Chapter 24

CEDRIC move to the second floor and stared at the quiet road below. Something came up in the office and he had to go home and take a brief shower to clean his body. Other people scent tend to make him snappish and bitchy. He knows this is not the end. There are a lot of things to come.

He doesn't want to make things difficult for himself. Especially something as unimportant as having a mate. He never fancied having one. Jefferson should be aware of that.

He knew that the guy must be suffering just like him. Just not grave enough since he's a half mortal. The Adenhart would certainly prevent the guy from the effects of it.

'How about me?' Cedric doesn't know why Max keep on insisting when Jefferson can live by himself not knowing about him. The guy will just end up disappointed. He's hardly a catch, and he had nothing to give.


Since the guy can solve his own problems, it's time for Cedric to find a cure of his own. The point is, he can't think of a long term remedy for an unsatisfied mating pull. What scared him is that... he's not even sure if the cure really exist.

Jefferson was not a bad choice for a mate. He'd be the first one to agree to that even if he rejected him. His physiology won't lose to a woman even though his body is clearly a male's.

Maybe that's his wolf and vampire blood deciding that Jefferson is 'mate-able' but objectively, Jefferson is graceful for a guy.

He knew that vampires are patient creatures. They have lived for hundreds of years. Their concept of time is skewed and they never know if they're late unless you set them an arm clock for the next meeting. Their movements are lazy. Full of arrogance and not without the overbearing air of an aristocrat.

Jefferson is not the same. His gracefulness is not because of confidence. He usually move around his office without any noise. It's not even deliberate. Though it was like Jefferson is a creature that cherishes peace and poise in his every step.

It doesn't help when he heard from his employees that Jefferson used to take ballet classes in his younger years.

So he can dance? There should be a video of it somewhere... Not that Cedric cares. He doesn't.

Cedric used to mumble that it's not bad having Jefferson in the team. It's just that his presence is deteriorating his brain—his chest. He had to stop it. And the only thing he can do to air his frustration out is through scolding the guy.


Turns out Jeffrey doesn't like it. Well, if it was Cedric, he'd probably wait outside the office then land a fist on his face because of it. But Jeffrey didn't react badly. He'd just talk back, with that infuriating eyes of his.

He should be a wolf. How did he have that glowing, steel-grey eyes if he's a vampire. He should be a freak of nature!

Wanting something so unfamiliar is a scary thing. He's not into men. What is he going to do after taking off Jeffrey's pants? Stare at each other?

Cedric begrudgingly look at his phone. Tapping his toes on the dry carpet. How come Yeon-hee is still not reporting back to him? Maybe that Peter butt in again and meddled with his men!

He should talk with that asshole. He doesn't know how to treat his colleagues. He must scratch his back if he wants his favor for the next coven meeting.

The phone blinked in response to his heavy gaze. Cedric lowered his eye lashes. Waiting for a few seconds before answering the call. He can't have these people know that he's eager to ask about Jeffrey.

"Hello? What is it?"

It wasn't Yeon-hee but an equally familiar voice. "Sir, this is Daniel."

'Of course it's you.' Cedric sighed. "What now, Dani? You—"

He stilled. The air in his lungs caught when he realized something.

"Dani, why are you calling me? Did something happen to the heir?"

Dani is one of the few assassins that the coven kept on leash. They were being hunted by the shifter's committee. Max made a great deal of hiding them from the public's eye. Saying that these cows have their own uses someday. He didn't think that Max would suggest having two assassins follow Jeffrey around like a body guard. The little guy himself doesn't know about their presence. They were there since the day Max appointed Jeffrey as his regent.

Since there had been no accidents so far, Hadi, Daniel's brother, was granted a leave to go home and settle their family problem at once. He's the only one left tasked to protect the heir.

And this call should mean something happened. An accident that is out of Daniel's hand, or that he cannot decide.

"Where's the heir?"

"Jeffrey has been held hostage for fifteen minutes before the suspect took him somewhere I cannot trace. Idrik, before you make a fuss about it, I'll have you informed that Johansen asked me to stay out of their perimeter while they do their job. You know how pretentious he can get." The worry in Dani's voice made Cedric's gut tightened. "I can't locate him!"

"Max should be able to look for him using blood linking. Jeffrey is his nephew for fuck's sake!" Cedric ruffled his own hair. Shocked to see his reflection on the mirror. He didn't know when did he stand up and pace the room. The expression in his face can only be described by a certain word. Terrifying. "Why did you call me? Did Max tell you anything?"

"He didn't. He said I have to call you. He sent me a text saying the heir's parents shouldn't be notified."

"What?" Cedric almost crushed the phone in his hand. "The heir could die, Dani! What the hell is he thinking? Why did he suddenly become so stupid after having a mate?!"

"Uh, you must not speak like that towards his grace, you know."

He laughed. The sound was disappointing and brittle. "The heir is my fated mate. Wether I like it or not, Max and I were destined to be family members. Tell him I'm going. I'm going to find the little shit and bite him. Let's see if the Adenharts' can make me go against my will the next time when I have control over their precious son!"

"You what?! You—fuck. The heir. Right…that's not how you should treat your mate, Idrik. My brother did the same three years ago and the backlash is not something you can afford. Hadi is still grovelling with his woman 'til now, and you can see that he's still not back from our hometown."

Cedric cut the call. His mouth twisted in a grimace. He shouldn't have said that. But then he's rarely a rational being once Jeffrey was mentioned.

'Mate. Find.'

He clasped his head and groaned when he felt the familiar pain inside. The concern in his gut is chilling his entire body. "Fine... fine! I'll get him home!"

The guy should not wander around carelessly. He's just a lamb surrounded by a lot of predators.