Author's Notes - One more part left, yay!

Summary - Zarek arrives and gets what he wants.

-o-

An Even Exchange

Zedd

-o-

"This is ridiculous, the Council should be informed." Looking at Thomas, my father, and myself in aggravation as the three of us sit on the couch playing cards, Zordon has taken up my habit of pacing the floor.

"So they can do what? Point and laugh at us?" Placing one of my cards down and drawing another, I scowl at the lousy hand I have.

"Tell us it's what we deserve?" Thomas adds drawing his own two cards.

"Remind me it's on my head if any of Zedd's former enemies or allies come here seeing as how I refuse to let the Council have him?" My father puts in, deciding to keep the cards he has.

"How about send several armed warriors over here to help lay a trap for the insane son of evil that is about to come and attempt to destroy us?" Zordon questions back with what can only be seen as great annoyance.

"They won't send anyone." Thomas reminds him calmly.

"Zedd?" Looking to me in hopes that I will at least join him in worry, Zordon seems to have forgotten that after several hours of Thomas' calm reassurances, not to mention raiding my father's supply of alcohol I am in no where near the state of panic I was in earlier today.

"He'll find us one way or another if not tonight then tomorrow. Sit and play cards with us." I instruct before showing my hand. "Straight, beat that."

"Full house." Thomas states before taking the change we had been playing with, only to be stopped by my father.

"Royal flush." Removing Tom's hands and taking the change, he looks it over curiously before shaking his head. "This is really money on Earth is it?"

"Well small amounts of it. You really can't by much with change, it's the paper money that people normally use." Tom explains as I reshuffle the cards.

"Hm, strange."

Stopping and looking at us, Zordon, seems ready to hit the roof. "You three have lost your minds."

"You're one to talk."

"You're sitting there playing cards, while the son of Dark Spector is set to show up at any minute to do who knows what kind of damage to you, your mate, and other innocents on this world. I'm uncertain how powerful he still is, as are you, we've very few weapons, very little power aside my own, and even less time-"

As a telling knock on the door sounds I raise my eyes, giving my friend a look. "Try no time."

Sighing as he moves to the door, I stop him quickly and not without a bit of reluctance. "No, he's not here for you, he's here for me, just stay back here with my father and Thomas."

Turning to my mate before he can open his mouth next I hold up a hand. "Don't start, if anything happens to me…just stay put, all right? Please mate."

Taking a moment before giving a very short and clearly reluctant nod, he doesn't sit back down, but does thankfully remain where he is as I move towards the door.

Taking a deep breath as another knock is heard, I slowly unlock and open the door, revealing the object of my past obsession and present fears. "Zarek."

Black hair slicked back and purple eyes narrowed in a penetrating look, he stands casually in the doorway, his expression calm and perhaps even a bit flat considering the situation. "Zedd." Looking past me, his mouth twitches in a small smirk as he catches a glimpse of Zordon, my father, or most likely Thomas. "Going to invite me in?"

"I'd rather not."

"Afraid your pet won't like me?" Tone laced with the barest hint of amusement, he is asking for trouble. "That's all right, I didn't come for a reunion after all." I'm sure. "I trust you know why I'm here."

"To kill me?" Attempting to match his indifference with an imitation of my own, I cross my arms looking at him as calmly as I can.

"Amusing, but no."

"No?"

"No." Shaking his head he heaves a sigh. "I heard you'd mated, bonded with the human there. And being this close to him I can tell it's true, I can smell you on him from here."

"You're not touching him." Voice dropping to a growl of challenge and threat, I'm once more taken by surprise by his response, or rather lack of.

"I've no desire to. If you wish to bed some lower species Zedd that is your decision, not mine. However considering that you have made such a decision I have come to collect what is mine."

"What?"

"My cloak Zedd. The one I allowed you to have when we were mates. Considering you no longer desire to be anything of that nature with me, nor truly I with you, I've come for it as I wish to give it to my new bed mate." His…

"Your cloak?" Stunned for a moment if not longer I slowly realize just what it is he's asking for and why, before regaining myself. "Oh, right."

Moving away from the door and leaving him there as he respectfully does not follow as he's not been invited, I move past the three still stunned others in the main room before heading to my old bedroom now storage room, where I had put the article of clothing several hundreds of years ago.

Moving through the room and to the closet, I locate my old trunk where I'd locked away a few chosen childhood things, things I know my father wouldn't have gotten rid of as I'd asked for him to protect them for me long ago. Digging through the pictures, books, and toys, it only takes a minute or so to locate the black and gold cloak.

Shaking it out and examining it to make certain it is still acceptable, I take it back to Zarek who is still waiting at the door, though not alone as Thomas has moved to him and is talking in a calm tone apparently seeing there is no actual danger.

"If you bite his ear he'll whine like a cat in heat." Oh for fuck…

Ignoring Zarek's words to Thomas and handing him the cloak, I move the snickering half-breed back and take his spot. "Here, a bit faded, but still in wearable condition."

Taking the clothing and nodding in thanks, he moves forward slowly before pressing his mouth to mine in a gesture of formality. "Good bye Zedd, I hope you find what you want with the boy."

"As you with yours." I respond before matching his departing nod with one of my own. "Oh Zarek, one more thing." Waiting for him to stop and turn back, I give a dangerous smile. "If I ever see you again, I'll kill you."

"I'm sure you will." Smirking and leaving calmly, cloak thrown over his shoulder, I watch as he disappears down the hall, only closing the door and turning back to my mate when his calm and slightly amused voice meets my ears.

"I like him."

Looking at the both of us, Zordon shakes his head slowly still attempting to recover it seems. "You're all insane."

To be continued…….

Haha his cloak. Alllll that for his cloak hehehe. 'Points and laughes at all of you' Look at your faces! HA!