Page 7 of The Blood Debt

“I will keep you informed.”

“Thank you, sir.” He closed the call and walked back over to Bram.

"Have they found the others?" He asked, having heard the conversation.

"I don't know. Hopefully they were fast enough and smart enough to get away." Daley ran his fingers through Bram's hair and kissed the top of his head. Bram nodded, his mind elsewhere. "Are you going after the Syndicate?" He sounded worried.

"They're a threat to you, and I need to eliminate that threat." Bram had read his thoughts even as he had not openly stated his intent to Drakon. Bram did not respond, simply looked unsure. "I'll return as soon as I can. You are safe here; do not leave the Coven." Daley reached into a drawer and pulled out a burner phone and put his number into it.

"If you need me, call. I have to go, Bram. I can't let them continue to look for you." Bram nodded, but his expression was sad, and that hurt, but Daley knew what he had to do; the Syndicate would not stop until they were stopped.

***

Bram roamed the apartment, walking the length and breadth over and over, his mind conjuring all sorts of terrible outcomes, until finally he sat on the sofa and crossed his legs under him. He concentrated on his mate; he reached out to Daley through their bond and felt his life and vitality. His mate was fine; he was well, and Bram let that knowledge wash over him. He'd lived a life of fear and insecurity, and it was difficult not to let that view color everything.

His new life here with his mate would be good, and he needed to accept that not everyone in his life was out to hurt him or leave him. Daley was his mate, and he could feel his loyalty, his devotion, and his love. Daley loved him; that sensation was world-rocking, and he held it tight to his heart.

He would return, and Bram would enjoy his love for many years. He told himself this over and over until it started to feel real, and then he would reach out again, not to disturb, just to check to make sure Daley was okay. The bond was a gift like none other; it gave him relief and security.

He dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants that Daley had given him, with the promise that he would take him shopping for a proper wardrobe soon. Bram liked wearing Daley's clothes; they smelled divine and were as soft as butter. He would be just as happy to always wear his things.

He was startled out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He wasn't sure what to do at first, and then slowly crept over to the door and listened. There was another knock, so he gathered his courage and opened the door. A tall blonde vampire stood there, and he smiled at Bram.

"My name is Regis; I'm a guard. I work with your mate, Daley." He identified himself, and Bram remained silent and waited. "There are two people in our front hall requesting to speak with you. They say their names are Jan and Nor, and they are from your rabbit colony." Bram stiffened at the names. Jan was Lord of the colony and had been the one to hand him over to the Syndicate. Nor was a guard, not like a vampire guard; he was strong only in rabbit terms.

"They asked to speak with you. Do you wish to see them?" Bram became agitated and took several seconds to answer. "I can go with you and stand with you. No one will bother you, I promise." He wanted to hear what they had to say just for curiosity's sake, but there was still that fear of betrayal he'd suffered before.

“Don’t let them take me.” Bram gritted out the request.

"No one is taking you, and you do not have to see these people. I will send them away." Regis turned to walk away, but Bram stopped him. Maybe they were there to apologize, he told himself.

“No, I’d like to see them, but I don’t want to be alone with them.” He could see the man was torn by Bram’s reaction and was not sure about allowing the contact. "I want to talk to them." He said more clearly, and the guard relented.

"I'll take you to them, and I will not leave your side." He took him to the ground floor to the large entryway, and he hesitated briefly when he saw them, Jan and Nor, standing there waiting, looking like they had a right to speak with him. Regis walked in with him and remained close by his side. Bram appreciated his help and was coming to understand that Daley’s pledge that the Coven took care of its own was very true.

"What do you want?" Bram kept his tone even and worked very hard to keep the tremor to a minimum. Jan stepped forward. He was an older rabbit with graying at his temples, but like all small shifters, he was not a large man, so Regis towered over all of them. Jan glanced up at him and then down to Bram.

“The men came to our colony looking for you. They said you caused a mess and you ran away. They threatened our existence here in Chicago.” Jan spoke with barely suppressed hostility.

"Control yourself or get out," Regis stated flatly, and his tone had Jan taking a step back.

"How dare you run away? You were there to fulfill a debt."

"It was your debt, not mine." Bram shot back, and he was proud of himself. Being around Daley was doing him good.

"You agreed to go," Jan shouted and then took another step back when Regis growled.

"I agreed to nothing. You threw me to the wolves and then laughed about it after. Your misfortune now is your own making and has nothing to do with me." The shock on Jan's face was priceless. Why hadn't Bram grown a backbone sooner? This show of strength felt fantastic.

“You will contact them and return to fulfill your duty to the colony." Jan barely got the sentence out of his mouth before Regis grabbed him by the throat with one hand and grabbed Nor by the jacket with his other and threw them both out the door. He actually drop-kicked Nor, and Bram got to see that bully unceremoniously fly through the air and hit the pavement hard. It was lovely.

"I apologize for alerting you to their presence; they have no business here and will never bother you again," Regis told him.

"No, it was good for me to see them. It gave me the opportunity to tell them what I thought and to see them treated like the trash that they are." He noticed a slight smile before Regis schooled his features and walked him back to the apartment.

Bram felt stronger for having dealt with them. He still was uncomfortable with his colony, but after confronting them, he no longer felt afraid. Life was definitely improving for this formerly scared little rabbit.

CHAPTER FIVE