Chapter 7

NATHANIEL 




"Ishmael. It was quite a difficulty reaching you. Nice cave."




"I wouldn't say so. You found me, didn't you?" The sorcerer turned away from the mirror, a smile on his face. "It's been a while, Nathaniel."




He was just as I remembered. His features hadn't changed over a few years since I'd last seen him.




"Indeed. I need one of your weapons. Preferably the dagger if you have it."




"Hm. What price are you willing to pay?"




I'd prepared myself for this part. "How much do you want?"




"No, Nathaniel. I don't need your money. What do you have to offer?"




His question threw me off. What else could he possibly want? In the past times, we had a business transaction, money was his priority.




"Oh, don't look like that. It's not something so grave."




"What do you want?"




"Access to The Borough. I want to live there and have the freedom to leave whenever I want to."




"Just access to The Borough?"




"Correct."




I weighed my options in my head. If I let him stay, then I'd have easy access to his help any time I needed it. The downside to his request was not knowing how frequently he would leave, and how many people he'd lead to The Borough.




My pack members were safe because of the precautionary measures we took.




"How often will you leave?"




He flashed me a grin. "That, my friend, is something you and I both know I do not know."




"Indeed," I said, dryly.




He was a free spirit, one of the reasons it was hard to find him. He could be at home one moment, and in the next, he was halfway across the world.




"You can stay. The dagger?"




He reached into his satchel, handing me the dagger. "You're lucky. This is the last one. The other nine are, uh, distributed."




"Sure. Get your things. I'm returning home now."




"Great. Quick question. What do you need it for? You're not trying to kill yourself, are you?"




"Too late for that now that I have the dagger, no?" I asked with a smirk.




"Do I have to call your brothers?"




"Don't bother, Ishmael. I'm not killing myself."




"That's a relief. Aiden and Alan would kill me if they found out I gave you the dagger."




I refrained from telling him the dagger couldn't kill me. Some things were better left unsaid. Of course, I'd lose my demon, but I was part werewolf. That part of me would keep me alive.




"Shall we?"




***
"How come you're here?" Ayra asked eyeing Ishmael warily. She stood by the door, clutching the knob in her hand.




"Come in, Ayra. You look exhausted."




"No shit." She took a seat on the chair facing my desk, keeping her eyes on Ishmael the entire time. "We ran through the woods like our asses were on fire. Something about a Nighthowler."




Excitement sparked in Ishmael's eyes. "A Nighthowler, you say."




"Yeah. Is something wrong?"




Nighthowlers were a cross between a demon and a human, although they weren't recognized in the demon world as a part of them.




They mostly kept to themselves, but when provoked they could cause a lot of damage just by screaming. Their screams sounded like they were part howling, hence their name.




They were dangerous creatures, so I understood why Kai and Logan had them running through the woods as fast as they could.




"No. It's just been a long since I last saw them. Almost lost my ear to one," Ishmael replied with a smile like he was reminiscing the moment.




"You mean you almost lost your life. She'd have killed you had I not intervened."




"Same difference. I'll leave now. I have to go settle into my house. It was nice meeting you, Ayra."




"Who is he?" Ayra asked after Ishmael had left.




"You seem to like asking that question. Can't count how many times you've asked me that just today."




"You can't fault me. I don't know anyone around here."




"I have a present for you."




"A present?" She repeated eyeing me with suspicion.




"Yes." I took out the dagger from my drawer, sliding it over to her. "There you go."




"Hm. This is… different."




"Different?"




"When you said present I didn't expect to get a weapon. People don't usually gift people weapons. What is it for?"




"Fighting off demons. Just one jab and they die."




"Where did you- "




"Nate, I need to speak with you!" Sandra bellowed, throwing the door to my office open.




"Looks like you have an urgent meeting," Ayra said, slipping out of her chair. She nodded at Sandra before walking out.




"The fuck was that?" I asked sternly, leaning back against my chair.




"I heard you went on a little fun run with that… thing in the woods," she hissed.




"What thing?" I asked, balling my hands into fists.




"Ayra!"




I rose to my feet, walking around the desk to open the door. "So, you know her name. I've had enough of your nonsense. Get out."




She looked baffled. "You're not serious. You're joking."




"The only reason I'm taking your bullshit is that you were there for me at some point."




She stormed over to me, poking my chest. "Exactly. I was there for you. Now, you're going to throw all that away because of a woman you just met?"




"You knew the deal before we started fucking - there would be no commitment."




"It was more than just sex!"




I cocked my head to the side. "Was it?"




"Yes. No one knows who you really are. I do. Does she know what you are?"




"She doesn't have to. Leave. Don't force me to do something to you."




"I'm disappointed in you. Aiden and Alan are going to hear about this. You're acting foolishly over a woman you just met."




"I already contacted them for the month. Feel free to say hi on my behalf."




She huffed in disapproval before breezing out of my office in anger.




*'Make sure Sandra doesn't come in here unless she wants to make a complaint,'* I said to Logan through the mind link. 




*'Is she causing troubles for you?'*




*'More like she's annoying the fuck out of me.'*




*'I'll ask Kimberly to talk to her.'*




*'Thanks.'*




I sighed, returning to my chair when I felt it.