Sean Renard felt as though everything was slipping through his fingers. The grimm, Nick Burkhardt, was surrounded by people who wanted nothing from him but his friendship.
It was becoming more and more difficult for the Prince of Portland to find a way to manipulate and control him. There were too many people looking out for Nick. And all of them had more of the grimm's trust than Sean ever could.
It seemed that Adalind was ensuring Renard would never get his hands on the grimm or the keys. The hexenbiest had put a great deal of effort into gaining the trust, admiration and fondness of Nick's friends. Even going so far as to set them up with her friends.
Anything Sean would try to say against Adalind would be immediately ignored or rejected.
Everyone could see how happy Adalind made Nick. Adalind was good to Nick's friends. And it was obvious to anyone with working eyes how in love the grimm and the hexenbiest were.
Renard knew he had lost the grimm. But he was sure he could still gain the key. All he had to do was find out where Nick kept it.
"Here, I got you a special chain so you can wear the key around your neck and keep it on you at all times." Adalind said to Nick as they laid in bed, naked, enjoying a snack between rounds of lovemaking.
She slipped the key onto the chain then placed it on him.
"How do I look."
"Sexy." Adalind responded, raking her eyes slowly over his chest.
They moved to each other, meeting for a deep kiss.
"You know, it would be sexier if you wore it." He showed her by taking the necklace from himself and placing it on her. The chain was long so he could have hidden the key beneath his clothes. On her, the key laid between her breasts.
"See." Nick admired breathlessly. "Much better." His lips descended to worship her skin.
Once the haze of passion and desire was no longer consuming their entire thoughts, they decided to take turns wearing the key.
Adalind was certain Renard would search Nick's desk at the precinct and was searching for Nick's hiding spot where he kept all of his grimm things. Of course the half royal may not know at that time it was a trailer once owned by Nick's aunt, but Renards determination to gain power would drive him to keep looking and eventually find out these things.
That's why Adalind and told Nick it was safer to keep the most coveted item, the key, on him at all times.
Nick suggested she wear the key. One, because if Sean hired someone to go after it, they would never suspect a hexenbiest had it.
Two, his job got pretty dangerous, he didn't want to risk getting into a fight, the chain breaking and losing the key.
"Plus, you make everything look sexy." He commented when he fastened the chain around her neck.
Adalind argued that he did too. It lead to them making out and petting each other heavily like teenagers.
Renard was livid. There was no sign as to where Nick kept the key. The man he had hired to search all through his apartment reported back that there was nothing, literally.
It looked like he barely spent any time there.
That meant the very likely possibility of the key being in Adalind's home.
If Renard had less self control, he would have thrown something or put his fist through a wall. For Adalind to have the key in her grasp, but not feel any need to give it to him seemed like the universe was playing some sort of cosmic joke on him.
At one time, if she had even the slightest hint of where the key was, she would have gone out of her way, risking her life even, to get it for him.
But not anymore.
Renard wondered if Adalind's loyalty to the grimm was only due to his sleeping with her mother, betraying her, or if she actually had feelings for Nick.
Perhaps it was both. Either way, it meant the hexenbiest was going to do everything in her power to keep the key out of Sean's grasp.
I know this chapter is too short. I just wanted to post something to show I am not abandoning this work. Life has made it a little difficult to write, which happens sometimes. Please be patient with me. I am very far from done being a fanfiction writer.