Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Dax
“I thought he was one of them,” Dax said as soon as he and Xavier were out of earshot.
He couldn’t help the disappointment in his tone.
Something had made him hope in a way he shouldn’t have, so he quickly reminded himself that he couldn’t be thinking that way about a human and especially such a small one.
“One of the humans who can see us.” Xavier didn’t make it a question. He cocked his head. “You’re unhappy about this?”
“I have no right to be, but I felt something…different with him. And the way he looked at me when he first saw me…” The way he’d touched Dax’s face.
“I guess I thought—I don’t know what I thought.
” He squared his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter.
It’s more important to find out why a chimera was sent after him.
And instead of killing him, it bit him to render him unconscious. ”
“I have to agree. It was a retrieval instead of a hit.” Xavier kept studying Dax. “That venom would have paralyzed him for life, so whoever sent it obviously didn’t care about that. We’re lucky Alaric was available so fast.”
Dax scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Whoever sent that chimera won’t stop there. We’ll need to keep an eye on Everett.”
A hint of a smile curled one corner of Xavier’s lips. “You mean you would like to keep an eye on him.”
“I would.” Though that would be a bad, bad idea, considering how attracted he was to the man. “Who did you send to take over my job?”
“Callan. That client requested big bodyguards.”
Dax scowled. “It’s all for show. He’s in no danger.”
Xavier gave an elegant shrug of one shoulder. “He’s paying a lot for prestige. It happens that way sometimes.”
“These kind of clients piss me off. There are people in real danger.”
Xavier was quiet a few moments, those dark eyes studying him closely as he tilted his head. “Are you growing weary of this work, Dax?”
“No,” he said, but then answered honestly. “Okay, a little. I do love working here, but my job doesn’t require a lot of thought.”
“And that wonderful brain of yours needs more stimulation.”
“Yes.” He looked at the sorcerer who’d also become a friend. “I don’t plan to quit, but maybe it’s time to take a night course. Just a couple of nights a week.”
“We can work around that. But Dax, if the need to go back to school is that strong, you certainly don’t have to stay with us. I’d hate to lose you, but your happiness is more important.”
“Like I said, I don’t want to quit. I feel like I’ve become part of a family here. I am happy, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that almost all my jobs require nothing but strength.”
“And that intellect of yours needs more challenge.”
“Yeah.”
“We should see if Everett wants to hire a bodyguard. Solving the riddle of his attack could be just the thing you need.”
That was true. And he could work on that even without being the man’s bodyguard, though he hoped Everett would choose that option.
He’d get with Daniel, have the IT specialist do some digging once he had more of a handle on what Everett was about.
Right then, he knew nothing about him. But his curiosity was strong, and not just the attack. He wanted to know more about Everett.
Xavier was studying him intently. “Callan can stay on your current assignment, and I’ll see if Everett is interested in hiring us. To him, it probably seems nothing more than a mugging, but someone sent that chimera after him, so a preternatural is clearly involved.”
“Let’s go see if Everett is amenable.”
But Everett spoke up immediately when they entered Xavier’s office.
“I’d like to hire Dax. It could have been a random attack, but I have the strangest feeling it wasn’t.” He looked at Dax. “You’ll be bored silly, I’m sure, because I’m currently packing up the house I just inherited from my grandfather, but I’d like to have you around just the same.”
“You just inherited something? Is it a large house?” Dax asked.
Everett chuckled. “You could say that. The house is a little famous because in the sixties, it was part of a haunted home tour. Ever heard of the Balder Estate?”
Dax shook his head, but Xavier nodded.
“I’ve been in your home,” Xavier said with a faint smile. “Many years ago. You were related to Wilson Page?”
“You knew my grandfather?” Everett asked.
“I did. We shared a love of old books. I was sad to read of his passing.”
“Why is it called the Balder Estate if his name was Page?” Dax asked.
“Because he bought the home in the seventies from William Balder, who was a known spiritualist.” Everett made quotes around the last word.
“Wilson, my grandfather, was into all things supernatural and jumped on the estate as soon as it went up for sale. My father and then I grew up in that house. I’m actually getting it ready for sale, though I’m finding it a bit hard to let it go. Wilson loved the place so much.”
His grief was obviously fresh. Dax could see it in the downward turn of his features. He felt a pang in his own chest, but he resisted the urge to rub that spot. His empathy made little sense. He didn’t know this man. But it was still there, a connection he felt deep in his bones.
And yet, Everett didn’t see the real Dax. He didn’t see any of the preternaturals there.
That heavy, black disappointment swept over him again, weighing down his shoulders. Everett was everything he’d always wanted.
And everything he could never have.
Everett shifted on the couch. “It’s probably crazy to hire a bodyguard, since it was most likely just a random mugging, but I just have this niggling feeling it was more.” Everett smiled at him. “So, are you available? I know I pulled you off a job.”
“We’ve taken care of that. Dax is available.” Xavier walked around to sit at his desk. “Shall we set up a contract?”
Everett moved to the chair on the other side so they could iron out all the information and discussed fees.
Leaving them to the particulars, Dax excused himself to go and talk with Daniel, their IT specialist. He’d seen him earlier, so he knew the banshee was on a night shift tonight.
He found him at his desk, peering at one of the three monitors.
“Hey, Daniel, mind if I interrupt a moment?”
Daniel swung his chair around with a grin. “I never mind interruptions. What’s up, Dax?”
“We have a new client who was attacked by a chimera—though he doesn’t know that’s what attacked him.
But he did say he’s just inherited the Balder Estate.
Could you send out feelers about anything to do with that place?
See if anyone is talking about it or anything that might be in it?
The client’s name is Everett Page, so he needs to be researched, as well. ”
Daniel wrote down the information. “Got it.” He looked back up at Dax. “How does he not know what attacked him? Didn’t he see it?”
“It happened fast, and he was bitten and incapacitated right away.”
Daniel shuddered. “That could have been bad.”
Dax nodded. “I’m so glad we have Alaric.”
“His magic certainly comes in handy around here.” Daniel turned back to his computer, his claw-like fingers already tapping on the keyboard. “I’ll set up some searches and call you if I find anything.”
“I appreciate it. I have a gut feeling his attack has something to do with the recent inheritance. It’s too much of a coincidence otherwise.”
“Makes sense.”
“Thanks.” Dax left Daniel’s office and slowly made his way back to Xavier’s to find Everett on his feet and shaking Xavier’s hand.
Dax was struck again by the harsh beauty of his features as well as the fierce aura of strength he carried for someone so slight.
Well, he supposed he wouldn’t be considered slight by human standards—it was just when compared to Dax’s size. Everett seemed around five-six or so.
Everett turned and smiled at him. “You ready to be bored while I pack?”
“I won’t be bored, so don’t worry about me.”
Xavier turned toward him. “We’ve agreed you’ll be staying with him at the estate.”
“Do you need to pack a bag?” Everett asked. “Plus, we’ll need to swing by and pick up my car.”
Dax shook his head. “We all keep go bags. I’m all set. I’ll take you to your car.”
“Then let’s go.”