“Never, you always look after those people who you consider are yours, which includes me.”
“Then, you understand that I am looking after you and the others when I make choices on our behalf?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I’d like you to lay off on Lochlan. We’ll use his office space at the Wolf Agency and stay in one of his houses in the Earthly Realm.”
“But –”
“I don’t expect you to marry him or even like him. I do expect you to stop fighting my decisions at every opportunity. Are you able to do this?”
Staying at Lochlan house and workplace put us under his control. He knew our secrets and we’d be completely reliant on him. I wasn’t okay with that level of vulnerability, so why was Sterling?
“This is a mistake. He shouldn’t be trusted.”
“Listen to me and listen to me well,” his eyes were now glowing yellow, a clear sign that his bear so close to the surface. Bears in BAM was a bad idea and would get us banned from here for life.
“This is not up for debate. Either you learn to accept our situation, one in which we don’t have a lot of options, actually any options, or you don’t. But, if you can’t, then you need to find somewhere else.”
“You’d force me to leave the Agency?”
“I won’t force you into anything. I’m giving you an option. The choice is yours.”
“This isn’t a choice at all.”
Some of the yellow bled from his eyes. “I’m not trying to force you. Not everyone is out to get you. With your dad after you, we need help. Elon will stay with us as well. And, we need help getting Zander back. This is the only way to have a place to live and work.”
He reached over and patted my hand, a comforting gesture from someone that shied away from physical contact. He was making an effort, but I was still pissed.
“Okay. I’ll play nice. But I need to talk to you about something else.”
“What is it?”
“I think my father came back.”
“You mean another time beside the last one?”
His eyes were once again turning yellow and he clenched his fists. I saw the faintest sprinkling of fur across his arms.
“When I came in from training today, Callie and Jennica were eating biscuits.”
“I did hear and see the aftermath of the biscuits. They do need to eat.”
“They came from my father.”
“How sure are you? I didn’t detect his scent when we left.”
“I’m completely sure. I don’t like to talk about this, but I need to, so you understand why I’m so certain it’s him.”
I took a deep breath, but couldn’t bring myself to keep eye contact with Sterling. My stomach was sour and unsettled. God, I hated talking about this crap.
“Don’t ask me to repeat this. I’m only telling this story once and I’m not getting into the details. When I was a kid, he imprisoned me if I didn’t please him with my fighting or magic. The only thing I was allowed to eat were biscuits, but no water. I’d get so hungry that I’d eat them even knowing they’d make my thirst worse and only dehydrate me more. He left those biscuits today to taunt me. It’s a way to show his displeasure and let us know he was still around.”
“If anyone else was telling me this story, I wouldn’t believe them, but your father’s shown that he can easily get into the Fae Realm and get past our wards. Moving to another location is the best thing we can do, especially if I can’t even detect his scent.”
“I hate that everything we are forced to do now is because I messed up. This isn’t even something I can fix.”
“We’ll get through this. Marty, let us help you. This is one battle you don’t have to fight alone.”
I stared down at my plate. He would help me and so would the others, but at what cost?
“We move into the new house and office tomorrow after your training session –not that we have much to move. And, that brings up another point. We need more supplies, clothing, and weapons. After tomorrow’s training, save the rest of your day for the move and to do some shopping.”
“I don’t suppose there’s room in the budget for a new pair of boots?”
“No, but I hope that will change soon.”
“Thanks for the burger.”
“You are welcome. It’s gonna be okay, Marty.”
I hope he’s right.
13
“Are you staging a takeover Lochlan?” asked Terrence, the hostile were tiger that I wasn’t happy to see again, especially in his office.
“That’s an interesting idea, but no, this isn’t a takeover,” said Lochlan
“Then, are these new agents?” asked a woman. It was the same stunning one that I’d met before. Her cat-like eyes and caramel skin made her beautiful and exotic. She pointed at me and added, “I actually recognize that one.”
The last time I was here wasn’t under the best of circumstances. I was with Frank, the bone man, and I was literally half dead. I’d barely kept them from killing Frank on the spot. Life debts are taking seriously among all supernatural creatures and the owed life debt between Frank and I saved him that day.
“No, they are independent agents operating out of our office. They are not ours, but they will not be treated as outsiders,” said Lochlan.
Lochlan looked around the room. Not a single person was doing anything, except for waiting to hear what he would say next.
“I expect everyone to treat them with respect,” he added.
“We’ll be happy to make them feel at home,” said a dark skinned, giant of a man. By the look on his face, his idea of a welcome meant the very opposite. He’d probably kill us and dump our body in the Demon Realm for the demons.
“See that you do, Darnell,” said Lochlan. “If Sterling and the rest of you follow me, I’ll show you to your offices.”
Darnell was someone to watch. Until I knew the Wolves, Lochlan’s coworkers, better, then
