Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

Elowyn let himself into the apartment of the alphas he now served, starting coffee and blueberry muffins before he began to gather laundry and sort it.

He missed his last post, with the big old house near the coast, the place steeped in pirate lore and magic. The family had been determined to go to Greece, though, and Elowyn hadn't been willing to leave Rowan.

His brother was happy, healthy, and busy up in the Rockies, and had insisted that there would be a place for Elowyn to come and live and work, as well.

Obviously Rowan had been right. The compound was very pleasing.

His new…employers might be the best word, he wasn't so certain about.

The larger of the alphas did not care to know him, and the younger was simply grateful to have assistance. Neither required his input or his conversation.

Hopefully the baby would learn to be his friend. She was a bright, happy one, really, for all that she was always hungry. She told him that in no uncertain terms, but then she mostly slept. He had a great deal of time to get to know the household, to see that once he got it running smoothly there wasn't much for him to do.

And to read when no one was about.

He started the laundry, and then went to the nursery when he heard the baby peep, testing to see if he heard her, no doubt.

He changed her and brought her into the kitchen to make a bottle. Shall we have something warm and yummy, ladybug?

She answered him with a wave of pure happiness, her little hands moving through the air.

He smiled, making up her bottle, then assembling himself a little platter of cheese and fruit. He could hold her and eat in the big armchair in the main room.

He made it a point to never be intrusive with the alphas. His job was to keep their lives clean and organized and to help raise this sweet baby dragon while staying under the radar.

Cain was compensating him handsomely for this job, and he was here with Rowan. Cain said that the alphas' new quarters would have a private suite for him, something in the same home, but far enough away to give everyone privacy and for him to have some chance to decorate his space.

He wasn't…neutral in his private life.

But Cerran and Triton, well, they were a conundrum. Cerran was open, friendly, smiling. But there was something in his eyes when he looked at Leilani that spoke of his warrior training, and that said he would kill for that little girl.

And Triton… Well, he was huge, intimidating, and utterly loyal to Cerran and Leilani.

Which was lovely, but a little scary, and Elowyn was careful never to be in a position to be under that gaze.

Elowyn fed the baby and ate, singing softly between bites. Once the alphas were up and out for the day—either with Leilani or not—he would change the sheets and sweep, but most everything else took care of itself. He didn't usually make lunch, only breakfast and supper, and until Leilani was older, this would be a simple, if lonely, job.

There was a rustle of sound, and someone came from the bedrooms to the kitchen without turning on the lights. A glance told him it was Triton, who was a good four inches taller than Cerran, and wider in the shoulders.

He stood up, baby on his shoulder, gathered his small plate and coffee, and put them on the table.

"Elowyn. Did I disturb you?" Triton's voice was rough with sleep.

"No, sir. There is coffee and I made blueberry muffins. I will cook eggs and bacon when you're ready." He smiled as the baby burped, loud and long.

Triton laughed at Leilani, his whole demeanor softening. "So delicate."

"Yes, sir. She's adorable." Elowyn hadn't ever met such an alert infant, or one that was so hungry.

She made him smile.

"I'll take her," the big alpha growled, and Elowyn nodded, immediately offering her over.

This part he understood, bone deep.

This was not his family. This was not his baby.

This was his job, to care and clean and comfort. This was his vocation, because no alpha had been called for him.

The seers had known that from the moment he was born.

"Not a single alpha will claim him."

He wasn't sure why he'd been cursed, but he had, and there was no arguing with it.

So he'd learned to make a life where he was valuable in other ways. Busy hands were happy hands and all that.

And if he was lonely in the deep darkness of the night? He would never let anyone know.

Triton didn't speak to him as he took the baby back into the apartment, the master bedroom door opening and closing with a click, the sound of the lock loud and sharp.

He headed back into the kitchen to pour himself another cup of coffee. This part of the morning was the trickiest, because he never knew if the alphas were going to want to be awake and served breakfast early or if they were going to sleep in with the baby.

It didn't matter to him, except that he knew that he was required to cook breakfast when they were ready.

He got his tablet, checking to see if his dearest friend, Uriel, was online. Uri was on the East Coast doing something—banking? Stocks? Hedge funds? He wasn't sure. It seemed to change on a day-to-day basis.

The green dot next to Uri's name proved that he was up and working, so he clicked on the app.

Hey stranger.

Hey. So you're at the seer's keep, are you? You're moving up in the world!

Was he? It didn't feel like it.

Yeah yeah. How are you?

Cold. Busy. It's raining here again today. What about you?

It's hard.

Fine

Still being stoic, huh

Uri had no idea.

Yeah. This is a seen-not-heard position

Seems weird to me. I mean, I can't imagine living with someone that you don't speak to

That was one of the reasons he loved Uri. Uri couldn't fathom that he wasn't living with the alphas. He was working for them. He wasn't real, not in the actual sense of the word.

He was a ghost who made sure the house was kept up, the food was provided, and the children were taken care of.

It's my job, that's all. They're building a huge new set of quarters, did I tell you? I'll have my own set of apartments.

He was very much looking forward to that part. He even had a separate door to the outside, so he could have Rowan over for dinner without disturbing anyone.

Oh, I'll have to come visit when you're all settled. The pics you've sent are beautiful. So high and the sky is the bluest.

It is. I think I'll be happy here.

Good. I want you to be. I have to run, honey. Love you. Chin up

Will do. Bye!

He smiled, glancing up as Cerran came in, offering him a smile. "Hey, Elowyn, good morning."

"Bright morning, alpha. Would you like coffee and muffins?"

"Please. You don't have to start anything else. We're going to sleep in. The baby was awake quite a few times last night."

"Oh, I'm sorry." When he was in-house, so to speak, he could help with that, but right now, there was precious little he could do.

He buttered four muffins and plated them up, then poured two mugs of coffee—one with cream, one with cream and sugar.

"You don't have to be sorry. It's absolutely not your fault. Babies have bad nights, right?" Cerran shook his head and then offered him a grin that was almost silly. Almost. "I can't tell you how much help it's been to have you here though. You'll make our lives so much more…livable."

The blush that heated his cheeks surprised him. He couldn't help the rush of pleasure the praise gave him. It was unreasonable, really. He realized that he shouldn't need the approval of his employers. These two were not even his employers, really. He worked for Cain. They were his clients? His charges? Regardless, they were his responsibility. "I'm glad to hear that. I'm here to make things easier, absolutely."

"Would you like to share a meal with us this evening?" Cerran asked, the tone gentle.

Elowyn didn't know what to do, how to respond. He didn't have meals with the family as a rule, and he hadn't considered doing so with Cerran and Triton. In fact, the thought was ridiculous. Wasn't it?

Triton had made his position on Elowyn's appearance in this family incredibly clear. Crystal, in fact. "I don't think that's possible, but thank you for asking. I did arrange to have chicken piccata, Caesar salad, and tiramisu for your supper this evening. The list says that it is one of your favorite meals."

Cerran sighed. Elowyn wasn't sure what that sigh meant, but that didn't really matter, did it? What mattered was that both alphas were comfortable and happy.

"If you change your mind…" Cerran took the coffees and the plate from him. "Just let me know."

As Elowyn watched Cerran turn and walk away, he wasn't sure how he felt. Not that it mattered.

It wasn't his job to feel.