“Maybe the fresh air suits me,” Cody says instead. “Come on in.”
Tobias wags a finger, following Cody through the garage. “You’re supposed to say you’re happy to see me. But damn, this is a nice piece of land. Are all vampiresthis rich?”
“They play the long game on real estate.” Same as werewolf packs, when there’s enough leadership stability over the generations. Werewolves are less likely to sell, though. Territorial.
Getting inside is a slow process. Tobias has to inspect every piece of security equipment he passes. Both to check the installment team did their jobs properly, and to make sure Cody hasn’t fucked it up. Tobias does this every time, but he’s taking extra long today. Cody takes a while to realize why, then catches Tobias’s furtive glances at the boarded-up windows.
Right. Cody had to get Tobias cleared with the treaty council, so Cody could work for Atwood Security without violating secrecy laws. So, Tobias is allowed to know about werewolves, vampires, witches, and their ilk. But he’s spent most of that time only consorting with werewolves. One specific werewolf, that is. Tobias has never been inside a vampire’s lair before, and he’s politely trying not to gawk.
Cody is hyperaware of the sunset as they drop Tobias’s things in a guest room, then proceed to the parlor. He’s become as attuned to the sun’s movements as he is to the moon. It’s twenty minutes past sunset, enough time for someone to crawl from their coffin, when Cody catches Tobias peering at the windows again.
“If you think this is weird, you should see the fridge,” Cody says, grinning.
“This isn’t weird, this is disappointing!” Tobias complains, with an answering grin. He points at the ceiling. “I wanted bats! Coffins! Horrible velvet wallpaper!”
“Horrible velvet wallpaper is a human invention,” Simon says from the doorway.
Tobias jumps but recovers. “We’re creative like that.” His arm moves like he’s about to offer a handshake, then changes his mind.
Some deep, primal part of Cody is happy about that. Nobody else’s scent should linger on Simon’s skin.
Simon seems amused by Tobias’s gawking, but careful inspection reveals his tension. That eternal stillness. Simon has a werewolf-like defensiveness over his territory. Cody hadn’t noticed that defensiveness slowly lessening until now, when it returns in full force.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person,” Simon says politely. A far cry from his first meeting with Cody. He’s in the same blue sweater he wore the night he tried sneaking out. The one that brings out his eyes.
“Likewise,” Tobias says. “You’re very…”
Simon leans in the doorway. “Nothing like you expected? Or exactly like?”
Tobias shrugs. “The only other vampire I’ve met in person is Dima. No offense, but he’s creepy as hell.”
Simon usually gets distant and sad at that name, but now, he just smiles. “He would be offended if you didn’t find him creepy. The moon is getting stronger. Shall we?”
Anxiety flares, awakened from dormancy. Cody is just as aware of sunset as moonrise, but his awareness of Simon eclipses both. He could almost forget the full moon is close, mistaking the buzz in his veins for attraction.
“If you like your upholstery unscratched,” Cody says, pasting cheerfulness over his anxiety.
Simon smiles again instead of biting back. Which means he’s uncomfortable or upset. Maybe about havingTobias in his space. Maybe about Cody’s werewolf nature, impossible to hide as the moon waxes. Cody can’t take the time to figure out what’s wrong, and he hates that.
They have to cross the library with the garden mural to reach the chosen containment site. It’s usually a storage room. Once Simon heard Cody might scratch up the walls, that eliminated most rooms from consideration.
Cody installed the heavy latch and moved the boxes of books out last week. The current furnishings are sparse—a mattress and a wooden chest with spare clothes. Warm overhead lighting can’t soften this into a comfortable den.
“This is rather medieval,” Simon remarks.
“And you would know?” Cody asks.
“That’s a bit before my time.” Simon glances at Tobias, then Cody. “I’ll be downstairs,” he says, and leaves them at the doorway.
Cody tries not to watch him leave. Better for Simon not to be here, because Cody hates this part. Feeling like an animal being locked up in his cage. The Atwood Security containment room has a nice, self-locking door. Cody doesn’t usually have to suffer this indignity in front of other people. But this storage room has to be locked from the outside, with a sturdy metal latch.
The worst part is this is Cody’s own damn fault. For not controlling himself. For not finding a new pack or a mate. He can’t read Tobias’s expression. Pity? Or disgust? Resting tired face?
Tobias says nonchalantly, “If I found out you were fucking a principal, I would have to fire you.”
Cody chokes. He’d forgotten how observant Tobias was. “I’m not. Definitely not.”
Not yet anyway.
