His Little Kitten
"Hi, Christina. I am Ziana Brown, the head of Defenders Private Investigation," the woman introduced herself with a warm smile, a surprising contrast to the stern reputation that preceded her. Reylan, observing from his seat, sighed in disapproval. The last thing he desired was for this grim reaper's wife to step into his villa. She was as annoying as her lovely husband!
Christina, momentarily taken aback, quickly regained her composure. She stood and shook hands with Ziana, her mind racing. The Defenders were a renowned private investigation company, often consulted by the government during crises. Furthermore, Ziana was a member of the Mortimer family, a lineage of royal descent. What could bring her here?
Ziana's tone turned serious as she continued, "Your mother's condition is rare. The hospital requested our assistance, and our investigation has uncovered some alarming findings." She handed Christina a tablet displaying a series of lab reports and donor profiles. "We suspect that the virus entered your mother's system through a blood transfusion. We're testing all donors to ensure there are no other carriers. We hope for your cooperation."
Christina nodded, her eyes scanning the information on the screen. Her profile was among those listed, as she had also donated blood that day.
"Certainly," she replied, offering a small smile. She found Ziana's explanation plausible, a convenient story shielding her from the supernatural elements of the case.
As Christina left with Darren and the doctors to provide her samples, Ziana turned her attention to Reylan. Her smile morphed into a wicked smirk.
"So, is she the one?" she asked, crossing her legs elegantly.
"We're still testing," Blaze responded, aware of his brother's aversion to this new ruler of the Defender realm.
"Control your thirst until it's clear. I don't want to throw you in the Defender's dungeon for hurting a human. The seat might also slip away from your hand," Ziana warned, partly concerned about him as well as this innocent woman. She had been in her position once, blind to all the darkness that lived with them together. She could only hope Christina could handle the news a little better than she did ages ago.
Reylan replied with a nod, piquing her interest. Leaning forward, Ziana asked, "And if she is, will you reveal your shared past?" Reading romantic novels had always been her favorite hobby, and this vampire's life had been such a tear-jerking tale.
Reylan remained silent, lost in thought. He had only focused on finding out if she was the one and never considered what he would do if Christina turned out to be the one. Perhaps he would extend the contract and tie her to him forever. That would stop any man from approaching her and ending up on his dinner list.
Ziana smiled at Reylan's contemplative expression. She decided to be the love guru for him. "If you two are meant to be together, no one can stop it. So, just let things unfold naturally. She might even like you during this marriage, despite your unlikable personality."
Reylan smiled at her words. "Speaking from experience, I see. Is that how you fell for your grim disaster?" he teased.
Ziana shrugged, her smile never wavering. "Perhaps," she replied, leaving Reylan to his thoughts.
Both indulged in banter like usual, and Blaze heaved a sigh. They were business partners both in the human and supernatural worlds. Since her husband wasn't here, he was worried about how to handle it if they fought again, but Christina's topic at least kept them in the same boat for once.
With a smile, he decided to go through the preparations for the wedding. But when he opened the tab, the first message that popped out made him curse. "Damn it."
"What's the matter now?" Reylan inquired, shifting his attention to his brother.
"Our arranged actor for Christina's fake father has been in an accident, and there are no available replacements," Blaze replied, reaching for his phone to contact the PR team.
"No need for actors. I have the perfect person for the role," Ziana interjected, capturing the attention of both vampires. "My husband has rarely been in the media, and since it's a private party, we can fabricate a story that she is a distant relative and we are her foster parents."
Reylan frowned, suspicious of Ziana's sudden assistance. She sighed and clarified, "Don't flatter yourself. I'm doing this for Christina."
Reylan's expression softened into a subtle smile, and he nodded, causing Blaze to sigh in relief. "It's settled then," he chimed, marking the task as completed on his to-do list.
As Christina returned from providing her blood samples, Ziana prepared to leave. "I will return with the results on your wedding day," she told Reylan, and after smiling at Christina, she exited the house.
"Are you two close?" Christina asked, noticing the apparent history between Reylan and Ziana.
"He was compelled to work under her for a significant mission by our grandfather a few years ago. Our families are also connected through business," Blaze explained, recalling how their grandfather had pushed Reylan to assist the Defenders during the demon apocalypse.
Christina nodded in response, rubbing her arm. She could only hope the results were clear, or her boss would discard her and seek another bride.
Just when Reylan thought the storm had passed, Ziana made a mind-link with him again and warned, 'Oh, I forgot. Your little kitten is being released from the Defender detention tonight. Be careful.'
Reylan sighed and leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his hair. Things were getting hectic for him as well. Unlike Christina, he wasn't worried about the speed at which things were happening, but the surprises. And this little kitten was certainly being released at the wrong time.
---
Later that night.
After dinner, Christina entered her room and slumped on the bed. Luckily, Reylan had asked to arrange a different room now that things were no longer a secret. And the soft mattress here was far more comfortable than sleeping on the couch in his room.
The room was spacious, adorned with minimalistic decor, and featured a balcony connecting to Reylan's own. This secluded space became her haven, a place where she could gaze at the stars or enjoy a quiet drink.
Exhausted, she murmured, "Ah, I am sleepy," and decided to freshen up. After a quick shower and changing into her home clothes, she briefly chatted with her grandmother before surrendering to the beckoning arms of sleep. She fell into a deep slumber, sprawled on her stomach in a haphazard pose.
The peaceful night was interrupted when an ominous presence landed on the balcony. Christina had left the balcony door open, inadvertently providing an easy entrance for the intruder. The room, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the open door, was filled with a palpable tension as the shadow of a small kitten grew larger.
The kitten, its black fur almost blending with the shadows, slowly made its way towards the bed. Its red eyes glowed ominously in the dark, fixated on Christina. It let out a low hiss, eerily human-like, as it prepared to pounce. But before it could reach Christina, a hand shot out, grabbing the kitten by its scruff mid-air.
The cat cried, the sound stirring Christina from her sleep. But before she could fully awaken, Reylan swiftly tossed the kitten out of the room. It sailed through the air, like a fur-covered frisbee, its surprised meow echoing in the night as it landed on the lawn in the garden.