Midnight Howl

chapter 3

Aidan knocked on the door. It peeled open slowly to reveal a beautiful woman wearing a cherry liquer coloured skin tight dress.

"Yes?" she inquired, balancing her champagne glass airily in one hand.

"I'm here to see Attorney Brayburn," he said.

He considered flashing his badge but decided against it; a defense lawyers close friends were probably not likely to bow in deference to his badge.

"Thomas, your work is here," she called back to where there were several people milling around the lobby of the large house. Thomas stepped out from the throng, looking immaculately suited in dark wine tones. Next to the woman, they looked beautifully matching. Thomas looked at Aidan, no surprise in his expression.

"Excuse me, Tessa," he said, in slightly abashed tones, "But I need to have a conversation with this gentlemen in my study."

The woman pouted.

"It better not take long. Aunty Valerie's bringing out the cake in half an hour."

He put a proprietary hand on Aidan's back and steered him up the stairs, shooting a smile at Tessa. As soon as the door closed to his elaborately decorated study, Aidan shook his arm off.

"I persuaded the DA's office to lower the charges."

Thomas looked amused.

"And you felt it necessary to notify me in person? "

"I wanted to know what I would get in return," bit out Aidan, regretting the words as soon as they came out of his mouth.

"Oh?" replied Thomas, "And here I thought it was out of the goodness of your heart. But then, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You are a policeman, after all."

Aidan stepped closer so he was nose to nose with Thomas.

"Don't say that."

"Why not? You know it's true."

His expression changed.

"Unless," he said, slipping a hand down Aidan's chest, "You demand a different kind of favour from me? Do you want to demean me like they do to the prostitutes, maybe slap me around a bit, prey on the vulnerable, that's what you cops like right-"

"ENOUGH!"

Aidan pushed him away violently. His pulse was still pounding and there was a hammering in his ears.

"I wanted to know if there was a way to dissolve the mating bond. That's the favour I came to ask for," he said, still breathing heavily.

Thomas looked at him with a guarded expression, his lip bloody.

"Sorry to crush your dreams, but there's no way to dissolve the bond without one of us dying."

He lit up a cigarette with an expensive looking silver lighter and took a puff, kepping his eyes firmly fixed on Aidan.

Aidan looked away. His disappointment felt palpable in the room.

"If you really want to dissolve it, we could battle to the death," Thomas said dryly, "Not here though, my grandma would kill me if I shattered anything in here."

Aidan said nothing and continued to sit there in silence. The silence was only broken by Tessa yelling up the stairs for Thomas.

"I'll let myself out," said Aidan.

Thomas looked at him and Aidan felt a jolt of electricity go through him at his intense gaze, Thomas' eyes burning through him.

"Stay," Thomas said, "Have cake. It'll look suspicious if you leave now. Don't tell anyone here you're a cop unless you want your teeth broken."