AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Arden grumbled to himself as he stalked around in his quarters, wiping the water from his face after his shower. Gamble had shoved him into one of his illusions and he still felt the chill of the ocean at night and the crashing of the waves against his ankles as he was stuck in the water. No amount of pulling or shifting would let him go to shore.
Arden shivered. He hadn’t understood the importance of what Gamble could do before, but seeing it, really living in that illusion, was a different story. The bastard was more dangerous than he had originally thought and while part of him was proud of that, the other half of him was furious he had to experience it firsthand.
“I’m going to end up snapping one of their goddamn necks. Fucking shit.” He dried his hair with his towel and tossed it into the hamper as he padded out to his room. “What the fuck?”
Arden thrived on order, control, and the status quo. But with his new band of hosts and guards, he got none of that. And apparently Spooky wasn't going to give him any peace either. The man sat on his half shredded bed, his tail whipping behind him as his ears twitched. At some point, he must have pulled a fresh set of sheets and blankets on top of the semi-destroyed mattress because it looked almost decent.
"Where were you?" Spooky asked, hopping to his feet.
"You're already over running away from me earlier," Arden growled as he walked over to his dresser and pulled open a drawer. "Do I need to make you scurry away again?"
Spooky huffed. "You don't have to be a jerk you know." He laid a hand on Arden's back. "Seriously, are you okay? I looked everywhere for you. Eldon was able to handle the situations that came up, but I was still worried. You never just disappear."
Arden dragged on a pair of boxers and snagged a pair of jeans. Usually, he would be in his office right now, having a stiff drink, and then going off to bed. But not now. After the night that he'd had, everything felt off and Arden had to make sure his club, his people, and the way of life that he'd built were protected.
"I'm fine," Arden said as he buttoned up his jeans and faced Spooky. His big, worried eyes made Arden calm down a bit. "There's something I need to handle."
"You're leaving?" Spooky asked. "I'll go with you."
"No," Arden said shortly. "You need to stay here in the host club. We both know you've been getting weaker without a witch to bind yourself to. I can see how tired you’re getting and how quickly it’s coming on."
Spooky frowned. "But I'm still useful," he said softly, his voice cracking. "I can protect you."
Arden sighed as he stared at him. Spooky was too delicate to be around someone like himself. The kitten had claws, but he was sweet and he needed to be protected from the ugliness of the world. He heard the hurt in his voice, the uncertainty, and Arden couldn’t let Spooky feel as if he was a burden.
"Spooky, you’re useful to me,” he said as he tugged a shirt over his head. He examined Spooky's pouting face and grabbed his chin, tilting his head up. "But I need to do this on my own. You can..."
Arden started to tell Spooky he could go down and get some rest, but he knew what the cat shifter really wanted. Spooky always wanted to be right by his side.
"You can stay in my bed." His grip on Spooky's chin tightened. "Sorry about before," he grumbled, the apology thick on his tongue. He knew he should say more, but it felt like peanut butter had been slathered onto the roof of his mouth and he choked.
Spooky blinked up at him before he smiled softly. "It's okay. I know you've been stressed out." He leaned closer and almost snuggled against Arden. "I'll keep your bed warm."
Arden nodded shortly and grabbed the rest of his things. Having someone keep his bed heated wasn't the worst thing in the world, but it was teetering on a dangerous edge. The rule was to never touch one of his hosts and he'd been fucking Spooky with impunity. If the little familiar stayed curled up on his bed, he might start having…feelings. There was already too much between them. People were starting to notice.
He thought about Gamble and grumbled under his breath.Gonna have to talk to that damn mage.Gamble was sticking his nose where it didn't belong and if he wasn't careful it was going to get him hurt.
"I have to go," Arden said. "Don't let anyone up here."
"Yes, sir," Spooky said as he flopped back onto the bed. "I'll protect your space!"
Arden shook his head at the man who was already getting naked and sliding beneath his blanket. He closed the door behind him and leaned his head on it.What are you thinking?Spooky wasn't someone who could deal with being jerked around but Arden couldn't give him more than what he already was. Sex, a job, sometimes a warm bed to sleep in. Besides that, he kept everything else locked away where nothing could hurt him or anyone else. He pushed away from the door and fought every instinct that demanded he go back in and hold Spooky, soothe him, make sure that he was okay.
Why did Spooky keep putting up with him when he was such a disaster?
He descended the stairs and took the backdoor out into the alley. Sunlight was already spilling into the shadows as it peeked over the horizon, taking away the magical, mystical quality that settled over the city at night and reminding everyone that lived there what a dump it really was. Supernaturals could only live in places like these, the spaces humans didn't want that were covered in filth, dirt, and disease. It was why he worked so damn hard to fix that shit, to show people that supernaturals weren’t something to be feared anymore than humans were.
Arden pulled his thoughts together and started walking. He stopped down the street and glanced back at PGD. His business was one of the jewels of the city. While the world outside was cruel and unrelenting, his place was a safe haven for everyone who walked through those grand double doors.
And he would do anything to keep it that way.
He tugged up the hood of his jacket and glanced around. No one from PGD was out and about, but that wasn't uncommon. They spent their mornings washing off the smell of cologne or perfume and getting into comfy clothes so they could turn in for the day. But he didn't want them to see where he was going and who he was talking to.
Gamble would have to wait until he returned to get his punishment.
Arden walked down the winding streets, sticking to the back alleys as he made his way through town. The sound of the world waking up, the smell of food, and the sound of laughter or yelling filled the air. Of course Silvercross City was alive at all times, day and night, to cater to its creatures, but it felt different when the sun was out.
Lifting his nose to the air, Arden took in a deep breath and frowned. He was close. As soon as he heard that deep voice on the phone, he knew for a fact that Ezra was in the city. The man liked to hover and he wouldn't place a call if he didn't already have eyes on Arden.
