by Robin Roseau
"Do you know what she is trying to tell me?"
"Know? No. I do not believe she means you ill. If she did, she wouldn't warn you. She may expect to need you in the future, and she may believe sharing what she can will make you more well disposed to speak with her when she calls on you. This is probably some sort of diplomacy. It cost her little, and maybe she felt your good will had greater value than making you pay for information that isn't terribly useful, even to you."
That I could understand.
"The other thing you should know is this: if Grandmother does learn anything useful, the price will be high. Carissa expects to pay it, whatever it is."
"She doesn't have to do that."
Deirdre looked around, ensuring we weren't being overheard, but she still spoke cryptically; it may have been that Sonya's grasp of English was far better than she let on. "The reason you desire this information means the information has value, but is perhaps not priceless. Grandmother understands this."
I said nothing to that.
"Fae are subtle," Deirdre went on. "Well, usually. Grandmother has many methods of collecting information. They aren't necessarily fast. She may learn something next week, or next year, or sometime during the next century. I'm sorry, Michaela. There is hope, but this hope is at least as shy as the people involved."
I sighed. "I shall not arrange my life around this hope," I said. "I have no intention of traveling north from Wisconsin in random search of distant cousins."
"That's where they would be, isn't it?"
"Or far east of this closer cousin's home." By that, I meant the depths of Siberia.
"There may be foxes in Asia, Japan or China."
"If there are, I'd never find them," I said.
"I don't know," Deirdre said. "You could try a very mundane method."
"Oh?"
"Sure," she said. "You could take out an ad and let them find you. You're assuming any other foxes are living like you once did. But perhaps they are just as integrated into modern society as you are."
Dinner
We returned to Carissa's plantation. I expected the wolves to complain about needing to change clothes for dinner, but it seems everyone had been busy. Anika and Joanna had -- with Lara's permission, unknown to me -- stopped by our temporary home in New Orleans and collected everything we needed. Carissa offered us space to prepare.
Elisabeth herself handed me a garment bag with a smirk, and I wondered what was in it. I found a new dress waiting for me. It was long and elegant and unlike anything else I owned. And, like everything else she picked for me, it was off the shoulder.
Elisabeth sure did enjoy leaving my shoulders bare.
I showered and primped and coiffed before sliding into the dress and pulling on the matching pair of heels. The dress was long enough to hide my ankles, so I added two knives and hoped they didn't peek out too obviously. Elisabeth and Lara were waiting for me next door, and I presented myself for inspection.
They both grinned widely. Elisabeth made a turn around gesture, so I did my best model on the runway impression, giving them both a good view. Lara whistled her appreciation.
"Knock it off," I said.
"You look stunning," she said. "But Sister, I believe something is missing."
"I believe you may be right, Sister," Elisabeth replied.
"Come here, my mate," Lara commanded.
I stepped over to her. They were both dressed in suits, and they looked damned good. From an inside pocket, Lara withdrew a slender, black jewelry case. Elisabeth held out her hands, and Lara set the case down, using Elisabeth's hands as a shelf. She opened the case and withdrew the most stunning necklace that I could imagine.
I said nothing as she wrapped it around my neck.
It was very, very glittery, with more small diamonds than I could count, all paying homage to a central amethyst that rested in the cleft of my delicate bosom. At least in this dress, I had a bosom to form a cleft.
"Lara, it's stunning." I fingered it. I couldn't believe she bought it for me. It wasn't typical amongst weres to invest in expensive jewelry; we tended to lose it when shifting. Then I eyed them both carefully. "How long have you two had these?"
They both grinned.
"We changed our plans," I said. "We weren't supposed to be here today. We were going to leave this morning. Why were you holding these in reserve?"
"Michaela, do you really expect us to believe you wouldn't have wanted to spend time with Deirdre? Do you really believe Carissa wasn't going to try to extend our trip by a day or two?"
I felt completely unlike myself. I was fox. I spent years of my life living in a literal hole in the ground. I was the definition of down to earth. I never would have envisioned myself looking this elegant.
But I moved away from them and looked at myself in the mirror, fingering the necklace, turning this way and that.
I wondered if Lara and Elisabeth were trying to turn me into something other than what I was.
But I had to admit, although not out loud: I looked stunning.
Yes, I am vain. I am vain to write those words. And I am very vain to have enjoyed it.
"Trust Michaela to find a mirror," Elisabeth said. It was said teasingly. I ignored the barb.
I turned to my mate. "I will wear it only when you wrap it around my neck."
She smiled. "Then you will wear it often."
"Not too often."
She looked at me, considering. "Perhaps not too often, but often." And I nodded acceptance.
I smoothed everything, and then I took Lara's offered arm.
* * * *
The restaurant was attached to another plantation, a half-hour from Carissa's. As we'd been warned, it was quite upscale, and I realized my attire was entirely appropriate for the evening.
The enforcers were all dressed in their own suits; it fit their physiques far better than anything else would have. The two vampires, Deirdre, Sonya, Anika, and Joanna were all in their own evening gowns. Sonya looked at least as good as I did and appeared far more accustomed to her clothing that I felt in mine. But she clapped when she saw me and then offered a deep curtsey, which I returned in kind.
The panther, Annabelle, met us at the restaurant. She was dressed in her own suit, black with a white shirt, and she looked good. When it came to looking dashing, she definitely gave Lara and Elisabeth a run for their money.
And I discovered she was entirely the flirt that Deirdre's words earlier suggested. She kissed my hand and Sonya's. She offered gracious bows to both vampires, kissing their hands as well. Deirdre, Anika, and Joanna got their kisses on their cheeks, and she lingered with each of them in her arms. Deirdre laughed and told her to behave. Lara and Elisabeth both received firm handshakes, but she lingered with both of them as well, causing Lara to smirk her amusement.
She was more proper when introduced to Violet, James, and Hanna, and I was impressed by her gracious manners. Deirdre moved to my side and said, "She defines southern charm."
"She's as dangerous socially as she is physically," I said.
Deirdre laughed. "That she is. She has cut a wide swath through the supernatural community, and she seems to be perfectly fine breaking both male and female hearts."
"Natural jaguars are solo creatures and highly territorial."
"Were jaguars don't take that to such an extreme. Actually, she reminds me something of you and something of Lara."
"Oh?"
"She has your loyalty to your friends, which is why Carissa trusts her."
"Well, and the blood thrall-"
"She's not bound," Deirdre corrected. "Carissa trusts her, anyway. Well, not with anyone's heart, but with anything else."
"And how is she like Lara, other than the physical similarities?"
"They both have a Harvard business degree. Annabelle is quite the business woman."
"She seemed quite the operator today."
"Oh, Great Panther isn't hers. It belongs to her uncle. She was there today as a
favor to Carissa. But watch. She's going to gravitate towards the business people in your group, unless she decides to chat someone up."
The restaurant was a separate building from the plantation house, although it looked very much like a second house. We found ourselves in a private dining room with one long table set for all eighteen of us. Carissa assured Lara and Elisabeth we were perfectly safe and encouraged the enforcers to relax and enjoy the meal. I was surprised when the sisters took Carissa at her word and declared the enforcers off duty.
Of course, they weren't entirely off duty; they would remain watchful.
Carissa then orchestrated seating, although Anna whispered in her ear, too quietly for me to hear. Carissa laughed and promised, "Of course." Then she turned to Lara. "Alpha, with your permission, I would like to mix things up tonight."
"Of course."
"Excellent. I also wish to take temporary possession of your mate." She was moving towards my side as she said it, and she took my arm in hers. "I assure you, I shall return her to you at the conclusion of our meal."
"Of course," Lara said, but it was said stiffly, and I knew she wasn't happy.
"Excellent," Carissa repeated.
"Carissa, darling," Ekaterina said. "Perhaps you would see to Sonya's enjoyment of the meal as well. I believe I would like to engage some of these fine wolves in a discussion."
"How wonderful," Carissa said. "I shall be flanked by the lovely foxes." She switched to Russian for a moment, and I heard Sonya's name. She held out her hand, and after a glance at her vampire, Sonya moved to her.
"Well then." Carissa drew Sonya and me with her, leading us to the head of the long table. Somehow Anna was already waiting, and she held chair a chair for me to Carissa's left, then made it around the table to help Sonya into her seat. For now, Carissa remained standing.
"Well, now we have such an embarrassing point of protocol," Carissa said. "We have the foot of the table, and we have three obvious occupants. We have, of course, a representative of the local jaguar community."
"Oh, not me, Carissa," Anna said immediately, offering a small bow.
"Well then," Carissa went on, "we have the alpha of all the weres of Wisconsin, a truly unique woman amongst all werewolves. The Madison alpha commands as many souls as I do, and perhaps as many as Ekaterina, and a territory greater than both of ours combined."
I hadn't thought about that. I hadn't thought about any of that.
"But we also have the Queen of St. Petersburg, who has traveled a great distance to join us this week, a woman whose power rivals -- and may indeed surpass -- my own."
"Carissa," Ekaterina said. "We have one queen at one end of the table, and so I cede the opposite end to the Madison alpha."
"Quite gracious," Carissa said.
"Carissa," Deirdre inserted. I thought perhaps the vampire was surprised. She turned to the fae. "I think perhaps the woman paying for our repast should take the seat in question."
Carissa offered a confused expression. "I expected to cover our costs this evening."
Deirdre grinned. "Elisabeth and I engaged in a small wager." Carissa asked for details, laughing as they emerged. "And so, I would propose that it should be either Elisabeth or I to take the controversial seat."
"I believe you are correct," Carissa agreed. "Madison alpha, do you concur?"
"Definitely," she said, smirking at Elisabeth. "And while I have an opinion on the outcome of the wager, and I know my mate expressed her opinion earlier, we haven't heard my sister's response."
Without a word, Elisabeth moved to the far end of the table, placing her hands on the back of the chair.
Carissa offered Elisabeth a bow, and I detected not an ounce of sarcasm. "Very gracious, Ms. Burns." Elisabeth inclined her head.
"Well," said Carissa. "I believe the discussion at this end of the table will be somewhat cultural in nature; I believe there are hopes the opposite end of the table will host a discussion of more mundane-" she made a face "-business topics. Are you agreed, our gracious hostess?"
Elisabeth smiled. "I love talking business, as do many here."
"Well then, I will leave you to orchestrate your end of the table. Ekaterina and Annabelle both wish to join you."
"Of course," Elisabeth replied.
Carissa lowered her voice. "Michaela, I believe Angel was your maid of honor and is one of your closest friends."
"She was, and she is."
"Will she and Serena wish to join the conversation at the other end of the table?"
"I couldn't say, but I suspect my mate's nerves would be relaxed if at least one were near me."
"Then we shall make it their choice." She raised her voice. "Serena, Angel, will you be joining the business discussions." They both turned to her and shook their heads. I knew Angel would be waiting to take whatever seat was remaining at the end. And I knew Serena would rather be beside me than anywhere else.
"Well, then, Deirdre, if you would take the seat beside Sonya, Serena may sit beside her alpha, and Angel may sit beside Deirdre."
All this work simply to arrange seating, but I realized Carissa was accepting some awkward moments to make us feel more comfortable. She was also helping my pack economically, offering opportunities to establish business relationships we wouldn't otherwise have.
At the other end of the table, Lara ended sitting on the opposite side of the table from me. I was sure she sat there so she could watch me. Elisabeth arranged Ekaterina on one side of her and Annabelle on the other. Lara was beside Annabelle with Violet beside her. James and Hanna sat beside Ekaterina. The remaining enforcers filled in the intervening seats.
Lara looked in my direction. I very obviously blew her a kiss and then mouthed, "I love you so much."
She smiled, but it was strained.
The meal was fabulous, absolutely outstanding. But of course, it was the conversation that kept my attention. I eavesdropped on the business conversation from time to time, but I didn't understand the implications of most of it. However, it sounded quite animated, and I absolutely knew the wolves were ecstatic with the opportunity.
Conversation at our end of the table was quite different. As expected, Carissa was a gracious host. She kept the conversation flowing, making sure everyone was included while translating back and forth for Sonya besides. She even drew both Serena and Angel into the conversation. I admired her grace and commented on it.
"Practice," she said. "You are far, far more gracious than I was at your age." She smirked at that.
Sonya was full of excitement and questions about our afternoon. She expressed some disappointment Annabelle was too far down the table to question, but Carissa said, first in Russian, then English, "Well, I can discuss the history, and we have a science teacher siting here who can perhaps talk about the nature."
I hadn't ever gotten around to telling Sonya I was a teacher. She had more questions about that, then expressed surprise I had a job.
"But Lara is rich," she said.
At that, I shrugged. "I am stubborn and do not want to live on my wife's money."
She didn't seem to understand that, but I found myself answering questions about our outing, primarily the more exotic wildlife. She was as surprised as I was about the marshmallows.
"The white balls," she said. "They are candy. Anna fed candy to the animals?"
I explained what a marshmallow was and then repeated what Anna had told me. "Alligators will eat anything."
"I imagine they would love to eat fox," Sonya said with a nervous laugh.
"Gus would eat either of us in two bites," I replied, and she agreed with me.
Later, Sonya said, "Anna roar. Lara growls."
"Anna definitely roars," I said. And so we had to explain to Carissa, whose eyes shone in mirth. She then answered some of Sonya's questions about that.
It was a lovely meal.
* * * *
Finally, we all stood. Lara worked her way to me, wrapping arms around me. I leaned backwards agai
nst her, kissed her cheek, and thanked her.
"For holding you."
"You know exactly why I'm thanking you," I whispered. "Form any new companies?"
"Tonight was only diplomacy, but Violet and James are ecstatic. We should have sent Hanna down to your end though."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't think of that."
"She sat quietly, and she never complains, but she turned your way every time one of you laughed."
"We should invite them to Bayfield for Thanksgiving," I suggested.
"Yes, I think so," she agreed.
Carissa gave us another minute, then she moved in our direction. "Alpha, I imagine you are tired, but your mate asked Deirdre something earlier today, and Deirdre wished to offer a little demonstration. Do you mind returning to my plantation?"
Lara frowned, but then her arms tightened a little further. "Of course not."
"Perhaps you will allow me to have her back during the drive. Well, more exactly, you will allow her a little more time with Deirdre and Sonya. I assure you of her safety, and I will not allow Ekaterina to spirit her away."
Lara didn't want to let me out of her grasp, but she replied with "Certainly."
I thought perhaps it would be a casual trip back, but Carissa had an agenda. We were barely away from the restaurant before Ekaterina turned to me. "Michaela, I know you hoped to meet a male fox."
My eyes flashed to Carissa, who held up her hands in defense. "I didn't tell her."
"Michaela, I am, well, shall we agree I am a thousand years old?" Carissa snorted but didn't otherwise comment. "You were subtle during the interrogation I offered you. But I was watching you. You are pleased to have met my Little Fox, and she is pleased to have met you. But she herself told me she wished you were male, and that is how I realized you wished the same of her."
"I have a mate," I said.
"It is not a mate you look for. It is someone to father your babies. And while a wolf can mate with a human, a fox cannot."
"Let's say you're right..."
"I will make a pact with you."
"I am listening."
"I imagine you have not given up."
"And if I haven't?"
