by Erin R Flynn
“Ask or assumed you should be filled in?”
He let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, enough dancing. I want to know as your attorney because you have that plotting face on like you’re up to something. I want to make sure you’re covered. I would think you’d ask my counsel if it was paranormal stuff also, not FBI as I am new to government work, but I would never assume I should be told anything unless it directly affects me.”
I bounced that around in my head. “Okay, good. Yes, I might loop you in. Depends on how it goes.”
“Good.”
I picked up my large order of huge breakfast sandwiches on fresh made bagels, like double the size of McDonalds ones. I was glad when I got back before Dain and Noah left, handing them each one and getting a kiss from each in thanks. Monroe, Goran, and Zlat arrived moments later as Hagan and Reagan came into the kitchen, taking sandwiches as well before they headed out to the new greenhouses to help.
Laila and I had gone in together to buy some ginormous failed apartment development that had gone bankrupt when the economy had tanked years ago and could never recover. It had been a blight on the area, and a few companies had bought and tried to do something with it a few times, always to fail, so everyone stayed away like it was cursed.
Whatever, we didn’t believe in that crap and had bought acres of prime land for about a quarter on the dollar so the bank could get rid of it. She had been able to get a team to pour enough foundations for three of the greenhouses before the ice rain and snow had started. As miserable as it was to continue building in winter, the sooner we got those up and running, the more jobs we could create, the more people we could bring in… A lot of everything.
So there was a lot to juggle like always. Plus the new silkworm farm I’d bought to sponsor elf silkworm farmers that were in a bad part of Asia who arrived. The seafood farm was still getting more set up, and on, and on, and on . So there was a lot the pack was helping with, getting jobs with and handling, hoping we didn’t screw it all up by doing too much too fast.
“So what’s with the secret meeting at your house?” Monroe asked before biting into his breakfast sandwich.
“I don’t think I should siren the ancients to me,” I admitted, starting with a bang.
Anger filled Goran’s eyes. “So you siren Dain and we’re—”
“Don’t,” I warned, meeting his agitated gaze with my own. “I scheduled this meeting before that. This is something that’s been on my mind for a while. We don’t know we can ever undo that bond unlike when you guys sovereign each other. And you’re infinitely more powerful than you ever show. You are, and you and Zlat mask your power, and we both know you were more powerful than Igor. So I might still be above you, but that’s dangerous for me.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it, giving a slow nod. “I apologize. I was shocked by what happened, and then bringing this up, I jumped the gun. What have you been thinking?”
“There has been growing talk to start a vampire SWAT. When you guys were with me on the raid, you were awesome, and you both said you enjoyed it.” I waited for them to nod before looking at Monroe. “I think we do that and you sovereign them as you do the others.”
“No,” he answered, shooting them a worried look. “Sera, people would come challenge me just for the chance at them.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m worried about too,” I reminded them.
“What about if I sovereigned them and you sirened me?” Goran offered. “You’re under Monroe at the FBI, but it would keep him cleared, also offer more protection to your office and your pack while keeping us under wraps in a way. If people ask, we could say there was a deal made for this SWAT idea like how Monroe is separate so we’re not an invading threat.”
“Why you?” Zlat argued.
“You control fire ,” I snapped. “Do you remember what we said about what happened with Noah? Do you want to have a burnt corpse of a Sera?” He still frowned, and I sighed. “Are you more powerful than Goran?”
“No,” they said together, and I felt my face flush, getting it wasn’t about who should be boss but them wanting to be tied to me.
“Guys, it could be forever,” I reminded them. “I might have to die to free you. Is that what you want?”
Goran sighed. “Sera, you make that seem like a bad thing. We have to be tied to someone, especially since none of us want to take over a territory. You give us freedom . If I said tomorrow I wanted to study in Spain for a year, what would you say?”
“Have fun?” I blinked at him as if asking what should I say.
“Exactly. You would not—you give us freedom. You ask for very little, offer us paying jobs instead of servitude like other masters.”
“He’s right,” Monroe sighed. “It’s why I jumped at the chance to become section chief. I didn’t want to take over an area, but I was too powerful to be under someone and not get stepped on. I ended up liking the job and wanting to make the division something real, but originally I just wanted freedom and I got it working for the FBI of all things.”
I sat with what they said, giving a slow nod. “That could work. Brutus likes it here. He doesn’t want to get in on the hunt stuff. He wants to tutor and write books. Good for him. He wants peace. I get that. The other two are having a blast using their skills to bust thieves instead of being forced to steal. Awesome. You guys are more interested in this side, training and hunts.
“I say we roll with that and try to get momentum on the idea.” I searched Goran’s eyes. “How well do you know Councilman Papadopoulos? Would he support this?”
“He is honorable and would,” he said, shooting Zlat an evil look when the vampire cleared his throat.
“It’s only fair to tell her.”
Goran sighed. “Fine. We were once involved. There are still fond feelings there, but it did not end as either of us would have liked. Igor would not release me to him, using me instead, and we cut ties. It was a thousand years ago.”
“Do you want to go back to him now?” I asked, trying to swallow the large pill he’d just put down.
“No, he made his choice.” Goran looked away from me. “I understand it, but in the end he wasn’t willing to pay the price for loving me, and I would never try again. My heart healed, I’ve moved on. He has an affection for me, I believe, as the one who got away, which is not how things happened. He is honorable though, even if old and stuck in old world ways. He does try.”
“I was thinking of inviting him to the New Year’s Eve party at the club even if it’s last minute and he probably couldn’t make it. He’s hinted at an invite, wanting to meet me after everything that happened and I talk to him often for work. I’d like to keep him happy and helpful. I’d like to try and get him to support this idea like Councilwoman Haton has other things we’ve done.”
Goran nodded, licking his lips. “He is honorable but cunning. He probably wouldn’t risk his own standing on a chancy venture unless it was made worth his while.”
“I was afraid of that,” I admitted, locking my fingers behind my head, holding back my hair as I did it. “What would he want?”
Goran shrugged. “I have no idea. I would think of what you’re willing to offer and be very clear on the lines. You saw how Igor would say A and then B, C, and D were implied as well.”
“I remember,” I muttered, looking away this time.
“All of the council are very big on seeing something they never have before, something they could brag about adding to their knowledge, upping each other,” Zlat muttered. “I bet they never saw a siren bind someone to them.” He held up a hand when I shot him a nasty look. “It’s just what popped into my head. He has lingering feelings for Goran, and watching the power craziness or whatever would be something worth bragging about.”
“I don’t really want a councilman bragging he watched us fuck,” I drawled, shaking my head. “Is everything sex and power with you guys?”
“Yes,” all three vampires said together.
I almost s
aid “pervs,” but shifters were like that too, and I was a prude most days, so whatever.
We talked for a while longer, deciding to hold off on making decisions until Goran spoke to Councilman Papadopoulos and invited him, got a feel of where he might land on all of it.
I rolled my eyes when Monroe started ribbing me about all the flowers in my flower shop, saying there should be more variety before we opened for real.
“Don’t pee on my moment. I totally swooned. I’ve never really gotten flowers from a lover, and I get this. Don’t be mean or I’ll claw you.”
“Girly girl,” he teased me, chuckling when I snapped my teeth at him.
I stood to clean up when my phone rang. I winced when I saw it was Harris since he got our calls from dispatch.
“What’s up?”
“We got a body,” he answered. “A wolf, we don’t know if they’re local or not. They were dumped at the federal courthouse.”
I let out a string of cuss words for a few reasons. “How do you know it’s a wolf?”
“Dispatch said the claw was cut off and sitting on their lap in shifted form, so they knew how to do that.”
“I’m on my way. Text me the address.” I rushed out after Goran said he’d lock up since he had a key too.
I ended up cursing the whole way down, missing the bulk of morning rush hour, but with the snow and people being assholes who didn’t move for lights and sirens, it took me way too long to get there. And then I cursed some more when I saw Brian, knowing it would normally be his jurisdiction since it was on federal property. I ignored him and went right for Harris.
“Do it,” I said, nodding to the sheet covering the body. I sent up a silent prayer when I didn’t recognize the guy. “Not ours.”
“I didn’t think so either,” he agreed. “He doesn’t smell local.”
I accepted crime scene gloves from him and threw up my hair. I leaned in and took a deep sniff. “Do you smell bear?”
“I didn’t catch much,” he answered, jotting down notes. “It’s definitely a body dump. No way there wouldn’t be a lot of blood.”
I nodded as I sniffed again before standing up and stepping away to take in the scene. Yeah, there would have been a ton of blood from the way he was sliced and diced. “Why here? Why high traffic like this?”
“Is it a warning for the wolves? To scare the wolves? Or against the paranormal feds?” he added.
I wasn’t sure, but I called Monroe and updated, my eyes going wide when he started swearing up a storm.
“The mayor is planning on naming Chicago a paranormal sanctuary city,” Monroe explained. “Not like immigrant sanctuary where they don’t care if people are undocumented, but the more openly saying paranormals would be safe here. The economy is doing better, and we’re a big part of that with all Queen Laila is doing. He wants to pull in more, realizing it could help the city before somewhere like LA does it and has a lower tax rate.”
“If he announced that right after this or today before knowing this, yeah, that would have screwed it all up.”
“Guess I’m calling the mayor. Keep me updated.”
“Roger.” I hung up, tapping my phone against my lips before putting it away and finally using my gloves. I crouched down and examined the wound. “These look like claws. They got the photos?”
“Yup, we just waited for you.”
“Okay, to the morgue and get me everything,” I ordered, nodding to the guys waiting. Harris and I checked the area for cameras, thanking CPD for handling the crowds and madness while we did what we needed to. Brian was waiting against my SUV, studying me as I walked to him. “Not local.”
“Good, but not why I’m waiting.”
I held up my hand when he opened his mouth. “Who is that woman to you? She’s more than Jimmy’s fiancée.” He flinched, and I knew my gut had been right. Even if he could explain everything in that moment, something didn’t add up. I would never have acted like that with Simone’s fiancé if they were having problems and she was like a sister to me.
“We went to high school together. We went out a few months, didn’t work. She met Jimmy years later and it did.” He sighed when I shoved him away from the door. “Sera, why are you so upset by this? Weren’t you telling me to date if I wanted?”
I shot him an incredulous look. “Weren’t you swearing you didn’t want to and springing family holidays last month on me?” He winced again, but I kept going. “I asked you what was going on with Thanksgiving and whatever family drama you kept referring to. You wouldn’t tell me. And then it involves another woman who you dated. Do I need to keep going?”
“No, fine, I get it, but you didn’t have to—”
“You are wrong in how you’re viewing what happened,” I snapped. “And it’s offensive to me and Dain. I’m not that person, Brian. You know that.”
“I do, but she’s a bit evil like that and very clearly warned me that if I screwed up with you, she would take you away from me forever.”
I lost a lot of my anger. I got where he was coming from now. “That wasn’t what happened. It wasn’t.”
“Then can you please explain it to me?”
I nodded, gesturing for him to hop in when I realized his vehicle wasn’t there. Yeah, he was practically close enough to walk from the regular office or just hop a cab instead of deal with traffic. We were quiet as I drove him to his office. I pulled into the garage, leaving the SUV running for heat after I parked.
I stared out the front window and explained it how Dain had.
“He called you his wife, Sera. That’s not the same,” Brian argued.
“He misunderstood how the power thing worked. He thought we both let it out—which is how fairies mate—instead of mine coming out and don’t fight it. He won’t call me that. He gets it skipped a step accidentally or whatever.” He opened his mouth, and I shook my head. “He was already mine, Brian. I made him no longer my servant—because there are still servants like that for paranormals which sucks—and made him my equal.”
“You’d still be hurt if you were me.”
“Probably,” I accepted. “I’m still hurt from what you did even if you weren’t proposing to another woman. I went for comfort, and things spun out. I’m not denying that. I’m saying it wasn’t what you thought it was. I did not replace you when I thought you were cheating and proposing or whatever. That wasn’t what happened.”
“Okay.” He was quiet a few minutes. “What happens now?”
“I don’t have a fucking clue. I have to get to work.” I hit the button to unlock the door, clearly telling him to get out.
“Are you done with me?”
“Are you done with me?”
“No,” he immediately answered, which shocked me if I was honest. “No, I love you, Sera.”
“Then I guess we talk later after we sit with this a bit?” I shrugged. I had no idea what I was feeling or what to do.
“Come here,” he growled, reaching for me.
“No,” I rasped, pulling away.
“Why?” he argued. He got out and slammed the door. I thought he’d gotten fed up and was leaving, but instead he went around and yanked me out of the SUV. I shoved away from him, but since I wasn’t willing to hurt him, I gave in. “I don’t want her, Sera.”
I nodded that I heard him, unable to tell if he was lying when we were both so upset. I ducked when he tried to kiss me.
“Please, please don’t let this end us when we found our way back to an even better place than before.”
“Don’t you get it?” I choked out, letting him see the tears I tried to hide. “I walked into my worst fear about being with you. And someday it will be true . Someday I’ll have to watch you leave me to go be with a human woman who will give you what you want, a life and babies and everything I can’t . Even if it wasn’t what happened, I walked into the nightmare and got a taste of what it will truly feel like. I can’t do it again.”
I shoved him enough so he stumbled a few steps away a
nd jumped back into my SUV, closing the door before he could react. I threw the shifter into drive and left.
I was glad for the long drive to the office, swearing and yelling and getting myself back under control. I get one area in my life settled—sirening Dain to me so I stopped feeling like I was dating my servant—and three other things blew up. A dead wolf in Chicago, fucking up what the mayor had planned that could help paranormals, and now maybe another councilman trauma if things went badly.
Why did I even bother trying or getting out of bed somedays?
5
I talked with the bear Alpha that night at the joint gathering we kept doing that was going well. He agreed to let me check his bears though he was pretty sure I’d met them all. Probably, but that wasn’t knowing their scent. I cleared most that night, and the few others came into the office the next day.
No dice.
He did however promise to keep a lookout for any visitors since none had told him they were visiting, but bears weren’t as territorial as wolves. There weren’t as many of them, so there was no reason to be.
Brian sent me a text that night saying he loved me and he wasn’t giving up, that my fear wasn’t what would happen. I wasn’t so sure, but I didn’t say that, instead giving myself time to digest it all and cooling off since he wasn’t happy and neither was I.
Dain was understanding though when I didn’t keep our date. Sure, he came over, but I really wasn’t in the mood for a nice, romantic, lovey dovey fest. He didn’t push me.
But he did make sure I got another full night of sleep and fed my siren heavily because if she was happy, she wasn’t fucking with me. Good point. He could be the boss of me at least in that area.
I had so much swirling around in my mind I was looking forward to the full moon run to just run and let it out. The night before we’d had the group thing, but that wasn’t as mellow because we had to be peace keepers and watch our guests. The wolf only fun was fun even if it was fucking cold out. Hell, I’d never played on a full moon in the snow, so I was sort of excited.
So of course someone had to piss all over my night.