Double or Nothing

Author: Lysa Whitmore

Parts: 31 - 35

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Part 31

 Stepping out of the Corvette, Cordelia didn’t even bother to lock the doors. Though the security gate was in place, truthfully, it was the last thing on her mind. Unlocking the front door, Cordelia paused before turning the handle remembering the last time she stepped into the house to find her parents gawking at her clothes. Somehow, her wrinkled grass-stained skirt and blouse were far more embarrassing to her than the leather corset and garters.

Cordelia hated to feel like she had to hide, but this wasn’t something she wanted to talk to her parents about. They knew nothing about Angel or how much he meant to her as a friend. That feeling had been so new, still growing from that silly crush into a friendship that was real, deeper and more meaningful than before. She didn’t want the first thing they learned about the vampire to be the fact that he nearly raped her.

Especially without really understanding why the encounter with Angel happened in the first place. Cordelia had to admit attraction. Pfft! That had been there before she even knew Angelus existed. Now, for some strange reason, Angel suddenly imagined that he was in love with her. Wanted her beyond reason and told her exactly how he was going to prove it.

While disgust for what he’d done welled up inside her, Cordelia turned that emotion back on herself. Despite many protests, his intimate touch elicited such undeniable pleasure. I can’t believe that I responded that way.

It didn’t matter that Angel possessed masterful hands or a skillful tongue. That his hard body matched the one so familiar to her, one whose every nook, cranny and sculpted curve she knew by touch. It only took looking into his eyes to know the difference. His every touch was telling and uniquely his own.

Only the timely arrival of the Dork Patrol had saved her. It hadn’t been the first time Xander Harris had come charging in. Though comparing the threat of being chopped up by student scientists as part of their freaky zombie creation weighed differently in her mind than interrupting what Angel was doing. Except that right now, the vampire seemed to be just as crazy as those Frankenstein groupies.

Stalking me, obsessing, fighting. Taking what he wants. Taunting me. Whispering wicked temptations in my ear. Telling me how he’ll touch me. How I’ll touch him. All of him. Cordelia closed her eyes for a second, the memories so fresh in her mind that it almost felt like he was holding her against his aroused body. I’m sure that I licked his fangs.

That intimate act was in no way forced, Cordelia realized, responding to Angel’s kiss by not only invading his mouth, but in a way that was designed to turn him on. That part of his mouth was super sensitive. Kissing him back that way was the one thing Cordelia couldn’t get over, not the fact that he’d forced her into a powerful orgasm. It was that willing caress before parting.

Says he’s playing to win. The reminder that this was some kind of game to him renewed Cordelia’s irritation. So not happening, Angel. Mister Psycho Vamp. See if you can win when I’m skiing down the Matterhorn and you’re stuck in Sunnydale.

Gripping the door handle, Cordelia gave it a turn and started to walk inside only to stop upon hearing her mother’s hysterical voice calling out to her father. “Daniel— Daniel don’t you dare do this. I-I can’t let you do this!”

Cordelia didn’t bother shutting the door. She ran toward the living room only to stop just outside the open doorway as she caught sight of Angelus standing next to the couch where her father was now sitting with his legs propped up. Her mother was on her knees next to the couch.

“Daddy?” She called out to him, questioning his ashen appearance.

Angelus had already noticed her arrival, a somber expression coating his handsome features. That same pensive broody look that Angel used to wear on such a frequent basis, Cordelia noted with a frown. Some days, the two vampires were so much alike it was scary considering that they were opposite ends of the spectrum. Except that she hadn’t really seen that look on Angel’s face for a while now.

The thought bothered Cordelia for a second until her father signaled for her to enter the room. “Come here, princess.”

At his use of that childhood endearment, Cordelia suffered a misstep, but managed to stop herself from falling or looking like a fool in front of Angelus. “You look— pale. Is something wrong?”

Glaring up at Angelus almost accusingly, she wondered for a moment if he too had gone on a biting binge. Surely her mate had no reason for attacking her father.

“Your father had a shock,” Angelus admitted while moistening his lips and tasting the scents on the air with his tongue. Giving her a hard stare, he decided to wait for a private moment to confront Cordelia about what he was sensing. “I’m afraid he’s a little muddled.”

Cordelia stalked over to her father’s side, tucking a finger into his shirt collar. No signs of punctures on his neck. Glancing furtively up at Angelus who was now clearly angry, she apologized to him for suspecting it. “I shouldn’t have checked. I knew you wouldn’t bite him.”

“Couldn’t,” Angelus stressed through his clenched teeth. “There’s a difference, babe.”

Now she felt worse. Her mind had been so focused on Angel’s threats…his promise to bite and claim her that she momentarily forgot Angelus couldn’t harm humans. Not without setting off that painful mystic reaction courtesy of the Moirae. Then Cordelia caught up with his addendum. “Meaning you tried? Why?”

“Your father told me about taking you away. That you were leaving the country.” The sullen look returned as he explained it to her, but changed again just as quickly to one of determination and resolve.

“I am,” Cordelia confirmed despite the dark gleam in his eye. The decision was made as far as she was concerned. Made and wouldn’t be altered. Time away from Angelus and Angel was something she needed. Though seeing the look in his eyes, Cordelia recognized the fact that part of her remained reluctant to go. Arching her eyebrows, she issued a silent challenge, Try and stop me.

Emelia Chase looked up at her daughter sympathetically. “I’m sorry, my dear. We weren’t here when all this happened. When you and this…man started going out. Now it’s too late. Daniel has made up his mind. You know your father. Stubborn.”

“Made up his mind?” Cordelia propped her hands on her hips. Since when had not being here in Sunnydale ever been a problem for her mother? “Too late for what?”

Angelus answered for her. “You’re coming home with me.”

The bald statement left little room for denial. Cordelia took what little she could get. Hot hazel eyes flashed her refusal. “I am not.”

“Are too.”

“Not.”

“Cordelia,” growled Angelus realizing they were getting into one of those ping pong arguments she always had with his brother. “They’re not taking you anywhere. In fact, your parents aren’t leaving Sunnydale.”

Confused, Cordelia looked back and forth between her parents and her mate. “What happened to the desperate need to visit the Swiss Alps this winter?”

Daniel Chase struggled into a sitting position. He hated feeling weak. Admitting his failures to his daughter was not something he had ever intended to do. “Sit down everyone. This may take some time and I’m tired of craning my neck.”

Rising to the couch, Emelia sat down next to her husband. Cordelia watched her mother take her father’s hand in her own, again finding it confusing. Such a public act of affection or support between them was not something she was used to seeing. Sitting in one of the two armchairs, Cordelia was unsurprised when the vampire sat down on the armrest rather than taking a chair of his own. He was so close and she knew that he could scent the evening’s activities on her. Angel’s scent had to be all over her skin, not to mention the other obvious signs. So far, Angelus kept silent on the issue.

Where was his angry stare? His outright fury? It had to be simmering right now just below the surface. Cordelia figured Angelus was waiting for his chance to strike.

“What is it Daddy?” Knowing this subject was likely to turn into a fight between her and Angelus, Cordelia forced those thoughts out of her mind.

A laugh sounded from Daniel Chase’s throat, full of self-loathing. “There was a time in your life when you thought I could walk on water, princess. The ironic thing is that until recently, I thought so too.”

Cordelia listened, her brow furrowed. What little girl didn’t think of her Daddy that way? For her it was only until she was old enough to find that her indulgent parents kept secrets from her. That while they traveled all over the world on expensive vacations, there was always business involved. Just until she was old enough to remain at home under Rosita’s minimal supervision. Until they began to grow distant as the trips increased in number and duration.

“I’ve had some business dealings that aren’t quite legal, Cordelia,” her father stated, forcing himself to meet her curious gaze. “The FBI knows something has been going on. They’ve been trying to trace the money. I-I haven’t got it. It’s not that accessible from inside the U.S. without drawing their scrutiny. Now they’ve come up with some trumped up charges of Tax Evasion just to reel me in.”

“Y-You could go to jail?” Cordelia sat horrified by the idea.

Emelia’s lower lip trembled as she told her daughter, “We could lose everything.”

Angelus reached up to run his fingers along her dark tresses. With a soft promise he vowed to stop it. “No, baby. I won’t let that happen.”

Looking over at his daughter and the large figure of her lover looming behind her, Daniel closed his eyes for what felt like an eternity. Just the image of that face in front of him, the demonic countenance that was Angelus D’Aurelius true identity, made him understand the source of his power.

The Chase family was one of the oldest in Sunnydale. Daniel had been aware of the nature of his hometown and its many dangers since childhood. His grandfather had told him stories of vampires and demons. Growing up, the tales and their basis in reality were more of an annoyance. Daniel was more concerned about maintaining the family fortune. Talking to his only child about the realities of Sunnydale after sunset was out of the question. It hadn’t even occurred to him that Cordelia was at an age where that might present a danger to her.

It certainly never occurred to Daniel Chase that Cordelia would fall for a vampire. Then again, who would? Daniel tried to envision the circumstances that would lead to such a relationship, but found he couldn’t. He always imagined matching up his little girl with one of his corporate connections. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company or certainly one of their sons, he’d figured, not some creature of the night with an attitude and a sharp pair of fangs.

After the initial scare, with Daniel crouching on the floor and Angelus growling in pain, both of them had reassessed the situation. Even then, the vampire had the obvious advantage. In addition to being scared out of his wits, Daniel had to come to terms with the fact that he had invited the creature into his home, not to mention that the said creature was his daughter’s lover.

Considering some of those vampire tales, Daniel found himself thinking, Suddenly, the leather corset is making sense.

Seeing the questions in his eyes and his temporary inability to form coherent words, Angelus provided him with some basic information on how he came to meet and fall in love with Cordelia. That his daughter actually returned the vampire’s feelings. That they were officially mated and Cordelia was part of his vampire family, the Order of Aurelius.

Guess the name isn’t French after all.

“The facts are these, Mr. Chase,” Angelus had informed him. “I am in love with your daughter. She is mine as I am hers. Cordelia is not going to Europe or anywhere that takes her away from me.”

“I think that is Cordelia’s decision,” Daniel put forth.

The dark eyes narrowed upon him. “No. I can make it yours.”

Daniel was quick to answer. “Then I’m taking her with me. Away from you and your twisted influence.”

“Listen to what I have to tell you before you make that choice,” Angelus suggested.

So he did.

Afterward, Angelus decided that Daniel Chase needed to lie down. He wasn’t looking so good all of a sudden. Taking him out to the living room, he stretched him out on the couch and that was when Mrs. Chase strolled into the room. Between the two of them, they explained the situation to Emelia who knew nothing about vampires or demons except that she didn’t like the sound of her daughter being in love with one.

The revelation that her— as Daniel put it— new son-in-law, was actually a vampire came as a shock. The fact that Cordelia already knew he was not human came as a surprise she still didn’t quite grasp, but learning of her husband’s decision drove her into a state of near hysteria.

Clasping his wife’s hand a little tighter, Daniel met his daughter’s concerned gaze as he explained his acceptance of Angelus’ offer and the terms of their negotiation. As expected, the thought of being caught in the middle of this was not a pleasant one for Cordelia.

“You offered him money?” Launching herself out of the chair, Cordelia turned on her mate with a fury.

Angelus wasn’t going to apologize for it. “It solves your parents’ problem and mine at the same time.”

“You have no clue how much of a problem you have, Angelus,” fumed Cordelia. “This is too much like buying me. You can’t buy my forgiveness or affections. You cannot buy love.”

The vampire only smiled back at her. “That’s what I told your father.”

Pfft! Cordelia wasn’t about to question Daniel Chase’s motives. They were obvious. It wasn’t pleasant to think that he would be willing to sell her off to the highest bidder, but he seemed to have no issue about it. Except that he didn’t look happy or healthy at the moment.

Pacing back and forth, Cordelia paused to poke a finger at Angelus’ chest. “Since when do you have money to give away? Angel rations it out like you were a ten-year old with an allowance.”

“He may have control, but Angel will fork over the money. It belongs to the Order and that means it is used for the benefit of those who are part of it. Meaning you. Besides, if it gets you back to the mansion, he’ll agree fast enough.” Angelus had no doubts about that, answering confidently as he watched his mate’s anger grow.

Cordelia scoffed, “I’m not touching his money.”

“We’ll talk about Angel later,” Angelus told her. That was not a conversation to have in front of her parents. “The decision is already made, Cor. They no longer have the need to flee the country once their debts are paid.”

“You want to help— fine, but that has nothing to do with you and me.”

As she moved to poke at him again, Angelus made a swift move and took her hand in his own threading his fingers through hers. Cordelia glanced down at the joining of their hands surprised that he would want to touch her right now.

“Your father has accepted the fact that you are my mate, my family and that you live with me.”

Emelia Chase grumbled under her breath, receiving a nudge from her husband in response. “Whatever you want, darling.”

For a moment, Cordelia wasn’t certain if her mother was speaking to her or to her husband. Turning back to face her, Cordy noted that Emelia’s hazel eyes remained fixed on her. “If you mean that, then I want to stay here. I-I can’t go back to the mansion.”

“Dammit, Cordelia,” spouted Angelus as he whipped around back around to meet his gaze, “am I still so evil that you can’t come back to me? Was it so awful that I don’t want anyone else to touch you? Call it possessiveness if you will, but I doubt any human husband would act any differently.”

“No,” came her soft agreement. His words had already brought the questioning stare of her parents, hinting at her own part in betraying his trust. Eluding to the fact that someone else had touched her and that was just about yesterday.

The way Cordelia was feeling, betrayal wasn’t strong enough a word and her guilt weighed heavily upon her shoulders. Angelus wasn’t faultless, but he certainly had cause. This deal with her father was another example of unreasonable possessive behavior that she found difficult to assimilate. She understood her father’s desperate need to accept the offer, but Angelus’ ulterior motives seemed quite clear.

Cordelia told him point blank, “I don’t like the feeling that I’m bought and paid for.”

Groaning, Angelus figured he should have known Cordelia would see it that way. He glanced at her parents who were watching with bated breath and decided that it was past time to take this conversation into a private setting. “Where’s your room?”

“What?” Cordy had her hands on her hips demanding clarification. “You paid for the goods and now you want a sample? I don’t think so, Bad Boy.”

Emelia Chase let out a gasp behind them, but said nothing under her husband’s meaningful glare. It was clear that Daniel didn’t want to chance the vampire going back on his word to give them the money they needed to clear the family name and to keep him out of jail.

“I think it would be better if we had some privacy,” Angelus commented while on the edge of his patience. She knew how to push his buttons so well. “There are things we need to discuss and my agreement with your father is only one of them.”

Glancing over at her parents, Cordelia saw that neither one was protesting the idea that she take Angelus up to her bedroom for this little chat. Stomping off, she left Angelus to follow as she climbed the stairs to her second-story bedroom suite. He barely took more than a few seconds to glance around at the place, noting the still unmade bed and discarded clothes on the floor.

“Let’s have it,” Cordelia demanded, one hand on her hip and the other motioning for him to state his excuses.

“No matter what it seems, I didn’t offer your father the money to force you to come back to me,” Angelus explained. “This is a family issue. I figured it was a way to gain your parent’s understanding that I am invested in your future through them.”

Cordelia gave an unladylike snort at his choice of words. “Yeah, invested.”

“Invested in the only way your father understands, Cordelia,” he confirmed. “Money talks. That’s what he’s focused on. He needs it. I have it. If by coincidence it brings you back where you belong…with me…then all the better.”

“So you didn’t come here with the purpose of buying him off?” Cordelia had to ask.

“I came here for you,” Angelus made clear his priorities. “When your father invited me in, it was an opportunity to meet him and to assess the situation. I knew about his problems going in, Cordy.”

“You didn’t tell me?”

“I had suspicions after I called in a few favors. When we discussed meeting your parents, I was curious. Asked some questions and didn’t like the answers I was getting,” her mate revealed grimly. “Willow did a little hacking earlier today as a favor to me. Found the confirmation about the plans to incarcerate your father for tax evasion. Our little chat was quite interesting until he opened his mouth about taking you out of the country.”

Cordelia could imagine the reaction. “I believe you, Angelus. It’s just that— I can’t go back to the mansion.”

“Why not?” Angelus growled at her refusal.

“Just accept the fact that I can’t.”

“This has something to do with Angel and whatever happened tonight,” the vampire realized and felt a renewal of his anger. “I can smell him on you. All over you, Cordy. He’s touched you…everywhere. Tasted your mouth, your skin and made you come for him.”

Shuddering, Cordelia barked at him, “It wasn’t my choice. Your brother went psycho. He stalked me all day and followed me to Harmony’s house. If it wasn’t for Xander and Willow showing up, Angel would have— you know.”

“Raped you?” Angelus ground out the words, his eyes yellowing and narrowing all in the same moment. “Apparently, I didn’t knock enough sense into him last night. He’s
running on instincts, Cordelia. Right now, I’m afraid they’re all trained on you.”

“So you see why I can’t go back there,” Cordelia figured he would understand. “Can’t we stay here with my parents? There’s plenty of room. We’d have one whole wing to ourselves.”

Angelus palmed her cheek, gazing down at her hopeful eyes with a twinge of regret. “I can’t do that.”

Even as Cordelia leaned into his touch, her hazel eyes sharpened upon him. “Why not?”

“It’s impossible,” he revealed. “One of the stipulations of our agreement with the Moirae. Angel and I have to share the same roof.”

Cordelia realized that she didn’t want to be without him. Despite all of her plans to run off to Europe with her parents, it seemed clear to her that had been a rash decision. That she would never have stayed away from Angelus longer than it took to take a return flight back to California. Being honest, she told him, “I don’t want to be in the same house as Angel. He has it in his head that he’s master of the Order and has some medieval right to claim me.”

“I won’t let that happen, Cor,” promised Angelus. The thought itself infuriated him, but it wasn’t as if he had been blindsided by it. Something was going to happened sooner or later. He hadn’t known if it would be him or Angel or both of them. He did not know what signs to look for. Not until the night Angel bit the Slayer. “If I can keep you both under the same roof, at least I’ll know he’s not stalking after you.”

“Why is this happening? Angel is so different. More different than he was even a few days ago. Suddenly he’s all dark and demented. Some of the things he said to me, Angelus, reminded me of—,” Cordelia broke off deciding that she didn’t want to go there.

“Reminded you of me,” Angelus filled in the blank as his nostrils flared in anger. Not at her, but at the situation itself.

Nodding, Cordelia admitted that was the case. “Like you were the first time when Angel lost his soul. Before this split.”

With a harsh laugh of irony, Angelus told her, “Our agreement with the Moirae was supposed to give us what we wanted. Payback for doing them a favor years ago. It gave Angel his permanent soul and me my own existence. With a few constraints to keep me in line.”

“I already know that,” Cordelia pointed out. “That doesn’t explain why Angel is even more scary than you when you were him without the soul.”

“Angel wanted to protect you from the truth. Actually, no, it was Buffy he wanted to protect,” he corrected. “There are things you don’t know about this deal, Cordelia. I think it’s time that changed.”

“Damn straight,” Cordelia was a little miffed that keeping the truth from her was all about protecting Buffy. Can’t have the Slayer upset now, can we? “So tell me.”

“No. There is only one person who can give you the whole picture without my biases getting in the way. He’s been researching the problem night and day.”

Cordelia’s eyes widened with understanding. “Giles.”

“Yes.”

Remembering the secret discussion between Giles and Angel in the library on the day the vampire surprised them by showing up with his doppelganger in tow, Cordelia realized that Buffy had never given her the scoop on her promised interrogation of the Watcher. Obviously, she had never gotten around to asking or else Buffy would have been up in arms if she knew something might go wrong. It explained Rupert Giles’ ashen look after he had come out of the office.

“If I drive fast, we can get there in less than ten minutes,” Cordelia was already headed to the door.

Angelus cleared his throat causing Cordelia to pause along the way. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Suddenly, Cordelia remembered the state of her clothing. Not to mention the fact that she wasn’t wearing any panties. Going to Giles’ house without panties was just so not right. Could Angelus tell? Maybe it was the grass stains or just the fact that she was still covered in Angel’s scent. “I’ll take a quick shower and get changed.”

“I’ll pretend to be completely uninterested in your stuff, but nose around anyway,” he told her.

Giving him a half-hearted smile, Cordelia warned him. “Just make sure you don’t touch my diary if you find it. It’s been a while since I’ve written anything in there, but trust me when I say that major staking will occur. Got it?”

“I’ll consider myself warned.” Angelus grinned and walked forward to cover her mouth with a deep emotion-filled kiss.

“H-How can you kiss me now? How can you touch me with Angel’s scent all over me knowing what happened?”

“What exactly did happen, baby?” The question came as a soft whisper, supportive and questing for information at the same time.

Cordelia looked down at the floor until Angelus tilted her chin up, encouraging her to look into his eyes. No condemnation showed as if he understood that she wasn’t actively seeking out Angel’s attentions. What he didn’t know was the extent of his brother’s actions or the extent to which Cordelia responded to him. Not wanting any lies between them, Cordelia found herself telling Angelus everything from yesterday when she walked into the kitchen in her silk robe up to climbing into the Corvette with Willow and Xander tonight.

“You know I’d kill him with my bare hands for touching you if we weren’t linked this way,” Angelus pulled her fully into his arms and held her tight against him.

“Linked?” Cordelia supposed that he meant the same connection Angel meant when informing them that staking one vampire would also result in the other’s death.

Angelus realized he was giving away information that would better come from Giles. “That’s another question for the Watcher. I have to tell you that Angel’s behavior is not entirely his fault. I’m afraid that it’s partly mine. Whatever is going on here is affecting me as well.”

That last sentence cause a cold chill along her spine. She started to ask him what he meant, but stopped. “Don’t tell me…that’s another question for Giles.”

~*~

The vampire picked up the phone after the fifth ring, “Hello?”

A female voice spoke in a hushed whisper. “Angelus?”

“Willow, is that you?”

“Yes.” As she started in on the reason for her call, Willow paused realizing that the two vampires would probably sound the same over the phone. Asking, “This is Angelus, right?”

Obviously, Willow had something of some importance to say. Angel figured that it had to do with his encounter with Cordelia. Responding smoothly, “That’s right.”

Sounding a sigh of relief, Willow burst into a babbling stream of information. The girl was saying something about clothing and packing and pictures. The only words that really stuck out in Angel’s mind were, “Cordelia…leaving…country.”

Click.

“Hello?” Willow heard the noise on the other end of the line. “Hello, Angelus? Hmm. That’s funny. We got cut off.”

~*~

Angel leapt into the open-topped convertible, put the key into the ignition and sped down the mansion driveway. He headed straight for Cordelia’s parents’ house while considering new ways to get through the gate. This time, he was not going to be denied entry. Not by a gate, not by a door and not by an invisible energy barrier.

The vampire didn’t know how he was going to get into the Chase family mansion to see Cordelia, but he was damn well going to do it this time. “She’s not leaving. Even if I have to drag her back to the mansion and tie her to the bed.”

Mine, of course.

By the time Angel was only half a mile away, he noticed the approach of oncoming headlights. There was plenty of room in the road. He planned to speed on by. Only he recognized its outline in the darkness as a Corvette. Angel shoved his foot onto the brake bringing the Plymouth to a screeching halt.

The driver of the Corvette immediately did the same and suddenly he was face to face with Angelus who sat in the driver’s seat of the red car. Cordelia watched him from the passenger side, her hazel eyes mixed with emotions the souled vampire wanted to explore. All of that angst, hatred and guilty desire burning from within was just for him.

“Angel,” his double barely kept the growl from his throat. “Going somewhere?”

“Where do you think?” Angel could do without the taunting. Obviously, Angelus had not only gotten to the Chase mansion first, he successfully managed to get Cordelia to come with him.

How’d he get an invitation? Angel wondered knowing that Cordelia hadn’t been pleased with her mate when she stormed out of the mansion last night. He figured it wasn’t so much the spanking, but that Angelus had done it out of anger and in front of him.

Since his brother didn’t bother to respond to the rhetorical question, Angel wanted to know, “Are things resolved? You’re taking Cordelia back home?”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?” Angel demanded details. “It’s where she belongs. With us.”

Brusquely, Angelus corrected him, “With me. You just happen to live there.”

There was a flash of amber in Angel’s heated gaze. Shifting it over to Cordelia, he had to ask, “What do you think about that?”

“Pfft! What do I think? You have the nerve to ask me that question? I’m not even sure I’m coming back to stay.”

Looking at Angelus again, just to make certain that his brother wasn’t being duped, “You do know that Cordelia had plans to leave Sunnydale.”

“It’s no longer an issue,” Angelus replied. “Angel, you are the reason that Cordelia is hesitant to come home again.”

“Me?” Angel’s face was pure innocence.

Warning him, “Don’t fuck with me. I know exactly what you’ve been doing. What’s more, I know why.”

“You always were a know-it-all, bro. Yapping in my head. Telling me what to do and generally pissing me off.”

“Yeah? Well now it seems to be your turn. I’d say I’m pretty pissed off right now.” He told Angel with a look that suggested trouble. “You’re responsible for most of it.”

Cordelia sensed their words were carrying the two vampires down a path that would lead to more violence. Good thing they were both sitting in cars and not standing in a face-off. Catching Angel’s eye, she told him, “We’re going to Giles’ house for some questions and answers. You’ve suddenly turned into Psycho Vamp and I wanna know why. There is something so not right with your head, Angel.”

“No there’s not,” he cut in with a quick denial.

Angelus gave him a pointed look. “You know and I know that this has to do with our agreement with the Fates. I want Cordelia to hear everything from the Watcher. If you want to be there when the truth comes out, you’d better follow us over there.”

Before Angel could respond, his brother pressed down on the gas and drove off. Let Rupert Giles convince Cordelia of this so-called truth? Not without me being there.

Part 32

Padding barefoot from the bathroom, Cordelia cast her gaze toward the large walk-in closet and then back at the bed still occupied by Angelus’ sleeping form. According to the clock, it was already noon, long past time for her to be up and doing something. She was almost certain there was some kind of homework she was still supposed to finish before tomorrow.

Get dressed and do homework or crawl back into bed? The question popped up and wouldn’t go away until Cordelia weighed her options. Pfft! As if that was really a tough decision.

Cordelia dropped her robe onto the floor in its usual spot. Except that the matching nightgown was still tucked away in her closet having never been on in the first place last night. No matter that she had been mad at Angelus or that she still felt guilty about what had happened between her and Angel, the news that Giles had given her wiped out all of that. Whatever Angelus was feeling, he too seemed to push it aside.

The thought that she might lose Angelus because of this insane deal with the Fates, the same deal that had given him to her in the first place, dissolved all doubts in her mind as to where she wanted and needed to be. They hadn’t said a word to each other on the way back to the mansion last night. Cordelia was too caught up in her own thoughts and the drive went by before she realized the journey home was over.

That was where her silence ended. They barely made it in the door before Cordelia grabbed onto his jacket lapels and pulled him close. Wrapping her arms around his neck Cordelia lifted herself up to capture his mouth with a steamy demanding kiss. She needed to taste him, to touch him, to reaffirm that he was real and here and hers.

Angelus was a little surprised by his mate’s sudden move, but not so distracted by it that he didn’t realize why it was happening. If not for Giles frightening revelations, it would be far different. No doubt Cordelia would still be at her parents’ house holding a grudge against him for spanking her out of anger. They’d still be working through their feelings about what happened between her and Angel.

There was a lot to be said for words and attaining forgiveness, but there were times when words simply hampered what needed to be said.

Pulling back, out of breath, Cordelia knew she needed more. Panting at him in short huffs of air baring the urgency behind her need, she pleaded, “Kiss me, Angelus. Kiss me until I can’t think of anything else, but you.”

Mere seconds passed as Angelus recognized that fear pervaded the lust in Cordelia’s hazel orbs. Fear of losing him. That was something the vampire was determined not to let happen. Not by his choice. Not as long as he had the will and the right to keep them together.

Lifting his hands to cup her face, his thumbs brushing along her cheekbones in a soft caress, Angelus descended to cover Cordelia’s mouth with the barest butterfly touch. Her eyelids fluttered closed as a tiny moue of contentment left her throat. Those soft almost teasing touches of his sculpted lips held the promise of more. Relaxing into him, Cordelia kept one hand on the back of his neck, the other moving down to his shoulder to slide under his jacket. Her lips tingled and plumped beneath those kisses as his mouth took her to that spiraling place of pure emotion.

The butterfly-soft caresses altered as Angelus swiped the tip of his tongue along the parted slant of Cordelia’s mouth. Her lips trembled opening wider, but the vampire merely pressed his lips over that same spot sucking it with a gentle tug. Lathing it again, moving to caress the sensitive inner flesh of her lip before giving it a little nip with his smooth teeth, Angelus released her head to let his hands slide down her back pulling her closer.

Lifting her eyelids despite the seemingly heavy weight of the lashes to find Angelus gazing back, Cordelia saw a smile hinting at the edges of his lips as came back to her mouth for more. Needing to taste him too, Cordy couldn’t be idle. The plump curves of her lips curled over his echoing the same pattern, but adding a harder nip near his chin knowing he loved to have her teeth on him.

The hard surface of the door suddenly butted up against her back as Angelus pushed her against it, leaning his marbled frame into her crushing her breasts with his chest and pinning her hips with his own. His hand was at her jaw, opening her mouth to the welcome intrusion of his tongue. Cordelia’s fingernails dug into the leather of his coat as she held him as close as she could get through the barrier of their clothes. Their kisses became heated, mouths melting into one another and entangling into a deep, wet parallel of what they both knew lay ahead.

Stealing glances, Cordelia saw lust in Angelus’ sinfully dark eyes matching her own, but it was the love behind it that told her everything she needed to know. God, she couldn’t get enough of his mouth. Those firm, sensual lips could drive her to the edge just by kissing her. Arousal churned deep in her belly, flooding her body with tingling need. She moaned into his mouth again as his hands roamed up and down her curves eliciting reactions that left her in flames.

Through the layers of his clothing, Cordelia followed suit, running her hands over his hard body with just as much need as her kisses. One hand slid between them to find the bulge that had been pressing into her. She moved her fingers down across that rigid length with a firm hand and simultaneously licked at the roof of his mouth over the housing for his fangs.

Angelus body shuddered with pleasure at the dual stimulation. He ripped off his coat thrusting it to the ground, wanting her touch and no longer being content to have it through the barriers separating them. An almost feral smile appeared on Cordelia’s face as her thoughts echoed his. With both hands, she reached for his shirt pulling at the two halves until the buttons popped away far too impatient to wait.

He chuckled at her eager action, kissing Cordelia again as her warm hands wandered over the sculpted contours of his chest. Pulling her tight knit top over her head with a smooth sweep temporarily lifted Cordelia’s arms pressing her lush breasts into his chest, their sensitive tips poking up for attention through her lacy bra. Angelus held her wrists above her head on the door while his other hand curled around one lace-covered breast.

Their foreheads touched as Angelus told her, “Baby, you’re so beautiful.”

Distracted from his original plan to strip them both, Angelus found himself kissing her again. Cordelia felt those enticing lips brush softly against her face. His teeth tugged gently at her earlobe, the tip of his tongue rasping along the curve of her ear. As he pushed aside her hair with his cheek, one moist smooch landed along the cord of her neck at that sensitive joining spot behind her ear.

Closing his eyes, Angelus let his other senses take over as he breathed her in filling his lungs with air and drowning in her scent. He tasted the skin along the pulse of her throat, running his tongue along that thin blue line he so wanted to sink his fangs into. Just the hum of her blood made his body sing with lust even as it made him scream inwardly at its denial.

Those tender kisses on her throat brought tears to Cordelia’s eyes knowing what her mate wanted and couldn’t have. Her fingers threaded through his hair as Angelus used his rounded human teeth to nip gently at her throat. Scenting her tears, the vampire pulled back to gaze down at her in consternation. Then pressed his mouth against her cheek wiping them away.

“Don’t be sorry for it,” Angelus realized the reason for those salty tears. “We have so much, Cordelia. For as long as we can hold onto it.”

“Angelus,” she cried out his name, her hands becoming frantic as they pushed off his shirt and reached between them to the buckle of his belt. “Oh, God, just touch me. I need you now. I want you inside me.”

With a speed that left Cordelia a little dizzy, Angelus had them both naked with piles of discarded clothing scattered around the foyer floor. Then he was on his knees with his dark head between her thighs testing her readiness to take him. Angelus let his fingers gather up her tangy nectar as he leaned forward tasting her petaled folds, but Cordelia had her hands in his hair pulling at him.

“No.” There was a little tone of panic to her voice. Angelus realized why. It was what Angel had done to her.

A growl sounded in his throat. Damned if he’d let his brother into the middle of this, he rose up on his bare feet standing before Cordelia his sinewy muscles taut with his contained rage. Not at her, but Angel. Cordelia barely noticed. Her arm wrapped around his shoulder to pull him close again while her free hand immediately went to his hard cock.

Cordelia loved the feel of that velvet steel in her fingers, the way she couldn’t quite get her fingers around its girth and that it took both of her hands to span his length.
Despite Cordelia’s limited experience with the male body, it was all too obvious that Angelus fit into a category outside the norm. Every single part of him was gorgeous and extraordinary. Seeing him this way always amazed Cordelia that they actually fit together.

Cupping her bare bottom in his hands, Angelus lifted her up. Her back was to the door, but Cordelia was careless of it. Her focus was entirely on the vampire as she felt his erection insistently pressing against her. Helping, she guided him into her even while lifting her legs to wrap around his hips. Cordelia let out a gasp of pure need as he started to stretch her open. She wanted more. Wanted all of it. Here and now.

Slowly, Angelus lowered Cordelia at a controlled pace down the full length of his erection. He groaned into her ear at the sensation of her pulsing core as he pushed his way past the natural resistance of her inner muscles. They held him tightly as if trying to deny him entry, but once there kept holding as if refusing to let him go. Her moist heat was almost enough to make Angelus lose the last vestiges of his control, but he maintained it by refusing to move his hips until he could do so without letting loose and pounding into her.

That wasn’t going to happen…yet. He wanted to savor every second of this night.

Cordelia’s eyes were heavy-lidded as she stared down open-mouthed and breathing hard. She could feel every inch of him inside her. Angelus wasn’t moving; seemingly content to nibble at her neck again. That felt so good, but she wanted more. Wanted him to take her, fuck her, and claim her again and to imprint himself upon her.

Telling him so brought that rumbling growl to his chest, but Angelus seemed even more determined to go slowly. He started a shallow thrust that rasped his hard penis along her inner walls moving at a pace that had her hips squirming for leverage as he pinned her to the door. Angelus was content to play, holding her still and teasing her while kissing his way down to her luscious breasts.

The angle was difficult and Cordelia curled her hands around her own warm globes giving Angelus’ eager mouth access as he nipped and lathed at the sensitive flesh. Pulling one nipple into his mouth, he tugged at its pebbled surface with his teeth and then sucked at her darker areola. He lavished equal attention to her other breast and then started to thrust deeper, faster, harder as he did so.

“That’s it,” Cordelia called out her encouragement adding her usual lustful little cries that entreated more of the same. “You feel so—”

Angelus didn’t give her a chance to finish the sentence. His mouth lifted up to cover hers in another tongue-tangling kiss. Moaning her pleasure into his mouth, Cordelia pulled her upper body closer and clasped her hands flat against the rippling muscles of his strong back. Breaking away, she tucked her head into his shoulder now only able to focus on the rhythmic sensations as his cock thrust within her feeling the way her body quivered around him.

A soft sheen covered Cordelia’s golden skin, strands of her hair clinging to it as heat radiated from her body. Angelus soaked it up, his own flesh warm under her fingers. She was getting close, he sensed, knowing her responses and lifted her to a slightly different angle so that every thrust nudged him against her g-spot and every retreat brushed her clitoris.

Verbal as always, Cordelia screamed out his name as the pleasure built to an almost unbearable level. Her juices flowed between them scenting the air with tangy nectar and adding a new sensual sound to accompany her cries. She knew he could go all night if he wanted, bring her orgasm after orgasm if that was what he planned, but Cordelia needed him now. She wasn’t looking that far ahead.

The future was suddenly a scary place and Cordelia decided that the here and now with Angelus was the only important thing.

“Come with me,” her husky voice pleaded as Cordelia nibbled at the cord of his neck as the next deep thrust brought her to the peak.

Angelus let go needing it as much as she did, flooding her core with his cool seed as her muscles clenched and fluttered around him. An ecstatic cry left his throat as his mate bit down on his neck, clamping her teeth around his flesh.

A smile curled Cordelia’s lips at the memory of it as she slid into bed again, rolling back into her usual spot at his side. Angelus had fulfilled her every request and then some…and then some more. Although after that first time, he carried her up to the privacy of their third floor bedroom before they made love again. He was insatiable as was she last night as if they were both trying to give everything they had to the other. Taking all of it in like it was vital for survival.

Maybe it was, the sudden thought scared her.

Cordelia felt a sharp pain tear at her heart at the idea that Angelus might not survive this. Giles’ revelations were too much to take in all at once. She felt angry that they hid this from her, all three of them, but it was just a brief flash before Cordelia let it dissipate. Anger wasn’t something she had time to focus on right now.

Looking down at Angelus whose angelically handsome face remained locked in the tranquility of sleep, her thoughts drifted to his double’s desperate situation. Not that Angel even seemed to care that he was losing himself to his demon instincts. Giles obviously thought this was all part of some psychological impairment brought on by his separation from Angelus.

Cordelia figured those were just fancy words for saying Angel was going crazy. She had to wonder about Angel’s actions yesterday evening. Did he know what he was doing? Could he have stopped it sooner? Who am I kidding? Angel hadn’t planned to stop at all, but can I blame him for something he might not have control over?

Giles was working on the problem, she knew. He had identified it, diagnosed it, but found nothing in his two months of research to tell him exactly why it was happening or how to fix it. With Angel turning into major Psycho Vamp, it was apparent that it wasn’t going to take another two weeks, much less two months for things to get even worse. The Watcher warned her that as Angel’s condition degraded, so would that of Angelus.

So not gonna happen, thought Cordelia defiantly. Don’t know if the Moirae caused this. If they did it on purpose. Don’t know if it’s just weird side effects from being split apart. Don’t care. Giles, I’m not gonna wait around until you decide to spill more secrets.

Waiting patiently was not an option. Pfft! The Watcher would be lucky if she wasn’t in his face everyday. Screw school. If there was research to be done, she was going to help. What’s more, she knew there was more than one way to find answers, though Cordelia was puzzled as to why Giles hadn’t done it himself.

Grabbing the phone from the bedside, Cordelia punched in the speed-dial code to the Rosenberg residence. What Willow couldn’t find out with her hacking skills, she could more than make up for with magick. Damn! The line is busy.

Pressing the button to disconnect, Cordelia decided that someone else needed to be aware of the situation. Maybe Buffy Summers was not going to be happy hearing from her so soon after the big breakup with Angel, but the Slayer still had a right to know there was a reason for his behavior.

Buffy’s line was also busy, suggesting that she was the one calling Willow. They’ll talk forever. No use trying that again for a while.

Putting down the phone, Cordelia turned back toward Angelus now looking at him from the edge of the large bed. From this perspective it was difficult not to get distracted. In fact, Cordelia found that looking at her mate was extremely distracting as she was overcome with the need to touch him again. To affirm that he was still real and hers and not going to become someone she couldn’t recognize.

Last night, Angelus’ love making ranged from ultra-tender to practically feral. These side effects hadn’t changed the way he touched her, Cordelia realized while rising up to her hands and knees on the mattress. If anything, he made her want him more.

Watching him now, a slow, sensual smile washed away the angst of her concerns as she focused only on her mate. Turning predatory with lust, her hazel eyes dilated into deep pools as they soaked in the image of Angelus stretched out on the huge bed.

Still taking up a sizable area with his broad shoulders and his muscular length, the vampire remained locked in sleep. A rumpled blue sheet barely covered him, leaving most of his smooth skin bare to Cordelia’s appreciative view as it draped over his hips and right leg. While his right hand rested on the muscled abdomen, his left arm was flung up on the pillow still leaving her snuggle spot open.

It wasn’t snuggling Cordelia had in mind as she stalked across the bed closing in and planning her next move at the same time. Wondering how far she could get without waking him up, Cordelia traced a finger at a snail’s pace down the center of Angelus’ body starting with his forehead, down the bridge of his nose, whispering across the sculpted plane of his lips, down his chin, neck and torso. Upon reaching the barrier of the bundled sheet, she lifted the finger away while darting her eyes up to his face.

There was no indication that the vampire was awake, nothing obvious to tell her so, but Cordelia sensed a shift in his presence telling her that Angelus knew exactly what she was doing. Narrowing her gaze, Cordelia was about to call him on it when she changed her mind. Let’s see how far you’ll let me go, Bad Boy.

Not a flicker of an eyelash gave him away as Angelus realized Cordelia was touching him. She thought he was asleep. No breathing or racing heartbeat to give him away, so he figured to play along. Wondering, Baby, how far do you plan to take this? I can only hope it involves more than one finger.

Angelus felt the bed shift slightly as her body bent toward him. The warm whisper of her breath hovered over his mouth. Just when he could almost taste her soft sweet lips, nothing happened. At least not the kiss he was expecting. Cordelia’s long hair fell over her shoulder tickling across the surface of his chest as it whispered over his skin.

Holding her breath, Cordelia watched as Angelus’ hand shifted from its resting-place on his abdomen up to brush away the source of the annoyance before returning to its original position. Faker! I know you’re awake, Angelus. You’re also ticklish. Who knew!

Temporarily delaying her plan to kiss every inch of him, Cordelia decided that a little torture might just do the trick to get Angelus to open those gorgeous brown eyes. It would take a lot of control to resist responding, something he normally seemed to have in spades. Gathering up her hair, she held it so that the curling tips hung loose beneath her hand. Starting with the tip of his nose, she let the soft strands barely touch as she moved them over his face.

His nose twitched involuntarily as Cordelia watched nearly causing her to burst out with laughter. So much for complete control. Holding it in, she didn’t want to make too much noise. That would give up the game.

Drifting down to his neck, Cordy blew air over the fine strands of her hair, which danced across his sensitive skin. Angelus held still feeling that light caress teasing at his flesh. He felt something twitch in response, but it wasn’t his nose.

Dammit, Cor! She’s hardly touching me. She’s not touching me. How the hell can I be turned on? Angelus suppressed a growl along with the desire to yank Cordelia beneath him. Just her scent alone was driving him insane as her inner heat carried with it the tempting aroma of awakening arousal.

The tickling tips of those curling strands dusted over Angelus’ chest paying special attention to the small dark nipples. Again, the vampire made no noticeable move, but his body did respond as Cordelia leaned forward to dart the flat of her tongue over one nipple before pulling back to continue her descending path.

Angelus managed to contain his need to grab her and plunge his own tongue into that hot mouth, but the demon in him wasn’t about to give in so easily. This was hardly the worst torture he’d ever been through. Just consider what Darla did to him back in the day. No, the real torture here was trying to hold back because all he wanted was take over and do things to Cordelia’s luscious body having nothing to do with torture and everything to do with the fact that he couldn’t get enough of her.

The vampire felt a rush of air along his groin as Cordelia tossed the sheet aside. For what seemed like the longest time, nothing happened. No tickling, no teasing, and certainly no kissing or licking. He had to resist peeking, because he wondered what she was up too. Something else was obviously up, so Angelus figured that might be the cause of the distraction.

As his hand rested on his abdomen, Angelus ignored the urge just to reach down and touch himself. Cordelia was taking too long to do it, purposefully waiting this out. Did she know he was awake? Nah! He’d done nothing to give it away.

Maybe he is asleep, Cordelia glanced up at his handsome face again, the eyes still closed in the gentle appearance of slumber.

She’d been staring in fascination at Angelus’ body and the utterly gorgeous way he was put together. Seeing him like this was never enough and Cordelia hadn’t taken an opportunity to really look at him without Angelus being awake. He was all hard angles and smooth planes of pale flesh and hard muscle. Shifting lower on the bed, Cordelia positioned herself next to his hips and giving herself a direct view of his stirring erection.

An impish expression came across her face, her tongue appearing between her teeth and lights dancing in her eyes. Cordelia swept the silken strands of her hair across Angelus’ loins watching the vampire’s thighs tense in instantaneous reaction as his erect penis dropped heavily against his abdomen.

Dropping her hold on her hair, Cordelia straddled Angelus’ muscular thighs hovering over him rather than settling her buttocks down. If there was a slight chance that he really was asleep she didn’t want the pressure of her weight on him.

The temptation of his gorgeous cock was too much to resist. She’d planned to tease him with her mouth starting at his lips and working her way down, but Cordelia could not wait. Sliding her body further down the bed, she moved to straddle one leg and pushed his other one so that it was slightly parted. As expected, Angelus made no effort to respond.

Closing her fingers over him, Cordelia licked her lips in anticipation of tasting him. He was such a beautiful man and giving him pleasure this way was more than a sensual chore. Besides, she liked the fact that her vampire was totally at her mercy. See if you sleep through this, Bad Boy.

Part 33

Things were quiet up there, Angel decided as he glanced toward the third floor while pausing at the steps. Unusually quiet considering the level of noise last night. He’d come home from Rupert Giles’ house to find clothes strewn across the foyer. A sure sign that Angelus and Cordelia were making up their differences.

They probably fucked themselves unconscious. Angel let out a gruff sound and jogged down the stairs heading for the basement training room.

Last night he had to fight back the urge to tear up the stairs, kick down the bedroom door and take what he wanted, Angel managed to stay calm. He was quite proud of the fact that he didn’t do something stupid like rip off Angelus’ head. That would only issue his personal death warrant. There were other ways to get what he wanted. It was just going to take some planning and a little patience.

By the time Angel finished his workout and returned to his room to shower and dress for the day, his brother and Cordelia finally emerged from their chambers. Angelus gave him a hard stare, saying nothing. Cordelia still looked a little wary, but actually greeted him, even if the words were a little stilted.

“Good morning, Angel.”

“It’s afternoon, sweetheart,” he pointed out. Angels’ mouth twisted in wry humor as he raised a dark eyebrow. “Your little morning romp has confused your timetable.”

A flash of heat flooded her skin as Cordelia realized just how he knew said romping had occurred. Then she realized that there was nothing here to be ashamed of when it was her own mate that kept her in bed. Or rather she’d kept him in bed. Giving him a cat-that-ate-the-cream smile, Cordelia agreed, “You’re right. Guess it did.”

Angelus gritted his teeth, but told his brother, “We’re making omelets. Want one?”

“Sure,” Angel nodded. “I’ll have a quick shower and be down in a few minutes.”

Looking at the two vampires, Cordelia was not blind to the tension between them. It was all Angelus could do to restrain himself from knocking Angel on his ass. Angel on the other hand appeared almost cocky eating up the tense atmosphere like it was candy.

The first omelet was in the pan when Angel returned to the kitchen. He noticed that the laughter in Cordelia’s eyes snuffed out as her gaze settled on him. That pissed him off, but he figured it was better than pity. She was back to looking almost angry, but Angel wasn’t certain that the emotion was directed entirely at him.

“I see you picked up your own clothes for once,” he commented while leaning up against the kitchen island. Angel sure as hell wasn’t going to do it again. “Getting to be a habit, you two.”

“Hope you didn’t trip and break anything like your head,” Cordelia narrowed her gaze just enough to suggest that she might have found that funny.

Angel held up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m here in peace, Cordy. You heard old Rup last night. This is all just some uncontrollable side effect of the Moirae’s spell. I may want you, sweetheart, but it was wrong to act on those feelings.”

“Do you expect the innocent act to work on me?” Angelus barked at his brother from the other side of the counter where he stood near the stove. “I perfected that tone.”

“Maybe you did, but I mean it, bro,” assured Angel, “and I can prove it.”

Cordelia and Angelus exchanged a suspicious glance at each other neither one truly believing what they were hearing from the vampire. Crossing her arms, Cordelia met Angel’s potent gaze and dared him. “Go ahead. Prove it.”

Before Angel could speak again, the eggs started to sizzle causing Angelus to turn back to attend to the omelet before it burned. Setting it aside, he faced his brother demanding a truthful response uncertain as to whether Angel was even capable of giving him one. “Let’s have it, then.”

Reaching into his pants pocket, Angel pulled out a ring and held it out to Angelus. “This is yours. The Watcher tells me that the Order of Aurelius is yours to lead. So I am giving you the Master’s ring.”

“You never wore it,” Angelus pointed out.

With a shrug, Angel commented, “My choice. Never wanted to show it off. Figured you might.”

“As a reminder to you?” Angelus placed the ring on his finger. He couldn’t help but acknowledge his own surprise that his brother was coming forward with this. “You could have kept this to yourself.”

“Giles would’ve told you,” Cordelia suggested.

“Not if I threatened him,” Angel pointed out.

Gasping, Cordelia asked, “Did you?”

Rolling his eyes at the questions, Angel denied it wholeheartedly. “Threaten Rup? Of course not.”

Angelus figured that Angel had to be serious about his offer of peace. “You realize what you’re giving up by handing over this ring.”

Cordelia felt Angel’s gaze settle on her again, glancing back at him to confirm it. “It means you have no right to touch me.”

“Not against your will,” Angel nodded while adding the clarification.

Blinking in consternation, Cordelia couldn’t understand why he would make such a radical change regarding his determination to have her. The unsettled feeling in her stomach came as an unwelcome realization that it only took seconds to remember the way she had kissed him.

Angelus knew the fine print all too well. He knew the vampire traditions and the rules that Angel probably thought he could bend to get away with what he was plotting. This gesture was anything but spontaneous, but it was one that Angelus could not refuse.

“Just don’t expect me to bow down to you,” Angel pointed out.

“I can do with out the kowtowing routine,” nodded Angelus in agreement, “as long as you remember to keep your hands off my mate.”

“Sure, if that’s what she wants.”

Snapping at him, Cordelia let Angel have it. “Of course it’s what I want. Angelus is my mate. You are his brother. I know you have feelings for me and I do love you, but not in any way that would ever change what I feel for Angelus.”

The poker face was firmly in place as Angel replied, “This isn’t easy for me, Cordy. You have no idea what I feel wanting you, loving you, being the one who can’t have you, can’t touch you.”

Tears filled her eyes as Cordelia saw the love shining through the otherwise passive features. No matter that the effects of the Moirae deal had his demon instincts going wild Cordelia realized that his feelings for her were genuine. No matter what she wanted, their relationship was never going to fit back into that safe, easy friendship they had developed.

Angelus fumed at his brother’s declaration. “Get used to it, Angel. It was worse for me when I was trapped inside that head of yours and you were too stupid to do what I wanted.”

Cordelia wasn’t quite sure about what her mate meant by that, but she didn’t want the tension to keep building. If the vampires started fighting again, who knew if they would stop this time.

“Angel, you may have given your brother reign over the Order, but you have a long way to go to prove you mean what you say,” Cordelia told him. “Fortunately, I have something you can do to start making amends for being such a dumbass.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“You can clean up the living room you helped trash,” she gave him a determined look while tagging on, “after breakfast of course.”

“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?” Angel was now leaning directly across the island from her watching the fire in her eyes as she all but dared him to refuse.

The barest smile of satisfaction curled Cordelia’s lips. “Is that what you think? Maybe I’ll make you do it before breakfast.”

Angel knew she was going to fight him every step of the way and that was exactly where he wanted her. For now. “In your own delectable words, sweetheart— bite me.”

Part 34

“If something jumps out at us, I’ll have to yawn it to death,” Xander told Buffy as they leaned up against the wall of an old mausoleum.

“Patrol has been a bore,” the Slayer agreed glancing briefly at the full moon. “The only things out tonight are the werewolves and ours is locked up safe and sound at the library.”

Both Giles and Willow were on guard duty at the library watching over Oz. “I vote we go for pizza.”

Glancing around the quiet cemetery, Buffy had to agree. “It’s still early. I can always make another quick sweep before bedtime. Let’s go.”

Xander stopped in his tracks after the first few steps. “I just saw something.”

Whirling around, Buffy’s sharper vision immediately picked up what he was seeing. A figure was darting through the tombstones garbed in dark grey robes. “Looks like our pizza will have to wait.”

“What is it?” Xander asked.

Buffy shrugged as they followed behind at a fast pace. “I dunno. Creepy guy in a funny robe.”

“Demon in a funny robe,” corrected Xander as they got close enough to see that the creature wasn’t human. “All dressed up and no place to go.”

“You’re right. He’s not going anywhere,” Buffy eyed the demon determinedly. He was edging closer to the main part of town and she wasn’t about to let that happen.

Xander rummaged through the weapons bag he’d been hauling. “Think this calls for something more than a stake?”

“Nah. Don’t think I need anything for this one,” Buffy commented. “He looks kinda scrawny.”

“I was talking about me.” Xander reached in and traded his stake for a small axe.

Looking at him holding the weapon, Buffy sent Xander a doubtful look. It wasn’t as if he’d been training with sharp objects. “Maybe you should just wait for my signal.”

“Hey!” Xander complained. Unfortunately, he gained the attention of their quarry who turned around flashing a huge row of pointy teeth. “Uh, Buffster, guess who’s coming to dinner?”

Despite his willingness to fight, Xander knew better than to get in the middle of a one on one fight that Buffy felt certain she could handle. The Slayer could be far faster and more efficient with her demon kills without worrying about him. That did not mean he wouldn’t be ready to step in if needed.

As expected, Buffy made quick work of the creature who had been very put off by being delayed. He spoke no human language that the Slayer could drag out of him with her onslaught of quips as she taunted the demon throughout the fight; nothing that she could understand to hint at where the creature was headed in his ritualistic robes.

“He’s wearing a talisman,” Buffy commented to Xander as they carried the body to the nearest dumpster. “Grab it. We’ll head over to the library to show it to Giles.”

Xander shoved the circular talisman in his back pocket as the Slayer tossed the body into the trash. “It’s no wonder sanitation workers are so highly paid in this town.”

“Not all demons turn into clouds of dust. Someone’s gotta do it,” Buffy shrugged with complete carelessness. She was too desensitized to the idea. “God, now I’m starving. Let’s get back to Giles and order that pizza.”

“Um, have you talked to Giles lately?” Xander took the small opening. He had been hoping to get some idea of how Buffy was feeling since breaking up with Angel. Even though Willow had given him little updates, she had obviously left out details that fell into the category of girl talk.

“About what?”

Guess not. “Stuff.”

“Not lately,” Buffy admitted. She had purposefully avoid Giles the past couple of days, but the reason for Xander’s question seemed obvious even to her. He was still worried about her. “I suppose you mean the research about the Fates and why Angel is acting weird.”

“Uh— ” Xander didn’t know what she was talking about. He was just referring to the fact that the Watcher had asked him to keep an eye on Buffy’s ex-boyfriend because of his behavior. “There was research? I missed out on research?”

“Don’t sound so grateful,” Buffy commented. “He hasn’t even mentioned it to me in a while. Guess it turned out to be nothing.”

Considering the pile of books the Watcher had at his desk the night he asked Xander and Willow over to the house, he had to wonder about that. Giles simply told them of his concerns regarding Angel and felt someone should keep an eye on him. Nothing was mentioned about research.

Xander felt confused. “So this research on the Fates has something to do with Angel biting you?”

“Not specifically. I-I don’t really understand why that happened. Angel told me just a little bit about the deal with the Fates. That it could be dangerous. I thought it meant just during the split or that the dangers were all about letting Angelus loose,” Buffy admitted with a sad tone.

“So you knew about the research when you broke up with Angel,” concluded Xander with a stunned look.

Nodding, Buffy admitted, “Yes.”

That surprised him. Normally, he’d expect Buffy to go into overprotective mode and not leave the vampire’s side until Giles found a way to fix the problem. Instead, she broke off their relationship entirely. Maybe having your throat nearly ripped out and your blood sucked down by your boyfriend made that an exception.

“I’m worried about Cordelia,” confessed Xander practically blurting it out to her.

Buffy stopped cold turning to face him. “Why is it all the men in my life can’t seem to get Cordelia Chase out of their minds? Angel. You. I even caught Giles muttering her name the other day.”

“She is my ex,” he pointed out realizing that Buffy had no clue about what happened to Cordelia. Apparently Willow’s talks with the Slayer left out a few crucial details.

“That doesn’t answer the question,” Buffy grumped at him and started walking again. “So maybe you have an excuse. That doesn’t tell me why Angel is suddenly in love with her.”

Xander wasn’t certain that it was so sudden. It certainly wasn’t normal. “Angel was stalking her, Buffy.”

“What do you mean stalking her?”

“How else would I mean?” Xander caught her doubtful gaze. She obviously thought he was exaggerating. “He followed her to Harmony’s house and waited for her to come out. Lucky for Cor that Willow and I got there in time.”

Buffy’s face was a picture of puzzlement. “In time for what?”

“To save her.”

“From Angel?” A gamut of scenarios ran through her mind, none of them good.

Nodding, Xander told her, “I should’ve staked him.”

It was hardly the first time Xander had threatened to do so. Buffy realized that Giles’ concerns about Angel were well-founded. She had to admit, “I never really thought Cordelia would be at risk. That Angelus would let anything happen to her. Willow told me Cordy was back at her parents’ house while they were in town.”

“She knows more than I do,” Xander admitted feeling a little out of the loop.

“C’mon,” Buffy suggested they pick up the pace already walking a little faster. “I have a few questions for Giles and most of them have got nothing to do with that talisman.”

~*~

“Rosenberg. Willow Rosenberg. Spy extraordinaire,” mumbled the redhead as she selected the next website on her list. “Giles, I feel like I’m a double agent. Maybe a triple agent.”

“You’re not a spy, Willow,” he assured her. “It’s more like field work. Besides, you can’t be a double agent unless you’re working for someone else.”

Willow tightened her grip the computer mouse. Pouting, she admitted, “It’s kinda like that, actually. I’m running around town after Angel. Keeping Buffy up to speed. I did some hacking for Angelus. I’m researching and reporting to you. Now—”

“Hacking for Angelus?” Giles glanced up from the book he was reading. Purely a medical book, it was not his usual field of study. Psychobiology: Diagnosing and Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Personality Disorder and Multiple Personality Disorder.

“Stuff on Cordy’s parents,” Willow nodded. “Except I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”

“Then perhaps you’d better not tell me,” Giles commented wryly turning back to the book. Trying to apply psychobiology to vampires was not an everyday task and it required concentration.

Ensconced in the library, Giles normally would have been perfectly comfortable here, but it was the night of the full moon and Oz was currently locked up in the book cage in his werewolf form. His pacing and growling kept interrupting the Watcher’s train of thought. Willow’s added commentary just kept him distracted.

“Okay,” Willow agreed not to tell Giles anything about Daniel or Emelia Chase’s financial and legal problems. “Angelus isn’t gonna let anything happen anyway now that Cordy is back at the mansion again. I’m sure Mr. Chase won’t have to go to jail. Cordelia told me that Angelus had taken care of it.”

Giles didn’t bother to point out that Willow had once again forgotten about revealing too much. As Daniel Chase’s potential jail time was not relevant to the problem at hand, the Watcher moved his attention back to the book.

Unfortunately, Willow talked as she browsed. “You really should’ve told me about all this sooner. Now I’m searching for stuff for Cordy just because you haven’t asked me to do it.”

That had his full attention. There was a reason Giles had not informed Willow of the potential problems with the vampires. It had everything to do with her inability to withhold information. Knowing it, she would have revealed everything to Buffy in no time despite Angel’s original wishes.

“What stuff are you talking about?” Giles realized they were far beyond the point of holding anything back. On his own, this was taking far too long. Perhaps it was time to use Willow’s many-faceted skills to determine a cure.

“Stuff on the Moirae,” Willow told him. “Where to find them. Creating a summoning spell. You know— stuff.”

“Cordelia wants you to summon the Fates?” Giles was out of his chair, closing and slamming the book against the desk all in the same move.

Willow jerked back in reaction while her werewolf boyfriend gnashed his teeth at the sudden noise. Cordelia’s call came late this afternoon revealing to her everything Giles told her, asking Willow to find a way to get the Fates here to fix the problem. “Y-Yes.”

“Stop what you’re doing,” Giles felt like grabbing the computer mouse from her hand and flinging it across the room. “Willow, the Moirae are not Spirit Guides, totems or demons to be summoned to our plane of existence at a mortal’s whim. They can be cold and unmerciful when disturbed from their eternal task. Controlling them within a mystic summoning circle will be nearly impossible.”

The fear in the Watcher’s eyes was enough to get his point across, but it confirmed in her own mind that he knew she could get them here. Considering all of the spells Willow had previously cast, she felt confident if she learned enough about the Moirae that she could summon them. As Giles suggested, containing the power of the Fates and avoiding their wrath might be something else to consider.

“Probably not a good idea to tick off someone who can affect your destiny, huh?” She gave Giles a weak smile. Adding with a gulp, “Like cutting it off way early.”

“There are precedents,” Giles admitted. He had purposefully avoided them. “Others have summoned the Moirae to their own detriment. While death does not appear to be their immediate punishment, they often extract a heavy price further down the line. What Cordelia has asked you to do— we can’t take it lightly.”

Slumping back in her chair, Willow thought about it while watching the grim shadows in his eyes and her own reflection in his glasses. “You’ve been at this too long, Giles. You’re starting to sound like you’re looking for the easy way out. I can’t believe that the Moirae have rewarded Angel for whatever good deed he performed by doing something that results in killing him.”

A wry twist curled Giles’ lips as he responded to Willow’s accusations. “This has been occupying my mind for the last two months. I wondered the same thing. Your points are valid.”

The teenager thought so too, but let Giles finish talking.

“Who can say what the Moirae get out of this if anything? They may not care that it ends Angel’s existence while also killing Angelus in the process. They warned Angel it could happen before they sealed the deal. As far as they are concerned, separating the vampires may have ended their obligation to Angel.”

“But you don’t know that,” Willow protested. “You can’t know it unless they tell you.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Giles told her. “If it was just me involved, Willow, I would do it myself, but I do not possess the requisite mystic abilities. My knowledge of magick is insufficient to handle a spell of this magnitude. Though your abilities are innate, this is not something I want you involved in.”

Suggesting, “We can find someone else. Surely the Watchers Council knows people.”

“None who would dare take this on,” Giles scrapped that idea. Reinforcing his earlier statement, he stressed, “This is not a task to be taken lightly.”

“No, Giles,” Willow completely agreed. “This is serious. This is Angelus…and Angel. It may mean the difference between saving and destroying them.”

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Giles realized that Willow planned to continue this project with or without his consent and supervision. He admired her loyalty to her friends, but the dangers to her and all of them outweighed the consequences of a mystical cure for the vampires. There had to be another way and Giles was just as determined to find it via his research as Willow was in fashioning a summoning spell.

“I will help, you Willow,” Giles surprised her. Adding firmly, “Under one condition. Do not tell Cordelia anything from here on out.”

Eep! “Nothing?”

“You damned well know she’ll come charging in demanding you cast that spell,” he told her. “Can you see yourself telling her no?”

Thinking about it, Willow still wasn’t certain she wanted to say no. “Uh…no?”

“Assuming you can create an appropriate spell,” Giles decided, “you must promise me that you won’t attempt it without my say so. It has to be our last resort.”

Nodding her reluctant agreement, Willow muttered, “Last resort. Got it.”

Part 35

“Get used to it,” Cordelia refused to budge on her decision. Strolling between the two vampires through Parkview Cemetery, she reinforced her point of view, “If you two patrol, then so do I.”

“It’s not safe,” fumed Angel having complained about her insistence in accompanying them.

This new tack on staying out of danger seemed to come out of the blue. “Hello! Bait Girl. What do you think I’ve been doing for the last two years?”

Angelus found his opinion wavering. He knew Cordelia wasn’t happy being told what she should do. Not that she was listening. Still, he found himself in agreement with his brother. “You could use more formal training, Cor. Maybe you should sit this out until I can teach you some better defensive moves.”

“Maybe?” Angel huffed giving him a hard stare over the top of Cordelia’s head.

“Pfft! It’s not like there is an apocalypse scheduled tonight, Angelus.” With all that was going on, Cordelia wasn’t planning to let Angelus out of her sight, especially if he was out with Angel. No telling what trouble they’d get into now that the souled vampire was running on instincts. “You weren’t concerned about my training when you dragged me into that warehouse full of vampires.”

“T-That was different,” Angelus countered in his own defense. He stuttered his way through an explanation. Finally adding, “I was evil. I didn’t love you then.”

Angel cut in with a snort, “Could you whine any louder?”

A growl from his brother suggested he should keep his comments to himself, but Angel reacted with a grin too lost in his own amusement to care. Angelus gritted his teeth, the muscle at his jaw working as he forced himself to control his anger for Cordelia’s sake. “I wasn’t whining.”

“Sounded like it to me,” Angel hopped onto a large upright tombstone in the middle of a family plot. “Since when did you become such a sap?”

“Since I turned into you,” barked Angelus now holding his fists at his side.

Instead of beating the hell out of his twin, Angel merely chuckled. “No, you’ve just gone soft. Cordy has you so henpecked, you couldn’t say no to her if you tried. You need to look out for your own interests every now and then.”

“You have nerve saying that,” Angelus returned. “It wasn’t that long ago that you were the Slayer’s lapdog.”

“Emphasis on the past tense.” With a quip, Angel added, “My balls are back. Think you can find yours?”

Angelus was about to let loose with his fist when Cordelia’s disgusted voice caused him to hold back.

“Eew! Men are so gross,” Cordelia whacked Angel in the chest. “What’s next? More vampire wrestling? Enough of the insults and the distraction mode. No changing the subject. Unless you plan to keep me tied up, I’m coming with you on patrols.”

Angel sent her a slow grin, letting his gaze travel over her slim form noticing the way that beneath her open jacket, her form-fitting top and pants hugged every curve. He imagined stripping her of those clothes, binding her wrists with those silk scarves and leaving her naked and tied to his bed until his return. “That could be arranged.”

“Don’t bet on it, Psycho.”

“I told you not to call—,” Angel stopped talking in the middle of his sentence as he watched a motorcycle drive by at high speed past the cemetery. “Did you see that?”

“Two Morvrak demons on a motorcycle,” Angelus had picked up on the speeding bike as it rounded the street corner, “going somewhere fast.”

Cordelia caught sight of the taillight having turned at the sound of the motorcycle whizzing by. “Those gaudy robes just scream last Halloween.”

“Looks like they’re headed toward the east side of town,” Angel stared after them as he tried to ascertain where the Morvraks were heading. “This is Park Drive so they’ve just turned onto Woodlawn.”

“That dead ends into Quincy Street,” Cordelia pointed out helpfully and then frowned as she realized just where that road led. “They’re going to the high school.”

Angelus judged differently, “To the Hellmouth.”

“Full moon and tacky robes,” Cordelia put the pieces together. “Add in the Hellmouth and I’m guessing these demons guys are up to no good.”

“C’mon!” Angelus nodded in that direction and took off running. “The Plymouth is on the other side of the park. We’ll get there faster on foot.”

Cordelia and Angel followed behind, though at a slightly slower pace. While Angelus might be revved up to fight the Good Fight, Angel had a different focus and it was currently jogging beside him and bouncing in the most delightful ways. “He forgets you don’t have superhuman speed.”

Ignoring the barb at her mate, Cordelia joked, “Thank goodness I decided not to wear the Jimmy Choo’s tonight.”

Angel wouldn’t have minded seeing her in a short skirt and high heeled shoes, but she was right. “You shouldn’t wear them on patrol anyway.” The form-fitting track suit and Nikes were far more appropriate.

“Only for special bait and trap occasions,” Cordelia told him. “They show off my legs. The vamps really go for that.”

With a smirk, Angel answered, “I know.”

She slapped his arm, which he barely felt through the layers of his leather jacket and shirt; her spontaneous grin had far more impact. It directly hit his unbeating heart. A flash of warm emotion filled her eyes just before they flickered away staring back to the path they were jogging.

Cordelia almost missed a step at the look on Angel’s face. Babbling about the first subject that came to mind, “Maybe I should design a line of Slayerwear. Clothes for all your demon-hunting needs.”

“You’d probably be good at that,” Angel responded seriously.

Rolling her eyes, Cordelia figured he was picturing her back the mansion designing her little outfits in the safety of her own living room. “I’m not the stay home and knit type, Angel. I’d prefer being tied up.”

“Really?” There was a touch of eager boyishness in his tone.

“Yes, actually,” Cordelia answered before realizing that her usual lack of tact would only spur on Angel’s sexually-charged notions.

She could almost picture what the vampire was thinking. No doubt of tying her to his iron wrought bed frame with the silk scarves he’d paid for; leaving her totally naked and aroused writhing against the sheets wanting more of his touch. Returning only at his convenience, this time not stopping at using that expert tongue, taking her the way he wanted, bringing them both to ecstasy and sinking his fangs into the turn of her throat at the moment of climax.

Angel has no business thinking things like that, Cordelia told herself. “Sheesh! I was just kidding.”

~*~

“You’re so growly tonight, Oz,” the werewolf’s girlfriends stared at him through the bars of his cage. Little lines of concern wrinkled her forehead as Willow watched him pace back and forth occasionally knocking against the locked doorframe restlessly. “I don’t think I’ve heard so much howling before.”

Giles glanced up from his research. “You shouldn’t bother him, Willow. There might be any number of reasons for his excessive behavior tonight.”

“Talking to him calms him down,” Willow’s lower lip stuck out just a hint more than normal.

“I never found that to be the case.” Although he noticed that the werewolf was now staring at Willow attentively.

The redhead pointed out, “I’m his girlfriend. He loves me. I just have that effect.”

“Hmm,” Giles muttered disinterestedly. “Shouldn’t you be searching for information on trans-dimensional summoning?”

“Guess so.”

Just as Willow was returning to her computer terminal, the library doors swung open as Buffy and Xander appeared in tandem. They headed straight for Giles who put his book aside carefully ensuring that the cover and its title were out of view. “I didn’t expect you two back so soon.”

“We ran into a demony thing,” Xander explained as he plunked down the gym bag full of weapons onto the counter.

Hardly an unusual occurrence considering this was Sunnydale. Giles tried to appear interested despite the urgency he felt in getting back to the research. “Could you be more specific?”

Buffy glanced at her patrol companion. “Nope. Demony thing pretty much explains it all.”

With a sigh, Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Where was this?”

“Old Sunnydale Cemetery near the Creswell mausoleum,” Buffy told him helpfully. “The demon was cutting through the cemetery in a big hurry.”

“Going where?” Both Buffy and Xander shrugged simultaneously.

“Hey,” Xander remembered the talisman in his back pocket. “We did find this.”

Staring at the circular piece of ancient metal, the Watcher realized that he had seen the design somewhere before. Finally, he remembered, “Oh, dear God. W-What day is it, the thirteenth?”

Willow gave Giles an I-told-you-so expression. “Try the fifteenth, hence the presence of the full moon.”

“Then it’s happening tonight.” Giles looked like he was going to fall over with shock. “I cannot believe I overlooked this.”

Buffy started to get worried. “What’s it mean?”

Sitting back down in his chair, Giles told the Slayer, “About the same time that Angel and Angelus were separated, I was conducting some early research on an upcoming event that by my estimation was to occur within a two-week period.”

“So you were a little off,” Xander gave him the benefit of the doubt, but added, “only now we have demony doings going on.”

“Yes,” Giles admitted his mistake. “The correct timeframe was actually two months rather than two weeks. I simply forgot all about it with—.”

He was about to indicate his research on Angel’s condition. Fortunately, Buffy cut in with another question. “What was the demon doing with the talisman?”

“This is the night of the gathering of the Morvrak demons when they summon forth their deity in order to achieve another century of success,” Giles explained as he set the talisman down on the table. “Their leader wears the talisman as his symbol of power.”

Xander didn’t like the sound of it. “No summoning of the evil demon gods allowed.”

“Actually, you have already averted it,” Giles surprised them. “Obtaining the talisman prevents the demons from using it. They cannot bring forth anything without a way to contain or control it within this dimension.”

Willow stared wide-eyed at the talisman lying on the other table. She wondered if it also worked for other forms of summoning magick. Despite her interest in it, she had to ask Giles, “If Buffy killed the head demon guy where are the others gathering?”

“That’s right,” Xander realized. “You said there were others. Why don’t I like that idea?”

“Possibly because the natural mystical convergence of the Hellmouth makes it the strongest source of energy for their spell,” Giles had a sinking feeling that he knew the reason for the werewolf’s predatory behavior.

Buffy clarified for him, “They’re coming here. To the school.”

“I had a feeling you were going to say that,” Xander muttered now sifting through the patrol bag of Buffy’s weapons. “My guess is they won’t be too happy that their little party has been cancelled.”

“How many demons are we looking at Giles?” Buffy was already preparing herself for the fight ahead.

“This is a gathering of demons from across the globe. Traditionally, the Morvraks have performed the ceremony with their highest ranking chieftains present. Usually about two dozen,” Giles words came across calmly, but inside he was worrying.

“Two dozen?” Willow questioned, her eyes large and round. “Guess it’s a good thing they don’t bring the whole family along.”

Buffy agreed. “I think we could use some backup on this one, guys. “

“I’m on it,” Willow volunteered being closest to the telephone. She called out less than a minute later, “There is no answer at the mansion. The vamps and Cordy are out.”

“Xander,” Buffy caught his attention when he seemed to be focused on her bag of sharp tricks. “I want you to find Angel— no, Angelus. Just get both of them here. Try the Parkview and Restfield cemeteries first. They’re closer to Crawford Street and the mansion.”

“You got it.” Grabbing the small hand axe, Xander waited only long enough to hear the rest of the plan.

“Giles, Willow,” the Slayer ordered, “you two stay put for now. I’m gonna head out to the school perimeter and see what there is to see.”

Her Watcher simply nodded, still flummoxed over the fact that he had completely forgotten about this demon summoning. One of Oz’ long howls snapped him out of his thoughts. “It may be too late for that. I’m coming with you. Willow, you should stay with Oz just in case anyone gets through. If necessary, let him out of the cage and lock yourself inside.”

Willow wasn’t happy about letting her friends go off demon fighting without her, but she didn’t want to leave Oz by himself. “Okay.”

Buffy grabbed her weapons and picked up her long sword while Giles armed himself with his crossbow. “Any chance we can talk these guys out of a fight?”

“It’s possible once they realize their leader isn’t coming that they’ll disperse,” Giles told her.

Pushing open the doors leading outside, Xander decided they were past negotiating. A fight was already in progress with Cordelia, Angel and Angelus right in the middle of it.

With a burst of Slayer speed, Buffy ran forward clearing a path to the center of the melee with Xander and Giles following in her wake. “Hi guys. Want some company?”

“These guys are a little ticked off that we barged in on them,” Angel told her after he broke the neck of the demon who came close to sinking his claws into Cordelia.

“Cor, weapons.” Buffy tossed the bag at Cordelia’s feet. The brunette’s stake wasn’t going to help much against these creeps.

The group took up a circular defensive pattern standing back to back as the demons began to swarm around them. The Slayer’s arrival momentarily startled the Morvraks and gave them reason to suspect her as the cause of their leader’s disappearance.

“Hold them off from here, but if we have to separate, pair up,” Angelus called out as he sent one demon reeling with a hard punch to the jaw. Telling Cordelia, “Babe, you’re with me.”

“Duh!”

Giles nodded his agreement and stood next to his Slayer. The remaining duo, Angel and Xander shared an unenthusiastic glance. The teenager muttered, “Just great.”

With their tight circle, the demons were forced to come to them swarming around, but unable to attack all at once due to the lack of space. Buffy, Angelus and Angel were able to stop the majority of the initial charge through brut strength alone. As the crowd thinned and the demons realized this was not going to be a case of an easy slaughter, the warrior-chieftains retreated into a larger circle to draw them out.

Presumably of some authority, one demon issued orders to the others. Neither Giles nor the vampires understood the demonic tongue, but it was clear that they were regrouping.

With a guttural bark, the next attack came, a three-pronged move that focused on the weakest links in the inner circle. Directing their attack at Giles, Xander and Cordelia forced the others out of position as they moved into a more defensive stance. More demons died, but the second wave succeeded in its task as the group was drawn into a more vulnerable position.

Cordelia stuck close to Angelus and held tightly to the short sword she had taken from the gym back. Her vamped out mate continued to stave off any direct attacks upon her while using his martial arts moves. She held them off waving her sword in the air in front of them just long enough to give Angelus time to finish off the last guy.

A sword! I had to pick a sword, Cordelia grumbled to herself as she was pushed to the ground and felt a sharp jolt against her forehead. Using the slate rocks of the flower bed as leverage, she scrambled to her feet. Having held onto her weapon, she poked the sharp sword at the hideously robed demon. The pointy end is supposed to go into the bad guy. Just like a stake. I’d be better with an iron skillet. Bash them over the head. Eew! Is that blood on my jacket?

Having seen her fall, Angelus called out as he held one Morvrak in a chokehold, “You okay?”

“Fine,” Cordelia assured him. Not wanting to distract her mate with the fact that she just figured out that the blood was hers.

Angelus was too lost in the fight to notice the scent of Cordelia’s blood in the air. He found himself pushed back by another trio of armed demons all focused on bringing him down. In doing so, they effectively separated him from his mate. Cordelia was starting to feel a little woozy and dropped her sword arm to her side.

Not too far off, Buffy and Giles had already dealt with their attackers. Recognizing the Slayer, most of the demons had focused on the other groups. This only allowed Buffy to work faster. Along with Giles’ help, they quickly took out their opponents. Now surveying the front lawn of the high school, her keen eyes quickly assessed the situation.

Giles barely had time to turn around before Buffy started to sprint across the grass. Then he realized the reason. Two demons were about to pounce on Cordelia who was simply standing there holding a hand to her bleeding forehead. Leaving her feet at the last moment, Buffy appeared to fly through the air as she tackled the demons to the ground.

Rolling back to her feet, Buffy took a couple of seconds to acknowledge the irony that was her coming to Cordelia Chase’s rescue. “Mind if I borrow this?”

Taking the sword from Cordelia’s hand, Buffy pointed it at the two demons who were scrambling to their feet. Knocking one flat onto his back with a swift and powerful kick, she told him, “Wait your turn.”

Watching, Cordelia slowly regained her senses. She saw Buffy shove the sharp end of her sword into the first demon, but the second had not obeyed orders to stay on the ground. It was moving up behind the Slayer with its clawed hands curled and ready to shred her to pieces.

Thunk.

Buffy whirled to see Cordelia standing directly behind her with the second demon on the ground in between. Glancing down in surprise, the Slayer saw that a large piece of slate rock was covering the demon’s head. “Uh…you saved me?”

“Looks that way,” Cordelia shrugged as if it was nothing.

Looking at her suspiciously, Buffy had to wonder. Where was the snarky remark she was expecting? “You okay, Cor?”

Other than being embarrassed over the fact that she managed to cut herself with her own weapon, “Guess so.”

“No, you’re not,” Buffy noticed the streak of blood on Cordelia’s forehead oozing from an open wound. Stepping forward, she tried to assess the damage, holding onto her jaw as she looked.

“Don’t fuss,” Cordelia held up a hand. She didn’t want anyone messing with her. She was fine. Maybe she wasn’t a fancy fighter, but Cordelia didn’t see anyone fussing over Xander or Giles this way. “Get away, Buffy. Just leave me alone.”

Concerned, Buffy told her, “Let me look at it.”

“Back off!”

From across the lawn, Angel finished pummeling the orange-robed demon into the ground leaving it in a bloody, battered and broken heap on the ground. His bloodlust simmered as he sought another opponent, finding that Angelus had snagged the last demon cornering it near the parking lot.

“You coulda left me one or two of the scrawny ones,” Xander complained that Angel had barely let him into the fight. “Hogging all of the demons.”

Angel ignored the teenager. All of his senses were trained on the sight of the Slayer standing sword in hand while Cordelia demanded she back off. A wounded Cordelia whose blood he could now sense on the night air. Angel’s ochre gaze narrowed upon the blonde as he watched her grab Cordelia’s arm as she tried to move away.

Approaching with superhuman speed, Angel was suddenly towering above her and flashing his fangs. “Slayer.”

Startled, Buffy’s mouth dropped open at his threatening tone. “What’s wrong?”

“You.” Angel took a step closer. He wretched the short sword from her casual grasp flinging it across the lawn. “Don’t touch what’s mine.”

“The sword? That belongs to Giles,” she countered unflinchingly. Even as the words left her mouth, Buffy realized her other hand was still on Cordelia’s arm. Meeting the brunette’s wary gaze, the confusing behavior suddenly started to make sense. “Oh.”

He was talking about Cordelia in that possessive tone, the predatory look in his eyes showing minimal control. Immediately, Buffy’s thoughts flashed back to the beach and the way Angel sank his fangs into her neck. Was that what he was planning for Cordelia? That wary look on Cor’s blood-splattered face showed as much fear of her reaction as it did Angel’s. Instinctively, she pulled the cheerleader behind her into a more defensible position.

Cordelia figured the sudden return of Angel’s Psycho Vamp mode had to be blamed on the battle with the demons. She could see the bloodlust showing in his eyes while he matched unblinking glares with the Slayer. Neither one of them was backing down from the staring contest. Well, she wasn’t going to stand quietly until one of them let loose and she got caught in the middle.

“The fight is not over, Angel.” Cordelia referred to the fact that his brother was still battling the last demon.

Edging closer to Buffy, the vampire’s deep timbre rumbled through his chest, “No, it isn’t over.”

Cordelia tried to move around between them, but Buffy moved to intercept her still believing that Angel was capable of doing anything at this point. Unlike the Slayer, Cordy felt strongly that Angel wasn’t going to hurt her. She was more afraid of what Buffy might do to Angel in a moment of rage or vice versa.

“Angel, stop this!”

He didn’t answer focusing only on the Slayer. Buffy stood her ground, but kept the cheerleader behind her. She couldn’t tell what Angel was thinking, not that she ever could. Telling Angel determinedly, “Back away. Nothing is happening here. Least of all whatever it is you have planned for Cordelia.”

The vampire was apparently beyond reason, baring his teeth and growling his anger. If he did have plans, Angel wasn’t in a sharing mood. With a swift move, he grabbed Buffy around the neck with one hand lifting her off the ground with his considerable strength. Buffy latched onto his wrist to take some of the pressure off of her neck.

Horrified, Cordelia cried out his name and tried to pull him away from Buffy, but she got in the way of the Slayer’s flailing legs. The blonde accidentally kicked Cordelia with a move powerful enough to force the vampire to release her. Enraged at the sight of the brunette flying backwards into the bed of red and gold chrysanthemums, Angel tossed Buffy to the ground causing her cry out in pain, her voice now hoarse.

There was no time to reason even if Angel was willing to listen. Instinctively, Buffy knew that he was beyond that point. Bounding to her feet with a controlled flip, she prepared for another attack. Giles and Xander call out with concerned voices as they ran in her direction. It was too late for concern. She could read it in Angel’s demonic yellow eyes and in the way he moved. This was not just a burst of anger from some misunderstanding. It was nothing like the controlled circumstances of their sparring sessions.

Remembering Xander’s concerns about Cordelia, Buffy wondered if there wasn’t more to this than Giles originally told her. The Fates’ warning about the dangers of accepting their deal had to be on target. That taking the deal might be deadly. Now it looked like they were going to find out if she was involved in those consequences.

She had crossed some invisible line in Angel’s warped brain and now he acted as if he was going to kill her. Blocking his next attack, Buffy kicked the vampire in the stomach sending him staggering back several feet. “Have you lost your mind? I’m not the enemy, Angel.”

Saying nothing, Angel merely attacked. The two of them exchanged a series of blows and kicks including some rather stunning acrobatic moves that left the onlookers agape. The speed at which they moved prevented any interference until Angelus came charging across the lawn having brought down the last demon in the horde.

By this time, Buffy was too caught up in the fight to care that someone was trying to help. She pushed Angelus aside in order to get at Angel. This time, she had a stake in her hand.

“Oh, dear,” Giles realized that things were going to end badly if something wasn’t done. “Angelus, you get your brother under control. The rest of us will handle Buffy.”

Cordelia barely heard Giles’ suggestion. She was already charging in landing on top of Buffy and latching onto the hand that held the stake. Her interference stopped Angel in his tracks long enough for Angelus to pin him to the ground. Not that he stayed there. With feral strength, Angel threw his double off of him.

“Stay out of this,” his rage poured forth at Angelus.

Regaining his footing, Angelus kicked his feet out from under him again. Holding up his hand, he showed him the ring as a reminder. “Do I have to remind you what it’s like to have a master again?”

“I told you I wasn’t going to bow and scrape to you.”

Angelus dark gaze held fast to those feral eyes. His twin was teetering on a thin line of control. Actually, he seemed to be past it. The Slayer’s presence was setting him off causing him to react violently and Angelus had a feeling that he knew the reason. Glancing at his mate, he got his first clear look at her sorry state noting the blood and dirt covering her face and clothes.

Growling at his brother, Angelus reached down and yanked Angel closer by the lapels of his leather jacket. “I want an explanation. Now. What the hell happened here?”

“The Slayer.”

That was the only explanation Angel provided as his balled fist crashed into Angelus’ jaw followed by his booted foot throwing the other vampire off his supine frame. He was on his feet again and about to head back to the women who were still grappling on the ground over the wooden stake when Angelus tapped on his shoulder.

“You’ve got my attention, Angel. Deal with me.”

“Get off me, Cordelia!” Buffy pushed her aside none too gently still determined to make certain that Angel wasn’t going to cause anyone harm.

Giles and Xander reached them. The teen helped Cordelia to her feet, but she took off in the direction of the vampires as soon as she regained her footing. “Cordelia! Wait, you’ll get hurt.”

The Watcher put a hand on Buffy’s shoulder telling her to let Angelus handle his twin. He didn’t like the fact that Cordelia was headed over there, but he was curious to see what was going to happen. Both vampires were wrestling on the ground trying to gain some advantage over the other. Unlike that first day in the library, there was no doubting which vampire was which.

Angel’s demonic features were firmly in place as his rage overwhelmed any sense of control left in him. Though angry, his brother maintained his human visage as if it gave him a lifeline. Letting go might prove deadly to both of them. Getting caught up in this fight might push them both beyond whatever limits still existed within the Moirae’s spell.

“Giles, let me go. Angelus needs help,” Buffy urged her Watcher almost ready to defy him.

“Not yet.”

“Angel’s not the only crazy one around here tonight.” The Slayer jerked away from his light hold, but stood fast.

Xander stayed focused on Cordelia’s progress across the lawn. The vampires’ fight had taken them in the opposite direction and finally the cheerleader was catching up with them. He muttered in concern, “Don’t do anything stupid, Cor.”

“Shut up, Xander,” snapped Buffy. The last thing she needed was him whining over Cordelia Chase. “I don’t want to hear it anything else about Cordy, Cordy, Cordy.”

Turning his dark chocolate gaze upon her, Xander sucked in a deep breath as he heard the tone to her voice. “I thought you were over Angel. What’s with the jealous gig, Buffy?”

Clamping her mouth shut, Buffy realized her words had come out sounding petty and trite. As Xander pointed out, sounding jealous. Only she hadn’t been thinking about Angel when she said them. Staring back wordlessly, she could only think, Now I’ve got major wiggins.

Without waiting for an answer, Xander strode across the lawn just in time to see his former girlfriend put herself in harms way. Giles cautioned him, but as the teenager kept moving he decided that he and Buffy might as well get a closer perspective on the goings on.

Cordelia waited until Angelus had gained a small if temporary advantage over Angel. He had the other vampire pinned down to the ground as both of them were shouting threats and expletives at each other. Dropping to her knees beside them, Cordelia’s eyes were pleading even as she told them, “I’m gonna hafta kick your vampire asses myself if you don’t stop this fight.”

“Go to the others,” Angelus ordered not wanting her to get in the way. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m not leaving.”

Angelus was about to insist upon it when he noticed an immediate change in Angel. He stopped struggling against the hold Angelus had him under, his attention turning entirely upon Cordelia. This only allowed him to tighten the grapevine pin that held Angel’s arms and legs secure. It wasn’t easily defensible, but they’d still have to find a way to shackle the crazed vampire if his behavior continued.

“Cordelia?” Angel spoke her name as if coming out of a clouded dream the confusion in his eyes showing as the rage faded.

With a brief glance at Angelus, sharing her surprise with her mate, Cordelia placed a hand on Angel’s chest. He’d been breathing hard, something that was unnecessary for him, but her touch seemed to slow the rate to a normal human pace. “I’m here, Angel.”

The anger still sounded in his voice as he explained what set him off, “She hurt you.”

“No.”

“You’re bleeding.”

Touching her fingertips to her forehead, Cordelia realized that her wound still oozed fresh blood though the flow was substantially less than before. “I-I did it myself. You two were right about the training.”

Angel flashed his brother a dark look, “Where the hell were you?”

“It’s not his fault,” Cordelia palmed his cheek turning his face back to her. “I did it. Not Angelus. Not Buffy.”

“The Slayer—”

“Was helping me, dumbass,” she pointed out.

Considering that for a moment, Angel shifted back to his human features and heard Cordelia telling Angelus to release him.

“Forget it.”

“What are you planning to do? Pin him to the ground until Giles runs home for a pair of handcuffs? Obvious much?” Cordelia wasn’t entirely certain if this was a good idea or not, but she recognized the change in Angel. He wasn’t in that psychotic rampage mode anymore. “Trust me.”

Xander muttered behind them, “Not a good idea.”

The Slayer had to agree. She readied herself to pounce if Angel made any move that looked threatening. Standing next to her, Giles watched with something akin to awe as Angel’s bloodlust faded and the vampire returned to a state of normalcy all within a period of a minute or two. He could only attribute it to Cordelia’s presence.

Even Angelus recognized it despite his own anger over the fact. It was exactly what the Watcher had suggested to them, only Cordelia’s effect as a balancing force also seemed to affect Angel. Dammit, he didn’t want to do this, but Angelus slowly let go of his brother’s wrists, untangled their legs from the wrestling hold and rose to his feet.

For a moment, Angel didn’t move, giving his twin a chance to get used to the idea that he had willingly released him. That he was not only trusting Cordelia’s judgment on this, but also trusting him not to take advantage over the situation. Angel knew the real question. Could he trust himself? Even knowing that Angelus and the Slayer were close enough to stop anything he tried.

Then he realized that Angelus wasn’t trusting him. He was testing him. Waiting to see what he would do next. Thanks for being so predictable, bro.

“Angel,” he turned back to Cordelia at the sound of her voice. “It’s over. The demons are dead. Buffy isn’t your enemy.”

Truthfully, he could care less about either one, Angel thought despite the tiny twinge of guilt at using the Slayer for his own purposes. Suppressing it, Angel lifted up into a sitting position next to Cordelia moving his hand up to her face to examine the wound. It was superficial, but in a vascular location causing the bleeding to continue.

“Come here.” Cupping the nape of her neck, Angel gently pulled her forward running his tongue along the wound before anyone could protest.

Angelus knew his brother was simply cleansing and sealing the wound, something he would have done himself as soon as this had ended to prevent infection and scaring. Seeing the ecstatic look on Angel’s face while he lapped up the excess blood around the wound nearly had him grabbing his brother just to pummel that expression from his face. Barely restraining that urge, Angelus kept telling himself that the idea was to calm Angel down, not to start up another fight.

As Angel’s cool tongue swept across her skin, Cordelia shuddered at the contact. This touch was intimate, him tasting her blood. She knew it and had no doubts of Angelus knowing it as well. And yet Cordelia didn’t stop him. Not now that he seemed stable again instead of losing himself to the violent nature of his instincts.

It was only when his lips brushed against her forehead that Cordelia opened her own eyes. Speaking only brought her mouth within kissing distance, “Angel, I think—”

With his mouth now hovering over hers, Angel realized he couldn’t close the tiny space between them. Not if this plan of his was going to work. “I think you’ll be fine.”

“What?” Cordelia watched in confusion as Angel pulled away, helping her to her feet and turning her in the direction of her mate.

“I obviously owe everyone an apology,” he went on. “If Cordelia hadn’t calmed me down, Buffy might have been forced to stake me.”

Buffy admitted that she considered it. “Next time we’re bringing shackles in the gym bag.”

“You’re okay?” Angel asked her while knowing he hadn’t done anything to cause any permanent damage.

“Yeah.” Buffy continued to eye him warily, holding her stake at her side rather than putting it away.

Angelus put his arm around Cordelia glad to have her back at his side. She smiled at him with a mixture of relief and triumph. “This is good. He’s okay. You’re okay.”

“For how long?” Angelus had to wonder as he caught his brother’s gaze. “Maybe you should be the one to stop patrolling for a while. We can’t deal with your bloodlust on a night-to-night basis.”

Frowning at the idea, Angel commented, “You needed me tonight. I’m not going to be the one to sit at home and knit.”

Xander looked over at Giles. “Vampires knit?”

Ignoring the boy, the Watcher told the group, “There may be a way to balance out the see-saw effect of Angel’s normal and—”

“Psycho?” Cordelia supplied the term Giles seemed to be looking for.

“Uncontrolled behavior,” Giles was careful to avoid the other term.

“So what is it?” asked Cordelia when everyone else seemed content to wait out the long pause that followed.

Clearing his throat, Giles told her, “Well, that’s a bit…delicate.”

Suggesting that Buffy and Xander handle the clean up duties, Giles asked Cordelia and the two vampires to accompany him back to the library. Angel followed behind the rest trying to suppress the smile that threatened to appear. That’s it, old Rup. You knew all along, but didn’t want to come out and say it. Too improper for a good British gent to suggest. Just needed a little push in the right direction and to see the effects with your own eyes.

Angelus kept his arm around Cordelia as they walked into the building. He didn’t like this one bit. Rupert Giles was going to say something that he probably didn’t want to hear. Something he suspected would involve his mate. Hell would freeze over first before he let that happen.

Leading them to the privacy of the lounge rather than the library, Giles waited until everyone was seated. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, trying to ignore the ironic manner in which they sat on the couch side by side with Cordelia between the two vampires. His mind momentarily wandered to a place it did not belong.

“I-I admit to being a little uncomfortable talking to you three about this,” Giles gave his collar a tug.

“Maybe you shouldn’t,” Angelus suggested with a dangerous undertone.

The Watcher merely pressed on knowing that this had to be said. “Something must be done to help Angel maintain his equilibrium. These nearly psychotic episodes of demonic behavior are only getting worse.”

“You have a solution?” Angel asked him already knowing that he did.

Giles nodded. “It may only be temporary, but it should act as a stabilizing measure.”

“What?” Cordelia wanted details. She didn’t need Giles being all flibbety-gibbety and turning red as a beet.

“Is there a reason you’re pointing that crossbow in my direction?” asked Angelus as he wondered if the Watcher was already planning for some impending attack on his part.

Realizing that was exactly what he was doing, Giles put it aside. “Sorry,” he flashed an embarrassed smile in the vampire’s direction.

“You were saying?”

“Ahem. Yes. I-I hope you’ll keep an open mind and consider everything I told you the last time we spoke about Angel’s current condition— and yours.” Giles told him.

“I’m listening,” Angelus commented even though his body language declared he was anything but open-minded. His arms were crossed over his broad muscular chest and his left leg was crossed over his right knee at the ankle.

Giles frowned, but had no choice except to keep talking. “So I see. Very good. My observations and your information suggest that Angel’s aggressive actions, behavior and instinctive tendencies all revolve around Cordelia. Even tonight, though the bloodlust may have started with the demon brawl, he managed to bring her into it.”

“Don’t blame me!” Cordelia demanded.

“Forget about placing blame,” Giles responded quickly noting the hurt expression on her face. “This is resultant of the breakdown of the Moirae’s spell or its side effect. It is a psychological condition affecting both vampires. What I am about to suggest is by no means a cure. However, it may slow down the process until I am able to find one.”

Cordelia told him, “I’m not waiting for you to make your big cure discovery. Willow is working on a way to contact the Moirae.”

“What?” and “No!” were the responses from Angel and Angelus who both looked like the idea was not only a bad one, but frightening.

Giles felt a bit vindicated about his own opinion on the matter. “It’s only to be used as a last resort.”

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” warned Angel.

“I think I do, but you could enlighten us. Cordelia and I remain in the dark on the whole subject of your original dealings with the Moirae.”

“Forget it,” Angel barked. “I can’t talk about it.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

Angel remained closed-mouthed as did his twin, which only set Cordelia off. “What’s up with the secret keeping?”

After a long pause, it was Angelus who told her, “There isn’t much to tell you to be honest. Just that it involves a promise and prophesy.”

“What prophesy?” Giles inquired. “Perhaps I can—”

“No.” Cutting him off, Angel was adamant that he not get involved any further.

With a sardonic laugh, Angelus explained, “It hardly matters now considering the way things are going.”

“Giles has a way to fix that,” Cordelia reminded her mate. “Are you ever gonna tell us what we have to do?”

Frankly, Giles would rather continue discussing the Moirae, but he figured that to be a closed subject. “Cordelia, you have acted as a stabilizing force for Angelus. His symptoms have been slower to appear and he remains in control of his demonic aspects for the most part.”

She nodded, remembering that part of the discussion. “You said it was because he loved me.”

“You two have a deep and binding connection that stems from mutual emotions,” Giles explained his theory.

There was no denying that. Cordelia relished in the fact that Angelus loved her just as much as she loved him. She would never have thought it possible for a soulless vampire to have the ability to love so deeply, but it was something she had come to accept.

Squeezing his thigh, Cordy smiled up at her mate, her love for him shining from her eyes. Despite having closed himself off from the direction he suspected Giles was heading, Angelus couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. Despite the fact that she was still covered in dirt and dried blood, he thought her the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. There was no denying she possessed the key to his heart.

The exchange wasn’t lost on Angel who sat at the other end of the couch gripping the armrest. He was doing his best not to react in a noticeable manner, but Angel saw that his subtle move had captured the Watcher’s scrutiny.

“That brings me to my point,” Giles sat forward resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m going out on a limb here, so try not to rip my throat out when you hear this. That goes for you too, Cordelia.”

“Oh?” That caught her attention.

“I think Angel’s feelings for you are well-known at this point,” Giles commented and waited for their acknowledgement.

Angel fully admitted it. “I’m in love with her.”

His brother merely sounded out a low rumble of a protest. Cordelia licked her dry lips and cast surreptitious glances in Angel’s direction, a soft blush creeping under her golden skin.

“Yes,” Giles nodded. “That has been established. I would venture to say that it is the cause of your demonic obsession with her.”

Cordelia squirmed uncomfortably. “I thought you had a point.”

“I don’t pretend to know the extent of your feelings for Angel,” he began only to see a look of horror in her eyes, “but I submit to you that they do exist.”

Sitting up ramrod straight, Cordelia told him, “Of course they exist. He’s my friend. He’s Angelus’ brother. Maybe he is a twisted psycho stalker, but he’s still Angel.”

Giles stared at her pointedly. “To whatever extent they do exist, Cordelia, they are the reason you were able to reach Angel through the haze of bloodlust that overtook him tonight. It’s that give and take I was referring to when I spoke about you and Angelus.”

“Okay,” Cordelia shrugged. “So the next time he goes psycho on us, I’ll talk to him. Calm him down. Presto chango!”

“That’s not what Rupert is getting at,” Angelus declared through gritted teeth.

Taking a deep breath, Giles explained, “That was just a quick fix. It might not work the next time, Cordelia. If Angel is to achieve the same level of control as Angelus, I think it will be necessary for you to spend some time with him.”

Pfft! “I spend time with him. What are we doing now?”

“Alone time,” Giles clarified.

“Alone time?” Had the Watcher gone nuts too? “Hello! Psycho Vamp.”

“Forget it,” Angelus told Giles. Despite suspecting that it was coming, he let his anger at hearing it come through quite clearly.

Angel remained purposefully quiet.

“What do you mean by ‘alone time’?” Cordelia sought clarification.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Angelus growled at her. “The Watcher wants me to share you with my brother.”

Cordelia’s eyes widened as she sent an accusatory look at Giles. He quickly explained that was not his intention. “I never said that. My advice is simply to let Angel spend some time with Cordelia. To establish a routine that involves just the two of them in order to stabilize his behavior.”

“You think he’d be content with that?” Angelus asked him. “I doubt it considering his behavior so far.”

“Give me a chance, Angelus,” his brother cut in. “You have reason to doubt me, but I think giving up my rights to you proved my good intentions.”

“Rights?” Giles asked. “What good intentions?”

Angel laughed, “You say that as if you doubt I have any.”

Was he supposed to answer that? Giles chose to remain silent. Considering Angel’s very real threat the night they talked, it might be wiser to do so.

Showing Giles the ring, Angelus told him, “I am the acknowledged master of the Order of Aurelius.”

“Oh?” That was totally unexpected. Giles darted a glance at the other vampire whose stoic expression revealed nothing. “Angel gave you the ring?”

Nodding, Angelus had to admit to himself that the gesture proved Angel was not out to steal Cordelia away from him. If he’d been planning that, he would have simply continued to claim leadership giving him rights to Cordelia herself. Giles’ advice would have given Angel just the excuse to demand those rights.

Not that Cordelia would have willingly cooperated, he assured himself. That didn’t mean Angel couldn’t or wouldn’t seduce her. After all, Angelus knew how the other vampire could manipulate women when he put his mind to it. Better, he suspected, than even Angel realized it at the moment.

Standing up, Giles decided that he had given them all of the information they needed to make a decision. “This is something you three need to talk about without further interference from me. I have to stress that I believe this is the only thing to be done until a more permanent solution can be found.”

“Just get the hell out, Rupert,” snapped Angelus.

Giles left the lounge as quickly as he could do so pausing only long enough to grab his crossbow and give Cordelia an apologetic look. He only hoped the two vampires didn’t start fighting again. While he felt certain that his recommendation would work in theory, it was something that required time to establish assuming that Angelus and Cordelia would allow it to happen.

Pushing open the library doors, Giles found Willow bent over an open book studying its contents with rapt interest. “What happened to the computer research?”

Glancing up, Willow stumbled for an explanation, but found that her mind was too full of mystical ramblings to come up with something believable. “Eep!”

“Willow, I know that I just lectured you on waiting for the last resort before trying to summon the Moirae, but I have to tell you that I think it’s time to get serious about finding that summoning spell,” Giles admitted.

The Watcher’s advice to Cordelia and the vampires was only a temporary measure even if they agreed to try it. Considering Angel’s behavior so far, it appeared that the vampires were going to need a permanent solution a lot faster than he could supply one. There was only one place those answers were coming from.

“Willow, we must contact the Moirae as soon as possible.”

The witch had no idea what changed Giles’ mind so quickly, but she was happy that her confession would not be frowned upon. Holding up the talisman, she grinned at him. “Already on it.”

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