Page 16 of Becoming One
Hearing his mate’s fear, Orion hated that he wasn’t there in person to comfort him. “Hey, it’s going to be alright. Kragen and his guys will be there, Jewel is kickass and so is Cuddles.”
“Cuddles?” Nelson asked in confusion.
Smiling, Orion replied, “I’ve decided that’s what I’m naming our little fox.”
“I do recall hearing that a time or two from you when he’s been around,” Nelson said, sounding better with this conversation.
“Well, he is a very good cuddler,” Orion said with a laugh.
“Oh? Better than me?” Nelson asked slyly.
Orion laughed. “You both are great cuddlers, Starlight, but you already have a name.”
Nelson laughed. “True, but I think I might have it legally changed to Starlight. I have grown very fond of it.”
“Nope, you can’t,” Orion quickly replied with a smile.
“Why not?” Nelson asked with a teasing tone.
Orion couldn’t stop the smile that came to his face. “Because I am the only one allowed to call you that.”
“Hmmm. I can live with that,” Nelson replied.
“And I can live with Sexy,” Orion said with a big smile.
“Well I hope so because that is who you are to me,” Nelson said with a laugh.
Seeing Ezra had already hung up, Orion said, “Okay, I’m going to go so we can finish up. If you need me for anything, call. Otherwise, remind Jewel he has his charm and he can zap both of you to Kerrick’s place and call me from there.”
“Okay. Jewel’s in here with me now. I’ll see you when you’re done,” Nelson replied.
“Love you,” Orion whispered.
“Love you too, Sexy.”
Hanging up, Orion turned toward Ezra as he said, “Jewel and Nelson are going to stick together.”
Nodding, Ezra replied, “My mate is going to take Nelson to the solarium until we return. Helio and Briar are usually there, so they should all be safe until we get there.”
Orion returned to the truck, tossing the burnt animal in the back, and climbed in, saying, “I can’t believe that fucker was here.”
“He knew this was where we would be inspecting as it’s where the first development is and we need to drive through it to get to the others as well. What has me shocked is that he would risk his life to get to you. I mean, Nicu isn’t stupid. Lazy yes, but stupid, no. Why stay just to come after you when he could have taken off and gone anywhere, even to the European division?” Ezra stated thoughtfully.
“I don’t know, Ezra. Hell, I didn’t know he hated us so much as it is,” Orion stated.
Ezra looked at Orion, asking, “How many people do you think we can keep in the Imperial Army quarters?”
Shrugging, Orion replied, “I would have to check with my Dires, but I would think, if we had our men bunk up, maybe twenty to twenty-five.”
“In our private home we have fifteen empty rooms. If we bring in some of our own men and have the Scions and their guards stay with us, we could fit most of the people participating in the Ceremony closer to home,” Ezra said almost to himself.
Orion understood his reservations about having everyone so far from the main area of town and after the threat he just received, he couldn’t disagree. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll get with my Dires and start arranging things. What about the spectators? We’re going to have hundreds coming as it is. If we don’t use these new developments, then where are they going to stay?”
Ezra quickly replied, “Kerrick already said if we needed any help, we were to ask him. The spectators will only arrive that Friday and leave by the end of the Ceremony, Sunday evening—Monday morning at the latest. What if we have them staying in this area and the participants in town? We can even create a bunkhouse type setting in the police and fire stations, now that they’ve been completed. If they’re needed that is. I’ll have Nelson call the Scions and get a count of both participants and spectators. Let’s get the hell out of here. We can have Strix and Jorin gather their men and check out the developments. I feel the need to be with my mate and I’m sure you do as well.”
“Oh yeah,” Orion stated firmly and quickly turned the truck around, then hit the gas.
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