Club Noire

Chapter 9

After I had everything set up for my absence from the club, I went to the IT floor and checked in with everyone. I let the lead tech guy on the day shift know what I was looking for in my absence. He was a fox shifter and extremely sharp. He told me not to worry, and I trusted him to keep an eye on things and get in touch with the night shift so the club and all other businesses would be covered day and night.

I called my head of security and told him what I needed from the crew while I was gone. I had terrific teams of staff working for me, and all my check-ins were more for my peace of mind than any real concerns about their abilities. Next, I talked to the head of my house staff to double-check that all supplies were fully stocked and the schedules were taken care of for everyone. I was assured all was well, and as they were used to my checks, no one was insulted by my questions. I value my employees, who ensured their loyalty and willingness to make sure the businesses ran smoothly. The creepy guy had shaken me more than I cared to admit, and I didn’t want anyone hurt in a bid to get to me. Thankfully, all my management had my numbers and could contact me at a moment’s notice. Only a handful knew I could get home in a literal moment, but that was for their safety and mine.

Finally done with work, I took my luggage, laptop bag, and purse downstairs. I had changed into more casual clothes: jeans and a band tee-shirt with a lightweight jacket. I had pulled my hair into a braid and waited in my office. Phaedra and Jas arrived first, with Phaedra handing me a bag from my favorite Mexican restaurant and a large iced mocha frappuccino with extra whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. That’s one of many reasons why she’s my best friend. She shot me a significant look as I played innocent and tucked into my late lunch.

I had almost finished when Baz, Oisin, Alexei, Dima, and Mercedes arrived. I was glad to see Mercedes looking a thousand times better than the last time I had laid eyes on her. She smiled shyly at me while Dima hugged her close to his side-mate bond in full effect. I greeted everyone and gave them a quick version of what we were headed to New Orleans to find. Then I added some information only Phaedra knew: we would also see my aunt, Marianna.

She was my mother’s oldest sister, and she had moved to New Orleans after breaking away from the family for much the same reasons I had. She had fallen in love with a dragon shifter from New Orleans and only wanted to be with him and not allow herself to be married off as some power pawn. Her father didn’t take it well, and she was content to leave and live with her love. He was ecstatic that she chose him, but he was furious at the treatment she received from her family. Her name was rarely spoken aloud when I was growing up, and I only heard of her by overhearing some servants gossiping. I pestered one who had remained close to my aunt to give me her contact information when I left home. I had a feeling I would need to get in touch with her.

I had contacted her as soon I had moved to the city and she was thrilled to hear from me. We have been in touch, both by phone and in-person since then. She was sympathetic to my thoughts on relationships and encouraged me to be true to what my heart wanted, no matter what that turned out to be. She was a true beauty like my mother and her other sisters. But where my mother was retiring and unfailingly polite, my aunt was boisterous and outspoken. She was a dynamo who helped run her mate’s pack. They loved her, and her disposition had helped her mate get several vital alliances in the area. She also found another mate from those alliances, another dragon shifter faction leader. He had ties to the head of the vampire faction and werewolf factions. Those connections were what we needed.

We took several SUVs to the private airport hangar where my jet awaited. As the staff unloaded the luggage onto the plane, we all boarded and prepared for the flight. Mercedes was impressed by the spacious interior with several comfortable couches and seating, plus a bathroom and bedroom towards the back of the plane. Baz leaned in and whispered, “Any chance of us testin’ out the springs on that baby?” I blushed red as I knew everyone had heard that with their supernatural hearing, especially judging by his brother’s snicker from behind us. I ignored Baz and told everyone to get comfortable as we would take off shortly. Then I grabbed Phaedra and headed to the back. She waited until I closed the bedroom door to burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny! That Baz is incorrigible and if I didn’t need him, I would have left his butt back in the city,” I huff and fold my arms, while flopping down on the bed. Phaedra comes and sits beside me.

“You know you want Baz and Alexei here with you, so just stop. You have known Baz almost as long as I have, and he’s never made a secret of his feelings for you. Neither has Alexei. The time has come to stop pushing them away because you will need them in the coming days. Then there’s the matter of any other mates that you may meet. Just sit these two down and work something out so there won’t be any surprises and prepare them for what’s to come. Ask your aunt if you’re still unsure. You know she has great advice,” she said with a small smile. We both knew my aunt had a take-no-prisoners personality. Her sh*t list was not the place anyone with sense wanted to be, and I knew I needed to get out of my head before I saw her again.

“Fine, send Baz and Alexei back here. When did you get all wise, anyway?” I grumbled. I watched as Phaedra drifted to the door and turned back to me. I have always been wise, but my sight is growing more potent lately. She went out the door with those cryptic words, and the men came in as if I had conjured them. They were probably listening at the door, the creeps. I motioned for them to have a seat on the bed. Each sat on one side of me and waited for me to speak.

“This isn’t quite the time or place I wanted to have this conversation, but it must be had. I know how each of you feel about me and that you each believe me to be your mate. I have pushed back against the idea for stubborn reasons, but fate has another idea. So, I guess we need to sort out how we will work this out between us. Also, there is a solid possibility that there is at least one more mate for me out there. I need to know that you two can get along and also get along with another or other mates.” I paused and looked at each of them. They are looking at me with a mix of emotions- hope, love, and lust-all playing on their faces. Alexei is the first to speak.