by Flynn Eire
“They threw a feast for me.” Gaius chuckled and took the bottle back from me. “Two of the biggest pigs were slaughtered in celebration, and that was a big thing. I lost my first love that way. Much like you spoke of the coven leader’s mate, she was suddenly dead, her blood all over me when we had been flirting not moments ago. Chaos ensued, and while we were able to kill the two who had gotten into the coven’s castle, more kept coming.
“We sent the fastest riders in a few directions to get help, but it took many weeks, as travel back then wasn’t easy and to bring enough to defeat the nest, as we had no clue the size when we sent help. Delays and more delays. By the time help came, there was only a quarter of my large coven left, my family in blood or not. They couldn’t even look at me. There was a warrior with them, and why couldn’t I save them?”
“I go to sleep, and I see the faces of who we couldn’t save,” I admitted, taking the bottle and downing a huge gulp. “I see the looks that were hope for help when I met them that then turned to disappointment or the look they had in death if I saw that moment.”
“It won’t go away, but it will lessen,” he promised. “Experience will help heal some of the pain as you learn no one could have saved all those people.”
“You could have. You’re Wyrok,” I argued.
He flinched, and I knew I’d won my point. Instead of trying to tell me I was just young and no warrior could have done it… Any logical argument that would have sounded hollow when the truth was someone else could have saved them all, he simply kissed my hair.
“I never thought I’d love again after I lost Ana. But honestly, I—it was puppy love. It took me centuries to realize that, though I probably always knew it. She was beautiful and fun, and she loved me. I never understood it, especially as she knew I loved men more than women. But she was something. She’s the one who made me realize I love sass, fire, and just people who have that something inside of them that sets them apart that most people don’t see.
“But I never wanted to love again. I shut that part of me off because it led to pain. It led to unspeakable pain. All of my friends were the same. We fought the fight in front of us, and that was our purpose in life. We weren’t made for fairytales or happy endings. And then I heard Helios, the pain in the ass, straight-laced, rule following hard-ass got mated. Fell in love almost the moment he laid eyes on the young, completely messed up warrior he came to investigate.
“I thought it was all bluster, complete bullshit. Alastair was shocked too, but none of that mattered, as shit was hitting the fan all over and we were needed to come back into the light and set the system to right as we do or have every several centuries in one place or another. Though this time it seems to be all over. The point is this was the fight we needed to fight. Then Alastair falls for some brand new warrior, and I almost fell off my chair.
“He was the last one of us I would have thought would ever mate. And I found myself wondering if we’d been wrong. If maybe the only way to live this immortal life we have is to find our other half just as those we protect did. Didn’t we deserve that after all we sacrificed?”
“So you’re trying out applicants?” I asked when he stopped talking, getting lost in his head. I took another long gulp before I handed it back.
“No, I… Verge, I saw Ana. I mean, down to the sneaking sweets, and I thought I wanted some of that fun, that hope. Verge is a great guy and fun, but he’s untouched by darkness in ways some cannot explain. Alastair understands that, and so does Zibon even. Verge is all treats and hope and—like Nero who sees a plot of land and dreams of the amazing thing he could build. And that’s nice to be around. I thought it would be great to be around that all the time.
“But I realized they were the right fit. I was getting competitive with Nero, like I used to be for Ana’s attention, which was how I realized she wasn’t my true love, but puppy love. It always stings when someone doesn’t pick you, picks another, but I found myself not upset at the loss of Verge like I loved him or we were meant to be. I would miss not feeling so alone. He’s right we’d be good buddies.
“So yeah, I messed around with others here because, well, I like sex and a lot of it, there’s nothing wrong with that. I took another overnight guard duty, and fuck, that messes up my sleep, so I did some day drinking hoping to get tired, and instead I found this beauty crying over his lunch as he ranted how much hope he’d once had. How bad things had gotten and what was taken away from him, what he had to endure.
“And I finally got it. I totally understood what Alastair was saying about when he found Zibon, and suddenly it was like there was one person who would get him, not say they did like a friend or warrior, but down deep. And you still have your sass. I saw you when your friend was starting all the trouble with Alexander. You didn’t disagree, but it wouldn’t have been how you handled it. However, when he was in trouble, you jumped right in, not caring if you lost.
“It was the fight you had to fight, and I wasn’t just impressed that you were so young and willing to go up against Alexander, but you would take the punch to make the point. Your friend poked the bear thinking he’d never bite back with so many around, but you went in front of the bear knowing you’d probably get creamed. That’s impressive. That’s someone I can’t get out of my head, and it’s not just about getting inside of them like it was with Verge.”
“I was sort of swooning until you tacked on that last part,” I grumbled, reaching for the bottle. He pulled it away so I about fell into him, turning us so I was sprawled all over him as he lay on the roof.
“Kiss me, and I’ll let you have the rest. Not a stolen kiss this time but one you agree to. I didn’t molest you for.”
“Molest was harsh,” I admitted, searching his eyes, seeing the challenge and desire in them. I went back and forth and then sighed. It was just a damn kiss, and it was a full bottle of good stuff when there was no chance of getting some on my own anytime soon. I moved so I could reach his lips, noting the way his hand moved to my ass to balance me, and lowered my head to his. “There.”
He frowned. “Is the idea of kissing me so detestable that you can only handle a quick peck parents give children?”
“No, but as we’ve discussed, I have no kissing experience,” I grumbled, moving off of him and sitting on my feet. “Fine, I give you permission this time if I was so lame.”
“Not lame. Not wanting, and I want wanting.” He sat up, setting the bottle down before moving closer, touching my cheek gently. “Admit this is okay. Say something nice about why you’d want to kiss me.”
“Your eyes are amazing,” I murmured, staring into them. “But you said it was payment for the booze. I didn’t set out to have a hookup, Gaius.”
“Close enough,” he chuckled, slowly lowering his mouth to mine. I felt the zing go through my body like I’d never felt before and moaned, opening my mouth for him when his tongue danced across my lips. He gently explored but then pulled back, blinking at me. “Yeah, no matter how many hookups, I haven’t felt that. I won’t push for more, but can I keep kissing you?”
“Uh-huh,” I heard myself utter, moving closer. He pulled me so I was about sitting on his lap, his arm holding me to him as he cupped my cheek. My hands went in his hair, fisting it tightly as I squirmed against his body, wanting more, wanting everything but not really knowing what that was.
Except the alcohol hit me, as I’d had a bunch of beers and then those big drinks of his strong stuff.
“You kissed me into blacking out,” I mumbled, my body feeling too heavy. I let go, knowing he wouldn’t push me off the roof or anything, feeling safe when I hadn’t in so, so long.
* * * *
I woke the next morning, tucked in my bed, wearing what I had been the night before… And alone. I hit something when I went to check I was alone and came back with a note.
I thought it would upset you to wake in my bed, push what you agreed to, so I found your room and tucked you in. You are EXTREMELY flirty and adorable in you
r sleep. I would like very much to spend time with you, court you, and I will go as slow as you need. You just might need to help a very old idiot who doesn’t get much but wants to try.
Wants to try with you.
All my hope you will say yes,
Gaius
Wow. He knew how to fix starting off with a drunken kiss. Not mine. The one he’d given me.
Whatever, start over.
I showered and headed to breakfast, thinking about how to bring up the money situation, as I was down to no clothes that weren’t a disaster or like my sneakers were completely dead. I was so lost in my head I plowed right into someone, apologizing.
“I’m here for you, Falcon,” Alastair greeted, grabbing my arm gently to stop me. “Two things. You and Ellison have phones waiting for you with Rune, secure and provided by the accounts that pay you. You nor Ellison have open bank accounts, so I have one of my people on that and will get you everything you need to sign so you can get your back pay. Is there anything you need until that’s handled?”
“I was just worrying over that and that I have like no clothes,” I admitted. “No boots for winter here, sneakers that are held together by duct tape—the whole thing.”
“See Zibon, he has access to the Amazon account we’ll be using for such things, as Ashton’s got a real address next door to start accepting deliveries like that. Please tell Ellison as well.”
“Yeah, thanks, that helps,” I sighed, scrubbing my hand over my head. “Thanks for handling that when I know Zibon said you’re building a whole community.”
“I bought it and handled the start, the influencing of humans and getting the right paperwork,” he corrected, shrugging like it was no big deal when it was something I wouldn’t even dream of undertaking. “Nero’s the architect and handles the construction teams along with the dorm he’s building here. Gaius got the money along with Morggyan, and she’s still cleaning up after that and getting us more gear. We all have our roles.”
“What did Gaius do?” I asked, wanting to smack myself for how interested I sounded to my own ears. He was such a player, and just because we’d found some common ground or had suffered the same sort of situation didn’t make us a good match.
It made us both damaged.
Alastair smiled at me and pulled out something he’d been hiding behind his back I hadn’t noticed. He handed it to me. “That’s the second part of what I was going to say. It’s from Gaius.”
“What?” I glanced from the gun in his hand to his eyes like he was crazy.
“There’s a note. Take it,” he assured me, reaching for my hand and placing it in it. I saw the note and slowly nodded. “Good. It’s unlike Gaius to be patient, so he must like you.” Alastair walked away chuckling as if getting some joke I wouldn’t understand.
Odd. Disconcerting. Still better than Quebec, so I didn’t complain and read the note.
Thought you could use a bit of fun. If you can hit me with this airsoft gun anytime during the day, you win the prize. If you don’t, I get more kisses after dinner. Whether you join me for dinner or not is up to you, but it is my fondest hope you do.
Good luck,
Gaius
I swallowed down a laugh. What a goofball!
I honestly loved it. It was so different, so adorable and playful I melted a bit inside. I’d heard the other ancients went big and lavish gifts, and that was awesome, but I didn’t do overwhelming very well. Especially after all I’d been through, I did need fun.
I checked the gun was loaded and ready to go before tucking it in the back of my pants, shaking my head that his idea of courting was me trying to shoot him. Did we have a third party shooting arrows at us for Cupid? Damn, that would have been cool actually.
I ate my weight in food like Sam had told us to, picking up an extra pint of blood too, following his instructions to get us back on track. Then I met up at the new dorm and got a lesson in using a commercial paint sprayer, and by that I was told not to touch the main machine or the dials. Just point and shoot and don’t go back over and drip because it was light coats of primer now that the drywall was in place over the precast concrete walls.
Not that I had any idea what those were, but it sounded interesting. I saw the transport trucks with them outside, as they were doing floors above us, but yeah, I’d never heard of precast concrete before.
It was fun, easy… Relaxing , and the guy said I had a good eye for it and patience, which a lot of vampires didn’t because we could move faster. Yeah, but sometimes it was nice just to take a breather.
I only saw Gaius once and pulled out the gun. He didn’t even look at me, smiling before he suddenly wasn’t standing there anymore. I winced as the shot hit someone else, apologizing when I got a nasty look from a post-trans I didn’t know. I actually walked over to him and offered to shoot myself since it was a game he wasn’t involved in.
He laughed and waved it off, not upset anymore, and that was what I’d been going for. So I went back to spraying, keeping an eye out for Gaius as the construction guy checked on me and moved the setup from room to room. Yeah, I didn’t want to mess with the hoses and large buckets holding enough paint to make a huge mess. I just handled spraying in even lines and getting all the walls surrounding me.
Easy enough.
We took a break for lunch, several heat fans in the rooms I’d done to help drying with the air getting colder and colder each day. The guy who’d helped me, William, joked that he’d keep me all the time with how steady a hand I had and ease at taking direction. Maybe it was silly, but I actually thought about it a minute.
How different would my life be if I wasn’t a warrior? I mean, I’d been born one, but I didn’t have to be one as a job. Could I leave it all behind? Start over or do something else like construction?
No.
Unfortunately, my answer was no and I knew it. Not with whatever the fuck was going on and a war on the horizon.
“You have no authority here,” I heard Dimitri say loudly, realizing there was a group gathered outside the main building. I slid between people and got to the front, my eyes going wide as a dozen men who looked like they meant business were gathered in fancier clothes than we wore at the camp.
“We’re council guards, and you have no authority over us,” the one in front of the group said firmly, holding out some papers. “The head of this camp is relieved of duty until his appearance before your council, and as his mate, you’re recused. That leaves the third, this Helios person.” The guy smirked as if that was good news for them, as if him being unknown meant he was nobody and they could push him around.
Idiots.
“I’m Helios,” the man informed them as he moved up, patting Dimitri’s shoulder that it was okay.
“Good. Here are the orders to arrest the two warriors,” the guy explained, waving the pages. “They are to be remanded into our custody immediately and face trial for the list of charges including being complicit in the death of the Quebec coven leader and his mate.”
I felt every hair on my body stand up at once, especially when I saw another two guys holding titanium wrist and leg shackles that could hold one of us. Or at least younger vampires, even warriors.
They were here for us and not even from our council. It had to be East Canada’s and they were getting rid of the evidence of what they’d let happened.
Getting rid of us.
I blinked, and the shackles were in my hands… Along with all their guns at my feet. My gift had flared in my fear and I’d taken it all.
“That works,” Helios snorted, giving me a wink. Then he took the pages and ripped them for all to see. “I’m Wyrok and already heading an investigation into what happened, having questioned both your supposed criminals .”
“And there’s already an investigation into that camp for their neglect to their trainees,” Basilia added, suddenly next to Helios.
“Detain them,” Proximo ordered, moving through the crowd behind me. “They’re afraid we’ll fi
nd out how much they know. One of them took phone calls from Ellison asking for help.” He grabbed two, so did Basilia as a few other warriors took one into custody. Gaius was there as well and handled the last two.
Without realizing what I was doing, I pulled out the airsoft gun and shot him in the ass. Everyone slowly turned to look at me with wide eyes.
“Sorry, I think I’m having like an internal meltdown at hearing they wanted to arrest me for killing that asshole and his nice mate after all we suffered because of that council, the amount of people that died,” I admitted, glancing from the toy gun to the real ones around me. “Shock. I think I’m in shock.” My vision went fuzzy as I realized how deep of shit Ellison and I were in if it wasn’t just one rogue councilman with a problem with Alexander but two councils after us.
“Take them,” I heard Gaius order someone, and then suddenly I was blinking up at him. My knees had given out, and he hurried to catch me in time before I landed on the ground.
“I got you.”
“I got you,” he echoed, and I understood the difference without making him say it. “Collect the weapons and shackles.” He took the toy from me, probably not wanting me to see any guns at the moment, and wrapped his arm around me protectively as we trailed after the group who took into custody twelve council guards that had come for us.
What the fuck was going on with my life?
“We should do this in the conference room, bring them in one at a time,” Alastair suggested when Proximo kept going towards the cafeteria.
“No, have it in the open. Let everyone see and hear the truth,” he countered. I saw something in his eyes that said it was important. Right, he felt fear. He would know how afraid everyone was at the camp.
Too many probably believing what Ellison and these charges had accused Alexander and maybe others of. Having it public was smart.