by Kelex
Eilam clenched his fists, ready to put one through Max’s face.
“So, have you told father about your mating? He’ll be pleased, I’d assumed,” Max said, changing the subject.
“Already considering how many ways you can exploit our relationship?” Noah asked.
Max smiled. “Believe me, no one could’ve seen this coming. You’ve reached far past expectation, the both of you. It lifts the entire family. You should be proud of your contributions.”
Eilam closed his eyes, hating that his mating was being brought into terms of profit and loss. “Get out.”
Max rose to his feet, smiling. “Our fathers and brothers will be invited to the ball, won’t they?”
Eilam hadn’t even considered bringing his family to the ball. He’d been so focused on the security protocols that he hadn’t seen past those.
Max smiled. “No worries. I can assure they’re added to the guest list.”
Eilam clenched his jaw as he watched Max leave the rooms. He hated every part of this… but to get their reward, he would deal with it. One week. He could endure his brother and his family for one week.
* * * *
Noah hung in the doorway into the office after they’d met with Max. He was still shocked Eilam was handing the whole deal over to Max with little argument.
“Has hell frozen over?”
Eilam lifted his head from his work rearranging the desk. “We have little choice.”
Noah walked closer. “This single day you’ve asked for? What is your plan?” Noah knew what he hoped for, but he had no idea what was running through Eilam’s head.
“We level the playing field,” Eilam said.
“Is that an apology?” Noah asked with a smile.
Eilam glared at him.
“Don’t take your anger at Max out on me.”
“I’m not,” Eilam said. “I see things more clearly now.”
Noah took a steadying breath. “You told Adriel that you had defended him against me. I felt it that night. Do you know how that made me feel, Eilam?”
“I didn’t mean to make you feel anything, Noah. I only wanted you to see his point of view. Love isn’t about control.”
“No, it’s not,” Noah said. “I never said it was.”
“It sounded as if that’s what you’re seeking,” Eilam said. “You want to control our mate and you never will.”
Pain jabbed Noah in the gut. “I’ve been the odd man out of this relationship from the get go. He allowed you into his life, made you the head of his security team and gave you an opening into his world. You spent months getting to know him. Learning his whims. Growing closer. You have a connection to him I’m struggling to catch up to. His bond with you is stronger than it is with me.” Noah shook his head. “I just want to feel like we’re all on level ground for once in this relationship.”
Eilam held his stare.
“I know you said it was hard on you being close without being able to touch him but that doesn’t change the fact that you were close. His desire for you is what opened the door for us both.” Noah paused, gathering himself. “You know as well as I do that BDSM is about trust. The control will truly be in Adriel’s hands, but that trust… to know he trusts me. To know he’s willing to yield to me… as well as to you. I need that, Eilam. I need to know he trusts me to protect him in every facet of our life.”
Eilam nodded. “I see the way he looks at you. I don’t think you’re as behind as you think you are.” He paused, eyeing him. “But if it’s how you feel… if this is what you need to feel closer to Adriel… I’m willing to do whatever it is you need to feel an equal part of this mating.”
Noah held Eilam’s stare.
Eilam rounded the desk and crossed the room, stopping before Noah. He lifted a hand, cupping Noah’s cheek. “You know I love you, right?”
Noah nodded.
“I hate that you think I chose sides when I was trying to remain neutral. I only wanted you to see his point of view.” Eilam caressed Noah’s cheek. “And apparently I neglected to consider yours.”
Noah released a breath, feeling like he could truly breathe for the first time all day.
Eilam kissed Noah before dragging him closer. Noah melted into Eilam’s arms, needing the embrace almost as much as the oxygen in his lungs.
“I love you, too,” Noah murmured.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Noah pulled from Eilam only far enough to see Adriel standing in the parlor, watching them. He held out a hand, urging Adriel closer. The king stared at Noah’s hand a moment before walking closer. Noah drew the warlock between them, holding tight.
Eilam led them both to the bedroom.
Where they all three fell asleep in each other’s arms—too exhausted from their lack of sleep the night before to do much more. Noah learned that night that holding the ones you love close could sometimes be more than enough.
Chapter Five
Caelian drew in the library’s scent of dusty tomes. Memories assailed him as he and Theis walked deeper into the archive. The hours he had spent here, learning the languages, filing important documents…
And trying to win the love of an unlovable man.
The man in question apparently heard his thoughts. His grandfather appeared before him before they could walk much farther. A sly smile crossed his lips, and the appearance of it gave Caelian the creeps.
“The prodigal son returns!” Hoefsra, Caelian’s grandfather, said.
“Not for you, grandfather.”
Hoefstra snarled, his smile turning into a grimace more appropriate for the man’s face. “You’re back all the same.” The old man eyed Theis. “You did the impossible.”
“He’ll stay long enough to assist us. Anything over and above that, I have no say over.” Theis turned to the guard behind him, another shifter clad in golden armor as Theis was. “Leland will keep an eye on things here and assure your safety.”
My bodyguard.
Caelian glared at the man, forcing a smile.
“I want a report at the end of the day. Earlier, if you find something of import,” Theis said to both Caelian and the guard. He then turned to Hoefstra. “I expect assistance when needed… but do not hinder his work.”
Hoefstra snorted in anger. “As if I have time to worry about my wayward grandson.”
His grandfather shuffled off in the opposite direction, muttering under his breath.
“You’ll be fine,” Theis murmured to Caelian. “If you have any troubles, inform your guard. If I have to return to ensure he doesn’t bother you, I will.”
“Thanks,” Caelian said, knowing no one would be able to stop Hoefstra from needling him.
“Get to work,” Theis said before spinning and heading out of the archive.
Caelian turned back to scan the interior of the old building. Racks of old books soared up to the twenty-foot ceilings. The ensorcelled quills scratched away, writing histories as they occurred. Nothing had changed in the time he’d been away.
It was as if he’d never left.
Right. Best get on with it so I can get the hell out of this place all the quicker.
* * * *
Noah entered the old warehouse he and his team had been using as their headquarters. While they’d been incorporated into the king’s guard, their job investigating the vampire threat wasn’t over. One battle won didn’t mean the war was over. He had no plans on bringing his men into the castle until they were sure the vampire gang was eradicated from Midnight.
He saw his whole team assembled, waiting for him.
“About time you showed up,” Noah’s second in command, Chris, said.
Noah smiled. He was glad that some things hadn’t changed with his new role as the king’s mate. After the past few days, he needed to be reminded of who he was.
Angelo, another of the men on his team, punched Chris in the shoulder. “He’s now the king’s consort. And the Sergeant at Arms. Treat him with a little respect.�
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Chris shrugged. “Still the same guy I knew a few days ago.”
“To be honest,” Noah said. “I’d much rather you all treat me just as you had before. Nothing has truly changed. We still have an investigation under way.”
Chris clapped his hands together. “Well, alright then. What took you so long to come here and tell us that?”
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied the last few days. I sent word for you all to continue your inquiries.”
“And we have,” Kane, the half-vamp, answered. “Not much noise as of late. All the cockroaches have raced into the shadows.”
“Or they left Midnight all together,” Angelo said.
“I doubt that,” Kane said. “They’re likely only licking their wounds and preparing to send in a second wave.”
“We took out a huge nest,” Chris spat. “It’ll take them months to come anywhere close to the same number.”
“And we need to be ready,” Noah said. “I sense this isn’t over. They want Midnight and will stop at nothing until they have it. It’s the one place in the world where they can stand under the sun again. They won’t give that up without a massive fight.”
“What if the sun no longer was safe for them?” Chris asked.
“There are other vampires in Midnight, ones not associated with the Midnight Suns,” Angelo said.
“There are no good vampires,” Kane spat.
All eyes turned in Kane’s direction. He was a half vamp. His family had been murdered and he’d been left for dead. Somehow, he was able to fight the need within. He didn’t drink blood, had never done so. But he still had near vampire strength.
Kane glared back at them. “I’m not one of them.”
Everyone looked away, silent.
“Regardless of anyone’s concerns, good or evil, the king isn’t willing to exile the vampires who have lived here for centuries—in peace. So we find another solution,” Noah said. “With good police work.”
A few grumbles circulated around the room.
“So when do we leave this shitty warehouse and move into the castle?” Angelo asked.
“Once we’re sure the battle is over,” Noah said.
“And if it never is?” Chris asked. “I can’t wait to get fitted for my golden armor. I’m going to rock that shit.”
“Good to know your promotion hasn’t affected your ego,” Angelo tossed out.
“I’ll always be amazing. Gold plated or not,” Chris said.
“We will succeed,” Noah cut in. “I also wanted to update you on what Theis found at the hospital with the king’s uncle. As you know, Ralnur has been turned. Theis has reviewed the recordings, and there was a blur of something, but nothing concrete. No alarms sounded, so there was no magic and no vampire presence in the room or hallway.”
“Something?” Angelo asked. “What kind of something?”
Noah shrugged. “He couldn’t see anything but for a split second—a blur big enough to be a person. Techs have looked at it and there was no magic used to hide the identity. It wasn’t a vampire.”
“Then what else could it be?” Chris asked. “A vamp had to change him… and Ralnur had zero bites on him when we took him out of that nest.”
“Could we have missed a bite?” Angelo asked.
Noah shook his head. “We didn’t. The doctors scanned him. Twice. There were no hidden bites.”
They all grew quiet a moment.
“Where do we go from there?” Chris asked.
“Theis is investigating a potential lead,” Noah said.
“Which is?” Kane asked. “There was no evidence. Nothing on the tapes. No alarms. What else is there to investigate?”
“Theis has a researcher working in the archives, looking to find what creatures might not show on videotape and not set off the alarms. If we can narrow it down to a particular race, we might have a starting point to dig deeper,” Noah said. “And on that note, the researcher needs a guard. You’ll all be called into rotation to babysit him for a day here and there.”
“Why does he need babysitting?” Kane asked, arching a brow.
“He got himself into a bit of trouble with some unsavory types. We’re to ensure he’s kept safe while working for us,” Noah said. “In the meantime, keep your ears to the ground. Work your contacts. Let’s see if we can find any new nests springing up and stop them before they can become too dangerous.”
“Aye, aye, Sergeant,” Chris said before saluting.
Noah glared at his second in command before heading to his office to check messages and see if anything had come across his desk. As soon as he entered his space, he looked around. It had only been a few days, yet he felt as if it was a lifetime ago.
So much had changed.
It felt good to be back and to feel like himself once more.
Lowering into the old, creaky office chair, he turned on his PC and sighed, glad to be back.
* * * *
A day later…
Eilam stood stiffly inside the terminal, Max at his side. His fathers were scheduled to arrive any second, otherwise he wouldn’t choose to spend any time in Max’s presence.
“Are you sure your condo is the appropriate place for our fathers? I could get them rooms at the Plaza.”
The Plaza was a Midnight version of the infamous hotel and carried just as much a reputation as it did in the human world. “You’d rather put our family up in a hotel than my home?” Eilam asked.
“Your home doesn’t have room service, maid service, or a mini bar,” Max said. “You know how our fathers can be.”
Fathers? No. One father in particular. Cayton. “The condo is in one of the best buildings in the city and currently sitting empty. Instead of going into the expense of a hotel room, they’d be just as comfortable there, if not more.”
“Why you haven’t asked the king to make room at the castle for our family, I don’t understand,” Max murmured.
Because I don’t want our father any closer to Adriel than he needs to be. “Like I said, the condo is more than appropriate, but if you wish to spend your hard-earned dollars on getting them a fancy suite at the Plaza, you go right ahead and do so. Or maybe they could stay with you?”
Max glared slightly, but remained silent. Luckily, the train pulled into the station before the argument could continue. The old steam engine came to a stop a few feet away, the brakes screeching some as it slowed. Not long after, passengers began to disembark from the multiple cars, filing out and heading up to the transit authority officers with their paperwork.
One of the last sets of passengers to leave the train was his family. Cayton was already complaining as he climbed down the stairs. “…the most uncomfortable trip. They need to revamp the entire train and bring it up to modern standards.” His father saw Max, and a wide smile grew across his lips. He walked closer and took Max into his arms with a big bear hug. “My boy, my boy. How I’ve missed you.”
Eilam stood off to the side and welcomed his human father, James. The man smiled softly. “I’ve missed you, Eilam. You and Noah.”
“And I’ve missed you, as well.”
James smiled a little more broadly. “You look well.”
Eilam returned James’ smile. “I am.”
Cayton finally seemed to notice his existence. He walked closer, his booming voice louder than normal. “Eilam! About time you did this family proud.”
Eilam stiffened, eyeing the male. “You act as if I had a choice in who I mated. It was nothing I did, but simple chance.”
“Chance that will bring this family back to the level it belongs.” Changes in Bear Mountain had affected the family fortune. Cayton had been grasping at anything to hold on to what they still had.
Eilam didn’t respond. Just as he thought, his father simply saw the money he could make. Instead he welcomed his third father and his assorted brothers. “Let’s get you back to my place.”
“The castle?” Cayton asked.
“No…where Noah and I lived pri
or to moving into the castle,” Eilam said.
Cayton froze midstep. “We won’t be staying at the castle?
“No,” Eilam said.
“We’re the family of the king’s consorts. Why are we not staying in the castle?”
Because I don’t want you there. “I thought you would be more comfortable in something more like home,” Eilam fibbed.
“You want to keep me away from the king,” his father declared.
Eilam’s jaws clenched. He didn’t answer, nor did he deny. His silence likely spoke volumes, but he didn’t care. He was beyond his father’s reach now.
His human father came to Cayton’s side. “Come. You’re tired. Hungry. Perhaps Eilam can take us all to lunch while the porters take our bags to where we’ll be staying.”
“This is an insult!” Cayton cried. “We’ve been invited only to be treated like second class citizens. I won’t stand for it.”
Cayton’s brother bear and Eilam’s third father, Naro, coaxed Cayton on. “Let it go, Cayton. Just let it go.”
“You know as well as I do that he disrespects us at every turn. Finally, he does something right and refuses to acknowledge all we’ve done to get him here,” Cayton cried.
His younger brother, Preston, walked closer to Eilam, an infant cub in his arms. “Breathe, brother.”
Eilam was done with the drama. He turned toward one of the porters and handed him a card with the address. “Here is where you need to take the bags.” He turned back to his family. After nodding to Preston and his human father, he turned to Cayton. “Stay. Don’t stay. I don’t really care.”
“Eilam!” Cayton roared.
Eilam froze, his back to his family. He slowly turned around, lifting one brow.
Cayton walked closer. “You won’t disrespect your family this way.”
“No, father, you have it wrong. I’m not disrespecting them. Only you.”
Cayton’s eyes widened.
“Don’t think I don’t know why you’re here. You only came seeking what you could gain, not to congratulate Noah and I in finding and claiming our mate,” Eilam said. “I matter little to you. We both know it.”