"How in the hell am I supposed to help you if you won't let me. Now make up your mind if you want to live or not, because I need to change your bandag... and put on more of this antibacterial stuff."Pissed, he reached over to pull the tape loose from the thick fur. He could hear the rumble of the wolf's growl deep inside his chest, but it wasn't as loud this time and the animal didn't make a move toward him. "You know I'm scared shitless, right?" he said in conversational tones as he wiped away. "It was Tommy's suggestion," he answered."I see. And I am sure that Tommy thought The Dollhouse was some sort of crafters store? Is he into miniatures?" she asked."No," he said."James don't worry about what the guys think. What they think is not important. Just know that I love you. I have always loved you and I always will love you. I am doing this because I love you. You aren't the first guy who has married a stripper, I'm sure. Besides, how cool is it to have a hot wife? Think about it.... " Y-You mean you bonded with me?" That is another term for our arrangement, yes." Why, what arrangement?" You held onto an artifact of darkness with great desire in your heart.When you stood close to my soul seeds, I could hear the songs of yourwishes. It has been so long since I connected to a mortal, so I forged usinto agreement and granted your desire for magic. I made you my newvessel, which gave you more than enough power to learn all that youwanted." Soul seeds? What do you mean by that?". He had thought that the trip out west to see his only brother would have raised his spirits but it had not. Living in LA had seemingly made Joe more of a self absorbed ass than Ray had remembered. The only consolation his brother was capable of was offering to set Ray up with a high class call girl. No thanks. The ten days on the west coast had made him realize he could not run away from his problems. He had a business to attend to and people who depended on him and that took some of the sting.