Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
RAJ
It’s times like this I wish my nose was more sensitive.
I’ve been following Bryn’s scent trail through the manor trying to find him, but I think I’ve been going in the wrong direction and he’s not answering when I try to video call him.
It’s time to make lunch before we head back to our respective flats this afternoon, and he’s been insistent about helping me cook meals over the past few days.
It’s sweet, even if his kitchen skills are somewhat lacking.
Ending at the bedroom we’ve been sharing and finding it empty, I turn and head back in the direction I came from.
As cheeky as his request was, sharing a bed at night does seem to have calmed his dragon down at last. It probably helps that during the day my pack are usually out working, leaving the two of us alone here, and although I’ve mostly been working on my laptop, we’ve also had plenty of time to get to know one another. It’s been… nice.
My tiger urges me to hurry, keen to see Bryn again.
My tiger has been needy ever since we were in the pocket realm, only happy when Bryn is holding us.
This morning I woke up in my tiger form, draped across Bryn’s chest. I panicked that I was crushing him and tried to move away—I’m a lot heavier in that form—but he petted me and buried his face in my fur before promptly falling back to sleep.
It’s getting more and more difficult to avoid acting on my growing attraction to him.
Before I can get too lost in my head about that, I finally find him. He’s sitting on the floor in an enormous empty room on the west side of the ground floor, huge sheets of paper in front of him, marking something on one of the sheets with a pencil.
He’s as striking as always, but seeing him like this hits me differently. He’s always so intense and larger than life that I didn’t know he could be this still.
My tiger wants to shift and snuggle up for pets. I have to admit the idea has merit, but this isn’t the right time.
As I crouch down beside Bryn, I realise what he’s been doing when he’s wandered off while I’ve been working. He’s drawn detailed floorplans of the manor.
He finishes whatever he’s marking, then blinks up at me. ‘Is it lunchtime already?’
‘It is. So this what you’ve been doing for the past few days.’
He shrugs. ‘It was too good an opportunity to waste. I haven’t drawn plans by hand since uni, but I don’t have my laptop with me and I think I’ve done okay.
There are some gaps where things don’t quite line up, and I can’t decide if I’ve drawn it wrong or if there are secret rooms and passages. Probably a mix of both.’
He’s not making it a question, which is just as well. I can’t tell him about the secret grimoire room in the library, or any of the other secrets this place holds.
‘You’re planning to go back to architecture then?’
His career before prison hasn’t come up yet, and I’m curious about his future plans.
That, and I still haven’t managed to find Ayo a suitable architect.
I’ve been debating the merits of contacting firms in London, but Ayo’s been adamant about hiring someone local.
Frankly, none of the architects we’ve tried so far have spent as much time getting a feel for the manor as Bryn has.
Depending on Bryn’s skills and experience, he could be worth considering.
Unfortunately, he immediately shakes his head. ‘No, that part of my life is over. We’d better get started on lunch, or Ethan and Ayo will be here before we’ve even made it to the kitchen.’
He rolls up the plans before I can ask anything further. I’m not sure why he’s made that decision when architecture clearly still interests him, but it’s not really any of my business. I’ll just have to continue the search.
My alpha and alpha-mate walk into the kitchen, heading straight for us. Ethan scents me and Ayo gives me a quick hug, leaving me with an ache in my heart that this will be the last time I’ll see them for the foreseeable future.
“You will not believe the latest shit the coven council are pulling,” Ethan growls as Ayo waves hello to Bryn and shows him his phone screen.
I transfer the neatly chopped onions into a huge frying pan, along with the peppers Bryn has haphazardly sliced. “Worse than refusing to discuss how to tackle the rise in crimes against humans?”
I read Ethan’s notes from the meeting with the coven council last week, which hadn’t gone particularly well.
They seem to think that their strong leadership will solve all the coven’s problems, and that we should back off.
Which would be fine if they weren’t risking the exposure of our entire world.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how we can get through to them when Ethan and Ayo already tried explaining every angle.
Ethan leans against the worktop behind him, arms folded. “They’re now accusing us of encouraging other supes to boycott coven businesses. Can you believe that bullshit?”
I turn on the largest burner and set the frying pan on top. “Do they even want other supes to frequent their businesses? They weren’t exactly welcoming before.”
Species divisions were rife across the city long before our pack moved here, and the coven never hid their dislike of shifters.
“They’ll take their money,” He says dryly.
I get distracted when Bryn gestures to the steak he’s massacring. Ayo types rapidly then shows him the screen again. Bryn nods, puts the knife down, and washes his hands.
Ayo beams at Ethan. “You don’t mind taking over slicing the steak, do you? I’m stealing Bryn.”
Ayo and Bryn have been working hard on the shield charm whenever Ayo’s had a free moment, but they’ve not managed to get it to be fully effective yet. No doubt Ayo’s making the most of the last time he’ll be able to work with Bryn for the foreseeable future.
“No problem, sweet thing.”
While Ethan washes his hands, Bryn takes the long way around the massive island to brush his hand across my lower back as he passes. He follows a grinning Ayo out of the room.
“Will Ayo be able to finish the charm without Bryn?” I season the vegetables, then get to work cutting up an avocado.
Ethan sighs as he slices the steak evenly.
“I hope so. They’ve broken a whole bunch of stones trying to layer on all the spells, and Ayo also wants to add a camouflage over the top so that his magic is undetectable when it’s worn.
I’ve never heard of a charm this powerful before, but Ayo’s convinced they can do it. ”
“If anyone can, it’s our alpha-mate.”
He reaches for the next steak. “Definitely, although he’s adamant it would be impossible without your dragon’s guidance.”
“He’s not my dragon,” I huff. I appreciate that he recognises Bryn’s value, of course, but calling him mine is ridiculous.
His lips twitch. “That’s what you’re going with? You know I can smell you all over each other, and he’s possessive as hell.”
“I also know your nose is sensitive enough to detect that we’re not having sex.”
“Yet.”
“Sod off.”
He laughs. “Seriously though, it’s nice to see you this way with someone.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not any way with him.”
He smirks. “Whatever you want to tell yourself.”
We fall silent, and I immediately regret being dismissive about the possibility of something between Bryn and me.
I’d been searching for my mate for months before I decided to take a break from dating, and while it’s unlikely Bryn is my person, it feels wrong to deny my attraction to him.
Besides, this might be the last time for a while that I can talk to Ethan face to face.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to open up about how I’m feeling.
Before I can say anything, Ethan finishes slicing the last steak and brings the strips over. “We don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to. I’ve got your back no matter what.”
“I know.” After so many years spent side by side through thick and thin, there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other. “I just…”
“Didn’t expect to have real feelings for a man?”
I sigh. “It’s not that. I guess I always saw my future a certain way, and Bryn breaks every part of that mould.”
Not that we’d necessarily have a future together, of course.
Not every relationship lasts, if the attraction between us even develops into a relationship.
It’s just that the women I’ve dated were usually sleek professionals with the same appreciation for designer clothing and fine wine that I have. Bryn and I have very little in common.
Ethan smirks. “I dunno, you’ve always been attracted to bad boys. He’s absolutely your type.”
“Excuse me? I don’t have a type when it comes to men.” I tip the cooked vegetables into a large serving bowl and put the pan back on the heat, ready to add the steak.
He nudges me aside and lays the strips of meat in the pan. “You fucking do. You can’t seriously tell me that Bryn isn’t a lot like Nicos.”
“That’s…” My cheeks flood with heat. Nicos was a bartender I met at a gay bar in Cyprus about fifteen years ago.
I didn’t act on the mutual attraction because I hadn’t even realised I was into men prior to that first night.
Ethan and I went back a few times when we were allowed time away from the base, because it was a great bar and Nicos happily flirted with me every time, but the idea of acting on it was too much for me back then.
Ethan gives me a knowing look. “Exactly. Or what about Erich, or—”
“You can stop now.” I don’t need a list of all five men. “Besides, it doesn’t matter if he fits my type. I don’t date people I work with.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Are you judging me?”
I give him a dry look. “Don’t be ridiculous. You and Ayo are fated mates.”
He moves aside so I can add the lime juice and spices. “Bryn could be that for you.”