Razor welcomed me in and seemed to approve when I took my shoes off. He went straight into it, showing me the stances and naming them, and then watching while I copied them. I knew them all, but I followed his lead.
Ten minutes later, he initiated some light sparring. We only went at it full out for the last ten minutes of my hour with him, but that was okay. You don’t pass these kinds of tests by being impatient or snobby.
He walked me to his office and used a highlighter on several listed classes. “The Saturday class doesn’t have any heavy sparring, but it’s mostly made up of submissive types. Spence and Matty are in it, as well as a lot of women. The other classes I’ve noted are all heavy-duty fighters. You’ll be fine with them, and in fact that’s who you need to be sparring with, but I think the social aspects of the Saturday class would be good for you and your wolf. You’re some kind of alpha submissive, and you need to feed both sides of your psyche.”
All I could do was nod. I wasn’t sure how to respond, and I finally came up with, “I’ll talk to Spence and see what he thinks. Thank you for making the offer. I look forward to some all-out sparring. I had some nice sessions with the other employees at Drake Security while I was there, and I’ve missed that since going to work for Kieran.”
“Just Kieran? Not Kieran and Gwen?”
I shrugged. “It was just Kieran for over a month. Now it’s both of them. I guess we’re still figuring that part out.”
He seemed ultra-focused on me, but you get that with bird shifters. He crossed his arms, uncrossed them.
“There’s strength in submission. My Matty is as bad-ass as they come, humanly speaking. He has the respect of my brothers, but it took a while for him to earn it. You did something to gain the respect of a few of us when they met you in the restaurant. You’ll be fine.”
I met someone named Horse when I went into the gun store. He knew my name before I said anything — I assumed it was because he scented Razor on me, and must’ve known who he was working with. Or, perhaps he’d known I’d be parking in their lot. Razor was a Raven, and Horse was a grizzly bear. I wondered what other species existed in the MC, but I didn’t ask. I also didn’t ask why a bear was named Horse.
He showed me some of their newest toys, along with some scopes I’d heard about but hadn’t seen in real life yet. He also offered to let me have some range time without having to buy a membership, and I decided to take him up on it, though I intended to buy a membership at some point. I had plenty of money.
When he pointed out that there was a package deal for range time and class time at the martial arts studio, it seemed a no-brainer. He said I should let Razor know the next time I came for a class, and I could pay the difference then.
I went to the mall for some more clothes suitable for Krav Maga classes, and then the grocery store, and made it back to the Doyles’ house in time to shower and be ready for them when Kieran awakened.
And was surprised when he told me he needed to get to work, and it would just be me and Gwen. Our rules said we couldn’t have penetrative sex unless Kieran was with us, and he told me the rule was lifted. We’d be able to do whatever we wanted. Just the two of us.
It felt wrong, and I told him as much.
“Then deal with it. This has to work with just the two of us, and with just the two of you. For now, I prefer it be the three of us, but there are going to be exceptions.”
“How will we...” I stood straighter and asked my question without sidestepping it. “Abbott’s rule. Who flogs the other?”
“Either Gwen will figure it out, or she’ll ask for your input. I’ll be fine with bagged blood today.” He motioned me to the bed. “Get in with her, so you’ll be there when she rises. I know you won’t hurt her.”
The trust he gave me — leaving me with her while she was vulnerable — touched my heart. I mean, sure, he could see inside my head, but still. No vampire had ever trusted me in the room with them while they weren’t animated.
“I won’t abuse your trust. Thank you.”
He shook his head. “I know you won’t. I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Razor. Abbott has a range you can use for free, but it might be good for you to ingratiate yourself with the bikers. With the coming war, any alliances we form can only help.”
I wondered if it was wrong that I wanted to be their friend because I liked them, and not because I should be forming alliances, and he answered the question for me.
“I’m glad you like them. Both Abbott and Aaron Drake value them as well. Abbott has had his problems with them, or rather, with a specific member, but if you have a problem with one, you have a problem with all. We’re working to heal that rift. Spence and Matty are close, and that helps. Having others who belong to Abbot close to the bikers can only help.”
“Matty is Razor’s?” That’s the way Razor had made it sound.
“Yes. I need to get to work. My lovely wife should rise soon. No restrictions. She’ll be able to look in your head andsee for herself, though I’m certain she’ll check in with me telepathically.”
* * * *
Gwen
I awakened with a wolf in my bed, and my instincts went on alert for a microsecond before I realized it was Ajax. I looked through his recent memories and saw Kieran’s instructions, and wondered at them. Not that he’d put me in danger, because I agreed Ajax wouldn’t hurt me, but Kieran has always been so territorial over me. Allowing another male around me when the sun held me hostage was...well, it’d only happened when Abbott or another of our Masters had ordered it. Kieran had never been the one to allow it.
I rolled to my side and smiled at the gorgeous young wolf. “I’m happy you’re here. It looks like you had an enjoyable day?”
“I did. It was nice to use my muscles and instincts. Kieran has sparred with me, but he’s in my head. He knows what I’m going to do before I do it. It was an actual sparring match with Razor, and while it didn’t last long, it was exhilarating.”
“You need to practice both ways. You’re in our world, so the odds of you coming up against another Strigorii are good.”
