6. Killian

Chapter six

Killian

S ophie was early.

Jules and I had just changed from swimming and were about to sit down to supper when the doorbell gonged. I carried him to the door, turned off the alarm, and opened it.

“I’m so sorry! I drove. The timing is so different!” Sophie greeted. Her black hair held streaks of red, and her eyes were two different colors. She was a mix of Blood-right and Demi-deuil.

“It’s all right. I hate driving, too,” I said. Jules waved at her and put his head down on my shoulder as I let her in. “Have you eaten?”

“No. Oh, no. I’m interrupting supper!”

I smiled. “As I said, it’s all right.”

I locked the door behind her and set the alarm again.

“You need a shield, don’t you?” she asked as I returned to get Jules’ plate. He held onto his juice when I handed it to him, and I told her to make hers.

“Yes, a shield would be nice,” I murmured.

“The First sets those,” she nodded. “I’m not sure I could set it. My father was a Bonnie, but one without any magic.”

“Don’t worry. I can set it,” I said. As soon as I figured out what the boundaries were.

Jules and I waited until she joined us and then we began eating.

“Oh, this is delicious,” Sophie said between bites.

I smiled at Jules, who was ecstatic over the home-cooked meal. Maisy would have made him something like the snack I’d given him. He cleaned his plate and really wanted more. I stood then, kissed the top of his head, and took his plate to the kitchen for more roast. He was smaller than I expected, and I understood why Enzo didn’t want Maisy watching Jules anymore. Lions ate a lot, especially growing cubs. She possibly left him alone a lot, too, based on his comment about me being here after his nap.

I set the plate in front of Jules, who sighed happily and thanked me.

“Any time. I’m going to make you some snacks you can reach, okay? Then you eat when you are hungry.” I put my hand on top of his head, and he beamed at me.

“Thank you, Papa.”

Where was he before? Sophie asked.

With a woman named Maisy. Enzo didn’t like her and I see why now, I thought.

I really want the job, Killy. Coleen will give me an account to pay people. I’ve heard Cassandra has quite a few bills in town. Most of the staff at Cypress Wood are MacLadens. Matt is trying to keep up with enough hours for them, too. Some of them need places to live. They are supporting family members who had money before Xeno robbed them.

You found out more than I did, then, I replied. Bobbi Jo Wheeler has asked for a store here, and I told Coleen yes. Could you find out in the morning if there was a grocery store in town? Anything we can convert to a grocery store? I’m also thinking a hotel on the other end of Main Street. It’s been catering to humans, but I didn’t see any.

Sophie nodded. I’ll go in the morning, say, around ten. Matt said a lot of his guests were on their way to Banthard, the town out of time.

It is that, I thought. Great business idea, but, driving back to Cypress Wood after?

Too far, Sophie thought. He should still have business for them on the way down, but I agree. A hotel on the way out would be perfect.

In keeping with the seventies theme, one of those hotels with a lobby, a restaurant, a pool in the center, and the rooms open to the pool. All indoors, I raised my eyebrows.

I agree with that. I’d like to add a lifeguard.

Sure. I smiled.

“Papa,” Jules sighed. He was nodding off.

“Ah. Sophie, bring your things in, and let me put him to bed,” I said, lifting Jules from the seat. He put his head down on my shoulder, and I walked to the bedroom, stopping in my bathroom to wash his face and hands. I’d intended to brush teeth, but he was sound asleep and snuggled in when I laid him down. He pulled the baby blanket to his nose, and I covered him up.

Taking the handset for the baby monitor, I turned the base on and left.

Sophie met me in the hall for the bedrooms. She’d chosen the one closest to the kitchen. “This is really nice! I have a bathroom, too!”

“I’m glad you like it. Did you rent the car?”

“I bought it. I was moving towards Fire’s Rise anyway, so I bought a car.”

“Let me put it in the garage for you?”

“Or just open the bay?” She raised her eyebrows.

It took five minutes to do that, and then I cleaned the kitchen, making little bowls for Jules. There was a small wine fridge below the counter, and I removed the bottles. Sophie took them to the refrigerator in the pantry, and I put Jules’ snacks in there. I found a marker in the drawer and wrote his name on the glass door, drawing little paw prints, too.

“You’re good at being Papa, aren’t you?” Sophie asked.

“Not really. I learned everything from Indy. He’s a good Papa.”

She handed me juice cups, and I put them in the fridge, too.

“Now, where were we?” she asked, bringing plates from the kitchen.

We discussed the future of Banthard, and she took the list Charlene had given me.

“I’ll text Coleen and let her know to put you on payroll. You can do what you want for now. I think I’m going to read.”

“Thanks,” Sophie smiled and I left her in the kitchen.

Didn’t have to tell her she was welcome to anything or to make herself at home. She knew the job was similar to being Dante’s assistant at the hotel in Colorado and similar to managing the hotel. The Pride was a business in one sense. It was handling money, seeing to the needs of the Pride members, and making sure nobody fought over anything.

I texted Coleen, who was happy about Sophie, and then, on a whim, I texted Zander.

Indy had a cookout on Friday nights for Fire Ridge Pride, and the members came, brought food, and got to talk to Indy and Blue Wheeler, who had taken over for his Papa, Jaime.

I had the idea to shield the house and the back of the property, but the front needed a covered pavilion and possibly a bathroom. I wanted the Pride to feel welcome to talk to me and to draw the line so they weren’t in my house. I wasn’t going into their homes. Mine would not be open for business.

Zander texted me back immediately, and I smiled, settling on the bed to read his response.

Zander: Hey. I think a pavilion is a great idea. My crew is starting a job tomorrow in Spartanburg. I can stop by tomorrow around noon if you want to discuss the specs?

Me: That works. You could show me my property boundaries? I really want to run, but not in the house. Could you stay for lunch?

I took a chance with the question. Wouldn’t mind getting to know him, and lunch was informal.

Zander: I can, yeah.

Tell him about Sophie, Yael demanded. He will not be happy if he’s our mate and finds someone else here.

Me: I hired a First today. Sophie is from Colorado and used to be Dante’s personal assistant. She’s going to talk to people for me. I’m glad there are a lot of bedrooms in this house. I think I might be seeing a lot of my personal banker. Coleen seems to be interested in Sophie’s welfare.

Smooth, Yael thought.

Zander: I’ve met Coleen. I told her she’d meet a beautiful woman.

Me: I’m glad you were correct and hope they are happy together.

I left the bed then, checked on Jules, who was still sound asleep, and hurried to the kitchen. Coleen had brought me a ham, and I put it in the slow cooker on low. It would be ready in the morning and cool enough to eat by lunch.

Make bread, Yael thought.

Right.

My phone vibrated with another text, and I glanced at the screen.

Zander: I’m sorry about Ozzi. He’s an ass sometimes.

Ozzi?

The man introduced us to Zander after the fight, Yael thought.

Me: Don’t worry about Ozzi. He is always himself. I didn’t think anything about it because I was busy bleeding on you. I’m so sorry about that.

Zander: Would it be weird for me to say I didn’t mind? I know most people consider it gross. With my magic, though, It was nice to find someone whose blood didn’t tell me anything about them.

Oh, well, he was getting personal.

Killy, don’t fuck this up! Erebus is not our mate! Yael thought.

Me: Couldn’t imagine not being able to touch someone. Really glad my magic isn’t like that. Sex must be a bitch.

Killy! That’s too personal! Yael chastised.

Well, I want to know, dammit! You think he’s awesome, which may be true. I’m not giving up sex.

Relationships aren’t about sex, Yael argued.

There are plenty of people I don’t fuck, Yael.

My phone vibrated, and I concentrated on kneading the dough before I answered. Then, I sent Zander an apology and an image of the dough before covering it with a cloth.

Zander: I would like to know what it’s like to have sex without rubber gloves and a condom.

“Eww,” I muttered, and Yael decided to respond.

Me: We should find out.

“Yael!” I hissed as he tapped send. It was hard sharing a Vessel with a lion. Most of the time, he let me control the skin. Rarely did he respond like that. “I let you be you furry. You let me be me, dammit!”

Then flirt, Yael thought.

I grabbed the phone back and sighed.

Me: Sorry. Yael is upset with me for not flirting. He’s a little demanding where you are concerned. We didn’t have a mate, and the possibility of one is making him testy.

Zander: Crow is demanding about you, too. The bread looks good. I can cook eggs, but not much else.

I cleaned the mess, leaned against the counter, checked the screen on the baby monitor, and then responded. Texting was a good way to get to know one another, wasn’t it? I didn’t know. Ere had flirted with me, and then we fucked the first time. Followed that pattern for the last eighty years. I’d learned to be nasty, flirty, and dirty and walk away after. With Zander, I’d be playing for keeps.

Me: We all cooked in Colorado and at Lighthouse. Had to learn to use a woodstove because some of the rescues were from the past, and didn’t even know what indoor plumbing was.

The conversation continued from there, and he told me about helping Judge find some of those rescues.

We talked until I had the bread baked and cooling on the stove, which took around three hours. Then, I definitely had to go to bed. Didn’t know what time Jules would be up, and I needed sleep. I told him I had to go and I’d see him at lunch. I put the bread away, washed the pans, and headed to bed, hoping Jules slept through the night.