Chapter 19 #2
“Of course,” I accepted and led him inside, figuring my office was better. I frowned when he was tense in the elevator, but it wasn’t two minutes later we were alone. “You okay?”
“Tired,” he sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. “Very.” He nodded when I snorted. “I know you wanted quick results with your genius, but deeper long-term ones are always better.”
I held up my hand. “I appreciate you trying to spare my feelings, but it’s fine and spit it out.” I blew him a kiss when he frowned. “Everyone’s waiting for me and we need that progress.”
He nodded. “Ancients came to the council and made it clear we chose the correct side of this and to keep doing that.”
“Ancient vamps,” I checked, rubbing my neck when he did. “Sorry. Are you guys okay or—”
“The problems are now gone,” he drawled. “People were still on the fence and didn’t want to go after—they’re dead. The traitors on the council.”
“Yay.”
He snorted. “Unfortunately, several ancients want to rotate in on meetings. Not vote and be directly involved, but—seeing how many other councils came after you…”
“They have a conscience?” I didn’t mean to sound confused, but I was.
“You showed them something they never thought possible in Germany. I didn’t even know we were that accepted and protected in Germany.
It always sounded like along the same lines as in the US,” he explained.
“And other councils were willing to risk that—destroy it spreading because you upset the wrong people or they were jealous.
“Over a dozen very ancient vampires came out of the shadows and made it clear that your council pulled off a miracle by forming and now what they’ve learned in Germany. Also, to not mess with it or die painfully. It was quite the—statement isn’t a strong enough word.”
“Okay, cool, but you guys were already on our side. I’m missing the—”
He chuckled darkly. “You really think they only came to our council? They care for no council authority. Why would that only apply to vampires?”
I slowly blinked at him for at least a full minute.
“Are you saying…”
“Yes, you made an impact, just not the one you wanted.”
“Then why are you so tense if that’s a good thing?”
He ran his tongue over his teeth and focused past me. “Because some things are better left buried. Some things you never want interested in you. I’m not saying it’s bad, I’m saying…”
“Be on guard. I’ve drawn attention even if it was needed to do something?” I offered.
His gaze snapped to mine. “Yes. I know you are extraordinary, and I adore that about you, but I hope you are less interesting for a while.”
“Are you telling this to Elijah?” I hedged.
“No, I was specifically told not to share it with your council. I’m telling Sloan,” he muttered.
Fair enough. “How worried are you?”
He didn’t respond for several minutes, which made me anxious, but then met my gaze. “Be less interesting, darling.”
So very, but he had nothing concrete. He was going off instinct and couldn’t justify it all.
“Message received, and thank you for making sure I did,” I told him, nodding when he seemed relieved. It was hard to involve yourself in this sort of thing.
I knew that well from the twins even. Nothing was ever easy.
But I did truly appreciate him making sure I was warned.
“How would you handle the situation?” I asked when he seemed like he wanted to wrap up.
“Ignore it.” He nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. “You keep your focus where it needs to be and help all of us. Just know you’re probably always being watched and watch your back. Not everyone wants progress. That’s my fear.”
Not all of the good scary ass very powerful ancients were emerging to see what was going on.
No, some of the bad too. Yeah, made sense.
I thought about it a lot and even pushed my feelings into the work we were doing. I let out a lot of… Angst into the choreography I developed the next few days.
And I picked the songs that could help me to do that.
Halsey’s “Bad at Love.”
“In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes.
Selena Gomez’s “Bad Liar.”
“I’m A Mess” by Bebe Rexha? Oh yeah.
Bad Wolves’ “Zombie” fit too.
Demi Lovato’s “Daddy Issues” absolutely got thrown in.
Probably should have been in there twice given how fucked up all demons were over their fathers.
When I did several dances—pole and Cyr wheel to P!NK’s “What About Us,” I honestly wasn’t surprised that people started to notice. It had been days of this. We weren’t stopping on Friday like normal corporate or business hours.
Yeah, not when I was also working a murder investigation and handling more. I had the time now and that was what we did.
We were about to break for lunch when Mason entered into the studio with a clear purpose and eyes only for me. He threw magic at the sound system and then he was in front of me.
I didn’t even have time to ask before his arm was holding me tightly to him and we were dancing to Bazzi’s “Mine.”
He was too locked down for me to get anything… So I simply danced. I didn’t know if this was a jealousy thing or—I just danced.
We did. His body was mine and mine was his. We were together in every step.
I realized it wasn’t possessive when he didn’t let me go after the song, but next was Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.”
But I still didn’t understand.
Nor as we danced “Call Out My Name” by The Weeknd.
He watched me intently, probably understanding I was working it out or hadn’t yet. I felt the music and him, completely in the moment with him as we moved.
The song was about tough times and leaning on him. Trusting him. Turning to him. Believing someone would catch me.
I thought I understood, but then the next song was Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road.” I thought it was a mistake… Except he tossed me up onto one of the poles and winked at me.
I frowned as I just got lost in the music and simply moved my body. No choreography or anything. Simply moving.
But still clueless at the end.
When “God is a Woman” came on from Ariana Grande, he pulled me back in his arms and we danced.
Then Cobi’s “Goddess.”
I was frustrated when next it was “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Billie Eilish.
“You’re thinking too hard, muffin,” he hinted finally.
“You are the answer, not the problem. Enough focusing on the problems and issues. Time to focus on the good too—balance.” He brushed his lips over mine when I went to say something.
“You were diving too deep into the darkness in the music. Time to come back up.”
He wouldn’t let me drown. That was the point of all of this.
I was his goddess even if he called me muffin now. I was supposed to rely on him. My body was his. We were the match.
All the messages were the big picture.
Basically?
I thought so at least and just moved with him.
“I look forward to seeing what dances you come up with for those,” he told me, nodding when I met his gaze. “I will go watch you knowing you danced them with me first.”
So we weren’t just healing my issues but his too.
Interesting… But also part of the point. He was being that supportive of me.
I could take the cue though and winked at him before loading M?neskin’s “Beggin’.” That could be what was next.
His smile told me I was on the right path and his mission was accomplished.
“Lunch,” Kyria called over before I could really get going. Clearly, she wanted me to take a break and mull it over too. Plus… No one liked to sit and eat when the big boss was still working.
Yeah, that was fair, and even I could figure that out.
“Nicely done,” she whispered to Mason like I wouldn’t also hear but whatever, it was worth it.
But she was right… Nicely done, Mason.
Which was why once lunch was over, I made sure to dance extra for him on a few of the songs I knew he’d liked when going over the playlist. Mostly 5 Seconds of Summer’s “Youngblood” and “I Like It” by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin.
And from the fun we had later that night… He liked what he saw.