13. ZARA
ZARA
After a surprisingly good night’s sleep, I was only on my second cup of coffee when Eli arrived the next morning.
“Aren’t the others here yet?” he asked, helping himself to a cup. “It’s Sod’s Law that something guardian-worthy comes up literally the minute Jed takes over. Although it might just be Theo being a bit too eager,” he added hopefully. “Want a top up?”
“Yes please to the top-up,” I held out my cup for him to refill, “no to the others being here and… what?”
“Oh, sorry, I forgot you’re not in the team chat. Theo’s got some kind of issue he needs Jed’s input on, and Jed wanted us all here. Understandable I suppose while he’s still getting used to being a guardian again.”
“Right,” I said, feeling totally surplus to requirements. “I’ll just make myself scarce when they get here then. I don’t want to get in the way.” It was kind of weird that I was the only one living here now and also the only one not a part of the team.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, dismissing my offer.
“This is your home. We’ll take it into the dining room out of your way.
” It would have been nice if he’d said I was welcome to join them, especially as Seth had let me sit in on the last few meetings, but then again, it wasn’t his call. It was Jed’s.
“It’s fine. I’m going back upstairs in a minute anyway.
I’ve got a few things I need to do. Let me know when you’re done.
” My voice wobbled on the last word, and I cursed myself silently for getting emotional.
Picking up my cup I hightailed it out of the kitchen hoping he hadn’t noticed, but from the frustrated sounding ‘dammit’ I heard him mutter as I left, that hope wasn’t realised.
At least he didn’t follow me, although that might have been because everyone started arriving rather than out of consideration for my fragile emotional state.
Nearly two hours had passed when Phoebe tapped softly on the door of our apartment.
“Can I come in? I’m not disturbing you am I?” she said, cracking open the door and peering through the crack.
“I was already disturbed,” I said wryly.
After giving myself a stern talking to and reminding myself I was a strong, independent woman who’d coped perfectly well without Seth before I met him, I’d spent most of the last hour trying to decide on an ‘appropriate’ outfit for my first night on the job.
I was very tempted to stand my ground and wear my usual get up, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to antagonise Morpheus any further than I already had last night.
I definitely didn’t want to earn any more of his nasty little zaps.
That still hadn’t stopped me from considering the pink bunny pyjamas he’d once turned my outfit into, but I’d discounted that one almost as soon as I’d thought of it.
After his joking – I hoped – offer to carry me to bed last night, I didn’t want to risk giving him the wrong idea by turning up in sleepwear, as much as I’d have relished seeing his expression if I did.
“You’re not wallowing are you?” she said, plonking herself down next to me on the sofa. “The offer to come back to Avalon with us is still open if you don’t want to be alone.”
I shook my head. “I’m not wallowing. I’m planning what to wear for my first night at work. Morpheus dropped in last night and has decreed that my usual peasant outfit is inappropriate.”
“Ouch.” She pulled a sympathetic face. “What are the options so far?” She giggled when I told her about the pyjamas. “Well, knowing you, I’m sure you’ll come up with something that’s both appropriate and annoying. You could always channel your inner Daisy Duke.”
“It just so happens I still have that outfit,” I admitted, “not that I need it physically to be able to wear it when I’m dream walking. I’ll let you know what I decide on. Did Jed sort out whatever Theo was worried about?”
“Not yet. But it’s nothing he can’t handle. Just a situation with a shifter pack.”
I waited for her to expand on that, and was a bit disappointed when she didn’t, even though I knew I was being silly.
When Seth was here he didn’t tell me about every little thing he dealt with, so there was no reason for me to be included now either.
It wasn’t like I had anything useful to contribute.
For the first time, I started to feel glad I’d agreed to work with Morpheus.
At least now I had something of my own to focus on.
“We’re going back to Avalon now,” she said, getting to her feet, “and Theo and Terrah have already left. Eli will be here for a while though. He said he’ll make you lunch. I think he’s worried you’re going to go into a decline. You’re not, are you?”
“Of course I’m not,” I scoffed. “You have to stop eating if you want to do a decline properly, and I like food far too much for that.”
“Good. I love you, but I don’t want you to be skinnier than me,” she teased. “And Jed keeps plying me with those French macarons I love, so you keep eating for England and we can still be friends. Deal?”
“Deal,” I agreed, chuckling as she swept out of the room promising to call me later for a description of whatever outfit I decided on.