7 Chapter 7: Lonny's Return

They were so immersed in their conversational banter, neither of them noticed his arrival until he slammed through the front door. Tension immediately invaded their peaceful space.

Sera looked up from the empty ice cream bowl, the ghost of a laugh still etched on her face. She watched as Zane’s expression of amusement slid to surprise and then annoyance.

“Sera.”

Sera felt her entire body freeze. She knew that deep, composed voice like the back of her hand. She closed her eyes and took a calming breath. She took another. Not now. Not here.

Zane watched her carefully, this was the first sign of weakness she’d shown him.

When Sera opened her eyes, Zane’s annoyance had twisted into a dark scowl that would send even the bravest of humans running. His ire was directed over her head.

Lonny was on the move. She listened to the familiar, solid steps of his designer shoes that she knew must be perfectly polished. He always dressed for success. For as long as she’d known him, he maintained a strict diet, work out routine and sleeping schedule in order to achieve the desired and immaculate appearance of royalty.

But that was before…

Sera threw back her shoulders and gave Zane a curt shake of the head.

She got to her feet and Zane immediately rose with her. She prayed to the Gods he didn’t incite a riot. Sera found herself increasingly weary of his muscles flexing, the twitch of his jaw. She turned just as the footsteps stopped. She was looking into the eyes of her long lost friend.

“Lonny.”

He did not smile. His attention was solely focused on her, as if Zane didn’t even exist.

Sera took him in, he looked…different. He was in even better shape than when she’d last seen him. His hair was longer now but slicked back how he normally wore it. The sides of his head were shaved down, making his sharp features all the more harsh. He was hardened, mature, like a man… a criminal. She reminded herself.

Her eyes roamed over him carefully before landing on the sharp, jagged scar that ran down his neck. It disappeared beneath his crisply cut suit jacket.

She dragged her gaze back to his eyes.

“How are you?” she asked when she could no longer stand the tension.

Lonny laughed a bit and shook his head.

“Sorry,” came Zane’s vile tone from over her shoulder, “We’re closed.”

Any mirth that graced Lonny’s face disappeared like the flash of a camera. His intense eyes zoned in on Zane. Zane stared back defiantly. His palms itching for a fight.

“Can we do this later?” Sera interrupted. “I’m in the middle of a meeting.”

Lonny didn’t take his eyes off, what he perceived to be, the threat. Zane threw him a small, gloating smirk.

“What kind of meeting?” Lonny retorted as he crossed his arms and looked Zane over with a sharp eye.

“It’s a charity thing,” she began.

Lonny cut her off, “I can see that.” His eyes were still glued on Zane.

Zane let out a low growl. Sera didn’t dare glance back at him.

“We’re organizing a food drive,” she explained.

“Hmm,” was all Lonny said.

He gave the empty ice cream bowl and two spoons a disgusted look, as if they had personally offended him. He then turned around and strode over to the table adjacent to them. He dragged out the chair slowly before gracefully settling himself on it. He looked ridiculously out of place. Lonny turned his attention once again to Sera.

“I’ll wait.”

Sera opened her mouth to protest but Zane’s mocking voice once again caught her attention.

“Come on, Sera,” he goaded, as he dropped back down into the booth, his eyes sending her a wicked challenge. “Let’s finish what we started.”

His words sent a wild blush racing across her skin. She could tell by the deathlike calmness on Lonny’s face, that Zane’s tone forced him to jump to all sorts of conclusions.

“I..I think we’re pretty much done,” she pushed on.

“But I still have so many questions,” Zane insisted with a mischievous smirk.

“No. You don’t,” she snapped.

Lonny cocked his head at her casual tone.

Zane sat back, lounging carelessly in the booth as he winked at her, “Sure I do.”

“We can discuss them later.”

He was riling her up on purpose. At this point, all Sera wanted to do was get out of here before fists or worse, claws, began to fly. Lonny’s expression was becoming more ominous by the second.

She stalked back over to the booth and grabbed her bag.

“Wait.”

She looked up at him. “What?”

Zane stood, a small smile playing about his lips. “When will you be back, pest?”

Before she could speak, the violent scraping of the chair digging into the floor interrupted her. Lonny was once again on his feet and directly at Sera’s side. His upper lip curled with indignant rage as he stared Zane down. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

“Lonny, it’s fine-”

“She’ll be back when she can speak with the actual owner,” Lonny snapped, his patience visibly gone.

Zane smiled at him with no humor, “Hate to break it to you, but I’m the boss here. So she’ll be dealing with me.”

Lonny blanked for a second. Sera could see his mind working a mile a minute. Carefully, he wrapped his arm around Sera’s waist, sliding her over until she was firmly pressed up against his side. He smiled coldly as Zane’s eyes darkened to an ashen grey.

“Guess that means you’ll be dealing with me. Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Sera’s fiancé.”

Before Sera could step away from Lonny's overpowering grasp, Zane exploded into his monster form. Sera gasped, losing her balance and tripping backwards in surprise as both man and monster lunged for her at once.

Though Lonny was right by her side, it was Zane who reached her first. His hand felt warm as it clasped around her wrist, pulling her back onto her unsteady feet. She couldn’t help marveling at the wicked looking claws. She forced herself to look up at his face.

He was breathing deeply, his twin fangs barely visible beneath his sensual lips. He let go almost at once. The look in her eyes told him all he needed to know about how he appeared to her.

Lonny saw nothing. Good. Zane was glad it was only her, not this arrogant piece of…he snorted with disgust.

“Not just a pest, but a clumsy pest,” Zane muttered as he turned away.

Lonny took a step forward, his eyes filled with the promise of pain, but he stopped the moment Sera touched his arm. He looked down at her. Behind his wrath, she could see his insecurity, his worry.

“Let’s go,” she insisted, squeezing his arm softly.

Sera’s eyes flicked to Zane. His back was to her, but she could tell he was trembling slightly. She knew he was trying desperately to get himself, the monster, under control. Why was he so upset?

“We’ll continue this later,” Zane bit out without looking at her.

Sera nodded.

“Alright,” she conceded and headed towards the exit.

With one more look of pure loathing in Zane’s direction, Lonny followed her out.

Zane clenched his fists so hard he broke the skin. He felt nothing but the absence of his claws as crimson blood flowed down his fingers. He bit his tongue to keep from calling after her, to demand she stay and finish their conversation. Yes, that’s why he was so pissed off. He hated rude people.

'Sera’s Fiancé.'

He felt another slice of rage cut through his chest.

What the actual hell? Why did that bother him so much?