by Lela Grayce
I waited for a few minutes, but no response texts came through. Placing the phone on the counter again, I walked over to the dining room where Kreed was now cleaning up. He noticed my approach and raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I like your tattoo. I didn’t notice it before.” He frowned as I made my way closer. “What?” I asked.
“You… you can see it?”
“Yes,” I replied, drawing the word out. “It’s big and covers your whole back. Not sure how I missed it before.”
“You’re not supposed to be able to see it.” He placed his hands on my biceps looking down at my face.
“Huh?”
“Tell me exactly what you see.”
“It’s a rainbow-y, snarling dragon. It looks to be made of shimmery ink or something. It dazzles like diamonds,” I answered. He was starting to freak me out.
“It can’t be,” he mumbled, his eyes going unfocused.
“Kreed?” I winced as his hand squeezed my arms. “Kreed! Stop. You’re hurting me.”
His hands released my arms and I rubbed them while glaring at him. “What the Hell?”
“I’m—” he began, his words interrupted by a fierce pounding on the door, followed by muffled yelling.
“Stay here.” Kreed pointed at the floor. What was I a dog?
He grabbed his shirt, then disappeared into the hall. My temper rose. I was not in the mood to be bossed around, so I followed.
Kreed stood-shirt on-glaring at the door. What the eff was this guy's problem? I was getting whiplash from his mood swings.
“Nik!” A female voice I recognized yelled through the door and the metal that covered it. It was thick but not sound proof apparently.
“Lyndee!” I yelled back, rushing to the door wanting to throw it open but there was no handle.
“Open this door, now,” Lyndee barked at someone. The way she demanded and bossed people around wasn’t my favorite thing but it was her way of showing she cared.
“I’m trying,” Syd’s voice grumbled.
Another bang came from the door followed by cursing.
“Stop doing that! It’s not going to budge.”
“I gotta do something,” Lyndee said, as another bang sounded.
“Ramming the door isn’t going to do shit. Will you just calm down so I can disable…” the last of his sentence was drowned out by more banging followed by more cursing.
I smiled as tears gathered in my eyes. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until just this moment.
“You thick-headed idiot, Lyndee. I’m trying to open the door!” Syd growled sounding like the animal he shifted into.
“If this door isn’t opened in two seconds, I’m gonna rip it apart!”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Our Nik is in there! All alone and bored, possibly injured.”
“Just give me a minute, damnit.”
“Lyndee, let Syd work please. And I’m not alone.” I rolled my eyes.
“Zazu doesn’t count.”
“He does too but there’s a person in here with me also.”
Silence answered my declaration. I took a moment to look over my shoulder at Kreed. He glared at the door; it wasn’t a murdery stare anymore, but a puzzled one.
“Why are you using the voice?” Lyndee asked.
“What voice?” I asked.
“The “someone stayed over” voice, which I’m guessing isn’t the reason you activated the lock down.”
“No, we were attacked last night.”
“Attacked by who?” Syd asked in a dangerous voice, while a beep came from our side of the door and the metal plate started to rise, revealing the door.
Once the metal panel rose enough, I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open to reveal my best friends.
“You look like shit,” Lyndee informed me, as she stepped inside and wrapped her arms around me.
“That’s a swear word,” Syd sing-songed, before he wrapped his longer arms around both of us.
“Keep the money, butthat,” Lyndee retorted, while I snorted.
“Did you bet again?” I asked rolling my eyes. “You know she sprinkles swear words on everything like cilantro.”
“I know it’s pointless,” Syd sighed, letting us go and stepping back to look at me. “Lyn’s right, you do look like shit.”
“Well, I was fighting for my life last night,” I replied flippantly, rubbing a hand on my throat.
“Who’s that?” Lyndee asked, pointing behind me.
Turning, Kreed, with arms crossed, leaned against the wall, observing us.
“That’s Kreed,” I said, wondering how I was going to explain his presence here. “He’s uh…”
“Nik’s protector,” Kreed finished.
“It’s a long story,” I interjected, before Lyndee or Syd could say anything more.
“Well start,” Syd said, pressing something on his phone and the metal door started to slide down again. “I need to know exactly who thought they could mess with what’s mine and get away with it. Then I’m going to kill them.”
Oh boy.
We made coffee while I told the story of the past week and everything that had happened. Boy there was a lot to say. The story began with me telling them about my cancer being back and ended with why the penthouse looked like a war zone. Kreed continued to clean, while Syd and Lyndee sat at the kitchen island listening intently to my story.
“So, the new boss is a dragon?” Lyndee clarified, looking at Syd with a peculiar look on her face like they knew something I didn’t.
“I had my suspicions,” Syd admitted regretfully.
“But there was no way to be certain without Nik,” Lyndee said, nodding at me.
“Trust me, if I knew what she was walking into I never would have had Gavin call her in.” Syd ran his hands through his sandy blond hair.
“He sent ninja-thugs after her. Clearly there is more going on than we know.”
“Don’t forget the dude in the alley with the Uber-ninjas,” I reminded them.
“Dude sounds sexy as hell,” Lyndee said, licking her lips. “So mysterious and yummy.”
“I’ll never understand shifter horny levels.” I wrinkled my nose. Lyndee was beautiful with wavy brown hair, light brown eyes, and a to-die for hour glass figure. So, her sex drive, thanks to her shifter genes, was off the charts.
“I’m a shifter and I don’t have nearly the same drive.” Syd’s nose wrinkled.
“Everyone knows lions are lazy cats.” Lyndee waved away his words with her hand.
“Since when do wolf shifters bang like rabbits?” I asked, with a eyebrow raised.
“Do you see all the Mutts?” Lyndee asked, gesturing around herself.
“She’s got a point,” I hedged. The ratio of shifter Mutts compared to other race Mutts was astronomical. “Please tell me you aren’t planning to contribute to the population.”
“Ugh, another Lyndee? Don’t make me gag.” Syd tensed, preparing for the hit that Lyndee provided seconds later.
“Rude,” Lyndee said, before turning her eyes back to me. “I’m still confused on who he is?”
I followed her thumb and saw Kreed coming from the dining room with a dustpan full of glass. We all watched him dump it into the trash and leave the room.
I cringed because this was so awkward plus confusing. I had no idea what to make of him now that we shared a very intimate kissing session that was interrupted by an attempt on our lives. With his super-duper hearing power he was tracking the conversation and my reactions. How annoying.
“I saved his life.” I shrugged trying to make it sound like no big deal. It was a big deal.
“You healed him?” Syd frowned in disapproval.
“Yep,” I answered, popping the P with my lips.
“Something smells fishy and it ain’t the shit Zazu eats,” Lyndee said, narrowing her eyes at me.
I picked at the marble counter unsure on how to answer or what to say. Finding out there was
another race besides the four we knew about was a tough pill to swallow. I had lots of proof, plus a bond with one of them could feel even now.
“Nik,” Syd prompted, but I didn’t know what and what not to say.
Where was Brutus when you needed him.
A pounding on the front door startled all of us. Kreed materialized at my side with one of his katanas in hand. I glanced at Lyndee and Syd to gage their reactions and they were both staring at Kreed’s sudden appearance with awe and suspicion.
We all held still for several moments wondering what would happen next. Would whoever try to break in? Was it just someone delivering a package? Was the package a bomb?
Before I could freak out about the possibility of a bomb, Kreed relaxed his tense posture.
“It’s Brutus,” he announced, striding down the hallway toward the door. “Can you open the door please?” Kreed asked.
“Uh, sure,” Syd said, withdrawing his phone but looking at me expectantly. “Who is Brutus and is he trustworthy?”
I smiled because if there was anyone I trusted, outside of Lyndee and Syd, it was Brutus. He understood more than most about Mutts even though he was a full-blooded shifter. Basically, he’s a keeper.
I nodded, actually looking forward to seeing his ugly mug. Maybe he brought food. Seriously, Nik, of course he brought food.
We heard the metal door opening, then Kreed opened the front door. They were murmuring. I’d bet Lyndee’s left tit Kreed was filling Brutus in on what had just happened.
A thought hit me then. I trusted Brutus with Lyndee's body parts but did I trust Kreed with them? What a complicated question. He’d proven himself capable but there was so much I still didn’t know. He’d opened up last night and this morning he was tight lipped again. We seemed to take one step forward then two steps back.
Before I could think more on the matter, heavy footfalls sounded from the hallway and Brutus entered the kitchen donning food bags in one and Zazu in the other.
“Nik!” He pounded toward me dropping the bags on the counter as he went. “What the hell? Are you okay? Why the fuck didn’t anyone call me?”
“I’m sorry. We should have called,” I said, as Brutus wrapped me in a hug that felt really good. I’d gotten comfort from Lyndee and Syd but only a cold shoulder from Kreed. It shouldn’t have hurt but it did.
“Aww don’t cry,” Brutus soothed while I sniffled. Why do bear shifters have to act like teddy bears?
I was picked up and then deposited on the counter. Grabbing my shirt sleeve, I wiped my eyes and face. Everything had changed in a short amount of time. Somehow, I’d gotten myself put on the city’s gangs most wanted list. They wanted me alive which was a small horrifying consolation, but it could be the worse alternative. Death would be much better.
“I brought donuts and coffee,” Brutus said, rushing back to me with a white bag and a to-go cup of hot coffee.
I accepted the steaming liquid. Maybe I was emotional because I lacked coffee. Couldn’t be the dark cloud of impending doom hovering over me. Nah.
Turning the cup I read the writing on the side, it read: I don’t fart, I whisper in my panties.
“Oh my God!” I laughed, a deep belly laugh.
I showed the cup to the rest of the room. Lyndee was the first to read it and then joined me in laughing. Inappropriate coffee mugs were our thing.
“That’s great!” Lyndee whooped.
“Don't encourage them,” Syd grumbled.
“Are you seriously alright now?” Brutus asked, handing me a donut with pink frosting and sprinkles. I accepted the round treat and nodded. “Good. Now, what the hell happened?”
“Didn’t he fill you in?” I asked, using my chin to point at Kreed who leaned against the wall. A deep scowl on his face.
“Some,” Brutus answered, leaning down so he was eye level with me. “Let’s hear it though.”
With an eye roll, I told him about the attack last night, how we both nearly died, and how I used Zazu’s collar to put the penthouse into an impenetrable lockdown.
“Quick thinking,” he said with a wink before turning back to the rest of the kitchen and addressed Syd. “Does anyone know about this place?”
“No,” Lyndee answered, which surprised me. I knew she worked closely with Syd and despite their banter, they worked really well together. “As far as anyone knows I’m the only one who lives here. Nik’s name isn’t on any of the paperwork and we’ve erased all digital evidence of her being here.”
“That sounds like an awful lot of security for one person,” Kreed finally chimed in.
“If this place is so secret, why do you send Mutts up here to be read by Nik?” Brutus asked, crossing his arms.
“We have several security measures involving magic,” Syd said. “Once someone is invited in to be evaluated and then leave, the memory of this place becomes muddled. Basically, they do remember her but her mannerisms and appearance changes.”
“How come I didn’t know about any of this?” I asked, trying to think of a reason why they would keep this from me.
“With everything that’s happened, with you being sick and the break up with Gavin, we thought it best not to tell you so you wouldn’t get upset,” Lyndee said, shrugging.
I didn’t know how to feel about that. On one hand I understood why they kept it from me. I was a mess after treatment. It felt like my life had been on pause and then once I was better and the breakup happened. Life resumed. The life I once had was not the life I had after. There was no manual on how to continue living. It was a confusing time but the constant was Syd and Lyndee so I really couldn’t be upset that they kept this from me. I was a bit hurt, but they had always had my best interest at heart.
“I understand why you kept this from me.” I nodded. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.”
“If I was in your shoes I wouldn’t like it either. So now that you know, we can discuss it more if you’d like.” Syd was so level-headed it baffled me why he hung out with Lyndee and me.
“Another time. I need a bit to wrap my head around all of this stuff first.” My finger waving around the partially cleaned room. How I’d do that was beyond me. Maybe I should start binge drinking.
Syd nodded while Lyndee looked guilty. I knew that she would have told me if she thought I could handle it. They knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.
“So, what now?” I asked no one in particular because I literally had no idea. Everyone seemed to have contingency plan after contingency plan. From sending Mutts to the penthouse to the security at the clubs and who knew what else.
“We need more information. Can’t fight something we don’t know,” Syd said, sweeping his hair out of his eyes.
“How do we do that?” I wondered.
“We?” The word was growled from the wall.
“Yes, we. I’m part of this now.” I pointed at myself. “I don’t want to be in the dark anymore.” Kreed was obviously still in a mood.
“Ignorance is bliss,” Kreed huffed.
“I lived in ignorance before. Now that my eyes have been opened, I want to keep it that way. I want to know what’s coming next,” I growled back. What a jerk!
“I have Gavin locking down the territory and everyone I know keeping their eyes and ears open,” Syd said. “We’ll hear something soon, but in the meantime there's a mole and we need to figure out who that is before they can regroup.”
“So you think someone betrayed us?” I couldn’t think of who would do that. Everyone was loyal to us and especially to Syd. I was convinced it had something to do with being a lion. Lions were the king of cats right?
“They’d have to know, or at least suspect, what sort of magical security measures we have in place,” Lyndee spoke, tapping her fingers on her chin. “It has to be someone close to all of us and that’s a pretty small list.”
“Gavin is out,” Syd said. “He’s completely loyal and we check in with each other regularly. Despite what happened between you
and him, he would never hurt you.”
“The other candidates aren’t as close as he is and their information is limited when it comes to you, Nik,” Lyndee said.
“I have some connections I could reach out to,” Brutus offered. “At least we’d know if the Pendragon is aware of the rogue wild dragon in his city.”
“What sort of connections?” Lyndee asked in her interested but totally digging the dude voice. Horny Bitch.
“Brutus is Pure blood,” I answered, taking a sip of my coffee.
Syd and Lyndee both looked at Brutus in surprise. Most Pure blood shifters didn’t associate with Mutts. Odd that he did but that was a story that only he could tell them.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a full-blooded shifter before,” Lyndee said a bit stary-eyed.
“Same,” Syd said.
“I’m starting to see that I’m in the minority,” Brutus said. I bumped his shoulder with mine.
“You need to get out more,” I laughed.
“Yeah, this is the most I’ve been out of the house in years,” he agreed with a chuckle.
Syd and Lyndee wore confused expressions but that was also something that was a secret that was not mine to share. Plus, I felt sorta protective of Ruvean though I knew he could take care of himself. I wondered how strong the protection urge was for Kreed. There was still so much that I didn’t know.
“So, we’ve got the territory locked down and have feelers out for information. Anything else?” I asked, doing my best to bring everyone back on point and recapping for the group.
“Well, I think the next thing is to figure out where Nik is going to stay,” Syd replied, running his hands over his face. Poor guy looked tired and worried. They must have gotten back into town then came straight here.
“Why can’t I stay here?”
“Seriously, you were just attacked last night. The penthouse is no longer safe,” Lyndee said, in an ‘are you stupid’ voice.
“I thought it was safe because of the metal doors and stuff.”
“We have no idea what we are dealing with or the resources he has,” Kreed said, stepping forward and joining in the conversation. “What we do know is that the dragon wants you and he’ll put a lot of effort into getting what he wants.”
