CHAPTER FIVE

"H as he arrived Maxwell?" Mrs. Ball asked clearly on her last ounce of patience. Maxwell stepped back and put several feet of clearance between them. He did not trust her not to lash out at him since she had done it before when displeased.

"No, ma'am, he has not." He told her and watched her face contort in a rage. She needed him to complete her treatment. Maxwell had offered a replacement, but she was adamant that it had to be that one. It had to be Neal Shawn.

He decided to make the offer once again since she was obviously running out of options. They did not have any further connection to the young man now that she had fired him, but he wouldn't bring that up not in her current state of anger. "I can find you someone else."

She rounded on him and began pointing her index finger into his face. "I want him and only him, Maxwell. He's a useless human with no ties and no worth, and no one will miss him." She ranted. "I tried to clear his mind when he inadvertently walked in while I was pleasuring myself with a donor, and I could not clear his mind. He's destined to be an adored, and the power and the potency of his blood is priceless. I must have him before he is discovered and claimed. He must be mine, Maxwell."

"They're looking for me, and they think I'm a rogue like the others. Agincourt and the Kilconnor Coven intend to kill me." All he got was laughter from Franchesca. His torment and fears meant nothing to her. He had to stay in hiding but she would not stand for that.

"Perhaps he will come tomorrow. He's going to want his final check; he won't leave it." Maxwell suggested.

"I have half what I need, and it will not last until tomorrow. I must have him, and you will get him for me, or you will take his place." She swung around, giving him her back, and headed for the door, leaving him alone in the salon.

She was serious. He'd watched it happen to a previous employee. If he didn't bring that young man to her, it would be his blood filling her purpose. He had a feeling he was going to die soon, either at Kilconnor's hands or Franchesca's. No one lived long who worked in the employ of Mrs. Reginald Ball.

He had an address, and it was getting on past nine. The sun would be completely set soon. He decided to take two of the guards with him and simply take the man by force if he had to. He walked over to the window and looked out onto the street below. It was an old and monied section of town big, grand homes and manicured lawns and best of all everyone minded their own business.

Neal had settled into Alistar's arms easily and naturally. He couldn't believe that this was the same man who had frightened the life out of him such a short time ago. He was convinced at the time that Alistar was planning to kill him, but that belief left as soon as he experienced his warmth and his heart. The longer he was with him and the better he got to know him, the more Neal fell for him.

The supernatural aspect of it all just added a spice that was shocking and confusing at first but now seemed interesting and exciting. He felt no strangeness or danger, and that's what made the information, or rather the awareness, as Alistar called it, easy to accept.

A lot of things in Charlotte were making sense now that he knew the whole truth regarding some businesses and residents. It also cleared up some questions he had about his boss Mrs. Reginald Ball. She was part of the Kilconnor Coven he knew that now not sure how he knew it, but he did.

"Do you know Mrs. Reginald Ball? Her husband is a big wig in the arts. I think he's a collector or something and he's worth a lot of money. They live up on the gold coast with the other privileged few." Neal lay with his head on Alistar's shoulder loving the comfort and the safety he felt being so close.

"They're members of the Kilconnor Coven, but you know that." He smiled and kissed the side of his head. "The awakening is unfolding many mysteries for you."

"It's quite eye-opening." Neal agreed. "I work as her personal assistant, or rather I did. She fired me when I failed to retrieve that dress from the dry cleaner. That's why I was so desperate to get it, but in retrospect, I'm glad I failed. I'd rather lose a job than lose my life." He snuggled close, clinging onto Alistar, and drank in the masculine scent. Nothing smelled as good as this man. Neal wanted to bathe in the aroma and cover himself in it.

"She fired you?" He sounded incredulous. "That bitch." Neal chuckled at his contempt. "You don't need her. Besides, she has a reputation for not keeping assistants or household staff long. Be glad you're away from there."

"The money was good, but the demands were constant and difficult." Neal would miss the money but not the woman.

"You need anything, I will take care of it. There are better jobs out there and I will help you." Alistar was unwavering on this point and fighting him on it seemed useless since he'd welcome the help in securing another job before his bills started coming due.

"Thank you." He said and left it there.

Alistar moved to cover him and began spreading kisses across Neal's shoulders and down his chest, covering him in rousing, spinetingling sensations. Neal noticed that for a large man, Alistar moved swiftly and easily. He was suddenly on him, kissing him hard and fully taking his lips in a ravenous embrace while his hands worked Neal's body to a fever pitch.

"I want to claim you again," Alistar growled against his ear.

"Every inch of me aches for you, Alistar." Neal wasn't sure where that sexually aggressive retort came from, but he wasn't going to temper it. His body ached, and his heart raced in anticipation of what Alistar could do.

He slid his body against Neal's and seated himself between his legs, rubbing their bodies together slowly and sensuously, building the want and the desire to a heated pitch. Neal felt the sweat gathering on his brow as he fought to resist the need to come. He held, and he waited, allowing the rhythm of their bodies to take shape.

"You're mine, Neal. You belong to this vampire forever and always." It came out like a chant, and Neal could not deny his eager desire for this man.

"I belong to you Alistar and you belong to me." He added and Alistar smiled showing those teeth that should frighten but instead exhilarated. Neal pulled him down for another breathtaking kiss.

The stroking and pressure were pushing Neal to the edge, and with a sharp whine, he began to thrust. "Not yet, my love, not yet," Alistar whispered and abruptly thrust inside Neal's tight channel, going deep and spreading his legs apart, pressing on his thighs to keep them apart and open him wider for Alistar's pleasure.

Neal could not stop the salacious moans that tumbled from his lips one after the other. The sensations that Alistar was stirring made his head spin and his vision blur. He'd never known such lovemaking such incredible lovemaking.

Alistar was filling him with each thrust, stretching him tight and making him feel everything. He picked up speed, and the thrusting became frantic yet rhythmic, and Neal felt a slow burn of heat begin and then grow into an explosion of sharp, exquisite pleasure. It shot through him, electrifying every nerve end.

Neal was everything he could have ever asked for in a man and in a lover. He was innocent and pure, adventurous and bold, and he only had eyes for Alistar, who was faithful, honest, and true. He plunged inside and held while the sensations surged through him, and he came with a roar filling and marking his adored once again.

He felt Neal tense, and then suddenly, his warm, sweet release filled the space between them, filling the air with sex, love, and amazement. He kissed the small scar on Neal's shoulder and then bit down, sending an electric shock through his adored and eliciting a second sweet release. Alistar drank deeply, filling himself with the essence of his love.

Neal held him tightly, digging his fingers into his upper arms, eliciting a sharp mix of pain and pleasure. Alistar gradually eased off and licked the wound closed once again. The area was highly sensitive and brought forth intense sensations of pleasure whenever he touched it. He dropped several kisses to the new scar, and Neal shivered and moaned with each touch, which made Alistar smile with a satisfaction that was only possible with his adored.

"I love your passion everything you do you do with passion. Every time we come together I feel your passion and it keeps intensifying beyond expectations. I've never known a lover like you Alistar." Neal looked at him with admiration and enthusiasm.

Alistar moved to lay beside him once again and tucked him close to his him wrapping him in his arms. "Your understanding of me, us and my world will come on you fully and soon. You have gotten insights and a certain level of comprehension and discernment but within a few hours there will be no shadows remaining you will be clear." He kissed him softly on the lips needing a taste of their sensitive beauty.

"I understand a lot more than I did. I know what you are, and it doesn't scare me." Neal spoke so confidently and surely. "I can't say it wasn't a shock, but it's a shock I got over quickly. I saw you as the prize, and I wasn't going to get so caught up in my head and try to force myself to understand that I ended up losing you. I just let it wash over me. Somehow, I knew that to let it happen was the way to go, and now here I am."

"And now here you are," Alistar repeated, feeling like his life had just exploded in happiness. "There is much that you still need to learn and much that may be difficult, but I am here, and I will always be here. We are fully bonded, and that means we shall never part."

"That should be terrifying." Neal chuckled. "Our manner of meeting was outrageous, but even then, I felt drawn to you. It was the reason I asked for space. I thought I was delusional, but it wasn't a delusion. It was destiny. I'm not sure where I fit in this new world, but I'm excited to find out as long as you're by my side." Alistar felt his heart getting bigger by the minute and his love for this little human overflowing.

"I'll never leave you, and that I promise."

"I feel so much for you, Alistar."

"I feel the same, baby."

They snuggled close and burrowed into the blankets appreciating what they had and what they'd found. Alistar finally felt confident that his adored understood and was prepared for life as his partner, and forever lover. This was day one of a long and intense process, but Neal was ready for it he knew that as well as he knew he loved this man and would love him forever.

Maxwell pulled up and parked out front of Neal Shawn's apartment building. The two guards he brought with him parked across the street and walked over to join him. They weren't the typical guards that the Kilconnor Coven trained and assigned, and these men were specially curated by the Madam herself.

She found them as new recruits and brought them on staff early on hiring them outright and forging a loyalty that was both solid and sordid. It was much the same way she hired him and although he had good days in her employment the majority were trying and foul.

This was his life he'd chosen it, so he pushed forward and did all in his power to take care of himself. There was no teamwork in her organization it was all scramble and competition. She didn't kill many of the vampires in her household for that would come to the attention of the Master, but she could torture, and torment and she was a master at both.

The humans and shifters did not fare as well they were there to provide and were not considered actual employees they were products, and their deaths were virtually invisible. Mrs. Ball was careful to not kill too many, but that number had continued to grow every year since Maxwell had begun working for her.

She brought people to her with promises and a show of wealth and sophistication, and then she killed them heartless and cruel. It had been going on now for five years ever since she decided that she needed special treatments to maintain her youthful appearance and that special treatment came at a terrible cost. It wasn't a cost to her, so it was acceptable in her mind.

She, somehow, found out that Neal Shawn was destined to be an adored one and she became obsessed with him. If it were ever discovered that she harmed an adored she would be killed and so would anyone that was assisting her. Maxwell thought about that for a moment but believed the biggest threat was Madam her anger was a certainty whereas discovering was only a possibility.

"His apartment is 427 and he lives alone. The main door is a keypad as is his apartment door. We should have no problem entering and rendering him incapable of resisting." He spoke to the guards, and they said nothing.

"Carry him out to my car by the front entrance. Put him in my back seat and make sure he is restrained. If anyone sees you make sure to do a memory wipe." They nodded, and the three of them headed inside.

"I'll order us something." Alistar stated and pulled out his phone. Neal was in the bathroom washing up and Alistar was still stretched out on the bed in all his naked glory.

"Thanks to you. I have a fully stocked kitchen, so I could prepare something for us." Neal offered as he stepped out of the bathroom and went straight to Alistar, placing a kiss on those delicious lips before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Already ordered." Alistar smiled.

"I'll go pick up the living room and get us some drinks." Neal stood and Alistar took his hand looking up at him and his expression was so tender Neal caught his breath.

"I love you, Neal." Neal took a deep breath and let the words set in. They were powerful, and he wanted to repeat them, but lingering uncertainty kept him silent until the moment passed. Alistar stood and kissed him gently and excused himself to go to the bathroom.

Neal walked out into the living room and began straightening things mindlessly. His thoughts were consumed by the fact that he had just had the most amazing man in the world tell him that he loved him, and all he could do was stand there. He should have said something. Even if he couldn't repeat the words, he should have said something. He felt like a fucking idiot.

He was so distracted that when he heard a knock on his door, it startled him. At first, he simply stared at the door, and then came another. It wasn't an urgent knock, just a couple of soft taps, but he wasn't expecting anyone and no one buzzed him from downstairs.

After a couple more seconds the knocking came again whoever they were they weren't giving up. Slowly, as if he had a premonition as to the danger hanging in the air, Neal approached the door. Just as he was about to look through the peep hole the door burst inward knocking him backward onto the floor he yelled for help as three goons rushed him.