SEVEN

　　¬Amolet

　　I rest back into my seat, looking at Lev who sits across from me.

　　Despite owing Lev this dinner out with him, I feel guilty that I can't take my mind off Cian and what he said to me. I already knew that he had left, but I had no idea he could do so with such ease. He didn't even blink, even if he did seem slightly irritated at my presence. I shiver, wondering if he really wouldn't hurt me, or if he is just saying that.

　　"You could have been killed today," Lev says suddenly, forcing me to concentrate back on our conversation. We chose a nice place for dinner that neither of us have been to. Lev is spoiling me, for some reason, choosing a part of town I wouldn't have dared step into, knowing I'm not close to wealthy enough.

　　I shrug, holding my cup of water between both my hands, watching the surface quiver slightly with the bass of the music that echoes throughout the room. "I don't actually think he is very much of a threat."

　　"You can't possibly know that," Lev mutters, brows furrowing beneath his fringe of golden hair. I keep forgetting to remind him to get it cut, since he only does so when I encourage him. It's so messy and unkempt for a restaurant like this, although I like that. It's so Lev.

　　"He's spoken to me," I impart, knowing that it won't make much difference to whether Lev trusts Cian or not. "He told me I didn't need to fear him."

　　Lev breathes in deeply, shaking his head.

　　"And you believe it?"

　　It takes me a moment to think that through. When I spoke to him earlier he seemed so earnest and he assured me I could be safe in his presence. Whether I truly believe that, I'm not sure, but I know I can't admit my fears to Lev without him telling me to quit the job. I need the money, even if a powerful Immortal dwells there. He could have killed me by now if he wished to.

　　"I do, Lev," I say quietly, the lyrics of the song playing in the room nearly swallowing up my words. The last thing I want to do is upset him...I'm not even sure why he is so interested in this. I know he cares about me, but I've done far more dangerous things and he hasn't been bothered by it.

　　Lev sits back in the leather lined seat, eyes scanning the room. Surprisingly, it isn't busy here tonight. Everyone that is in here speaks lowly between themselves, ignoring us completely. I'm glad of it, this dark navy coloured dress I'm wearing is far too tight on me, and I feel completely out of place.

　　"I was thinking about going on vacation..." Lev announces suddenly, silvery blue eyes lighting up slightly at his own words.

　　I frown. "Really, where?"

　　"Anywhere that isn't here. Maybe the Passion Pack, with all it's beaches," he muses. I'm not sure if I'm hearing this right, knowing Lev hasn't expressed any interest of leaving the Harmony Pack since he heard word that he may inherit his fathers bookstore.

　　"Who is going to look after the bookstore?"

　　"I'll find someone, don't worry," he says dismissively, waving his hand as if it's no big deal. Amongst everything that has been going on in my own life, I had no idea Lev has had any interest in wanting to take a break from it all. "I was hoping you would come with me."

　　"I don't think I can do that. Not when I just got this job," I tell him. Stace, or anyone else here who has power may fire me for leaving despite only being there for a few weeks. Not to mention, I have so many more questions for Cian that I can't just give up now.

　　"It would be good to get away from that place."

　　"I've only been working there for a few weeks..."

　　"I'm worried about you, is all," Lev murmurs, his tone tense as he reaches out to grasp my hands. I stare down at his fingers clutched around mine, frowning at how intimate this feels. Lev and I are affectionate at times, but hand-holding is not included in that. "I want to hang out with you with no distractions."

　　"We live together, Lev," I mutter flatly. We have hours that contradict each others, which means we only see each other in passing, but I thought our other outings together was enough to keep our friendship thriving.

　　"I know, but I think this would be fun, and special..." Lev murmurs softly, his eyes searching my face for answers.

　　Just as I open my mouth to speak again, my gaze drifts over his shoulder, noticing a pair of people walk in. Their backs face us as they do so, although it's painfully obvious who one of them is. It's impossible to not to notice his height, his impressive stature and tattoos that swirl up his neck in strange patterns. Instantly my heart is in my throat...It's Stace.

　　"Oh no..." I yelp, tucking down slightly as if to hide behind Lev's body. He turns around in his seat, taking in the two people curiously, wondering why they would elicit such a dramatic reaction.

　　"What is it?"

　　"That's my boss," I say lowly, hoping not to draw his attention.

　　Lev turns back around again, face suddenly flushed, eyes startled. "Who cares about that, that's Alpha Noah."

　　"How do these guys know each other?" I question absently. Looking closer, I realise that Lev is right, that is Alpha Noah. Together him and Stace are seated, thankfully not looking anywhere near me. They are in a booth, although the wall behind it is an open space, likely leading to a hallway.

　　"Your boss owns a large facility here in the Harmony Pack. One that Alpha Noah likely doesn't want people to know about," Lev guesses, trying to avoid making it obvious that he wants to keep looking over there.

　　I chew on the edge of my lip. "Hmm, strange."

　　Noah glances my way, but doesn't take any notice of me. His eyes are a sharp emerald green, so piercing it almost hurts to look at. Like Stace, he has dark hair, although he is slightly shorter and not so curly. They are both dressed in dark clothing, speaking quietly to each other.

　　"He doesn't exactly look sad, does he?" Lev notes.

　　"Sad?"

　　"About his mate's death? It wasn't exactly recent that she apparently drowned when they were on vacation, or something like that, but I remember him recovering quickly. It's a real shame," Lev sighs gently, looking particularly uncomfortable with admitting that. Interesting, I don't remember hearing about that. Maybe it's because I don't pay much attention to those in power.

　　"He doesn't look like he lost a mate," I also observe. He doesn't smile, but there is an ounce of grief in his eyes. I know for a fact that losing a mate can kill someone, yet he looks stronger than ever, unbothered by it all. How very strange.

　　"Right?" Lev says, shaking his head so a few stray waves drift down around his temples. "If I lost my mate, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning for months, if not years, let alone laugh and smile past that..."

　　"I'm just going to sit a little closer and see if I can hear anything," I say suddenly, deciding that I'm all too curious to not know what Stace and the Alpha are talking about.

　　"Amolet...If he realises, he will fire you," Lev mutters, looking at me as if I'm insane. Maybe I am. Stace has every right to attend a dinner with a friend, or even a business partner, but I want to know as much as I can. Something isn't right about Stace, and clearly something isn't right about Noah...I have to know.

　　"I thought that's what you wanted..." I say airly, shrugging at him as I get to my feet.

　　Lev doesn't follow me, and no one, including Stace and Noah take much notice as I stalk through the restaurant to the other side, ducking behind the wall that is right next to their booth. This is so wrong, but thankfully staff pass me by without so much as a glance.

　　"How is he?" I hear Noah say, his Harmony Pack accent thick and obvious. Stace doesn't share that accent, but I already figure it's not mortal, and most definitely not from here.

　　"Nothing has changed," Stace replies with a sigh.

　　"I'm thinking we should do it soon," Noah murmurs. I nearly don't catch what he is saying. "Cian needs to die."

　　Those words strike me right in the chest, coming out of nowhere. What does Noah have to do with Cian, and why does he want them dead? I have so many questions, and a lot of panic rising up within me, but I ignore both for the meantime, knowing I need to keep listening.

　　"Not everything is in place that needs to be," Stace tells him tightly. I shake my head. How can Stace own a facility that takes care of patients like that, and want one of them dead? It doesn't make any sense.

　　"How much longer am I going to have to wait?"

　　"I know you're upset, Noah," Stace sighs. I hear him take a sip from his glass, my back pressed tightly against the wall that is all that separates us. If I'm caught...I've heard so much sensitive information, who knows what they would do to me. "I know everything hasn't gone to plan like you expected, but it will, I promise."

　　Noah sounds angry, although he manages to rein it in well. "I just want him dead."

　　"And soon, he will be," Stace affirms, and my blood goes cold.

　　EIGHT

　　All the breath feels like it's been drawn out of me, as I slowly stalk back to the table.

　　Suddenly, I know information that I shouldn't, and now I don't know what I should do with it. Lev glances my way, unbothered and unknowing of what I just heard. It really isn't any of my business, and I shouldn't have listened in the first place, but I thought all I would hear was some gossip about Stace and whether he is truly a mortal or not.

　　Not...this. Do they truly plan to have Cian killed? I feel like I should warn him, yet at the same time, I'm not sure I want to be dragged into this.

　　Sliding back into my seat, I settle my shuddering fingers, silently cursing myself, wishing this information would simply vanish. Lev looks over me, looking as if he wants to question what I heard, but decides against it.

　　"We are going out tonight, after we eat," he tells me firmly, pushing his light hair back behind his ears. For a moment I'm so surprised he's said that, that I don't know what to say.

　　"What? No way."

　　"You need to go dancing, you work has made you way to uptight," he tells me jokingly, although there is a hint of truth dwelling beneath his tone. I narrow my eyes, knowing that dancing in a small room with a bunch of strangers is the last thing I want to be doing right now. "And I have a friend I want you to meet."

　　I blink, trying to register that. I'm meant to go meet a friend of Lev's when I know this information? It feels so unreal.

　　"I think I want to go home to sleep. I have a lot on my mind," I tell him slowly.

　　"You have too much on your mind," he says, grabbing a hold of my hand tightly. Lev knows me better than anyone, and he's realised I'm in my own head about something, and that right now is not the best time to ask about it. Instead, he wants to distract me. "Now let's go forget it, just for one night."

　　Drawing in a long breath, I finally nod, knowing he isn't going to give up on this one. I'll think about all of this later.

　　+++

　　Lev chose a spot in town that we have frequented a lot in the past. Those days are very much behind me, as I know prefer to curl up on the couch with Lev and watch our favourite TV show.

　　Even enjoying a simple pleasure like that seems impossible now.

　　"Amolet, I want you to meet Sam, a new friend of mine," Lev says over the pounding music. Almost as soon as we walked through the door, a pretty girl with voluptuous red hair and dark eyes approached, grinning widely at me. I've always known Lev attracts people to be his friend with ease, but he always insists I'm who he cares about the most. It makes me worry about finding a mate, or a girlfriend even...This gives me silent hope.

　　"How did you two meet?" she asks, wincing slightly through the dim lighting. The place is intimate, and tonight, is nearly at capacity. People bump into us, dancing merrily as they pay us no mind.

　　"I just started working at the bookstore," I tell her, not wanting to get into the real story. His family felt bad for me and allowed me to start working there when I was still in school. Lev worked there to, and in the beginning, I even had a crush on him. Now, he's my best friend, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

　　"Amolet works at that treatment facility down the road," Lev says in Sam's ear, his words nearly lost in the bass of the music, the thumping shuddering through the floor. "All the rumours are true."

　　Same raises her brows at me. "I heard they have some pretty crazy patients."

　　"It's a strange place, for sure," I tell her uneasily, thinking about Cian and what he may be doing right now. When do Stace and Noah plan to kill Cian, and how are they going to do it? Killing an immortal, especially a Sin isn't easy.

　　Lev senses my unease, not wanting to be asked anymore questions about work, clapping his hands together. "Alright, how about a dance..."

　　Sam agrees immediately, so reluctantly, I nod. Tonight, I'm just not in the mood for dancing, knowing that if I don't see Cian by tomorrow, all I'm going to think about before sleep is that I'm holding onto this knowledge. It seemed like they don't plan to do it any time soon, but just knowing it makes me uncomfortable.

　　Lev grabs my hand, pulling me into the throng of people, immediately staring to dance with more energy than I can muster. Still, for his sake, I dance along with him, trying to give him and Sam enough space in hopes they will spark something up between each other. Sam deserves it.

　　Suddenly, a hand presses on my back before gliding down to gently hold my waist, making me flinch.

　　"Sorry dude, I don't want to dance with anyone tonight," I mutter, brushing him off. I'm not usually offended by a simple touch in here, but tonight I'm not in the mood, so whirling around, I get ready to tell him to get lost again...until I realise exactly who he is.

　　Cian.

　　My lips part as I gasp, stumbling back a few steps. For a moment, I'm sure the flickering light's and atmosphere of the room is tricking me, knowing he has been on my mind so much since I arrived. Yet at another glance, it's most definitely him.

　　He's taller than I imagined, the clothing he usually wears in the facility no where to be seen, replaced with dark pants and a black jacket. Under these lights, his golden roots look even more ethereal, although no one around us seems to notice, Lev too enamoured by Sam behind us to look twice.

　　"I don't mean to offend you, Amolet," he says smoothly, his voice sounding so much more different in this place.

　　"Cian...What the-"

　　"Shh, you don't need to panic," he tells me firmly, grabbing a hold of my shoulders tightly, fingers gripping the fabric of my dress. I'm frozen, unsure of whether once this shock subsides that I'll be calm or scared. All I know is he isn't in his cell right now, where he should be, and that I could very well be dreaming...

　　"What are you doing out of your cell?" I stutter, my words nearly drowned out by the music. "How..."

　　"My powers didn't just disappear," he says, as if that should be painfully obvious. Then, he rubs the back of his neck, looking around to make sure no one is listening before talking a little lower. "Although there is magic meant to keep me in. Hasn't done a very good job of it, clearly."

　　"Wow, this is really happening," I say slowly, glancing back over my shoulder, realising I was dancing with Lev and Sam. They have their backs turned me, but soon Lev is going to realise who I'm speaking to. "Wait, that's my friend...He's can't see I'm with you."

　　Cian glances over the crowd, taller than most in this room, before nodding at me to follow him. "They have private rooms."

　　I'm not sure what compels me to do it, but I nod, knowing I need to speak to him, and that I don't want Lev to see Cian and panic. So breathing in deeply, I weave through the crowd behind Cian and into one of the private rooms that he has no issue getting access to. I turn around, lip between my teeth as Cian closes the door gently behind us.

　　"You need to explain everything to me right now," I tell him firmly. I can hardly believe what I'm looking at right now, that he is here. It can't have been a coincidence that I ran into him here after not being able to get him out of my head.

　　"I thought the sooner I made you aware that I can come and go as I please, the less noise you'll make about it when you don't find me in my cell. You very nearly ruined a lot for me," he says, raising a dark eyebrow at me. Oh, that's why he is here. He came to tell me that I nearly screwed everything up.

　　Swallowing uncomfortably, I lean against the far wall away from me. "I was actually coming to warn you about something."

　　He frowns. "Warn me?"

　　"I was out to dinner tonight, and Stace and Alpha Noah where there," I tell him uneasily, watching his eyes darken at the mention of their names. "They were talking about killing you."

　　He closes his eyes for a moment, releasing a slow sigh. "You've got to be kidding me..."

　　"Look, I may have misheard, but you should know," I say, wondering if now is a good time to ask to not be involved. My curiosity about Cian has gotten me this far, and now it feels easier to walk away. My life was so boring before hand, I was lured by the intrigue. Now, it's all far more terrifying than I could have imagine.

　　Suddenly his entire demeanour seems to change, somewhat frantic. We need to go."

　　"Where? I can't leave my friend-" I tell him, knowing I can't leave this place with him. Where would we go anyway?

　　"Leven will be fine," he insists. "Close you eyes."

　　I shake my head, but before I have much choice, he grabs the fabric of my sleeve, pulling me closer to him. Before I have a chance to react, the world begins to dissolve around me, and I fall, feeling nothing my Cian clutching me.