Claire arrived just after eight. The woman was dressed in her business wear and carried the purse purse Luca never brought back up like he said he would in one hand - and a tablet in the other.
But her eyes were behind the glasses I’d only seen her wear outside of work hours. They found mine after looking over my face and hands, before boldly getting into my space and shifting my collar to look below my neck where the bite marks still had so small touches of pink.
"Excuse ?"
"Hey. Sorry. I just... good morning."
"...Hello."
There was an awkward pause before she opened her arms. Widely, as if requesting a hug that I sighed and allowed. If she wasn’t killed for looking down the blouse I borrowed, then this must be within the realm of acceptable to the Alpha with her arms crossed right beside us.
Her arms were thinner, and when I removed my Tolerance, only chilly like a human who does not have the best circulation from sitting all day... instead of werewolf-hot like had been surrounding in this penthouse all last night.
"I’m glad you’re okay."
She squeezed carefully before pulling back and I knew there were no falsehoods in her robotically spoken statent. Just like I knew not to let her pull away so easily. I pressed her back with my palm and forced her closer. She didn’t hold back her little strength this ti.
"When I saw the footage they’d taken... I thought I’d gotten used to this shit. How am I supposed to handle seeing a friend attacked like... like I... even worse than I was?"
"I’m sorry."
There wasn’t more I could say. I can sympathize only so much, because our kidnappings were quite different. But no excuses are fair at this point.
Any bla she feels is really the fault of the malicious party. And to that end, I have a question to pose to her now, to make sure I get a weight off of my chest.
"Can you tell about Victoria’s involvent?"
At this question, we are finally pried apart by a jealous eyed, white haired beauty. I guess hugging another woman that long while bringing up a third’s na was too much?
"Circumstantial at best. She connected Damien with information about Chad Duskpaw months ago. But there’s no evidence she knew what any of them were planning.
"Kyrie’s right, that’s what my digging showed. He used her xenophobia against outsiders to get intelligence, probably even to raise the other Ricoat allies he held. But kept the actual conspiracy to himself and his direct co-conspirators."
"Probably hoping to present her with a ’fait accompli’. Or maybe just to get rid of her social standing."
I spoke the term quietly and both of them looked at to continue my thought. I shrugged and gave the people what they wanted.
"Classic ambitiousness. After a ss is created by his hand that barely aligns with her goals, he would ’generously’ offer to help clean it up from affecting her. She’d have owed him and he’d likely keep proof of her complicity past that point."
Then again, he showed he was not above doctoring images. So I’m not sure how much he was relying on her.
"Especially with how often he said her na, like he truly wanted to think she was responsible. And even showing up after eting with her so the scent would be there. But a man like that does not answer to others, not for long."
"...Are you defending her?"
Kyrie’s voice had gone cold in that way that reminded any wolf she wasn’t just a wealthy CEO. But I was a Princess who held gazes with Kings and Queens from other kingdoms when needed.
"I hold no sway in your pack nor do I wish to be given any right to make a decision. However, I am saying that while she may have faults that make want to rip her tongue from her throat, it might not be fair to punish soone who was *used*."
"And if-"
"By all ans, if you find proof of further involvent then do what you must. As will I."
I stepped away, further than she has let walk from her since carrying from the basent. Retrieved the system item from where it sat on the coffee table and realized for the first ti as Vrika helped partially shift my musculature... that it was actually quite heavy.
> I’m not sure Claire can comfortably leave with this? How about you? Right, you don’t care as long as she leaves us alone with the Alpha. I get it. <
"This has... information. A map display with ratings on safe structures and dangerous zones as estimated once the Apocalypse begins. I can’t think of anyone better to give it to than soone who can use that data along with her own human technology to help the city weather what is supposed to be coming."
She was already trying and failing to steal it from my grip before I finished speaking. Sighing, I carefully tested letting go and felt how unbalanced she quickly was. It must weigh sixty pounds - certainly not sothing she can deal with on her own.
"Bring Luca back up later to get it, okay? Since you told him things, he is the only other person I’d trust. And this one isn’t going to leave or let leave yet."
I took my purse from the counter and walked toward the windows. Gaining even more distance from Kyrie Voss this morning as they both let sit in a chair and fiddle with my phone.
Scratching off and removing the blue fox sticker that was not quite so cute with blood splatter on its maw.
⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖
The rest of the day passed too slowly. Kyrie took calls in her office area while I wandered restlessly through the penthouse. Eventually I found a book on her shelf - sothing about foxes and their behavior in the wild with lots of pictures.
After that I settled. Though it was on the floor, right next to her chair. Leaning into her leg as she worked. And her hand found the top of my head and scratched through my hair idly as she discussed important things with important people through her earpiece.
> If I hear the na Lodestar one more ti, I might actually walk out the door as she watches. <
Lunch was from Tsukisushi. Delivered by soone I didn’t recognize - and I tried not to be disappointed that I didn’t get to see Reina, but it makes sense that the hostess doesn’t go on deliveries for every custor.
Especially if Lunarizon Tower is a big place and the custor may not have been listed as the richest person in the city for safety reasons. Kyrie barely ate her fish, just watched work through piece after piece with that sa soft expression from yesterday. As if my nourishnt sohow transferred into energy for her.
"You’re staring."
"I am. You’re beautiful."
One of the slim wooden utensils slipped from my fingers.
"...That’s not fair. You can’t just say things like that."
"Why not? It’s true."
> Because I need her to make this easier, not harder. <
"Eat your food, silly wolf. We’re not getting into a complinting contest."
She smiled but complied, though her chopsticks took the last item from my dish instead of hers. And she only ate half of the rest on her plate before sliding it to and playing with my hair.
Evening rolled through too quickly after that. We ended up back on the couch, cuddling while watching so program about cakes that I pretended to be intrigued by. My mind was elsewhere. And my heart jumped to my throat when she suddenly spoke in a strange tone.
"Citra?"
"...Hm?"
She kissed my temple and settled more comfortably against . Within minutes, her breathing had evened out into sleep. I carried her into bed, but stayed awake a bit longer.
But I didn’t think of anything at all.
⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖
At 3AM, I woke with an absolute clarity in my heart that it was now or never. And it could never be never, just like always could not be forever.
Everything had expiry dates. I’ve let this all slip, much too far past the ’sell by’, by hiding the numbers from view like a shady rchant.
> She’ll receive the wire transfer later today. I have to go before I’m confronted. Before... <
I just have to go.
So I ignore every noise and impression of the spirit who woke exactly when I did.
Unable to fully silence it completely, though it’s cries...
Are a bit less loud than my own naive inner ones, anyway.
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