Broom, Fang, and Claw (The Broomwood Saga Ep.3)

I spent days alone. Even though it was only my second week after officially opening, I had closed the shop doors for a “family emergency” and holed myself up in my flat with a heavy weight on my shoulders. I tried to explain to Sabrina that I had some things going on I couldn’t talk to her about yet, and she seemed to understand, but she was pretty bummed about not getting to see me until I told her that I’d give her vacation pay while the shop was closed.

It was now mid-week and I hadn’t showered since Sunday, spending most of my time in my pajamas curled up on the sofa in a fluffy blanket with a sitcom on in the background, zoned out into the aether. I had sent the men about their way when we got back Sunday night after the meeting; they seemed to accept the fact that I was more protected than they thought and let me be.

But it was sort of lonely without them here. Sabrina had decided to go up to Maine with Trent for the week since she was off with pay, Katastrophe was staying down at the Assembly building, and I was alone with my thoughts. I was starting to wonder if I should have sent them home or not.

I had finally gotten the strength to take a shower and was sitting in the living room afterwards, combing through my wet hair and watching a rom-com. I wasn’t particularly paying attention to the movie and had instead zoned out on the window, just able to see the deep blue of the sky, all the stars obscured by the constant artificial light. My mind started to wander to Cian and Morgan, two men in my life at once and neither of them were even human. Just as well, human men seemed to be total rubbish for the most part. Inhuman men, however—there was definitely a spark there.

And not just Cian. I was weirdly attracted to Morgan too, but for different reasons. Either way, it was no matter because one was my bodyguard and friend while the other was somewhat of an associate could-be friend and legal council. There were no romantic relationships there and I shouldn’t mix business and pleasure anyway; it was unprofessional.

But I couldn’t help myself, and soon my thoughts had turned from innocent and contemplative to a wee bit naughty and fantastical as my brain constructed a fictitious scenario that involved me and my duo, fishnets, and fur lined cuffs. It was getting me a little riled up and I was thinking about taking things upstairs to relieve some stress when I heard a slight knock coming from the far side of the room.

My head snapped to the sound and there stood Morgan, perched on my balcony with a grin on his face. I motioned for him to come in, the door being unlocked from the last time I went out to take a breather.

“And what were you just thinking about?” He asked as he came through the door, shutting it behind him.

“I—I have no idea what you mean.” I stuttered, unsure of what he was getting it, but nervous about it none the less.

“Well, it looked as if I caught you having a bit of you time, or getting to it at least.” He made an implication with an impish smirk and arched brow.

“Oh. Oh! No. I mean, not exactly—not really like—I was just—never mind.” My face flushed hot as I stuttered my way through an explanation, one that didn’t need to be truthful at all, but I felt like I had been caught and needed to defend myself.

Morgan let out a breathy laugh, “Dear, sweet, Briar. Horny is my default. If you were thinking of playing with the little man in the boat, I don’t blame you one bit. It’s a good stress reliever and I can smell the stress all over you. Cortisol is quite bitter to the nostrils.”

“My God. You must think I stink.” I uttered, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious and like I needed to take a shower again and light some incense.

Another laugh from the vampire, “I said it’s bitter, not a bad smell. It’s a common scent to us vampires since humans dump a lot of it when you—really, you don’t need to know all that. Not bad. You’re fine. I’ll leave you be to masturbate.”

Just the word had me gasping, embarrassed and amused all at the same time. I grabbed my blanket off the sofa and wrapped myself in it before sitting back down in a huff.

“If you need help, all you have to do is ask.” Morgan replied to my actions, sauntering over before he plopped down next to me.

I made a pfft sound and responded, “You really are going to keep trying, aren’t you? Is it because I keep turning you down, so you have to change my mind? A conquest? Or is it all a joke? Just harmless flirting to make me blush?”

Morgan seemed taken aback before he grinned and leaned in close, “I do like to see you all flushed. Cheeks so pink with arousal, whatever kind it may be. You’re just so sweet, Briar. But I know there is an animal in there somewhere; I roaring monster trying to claw it’s way out. You’re a good witch, but you can be unforgiving if hurt. I just like to test that monster in you.”

What the hell did that mean? Test the monster in me? The only monster that I even came close to was a goddamn Muppet.

“Well, have fun then. You won’t get much out of it.” I grumbled, pulling the blanket up close around my ears.

“Have you heard from the wolf this week?” Morgan asked as he kicked back on the sofa and made himself comfortable.

I shook my head inside the blanket, “Not a word. No calls, no texts, nothing. You?”

“Nope. I know he’s busy and all that, but I figured he’d at least check in on you.” Morgan answered, and I considered what he had said.

I thought he would have too.

“Jobs, guild meetings, Lizzie, howling at the moon—I don’t know what he does and it could be any of those options or none at all. He’ll get in contact when he can.” I could hear the bitterness in my voice, but I couldn’t hide it.

Morgan called me on it too, “Ah, I see we are not happy with the dog? Still because he didn’t tell you about what he was or that he knew everything you were experiencing was actually real? I thought you were over that.”

“I’m getting there, but it’s not that. He just seems different now. I mean, it’s not like I have known him long at all which means maybe I’m seeing the real him now, but he just feels so—I don’t know how to put it. Dejected? Cold? Closed off? I don’t have the ability to put it into words.” I confided in Morgan; I really needed someone to talk to.

“When did this all start?” The vampire asked me, leaning down as he tested whether or not I would let him rest his head in my lap.

I allowed it and settled in with my response, “Honestly, the night I told him about the necklace and Katastrophe. He left in a hurry and I tried to talk to him the next day, but he blew me off. That’s when I followed him to his secret werewolf meetup.”

Morgan tried to discern the issue, “So, as soon as he knew that you were aware of everything on this side of the tracks, his demeanor changed. I wonder why that is.”

“Don’t know. Maybe he doesn’t like bloodborn witches. Or Broomwoods. Or me in general.” I grumbled, allowing the self loathing and rejection sensitivity to get the better of me.

“I highly doubt that’s it, sweetheart,” Morgan reached back and gently rubbed my knee, “I just think Cian has his own demons to deal with and somehow you are conflicting with that. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing or you’ve done anything wrong, you’re just something new in his path and he isn’t sure how to handle it. Am I making sense? I’m a wee bit drunk; had a couple pints of vodka infused blood before I got here.”

I didn’t even want to ask.

“You are and I see that. He’s got a lot on his plate, like me, but probably more, and then there’s his ex and this rogue vampire…” I trailed off, thinking about what Cian was possibly doing at that moment.

Morgan clicked his tongue, “Ah, yes; Lizzie. Everyone knows Lizzie. Everyone knows what a handful she can be too. Don’t worry about her. Cian seems like he’s grown out of that phase of his life, at least in the romantic sense, so she’s just another figure in his life...hopefully. However, if we’re being honest, and you know I like to be, Lizzie can come on really hard when she wants something and the bitch usually gets what she wants. I know from experience.”

“Are we talking—sexually?” I queried, actually interested in the gossip.

Morgan nodded with a stretch, his fingers now finding the stray locks of my hair that peeked through the blanket, “Oh, yes. Lizzie has a dominant personality, another reason she and Cian clashed so much, and part of that dominance is sexually driven. She’s been with more preternaturals than most of us vampires and that’s saying something. She has quite the appetite and she’s always hungry.”

Interesting and also highly worrisome. If Lizzie always got what Lizzie wanted and she had her eyes set on Cian...he was vulnerable right now anyway, from what it felt like. She could easily have him persuaded, convinced, and naked in no time. It shouldn’t matter much to me, but for some reason it did. I didn’t want her taking advantage of him, especially after what he had told me.

“Maybe I should go check on him. Or at least call.” I announced suddenly, my leg bouncing at just the thought.

“I’m sure he’s fine, but it couldn’t hurt.” Morgan gestured at my phone that was sitting on the coffee table before he handed it to me.

I took it and found Cian’s number in my contacts before I hit call. It rang and rang and then went to voicemail where I chose not to leave a message.

“No answer. It’s already dark so he has to be home, right? Maybe I’ll go talk to him. It would make me feel better.” I was mostly talking to myself, but I liked having Morgan as a sounding board.

“Whatever you need to do.” Morgan agreed with me before he asked, “Mind if I stay here? I’m still on watch duty with you, but it’s rather chilly out.”

“Of course. Watch whatever, eat or drink whatever, if you can do that. I’ll be back in just a bit.” I permitted him to stay before I slipped on my boots and left the flat, my heart racing as I went.

I started to have second thoughts as I crossed the street, but I pushed myself to go anyway, something telling me that I needed to see him now and talk to him. I entered his building and climbed the stairs to the second floor before I was finally at his flat. My knuckles hesitated over the door for a moment before I knocked three times and waited.

There was no answer and I was just going to knock again for good measure when the door popped open, creaking as it slowly widened itself where I could see inside. What I saw filled me with an emotion I had never felt before in my life and I couldn’t describe even if I was given the words.

There was a direct line of sight diagonally from Cian’s front door to his bedroom. The door here was open, his bed in full view, and on top was he and Lizzie, bare and glistening with sweat as Cian fucked her senseless. I don’t know why I hadn’t heard them when I walked up to the door because she was not quiet, but I guess I had been so much in my head that all external noise was tuned out.

I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe that what Morgan and I had just been talking about Cian never doing, was happening in front of my eyes. I couldn’t look away and it wasn’t until Cian let out a guttural growl and flipped Lizzie over from her back before he pushed her face into the mattress, that I could feel my body again and knew I had to move.

Slowly, I sidled away and when I was far enough off that no one would hear me, I broke into a run and didn’t stop until I came to the shop where I thought I would finally lose it and cry. But I didn’t cry. It wasn’t my place to and it was a silly thing to do considering. We weren’t dating. We barely knew one another. Despite how I felt, it was just a stupid crush and crushes never went anywhere. He could fuck whoever he wanted and so could I.

I felt a sudden surge of something ripple through my body. An odd moment of empowerment, but one I wasn’t sure would last. Did I dare seize it and use it for my own selfish reasons, or just let it subside and remember how to summon it when I actually needed it? I felt so angry and in moments of anger, people do extremely stupid things.