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Chapter Three

AYO

This is possibly the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.

The fact that I’ve got less than two weeks left until I’m kicked out of my apartment seems like a very minor problem when staring up at the sleek skyscraper that houses Soldati Security on one of its lower floors.

I was impressed when I came for my interview last week, and I’m still in awe of the place.

All the glass and chrome provide a sharp contrast to the ancient manor and outbuildings I’m used to.

I head inside with a bunch of other people, mostly humans, and queue for one of the lifts.

There are multiple businesses on the lower floors, co-working spaces that can be hired out by the day, week, or month, and flats on the upper floors.

Once the crowd clears and I manage to squeeze into a lift, I make sure to press the right button, noting that no one else is going to the fourth floor.

I resist the urge to bounce on my toes and grin like a loon. Suggesting I get a job outside of the coven was the best idea Zaiden’s ever had.

A few people spill out on various floors before it’s my turn.

Soldati Security doesn’t take up the entire floor, but they definitely have high-level security in their small part of the building.

Their wards are really basic though, and I’m itching to upgrade them.

I didn’t want to say anything during my interview since it seemed rude to tell a security team that they’re merely mediocre in magical terms, so once I’m settled in I’ll find a way to offer without offending anyone.

I straighten my navy blue tie before pressing the buzzer by the solid wooden door.

I make sure to stand in front of the camera and can’t stop myself from adjusting my tie again.

Sighing, I press my palm to my focus through my white shirt and tell myself to calm the hell down.

My moonstone pulses back, my magic just as excitable as I am.

A few moments later the door opens, revealing a person in a turquoise jumpsuit with matching stud earrings and nail polish. Their short black hair is swept up on top and buzzed on the sides, and my magic says cheetah.

“Come in, Ayo. I’m Kit. IT specialist and all-round fabulous person. My pronouns are they/them.”

I shake the hand they offer me. “Mine are he/him. Wow, you’re more interesting than anyone I used to work with.” I slap my hand over my mouth, relieved when Kit laughs. “Sorry. It’s hard to filter when I’m this excited. I might have had too much caffeine this morning.”

Kit grins as they close the door behind me, then leads me down the short corridor I remember from my previous visit.

“I find it hard to filter on any day ending in a ‘y,’ so I wouldn’t worry about it.

Besides, it’s my mission in life to look as fabulous as possible now I don’t have the SAS making me wear that drab uniform. ”

They used to be Special Forces? I knew the entire team used to be in the army, but I didn’t realise they were that hardcore. Did I miss that on their website? They should really add that if it’s not there. Oh, wait, maybe they’re not allowed? Official Secrets Act and all that?

Kit sashays down the corridor like it’s their own personal catwalk.

“Okay, kitchen, loos, and I assume you already saw the conference room. We all work in this open-plan space at the end. I’ll give you a security pass, which you should keep with you at all times.

We prop this door open when it’s just us here, but if we have a client meeting or interviews in the conference room, this door is closed and you’ll need the card to get back in. It works for the main door as well.”

We enter an open-plan office space filled with desks.

It’s similar in size and set-up to my old office, but huge floor-to-ceiling windows take up three sides of the room with vertical blinds covering them; nothing like the old stone and tiny windows I’m used to.

The air conditioning must be working hard, because it’s cool in here despite the large amount of glass and the blazing sun outside.

There’s no one else here, but half-drunk mugs of coffee and pens litter the space. One desk has several fidget toys on it.

“You’ll meet Ethan and Cal later,” Kit says. “Ethan holds a meeting at the end of every working day because a lot of our work requires us to be out and about, so it’s often the only time we’re all here.”

Kit hands me a card with my photo on it, and I cringe. It’s obvious how nervous I was on the day of my interview because the picture is awful. “You people are evil.”

Kit laughs and hands me a lanyard so I can attach the card. “You should have seen my army ID card. The photo was taken before I came out as non-binary, and I looked so male it gave me gender dysphoria. After I came out and landed on Ethan’s team, he got a new photo sorted for me.”

I put my hand on their upper arm without thinking. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”

Kit tilts their head, considering me, then points to a chair. “Sit. I’ll take another one. You’re making me feel guilty about hazing you.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I didn’t mean?—”

“Sit.”

Okay then. I sit in the chair indicated and make sure to look as much like a professional as possible. Kit even lets me check I’m happy with the photo before printing another ID card for me. They then void the old one before destroying it.

They spend time setting me up at a desk with a computer, showing me how to log in and how the systems work, making sure I have phone numbers for the whole team just in case, and explaining various security procedures to me.

“It’s vital that anything you come across in the course of your work for us remains entirely confidential. For example, if you were to reveal anything to another coven member, it would be grounds for immediate termination.”

My interviewer, Raj, mentioned that this would be a concern if they hired me. To be honest, I’m still slightly amazed they decided to take a chance on me.

“I understand.”

“Good, because Ethan has concerns about your loyalty to your people affecting your ability to do your job with integrity.”

I’m not remotely afraid of having to prove myself to my new boss. He can’t be any worse than Nyoka at recognising my value.

“I guarantee I’ll keep everything to do with my job confidential.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” The deep voice from the doorway behind me has me spinning around.

My magic says alpha wolf, and holy smokes is this guy hot.

There’s a sprinkling of silver in the black hair at his temples and in his short beard.

His T-shirt is stretched across delicious muscles as he leans on the doorframe, his hands in the hip pockets of his cargo trousers, and his intense blue eyes seem to see right to the heart of me, like if he stares long enough he’ll be able to read all my deepest secrets.

He takes his hands out of his pockets as he skirts the desks between us. “Ethan Lupo.”

I manage to only stumble a little as I stand and shake the hand he offers. “Ayo Muroyi.”

He keeps hold of my hand as he inhales, which would be weird if I hadn’t grown up with a wolf as my best friend. He’s getting to know my scent and probably my emotions too. I figure that gives me permission to do the same, so I let my magic out a little.

My magic isn’t visible to anyone but me, so they can’t see the way royal blue swirls gently over and around Ethan, getting to know him and his insane level of power. Dante is similarly powerful, but Ethan has an edge to him that Dante doesn’t.

Ethan narrows his eyes and drops my hand. “Do you mind telling me what the hell you think you’re doing?”

Oops. I pull my magic back immediately. Zaiden explained to me that more powerful wolves can smell magic, although not what I do with it.

I give Ethan my brightest smile. “The same thing you were. Figuring out how powerful you are and making sure I can identify you with a blindfold on from half a mile away.”

Kit snorts, then makes themselves busy on their computer when Ethan shoots them a look.

Ethan looks me over, then jerks his head towards the door. “Come on. We have places to be.”

I scramble to follow, making sure I take my new pass with me. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll explain on the way.”

All right then. I try to keep my grin locked up inside as we head out of the office and down in the lift to the basement where the car park is. It’s difficult though; I didn’t expect to be doing anything other than paperwork for at least the first week.

Going somewhere with the boss on day one? I can’t wait to tell Zaiden later. He’ll be thrilled to be right about this being a good move for me.

It’s only once we’re in a black SUV with ‘Soldati Security’ and the company logo printed on the side that Ethan speaks again. “I’m going to assume you know about the recent murders of three of your coven members.”

It’s not a question, but I answer anyway, my good mood vanishing. “Bessie, Zoe, and Frida.”

Ethan glances at me as he drives up the ramp and into the bright sunshine. He grabs a pair of sunglasses from the centre console and I wish I could do the same. “You knew them?”

“Yes, but not well. They’re all— were all a fair bit older than me.”

“I’m investigating their murders. You’ll be assisting me as and when I need you.”

I swallow hard and nod, even though he’s not looking at me. “Good.”

Ethan glances at me but doesn’t say anything else, leaving me too much time to think.

Frida was killed just a few days ago and her death, added to the other two, is making the entire coven nervous.

Female coven members don’t go into the neutral zone alone anymore, especially after dark, since all three women disappeared from there before being found dead days later.

In fact, most people are staying home at night as much as possible.

Ethan parks on a street in the Southern Quarter, the area of the neutral zone nearest cat territory. Since he doesn’t get out, I wait.