I park my bike by the delivery room, next to where Jeremy Walsh’s truckshouldbe, before I make my way into the kitchen. The temporary cook that Master Abraham hired is puttering around, readying for lunch, so I dismiss him.
He’s kind enough, but if I’m honest, I don’t even know his name. So, as he leaves, I pick up right where he left off without walking him to the door.
“Barfred,” Oscar calls, walking into the kitchen as I finish putting the salmon in the oven.
“What can I do for you, Oscar?” I turn to face him, taking in his grim expression. “What happened?”
“It’s Julian and Young Master Atlas,” he starts, his sad eyes meeting mine. “It turns out our Young Master divulged his curse to Julian.”
“What?”I all but gasp, staring at him with wide, startled eyes.
That… that is fucking crazy.
“It gets worse,” Oscar says glumly. “Julian tried, uh, helping him. And consequently, they fell asleep in bed together.”
“Oh, no.” It comes out as a whisper, anticipating the worst.
I knew our Young Master Atlas and Julian had to have been fooling around, simply due to how they stared at each other. But this? This is far more than I ever expected.
“The demon came, and it hurt Julian pretty badly. Luckily, the Young Master came to get help, and we were able to help him, but he and Jeremy have been let go for their own safety. And ours.” As the explanation ends, Oscar takes a deep breath, almost as if he’s consoling himself.
“That’s horrible,” I push out. I can’t even imagine the fear those boys felt or how painful this situation is.
Actually… isn’t Landon the same age as Julian? Is it considered weird for me to be thirty-four and getting my cock sucked by someone in their early twenties?
Well, he didn’t seem bothered by it. And there’s the glaring fact that it willneverhappen again.
If I had been here, if I had accepted this job as a live-in position, would I have noticed Julian sneaking into the west tower? Could I have prevented it?
There’s no use debating it now; the past is the past. Plus, I’m not the heroic type.
“Keep an eye out; don’t allow Julian on the premises if he shows up. I’ll be delivering their belongings today,” Oscar instructs, and I nod dutifully, returning to my salad prep as he leaves the kitchen.
I feel bad for Julian, yes, but also feel a bit… no, spiteful isn’t the right word. It’s almost similar to resentment, or maybe anger? All I know is that every time I think of Julian Walsh, something negative and maddening grows just a bit more inside of me.
I wonder what that’s about.
As I pull up to the small cottage I reside in, only a few miles from Chastain Castle, I spot the sleek black SUV in the driveway.
The council is here. I’m sure they’re already inside—Council Member Ryan has a unique ability when it comes to lock picking. Plus, the back door is always unlocked.
I park my bike and head inside, already preparing myself for the onslaught of questions I’ll receive. As the front door pushes open, I spot three of the suits immediately.
Ryan is standing at the kitchen counter to my immediate right, and Cecilia and Boston are sitting on the couch, their eyes falling onto me the moment I step in.
As for where Council Member Joseph is, I am unsure. But he’s here somewhere; he’s always present for these types of conversations.
“Council,” I greet, giving them a nod of acknowledgement.
“Repressor Nathaniel Barfred,” Cecilia calls out, uncrossing and recrossing her legs from where she sits.
They’re all dressed in the same form-fitting black suit, with the titleWatcherssewn into their blazers. The organization’s name is rarely actually used, as most people are unaware of its existence.
But EP, which stands for extermination and protection, has been around for a very long time. It’s the organization that keeps criminal power users from harming the general public.
I’m one of the few charged with stopping them by repressing their abilities.
“We have questions about your recent mission,” Ceilia continues.
