Chapter 35

We had a plan. No one liked the plan, but it was the best we could come up with. Dangle some juicy bait, then pounce. We wanted to hit them hard, but somewhere that wouldn’t create a lot of danger to the civilians, and we wanted to pick the battleground.

Now that we had that settled, we were going to have “the talk,” and we were all uncomfortable as hell about it.

“So, how exactly is this supposed to work with all of us?” I finally broke the uncomfortable silence. We’d gathered either on or around the couch.

“Communication,” Oliver said after a moment with an ironic twist to his lips. “Which, clearly, we are doing quite well with.”

“We’re here,” Bridger pointed out. “That’s a start.”

“Okay, so we just have to set boundaries. Like, if one of us is having a date night, the others don’t interrupt unless invited or there’s an emergency.” I hoped I was on the right track.

“I think that’s an excellent boundary.” Oliver shifted on his chair before setting a cup on the coffee table.

Katsuro nodded after a moment’s consideration. “Yes. Perhaps we should set up a group calendar so the others know if we have something planned.”

It seemed Katsuro, the ancient-ass vampire, was good with technology. I hadn’t even thought of that.

“Good idea,” Bridger said. “I think I can set up something that will be a little more secure than your average calendar sharing. We’ll still have enemies, even after we defeat Vito. Maybe even more because your territory will expand.”

“Good thought,” Katsuro replied. “With this mark that we will all share, we should know if the other is in trouble.”

Davin, who hadn’t said anything since we finalized our plan, shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes, we know you still need to talk with your pack elders, Davin. Do not feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to do. We can make this work even without.”

“I will talk with the pack,” Davin replied. “They have accepted Hannah on the assumption that she would take my mark. If she won’t, or if my taking hers is a problem for them, I’ll have to step away.” Davin kept his voice neutral, but somehow, I could sense the hurt that caused him.

Right now, there wasn’t anything I could say to make it better. I was accepting Katsuro’s mark because he was taking mine. I don’t know that I would have agreed otherwise. I had to be on somewhat equal footing with the two powerful men, otherwise I’d feel like a pawn. Of course, where did that put me with Oliver and Bridger? They had no mark to return to me, though Oliver had asked for this and Bridger had accepted before we’d really understood what we were doing.

This was all so damn confusing.

“We need to be open if something is bothering us,” I blurted out. “Davin has made a really good start with his concerns, and we need to support that.”

He gave me a guarded but grateful look.

“And, at least where our relationships are concerned, we need to treat everyone equally. Politics aside, this is a partnership.” I hoped we could figure out how to navigate that.

“Katsuro, Davin, this is your territory. You’ve been good for the area. I have no issues with following your lead when it comes to politics and securing our peace here,” Bridger said.

“And your input, whether you know we’re listening or not, has always been valuable,” Katsuro said with a smile.

Bridger ran his hand through his hair and tightened his lips before replying. “I guess I knew your people were everywhere. I’m glad you listened.”

Oliver tilted his head, indicating assent.

I glanced at Davin, again. He had leaned back and seemed to be distancing himself from us. It hurt, a little. I liked Davin, and I knew he liked me, but if he couldn’t handle the dynamic, it would be better to find out now than later. Still, the thought of losing him tore at me. Right now wasn’t the time to address it, though. Later, when we would have a chance to talk alone. That would be the best time to talk to the werewolf. My memories of our interrupted date and how kind he’d been and how much he and his pack had done for me. Not to mention how blazing hot he was. Davin would make a good partner if we could work out everything we needed to.

Oliver squeezed my arm and Nimbus laid his head on my knee. I scratched the cloud dog behind his incredibly soft ears and gave my shade a grateful look.

“Well, it seems like we need to leave you and Katsuro to it,” Bridger said, slapping his thighs and standing. “Katsuro, I will think about taking your mark.”

Katsuro stood as well. “You are physically the weakest amongst us now that Hannah has powers. I’m not discounting your experiences or skills, but it would be best if you could heal more quickly. I will make a blood promise that I will not require subservience from you and will consider anything else you might require of me. I offer this only to strengthen you.”

Bridger thought for a moment then took a breath. “Yeah, probably a good idea then. My hesitations are more based on my past, at this point.”

“Your past?” Katsuro invited him to continue.

“Yeah, werewolves killed my mother. Tore her apart in front of me.” He clenched his jaw before shrugging. “Obviously, it was a long time ago, and, clearly, I don’t hate supernatural beings. I just never expected I’d find myself in a position where I’d want to tie myself to one, or several, yet here I am, bound to a witch and connected to a shade and soon a vampire. It’s not terrible, just a mental shift.”

“Ahh, my sympathies.” Katsuro bowed slightly. “Though it was in ancient times, I also suffered many losses to vampires while I was a human. This, perhaps more than anything else, is what drove me to create my own power base and haven, so I could do my part to prevent others from experiencing the same fate.”

Bridger and Katsuro shared a quick but meaningful glance that filled me with hope that we’d all be able to make this work despite some of our differences, though that he now considered me a supernatural being was a bit mind blowing. I’d been only human, but now? I guess I hadn’t thought too much about it.

Oliver gave me a quick hug then he and Bridger left. We turned our attention to Davin.

“Hannah, we’ll talk.” He took my hands in his before bringing one up to his lips and kissing my knuckles.

I took that as a good sign, but a pained twinge curled through me as he left.

Katsuro offered me his hand. I let him pull me into a comforting embrace.

“He’ll come around, Hannah. The pack dynamic requires he consult with his people before he does anything drastic.”

“I mean, I have three of you. I shouldn’t be greedy, right?”

Katsuro’s chuckle rumbled through me, as I was pressed against him. “Nothing wrong with being greedy, sunshine.”

“Okay, so how do we do this?”

“The simplest way is a blood exchange,” Katsuro said.

I wrinkled my nose.

“It’s not that bad.”

“You’re a vampire!”

“Well, yes.” He kissed my hand much like Davin had. “But I promise, it’s not that bad. Just a taste. And no matter what else we get up to,” his voice dipped into the seductive ranges. “It does require a blood exchange. Even with the werewolves. So, we can just do the ceremony, or we can have sex after.”

“Oh, I vote for sex.”

He laughed. “No objection. Let’s go someplace a bit more private.”

“Like, do you have a lair or something?”

The vampire snorted. “No, though we do have an extensive underground complex under the coffee shop where the majority of my vampires live during the day.”

“Oh, holy crap, that’s so cool. Is it safe though? If the enemy knows where it is, could they attack you there?”

“It’s likely that Vito knows where our complex is. It’s a standard design in this part of the country. It is also very secure and comes with quite a few built-in protections. We’re not helpless during the day, just inconvenienced.”

“Okay, good. Just seems like having everyone in one place could be bad if someone had, like, I don’t know, napalm or something.”

Katsuro took a breath. “Yes, that could be a problem, but I think you will be reassured after a tour.”

“I’m surprised you’re letting me down there.”

“You’re to be my bonded mate, of course you can come down. Nimbus, too, of course.” He squeezed me gently before shifting us so he could offer me his arm.

I accepted, and he led us out of the coffee shop’s back room, the cloud dog on our heels.

Instead of turning toward the main dining area, he led me the other direction until we reached what appeared to be a utility closet. It even had all the necessary cleaning supplies. Another non-descript door led us out the back and into a plain industrial-looking corridor complete with florescent lights and chipped linoleum floors.

“We obviously need a utility closet anyway,” Katsuro said. “And it keeps curious innocents from accidentally stumbling on something they shouldn’t. There are security cameras and vampires monitor them constantly.”

We turned a corner at the end of the hallway and a vampire lounged in a reasonably comfortable looking chair, idly poking at a computer keyboard. She looked up when we approached and stood, bowing.

“M’lord Katsuro.”

“Shelby. This is Hannah and her cloud dog, Nimbus. Add them to the authorized list, please.”

“Of course. Please, put your hand here.” The last, she said to me.

A portion of the desk lit up in the shape of a hand.

“You are high tech here.”

My vampire mate shrugged. “Of course.”

I did as instructed, and she took a scan.

To my surprise, she repeated the process with Nimbus, her eyes alight with joy at seeing him. He consented to a scratch, then demanded another to her delight.

Then Katsuro placed his hand on the panel, as well, and the door behind her slid open. This was the start of the security that let me believe Katsuro was right in saying they were safe. It would take a literal tank to get through that thick metal door. I followed him through to an elevator.

“There is a stairwell, also, if needed, but the elevator is much faster.”

He pushed a button, and we went down.

“Some crazy engineering must have gone into the construction of an underground complex.”

“Yes. We’ve expanded over time, as well. Many of my vampires have modern, advanced degrees.”

When we got to the bottom, the elevator opened into a scene out of a Victorian mansion. Except, the more I looked, the more I saw influences from many cultures, including a heavy Asian overtone. Which made sense since Katsuro was Asian.

“Who decorated?”

He smiled. “Everyone, really. It clashes a bit, but we like it.”

I followed him through the heavy wood paneled corridors for a way, marveling at the treasures from around the world that everyone had displayed. We went down a wide flight of stairs, took a right and Katsuro led me through another door that opened into a cultivated Japanese garden, complete with robust plant life.

“The grow lights are mildly uncomfortable, and many choose to avoid the gardens, or switch the lights over to something a bit more vampire friendly while they are enjoying them. This is my personal space. A few others enter to care for the gardens, but I and they can tolerate the discomfort easily. I will introduce you to them at some point. They are my oldest companions.”

I walked over the wooden footbridge and watched the koi dart underneath. The air smelled faintly floral, and peace pervaded the atmosphere.

“This is amazing.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I glanced up at Katsuro. His eyes lit up with joy at my appreciation.

“This way. We will spend more time here and you are welcome any time, day or night.”

Nimbus grumbled, dipping a paw in the water and staring intently at the koi.

“No hunting!” I scolded him. I didn’t actually know if cloud dogs hunted or not, but I suspected from his interest, that they did.

He huffed, looking abashed.

“This way.” Katsuro led us into his home. I didn’t know much about Japanese architecture, only what I’d seen in movies, but this seemed to fit with everything I’d observed. He gave me a quick tour of the place. It was beautiful, everything crafted to perfection. His home was smaller than I would have expected from his position, but they did live underground so that might have been part of it.

In the dining area, he seated me at a low table where I sat cross-legged. Nimbus sat next to me and looked expectantly at Katsuro.

Katsuro ruffled the cloud dog’s soft ears before leaving the room.

He returned a moment later with a delicate tea service. “A small ceremony before we proceed.”

Though I didn’t know the meaning behind his actions, it was clear each precise movement had a purpose, and I did my best to follow along with a few of his murmured instructions and match the gravity of his intent. He included Nimbus in the tea service, providing a not quite matching bowl that would accommodate the cloud dog’s lack of thumbs. Nimbus was appropriately solemn for the event.

The vampire smiled approvingly at my efforts as we sipped the delicate tea. “If you want to learn, I will teach you some of my culture in the future,” he offered.

“Yes, please. I’d like to know more about all of you.”

His smile widened. “And, as much as you care to share your past, I’d like to know more about where you came from.”

“When this is all settled.”

Katsuro inclined his head.

Once we’d finished our tea, he helped me to our feet. “Nimbus, feel free to amuse yourself in the gardens, but please don’t eat my fish.”

The cloud dog held up his paw as if in promise before trotting toward the closed door and disappearing. I could see his silhouette appear on the other side of the thin walls and he wagged his plumed tail as he trotted back toward the garden.

“Now, shall we?”

I licked my lips partially in nervousness, and partially in anticipation. “Yes.”

The vampire smiled, showing more than a hint of fang. He was clearly ready for this, too.