Beast, Blood, & Soul

* 24 *

I woke up the next morning feeling a lot better.  All the tension I had been holding onto miraculously disappeared. I didn't have any nightmares or weird dreams of the little girl either. I lay in bed and enjoy the quiet morning and how full my heart feels. I send a warm feeling along the strands as a good morning, hoping I wasn't waking any of them up. I watch the world light up through the window and smile.  It's amazing how finding a way to connect to the ones you love brightens the world.

My smile lasted through my shower and as I leave my apartment.  I feel phantom touches and caresses and have to stop for a moment to close my eyes and return the feelings flowing through me.  I can tell they are really happy this morning. So am I. 

I pull my phone out and text them a few loveable emojis with a good morning and go to breakfast.  My happier attitude does not go unnoticed.  Mrs. Kim gives me a warm smile as she makes sure that everything is set up for breakfast. She doesn't say anything, she rarely does, but I can see her eyes bright with approval.  At least one member of the extended family likes me, I guess.

"Look at you," Ceren comments as I sit down with my breakfast. "I guess good things happened after you disappeared from your office?"  She wiggles her eyebrows in a gentle tease.

I grin, "Perhaps."  I pop a slice of bacon in my mouth so I won't have to spill info to my curious friend.

"Where'd you go?  You didn't even take your purse."  She gives me a grin, hinting that she had suspicions. I just keep chewing the bacon, but I give her a wink.

"Oh, fine, don't tell your secrets, you brat."  She grins.  "Besides, you weren't the only one who had a good evening,"  she whispers conspiratorily.

My eyebrows rise in question and she continues, "I think Marcus and Mindy got it on last night." My mouth drops open.

"Marcus and the prickly vet?!"  They were the last couple I would ever expect to get together.

Ceren chuckles, "I caught Mindy kissing him last night.  I'm talking serious heat.  She then pulled him into his room and slammed the door."

"Wow," I'm sort of stunned. I hadn't seen anything other than pettiness from her recently, and I could have sworn at the club that Mindy didn't like Marcus. I wonder what happened?

"Right? I always thought Mindy had a major stick up her ass, but I guess Marcus knew how to pull it out."  She snickered at her double entendre.

I chuckle as Mindy and Marcus come in, holding hands.  My eyebrows raise as I see the obvious show of their relationship.

"Are you two an item now?"  Brendan asks bluntly, looking at their hands.  Neither answer, but Marcus has the goofiest grin on his face.  Mindy, however, doesn't give anything away.

"Whether we are or not is our business,"  She comments. Her eyes flash around the table before Marcus joins her, holding a cup of coffee out for her, which she takes.

As she grabs some breakfast, Marcus takes chances to rub her arm or other loving touches which she doesn't return, but she flashes him a smile as she joins us at the table.  Ceren and I exchange looks, not sure what to make of the show in front of us.

Brendan catches my attention instead of the dubious pair who sit to eat breakfast, "Daniel wants us to meet him this morning so we can get up to speed on our new responsibilities."

"Okay,"  I reply.

"We're also meeting Bangtan Group today."  He says aloud.  My eyes meet his and I'm curious why he's saying such a thing when we've already met Bangtan.  He nods his head a bit, indicating the group and I pick up his meaning.  We know who Bangtan is, but nobody else does, nor do they know we knew.