Sounds like a bad character trait, but it's one of my founding principles, so I couldn't complain much. "So Marcus sent you out here to talk to me. About what?"
"He wants to meet you. To talk some kind of business."
I got up and refilled my mug. A little less sugar this time. I was beginning to wake up just from frustration. "Let him make an appointment to come to my office."
Irving shook his head. "Marcus is some hotshot surgeon. You know what would happen if even a hint of what he is got out?"
I could understand that. You might get away with being a shapeshifter on some jobs. Doctor was not one of them. There was still the dentist in Texas that was being sued by a patient. Said she contracted lycanthropy from him. Nonsense. You didn't get it from having human hands in your mouth. But the case hadn't been thrown out. People didn't have a lot of sympathy for fur balls treating their kid's sparkling teeth.
"Okay, send someone else to the office. Surely, Marcus must trust someone."
"Richard has forbidden anyone to contact you."
I just looked at him. "Forbidden?"
Irving nodded. "Anyone lower in the pack order contacts you at their peril."
I started to smile and stopped. He was serious. "You're not kidding."
He raised a three-fingered salute. "Scout's honor."
"So how come you're here? You looking to move up in the pack?"
He paled. Honest to God, he paled. "Me? Fight Richard? Hell no."
"Then Richard won't mind you talking to me?"
"Oh, he'll mind."
I frowned. "Is Marcus going to protect you?"
"Richard gave a specific order. Marcus can't interfere."
"But he ordered you to come see me," I said.
"Yep."
"What's to stop Richard from busting your chops about this?"
Irving grinned. "I thought you'd protect me."
I laughed. "You son of a bitch."
"Maybe, but I know you, Blake. You won't like that Richard's been keeping things from you. You certainly won't like him protecting you. Besides, I've been your friend for years. I don't think you'll stand by while your boyfriend beats the hell out of me."
Irving knew me better than Richard did. It was not a comforting thought. Had I been fooled by a handsome face, a nice sense of humor? Had I not seen the real Richard? I shook my head. Could I be fooled that completely? I hoped not.
"Do I have your protection?" He was still smiling, but there was something in his eyes. Fear, maybe.
"You need me to say it out loud for it to be official?"
"Yeah."
"That a rule in the lycanthrope underground?"
"One of them," he said.
"You have my protection, but I want information in return."