Intertwine (Book 3)

Chapter Ten

Jason_

I eyed the jewelry box with a quirky grin on my face.

The ring was missing so I know she had taken it with her to the gym.

I closed the drawer, shoving my cellular phone into my pocket before I left the room.

"Going somewhere?" Zeiden was leaning against the banister at the bottom of the stairway. He popped up when he saw me coming down the staircase.

"Is that your business?"

He seemed to be questioning himself, wondering if he even had any authority to question me. He didn't. No one did. Well, except for one. Her.

"Where you going?" Zeiden followed me over to the front door.

"For a run." I opened the door, allowing fresh air to pour into the opening.

"Wolf form?"

"No."

"Do you mind if I join?" Zeiden pressed. I snarled.

"What do you want Zeiden?" My arms folded.

"I just want to spend time with you." Zeiden teased. He was a damn fool and by the way he was laughing, he knew it. I wanted to be alone; however, I'm not sure if it was the best idea to actually be alone.

I have been roaming in secret. I have kept my travels under the radar. I have been doing it all on my own, keeping my agenda on the low for some days now.

"Zeiden." I eyed his quirky grin. "You can come...if you can keep up."

He half smiled. He was fast; however, keeping up with me was a challenge for him. By the look on his face, he knew it was a challenge yet I could tell that he was up for the task.

I took off running. Speed and agility was my goal. I whisked past hung trees and thick marsh, swiping pass leaves and branches that snapped from their base. Wind whistled past my ear. Cool air nipped at my heated flesh.

Time seemed to slow as I took leave. My mind was so taken by nature's gift I had almost forgotten that there was someone running behind me. He was quick yet not quick enough.

I was increasing the gap between him and me. Soon, even smell of me would fade from existence. My trail would go cold. He would follow nothing but a thought of me. I wanted nothing more than to mess with Zeiden, lead him on a wild goose chase.

However, I needed his company, even despite my inner monster that wanted to move solo.

I slowed down, leaving him time to catch up with me.

"Why did you slow down?" Zeiden was heaving for air. His nostrils flared as he struggled to pull in a much needed breath. "I was catching up."

"You're dying." I stopped running.

"I was-" He parked himself by a large oak tree. His body slumped over the large over ground root. "I was coming."

As Zeiden found time to catch his breath, I found time to look around, waiting and watching my surroundings. We were off of territory. Now, anyone could come along. There were no patrols. There were no other members. I haven't even told others where I was going, what I was doing, or who I was meeting.

"You okay?" I eyed the shadows that were casted by the dreary trees.

"Yeah just...need some water." He heaved. "Is there like a lake or dirty pond around?"

Despite me not laughing, I found his humor sort of enjoyable. No wonder he was Brent's left hand.

"No."

"Okay." He wiped away the beads of sweat that had formed on the flesh of his forehead. “I’m ready. Can we go wolf form though? I may be able to keep up. I mean, I'm fast and all but no Alpha. Matter of fact, maybe I should go wolf form and you run in human. Maybe that would help. You know, you are fast and all but-"

"Stop talking Zeiden."

"No problem."

I looked over the trees, watching as shadows deep with the trees began to move about. They were watching, waiting for me. I was here now. Hiding was unnecessary now.

We were here for business.

Zeiden had caught his breath. Just in time to see the two figures that had approached us. A woman. The same woman we had met before. She never gave a name. She just spoke and disappeared into the woods when done.

She never conversed too much. She did always have her 'words of wisdom'. She would always keep her face partially hidden. A black silk scarf would cover a portion of her face. I was not sure if she was hiding her face or covering the brunette-like eyes that confirmed her new introduction into this world.

The other was slimming male. Maybe in his mid-twenties. Black hair with brownish gold eyes. Just as the others, he reminded me of stone. Stiff posture that made them look like some sort of statue.

However, they were no longer strangers to me. We have been meeting for some time now.

"What-" Zeiden stood straight up. I wondered if this was some sort of battle, would Zeiden get killed because he was so exhausted. "What is this?"

"Sshh Zeiden." I glanced over my shoulder. Not enough to take my eyes off of the company.

I turned my attention back. My company had waited for our meeting to commence.

"Why are we here?" I asked. I had kept our meetings short and most of them far from home but today, they insisted on coming to me.

The two eyed each other for a moment before their attention returned to me.

"It’s about the captive." My jaw tightened. I cut my eyes toward a stunned Zeiden.

"You know about Ms. Terra?" Zeiden pressed. He pushed himself away from the tree and stood in front of me.

"Wait Zeiden." I touched his stiffened shoulders.

"They know about Ms. Terra. That's great news, right?" Zeiden was excited. However, I did not return his excitement with an emotion.

"I will explain it to you later." I looked at the lingering eyes that watched me.

"Our leader would like to meet you." The male fixed his collar to perfection. These Vampires were so neat.

"Why now?" I had to ask. Normally he would send his companions. The woman. The boy.

The woman became uneasy. It was until now she showed any sign of discomfort to my questions. What was the problem?

"Where is he?" Zeiden pressed. I looked at him. He had no say-so in the matter so I needed him silent.

"Zeiden." He looked up at me, worry and curiosity circulating through his eyes. "Shut up."

"He is still away, awaiting the confirmation of the meeting." The woman pulled back her scarf. The silky black hair shined under the falling sun.

"I remember you. You were the woman that came here before." Zeiden wagged his finger.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, my mind rotating on two different topics. I was debating on which to talk about first; Zeiden's need to continue to talk or the fact that their leader wanted to speak to me.

"When?" I pushed Zeiden behind me.

"Your call." The woman nodded.

I thought for a moment. It would be almost impossible to have them at my home.

"I will keep in contact on the place and time." I confirmed. "But the meeting is a go."

"Good we will inform him." As soft as they spoke was as soft as they disappeared into the trees, out of sight and out of mind.

I turned to leave, almost forgetting the stunned person who followed behind me.

"Let's walk."

"You damn right we will." Zeiden skipped and pushed pass trees to take his place in front of me to see my face. "What the hell is going on?"

"Hard to explain."

"Well you need to." He stopped me. I eyed him, warning him that he did not want to go down this road. Confronted with nervousness, he moved his hand, allowing me to pass by.

The trees were quiet and so were we for a slim moment before I spoke.

"I think I brought you out here for a reason." I admitted.

"Why?"

"I guess I needed someone else to know of this." I have kept these meetings private, making sure I was out of range and out of mind.

"Aaron?" He would assume my right hand would know of this.

"No."

"Brent? A.J?"

"Brent is no good with secrets, especially with you. I decided to leave A.J out of a lot of this. Even though he is one of my warriors, I gave him the space he needed. With him and Keisha yearning to begin a family in a new home, I thought he did not need this pressure."

"So just you...and me."

"Yeah." I answered.

I heard him stop in his tracks. I turned to see him standing there.

"I don't think I can handle this pressure."

"Pressure?"

"The damn secrets. I'm no good at that shit."

I shook my head.

"It’s either hold a secret." I began to walk again. "Or hold your pulled heart...your choice."

I shrugged. He acknowledged my words. It was no threat but a promise. I needed him to do something, and that was to keep his mouth shut.

I can only wonder if he could do this...