Love's Interruption

by Flynn Eire

  And then who now had them.

  “Huh, I shouldn’t be all that shocked since you were never a nice guy,” I muttered as I rolled out of bed and moved closer to the zakasac. “Does no one make appointments anymore? I am a busy man.”

  He hissed at me, breaking the bigger chunk of glass pinning him to the wall that went through most of his stomach. “You knew we would come.”

  “Of course, you always do, but you coming with red eyes is surprising.” I smirked at him as I threw another piece of glass into him so he couldn’t get free. “You’ve come before as still one of us. I’ve had zakasacs coming for me for centuries.” I chuckled when his eyes flashed shock. “You poor thing. I’m sorry no one warned you.”

  “Jordan, I’m coming to your room,” Alastair called from the guest room to not spook me.

  “Fine, but I’m going to yell at you,” I chuckled. I waited until he and Zibon were in the doorway. “What is the rule about bringing uninvited guests, Alastair?” I raised an eyebrow when the zakasac was shocked to see Alastair. “My apologies, apparently this was all about me already.”

  “They probably wanted to get to you before I did,” he muttered.

  “I won’t be the only one,” the zakasac threatened.

  “No shit,” I drawled. I glanced at Alastair. “He’s an aide to a councilman in England.”

  “Which one?” he asked me, snickering when I just rolled my eyes. “Names were never your strong suit.”

  “I’ll get you a name.” I clucked my tongue when the guy broke more glass, easily inserting another piece, smirking when he hissed at me. “Did you come in through the roof? It’s so nice that you idiots always think you’re so damn smart to find the hole in my security.”

  “But you have it so they always walk right through it,” Zibon surmised. “Smart.”

  “I tend to think so.”

  “What is he here for?” he asked, and I didn’t answer. Not because I wouldn’t, more there could be a range of reasons.

  I was about to shrug and kill the bastard, but then Alastair used his gift to persuade our uninvited guest to tell him everything. The look the ancient gave me was a combo of shock and impressed when he heard why the guy had come. Once we had the answers, I took his head with some glass and went for a shower curtain to wrap him up in.

  “You have a stack of shower curtains in your closet?” Zibon asked, giving me a funny look. “Are you a prepper?”

  “I’ve never heard of a doomsday prepper hording shower curtains,” I replied, his question amusing me. “I’m prepped for whichever idiot tries for me next, and I try not to make a mess for the cleaning crew.”

  I moved the body and head to the shower curtain, thanking Zibon when he carefully wrapped it and picked it up so there wasn’t a mess. I showed him where to dump the body in one of the kilns, and he gave me another shocked look that I had means of disposal so close. I was smart like that.

  “Alright, well, time to have that conversation I would think,” I muttered, heading to the kitchen after turning on the kiln. Some might have waited for sunlight to have come in my room to burn the body, but I’d lived long enough to make sure there was never any chance of getting caught or making problems later.

  I went over to the fridge, glanced at the menus left for me, and then pulled out what I wanted from the freezer. I stuck what was needed in the microwave and brought out some more items before starting the coffeemaker. I wasn’t even offended at Alastair’s shocked look.

  I shrugged as I started setting things on the counter we could eat at. “I’m nicer if I’m fed, so they found me a personal chef and a system that works for someone so distracted always.”

  “Fair enough,” Alastair muttered, bobbing his head.

  Once we sat down for our early breakfast, they started to fill me in on all I didn’t know. I took it in, waving at them to continue when they paused for a response or to gauge where I was at. I didn’t work like that. I couldn’t decide if the piece turned out until it was done. I needed the full picture. By the time they were done, all the food was gone and I could feel Zibon about to pass out with nerves, as I was a closed book on these matters.

  “Wyoming, really?” I shot Alastair a look that clearly said I wasn’t about to give up my current location of culture and a melting pot of people to move to Nowhere Wyoming.

  He sighed. “No one’s saying this is forever, Jordan. We’re not saying the same line the councils give that this has never happened before. Of course it has. Zakasacs do this every few centuries on one continent or another.”

  “This is the first time it’s global,” I muttered, understanding that, and it was the only reason I considered it. “No coven leader, right?”

  “No, independent, I promise. We’ll have security rules, but other than that, none of this bullshit that leads to nests, you have my word.”

  I tapped my fingers on the counter, staring off in the distance, noting the sun was coming up and feeling the moment was just as important as the sun rising every day. I felt it down in my bones, knowing there was more to this and the decision would be an important one. “And you would welcome all my people? This isn’t some space pod bailout for only those considered ‘worthy’ of such saving?”

  “No, we’re going to have everyone,” Zibon said firmly, fire in his eyes. “No more of this bullshit that money and names matter. As long as they pass security and checks, they can come.”

  I nodded, still tapping my fingers as my brain spun with a plan. “I may be able to help with that. My coven leader has been pushing back on expanding, wanting me to focus only on the pricey pieces.”

  “Because that brings all the flair and his pat on the back you’re under him,” Alastair drawled.

  I nodded. “That and expanding means hiring more people, more under me—”

  “And that threatens the coven leader’s power,” Zibon surmised, looking worried.

  I chuckled. “His perceived power. He’s no one. A weak brat that doesn’t understand he’s a pawn in the game, not the one moving the pieces. But that has changed with this push to bring in the covens or give them more power. They were supposed to be facilitators or mayors of the area, offer protection when needed. It’s become more and more about dictators and dogs fighting for territory.”

  “Agreed. There needs to be a regression to the mean but after we handle the current threats,” Alastair grumbled.

  I shot him an amused look. “Bullshit. You’re also setting up these communities to be the new norm so the covens will then behave because there’s another option instead of acting like it’s the covens or death.”

  He scrubbed his hand over his head, looking truly exhausted. “I think we haven’t gotten that far in the plan, but yes, we want them as another option.” He shrugged when I gave him a surprised look, knowing him to always have fourteen steps planned out. “It’s been bad, Jordan. There’s still more we don’t know. Whole covens switching sides and people thinking zakasacs could have children.”

  “Why did anyone ever think they couldn’t?” I drawled. “They don’t die to become evil. Does evil sterilize people? I’m pretty sure there are some truly evil humans that spawn all the damn time.”

  “I think no one was looking at the bigger picture and focused more on the fight or attacks right in front of them,” Zibon muttered, scrubbing his hands over his head.

  “What happens if my people don’t pass? What is the criteria you’re looking for?” I asked after another few moments.

  “Only that they’re not the enemy. That’s it. It’s not going to be a coven interview or what can you bring. If they’re on our side, then they can come.”

  “That’s not all you want.”

  “No.”

  “What else do you want from him?” Zibon asked, giving a confused look.

  Alastair’s answer reminded me why we were friends. “Not my secrets to tell even if you’re my mate.”

  Exactly. What impressed me was his mate’s response.

/>   Zibon held up his hands and shook his head. “It’s less for me to possibly trip over given I’ve been a warrior like two seconds and never knew half of all of this.”

  “Damn,” I chuckled, smiling at them. “I was shocked that one so young could ever walk at your side, but he could absolutely do it if he handles important matters with his head and not his emotions.”

  Zibon shrugged, not offended in the slightest. “I get how painful it can be if your secrets get in the wrong hands. I know I would never tell, but we know that people will try for me knowing they can’t go against Alastair, so it’s not smart.”

  I just blinked at him, shocked that someone so young could be so wise. I glanced at Alastair. “Are there more like him there?”

  Alastair chuckled, shaking his head as he started stacking plates to clean up. “The day you go for someone nice and sweet instead of finding someone to bully is the day I assume fish fly and birds swim.”

  “I do like to bully egotistical men,” I agreed. “They’re so much fun in bed if you bully them.” I shrugged when Zibon gave me a shocked look. “I consider it a public service instead of just ignoring or brushing off assholes.”

  He just bobbed his head as if not knowing what to do with me. Well, he wouldn’t be the first.

  2 ~ Jeston

  The new private subdivision being built next to our camp was coming along nicely. I was amazed how fast things happened, and every time I was there a new structure or foundation was built. The first really heavy snowstorm had come though, and outside construction was halted. Now everyone was focused on the inside.

  But that meant less people around, so now we had guard shifts as long as Nero was in the area. Otherwise everyone was at the camp since we didn’t have enough of everything in place. No one wanted those shifts, groaning if they got them. Not me. There was something magical about the night and the snow, the cold and silence. I took them without complaint, my boots crunching as I walked like some quiet, peaceful song.

  For me it was better than waves of the ocean.

  “Well, this is a pickle,” a voice growled, the sound of metal clicking echoing in the quiet night. I hurried over there to see a vampire struggling with a wooden crate that seemed to have caught on another one and both looked ready to fall.

  “Need some help?” I asked as I jogged to him.

  “Yes, thank you,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me. I was struck stupid by the ice blue eyes that were a total contrast to the orange hair sparkling with snowflakes. And yes, orange. Not dark blond or light red but orange like fire. It was awesome. “I’m stuck, and they both came with me.”

  I nodded, moving to take his place and balance it. “Can you unlatch it?”

  “Yes, from the side.” He hurried to jump up into the trailer and squeeze between crates. I felt the one I was holding slide to the right and then I could move it. “If you take the top, I will hold the bottom one.”

  “Got it,” I muttered, carefully moving it over to the large cart that had another one. “We good?”

  “Yes, thank you so much,” he sighed as he jumped down and closed up the back. “I just wanted to get a few things, and the next thing I know I’m unloading in the dark.”

  “I can get some guys here in the morning to help,” I offered, shrugging when he gave me a surprised look. “The post- and pre-trans will be lifting weights already, so why not help you?”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “And you can make this happen, warrior? What is your price?”

  I frowned. “No price. I can talk to Matteo and Dimitri, but they’re good guys, so I can’t fathom why they wouldn’t at least have them come for a bit even with the training schedules.” I nodded to the huge house of Nero’s that was up. “We’ve all been helping the construction teams to get that up.”

  He glanced from it back to me. “Forgive me for being leery of warriors when I’ve not met many without too big of egos that would find something like manual labor menial.”

  I opened my mouth to defend warriors but blew out a harsh breath. “There are good and bad apples in every orchard.”

  “True. I would appreciate the help, thank you.”

  I nodded, moving to the cart. “Let’s get you in the house.”

  He smirked at me. “Are you worried for my safety, warrior?”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t that the job of a warrior?” I couldn’t get a lock on the guy, so I didn’t want to say much. He seemed young with his bright eyes, but that could also be his short stature, and we all looked around thirty or so. But something didn’t seem right about him being young. I was shitty at telling age, so I wasn’t sure what to make of him.

  He eyed me over as I pushed the cart, looking as if he wanted to know what was under my thick winter clothes. “I suppose so.” We reached the house, and he waved me to follow towards the huge garage Nero had also put in. I went through the one open door and saw there were a bunch of crates, and it made me wonder what was going on now. “Thank you for your assistance. I was truly stuck there, and the cargo is fragile.”

  “No problem. Glad it’s safe,” I muttered, wanting to ask more but getting he had things to do. “Anything else I can do?”

  He gave me an amused look as he stared again. “Oh, I’m sure there’s lots you can do, but I wouldn’t want to interrupt your night or guard duty any more than I have.”

  “Have a nice night then,” I muttered, heading back for the open door. He hadn’t introduced himself, so I shrugged off the whole meeting and went back to my patrol. I traded off with Xana just after midnight since Gilroy was working that shift in the command center as well and he wanted to be on the same schedule as his mate.

  “Any issues?” he asked me.

  “Nope. Someone was offloading crates into Nero’s garage, but that was it.”

  “Dimitri was talking about the interior supplies coming in.”

  I nodded. “I figured. Nothing seemed off, and no one’s getting in here without being cleared. The main gates are in now, and there’s no way a huge trailer just snuck in.” I gave a wave and headed back towards camp. “Don’t get buried in snow.”

  “I’m on coms with Gilroy, so if I do, he’ll get me out.”

  “Smart. Yeah, we should start doing that with command,” I muttered, liking when we were smarter about things.

  “My mate is wicked smart,” he chuckled, and I didn’t react. I was happy for them, and my feelings for Gilroy had long since turned to nothing but friendship.

  I was lonely though, and I didn’t do well with change. No, that… It wasn’t as simple as that. I had liked the way things were. Others were happy for more people and excitement and doing good to protect more of us. All I saw were the problems we would have soon.

  And all I wanted was the camp back to the way it had been. Not when there were jerks there, after that but before the attack. I wanted that camp. I wanted us to be like that again.

  “It’s not up to you, and it has to be done,” I whispered as I stared at the new warrior dorm that was built. Everyone was focused on the inside and moving people over so the old one could be upgraded. It was a lot of change and fast.

  That never went well from what I’d seen.

  I crashed feeling uneasy but was able to get the sleep I needed. I was taking a quick nap here and there with taking the later shift, but it wasn’t like I was up until three in the morning, so I still easily caught breakfast.

  There was whispering when I reached the cafeteria, and I bit back a smirk when I heard Mark bitching.

  “Seriously, who keeps giving me this stuff that says ‘reserved?’ What does that even mean?” he demanded. He held up a necklace with a tag on it. I couldn’t see it from the angle I was at, but I guessed it was engraved with “reserved.” First it was a sign on his door one morning that had annoyed him. Then it was his whole doorway taped up saying that, which had seriously pissed him off when he’d walked into the tape.

  Now a necklace claiming him. I didn’t kn
ow who was messing with him, but they apparently knew the perfect way to mess with the always calm Mark.

  It was amusing.

  I realized there was another reason people were whispering when I moved to get food. I followed some of the stares and saw a glass flower with its own base sitting on the table we had off to the side for extra stuff or like when we filled out forms during a meal so they got everyone.

  It looks like my eyes. I didn’t know what type of flower it was, but it seriously looked like the coloring of my eyes. The center was black for the pupil, but then the petals were an array of green shades that bled into a variety of yellow tones and had the look of cat eyes. It was really gorgeous, and I didn’t say that because it reminded me of my eyes, but the way it caught the light and was so detailed of it.

  I found myself walking over to it, studying it carefully, completely in awe of it. I caught the note in front of it and frowned.

  For the warrior who sees this in the mirror every time he looks in one.

  I felt like the note was speaking to me, but that seemed weird. A lot of people had green eyes, and we all had shades and variances. No eye was a flat color.

  “Hey, I got your message,” Dimitri said as he came over. I looked at him and headed towards him and the trays, forgetting the flower and needing coffee to remember what he was talking about.

  “Right, the unloading.”

  He smiled at me. “Schedule off from the late shifts?”

  “It’s fine, I like that shift, and it’s calm, peaceful.”

  He stared at me, almost like I would expect Matteo to if he was reading my aura but not quite. “And we haven’t had much peaceful. Yeah, you like things more constant.”

  I swallowed a flinch at how boring that made me sound. “You got room in your schedule to help?”

  He sighed. “I can if someone supervises. I just got back yesterday, and Basilia wants to go over the training curriculum in detail so we can start assigning trainers to cover different areas. It’s the only way to do it now that we’re going to have so many more. I had them in them with an indoor schedule of stations while I’d be right there, but I can’t do both if they’re not right outside my office.”