4. Zero

Chapter four

Zero

A deafening silence fills the shop. I blink. Did my best friend’s mate just say what I thought he did? Rook places a mug of hot tea in front of me and I instantly recognize the calming brew. Like fucking hell am I going to calm down.

“What the hell do you mean you need me to protect a vampire?” Over the course of the last fifteen years, since joining the Elite Guard, not once have I been asked to protect the very creature I’ve been trained to hunt down.

Rook pushes the tea even closer to me before taking a seat at the small table. “You said you’d be mature about this,” my best friend grumbles.

The three of us are in Rook’s Apothecary. Autumn called me, sounding frantic and in need of a huge favor. I peer over at Autumn. He’s chewing on his lip nervously as he stares at me. “He’s a friend,” Autumn says, as if that’s explanation enough. I roll my hand in the please continue gesture. “He’s a good person. He passed through Heart’s Hollow’s wards, has been interviewed and even drank a truth serum. He passes all our tests, even a few of my own.”

“Well, that piece of shit, Meyer passed through the wards too,” I reply lamely.

“You know the coven and I improved the spells and charms since. And like I said, he passed numerous tests, ones that we added since Meyer was arrested.”

“Then tell me why he needs protection, if he’s so damn innocent,” I snap.

Rook sighs. “Drink your damn tea I made before it gets cold.”

I narrow my eyes at my friend. “You didn’t add something else to it, did you, potions master?” I meant it as a joke, but as soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I made a mistake.

Rook slams his fist on the table, causing my tea to slosh. Then he stands and walks into the back room of his shop. My eyes widen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rook furious before. Not like that. I start to stand, but Autumn places a hand on my forearm.

“Let him cool down. Zero, he’ll be here any minute. I need your help. It isn’t my story to tell, and I want him to tell it to you. You're the professional.”

All the fight leaves me in a whoosh. I pick up the calming tea and drink the warm liquid in two swallows. An explosion of flavor coats my tongue and my nerves instantly soothe. “Fuck, that’s good. Who needs alcohol when you can have this on hand? It’s natural and gets the job done. Yes please.”

Autumn chuckles. “You know that tea only works on dragons.”

I smile. “True. Now, tell me why, when I have a house with three other team members and hopefully more before the end of the year, why did you choose the vampire hunter to protect your friend?”

“You’re the one I trust, Zero. I trust you with my life.”

“Ah shit, kid.” I rub my chest, unable to fight my smile from growing wider. “You know how to punch a dragon in his feels.”

Autumn shakes his head, but I don’t miss the way his lips twitch at the corners. “Plus, you’re the only retired one. What if one of your teammates gets called in for a mission. I don’t want my friend abandoned.”

I blow out a deep sigh and try to swallow another swig from my empty mug. I might be calm, but my dragon is still aggravated inside of me. “Alright, I’ll hear the vamp out. But I’m not making any promises. I’m going to step outside real quick and get some air. Text me when the vampire has arrived.”

The little witch hops up and throws his arms around me. “I knew I could count on you.”

Something soft brushes against my leg, and I see Maple, Autumn’s fox familiar cooing as she brushes against me. Despite my hesitance, my dragon and I puff with pride. ‘ Family,’ my dragon says down through our bond.

Once I’m outside, I make my way to the side of the building and lean against the brick wall. I know deep down that not every vampire is bad. Hell, I’ve met several decent vampires, but when I’m around one, my brain goes into hyperdrive. I want to interrogate them, ask them if they happen to know the vampire who took my childhood friend away from me. Even now, my fingers itch to grab one of the photos I have in my wallet for such an occasion.

I have so many photos of my friend. I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned my hoard was filled with photos of those I care about. I’m just thankful I got into photography when Calix was still alive, and I’m even more grateful I took the photos of him on my digital camera. The paranoid bastard that I am, I have his photos saved in numerous places.

This could be the new chapter in my life that I need to embrace now that I’m retired. My true calling. I scoff. Not that my true calling is to protect this lone vampire. But I’ve already spoken with the council and with Autumn’s coven. Once the town borders and wards are expanded, I want to open a safe house. A place for paranormals and humans who need protection from rogues. At least until they feel safe enough to venture out on their own. Perhaps I can start with this vampire and help protect him from whatever evils that are after him.

Maybe then, when I’m worthy enough to be called someone’s mate, I can approach the pretty blond I met at The Magic Shop.

My inner dragon swirls in my chest, huffing smoke, and whipping his tail. Easy boy. We can’t be sure that stunning creature was actually our mate. But even as the thought comes to mind, it’s followed by a sense of hope.

Honestly, I think my dragon is just eager. He’s been wanting a mate for even longer than I have.

“Zero? I thought that was you,” a musical voice says behind me. I whip around. How did someone approach without me hearing them? Time itself comes to a halt. As if I summoned him from out of nowhere, the pretty blond man is standing several feet away. “I’m sorry. Did I scare you?”

He’s even prettier today than he was yesterday. His golden blond hair tumbles down in waves. The color framing his face makes his eyes look even more blue. I shake my head as my dragon twirls with joy. My hand wanders up to my chest and I rub small circles there, trying to calm the beast inside.

His gaze follows the motion, and he takes a step back, looking hurt. He spins on his heel.

“No, wait. Don’t go.” Mate. Mate. Mate. My dragon continues to chant and I force myself to ignore him for the time being. I say the only thing that comes to mind. “I’m sorry I ran off yesterday.”

He pauses. Slowly, he spins back around to face me.

I give him a sheepish smile. “Even dragons can’t be fearless all the time.”

He smiles back, and I’m once again struck by his beauty. He smirks, a playful tilt to his lips that has my cock jerking behind the zipper of my pants. “You know, I thought it was a little cliche.”

I arch a brow in question.

“Your timing.” He takes a few steps forward. “The Owner asks how someone can ignore their soul’s true calling, and you take that moment to literally run away?”

I bark out a laugh, not expecting such sarcasm. I like it. “I didn’t actually run.”

“I got to witness someone run away from his destiny. I guess I’ve seen it all,” he jokes.

Closing the distance between us, I take a few steps forward. “Seen it all, huh?” I ask in a flirty tone. “Have you ever seen an amethyst dragon shift into his full dragon form?”

His eyes darken. I replay my words in my head and realize how I came across. And this pretty little thing likes it. Suddenly, I’m hard. What is it about this blond stranger that has both my dragon and me reacting so easily?

“Are you offering to show me?” He bites his lip.

Fuck, even I can hear the sexual inuendo in his melodic voice.

“Oh, there you are.” Autumn is standing on the sidewalk several feet away, peering at us between the two of us. “So, you two have met?”

“Kind of.” I grin at stunning blond, internally chuckling as I realize I can’t keep referring to him by his hair color. “Actually, I haven’t caught your name.”

That devastating smile is back as he holds out his hand for me to shake. My inner dragon pushes me forward, eager to touch skin to skin.

“Calix. My name is Calix Darkblade.”

“Calix is the vampire I was hoping you could protect,” Autumn replies at the same time.

For what feels like the millionth time in less than week, I freeze in place. I’m struck stupid with shock as I stare at the beautiful stranger in front of me. Calix’s hand falls to his side, and I’m vaguely aware of the conversation that’s taking place between Calix and Autumn, because Calix is all I can see as the past and present start to blend together.

The down tilt to those plush lips when he frowns, a familiar narrowing of his eyes when he’s suspicious, and the depth of emotion in those ocean blue eyes. This is my Calix. My childhood friend I’ve dedicated the last fifteen years of seeking revenge for.

My Calix.

A vampire.