KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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That brings more of a smile to my face. I turn my head and kiss Nero’s neck. ”Not unless you ask me to,” I say.

Nero’s right. I wouldn’t intentionally hurt them, and this was different. It was a unity mark. My mark. I loosened my hold on Nero and pulled back. I brushed my fingers down their face, and cupped their cheeks.

”I really do love you.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I stick my tongue out at Nic. ”Dancing in the kitchen or in the garden is just as good,” I declared. I pulled my hand back from Nic’s leg and rummaged through my bag for my notebook.

”It’s a fun little ceremony, actually. I have to bless the space with some dehydrated jasmine in the water, sand for grounding, and light a few candles for the four corners of the earth, plus a fifth for the direction India is in. Then, I have to say some words while putting the stone in place,” I explain while reading from my notes.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I relaxed my face when Nero smoothed out my wrinkles. I sighed, pulling Nero in close and hugged them tightly. ”I love you so much… I don’t want to be responsible for causing you any pain.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I laugh, my eyes dancing with amusement. ”Why? I like dancing. If you know how, that’ll be one less thing I have to teach you,” I tease.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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As I hold Nero’s hand, I can see it’s healing, just at a much smaller rate. This fact doesn’t ease my worry about branding them. I look up at Nero, worry creasing my brow. I try to smile and laugh with them, but I can’t.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Ooo, so you can dance?” I ask, growing more and more curious about Nic. I liked these long drives. It meant I had more time to get to know Nic.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I end up being put to work building more garden boxes. The work is repetitive and mind-numbing, so I’m able to drown out the thoughts and my wolf’s needs. I felt that if I didn’t have a predator sharing half my mind, body, and soul, I would have better control of my emotions. I hated how the wolf enhanced all my human emotions.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I stand, watching Nero spin, and I chuckle. A demon with such life in them. It didn’t make sense even though I knew demons not to have a care for life, but Nero seemed to have an appreciation for life despite how they devoured it.

They suddenly stop and look at their hand. I step forward and see they haven’t healed like I have. I take Nero’s hand in mine, examining their palm. ”Answers what question?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”That makes sense with how layered it sounds,” I said, nodding in agreement. I tap my fingers on Nic’s leg while I listen to the music play over from his phone through the vehicle’s speakers. ”So I take it you’re a fan of Enya then?”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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Once I was in my room, I felt like I could finally breathe properly. I stripped out of my leathers, tossed them onto the bed, and walked into my bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror.

”Get a grip, Zain. She was yelling at you earlier because you insulted her. You just need to go out. Blow off some steam with someone else. Someone who isn’t Caden’s ward.” I splashed some cold water on my face before going to check in with my friends.

I knew we had been angry at each other earlier, and Kimiko had this way of absolutely infuriating me so quickly, but I couldn’t get the sensation of her arms around me to go away. I couldn’t get the image of the way she boldly leaned forward to yell in my face out of my head. It was such a turn-on for me. I had a serious problem.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle. ”Yes, you can still prank the puppy,” I said. ”Shall we keep waking?” I asked.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”A synthesiser isn't it?” I asked, looking back at Nic. I wasn't well versed with Enya. I just knew her music was played in every human owned mystic shop as well as the holistic care places. It got old really fast. I wonder if Kimiko was involved with Enya’s fame somehow. If she was, I'd have to tell her to drop her as a client.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckled darkly in response to Nero's biting comment. I leaned in, brushing my nose along the inside of Nero's neck. ”I can still bite you if you want me to,” I whispered.

I kiss the soft flesh of Nero's neck before I nip the bottom of their ear in a teasing manner.

Nero's next question made me pause and I shook my head. ”No my little imp. You mustn't exert your power over Avery like that. To use your alpha ability on him would take away his control to respond or react to anything. The pull of the alpha over their pack is a call that must be heeded. It can cause pain if ignored. When I've used it on Avery it has been to keep him from losing control. Shifting form for Avery is different than it is for me. I can shift whenever I desire and it causes me no pain. For Avery to shift, every bone in his body breaks and is reformed. The shift is not easy. I have been able to stop Avery from shifting when he loses control, and my powers have helped to make his transition easier and less painful, but there is still pain. However, if you are in distress or if you have need of us, you can pull on the pack and we will come to you. Avery and I can teach you how,” I said.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Oh, Nic. Why Enya?” She was so overplayed. I take the opportunity however to flip through the music on Nic's phone. Thankfully, I found something other than Enya to play. A nice violin fills the speakers before singing bowls join the long notes. I sigh, smiling and set Nic's phone down.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I clear my throat and lead the way out of the garage. ”Ya, that sounds good. You have all afternoon to yourself now,” I said, nodding. ”I’m just going to head back to staff housing. See if anyone needs a hand with anything. I’ll uh, see you at supper.” I smile briefly at Kimiko before turning to head to staff housing. I think I preferred it when we were yelling at each other. At least then, I knew what to do.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting

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I smile, feeling like I could hear their heart more clearly as well. Their voice sounded finer on my ears, and even their skin felt softer. My eyes shifted back as I settled back into the space around us. ”I’m not certain. It’s different since I didn’t bond with another dragon. I assume our mental and emotional thoughts will be heard, as I said before, but like with Avery, we can create blocks so we aren’t bombarded by each other's thoughts all the time. From what I understand of pack ties from Bran, and with you being my mate, you would be alpha to Avery as well. Although, I just let Avery do his own thing. I’ve only ever had to exert my power over him a handful of times. Avery and I can only speak mind to mind when we are in our wolf forms, so I don’t think you will be able to do that with him.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Classical, and some new age. Avery is trying to get me to listen to more rock bands, but I don’t really see the appeal in all that noise,” I say. I keep flipping through the stations, not really finding anything interesting.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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”Mmm, some of the supernatural creatures that go bump in the night can be pretty terrifying,” I admit. I take a step closer to Kimiko and chuckle. ”Not quite.” I take the rag from her after setting my stuff aside, and I place one hand on the back of Kimiko’s head while the other wipes away at the grease from her nose and cheek.

I finish and inspect her closely without really thinking about it. ”There.” I meet her eyes and realize how close I’m standing to her. My eyes flicker to her lips before I immediately step back to gather my things.

”So, what will you do now?” I ask, my voice sounding loud in my ears.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting

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”Yes, she and Nic will be coming for supper. We can talk to Cassi privately after supper,” I say. My arms wrap around Nero, my hand already healed from cutting it, and I hold them close.

Their touch feels different to me, more sensitive. Their smell envelops me, and I feel secure in a way I’ve never felt before.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”I think we should wait until after. We can give him the good news. Then he can return to the fountain and feel the change for himself,” I said. I fiddle around with the radio, trying to find a decent station.

”What sort of music do you listen to?” I ask Nic while I hunt for something. Caden has satellite radio, so the possibilities are nearly endless.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I snort as Kimiko’s British accent attempts a Southern accent. I shake my head and wipe the grease off my face with a clean rag before I toss it at Kimiko. ”I suppose you wouldn’t be after knowing a dragon,” I state.

I start to clean up the tools I used to work on the bike and put them away. I gather my bag, helmet and gloves again. Now I had to figure out what to do for the afternoon.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting

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I pull back from Nero, and look at them sympathetically. I shake my head. ”Once the branding starts, it has to be completed. To stop would be worse. It would be like ripping a piece of you and me away. Once the bond is in place, though, nothing can pull it apart.”

With the dragon still close to the surface, hyperaware of Nero --- its mate --- being close, my eyes flash into that of the dragon, and my hands start to itch, wanting the claws to be released again. It was a rather strange feeling, but I didn't feel out of control. If anything, my dragon felt curious and playful.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Police Station —> Driving – Chicago, IL
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I smile at Nic once they are back in the car, and I shake my head. ”I’m okay, honestly. Let’s go restore a fountain,” I said and rested my hand on Nic’s knee.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh and let her go. ”Ack, hey! I’m in charge of your training routine. You better be nice to me,” I warn her. I’m grinning, though, and go to find a clean rag.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting

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I chuckle at the description Nero gives me. ”That’s our bond forming. Once we finish the process, you should feel it move through your body. After that, we’ll be more connected. It won’t matter where I am or where you are; I’ll always be able to find you. We’ll be connected emotionally as well as mentally, but we can put blocks in place so we aren’t constantly feeling or hearing what the other is feeling or thinking,” I tell Nero.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Police Station – Chicago, IL
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”You don’t need to go on the record saying that, but if you’ve treated his wife, you can mention those things. I can write out some things for you, but you could talk about how we visited the Hindu Temple and came across the discrepancies and did our detective work to find Mr Scott. You also don’t have to. Costa has all the information from me anyways,” I said.

I climb into the SUV and set my bag at my feet again. I double check the yellow sapphire is safe before I put my seatbelt on.