Nico's POV

I audibly groaned as I stepped out of the elevator, partially out of relief.

The woman I just went of a 'date' with was draining in more ways than one.

She was also very adamant that I walked her to her room within the castle when the date was over, despite the amount of time I explicitly said no.

Then she had the audacity to ask if I wanted to come in, offering herself as a "good time".

Luckily she was mostly already inside so I could shut the door myself and leave before she could re-open it.

God vampire women are all the same.

The only good thing that came out of that was that it was my last date for at least two weeks.

With Khloe's and my fathers birthday coming up in a couple days followed by the trip to the northern pack I have to take, my father so graciously gave me a break from the women.

I rolled my shoulders out as I stepped into the hallway, inhaling deeply through my nose to see where the girl I really cared about was.

Her scent was very faint, meaning she had to be moderately far away.

At the gardens I'd guess, and judging by the other scents, Doe and Marcus were accompanying her.

Good.

I started towards that direction, catching a different and rapidly approaching scent.

Stopping, I extended my hand, catching him by the back of the shirt before he crashed himself into the wall.

Xander never really got the hang of stopping correctly while using our advanced speed.

He was fine back in Bronwyn's city, but here where our powers were more advanced, not so much.

The blonde's eyes went wide, not expecting the sudden halt and fully expecting that he was going to crash into something.

When he realized that wasn't what was going on, his expression calmed and he smiled.

I released my hold on his shirt before he spoke.

"Hey," He said enthusiastically, "How was the date?"

I blinked at him before I continued walking, motioning him to come with.

"Boring. So now that we got the formality out of the way, what do you want?"

Xander placed a hand on his chest in exaggerated shock.

"Wha-? What makes you think I want something?"

I glanced at him from the side, smirking a bit.

"It's been a while since you've come speeding towards me the second I step foot on this floor, but every single time you used to, you've always wanted something from me."

Xanders brows furrowed as he apparently thought back on every time before.

"Not all the time," He defended, "When we were a lot younger I used to speed to you just because I missed you."

"Aweee you missed me?" I teased, honestly kind of flattered.

"Shut it!" he barked back in partial embarrassment," Mom and dad were always busy and you were like the only person I hung out with what did you expect?!"

I snickered quietly.

"I know, I know," I replied, "So are you trying to say you don't need something from me this time?"

He was silent for too many seconds.

"Well..."

"I knew it," I sighed out.

Xander got defensive all over again.

"Listen I just have a question about Khloe!"

I quirked up a brow at this, "What about her?"

He went silent again for a few moments, actually starting to look embarrassed.

"I have no idea what to get her for her birthday." He admitted quietly.

I fought to choke back a laugh.

"That's what this is about?" I questioned, obviously enjoying where this conversation was going.

"Yes, dude! I'm running out of time and I need to get her something good. I still need to make some stuff up to her, but I don't know her like you do."

True

Very true.

"You know she's amazing at art." I offered.

"Yeah, but what could I possibly get her regarding that that you haven't already."

Fair point.

"What are you getting her?" He asked.

I glanced over at him for a second.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just to make sure we don't get her the same thing," he replied innocently.

Again, I refused to let myself laugh.

"Believe me, were not," I said, my amusement showing in my voice.

If he happened to get her the same thing I'm getting her that would be very... strange to say the least.

Xander let out a long sigh.

"Fine, then I guess I'm back to square one. Not even Doe has a better clue than I do and she's with Khloe basically every day."

I hummed a bit, trying to come up with something for him.

Something that wouldn't be oddly personal to give her.

"Actually, there might just be something you can get her," I mumbled, still thinking out the details.

Xander perked up immediately.

"Really? What?!"

I shook my head, "I'll give you the details later. Also know that I won't be giving it to her on her actual birthday."

He wasn't too sure about my last statement.

"Well, then what's the point?" He asked.

I turned to him fully.

"Trust me," Is all I said.

And apparently, that's all he needed to hear, given by his dismissive shrug and his very quiet 'alright'.

"So what are you getting dad?" He followed up.

My mood took the liberty of diminishing once I remembered that I also had that to deal with on Khloe's birthday.

"Honestly, nothing. I'm pretty sure he's throwing himself a city-wide party anyway and he'll get tons more of things he's never going to have a need for." I rambled.

"He is, and apparently we have to be there for it," Xander concluded.

A harsh sigh blew from my mouth as my eyes rolled.

Of course.

"How long exactly do we have to be there?" I asked.

He shrugged, "I mean I don't think he'll actively keep tabs on us. Probably like half an hour to be safe."

Half an hour... I guess I could manage that.

"Do you know if he's doing that huge firework show too?"

That sounds like something Khloe would enjoy.

"I think so," Xander muttered, "I'm pretty sure he's doing that to start the party."

I guess I'd just have to arrange my plans accordingly then.

Which wasn't too bad. Although I didn't exactly know what my father was doing to celebrate, I knew something would interfere with what I had planned for Khloe's.

All in all, I expected worse.

I pushed open the vine-covered doors that lead out to the overly extensive greenhouse that this floor held.

A very wide variety of aromas filled my sence, however Khloe's wasn't mixed with any of them.

Instead, it was mixed with the smell of fresh-cut grass, meaning she was on the actual out-door portion of the garden.

There was a fairly large plot of just grass out there where the slaves would sometimes play games when they were allowed.

My assumption became correct as Xander and I stepped into the just slightly chilling air, spotting her with her two friends.

The sound of her laughter ran melodically through my ears as I watched her run, Doe following soon after her in a chase.

I then notice that Khloe had something in her hand that Doe seemed to be after.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Xander staring aswell.

My gaze switched back to the girls right as Doe caught up to her, tackling her down in a way that sent both girls rolling.

Their smiles and laughter never stopped, even as Doe crawled over Khloe and plucked the object from her hand, holding it above her head victoriously.

Khloe's smile still stayed even as she lay sprawled out on the grass, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath, humbly accepting her apparent defeat.

And poor Marcus was on the other side of the grass, hunched over with his hands on his thighs as he fought to regain his breath.

I guess keeping up with these two was harder than it looked.

"Alex!"

I turned back to the source of the noise, realizing it came from Doe when she spotted us, waving

I saw a small smile on Xander's face before I spoke.

"Alex?" I muttered.

I haven't heard him go by that in a very long time.

"Yeah," He stretched his arms out in front of him, "Its something... different that were trying out."

I accepted that with a 'hm' before shifting my attention back to the girls.

Or more specifically, my girl.

She rose her head from the grass soon after Doe spoke, her perfect smile gracing us with its presence as she sat up.

Then, the knowledge I had about my lack of dates for a while seemed a lot more exciting.

Although I still had a decent workload, that still gave me a lot more time to spend with her.

It felt like our relationship was hitting an all-time high through these past couple of days and I'd be damned if I didn't cherish every moment I possibly could.