“I already told you why this is necessary, Brad,” Harmon said.“I know you worry, there’s no reason for you to.I’m not going there alone.If it makes you feel better, I can ask the others to never leave me alone.”
Rex couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.He knew that it was Brad, Harmon’s second-in-command, and he couldn’t help but wonder why the man was so worried.He didn’t want to lose his coven leader, of course, but it sounded like more.Clearly, Brad and Harmon were friends.
That didn’t mean that Rex wasn’t annoyed at Brad.He understood the situation, but the man had agreed to be Harmon’s second.Surely he could continue taking care of the coven for a few more days.
“I promise that I’ll be home as soon as this is over.We just need to ensure that the next clan leader won’t attack us because of what happened to Martin.I realize that the coven isn’t anywhere near this area, but it doesn’t mean the clan isn’t dangerous to us.”
Rex tried to imagine having the kind of responsibilities Harmon had.It was hard.Rex had never been in charge of anyone that way.He’d never even been part of a coven.He and his siblings, along with their father, were a family, even though none of them were related by blood.They’d never acted like a coven.They respected their father and tended to follow his advice, but that was what it was—advice, not orders.Covens were different.People were expected to follow the leader’s orders, and leaders were expected to put the coven first, before even their personal lives.
Was that something Rex could do?He didn’t know, but he thought it was unfair to Harmon that he had to shoulder most of the responsibilities by himself.Maybe it was time for him to choose another second-in-command, or maybe he could add someone to his coven who would assist, like a partner.It wasn’t the same as shifters, for which the alpha mate was almost as important as the alpha, but it could be close.
The problem was that Rex didn’t like the thought of Harmon being with anyone like that.
That was something else he had to think about.If he wished to pursue anything with Harmon, he’d have to deal with the coven, too.Hell, if things with Harmon went well, Rex wouldn’t have a choice but to help him the way Brad was supposed to be helping him.Was that something he could do?Was it something hewanted?
He didn’t know, but something told him he had to find out.Maybe spending time with Harmon would help with that.
* * * *
DID HARMON FEEL BADabout leaving Brad in charge of the coven longer than necessary?A bit.Would that stop him from going with Rex and the others to the dragon clan?No.He wasn’t even thinking about going home.
“I just don’t know how you do it,” Brad said.“They don’t listen to me.”
“They do listen to you.You might not be the coven leader, but you’re my second-in-command.They’re just testing you.”Like children, which was infuriating.Harmon’s coven wasn’t made up of children, although sometimes, he wished it was.Kids would be easier to deal with.
“It’s just that now Tyler refuses to be in the same room as Sarah.It’s made things awkward.”
“You have to sit them down and get them to talk to each other.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried that?She insists that he stole her bag of expensive coffee and she wants him to buy her a new one, but he said it wasn’t him and he’s offended because she’s accusing him.”
Harmon was going to scream.“You’re going to have to figure it out.”At least it wasn’t a life or death situation.
“Or it could wait until you’re home.”
“You really want to wait that long?”
“That long?How long do you think it’s going to take?”
Shit.“As long as it needs.I think that the coven’s safety is more important than me coming home to settle a dispute about coffee.”
Since Rex was driving, there was no way for him not to hear what Harmon was saying, so Harmon hadn’t even tried.It wasn’t like he had anything to hide, anyway, except maybe how ridiculous his coven was.When Harmon glanced sideways to see how Rex was taking it, he saw that Rex was trying very hard not to smile.
Harmon could admit it was a little funny.At the very least, it was better than his coven members trying to kill each other.He could deal with coffee.Hell,Bradcould deal with coffee.
“I know,” Brad said.“I’ve just reached the end of my patience.”
“How do you think I feel when I have to deal with this every day?”
There was a moment of silence before Brad spoke up again.“Is that why you’re not coming back?Because you don’t want to deal with us?”
Harmon sucked in a breath.He hadn’t realized that he was so transparent.He hadn’t thought that Brad knew how he felt about his role as coven leader.Maybe he should have.They’d been friends for a long time and fellow coven members for even longer.“I haven’t come back yet because there’s still work to do here.I know that my job is to lead the coven, but it’s also to keep it safe, and that’s what I’m doing.”
“I never said you weren’t.I just worry about you.”
“You just hate having to do it.”
Brad laughed.“That, too.When you’re home, we need to talk about me being your second.”
