Love's Interruption

by Flynn Eire

  “That doesn’t sound like me,” I lied, smiling when several people snorted. “I promise I do. Your shock will help, so just keep your head down.”

  Darrell met us at the airport along with a few others to drive us. He made sure to be in my car, handing over what I needed to play the recordings we’d compiled as evidence. I thanked him as I saw them loading people onto the plane to turn right back around. It was a four hour flight, and it would take a while to get so many people out when only twenty or thirty could fit on the private planes.

  It was a start though, and given the Boston coven leader was in with the zakasacs, I wasn’t taking any chances.

  It took a while to drive to the estate, knowing we could come up with problems if we landed right there. There were people who wouldn’t want me to say what I had to even after the Wyrok had supposedly gotten out the bad council members. Yeah, right, they’d just gotten out the ones that had worked with zakasacs or were implicated in the Quebec slaughter. That was way different than getting out all the bad ones.

  It gave me time to prep with what I had and get everything together for the ploy. The more I heard from the recordings or put together with the evidence we had, the worse my temper got. By the time we pulled up to the estate that was attached to the camp for the council, I was ready to blow a gasket. According to the world, it was some preservation society of something, something, and the idea they preserved anything other than their power was like the cherry on top of my rage.

  We got out, and it was clear the council guards had meant to pull something, hesitating when they saw I was surrounded by warriors. Yeah, those assholes were going to pick on the little guy or fuck with me. Idiots. Even if I had been the smallest man alive—which I wasn’t—it didn’t matter when I was over two thousand years old. I walked right for the main meeting room and didn’t wait to be announced or whatever, shoving the doors open.

  “So who was the asshole who was going to have the council guards force me into a sidebar?” I demanded, staring them down. I let out a disgusted noise when no one would answer. “I had everything laid out to play the game and make it like I was moving my people because I wanted to spy on the Wyoming camp, that the warrior I’m involved with was my plant all along, and fluff your stupid fucking egos, but I’ve had it with the bullshit.

  “And we’re not going to have some long, drawn out fight of finger pointing or throwing accusations around because that shtick has been played several times lately. So instead, I’m going to be blunt and honest, and we’re all going to find that refreshing.”

  I gave them a moment to sit with that before playing the recording of the coven leader’s meeting with Alexis. I was at least hopeful when I saw the disgust on several faces, shock on others’… And the rage I felt coming from the side, as I’d instructed her brothers to come to the meeting.

  “She is not the only one who our esteemed coven leader has been trying to force into contracts like I’m dead or done and they will take over,” I told them. “All while lying that they can’t leave the coven without his permission. That is not the law. The rule is you have to have permission to join. We don’t keep people hostage, and I’m tired of this. I’ve made it clear before that he was overstepping and you did nothing.

  “So now I’m doing something. I’m taking all my people with me to Wyoming. It’s done, and seriously, the moment the coven leader wouldn’t let me expand and instead tried to force me to do only pricey pieces like I was his fucking art gopher, all of you should have expected this outcome.”

  “He lacks tact, but you’re flying off the handle,” one argued. “He was doing it for your protection.”

  “Oh, he was?” I challenged, giving him a look that I was bored. “Then why try and force my apprentices to sign contracts with him that they would take over all of what’s mine? I’m sure it had nothing to do with those zakasacs he sent after me.”

  “That’s a very serious accusation,” a councilwoman whispered in horror after the room went dead silent.

  “No shit,” I drawled, playing the next clip for them, holding up the tablet so they could see the recording clearly. “For those of you who still don’t get it, that’s me questioning the zakasac that came for me. One of many. And apparently from different fronts because three came one night and seemed confused others were there. So, at least the enemy is scrambling for power and their own bullshit just as we are.”

  “We need time to investigate this,” a councilman muttered, seeming like he was already trying to think up the spin.

  “That’s great, and you have fun with that, but I’m taking my people—which includes their families even if they’re warriors—to what we’re building in Wyoming. And I’m taking out the coven leader for making a move on me.”

  “You don’t have the authority nor the power to make that happen,” one snapped. “You’re just a glass artist, and who cares if you’re old.”

  I couldn’t even contain my amusement. “Oh, pup, pull your head from your ass before you’re dead. At least educate yourself.” I saw several others give the guy a look to shut it. “Yeah, I left word for my father what’s been going on and a coven leader tried to take me out while working with the enemy. Hell, he tried to do it once he found out who my father is. You want me to take him out or wait until my daddy shows up?”

  “Take him out,” a few blurted, one turning and silencing the others who argued. “His father is Bricius. Fuck, kill the coven leader before we’re all dead.”

  “Bricius is a myth,” someone yelled right back. “He’s the boogeyman our grandparents told us of. I’m centuries old, and I’ve never heard a real story of him or his still being alive. Some think he’s the original zakasac. Others think he’s the one leading them now. It’s all bullshit.”

  “Well, I’m pretty sure he’s awake, so good luck,” I snickered, shaking my head when several gave me confused looks. “For as much as you all think you’re so much better than humans, we share the truth about as well.” I ignored what they said or demanded of me as I went over to Alexis’s brothers, handing them new orders. “Welcome to the fun. Your transfer papers have been signed off on by Claudius to be at the Wyoming camp since they’ll need more help.”

  Suddenly everyone went quiet. All the councils knew of Claudius, and no one was stupid enough to go up against the Wyrok.

  “If you’re not at my place in Boston in a few hours, I’ll let Claudius know there was some resistance against his orders.”

  “No, we’re good, take the three warriors,” a councilman agreed, holding up his hands in surrender. “We were planning to send a few to help with the camp since they took so many of the trainees. If they want these three, that’s fine.”

  “Thank you, Jordan,” the eldest said to me, Seth, dipping his head. “Thank you for always being so good to our sister.”

  I shrugged. “She was one of the cutest little munchkins I’ve ever met, bragging about her three older warrior brothers who were born to protect people, and she was born to be mated off as a pretty girl and she didn’t want that. She wanted to do something good with her life too.”

  He nodded. “Our parents are very closed minded as to the roles of women in society. They still try now and again to push her into mating.”

  “The people who traumatize us most often are our parents,” I sighed, hating that they bullied her still. “Why most act like they’ve done anything more than be selfish, as most admit to having children because they wanted to, astounds me. This mindset that children are ‘theirs’ is dangerous, as it focuses too much on the wrong things and aligns people with possessions instead of understanding a child is a progression of a bloodline, not an asset of it.”

  “Preaching to the choir,” Seth promised, gesturing between him and his brothers. “We were born to be blue collared soldiers to our parents. Ignoring the fact that there are lots of prestigious warrior families that are council members or more, it’s a joke to look down on children for not turning out how their parents wan
t.”

  “We will pack and hurry so we don’t keep you,” the second brother, Ryan, cut in when it seemed like we might get all wound up again. I couldn’t even give him crap about that because we did act that way and often when we got together.

  I nodded, and we headed out after I told the council members I’d sent a packet of information on everything I’d said and more. Then I left, much to their shock, along with the three warriors I’d come in with. Yes, I was ancient and it made me pretty disrespectful at times. I’d lived long enough to know respect was earned, given as a default for certain titles or position, but the moment it was abused or undeserved, I had no problem walking right through the people.

  On the way back to Boston, I realized there was another reason that Ellison and Falcon wanted to take the trip with me. The two of them spent the entire drive asking me questions about what the men they loved liked and any information I could get from them having known them for so long.

  Unfortunately for them, I really didn’t know the answers. It wasn’t like I could tell them if Gaius or Seneca preferred cupcakes or candy. I didn’t know them in that way. We’d brushed paths now and again when they were trying to find my father or because I made sure to always have more information than most people so I was never clueless again as I had been when young in my coven in Belgium.

  When we arrived back to Boston, I promised we could hit up some trendy places before we left and they could get some stuff for their fiancés. They agreed and looked relieved until we pulled into my current studio, and then they were confused as to why so many people were there.

  “We had them packing all their belongings the past week, and human movers will now start to handle it all. We hired some PAs to make it work and either sell houses or finish out leases,” Darrell told them. “It gets us all out fast, and the council can’t screw with it when humans are involved or even zakasacs, as they currently don’t want to out us all so they are careful.”

  “You’re using humans as a shield basically,” Falcon muttered, not sounding like he was a fan of the plan.

  “No, a diversion, as they’ll go around them instead of through them, as it’s too much attention,” I corrected. “A shield you expect someone to hit. We’ve done it this way for a long time, and it works. Yes, someone randomly might get killed, but that happens even when not involved with us. If we were partially involved, there would be an infinitely larger chance of them coming.”

  “Fair enough,” he agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You just do everything so differently than I’m used to or grew up around.”

  “It’s why I’ve lived this long,” I chuckled. I glanced around at the group and smiled. “I know this is terrifying and hard to pack up your lives, but I promise where we’re going to is awesome. No more hiding or worrying who’s watching. The food was even great, but nothing beats late night McDonalds, so maybe we’ll get someone to do that too.” I went to say more, but I heard the last thing I wanted to. “In the corners!”

  I darted to Jeston and practically threw him towards one of the corners of the building as my people raced over there, knowing the drill just in case. I moved to the middle of the large studio and warehouse, feeling the energy of the glass seconds before zakasacs came in through the roof. I flung the glass they’d broken at them along with the sheets I’d already lifted up.

  “Doors!” Alexis bellowed, ordering the other apprentices where to aim for.

  Unfortunately, I only had five apprentices, and there were six doors or entrances besides the roof. Relief filled me as Falcon caught on to what we were doing and moved in the direction of the last door. He used the metal in the huge glass ladles and other tools to take out several that rushed the door next. I also sent two large sheets over him and took the heads of several more before helping others and keeping watch on the roof.

  But I wasn’t going to be enough. I had been pushing too much, and it had been a long time since I’d fought so many in this way. Ellison seemed to catch on that we weren’t going to be enough and darted out one door to try and catch some before they even got to us, using his lethal gift to help us.

  And help it did because the rest turned tail and ran after several minutes of fighting. I let the glass I’d been holding with my gift drop as I did to my knees, feeling the sticky wetness of blood drip out of my nose. There were no more growls or snarls to hear even if I couldn’t right then over the ringing in my ears.

  “Jordan!” Jeston roared, his voice sounding funny with my head all messed up. He dove to the ground with me, catching me before I fell over completely. “Hey, hey, stay with me. Come on, stay with me.” He gently slapped my face a few times before sitting back on his feet and pulling me onto his lap. “Drink. Please drink. It’s okay, I—please don’t leave me.”

  “Not mating this way,” I argued, slurring my words even to my own ears.

  “It’s okay. I swear it’s okay. I already know I love you,” he begged me, tears in his voice. “Please, Jordan, they need you. I need you.”

  There was more that he said, but honestly, all I could focus on was his enticing blood just under his skin. I’d wanted it before, my fangs coming out the last time we’d had sex, but also knowing it was too soon. But I was too hurt to focus on silly things like logic. I sank my fangs in his neck, moaning at how good he tasted, how much I wanted this.

  Jeston gasped as he orgasmed, hugging me tightly as I healed faster from his blood than I would have just any blood bag. I lifted my head and groaned, my body on fire as our bond snapped into place. I shoved him down to the concrete and kissed him, moving my hips until my mate came again just from the friction of our clothes.

  “That wasn’t how I wanted to mate you,” I lectured, flicking his forehead when I stopped kissing him. “What were you thinking?”

  “Jordan, you were dying,” Darrell said quietly, him and Alexis both nodding when I looked at them. “You took out over a hundred in a matter of minutes along with backing us up. Blood was pouring out of your nose and ears.”

  “I just heard ringing and felt a bit of it at my nose,” I admitted. “You guys good?”

  “Yeah, tired, but we’re okay,” Alexis muttered. “Your mate laid down ice outside the doors, so that’s why they were coming in a bit spaced out. They were all trying to rush the same doors and weren’t ready for the ice.”

  “Nicely done,” I praised Jeston before giving a heavy sigh. “Well, I guess I have to take responsibility for you, huh?”

  “Seems about right,” he whispered, moving his hands to his eyes and rubbing hard. “I thought you were dead. You weren’t hearing most of what we were saying, and the blood kept pouring. You made me love you and almost left me. I can’t deal with that, Jordan. You have to take responsibility now.”

  “I will,” I whispered, knowing this was his deep pain of losing his siblings and others he’d loved. “I’ll take responsibility for you, pup, I promise.”

  “Everyone’s a pup compared to you,” he grumbled, yanking me down to him and hugging me tightly. “I’m sorry I’m all over the place. My body is wigging from the bite, and I want to fuck you and hug you and get you refueled and—”

  “After we take out the coven leader, you can do all of that,” I promised him. I glanced up at Alexis. “Get the next load to the airport, and get word for the pilot to call in what happened so they know we’ve got another mole. I only just did this today, and yet they all came moments after night. That cannot be a coincidence.”

  “No, sounds like a coverup,” she sighed. “Us getting wiped out would be a travesty to push more to come into the covens and hide what he’s been up to. Us leaving the coven and doing it in this showy way to go to the private subdivision next to the ‘homo camp’ without a leader is going to be a very loud message lots don’t want sent.”

  “Yeah, which is exactly why I was going to send it,” I muttered as I sat up. I rubbed my head when I realized how badly I’d been hurt if I was still healing. “Damn, I was in a bad spot.
We didn’t bring blood with us, and I didn’t want to take from the warriors when they’ve been neglected.”

  “Not with blood,” Jeston groaned. “Ashton owns the pharmaceutical company that supplies the covens with blood. We have huge stores now.”

  “Oh fuck,” I drawled, lowering my head to his chest. “Well, now I’m really responsible for you.”

  “I’m not upset with that,” he muttered. “I just didn’t want to blurt it out that way that I love you.”

  “Well, I feel the same, so apparently we’re stuck with each other.”

  “Do I get the awesome shower and tub all the other warrior mates were talking about?” he asked, his voice a little tense as if trying to lighten how he was feeling. “Zibon said it’s like heaven and got the others to put it in their bathrooms.”

  “You can have whatever you want,” I assured him. I gave him a heated look before a quick kiss. “I plan on fully spoiling my mate who saved my life.”

  “Okay, good, good,” he whispered, letting out a shaky breath. It made sense that he was worried that I would be upset he’d pushed me to mate when not in my head, but I didn’t regret it.

  Only that it was happening so fast. That I regretted, but I was old enough to know my own mind and heart, and Jeston was mine.

  “Seth, I need you to call that Claudius guy for Jordan,” Alexis called over. “Jordan almost died protecting all of us, and now he wants to jump into another battle with the coven leader.”

  “Snitch,” I chuckled, shaking my head and then grabbing it. “Fine, you be the boss, kid.”

  “We weren’t even twenty minutes behind you,” Seth worried as he came over. “What the fuck happened?” Then he seemed to catch up with what his sister said. “You want me to call the second in command of the Wyrok? Are you like nuts?”

  “Check if Ellison and Falcon are okay,” I said instead.

  “Yeah, we’re good, Jordan,” Ellison promised as he moved into my view, wiping his eyes. “No one died. We did our job this time.”