Strings of Fate

36- Caffeine and contests

Now that we are under a proper light rather than the shadowy front hall, Darrien notices how tired I am.

“You look dead on your feet. Did you sleep at all last night?” he questions. I shrug.

“I slept a little, but I don’t really feel like I did. My head is killing me.” I groan. He turns and rummages through a cupboard that is high enough that I would have to climb on a bench to reach it. He then grabe

a bottle of coke from the

fridge and pours a large glass. He places the

glass and a little box in front of me.

“Take two of these and finish the drink. Painkillers and caffeine. You should feel a bit better once they kick in.” I gratefully down the pills and start on the drink.

“Thanks, I definitely need it.” We sit in silence for a minute or two as I finish up the coke. I can already feel the sugar and caffeine perking me up a little.

“So, what’s the meeting for? Megan told me to come this morning, she didn’t mention any meeting.” Hopefully this isn’t some super secret Shifter thing that I’m nosing into. I hate. when people tell me to butt out.

“You, sort of. Alpha Kane has been tracking down the Shifters who were hovering about your place last night. He’s called a meeting with the other Alpha’s to discuss it. He believes it may be the Canine Alpha who sent the Vampires and that it may be his men who are hovering.”

“Oh, how did Bellamy find out? And when? The day is barely started.” Darrien shrugs.

“I’m not sure how he found out. But he was out and about all night looking into it. He hasn’t actually slept yet. Hopefully he will find time to catch a nap before the… party tonight.” Darrien looks irritated at the mention of Megan’s engagement party, which is fair enough I

suppose. So Bellamy has been up all night trying to find out who ordered the attack on us? Any remaining irritation or frustration at him that might have been lingering from last night fades away. My headache is fading and I feel far more lively than I did ten minutes ago. Darrien must have decided that he is no longer at risk of being killed due to my grumpiness because he decides now is the time to pry.

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36- Caffeine and contests

how did your date go last night?” he asks, his

a date.”

Alpha Kane

slamming the door in

was definitely a date, and half your conversations with Alpha Kane end in you fighting. So I don’t place a lot of weight

accurate, whether he should be allowed to tell me if I

an issue.” He manages to get

argument was resolved so

he

We compromised.” I insist. Darrien

discussions about dominance. I relay it to

you want to test it against me now? You can if you want but I don’t see much point. I already know

word, meets my eyes. Darrien holds. my gaze and unlike when I tested this with Shaun, I feel pressured to look away, but not enough to force me

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36- Caffeine and contests

I do right now. When he looks back up he gives me

so.” He declares,

convinced that it’s not just my freaky eyes making people uncomfortable

uncomfortable at all. Just pressured to submit, and only because you were staring right at me.” He

say so.” I answer, doubt clear in my

that we

but he gives me a fond smile.

would be crazy, if entertaining. More like I want to make sure he is happy and to protect that happiness. I wonder if this is what Megan meant when she said that Shifter women could be quite protective too, just in a different way to the men. But I’m not a Shifter, so it’s not like that for me. Or is it? It’s not like I actually know what I am, I could have protective instincts that I’m not aware of. I certainly feel protective of Maggie and Logan. Not to mention how I got involved in all this drama because I wanted to protect Megan. I could argue that I’m protecting Bellamy by not telling him about our thread. But I might also be protecting me. Or maybe both of us? Discussing everything with Darrien has left me so confused. What I really want to do is talk to Megan about it, but I don’t know if she could keep it secret from Bellamy, or even if she would be willing to. As close as I feel to her, I’ve not known her that long and Bellamy is her brother whom she is very close to. I don’t want to force her to keep secrets. It might create a bit of distance between us now but one day it won’t matter anymore. Still, despite my confusion, I think I rather like having a brother–like figure in my life. I wasn’t lying when I told Bellamy that Harrison was more like a brother to me than anything else, but at the same time I could never really see him that way. As an Incubus, his general manner has always been too sly, and held too many attempts at seductions to provide the comfort and relaxed feeling I always hoped to enjoy. I stand up from where