Cyrena and Justin

Chapter 1

Cyrena sat silently. Concentrating on the one who sat quietly before her. Infuriatingly quiet. Some, who knew her well enough would have said she was brooding. And they would bave been right. She would have said she was focused. That focus was landing squarely, and heavily upon one persons shoulders. Justin Valenta. She was hoping to make him squirm, but it seemed he was made of sterner stuff. His full attention upon the newspaper he was reading.

"Well it's done," he commented to no one in particular. The newspaper was tossed, seemingly casually aside, but with every intent of sliding across the table and towards Cyrena.

Cyrena shifted her gaze slightly. this was a game they were both playing and neither wanted to lose.

"What's done?" Trying not to sound too interested, she was annoyed at Justin for various reasons. Several lifetimes had passed, and only recently had he come back.

Justin motioned to the front page. "That."

Cyrena took a cursory glance. "Oh?" She shrugged. It didnt matter to them. they would continue as they always did. They would do, as they always did. continue with their games, their machinations, power plays and their own brand of politics. Whatever happened out there, in the world of kine was not their business.

A smile, something usually foreign upon her face, crept across her lips. Her finger slid around the oval outline of the face. "I wonder?"

Justin shook his head. "Not a wise move."

Cyrena wrinkled her nose. Of course it wasnt it would bring all types of crap down on her and hers. Ultimately it wouldnt be worth it. It would cost her too much. Sighing, because it would be nice, Cyrena rose, her leather creaking as she moved.

"It's time, will you be attending tonight?"

Justin had followed Cyrena and was already standing. He moved to stand beside her, arm out and ready, waiting for her to take it. "I wouldnt miss it for the world, dear heart."

Cyrena glared at him. He was still trying to get into her good books. She had to give him points for that. Instead of taking his arm, Cyrena merely walked away from him. The silver buckles on her boots jangling noisily.

Justin watched her retreat, a smile on his lips. He'd ruffled her feathers, and survived, the noise oshe was making as she walked away was proof in point. "I'm wearing you down, admit it."

His chuckle followed her down the hallway and into the foyer. Her eyes flicked to Jerhold who remained astutely silent. Jerhold, older and only one of two who were not afraid of Cyrena, smirked as she stalked past him. he too could see the affect Justin was having on her.

A shiver ran down his spine, like ice water had been dripped beneath the collar of his indigo shirt. He knew that touch intimately. Light, feathery and seductive. Jerhold closed his eyes and revelled in the touch that he had for so long missed. "Beloved," he purred softly.

~*~

As meetings went that one was fairly tame. There were no threats, no raised voices and no chairs thrown aside. Justin was almost disappointed. It had been months now since he'd reappeared out of the blue. Truth could be ugly, and he'd not exactly been forthcoming. Now with that phone call it looked as if things were about to go tits up. And if he knew Cyrena - Justin shuddered, he hated to think of her reaction. To say the least it was not going to be good when she found out, and she would find out. It was just a matter of time.

If only they had given him more time. He could have done it so much easier. Now?  Well damn, now he was going to have to work quickly. Damn them, they had just made it infinitely more difficult.

The phone that he'd kept scret for so long, was turned off and secreted away iinside his jacket. Fingers brushed against silk, then leather. Silence surrounded him. He had sunk himself deep into his own thoughts An almost dark despair that had overtaken him.

"Justin?"

The voice that he had always known broke through his dark reverie. Only her voice could do that. He turned his head to look at her. those eyes! So alive, so vibrant, so beautiful! He still loved her. After all this time. Those lips that he had once possessed so passionately and as often as he desired, had grown cold and hard over the years. There was only a handful of people he had seen those lips soften for, and it had never been for him.

"Cyrena, yes?" His lips quirked gently.

"Are you alright?" Her eyebrow arched beautifully Oh how he wanted to kiss her brow. this woman. So strong, so powerful, so vibrant.

He had to be so careful. She was also very intelligent. Always had been. She was a dangerous woman. "Sure doll.'

Cyrena nodded, not at all happy with him calling her doll, but she let it slide. "Good." She watched him for a moment. There was something there. Something odd about him. Something she couldnt quite put her finger on. But then his reappearance had unsettled her more than she had thought possible. Maybe it was just that and nothing more. Maybe it was - no. Not him. He knew better than that. Surely. "Hmm. I've work to do. I'll see you later."

Without thought, Justins hand shot out and caught her by the upper arm. When her eyes flicked down to his offending hand, only then did he let go, mumbling a quick apology. "Can I come with you? Help you?" Nathaniel often helped her, but he was currently seeing to other business at her request. Having been sent from the meeting.

The request, in and of itself, was odd. Never before had he offered to help her. Never before had he seemed at all interested in her business dealings. So why was he so keen to help her now? Regardless it was better he be close to her so she could keep an eye on him. Watch him. "Sure."

It was all fairly mundane. Accounts, emails, letters, pay roll for her employees. And she had many. A litany of paper work that he believed would be never ending. She worked tirelessly, flawlessly, and Justin began to have a new respect for her, and for Nathaniel. Albeit there would ever remain a distant dislike for the young man. Justin still had to admire Nathaniels tenacity, and just what he had to do to keep up with Cyrena.

Few words were exchanged, save for the occasional direction. Did she do that with him? Justin doubted it. No, he would know without direction where everything went. He would also pre-empt her every move and need.