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Chapter Seven

AYO

“Do you want me to come in with you? I probably should.”

I stop Zaiden from getting out of his car with a hand on his arm. “Would you chill? Doc P gave me the all-clear to be by myself.”

Medically, I’m completely healed other than the cut on my temple which isn’t bothering me.

I think the healer must have saved his magic for the major stuff because my arm doesn’t have a scratch on it, but my face will likely have a small scar.

Not that I care about that when Irving needed the healing magic far more.

Zaiden eyes me, frowning. “I wish you would have stayed with me another night.”

“I know, but you already missed a day of lectures for me, and the pack were getting twitchy about me being there.”

“Screw the pack.” At my raised eyebrows, he flops back in his seat. “Fine. But Dante would have told them to deal if you needed to stay longer. And I can get notes from someone for the lectures I’ve missed, so don’t worry about that. You’re more important.”

I lean over the centre console and hug him. “I know. But I promise, I’m fine. It’s been days, and Ethan and the team have been searching almost non-stop. I’m safe at the manor, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” He hugs me tighter, then releases me. “No more nights out without me. That wouldn’t have happened if I’d been there.”

“Z…” We’ve had this conversation several times over the last couple of days. I get that he wants to protect me, but I couldn’t invite a wolf shifter out on a coven work night out. That’s got disaster written all over it.

“Fine, fine, I’ll drop it. You better message your alpha when you get in. It’s been at least half an hour since he checked up on you.”

I huff a laugh and get out of the car, not bothering to respond before he drives away.

At one point on Saturday, I thought Ethan and Zaiden were going to come to blows about who got to watch me while I was on concussion protocol. It wasn’t until I pointed out to Ethan that he and the team could focus on finding who attacked us while Zaiden took care of me that my boss relented.

It gave me the warm fuzzies that Ethan likes me enough for his protective alpha-ness to kick in, and he’s been messaging me loads ever since I left Doc P’s clinic.

I’m not sure the man has slept in days, but although they’ve not caught the attacker, I feel safer knowing Ethan came running the minute I called on Friday night.

I send him a message telling him I’m home, then head around the manor building to the side entrance I use to access the old servants’ staircase to my apartment.

I could go through the main front door and up the grand staircase, but that always carries the risk of running into Lola, and while I’m physically healed, emotionally I’m a little too unsteady to deal with her sneers and condescending looks today.

I make it upstairs and into my apartment without running into anyone and close the ornate door behind me with a quiet sigh. The wards welcome me home, letting me know no one has been inside while I’ve been gone.

Not that I thought they would have. Whoever attacked us would never get inside the manor.

I wander through my apartment, very aware that I’ve got less than a week left to find somewhere else to live.

I never thought I’d leave the home I grew up in, although that seems so naive now that I’m working away from the coven and searching for a flat I can afford.

I need to discuss with Nyoka whether I can take any of the furniture with me since that would mean I could rent a cheaper unfurnished place, or whether it belongs to the manor.

I get myself a glass of water from the kitchenette my parents had installed when Mum was pregnant with me, then head for the bathroom. I get the shower running, the old pipes rumbling, then strip off the too-big clothes I borrowed from Zaiden before stepping under the spray.

I cleaned my focus thoroughly five times at Zaiden’s place, but I do so again now, making sure with both water and magic that no trace of blood remains on the moonstone, the runes, or the chain.

Dante said it was normal to do slightly obsessive stuff like that after trauma, so I try not to give myself a hard time about it and force myself to think about something else as I hurry through the rest of my shower.

I should probably figure out something to eat since I’ve definitely missed dinner downstairs. Not that I join them that often, but free meals cooked by someone else are handy when I can’t be arsed to cook myself.

Fuck, I’m spoilt, aren’t I? Even the rent I pay on this place is lower than it should be for something this size and spec.

I towel myself off and throw on underwear and an old T-shirt before grabbing my laptop and pulling up the rental listings again.

It would be cheaper to live in the neutral zone than to rent from the coven, but I’m not sure about moving away from my people.

I do need to figure out who I can stay with for a couple of weeks until I get paid, then maybe longer if nowhere is available immediately, but even if I half starve until my second month’s pay, I should be able to rent somewhere on what Ethan is paying me.

Then I have to get myself an equally well-paying job after my three-month contract is up. Fuck. Adulting is hard.

Maybe I could set up a warding business? Of course, Ethan continuing to employ me would be the ideal solution, but there were so many conditions to that possibility that I need a backup plan, and becoming self-employed could be a good one.

Could I do that? Would anyone pay me for warding services when I normally do them for free? How much should I charge? Could I ask Ethan about rates, or would that be too weird?

I make myself get back to the rental listings and send off a couple of enquiries about flats. Just when I’m starting to think about putting some kind of late-night dinner together, there’s a knock at my apartment door.

I rush to my room and yank on a pair of joggers before hurrying back out and opening the door.

“Nyoka, hi. Come in.”

I wasn’t expecting to see my cousin tonight. He visited me at Doc P’s clinic on Saturday and got my statement at the same time, but I know he’s busy with the task force. In fact, I don’t think he’s been in my apartment since his brother, Qadir, died.

Nyoka’s expression is tight, which is never a good sign, and he doesn’t come any further than the hall. “We need to talk.”

“Of course. Come in, sit down.” I try to usher him towards the living room, but he doesn’t budge.

“This won’t take long. It’s come to my attention that you now work for Soldati Security.”

I rub a hand over my ’fro, not sure what my job has to do with anything. “Yeah, I thought I told you that. It’s why I asked to only work half my notice period. They wanted me to start immediately.”

Nyoka’s jaw tenses. “No, you failed to mention who your new employer was.”

“Oh.” Oops. I know they don’t get on, that they’re competitors and shit, but surely it’s not a big deal. We’re all adults.

Nyoka sighs and gives me that look he only gets when he finds me particularly stupid. “Ayo, you can’t live here while working for our rival for such a major contract.”

What? “That’s a bit drastic, isn’t it? But hey, I’m moving out at the weekend anyway. No worries.” Not for him, anyway. Big worries for me, that’s for sure.

My cousin straightens one of his many rings.

“I’m sorry to be the one to say this, but the task force have all agreed.

They’re not happy with you living in the same building where we do such confidential work, something that may give Soldati Security an edge if you were to spill our secrets.

I have no choice but to ask you to move out immediately. ”

What. The. Fuck.

He can’t be serious. After a week spent trying to convince Ethan and his team that I’m not spying on them for my coven, the task force now think I’m a spy too? I can’t fucking win.

“Jeez, Nyoka, you know I’d never do that. I don’t even know what you all talk about, what with all the wards you have up around the place.” That might not be strictly true, since I eavesdropped on them that day I failed my enforcer test, but my cousin doesn’t know that.

Nyoka’s eyes soften. “I know, but I don’t have a choice. I can’t have my best people up in arms about this when they need to focus all their attention on catching a serial killer. Surely you can stay with one of your many, many friends for a few days.”

He’s serious. He’s actually kicking me out. I mean, I get it. He’s right that the murderer needs to be caught, and technically that is the job of the task force, contract bidding war or not, but I thought I had more time.

I’m not ready. My parents lived here. Qadir lived here with me when he became my guardian after they died.

“You want me out tonight?” My voice comes out more unsteady than I’d like.

Nyoka gives me a sympathetic smile and a pat on the shoulder. “I think it would be best if you weren’t here when the task force arrive for work in the morning. Would you like some help packing?”

“Uh, no. I’m good.” I’m likely to get upset while I do this, and I don’t need Nyoka having a lower opinion of me than he already does. “Can I store some stuff in one of the attics? Just until my new place is ready to move into.”

“Of course. They’re just full of old family junk anyway. I think the one in this wing has some space.” Nyoka turns to go but then stops. “Oh, give me some warning when you plan to come back for the rest of your things. I’ll make sure no one is around.”

“Right. Sure. Will do. Thanks.” Why am I thanking him? Stop talking, Ayo.

As soon as he leaves, I slump against the door, allowing myself a moment or five of self-pity.

Then I straighten up and get to work packing up my life.