Page 4 of The Maestro's Mates
Concern passed over Anthony’s face. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to. The coven doesn’t need rent money. We can find stuff here if you need something to do.”
Justin dismissed Anthony's words with a wave. “Gotta earn my keep. And there’s nothing for me to do here. I’m not a fighter. I’ve worked security before, and I’m bad at it.”
Anthony stood and walked toward Justin, determination in his eyes. “We are not your old coven. You don’t have toprove that you’re worth our investment. We already think you are. So why not?—”
“Anthony, you’re the coven master’s mate. You run the covenhouse, and youalsoteach voice full time.Andyou’re a professional singer. I can manage thirty-five hours a week, manning a desk and doing paperwork. Plus, I get to meet new people!”
Justin smiled. Although he was anxious about starting the job, he did legitimately like making new friends.
The common area of the covenhouse was fairly empty, given the early hour, but in the far corner, Alan and Pip, two British vampire brothers in black leather jackets, sat on the floor playing cards on the red and black Victorian rug. Or they had been. Now they were staring at Justin and Anthony with eyes that saidDo you really think you can get Anthony to stop fussing over you?
The answer was probably not. It was Anthony’s literal job to worry about the vampires of the Grosvenor coven.
“Honestly, you’re giving Justin a gift,” Trent called out, leaning against the door frame.
“What does that mean?” Anthony asked. Justin wondered the same thing. What was Trent getting at?
“He gets to work in the same building as his crush, Maestro Zaslavsky.” Trent’s voice pulsed with teasing laughter.
“He’s not my crush! I just think he’s kinda sexy.” Justin shrugged. He wasn’t lying. The manwasvery attractive. “Besides, I’ve only seen him once, at the gala last year, and we weren’t even introduced.”
“Well, now’s your chance!” Trent said with a wink.
Trent wasn’t wrong. Besides, Justin had spent the lastfive or more years very isolated. Having a job was going to be good for him.
Anthony sighed, stepping forward and taking Justin’s hands in his own.
“Okay. But you tell me if there are any problems, alright? Especially if any of those New Jersey witches show up. We still don’t know what their deal is.”
Justin nodded, and Anthony came in for a hug. The vampire wasn’t tall, but he was taller than Justin, and his embrace was strong and surprisingly warm for one of the undead.
“I will. I promise.”
Oscar and Trentwere disgustingly cute during the trip over to the opera house, holding hands and leaning against one another as they walked.
Justin couldn’t blame them. They’d been mated for less than a year and were still cementing the bond between them. That didn’t mean all the PDA was pleasant for him, though.
Not that they didn’t deserve to be happy. Justin was thankful his betrayal was water under the bridge. They understood the situation. Eventually. And he was over his crush on Oscar now, but that didn’t mean seeing them being so adorable was fun.
Oh well. A mate wasn’t in his future. He didn’t deserve one, after the mistakes he’d made. Most of the time, he didn’t want that anyway. He wanted a simple life—to have a job and be part of a coven and hang out and play boardgames with the other vampires. Maybe hook up with a sexy guy occasionally.
That’s all he could hope for, even if it was a little lonely.
When they reached the plaza where the Manhattan Lyric Opera was located, Justin stared past the fountain and up at the large building. He’d been there several times before but always at night, when the chandeliers shone through the massive windows, giving the whole place a soft, elegant feel.
In the light of day, the place loomed with an intimidating pretentiousness. The arched windows were eyes crowned by raised eyebrows, staring down at him with disdain. The sculptures of Greek gods were all giving him significant attitude.
Oscar and Trent had walked ahead as Justin took the opera house in, but now Oscar ran back to him. “Are you okay?”
Justin didn’t say anything. This was only a job. He didn’t have to be good at it, only charming enough they didn’t fire him on day one. He could do that.
Oscar pressed his lips together, concern shining in his eyes. “You don’t have to?—”
“I’m great.” Justin forced a smile and winked. “After the shit we’ve been through? What’s a little paperwork?”
Oscar nodded. “Do you want to go in?”
“Of course!” Justin strode forward, locking arms with Oscar and heading toward Trent and the front entrance. “There’s nothing to be scared of. Cranky musicians? Anal retentive pianists? No problem. I got this.”
