Chapter 36 Aniyah
ANIYAH
“What’s different?” Calix asked as he and Nova strolled into my office.
I didn’t look up from my computer. No way was I telling them I’d sealed a mate bond with five supernatural beings just a few floors above us last night. Hell, I could barely believe it.
Eventually, I’d have to tell them, especially about how the tattoo we all got wasn’t as foolproof as we thought. That kind of news couldn’t stay buried, but for now… for a few more days… I wanted time to myself and my mates.
“Also, where the hell did you go?” Calix continued, flopping onto the couch with all the drama of a wronged royal. “You seriously ditched us with our grandfathers, at a sex club! That was a great bonding experience.”
“Did they give you the whole baby-making guilt trip, too?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
Nova let out a soul-deep sigh and collapsed beside him. “Fucking hell. Don’t remind me.” She rubbed her temple like she was nursing a trauma.
I winced. I did feel a little bad for leaving them to babysit the elders while I got railed into oblivion.
“Why’re they so obsessed with babies?” Calix shrieked. “Is it some you-want-what-you-can’t-have thing?”
My lips twitched as I turned toward them, chin resting on my knuckles. “Well, they probably still can… especially if all the parts still work.”
“Don’t you dare,” Calix snapped, pointing at me like I’d threatened national security. “You’ve maxed out your quota for inappropriate comments this month.”
“The month?!” I gasped, eyes wide. “Try a week. Tops. Be fucking reasonable.” My inner voice, smug and wicked, whispered, If only you knew what I did last night. That would probably blow through the quota for the quarter.
My phone buzzed. I glanced down, seeing a text from Riot.
Riot: Heard night was a success. Good job. Love ya.
A soft laugh escaped as I typed back a quick thank you. That was as close to affection as Riot, the black sheep of our family, ever got.
“What?” Calix asked, craning his neck as if he could read over my desk.
“Riot,” I replied smoothly. “She said last night was amazing. Better than the original opening. She’s so proud of me. Sad she missed it and said she’ll see me soon.” I smiled right through the lie.
Nova cackled. Calix groaned.
“There is no fucking way she said more than eight words,” he accused.
I grinned wider. “It’s called reading between the lines, Cal.”
Nova shook her head. “Gods, Cal. How can you be so fucking smart and so dumb at the same time?”
All of us sisters were always ready to gang up on Calix for no reason other than he was the boy of the family.
He spun toward her, eyes blazing. “Oh, and you’re a genius? Who thought it was a good idea to let Syris and Ternin take turns with the sex darts, huh?”
Nova cringed at the memory. I raised a brow.
“What happened after I left? They were just watching and drinking when I… got called away.”
Nova’s expression went grim like she was about to recount a battlefield trauma.
“It started with a bet, then some people volunteered…. Next thing we know, they’re shouting instructions, graphic instructions, on how to really pleasure someone as they play. I actually felt bad for the poor couple when they demanded a third round to break the tie.”
“You watched? Why? Why didn’t you just leave?” Despite how horrified I was feeling, I was having a real hard time keeping in the laughter.
Nova rolled her eyes. “Like we could leave your reopening early. It’s Syndicate business, and we’re Syndicate bosses. We stay ‘til the end.”
“Plus,” Calix added, gesturing wildly, “I had to be here to make sure all the upgrades worked properly.”
He didn’t, and he knew it. In fact, he could’ve left Rack here, like what happened last time, and I was about to say just that when Nova cut in.
“E call you?”
My smile tightened. “Bright and early.” Dragged me out of the post-mate-pile bliss and back into the chaos.
I motioned toward my screen and exhaled. “I’m reviewing the financials she sent me from last night.”
They gave me sympathetic looks, but I waved them off. Honestly, after the way I got railed into rebirth last night, I felt more alive than ever.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see Alic’s name. Butterflies flitted through my chest, but I looked at my siblings and crushed them under the heel of professionalism. I refused to be one of those mates who turned into goo over a phone call. Not doing it.
“Yes?”
His voice was tight. “We found Glen.”
Ice filled my chest, and my voice became steel. “Where?”
“Bronx dump.” He sounded like he was frustrated. “Torn apart and… it's not clean. Someone went off, Niya. It’s a mess.”
“Send me the address.” I wanted to see it for myself in case I could notice any patterns.
“I-I don’t think—”
I gripped the phone tighter, fury rising. “Send it.” I didn’t care that he was my mate. In this moment, in this situation, he worked under me. I called the fucking shots.
Ending the call, I moved around my desk and yanked open a cabinet for my moto jacket, feeling the urge to wear black leather pants and a pink jewel-studded halter today. Not my normal style, but it still had some of my pizzazz thrown in.
Lucus was working on closing some deal, and Van would need to stay here and take care of the place. Ras was doing some tweaks on the security software, and Maso was with Alic, so that meant I needed to go alone. The fastest way was by motorcycle.
“They found Glen,” I told Nova and Calix.
Instantly, they stood and came to my side. Nova wrapped me in a tight, brief hug. “This was fun. Let’s do it again, but, next time, come to my neck of the woods.”
I snorted. Me? In the Montana wilds? I was a city girl. I wouldn't know what to do with so many trees surrounding me. Still, I nodded. Never say never.
Calix tugged on my collar, pulling me into a rare brotherly hug. “Go get ’em, baby sis.”
I hugged him back, then punched him in the gut for that little comment.
He doubled over, wheezing, with a grin. He knew. That was how we loved each other—through violence and sarcasm.
“E said the next meeting’s in a few days,” I said, walking them out of my office. “See you then?”
They nodded, and we made our way downstairs. A black car was already waiting to take them to the private hangar.
Nova waved before getting in, but Calix leaned on the door, looking smug as sin.
“I left you a little surprise under your chair. Even made it so you couldn’t accidentally trigger it. You're welcome.”
Remembering what he said about the ejecting chair, my eyes went wide. With one last chuckle, he got in the car and closed the door before I had a chance to ask any questions.
As I watched the car leave, a little pang bloomed in my chest. I was going to miss them. My family was crazy, and my siblings were annoying… but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Turning around, I stalked off toward the garage. My bike gleamed, waiting for me like a loyal hound, my helmet resting atop the seat. It was a beauty—metallic pink with rhinestones inlaid in the shape of a crown—and one of my prized possessions.
Off to the dump I go.
Right as I rolled up, red and blue flashing lights reflected off my bike. I cursed under my breath. Fucking human police.
I hated dealing with them. Always so damn hostile toward supes, like we were plotting to wipe out humans when, in reality, it was the other way around. Most humans sought us out.
Vampires preferred supe blood since it regenerated faster.
After the exodus of Faerie, it became obvious that supes carried more life essence than humans.
We learned to extract and infuse it into drinks and food, as just a small amount was enough to keep us and our magic going.
Mages’ magic drew from elemental power and rune work.
Something to do about pulling from the life magic that was ingrained in the earth.
Werewolves mostly wanted to be left the hell alone with their pack.
Demons relied on Hellfire to keep their magic lit, and their days of fucking with humans for entertainment were basically in the past.
Point was, we didn’t need humans anymore, but they always came sniffing around us.
Especially in cities like this, where Syndicate bosses ruled. Everyone knew we handled supe issues. Our way.
The stench hit me as soon as I stepped into the space, reeking of decay and weeks-old garbage. I wrinkled my nose, scanning my surroundings for my massive green troll mate. He should’ve been visible from space, for fuck’s sake.
Rounding the corner, I spotted him. Arms crossed, towering beside the chief of police, while Maso sorted through something on the ground, dropping pieces in front of Alic.
“Fancy seeing you here, Chief. Didn’t know we were dealing with human remains,” I said coolly as I stepped their way.
Both my mates looked up and smiled. The expression on the chief’s face, however, made it clear that he saw everything as my fault.
“Well, Miss Glovefox—” he started, but my lips moved before I could catch myself.
“Mrs.” I bit my lip to keep myself from saying anything further.
The chief squinted, confused. I immediately regretted it, wanting to punch myself in the mouth, but the looks on Alic and Maso’s faces? Fuck. You’d think I’d just handed them the moon.
“Mrs. Glovefox,” I repeated, squaring my shoulders. “I’m mated now.”
It still didn’t register for the chief, but I caught the shine in my mates’ eyes and the way their chests puffed out even though I didn’t specifically name them. Damn them for looking so fucking cute about it. Now I couldn’t even take it back.
“Well, then, Mrs. Glovefox,” he said slowly. “This… thing was dumped in our landfill and found by a now-traumatized human employee. No one wants to come back to work. They’re scared this might be the start of something. Who’s going to take responsibility for that?”