Page 6 of Clash of Kings

“That was Jefferson’s sister. He had to rush his wife to the hospital. She didn’t go into detail, but they’re scared they might lose the baby.”

“That’s awful. She isn’t that far along.” Jefferson had wanted to get their new house built before the baby arrived. Bas couldn’t imagine being in the man’s situation. Children were a gift from the gods, but sometimes the higher powers decided to take those gifts away too soon. Bas sent up a prayer for the family that both baby and mother made it through the scare.

“That it is. Since he was the only one on your schedule, are you staying or going home?”

“I’m meeting Anthony for lunch, so I’ll stay here.” Bas had plenty of research to do, and driving home then back across town would be a waste of time. “If you don’t have anything to do for Travis, you’re welcome to head out.”

“I came in early and got his files taken care of, so I’m done for the day. But if something comes up, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“Will do. Thanks, Grace.” The female was excellent at her job, and Sebastian was thrilled to have her as their assistant. He wasn’t one of those bosses who insisted someone hang out at the office when there was nothing going on. He could handle answering the phone, and Grace would respond to emails from home.

With his one meeting canceled, Sebastian could focus on his research. Before he got started, he went to the closet where he kept spare clothes and changed out of the dress pants and shirt he’d worn into jeans and a Henley. Once he was more comfortable, he opened the map on his browser to the areas of West Virginia he and Anthony had visited. The state was gorgeous with its various mountain ranges. It was also rife with lodges, cabins, and inns that survived the apocalypse or had been revamped in the last fifty-five years, but Bas was looking into those that hadn’t.

Having lived in Atlanta his whole life, he was ready for a different type of scenery to call home. Instead of moving to another large city, Bas wanted to find a small town where he could make a difference while being away from so many people. His plan was to purchase one of the defunct properties and restore it to its former glory or make it into something even better. That would give the town new jobs as well as added income when he got the resort back up and running. Bas didn’t know anything about operating a hotel, but he had plenty of Clan mates to help with his project. He planned on living onsite until he could build his own house. A home in the middle of the woods would be perfect. He could shift to his Gargoyle and fly without worrying about being seen. Anthony joked that Bas wanted to build a commune, and his cousin wasn’t far off the mark. Sebastian would build homes for any of his Clan mates who wanted to move with him.

There were several properties for sale, and Bas wanted to visit them all. Since that would take weeks, he decided to choose the top three. When he figured out which location he wanted to purchase, Bas would bring Deklan, his cousin who was also his accountant, back into the conversation. Deklan was aware of Sebastian’s intentions, and they had already met to discuss how much of Sebastian’s portfolio was available without having to cash out stocks and bonds for this project. When Sebastian became King, Rafael transferred a sizeable amount of his own money to Sebastian, but Bas wanted to keep that separate. He wanted this investment made with his own funds.

Bas had a plan to start with one location, and when it was successful, he would then focus on another town, get that lodge remodeled and successful, then procure another. Failure was not an option in his book. His meeting with Anthony was to discuss the logistics of traveling back to West Virginia. If his cousin wasn’t working on a case, Bas wanted Anthony to go with him. He could ask any number of his cousins, but Anthony was one of the most level-headed, even if he came across as a joker. The main reason he wanted Anthony with him was that there was a wolf pack in the state Sebastian planned to meet with and discuss the council he was putting together. He needed his second-in-command for that. Bas had also invited Lydia to join them. She had taken over as archivist for the Clan from her father, Nikolas. She was also a graphic designer, but Lydia was the perfect candidate to meet with other shifter groups if Bas wasn’t available.

Sebastian spent a couple of hours digging into the locations, and when he pinpointed the three top candidates, he rose from his desk for something to drink. The break room refrigerator was filled with cans of soda and a jug of sweet tea Grace brought in specifically for Bas. To help the environment, they didn’t purchase bottled water. Instead, they drank water from the filtered dispenser on the freezer door. Bas opted for sweet tea, and as he was pouring a glass, his thoughts flitted back to his dream, more specifically to the animal he attacked. When he returned to his office, Bas opened a new browser and typed in black panther, where he learned panther was not a singular species but a term often encompassing both black jaguars and black leopards. He couldn’t discern which he had dreamt of, but the term panther stuck in his brain. Sebastian’s phone pinged with an incoming text, interrupting his thoughts.

Anthony:We still on for lunch?

Me:Yes. I’m ready whenever you are.

Anthony:I can be there in ten?

Me:See you then.

While Sebastian waited for his computer to power down, he drained the last of his tea and took the glass to the break room. After washing it, he put it back in the cabinet. Grace was his and Travis’s assistant, not their maid. Having lived alone for years, Bas was efficient at cleaning up after himself. Even at home, Bas did his own laundry, emptied the dishwasher, and tidied his house. He did have a housekeeper, but she only came in twice a month to do the deep cleaning.

After setting the office alarm, Bas made his way downstairs. Instead of driving to the restaurant, he decided to walk the few blocks. Weather in October was a crapshoot in the South. It could be a brisk thirty degrees with snow in the forecast, or it could be a balmy sixty-something. Today, it was in the low forties, and Bas welcomed it. Colder weather was another reason he was looking forward to moving. Humidity in the South was no joke, and West Virginia was north enough that the heat wasn’t as oppressive, and there was more chance of snow. Real snow, not the few flurries on top of ice they tended to get in Atlanta.

Anthony was waiting in front of Colden’s Key, a restaurant owned by Slade Ransom, one of the older Gargoyles, and his mate, Matthew. This location was the first of many the couple had opened, and it was Bas’s favorite place to eat in the city. Slade and Matt ran the business for many years before branching out. Now, two of Bas and Anthony’s cousins ran the location. Chelle Stone was the head chef, while her brother, Robbie, was general manager. Both were human and had been adopted by Sinclair, Rafael’s next oldest brother.

After an enthusiastic bro hug, Anthony opened the door for Sebastian, allowing him to enter first. The hostess knew Bas and Anthony since they ate there often, and she greeted them warmly before escorting them to one of the tables Robbie kept reserved for family.

“Jessie is your server today. She’ll be right over to take your drink order. I’ll let Chelle know you’re here.” The hostess walked off without leaving menus. Chelle insisted on making special dishes for her family, and considering they were always delicious, Bas had no problem with that.

“I’m digging the new look,” Sebastian said. Anthony’s auburn curls were gone, and in their place was a shorter, sleeker style.

“Don’t get used to it. I cut it for the case I’m working. I even have to wear a suit and tie.” Anthony gave a full-body shiver, and Bas laughed. “I thought you had a meeting this morning.” Anthony gestured at Bas’s clothes.

“I did, but the client had to cancel. Family emergency. That gave me time to research some of the properties in West Virginia. I’ve narrowed it down to three.”

Their waitress arrived to get their drink order. Once she was gone, Anthony said, “When are you going?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. If you aren’t in the middle of a case, I’d like you to go with Lydia and me. I can look at the properties, and then we can go meet with the man Knox informed you about.” Even though they were seated well away from other diners, Bas didn’t take a chance on mentioning wolves.

“I am on a case, but I should have it wrapped up in the next few days. With Gannon there to help Tabby, I can take the next few days off after that, if you want to go that soon.”

Jessie returned with their drinks, and Bas squeezed lime into his tea. “I do. We can visit Knox’s friend first, that way if you need to get back sooner, the meeting will be out of the way. Where in the state are they?” Bas raised his glass and took a swig of the cold drink.

“It’s at the southern border near both Kentucky and Virginia in a little town called Panther.”

Bas choked on the tea, nearly spewing the liquid on his cousin.

Anthony narrowed his eyes. “You okay, there?”

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