Chapter 7: Seven Days

Nos pinned Orion with his stare. "Can I have a moment alone with him?" he requested.

"Absolutely not," Zuma immediately responded.

Nos wondered if his biological father, Norris, felt that level of authority every day. Deciding then and there that he didn't like the idea of ordering others around on a daily basis, he turned his attention to the vampire in front of him. Orion made his life miserable, whether provoked or not. Nos disliked and feared him, but not on the same level as Norris and Andrea.

He'd since learned that there was something he feared even more than the so-called monsters in his life. Feeling the void of Cal's loss was the worst experience he'd ever had. He never wanted to feel such a separation again, and that began with facing the person responsible for that severance.

"Why, Orion?" Nos asked as he stood across from him. If he wasn't already weary from the rollercoaster of events that led them both into that room and if they'd been alone, he'd have given in to the urge to shake the vampire by the collar of his fancy dress shirt. "Why did you go so far as to involve Caliber? Just what were you thinking?"

Orion took another big gulp from the tumbler. Up close, Nos finally realized that it was filled with blood. "Do you really want the truth?" The redhead tentatively asked.

"Are you finally going to tell me the truth?"

The two of them locked gazes. Nos's eyes were tired, but the anger that Orion loved to stoke was unmistakable. Orion's eyes were hesitant and had a surprising hint of remorse in their depths. The purebred vampire was the first to look away.

"I just found it fascinating how you and I couldn't be more different. But we were the last in our groups to receive our markings," the redhead explained. "I thought that was a sign that maybe we were meant to be together."

Nos had suspected as much. He'd also dreaded the very idea of being matched to Orion to the point of it giving him nightmares. "It wasn't."

"Obviously," Orion hissed, as some of that familiar animosity returned. He raked a hand through his copper hair before tilting his head back. "When you received your marking, and I didn't…" He trailed off, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair. "Let's just say I lost my head. I hated being the only one left, and I took it out on your desk, your bike, and your blubber ball."

"His bike?" Luc muttered quietly. Nos still hadn't told him about that incident.

"Cal's not a blubber ball!" Nos growled, slapped his hands on the desk between them, and leaned forward.  Orion jerked back in his chair. "He's perfect, and he had nothing to do with us!"

"Well, he still reaped the benefits, didn't he?" Orion argued, his smug attitude returning in full force. "All he needed to do was join a fucking bus tour, and then his fated match practically fell right onto his lap!"

"Oh, like you couldn't have joined a multicultural visiting group yourself to find yours."

"I didn't think that far ahead, alright?" Orion hissed, lifting his arms and then dropping them despondently. He slumped in his seat and accepted defeat. "I didn't think at all. I was more envious than ever, and now I'm stuck here for life."

"Why do you say that?" Nos asked.

Orion's lips thinned as he undid the top three buttons of his dress shirt, opening it to reveal an intricate mandala tattoo circling his upper chest like a necklace. 

It was the largest marking Nos had ever seen. Before he realized it, a broad grin formed on his face as he realized the implication. Who knew he'd ever be pleased about anything to do with the vampire who'd made his school life a living hell? Any idea who it is yet?" he asked.

"No," Orion replied with a heavy sigh. "But I doubt any incubus or succubus would take kindly to the asshole that beat up one of their own. I'm really eating my own shit here."

Nos couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was. Sure, he still wanted to punch Orion for everything he’d put him and Cal through. But honestly? He knew he’d never fully be rid of the guy, especially if they both had matches in Helderlus. At least now, they both knew with certainty that Orion’s match wasn’t him, and the real person was out of reach of all Orion’s usual tricks and money.

The fucker was fucked, and he knew it.

"You know, I think we're more alike than I'd like to admit. You have no idea how long it took me to gain Cal's trust, and thanks to you, I might have to start over from zero." Nos stood and leaned over the desk, glaring at Orion just as the vampire had always done to him.

How the tables had turned.

"But hey, looks like you've got a long road ahead before your match trusts you, too," Nos hissed. "Welcome to the club."

"You think I'm not fully aware of that?" Orion bit out as he scowled at Nos. Yet, the second that Zuma walked closer to them, the cocky vampire shrank back.

"One of my citizens is your match, and you failed to bring this important fact up when we questioned you?" Zuma's whispered words were as cold as a January deep freeze.

"I was a little too busy fearing for my life to realize that the itchiness around my collar wasn't due to consternation!" Orion snapped.

Nos shook his head and headed towards the door. He turned to look at the vampire, then at Zuma, who looked composed, but even Nos felt the waves of anger rippling off of him. "I wish you luck, Orion." He smirked and turned away.

"Nostriano, wait!" Orion called out before Nos opened the door. "I'm seriously sorry I fucked it all up."

Nos froze with one hand on the doorknob. Without looking back, he hissed, "Are you freaking serious? It's not just me you need to apologize to. "Maybe apologizing to Caliber is the first step for you to gain the trust of your match."

Nos took a deep breath and turned his attention to the leader of the incubi. "My liege," Nos began, causing Luc to startle. "May I please see Caliber now?"

A moment of tense silence followed until Zuma placed his large hand on Nos's shoulder. "Come," he urged. "If that little cambion isn't already breaking down my office door by now, I'll have my receptionist order you a ride."

Just as Zuma suspected, they only made it halfway back to his office when they saw Caliber turning the corner with Wisteria right on his heels. Nos had never seen a more glorious sight than those determined hazel eyes locking onto him, the small gray wings on Cal's back giving a flap. Nos's arms opened wide.

"Cal," Nos gasped as Cal nearly knocked him over in his rush to hug him tightly. The two of them refused to let go of one another, and Nos felt the rest of his tension melt away at the contact while their markings danced in delight. "I'm sorry I took so long."

"I heard you," Cal said, running his fingers through Nos's hair like he was a favorite pet. "Heard you calling for me. And I still haven’t said you can call me 'Cal,' you sneaky opportunist."

Nos smiled as he forced himself to pull away. He took hold of both of Cal's shoulders and looked him up and down, searching for injuries. "How are you feeling? Where are you hurt? How's your face?"

"I'm fine. A resident kelpie healed me," Cal reported with a toothy grin.

"That's great to hear," Luc said, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Caliber, this is my adoptive dad, Luc," Nos introduced, moving one hand towards Luc while the other hand slid to Cal's upper back. "Dad, this is Caliber, my fated match."

Cal raised a brow when he realized Luc was an incubus. But when the older man held out his arms for a hug, he didn't hesitate to give him one. "What should I call you?" Cal asked.

"Luc or Dad," Luc replied. "Either is fine. You?"

"Cal or Son, then."

"How come he gets 'Cal' privileges?" Nos whispered.

"Need I remind you how you left before meeting me that first time?" Cal retorted.

"Guess I’m still in the doghouse," Nos muttered.

"Caliber," Zuma addressed, causing the cambion to stiffen and then rush to give him a hug in greeting.

"Using my full name? Am I in trouble?" Cal asked.

Zuma shook his head. "Your fated match did wrong by you," he stated. "He needs to learn from his mistakes."

"Is he going to be punished?" Cal questioned, and the sad expression on his face tore at Nos's heart.

Something within Nos highly rejected the idea of Cal crying. He felt he had to keep that from happening as much as possible.

"Nostriano, let's talk in my office," Zuma suggested, his voice softening. "Cal, wait in the cafeteria with my wayward blue jay, and we will join you shortly."

"Zuma—" Luc started to protest but was halted by Zuma's sudden kiss.

"Oh my," Cal commented while covering his mouth with both hands as if he almost let a secret slip.

Nos kept his gaze fixed on the cambion so that he wasn't looking in the direction of the older couple. That didn't stop him from hearing them, however, so he immediately covered his ears with his hands. All they were missing was another person standing around covering their eyes to complete an imitation of the three wise monkeys. After what felt like far too long, he saw a smirking, blushing Cal pointing toward Zuma. Nos reluctantly lowered his hands and let out a sigh of relief when he saw the public display of affection had ended.

Zuma addressed Cal, "Have some faith in me; no harm will come to my son, my dear nephew.

Luc glanced at Nos before shifting his gaze back to Zuma. "We'll talk afterward?" When Zuma gave him a nod, Luc ceded.

Nos watched Cal lead his dad down the hallway and hoped it wouldn't be the last time he saw them. His dad tried to give him an encouraging nod, though it wasn't convincing, especially with his swollen lips and messy hair. Since Nos was about to be alone with the massive incubus liege, who also happened to be Cal's uncle and his new dad, he reserved judgment.

When they reentered the office, Nos scrutinized the space in more detail than he had before. The golden plate out in the corridor and the black marble desk seemed to be Zuma's only extravagance. He wondered if they really called him the greatest, or if it was a title he had given himself. The floor had alternating black and grey tiles, and two metal filing cabinets stood behind the desk. He saw no phone or picture frames on the desk, merely a laptop and several file folders.

Nos couldn’t help but feel a little let down. He hadn’t learned a single personal thing about Zuma from his workspace.

"Please have a seat," Zuma instructed.

Nos sat down in one of the chairs across the marble desk. He felt more than a little lost and insecure. Until now, he’d had unwavering support by his side. Luc had been pushing and pulling him forward the whole time until they reached Cal.  Emon and Blake had been instrumental in helping him before that. Now, he felt helpless by himself. Zuma cut an imposing figure, though Nos hadn't seen him raise his voice or use any violence. Hell, his new dad even made sure Orion had been fed. That’s more than what he would have done.

Whatever they talked about couldn't be that punitive, could it?

"As your Uncle, not your liege, I'm giving you an ultimatum," Zuma stated. "If you and Caliber have not united and become one by week's end, you will never be allowed to set foot on our plane again."

Nos was dumbfounded. Had he just heard correctly? "Run that by me again?"

"Seduce the cambion in seven days," Zuma replied, enunciating each word clearly. "Or you will never see him again."

"That’s really not much time to get my feelings across," Nos protested, his throat tight. Could he even pull this off? So far, his attempts to seduce Caliber had been pretty pathetic.

"Vampires," Zuma scoffed. "For incubi, physical affection is more important than any flowery words. You can talk about your feelings after you unite."

"My punishment is this time limit?"

"No, your punishment is that you must keep this from Caliber," Zuma responded. "My nephew would try to help you without ever knowing the real level of your conviction."

Nos felt his half-human heart thudding faster. In order to be with Cal, he had to prove to Zuma that he was worthy of him. But to prove that, he had to lie by omission while trying to get into Cal's pants! Nothing about this ultimatum was beneficial to gaining his cambion's trust.

"Can I appeal for an extension?" Nos asked.

Zuma's eyes narrowed.

Nos gulped even though he read no malice in them, but he still felt he was in danger.

"Son, if you were an incubus, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You would have united with Caliber upon meeting him without any hesitation," Zuma explained in a calm and steady voice. Nos was still astounded that Zuma never raised his voice, not even when he was arguing with Luc.  "It is because you are not an incubus that I am allowing you this allotted time. There will be no extensions."

"Not even one more day?" Nos whined.

"You asked me yourself what you need to do to see Caliber again, did you not?" Zuma reminded him.

"Yes," Nos said. "It's just that I've never slept with anyone before."

Zuma’s eyes softened. "Incubi don't rate anyone the first time, so if you're concerned about your performance, don't even bother," Zuma assured him. "Clear your doubts and strengthen your bond by the end of the week. That is all."

The knot in his throat kept Nos from responding right away. He swallowed past it with difficulty, and his voice ultimately cracked. "U-understood."

"Excellent," Zuma said as he stood up. "With that settled, let's join my nephew and wayward blue-jay in the cafeteria."

Zuma walked Nos over to the cafeteria, where Nos was met with a surprise.