by Anna Santos
Drinking some more, he dragged his tired body to the bed where he climbed and drooled against the comforter as the bottle dropped next to his face.
“Fucking bitch. I’ll kill you when I don’t need you anymore. Wait until I get my powers back.”
He didn’t know when he had fallen asleep, but he woke up when frozen water hit his face and damped his body. “What the hell? What are you doing, crazy bitch?”
Olivia had a bucket in her hands as she glared. “You stink. I need you to take a shower while I change the sheets of the bed. Then you are going to eat your dinner, and we’ll make love. I didn’t release you to have to take crap from you. Behave, or you’ll regret it.”
“Who do you think you are talking to?” He fisted his hands and growled at her, but he had no fangs to display.
“To a drunk and a sloth.” Putting the bucket down, she edged closer to him and grabbed his arm. “Shower now or I won’t tell you what I found out today at work regarding your precious family.”
Her words piqued his interest, and he decided not to hit her and make her pay for her actions and words. Frowning, he followed to the bathroom where Olivia took upon herself to undress and wash him. He growled when she tried to take advantage of him. He was not in the mood, and she seemed to be always in the mood. Or he was getting old, or she was a nymphomaniac. Either case, she was too clingy and temperamental.
Chapter Ten
Eric and Beth’s visit to Chicago was cut short by Beth’s findings on her banking account. After the beautiful night that they had, rushing back to Affinity killed the mood and stole their time.
Everybody at the palace was waiting for them when they arrived. They didn’t have time to unpack before being rushed to the king’s office and engage in a video conference with Kevin and his boss, Alpha Derek.
The organization that Eric’s nephews worked for had the resources to track down Marie’s movements. Anna and Kevin had already volunteered to fly to France and follow all the leads.
Once a plan was established, Eric accompanied Beth to their bedroom, in the house that now was also hers, and they shared a bed.
“I can’t sleep. I keep thinking about how Marie is doing and what will happen if Kevin and Anna invade her place. What if there are too many guards? What if something happens to her? Will Alaric be there too?”
Eric turned to her side and grabbed her hands. “You need to rest and stop worrying. We all know what’s in stake and how delicate this mission will be.”
“I would like to go with them too. I could talk to my sister.”
Eric shook his head. “As you said, Alaric will be there. I don’t want you to have to see him again. You are doing great. I’m actually regretting the fact that we found a lead. I don’t want you to go back to being stressed and afraid.”
Leaning closer, she kissed his lips. “Like Kevin said, it’s too soon to assume that we’ve found them. Money is being spent, Kevin’s hacker will find more about all this. Anna and Kevin will visit the stores and investigate where Marie might have been living as soon as they arrive in Paris, but I know that they might have fled and moved to another country.”
“Anna will leave for Chicago in the morning. Shane is gathering a few men to accompany her and Kevin. They won’t be flying until the hacker runs all the data. We have time to rest and think about how we can help with this.”
“Do you think the baby is born?”
“I have no idea, Beth. I hope so.”
Beth lowered her gaze to his chest. Her hand caressed his neck. “I just don’t want the baby to die. The child is innocent.”
“No one will use lethal force on your sister. Especially if she’s carrying a baby. We are not monsters.”
Leaning closer, Beth hid her head against his chest. “I’m too nervous to sleep. A few days ago, I was okay with Marie’s death. That was when I thought that we wouldn’t find them so soon. Now, I don’t know what I want. Alaric won’t go down without a fight. Plus, the witch said he was coming here and not that we were going to get him.”
“Witches aren’t always right.” Eric kissed the top of her head. “Are you hungry? We barely had time to eat since we arrived. Do you want me to get up and get you some warm blood? Have you taken your medicine?”
“No. I just want to be this close to you and feel how warm you are. You are the only medicine that I need.”
Eric brought her closer by placing his arms around her body. “I’m here. In a few days, all your belongings will arrive. You’ll have a lot of things to take care of. Not to mention, that you are planning to invest in your dancing academy. You have good things to think about.”
“True. Now that I have money, I can buy the building from your family, and you can start the project.” She raised her head and looked at him. “I forgot to ask if you have time to be my architect. Do you think you can help me?”
Eric smiled at her. “I would be rather offended if you didn’t ask me to help you with this.”
“Good because I wouldn’t know who else to hire.”
“Do you realize that you are making plans to stay here with me?”
“Where else would I go?” Beth asked with a soft voice. “I’m your soul-mate, and I love you. This town is part of you, and it has grown on me. We have our own space in your father’s palace. I love your mom and your nephews. I have a new bestie. I’m madly in love with you. What else could I ask from life?”
Eric hugged her tighter. “I love you.”
“I’m feeling much better now that we talked. Even a bit sleepy.”
After a few moments of silence, Eric spoke. “Beth, if you don’t want to live here, you just have to tell me. We can move to anywhere you’d like.
Beth turned on her back and looked at the ceiling. “I have my therapy sessions to attend. I’m doing better, but I still need more sessions. Also, I’ve always wanted to set roots and have my own dancing academy. Teaching ballet was always a dream. I can do this here.” She turned her head to look at him. “Your family has become my family. You have become my whole world. You don’t need to worry, I’m happy here.” She cupped his face with her hand. “I belong here.”
Moving his body, he lowered his mouth and kissed her lips. Her lips were tender, and the kiss changed from soft to passionately as their bodies touched and lust made him eager for more contact.
In an attempt to control himself, he spread kisses along her face and whispered, “I know you said you were sleepy, but I’ve been craving for you since we left Chicago. Now that we are in bed, I can’t stop thinking about taking off your clothes and kiss you all over.”
Beth giggled and moaned. “I’m not that sleepy.”
Her words gave him the permission he needed to undress her and make love to her.
***
For the next days, Beth’s life resumed its normalcy. She woke up early to have breakfast with the family and Eric would be in his office taking care of work. Sometimes he had to go to the construction sites, and he would take her with him and talk about all that was needed to finish a project. Meanwhile, she spent her free time practicing ballet. She had been several years without dancing, and her feet would bruise easily with the standing position. A few times, Dulce showed up to do a routine with her and talk about all the big plans that they had for the academy.
At night, Beth would carefully wash and moisturize her feet to prevent calluses and blisters. Feet pain was part of the process, and she knew it would take a lot of work to go back to her former glory.
That day, her weekly session ended sooner, and she decided to go to the coffee shop where Dulce worked and wait for Eric. They had planned leave together with Dulce to visit George’s former house and the future dancing academy.
Dulce brought Beth’s hot chocolate and sat in front of her. “I can’t wait to quit this job and start teaching.”
Beth smiled and took a sip of her beverage. “If all goes well, we’ll be signing the papers next week. Eric has lots of ideas for our project. He
seems excited about it.”
“I hope he is. He’s the best contractor and architect in town. I’m confident he can bring our dream into reality.”
“What about you? Did you manage to get a replacer, so you can go with us see the house?”
Dulce nodded. “We have a new girl, Olivia. She’s covering my shift for the rest of the day.”
Beth looked at the counter and saw a petite brunette with big eyes and smiley face taking an order. “I don’t remember seeing her here.”
“She works mornings. She seems nice. Just a little bit too curious for a human.”
“Does she know about the other residents in this town?”
Dulce yawned and released the tension in her neck. “Yes. That is why I hired her. It seems her father is a vampire. She’s quiet and good at her job.”
“Brandon seems to like her,” Beth said as she watched Olivia refill Brandon’s cup.
Dulce looked back at the werewolf dressed in a black suit. “I thought you had two bodyguards. Where is the other one?”
“I just need Brandon to drive me around when Eric is busy.”
Dulce leaned closer to Beth across the table and lowered her voice. “Speaking of which, how is the manhunt going? Do they know where your sister is?”
Beth shook her head and mimicked her lower tone. “They found the house she was living, but it was empty for a while.”
“Is Anna and Kevin coming back?”
“No. The king has contacts there. They are questioning the neighbors for new leads and waiting to see if she uses the account again. Once she makes a transaction, they will know where she is. I mean, they are. They said that she’s traveling with a man. But the thing is that the description doesn’t fit Alaric’s.”
“He might have changed appearance to create new traveling papers.”
“True. I’m not too worried.”
Dulce relaxed on her chair. “Why not?”
“As long as they are in Europe, we are safe here.”
“Can I get you something else?”
Beth looked at Olivia with a notepad and a pen, smiling at her.
“Something to eat, maybe?” the young girl suggested.
“I’m good, thank you.” Beth declined with a smile.
The door opened, and Eric came in. Beth’s attention drifted to him as he walked to her table and kissed her cheek. Happiness for his arrival made her skin tingle and her stomach bubble. He looked gorgeous in a white sweater under his raincoat and black pants.
“Sorry for being late. The meeting took longer than expected.” Eric sat next to Beth and smiled at Dulce. “Are you coming with us?”
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world,” Dulce replied, resting her arm on the top of the chair next to hers.
“Can I get you something?” Olivia asked Eric.
He seemed to notice her presence. “Coffee. Black. And to take away, please.”
She smiled at him and turned around to fill his order.
A few minutes later, they were leaving the coffee shop with Brandon behind. The streets were crowded that day, and Beth stepped back when a guy in a hoodie bumped into her. The stench of booze hit her nostrils and made her nauseated. She disliked the smell of whiskey above all the rest, and that guy reeked of it. Not to mention that he didn’t even apologize or turned back to see if she was okay.
Eric had steadied her with his arm. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “He came from nowhere.”
“Yes. He was rather rude. Just come to the middle. I’ll stay on this side of the sidewalk.”
Smiling, Beth laced her arm with his and nuzzled her nose against his coat to breathe his smell and wipe clean the stink of alcohol from her mind.
Chapter Eleven
It was night when Olivia snuck out to a local pub to meet with a man she had been introduced to by her landlord. She swept her eyes around cautiously and tried hard not to fidget while sitting before the sketchy looking guy with dreads.
“What you want to know doesn’t come cheap or off the block for free,” the black man said with a perfect white smile.
Olivia expected such response and was glad she managed to hand herself some of the dollar bills Alaric stole from her father. She rolled up a couple of hundreds and pushed it across the large wooden table between them.
The young, black man looked around before picking the bills off the table and slipping them into the side pocket of his hoodie.
“Ask me anything.”
Olivia sighed. “You know what I want to know. Just tell me before I ask my money back.”
“Pretty lady, you need to chill.”
“I’m chilling.” The waiter interrupted their conversation when he dropped two bottles of beer on the table and left.
The guy arched an eyebrow when she took the bottle and drank. “Are you old enough to be here?”
“I have the ID to prove it,” she replied. “What’s your name?”
“Isaac. What’s yours?”
“Olivia.”
“You are human. Are you a hunter?”
Olivia shook her head. “Just curious and interested in the people of this town.”
“There isn’t a lot to tell about the king and his family. He’s good to us, and everybody here lives in peace.”
“So they don’t kill people randomly?”
Isaac’s eyebrows knitted together. “Of course not. Who told you that absurd?”
“Someone I know.”
“The king just got married to a witch. Do you think he would do that if he hated hybrids? Or let my kind live here?”
Olivia shrugged.
“His grandkids are hybrids. The younger son, Eric, just recently found his mate. She’s a pureblood, but she has a sad past.”
“Beth. I know her from the coffee shop. She meets my manager there to talk about their new dancing academy. She’s rather pretty and seems in love with the prince.”
“She was kept a prisoner for several years in the hands of that piece of shit, Alaric.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Wait, what?”
“Alaric. Don’t you know him?”
“I heard about him. But I’m not familiar with his story. I just know he’s the king’s son and he’s no longer welcome here.”
Isaac chuckled, but he didn’t seem amused. “Not welcome is an understatement.”
“What can you tell me about him?”
He smirked and rubbed his fingers together. “That will cost you more, pretty lady.”
‘You have got to be kidding me.” She sighed and handed him the remaining bills in her pocket.
He smirked and tucked the cash away. “So Alaric. What do you want to know?”
“Why his family hates him.”
“That’s easy. He hates hybrids and runs an empire of blood slaves and assassins that go around killing families for the supremacy of the pure race among shifters and vampires.”
“What do you know about his wife?”
Isaac shrugged. “All I know is that a while back, he tried to kidnap the new queen and the king went to save her. All hell broke loose. I was there and saw everything. That bastard and his men were despicable. He did unimaginable things to all those people locked in the dungeons. But he escaped, and no one knows anything about him for a long time. No leads. Nothing.”
Olivia clenched her jaw. “And Beth? What does she have to do with Alaric?”
Isaac rubbed his chin. “You didn’t hear it from me, but he had a thing for his brother’s mate. Of course that the prince didn’t know that Beth was his mate until we saved her and the other girls. Still, everybody still fears that Alaric finds out that Beth was saved. She’s Marie’s sister. A mess, I tell you. A Mexican soap opera. I couldn’t make this up even if I tried.” He laughed nervously and leaned back in his chair.
“I’m more into Korean dramas,” Olivia said.
Grabbing his beer, Isaac drank it and wiped his mouth to his sleeve. “Never watched it. Do you have an
y other question?”
“Is it true that Alaric’s wife is expecting a baby?”
Isaac nodded. “Alaric is cursed, you know. He’s bonded to his mate and rumor has it that she was expecting a child when they ran away.”
“But was the child his?”
“Of course. Purebloods can only breed with their mates. Don’t you know that?”
Olivia shook her head. “One last question.”
Isaac drank his beer and nodded. “Last one.”
“If a human is turned into a vampire, do you think that the blood of a pureblood makes them stronger than a regular vampire?”
Smirking, Isaac nodded. “A pureblooded vampire if siring a human, the human will be much stronger when becoming a vampire. But it’s rare that happening and purebloods don’t like to donate blood for creating new vampires.”
“Unless they plan to create a new army to fight for them.”
Isaac bobbed his head. “Now that you don’t have any other questions, do you want to get out of here and go somewhere fun?”
“Not tonight, I have someone waiting for me at home.”
“Pity. But it was a pleasure doing business with you. We can negotiate a new price if you need more information next time.”
Olivia got up from the table. “You can pay the bill since you left me with no more money. See you around.”
***
Alaric stared at the half empty bottle of whiskey in his hand and heard the door behind him swing open. His vision blurred in and out of consciousness, but he knew it was Olivia. She didn’t look happy.
Her happiness was the least of his concern. “Where have you been?”
“Out,” she replied. Stopping in front of him, she folded her arms. “Don’t you know to do anything else but to get drunk?”
He chuckled. “Are you horny again? You seem insatiable.”
“I’m not horny. I’m far from being horny. I just want you to stop drinking and tell me the truth.”
“About?” He drank from the bottle.
“About why we are really here.”
“I’ve told you. My father is the king of these lands, and I’m here to get my revenge.”
