3. Frederick

Chapter 3

Frederick

I knew, the moment the words left my mouth in Master Arthur’s office that I would regret them. Just as I knew deep down that my One wasn’t guilty of what we’d found on that laptop. It was utterly ridiculous that the council was even entertaining the thought that these men that had already been thoroughly checked, were now suddenly capable of doing what it was that this new information specified.

My confusion at the moment though was Dominic’s reaction to seeing me at his door. Not a smile, not a hello nothing except a look of indifference and then the door being closed in my face. Was he that upset because I couldn’t acknowledge him when I first met him? I knew absolutely nothing about, my one on a personal level, and what I knew about him professionally had all been positive.

Sure, everything I knew about Dominic DeLuca I had learned from his file that the council hand. He was my One though and I wanted to know more about him. I have time, but his reaction to seeing me just now confused me.

The only thing I could do was leave his doorway and search out Master Arthur and hope that he could give me some possible insight as to why Dominic reacted to me as he did. Did he not want a fated mate? Was he already in some sort of long-term relationship? These were things that I needed answers to. Since Dominic wasn’t going to answer his door, that left me no choice, but to search out someone else and hope that they could provide me with the answers I sought.

By the time I returned to Master Arthur’s office, I found it empty. This day absolutely was not turning out how I had anticipated. Not even a little. Not exactly sure where to go next to find out information about Dominic, I went down the hallway toward Fenwick’s office. That door opened as I approached, and I can face to face with the man that had been sitting at the table with Cornelius and Dominic.

He gave me a smile, stepped around me, and then walked away. I took that opportunity to step inside the office and when I discovered Carrington as well as Dante inside, I closed the door and leaned against it.

“I take it. Your conversation with Dominic did not go as planned with as quickly as you have returned,” Dante said before he started chuckling.

I gave the Hellhound a glare and wanted to say some choice words but refrained because at the moment he was probably my best bet in getting any sort of personal information about Dominic. “How did you know I was going to talk to Dominic?”

Carrington looked at me with confusion on his face. “I don’t understand. I was told I needed to come and question them because you had issues with one of the men. I take it. The issue wasn’t with Dominic?”

“How did you know I went to talk to Dominic?” I asked Dante. The hell smirked at me before he shook his head.

“A good enforcer never tells who his informant is,” Dante teased.

I narrowed my eyes while Carrington looked over at the hell hound and copied my expression.

“Informant for what?” He asked Dante before he turned to me with an expectant look on his face. “And you need to explain because I was under the impression that you couldn’t complete this assignment.”

I sighed. “I’m not going to forget about your informant remark, Dante. But I need to talk to you about something.” I looked over at Carrington and tried to offer an apologetic smile. “I do apologize that you were pulled in, Carrington. When I was introduced to Dominic, I realized he was my One. Immediately I knew I couldn’t continue as the lead on this assignment. There is no way I could remain completely unbiased.”

Carrington smiled at me as he slid off of the desk. “Congratulations. Finding one’s other half is what all of us dream about. But if you were to be discussing things with him, why is it that you are here?”

“That’s the issue. I went to talk to Dominic, but when I arrived at his suite, he shut the door on me when he saw that it was I who was there.” I turned towards Dante in question. “Do you know anything about Dominic? I know what is in his file but you’ve been here for some time, do you know anything on a more personal level that could help me understand why it is that he wouldn’t want to talk to me?”

“I’m sorry, Frederick. I am unsure as to why he would behave in such a manner. Dominic has always been incredibly kind and open whenever I have seen him.”

That response just added to my own frustration. I looked over at Carrington and was going to ask if he had any suggestions, but then remembered that he was unmated. “I’d ask you for suggestions and pointers, but you haven’t met your One yet either,” I told him.

“Sorry, no. Perhaps Master Arthur can help you? I cannot even in good conscious give you general relationship advice. It has been entirely too long since I’ve been in a relationship, and at this point, I’m more of a hook up type guy when I feel the urge.”

Dante snorted. I looked at the warlock and he shook his head. “I am not your man. I know nothing about relationships as I’ve never been in one.”

I sighed once again while nodding. “I understand. Do you by chance happen to know where Master Arthur might be?”

Dante narrowed his eyes at the wall before nodding slowly. “If he’s not in his office or the dining hall, check the atrium. This time of day it isn’t unusual for him and Patrick to be found in the atrium with Edric.”

I looked over at the wall that Dante had squinted at and saw there was a clock on it. “Can you not see the clock?” I asked.

“I can see perfectly fine. I was trying to remember Master Arthur’s schedule. Because Patrick is pregnant again, I would look for them in the Atrium before I would in the dining hall. He doesn’t seem to have too bad of pregnancy sickness from what I’ve picked up on, but I’m not exactly in his inner circle and I may be completely wrong about that. But I have picked up on the fact that they haven’t been visiting the dining hall like they used to.”

That was good to know. I nodded at Dante before turning and doing the same to Carrington. Thank you for all of your help and insight. I will go and search out Master Arthur and hope that he can offer some help with regards to Dominic.”

After I them goodbye, I left the office and made my way back down the long hallway. It had been many years since I had spent any real amount of time at the manner here and the last I remembered the atrium was around the stairs behind it. I couldn’t imagine it being anywhere else, but we were warlocks and we could easily renovate a building as well as completely relocate a certain room.

I did indeed fine the atrium right where I had remembered it being, but it was nothing like the atrium from the past. Gone was the gorgeous collection of greenery and flowering plants. In their place were tables, chairs, a long sofa, and several young children. As I peered farther into the room, I saw that there was a large play place and even more children.

This certainly wasn’t the atrium from year’s past. In fact, aside from the glass walls and ceiling, one would not know that this room used to be full of plant life. I was certain that Master Arthur and Patrick weren’t here, until I spotted them across the room. They were talking to another adult, and I took the opportunity of them being engaged with him in conversation to cross the room and hope that at least one of them would be able to spare me a moment or two.

Patrick noticed me before Master Arthur did, and when he turned my direction and smiled, Master Arthur noticed and whatever he had been discussing with the other man stopped. Now that I was close to them, I realized he wasn’t a warlock at all, but an alpha.

“I do not mean to interrupt,” I said when the warlock I didn’t recognize looked at me as well.

“You aren’t. Frederick, this is Theo. He’s Grantham’s One.”

I smiled at Theo and held out my hand in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you, Theo.”

“Same here,” he said as he took my hand and shook it. “Master Arthur and I were just discussing the festivities planned for an upcoming celebration for our coven. Are you going to be here for them?” He asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t believe so, no. My team is only supposed to be here for a few days at most,” I said before I refocused on Master Arthur. “When you have a few moments, I wished to discuss certain things with you regarding our earlier conversation,” I told him. I didn’t exactly know Theo, and I didn’t want everyone in the coven to know I was struggling with my One. As far as I knew, almost everyone in the coven was happily mated.

Master Arthur raised an eyebrow at me, but nodded. “I can be available once I finish with Theo and I escort Patrick back to our quarters.”

I glanced at Patrick who I realized no longer looked as if he were feeling the best. “Of course. I appreciate it. If you are needed by your One, I understand and it can wait.”

“I’m fine,” Patrick said. “Arthur worries about me. He’s just being over protective since we discovered I was expecting again.”

I smiled at Patrick. “I understand completely.” I looked at the others. “Theo, it was nice to meet you,” I told him. I nodded to Master Arthur and Patrick before I turned and left. The children were all running around and playing at the moment, and although I loved children, I discovered that they could become incredibly loud when there was a larger group of them gathered together in one place. I was certain I already knew that, but it had been some time since I’d been around so much children all at once.

I didn’t know exactly how long it would take Master Arthur to return to his office, but I had nowhere else to go so I trudged my way back down the hallway. His office was the first door on the right, and although the door was open, I felt uncomfortable with entering and waiting. I used magic to procure a comfortable chair, and simply sat in the hallway and waited. While doing so, I pulled out my phone and sent off a text to Sebastian.

Me: So I met my One. But he doesn’t seem too eager to have met me. Any suggestions as to what to do to win him over?

It only took moments for Sebastian to reply.

Seb: Are you being serious right now? Did you really meet your One?

Me: I did. He’s one of the warlocks from the Italy coven that the council is investigating.

Seb: Wow. Okay. Well, first, congrats. The only thing I can think of is to suggest you talk to him. Find out what you can about him on a personal level and go from there.

I sighed. Of course I should talk to him. Except Dominic didn’t want to talk to me. Sebastian didn’t know that though.

Me: I would if he were willing to talk. Sadly, when I went to say hello and see if he wanted to get a cup of tea, he shut the door in my face. Not exactly eager to discuss things with me.

Seb: Ouch. What did you do?

I truly didn’t know because I’d not been able to get him to talk to me.

Me: I wish I knew. I was introduced to him, and although I immediately recognized him as my One, I didn’t acknowledge our connection in that moment. Do you think that’s why he won’t talk to me now?

It took Seb a moment to respond, and when he did, it wasn’t helpful at all.

Seb: I don’t know. I wouldn’t think so, but perhaps he is hurt you ignored your connection in that moment. Or maybe he’s hesitant because you’re there to ask him questions? How did that go, by the way? Was it awkward?

Me: I didn’t ask the questions. I’m still here, but once I recognized Dominic as my One, I reached out to Master Edison and let him know the situation and asked to be removed from the case. My team is still here as far as I know, but Master Edison sent Carrington to do the questioning.

Seb: Ah. So that’s where he went off to. He was here this morning, then suddenly gone. His team is still here though, and nobody knew where Carrington was.

I did feel bad that Carrington got pulled away to do what was my job. I had been tasked to this assignment, and I’d not been able to do it.

Seb: Are you going to try and talk to him again? I can’t believe you completely struck out. You have been so excited about finding your One and starting a family.

Seb: What are you going to do if you end up being the carrier? You said he’s another warlock. One of you has to be the carrier. Are you going to be all right with that?

He brought up valid points and questions. Caspian, Sebastian’s oldest brother just found his own One. But his One was an alpha, and it was immediately obvious that Caspian would be the carrier between the two. Like others, I never would have guessed that for Caspian, but he seemed perfectly happy and content with the way their dynamic had worked out. It was still very early in their relationship, and Caspian had months left to go in his pregnancy, but Dimitri was a good man and I had no doubt that my cousin would be well cared for.

Me: I will be eternally happy to be the carrier in the relationship if it meant I got to have a family with Dominic. I wouldn’t remain an enforcer though. I’d probably ask Master Arthur to join the coven here since Dominic seems to be happily settled in here.

I heard a noise from the entryway of the hallway and when I looked up, I found Master Arthur standing there.

Me: Talk to you soon. Master Arthur is here.

I stood, and as I did so the chair I’d been sitting on disappeared.

“I’ve used that same bit of magic before. But I didn’t recognize that chair at all,” Master Arthur said as he moved to the doorway of his office.

“It’s mine from my place in Montana.” I loved that chair. It was one of my favorites, and was incredibly comfortable. I had two, and since I didn’t yet have a suite here at the coven for my visit, it was just easier to pull a chair from my place in Montana.

“That would be why I didn’t recognize it from any of the rooms here.” Master Arthur gestured to his office. “Shall we?”

I nodded, and when he walked into the office, I followed closely behind. Once Master Arthur was settled behind his desk in the plush office chair, he gave me an expectant look. “Tell me what it is that you wished to discuss with me.” Master Arthur indicated the chair that was on this side of his desk, and I sat.

“I’ve come to ask if you have any tips on how to get Dominic to talk to me. I went to his suite to see if he would go with me to the dining all and have tea or something and we could talk about what we both wanted from our relationship but he never gave me the opportunity. Instead, he closed the door on me and didn’t answer again when I knocked.”

Master Arthur raised both eyebrows at me, surprise evident on his face. “I’m sorry, were you not the same man who was in here just a bit ago saying that under no circumstances whatsoever would you ever consider a relationship with Dominic? And that you were disappointed in the fates because they matched you with someone of his questionable character?”

I winced. I knew when I’d said those words earlier, I was being unfair and would regret them. Now that Master Arthur said them back to me out loud, I really did.

“Yes, that is the gist of it. I was unfair earlier, and I regret being so rash in my words. I would very much like to get to know Dominic, but as I said, he wouldn’t give me a chance to talk to him. Do you happen to have any suggestions as to what I can do to get him to talk to me? Anything at all? I’m open to any and all suggestions at this point because I have found that I do not like having a door closed in my face.”

“Well, I can simply send for him. We can have a conversation and find out why it is that he closed the door on you. I don’t like the thought of someone in my coven being so disrespectful to a guest anyway. Not that you were exactly fair to him, even though he didn’t hear you.” Master Arthur froze shortly after he started to reach for the phone. “Unless he heard you. The door wasn’t closed when we were talking this morning.”

I felt my heart fall from my chest. Oh no. What if that was it? What if Dominic had heard my rant about him? Would I ever get him to talk to me? Would he forgive me if that was the case?

“Don’t go freaking out on me before we talk to him,” Master Arthur said. “I’ll have him come to the office and we can see why he doesn’t wish to talk to you. It’s possible that he simply doesn’t want to be mated. He’s not exactly young.”

I looked at Master Arthur and fought a glare. I wasn’t young either. That didn’t change the fact that I wanted my One though. I longed for a family, and had for some time. What would I do if Dominic didn’t desire those same things? What happened if someone’s fated mate rejected them? I knew what used to happen, but was that still the case? I needed to find out before I stressed myself out to the point of doing something desperate.