CHAPTER THREE

A listar was pleased with his honesty and directness. Neal was trying to stop himself from talking from saying too much, but it was clearly in his nature to speak his mind. The growing bond between them would simply make that impulse stronger. Trust was growing within him even if he did not recognize what was happening.

"You're not ridiculous, and I love the sound of your voice too." Alistar moved closer to Neal, not touching him but close enough to enjoy his amazing scent and feel the power of their connection. Neal smiled softly and looked up at him with those beautiful, big blue eyes. What a feeling it was to have his adored so close. "I also love having you near me and the way your eyes touch mine."

Neal was silent for a few seconds, and he just stared up at Alistar. "I'm pretty sure you're not going to kill me. I'm getting a sense of warmth and kindness from you that goes against the scene that I witnessed earlier. I do believe you were acting in someone's best interest, probably mine, and not just raging and killing and setting things on fire." He glanced nervously around the room once he made that statement, not sure he was saying the right thing, obviously.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence." Alistar joked and Neal gave him another smile which was lovely.

"I would like to go home. I need to process it this evening and figure out where I can go from here. I won't say anything to the cops about anything I saw; you have my word." That last sentence had a bit of unease attached to it, and that bothered Alistar.

"The police are not my concern. There are no bodies rogue vampires burn with a blue flame, and nothing is left behind. The business appears to have ignited due to an electrical issue. There is nothing for the police to find or to question. The paranormal world takes care of itself." Alistar briefly explained the situation. "No one will bother you about it."

"That's good, I guess." He looked so uncomfortable and Alistar did not know what to say to make the situation better. The bond was slow, and his understanding was also slow. He knew a little but not enough to know what was happening. "I'd like to go home." He asked again and Alistar could not deny him.

"Okay, I'll take you home, but please be careful and watchful of your surroundings."

"Why?"

"I killed two of the rogues but two escaped. I don't know if they saw you or scented you but until they are caught please do not go out at night." Alistar didn't want to frighten him, but he wanted him to be aware of the fact that there could be danger for him in the dark.

"I'll be careful."

It was killing him, but he couldn't keep Neal there against his will. He'd hoped to have enough time together for the bond to take shape and perhaps get to know one another. But the violence and the blood were weighing on Neal, and he needed time alone to process what happened and what he was feeling. Alistar understood, but he did not like it.

"I'll drive you home."

"Thank you." The relief was palatable, and it hurt a little. He put in a call to have some groceries delivered to Neal's place. It was the least he could do. His adored needed to eat. He planned to have more delivered tomorrow perhaps a nice steak dinner would be good for him. With those thoughts he reached out his hand and Neal took it without hesitation.

Master Elan Kilconnor sent Rian Dobre and his team out to track down the two rogue vampires that had gotten away from Alistar. It was vital that they be neutralized before they could wreak further havoc on the city.

He received a call just before dawn that they had cornered and eliminated one down by the park among the tourist attractions. He had bitten a human, but Rian was able to save the man and get him care but also wiped his memory of the attack. Rogues could be such a nightmare, putting vampires and all the paranormal world at risk of discovery.

"I thought they would have stayed and hunted together." Rian comments to the Master. "They worked the drycleaning trap together."

"There is no understanding a rogue they act solely in their need for sustenance and at any cost. Nothing will stand between them and their next meal." Master Kilconnor kept a tight rein on this city. He knew everything and everyone, and there was no place for rogues in his city. "Take care of it, Rian. Rogues are bad for business."

"We'll find him." After Rian left Elan put in a call to Alistar. Alistar was the ultimate fixer and while Elan appreciated the fact that Alistar had found his adored and needed time Elan found himself impatiently waiting for the man to be back on the job. Alistar was one of a kind the best at what he did bringing death and destruction to an art form.

This rogue gave Elan a bad feeling. There was something more to him than just rampant out of control thirst for blood and death which governed rogue vampires. The set up at the drycleaning business showed thought and design two things decidedly missing in all rogues.

The death toll at the business had reached three before coming to the attention of his lieutenants. Rogues are anything but subtle and are incapable of making such complicated plans. They are into immediate gratification and nothing else, so this rogue did not ring true.

He put in another call. "Sloan, find out everything you can on that drycleaning business Alistar took out last night. I want everything."

Neal called his brother as soon as he arrived home and asked him to come over. Byron was five years older than him and a good judge of people and situations. He just had a very level head and could see through most bullshit. Neal always ran things by him whenever he had doubts about something or someone. Byron's advice was spot on at least ninety-nine percent of the time.

"I can't come over right now I'm in the middle of a project, but I can put you on speaker and we can talk." Byron was a gaming analyst and a very good one no bugs or glitches ever got past him. He was always busy with a backlog of projects, but he loved what he did so it wasn't really work for him.

"Good enough." Neal just needed to hear his take on everything. He, too, put his phone on speaker and relaxed on the couch with a soft drink and a sandwich. Someone, he's assuming Alistar had bought him groceries, and the manager had given them access. He was touched by the thoughtfulness.

He drank his soda, ate his ham sandwich, and explained his entire night to Byron, including the strange way that Alistar made him feel. Byron did not interrupt, and when finished, Neal sat silently, waiting for his take on it all.

He hadn't used the word vampire or paranormal just insane and bizarre and also peppered in wild and peculiar. He told Alistar he wouldn't tell anyone about the vampire thing, and he felt the need to hold to that promise.

"Is Alistar part of Agincourt? You know, that banking conglomerate?" Byron asked, not as shocked or dismayed by his story as Neal had expected. Neal wondered how he'd made such a leap, but he wasn't wrong.

"Yes, he works for Agincourt," Neal responded.

"Did he happen to tell you his job title? Is he part of the leadership, security, or a higher-level position?" Neal had no idea where Byron was going with this.

"He just said he's a fixer." That got him a response. "His supervisor or boss or the guy he answers to is Von Hale but I don't know what his title is."

"Holy fuck, Neal . . . Neal, wow . . . I don't know what to say." Byron was flabbergasted and struggling to provide some kind of answer. "He's a fixer for the Agincourt group?" He seemed to need further clarification.

"Yes, that's what he said. He was very kind to me, very thoughtful. He saved my life, Byron." Neal felt the need to defend Alistar.

"I'm coming over, and we have to talk." With that, Byron closed the call, and Neal sat there more confused now than he was when he started.

Alistar was angry and on edge not a good combination for a man like him. The rogue that escaped Rian was his focus at the moment. The one Rian caught was bald and wearing coveralls. Alistar remembered him. The other was blond well dressed in a suit and tie and looked decidedly out of place with the other three, but he was taking part and exhibited similar violent and sadistic behavior as did the rogues. He would be dealt with likewise.

Word was that he was spotted downtown at the eastern end which was less populated, and a bit run down. If the man was looking for victims this would be the place to hang out. Although he would stand out in his suit and tie. Alistar was searching a derelict building one of many on the block when he received a call from Master Kilconnor.

"I hear that you're tracking the rogue." He stated.

"Yes, sir."

"Why are you not with your adored?"

"He wanted some space and some time to process everything. The awareness was coming upon him, and he became overwhelmed." It sounded idiotic now that he said it out loud. They were a Fated pair, and they should be together building their bond.

"I understand the desire to give your loved one what he asks for, but I wouldn't stay away too long, Alistar. I have not found my adored yet, but I remember my father saying that the closeness between a Fated pair is imperative to build a strong and lasting bond." The Master paused for a second and then added the punch.

"The longer you are apart, the more the vampire in you will yearn for and crave your adoration. It will get out of your control, and the hunger will take over. Do not let that happen. I need you back as soon as possible and at full capability. Don't become weakened by confusion and uncertainty." His words were not simply a warning. They were an order. "I know you want to finish this job, but Rian is capable of handling it. Go to your adored and set things right. I need you, Alistar. I need you settled and back on the job. You're my best."

Alistar was touched by his words. "I'll go to him sir and I will get this settled. I need him and he needs me." It was time to clear the air and lay it out to Neal, they were a Fated pair and he had to be feeling it too by now. The awareness would help him and ease the way. It had been several hours, and the separation was becoming distracting and painful. He thought he could stay away but it was proving impossible.

Byron entered the apartment and went straight for the bottled water before meeting Neal in the living room. He sat on the edge of the chair with his forearms resting on his thighs and he stared at Neal and shook his head. "You're dating a fixer who works for Agincourt and just so you know, Mr. Von Hale is one of the executive level managers at Agincourt."

"Not dating Alistar, but I just met him last night." Neal clarified.

"He saved your life and then provided you care throughout the night."

"Yes, he did." Neal felt good about that fact and found his need to support his new friend was outweighing his fears and confusion. He shouldn't be discussing Alistar with his brother a feeling of disloyalty was coming over him. He should put an end to this Alistar deserved his loyalty and protection.

"Agincourt Bank is a very powerful entity. A fixer is a problem solver who operates below the radar, and in regard to Agincourt, that would be someone who makes their problems go away. When I say go away, I mean they don't care how he does it. They just want it done. Your Alistar is a very dangerous man, and I would advise that you stay away from him." That wasn't what he wanted to hear, and honestly, he could not equate his Alistar with some heartless, bloodthirsty killer, although he did make short work of those guys at the dry cleaner.

"He dealt with some very violent people who were planning to eat me. He took care of me and seemed rather disappointed when I asked to go home. I think he wanted to hang out a while longer. I don't see anything wrong with the guy I was just spooked by everything." Neal continued to defend Alistar; he felt a yearning in his heart, and he was beginning to miss him.

He wondered where Alistar was and what he was doing and if he was thinking about him. He suddenly felt stupid for needing to go home and talk to his brother. He should have talked to Alistar and worked this out with the source. He wasn't afraid of him, and he longed to be with him again. He couldn't keep his mind on the discussion as his thoughts continually turned to Alistar.

"They're not human." Byron blurted, pulling Neal away from his brooding thoughts.

"Who?" He snapped.

"Agincourt, they aren't human."

"What are they?" Neal knew, but he wanted to see what Byron had to say.

"I don't know for sure, vampires maybe or demons of some sort. I know you don't believe me, but it's true they're something beyond human, although they look human." Byron took a drink of his water and then stared at it for a few seconds before continuing. "I saw them they're not human."

"You believe in vampires?" Neal asked.

"I do now." He said sharply. "I saw some things at the Sin Lounge a few months ago, and it was eye-opening." He took another drink, nearly draining the bottle. "A friend was working with an associate from Agincourt and told me some scary stuff."

"Who?"

"I don't want to say; I don't want to get him into trouble. Agincourt takes care of themselves, and they have people, like Alistar, who handle their problems quickly and cleanly." He looked pointedly at Neal.

"I know about the vampire angle, and I know there are some supernatural aspects to this town, but with that said, I have to tell you that I trust Alistar." Neal sat up and regarded his brother squarely.

"I was scared at first, but the longer I was with him, the more I understood and the more I liked the guy. I don't know the details of what he does for Agincourt, but I know that what he did last night served to protect us all. Those things were insane." He paused and took a deep breath. "I ran because I was inundated with so much information so fast that I couldn't take it all in. But now I'm starting to understand."

"Are you going to see him again?"

"I hope so." He surprised himself with his own words. It was how he was feeling, but he hadn't expected to put it out there like that. "I was overwhelmed by it all and needed some space to think, and he brought me home, no questions asked. He's not a bad man, Byron."

"If you're lucky he won't pursue this further." Byron stated direct and to the point as always. "Most of the Agincourt people simply enjoy a good time they aren't into dating or relationships. A few are married but not many from what I understand." He took another sip of his water and glanced absently around the room.

"The second in command, Sloan Dobre, recently got married to a local boy, a nondescript little man with very little to offer someone of Sloan's caliber. He probably functions as nothing but a blood bag, and I don't want that sort of future for you."

"That's gross, Byron. I won't be a blood bag."

"It could be you, Neal."

"Alistar is someone I hope to see again, and I hope she finds me interesting enough to date and have a relationship," Neal told him, but Byron kept shaking his head.

"Why did you bother asking me if you already had made up your mind about it?"

"I hadn't made up my mind but listening to you bad mouth him made me realize that he's really a good man and talking to you made me recognize that my feelings are growing for him."

"Well, when it blows up in your face, remember what I said." Byron sat back and finished his water. Byron was a good judge of people, but Neal was certain that he was not reading Alistar correctly. He never met him and never spoke to him, so he didn't know anything apart from his job title, which seemed to weird him out.

"I'll remember what you said," Neal repeated with a smile, and his brother tossed the empty plastic bottle at him. Just then, he received a message on his phone, a message he'd been waiting for since last night. It was his boss, Mrs. Reginald Ball.

"Don't bother coming to work again, ever; you're fired. That dress was everything to me, and you let it go up in flames. If you'd picked it up on time, it wouldn't have gotten destroyed. Don't bother shopping for another assistant position, I'll make sure everyone knows what a useless disappointment you are." Neal read it several times and then handed his phone to Byron.

"That was brutal," Byron commented.

"It was just a matter of time anyway. She was impossible to please." He then received another text from her stating that he could come and pick up his final check later in the day and it would be ready after five.

"Why doesn't she just mail it to you or use direct deposit?"

"I don't know. She's peculiar. I'd rather pick it up anyway. It could take her forever to drop it in the mail."