CHAPTER SIX
R owen was thankful that Hadden had gotten a confession out of the building manager. He was human so the police would be able to deal with him. The other two who had been in the room were not full human. Rowen had detected magics such as mystic or a mage perhaps. They could not end up in police custody, it would be too big of a risk to all paranormal communities.
Dumas he still couldn't believe that Fate had given him such a man. A hellhound of such distinction was his mate. He felt like pinching himself, but fortunately, Dumas was doing that for him. The man had an extremely talented mouth, and Rowen was enjoying every second of his attention. He brought him to the edge over and over, staving off his climax with a quick pinch at the base only to bring him to the edge again. It was delicious.
They were bonded mates who had been linked for all time, and Rowen felt the peace and security of it all right down to his soul. Dumas would stand by his side for all eternity, and that didn't scare him in the least. Before Dumas, he struggled with any sort of meaningful connection. Life had left him feeling cut off and disconnected, maintaining only shallow surface relationships that had no meaning.
One look at Dumas and his heart had shattered as well as his mind. The thought of a mate had not entered his mind but when it happened it was like being thunderstruck. His life came into stark focus and all the needs he’d repressed and denied came roaring to the surface. Dumas owned him from the very first glance.
He took him directly down his throat and did something with his muscles that had Rowen crying out and coming so hard he saw stars, and his vision began to darken. Dumas kept working on him, pulling out every sensation, every thrill, making his body tremble. Slowly, Dumas finished and then crawled up Rowen's body to place a heated, passionate kiss on his lips.
"Feel better, baby?" Dumas asked, teasing.
"Never better, sweetheart, never better." Dumas rolled off of him, and Rowen missed him immediately, so he reached out to him.
“Let’s get dressed and I’ll order some breakfast. There’s a nice café on the first floor that does early deliveries and their food is good.” Dumas kissed him again and then rolled to a seated position on the edge of the bed. Rowen could not take his eyes off him. Dumas was a perfect specimen of male excellence from his gleaming black hair to the tanned muscled body everything about him was flawless.
“Do you mind if I take a quick shower?” Rowen asked and was quickly brought to understand that he did not need to ask for anything this was his home, and he could do as he liked. “Thank you, Dumas.” Rowen was deeply touched.
“What’s mine his yours my love.” He said and Rowen could hear that every word was sincere. Dumas wasn’t spouting pleasantries he was setting the foundation for their lives together. He stared at the man for a few seconds and then headed into the bathroom. This day truly qualified as the happiest day of Rowen’s life.
Rowen finished his shower and went out into the living room in a towel wrapped loosely around his hips. He was soon swallowed up into the arms of a very lustful hellhound. Dumas had him bent over the counter in record time, taking full advantage of his nakedness.
“You look heavenly in this outfit.” He breathed against his throat while squeezing his ass and rubbing his thigh against Rowen’s cock. “I wish we had more time. You should wear nothing but a towel whenever you’re at home from now on.” Rowen chuckled and reached around to take a handful of Dumas’ clothed ass.
"Maybe you should too." He suggested, and Dumas agreed.
“Okay, I’ll let you get dressed.” He relented and slowly released him. Rowen quickly pulled on his clothes from yesterday. Breakfast was the standard fare but, as Dumas had said, their food was good. The eggs were scrambled correctly, the bacon browned just right, and the toast was homemade bread it was a lovely meal.
“Why were you in your cat form on the roof?” Dumas asked the question Rowen thought he’d ask sooner.
"No one notices a stray cat, and they will talk and incriminate themselves or give information they intended to keep quiet. I have many ways of closing cases, and not all are standard police work." Rowen smiled and took a sip of his coffee.
“Makes sense as long as you keep your true nature concealed.”
"I do; there are few who can see through a stray's enchantment. Master Hadden can see, and apparently hellhounds, but everyone else sees me as human."
“That’s why you stayed away from the coven?”
“I tried to stay away from most paranormals just in case, but particularly Master Hadden."
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag now.” Dumas finished his coffee and stood.
“Oh ha, ha, aren’t you the comedian.” Rowen also stood and grabbed his coat. Dumas placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned down for a quick but serious kiss.
"I'll be anything you want me to be, baby." He whispered. His words were simple, but Rowen could see that he meant every single one.
"I have to report to the station after this meeting. I'll let you know the status of Grainger's confession."
"Thank you. Now it's time to go." Dumas once again placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him out the door and down to the basement garage. The drive was quick, and soon, they pulled in and parked. Rowen was somewhat familiar with the building but had never been inside for obvious reasons. Now he had to force himself to suck up all his insecurities and follow his mate.
The second they entered the Hadden Center, Rowen could feel the power pulsing through the place. He'd never gotten close to Master Hadden. He steered clear of him because he knew the Master would easily see through his enchantment and know him immediately. He wasn't sure why Nikolas Hadden bothered him so much. Perhaps it was because he reminded him of the Wazir, who wielded similar power and control, just in different realms.
He wondered how being so close to the man would affect him, and his worry must have shown on his face. "Don't worry; the Master tones it down when he's around humans and smaller shifters." Dumas read his mind. "Besides, you've bonded with a hellhound, so there isn't anything you can't handle." Once they exited the vehicle and headed for the elevator, Dumas put his hand on Rowen's shoulder, keeping him close and maintaining that necessary contact. "You have the strength of a hellhound." He added.
Dumas' faith and support, not to mention his smile, went far in grounding and settling Rowen's fears. "And you have the stealth and cunning of a stray cat."
"And your gracefulness, too, I hope." Dumas knocked on the large door and was told to enter. They were on one of the upper floors, high in the sky. The room they were in looked like a conference room. The Hadden Center itself was a marvel and everyone he met so far seemed pleasant and welcoming within reason of course.
The fact that he was with Dumas probably went far in terms of their welcoming demeanor. Dumas stayed close with their arms or hands always touching. Rowen appreciated the contact with so many powerful paranormals in the room. His cat, who was normally bold and outgoing, was presently hiding.
He was introduced to Master Hadden, his second in command Josef McQueen, Michael King and a man who reeked of mysticism and otherworldliness named Marek. They called him a Cyprian Knight and although Rowen did not know what that meant it was obviously something important which was made evident by the sheer force of his presence.
Between Marek and Master Hadden, it was a wonder Rowen didn’t decide to run and hide as his cat had done. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he felt the energy in the room go down a notch. They were trying not to overwhelm him.
They were conscious of his hesitancy and made every effort to accommodate him. They gave him plenty of room, didn't get too close, and allowed him to remain at Dumas' side.
"I am pleased to meet you, Rowen." Master Hadden told him and then continued. "I'm sure Dumas explained to you the action we took with the building manager, Cal Grainger."
"Yes, sir and I'll take care of it," Rowen responded, and the Master nodded, pleased with his easy agreement.
“Michael and his team have been combing the lowlands looking for any sign of the other two who attacked you.”
"They weren't entirely human like Grainger. I sensed a mystical aspect to them, perhaps Mage or Fae." Rowen presented his observation, and Dumas agreed with him.
Michael then took the floor. He outlined the situation, making it clear that the magic involved was definitely formidable. "I don't know where they came from or how they gained entrance, but their influence is growing. We get close, and they slip away like the breeze." Master Hadden glanced over to Marek for possible clarification. The man was well-versed in all manner of magic and evil.
"The area had some markers present, but they lasted but an instant and faded, as Michael said with the breeze." Marek addressed everyone, even Rowen, as he spoke. "They are utilizing a power that is difficult to track or to catch. They are tapping into the strength of the demonic, a high level demonic considering their show of power, which answers the question of why they are killing people." Realization seemed to hit everyone at the same time. "They are sacrifices, and I doubt it is over. Demons don't work cheap."
"My God, how low can one sink." Josef made the declaration with shock and disgust.
"To attain power and control, there is no depth too deep for some." Master Hadden appeared to speak from experience. "How do we stop them?"
“We have to find them to stop them and to find them we need more eyes and ears in the lowlands. We need individuals who can go places unnoticed walk among the many without detection and we need numbers.” Marek turned his attention to Rowen capturing him with a poignant stare. At the same moment, Dumas put his arm around Rowen with his hand securely on Rowen’s shoulder holding him close and secure.
"The lowlands are awash with strays." He seemed to comment out of nowhere, but Rowen knew what he meant and what he wanted. "No one notices the stray cat." He finished, and it was something Rowen had said to Dumas earlier. "More eyes give us more points of surveillance."
“How does one employ the strays?” Master Hadden took up the conversation.
All eyes were on Rowen, but it was Marek who answered. "You must petition the Wazir, and he only agrees to meet with his own. You must be a stray to gain entrance to his kingdom." At this point, everyone turned and looked at Rowen.
"I left the strays, and I disavowed the Wazir. I said some hateful things the last time we met, and I'm certain he has no desire to ever see me again.” Rowen tried to explain without having to say too much.
"You might have left him, but he has never left you," Marek spoke softly and took a step toward Rowen.
“If Rowen cut him loose then there was a good reason for it.” Dumas stated taking Rowen’s side in an instant and Rowen appreciated him so much.
“I don’t doubt that, but he is still a member of the strays it is a lifetime commitment just as you are still a member of you pack and you serve your Bard while living with a coven and serving the Master.” Marek made the situation clear.
"What do you want from him?" Dumas asked, and Rowen felt his hand tighten on his shoulder. Dumas was pulling him closer. He wasn't lying when he said he was a possessive bastard, and Rowen found it rather stimulating.
"We need the assistance of the strays in the lowlands to help us find who it is that's cavorting with demons." Master Hadden responded and spoke clearly and to the point. "On our own, we will manage, and we will find them, but it will take time, and in that time, they will kill more innocents and grow more powerful as we continue to search. With your help, we can hopefully put a stop to this before it has a chance of doing more damage.”
“What about the Charmer can’t he put a stop to this entire thing?” Dumas was not on board with Rowen becoming a part of this.
“He can tamp it down, but the source remains, and the demonic influence will continue to grow." Master Hadden walked up to Rowen and stood in front of him. "With the help of the strays, we can bring an end to this and perhaps identify the source, ending the infection forever."
Rowen could not deny him as a member of the police force and having pledged to serve and protect the citizens of this city he knew he had to try. “I’ll see if he will meet with me sir.” Rowen stated. “The Wazir can be rather off putting and there is the chance that he will not see me. Either way, I have friends and acquaintances within the stray population, and I will pull together everyone that I can to help in this endeavor.
“I’ll take whatever you can give me Rowen, thank you.” Master Hadden patted his shoulder.
“I’ll do what I can.” Rowen turned and looked up at Dumas. “The Wazir requires shadows meeting stark, blinding sunlight.”
“Do you have a place in mind?” Dumas asked.
“Yes, behind the warehouse on division. I’ve used it before to enter his realm. We have less than an hour if we want the sun to be in the right place.”
“I’m going with you.” Dumas declared.
“I don’t know if he will allow it.”
“I am a hellhound, and I will go wherever I damn well please.” He stated with considerable bite. "I'm staying by your side. You came close to being victim number five last night, and I am taking no chances with your safety."
“Understood.” Rowen was not going to fight him on this. Besides, he was a better, stronger man with Dumas by his side.
They left the meeting and went directly to the lowlands, a place that never got better, even as the rest of Pittsburgh healed. It always radiated a musty, sick aura that got into your senses and into your mood. It was a hard place for anyone with a heart or feelings to live in, and it accounted for the majority of crimes in the city. The Master referred to a source, something that Rowen had not heard of or considered but suddenly made sense.
Master Hadden had put the run on magics in the Pittsburgh area, cleansing and purifying them all the way. It brought back a sense of community and safety that had deteriorated as the effects of magics had wormed their way into society and the very structures. But with that said, there remained a shadow of evil that had retreated to the lowlands and refused to die.
Every effort was met with modicum success, but the negativity would seep back in and eventually have to be driven back once again. It happened over and over again. Rowen had walked the streets and alleys of the lowlands many times as a stray and witnessed sadness and depression at every turn.
He knew it didn’t have to be this way, but he didn’t know how to change it apart from doing his job and capturing the criminals. If there was a long term remedy for what was eating away at the lowlands then he wanted to be a part of that solution.