CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

Kannan Lieth finished his training at the mountain lodge and was then transferred to Pittsburgh. He'd never been to this area before but was finding it similar to the Boston area apart from the waterfront. This was the beginning of a new life under a new Master, and it felt right. He hadn't served a master in decades and he missed the connection of a master and the security of a coven.

He entered through the back with his duffle and waited as instructed. "Kannan Lieth?" A man a little shorter than him, wearing a suit and carrying a clipboard, walked up to him.

"Yes." He responded evenly.

"My name is Andrew, and I’m Master Hadden's personal assistant. Follow me, and I will take you to your quarters." Andrew smiled and turned away. Kannan could smell wolf on the young vampire, but it was common knowledge that several of Hadden's people were bonded to wolves. Which was the least odd of many of the pairings present in this Coven.

He found this refreshing since his old Coven disavowed any bond that wasn't a vampire. Individuals who found their beloved outside the vampire race were forced to deny them or leave.

Not many in his old Coven ever found their beloveds and it was thought to be Fate's punishment for ignoring her plan. The leadership refused to hear it and held fast to their outdated ideas even as membership continued to dwindle, and morale disappeared.

This was a good place, and he felt the positive vibe the second he met Master Hadden. The man was honest, driven, dedicated to his people, and powerful. He was more powerful than any vampire Kannan had ever met, and yet he did not use that power for personal gain. Everything he did was for the good of his people.

Kannan settled into his new home and his position as one of ten surveillance specialists assigned to patrol the south section of the lowlands. Pittsburgh had been divided into many sections each being guarded, surveilled and patrolled by Hadden soldiers. The south section of the lowlands was one of the more problematic locations and required specialized skills.

Kannan was considered a sensitive and had the ability to sense thoughts, feelings and intents. It served him well in his prior Coven as he worked security for several of the Coven owned businesses. His ability to read people on a deeper level allowed him to avoid many potential problems. It also helped him to see the end coming when his Coven began to splinter tearing people apart. He made his departure before things completely disintegrated.

He was having lunch in the dining hall when Gage, one of the men in his unit came to sit with him. He and Gage had developed a tentative friendship. Gage was also a new recruit from a coven out west. "We're going to check out the Ruby Light tonight and I think it would do you good to come with us." He announced and leaned on the table giving Kannan his full attention.

"Who is we?"

"Remi, Mael, and Micheal said he might stop by along with his beloved Cole, and a few others talked about coming as well." Gage was a friendly guy and easy to be around. Kannan liked him, and so did many others.

"You convinced Mael to join you? I’m impressed." Kannan laughed. Mael was the only recruit who was not a vampire. Mael was a hellhound referred to the Hadden Coven by former pack mates who were currently members of Coven DuCane and mated to one of his soldiers. Mael was looking for a cause and a purpose, and he found it in Pittsburgh. From what Kannan had heard, Master Hadden was very pleased with the addition of a hellhound, as was Killian Frey, Mael"s commander.

"He's ready for a break just like the rest of us." Gage expounded. "We've been trained and tested and tested and trained but I got to say this is the finest coven I have ever worked with." Gage was speaking the truth. Kannan had some doubts about the Hadden Coven when he first heard of their call for membership, but he took a chance and he's glad that he did. Nikolas Hadden was an exemplar leader as were all those in leadership.

"We're meeting at the Ruby Light at nine, be there." Gage emphasized and Kannan gave him a nod. "Good." He said before jumping up and moving to another table. He was gathering as many people as possible for this night at the Ruby Light. He was a good man and excellent for morale.

"We"re all going to the Ruby Light tonight." He whined. "You have to come, Eric. It won't be any fun if you’re not there." Eric glanced across the room at Ron but did not comment. Ron tended to be overly dramatic, and this supposed party at the Ruby Light could very possibly be a figment of his imagination. Ron was Chester"s boyfriend, and Chester was Eric's friend and roommate. Ron started to whine audibly and threw himself back on the sofa. Eric didn't like Ron. There was something about him that gave him the creeps, but Chester was in love, so Eric kept his opinion to himself.

"You have Chester and your friends from work." Eric reminded him. "You don't need me there." It sounded terrible. Eric hated bars and nightclubs, and he had a suspicion that was the only reason Ron was insisting he go.

The man had an odd controlling streak that was quite distasteful. He enjoyed forcing or manipulating people into doing things they did not want to do. He was tired of listening to his relentless badgering, so he got up and went into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water.

"Can't you just show up for a few minutes at least?" Chester had followed him into the kitchen. "I know he's a lot, but he really means no harm. Do it for me." Chester was completely bamboozled by this guy, and he didn't even know it. Eric finished his water and set the glass aside, leaning back on the counter as he regarded his friend.

"There is no reason for me to be there." He stated clearly. "You two go out and have a good time." Eric turned his back and grabbed a package of cookies from the cupboard. He was a stress eater and Chester, and his boyfriend were stressing him out.

"Ron will drive me crazy all night discussing you and your lack of social life if you do not come along. You won't have to stay just one drink and then leave." Chester was adamant, and Eric believed him when he said that Ron would drive him crazy. He didn't like it, but he agreed to go and have one drink and one drink only.

"Good, good." Chester was relieved. "I’ll tell Ron." He was smiling when he left the kitchen. Eric wasn't smiling, and he was growing tired of Ron's constant interference. Eric and Chester had been roommates for about three years, ever since graduating high school, and Ron had been on the scene for only about eight months. Chester"s previous boyfriends couldn't give two shits about Eric, and he liked it that way.

"Meet us at the Ruby Light at nine." Ron stuck his head into the kitchen and gave Eric the orders.

"Nine thirty." Eric just needed to be contrary and exert a little power. Ron narrowed his eyes for a split second and then agreed. When those two finally left, Eric gave a deep sigh of relief. He really liked Chester, and he was an easy man to live with, but Ron made everything difficult and uncomfortable. The man complained about everything, had issues with everyone, and constantly demanded his own way.

He wasn't Eric's boyfriend, and it wasn't his job to coddle him. This was the last time he'd bend to that guy or give into Chester's pleas. The whole thing was ridiculous and unnecessary. Eric worked from home, designing video games and freelance graphic work.

He spent a lot of time in the apartment in his room because that's where his job was located. All his equipment was in his room because he had the largest bedroom with an ensuite. When he left, he could lock the door and not worry about some rando that Chester let in messing with his equipment. Just because he spent a lot of time at home didn't mean he had no social life, and besides, it was not Ron's business.

He checked himself in the mirror and realized he needed to do some preparation before heading out later. He'd worked a lot of hours the last few days, and it showed. He wondered if he had time to get a haircut. He had several hours, so he probably had time. Damn, he wished he could have said no to those two, but maybe he'd have a good time or at least a tolerable time.