. Why?”

  “Because I want you here.”

  She leaned toward him. “You are not my patron, sir.”

  “Not now, but I feel better when you are near, and you have been assigned to me for the day.” He pulled her close. “I am not going to be separated from you for a moment.”

  Kritz chuckled, and he never chuckled. Drin nodded reluctantly and sent a message to Litha. She sent a happy face back, so Drin rubbed her forehead. “I am all yours, sir.”

  He sighed and released her hand. “Not yet. You will know.”

  Kritz snickered again.

  Arcady looked at him in astonishment. “Why are you laughing like that, doc?”

  He smiled. “He is acting with her the way I wish I had been able to act with you.”

  Arcady looked at them and grinned. “Oh, I would have been all over you, sport.”

  Drin smiled tightly. “Good thing I have self-control then. Shall the inspection commence? Or you guys don’t get that flight hangar you have been waiting for.”

  The mood changed right away, and as Vikor asked questions, Kritz answered all of them. They went into the research and development lab, and Kritz showed him the designs for Arcady’s complete transformation and the medical safety protocols they had developed for her.

  Drin hung back as a research file came up with a new design.

  Vikor asked, “What’s this?”

  “Ah, that is for the second subject. Metabolic control, which would allow an active to basically become a human if she wished.” Kritz nodded.

  Vikor was staring at the outline and the markings. “Wait. That’s Drin.”

  He turned and looked for her. Drin was behind him and to the left, but he unerringly reached back and grabbed her, hauling her forward.

  “Why do you want to remove your activation, Drin?”

  She grimaced. “Because it is a royal pain in the ass. I can’t date, can’t plan my future, can’t do anything because I am always over- or under-powered. Just those pushes I gave you last night dropped my weight by five pounds. In a larger altercation, I can lose more. I keep my weight up to fight against that kind of thing, but feeding myself constantly is humiliating, tiring, and expensive. I spend thirty percent of my income just eating. I just want it to stop.” She kept her head down as she spoke, but she spoke clearly.

  His large hand caressed her head, and she was pulled to him in a hug. “I am volunteering to take care of you, Drin.”

  She stiffened and pulled back, but he held her against his suit. He was wrapped in fabric with a soft texture, and one of the buttons probably cost more than Drin’s entire suit. Vaka’s family had been stupidly wealthy. That is why his father had so jealously guarded the family against any strangers.

  That memory snapped her out of it. “Right. No. You can’t. Your family will be pissed, and I have too much to lose.”

  “I am not my brother, nor am I dependant on my family.”

  She struggled against him and used a gentle panel of power to shove him backward.

  Drin looked up at him and set her jaw. She was going to say something else when her com went off. The number was Vaken’s school.

  She stepped away. “I need to take this.”

  Vikor was scowling like a thundercloud.

  She walked to one of the nearby cupboards and had a quick conversation with the administrator. When she disconnected the call, she emerged and looked at Arcady. “Would it be possible for you to take over the tour?”

  Vikor scowled. “No. You are mine for the day.”

  “I have a family emergency. I have to go pick up my nephew and keep him in my office until the end of the work day. His school had a water main break.”

  Vikor blinked. “Your brother isn’t married, and he has a child?”

  “Adopted nephew. He’s the child of an old friend, but her boss is a lot less flexible than mine.”

  Vikor looked thoughtful. “How long will you be gone?”

  “I dunno. Half an hour? It isn’t far.”

  “I will come with you. We will take my car.”

  “Uh, you have to continue your inspection.”

  “I have all day, all week if need be.”

  She ran out of excuses, and her little man was waiting for her.

  “Fine. Arcady, we will be back in half an hour. I will arrange for Miss Umther to watch him.”

  Arcady smiled. “I will call Umther and tell her to gear up.”

  Kritz grinned. “Now we have time to hide the good stuff.”

  Drin snorted and looked at Vikor. “If you want to come along. I am going.” She turned and began taking long strides back down the hall.

  His lazy saunter soon caught up with her, damn his long legs. “So, where are we going?”

  “The Everheart Academy.”

  “Huh. Vaka and I went there when we were young.”

  She kept her voice calm. “You don’t say.”

  Chapter Three

  His vehicle was suited to his body shape but still stylish. It was also super safe. She identified six safety devices in the front and rear compartments.

  “So, how can your friend afford the academy? It is shockingly expensive.” Vikor’s tone was conversational.

  “I pay for it. It was my choice. Vaka always spoke so highly of it that if there was a chance for my nephew, I was going to do it.”

  He made a strange sound. “No wonder you are always broke.”

  “I have saved up enough to get him all the way through school and then through college. Just in case something happens to me.”

  His huge red hands flexed on the steering wheel. “Like what?”

  “Like if the experiment works. If the implants can keep me under control. If I stop leaking energy into strange men just by rubbing against them.”

  He chuckled. “You can give me your extra energy anytime you like.”

  She snorted. “I have only ever done that to one person, and it was your brother. When he was gone, I had to find an outlet.”

  “You and my brother were never lovers?” He was tense when he asked.

  “Oh, god, no. We were friends. We used to joke that we were symbionts, but there wasn’t a class for us. I made him stronger; he kept me from overloading.”