by Rena Marks
We hugged each other, and I gestured for her to sit and visit for a few moments.
“How was your time in France?” I asked.
She smiled, tiny dimples appearing. “It was relaxing,” she acknowledged and I knew it was because her six month tour of duty enabled her to escape Chen. Every one of Julian’s vampires took turns spending a six month tour of duty working at the French castle.
“All is well in France,” she continued. “Verity sends well wishes and hopes to see you soon.”
I turned to Julian. “We should take another trip.”
“I’ll work on it,” he promised. “We’ll need to coordinate with Leo.”
“When did you get back?” I asked her.
“I arrived just before dawn, shipped in my coffin.”
That was the reason why she was up so early. Only the truly old or extremely powerful vampires had the ability to rise in the morning hours. Julian was able to, but if he did it too often he fed off my human energies. Johnny, Julian’s second in command, could also rise early a few times a month, and the trio could once in a while.
“You have arrived.” Chen’s voice was disapproving. I realized he was angry at not being informed by Gigi she was back.
“I have,” she agreed, her voice smooth as silk.
As she leaned in to take Luc from his arms, I watched her give Chen the merest brush of his arm with hers, soothing his hurt feelings slightly. For all that he frustrated her, I knew something else was there.
“Look at how big you’ve gotten,” she cooed to Luc. “We don’t have anything like you in France,” she murmured against his silky hair.
Luc kissed her cheek, used to being kissed himself constantly and always sharing the love. She hugged him to her briefly before slipping him into the high chair, strapping it securely.
“I’ll see you later, Anjelia,” she said.
Chen never said a word. Silently, he followed her from the room.
“Does she care for him?” I asked Julian.
“If she allows herself to.”
“Have they always been like that?”
“Always.”
The curtains parted again, revealing a hugely muscled, handsome vampire. He was not as pale as a normal vamp and wore his well shaped head smooth. He was sexy as hell, and knew it.
“Morning, Luscious Leah.” Johnny leaned over to kiss my forehead. Then he followed with, “Yuck,” as he wrinkled his nose. “You smell of Julian.”
“I don’t remember you complaining about my smell when Anjelia fed from you months ago,” Julian reminded.
“One does what he must for the team, boss.” Johnny gave me a wink, making me blush.
I hadn’t been very good at feeding from vampires when I’d been forced to do it to save Julian’s life. My inexperience had caused massive orgasms to the vamps, so Johnny volunteered frequently.
He uncovered the tray he carried, exposing the perfectly prepared omelet. Julian cut a portion for the baby plate and began to cut it into small pieces, during which Luc clapped loudly.
“Da,” he yelled, trying to get Julian to hurry.
“Patience, my son,” Julian said, while handing him a piece of toast to gnaw on.
“Leo called,” Johnny said.
“Go on.”
I bit into my omelet, chewing slowly and dreading the next bit of conversation. I had a sudden feeling that this wouldn’t go well.
“He wanted either one of you, but no one was available. Some bigwig werewolf is curious about the peace between the vamps and wolves here and is sending his son to check us out.”
“His son?” Julian asked.
I was silent, remembering the last time we’d had an unwelcome visitor. Nico was now definitely dead, but the whole experience had left a bad taste in my mouth.
“Leo called the son a pompous little twerp, but said not to worry. He’s harmless.”
“Still,” I murmured. “Luc stays here. Safe.”
Julian and Johnny nodded simultaneously.
“When does the son arrive?” Julian asked.
“Tonight. He’s been invited to the wolf mansion for dinner.”
Why was it we never got proper notice of these events?
* * * * *
Julian agreed to bring me to the wolf quarters, but he had no intentions of leaving me. I didn't blame him. Even I learned that lesson.
We entered through the back, since the limo could pull close to the garage. Julian took my hand while we walked through the sunshine to get indoors.
I heard Leo upstairs.
He had notice when we arrived, of course. The front gates would have signaled with the code, plus he would have heard the garage door opening and lowering.
“Hello, my love,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss me. “Julian.” Leo acknowledged.
Julian inclined his head.
“And this, Victor, is our wolf queen. Anjelia.” Leo’s strong voice rang proud.
The short man standing across from Leo was surrounded by tall, beautiful women. It made him look even shorter. And…squattier.
Victor's hand jerked.
Leo’s fingers enclosed mine and brought them up to his lips for a soft kiss. From the corner of my eye, I saw Julian’s lips slightly twitch, and it dawned on me. By kissing my hand, Leo effectively shut down any other men from greeting me with a kiss.
Both Julian and Leo remembered Julian’s sire Nico’s smooth and invasive treatment of me. They had planned the rules ahead of time: I was not to be touched.
What a blessing it was, for the most gracious way to describe Victor was a troll. Short, not even reaching a modest five feet of height, so that even I looked down at him. He had a huge pot belly, yet was not overweight anywhere else on his body. I’ve never met an un-handsome supernatural, but this was as close as it got.
His face was pleasant enough, sparkly brown eyes and thick brown hair, cut short in a simple style. Earrings adorned both ears, yet they were not ostentatious. His lips were thick and shiny, and I realized he glossed them.
Two women stood behind him, scantily clad in see-through clothing. Two stood on either side of him, for a total of four, nearly nude, tall, slender blondes. A personal harem, in direct contrast to his own looks.
His eyes took in every detail, watching unabashedly as Leo kissed my fingers. Slowly his eyes traced my figure, and he licked his lips.
“A pleasure to meet you, wolf queen.” His voice was deliberately sultry, a forced deep rumble. As he spoke, he reached over and caressed the lower abdomen of the blond at his right.
Neither one seemed to notice or acknowledge his casual, bizarre stroking.
Once again, his eyes took in their fill, from the tips of my toes up my legs, pausing a moment at my hips and then settling on my breasts.
I refused to flush. Although whether in anger or embarrassment, I wasn’t sure. More than likely it was shock at his outrageous behavior. Gradually his eyes rose to meet mine.
“You recently bore a cub, did you not? A half breed?” His voice was curious.
“Last year. Lucius is a mixture of human, wolf and vampire. So, not exactly a half breed. He was born in human form.”
“I look forward to meeting him.”
I smiled grimly. “It is my son’s turn with his other father. He does not leave the premises.”
Having two daddies was definitely an advantage.
The troll turned petulant. His eyebrows knit together and his slick lips turned down at the corners. “But I’d hoped to see what the mixture looks like.”
Leo growled.
My voice was calm. “He looks like a normal baby boy. He has black hair like Julian, and Leo’s eyes. He drinks blood once a month, vampire sustenance. And he changes into a tiny black wolf cub with glowing amber eyes. He eats human food, and he walks upright.”
Victor didn’t seem to notice the sarcasm. He stared at me, fascinated with the description. As he watched he unconsciously stroked the bare arm of the leggy woman next
to him.
Repulsed, I wondered how it would feel to be constantly touched by Victor. The blondes didn’t look offended, yet neither did they look like they enjoyed it. They were just...blank.
“Which of the vampires is the last third of you?” Victor asked suddenly.
Julian stepped forward and Leo introduced him. “Meet Julian Bax, master vampire of the city.”
“You left the son behind?” Victor asked him, his tone disappointed.
Julian’s face was expressionless, but I sensed the anger in his voice. “Luc is with his three aunts, they adore keeping watch over him.”
“Aunts?” Victor asked suspiciously.
Leo answered instead. “Three ancient old hags, ugly and powerful. Voodoo. There’s no one stronger to protect our son.”
The smallest flicker of fear swept past Victor’s eyes. I noted it, and tucked the information away for future reference. The fool had a phobia against hags.
Victor turned quickly to Julian, not trusting Leo’s opinion. “Three of them? Like...the Fates?” His voice nearly quivered.
How Julian kept from laughing outright I’ll never know. Instead, he inclined his head. Just once. “They do not share a common eye, of course, but there are three. Extremely powerful, and yes, ancient.”
Julian was loyal to his vamps, leaving out the ugly.
Leo wasn't. He cut in again, “Especially Anna. She’s the worst.”
Victor’s eyes shot to Julian again.
Julian sighed, and then slowly nodded. “Very strong.”
Victor was silent now, but he was rubbing frantically on his favorite blonde, his eyes huge, as if she were a personal blanket.
“Father will never believe it. We’ve heard rumors, of course, that vampires and werewolves get along in the States, but being here is a different matter. And to cross-breed! This is the first time, ever. Who would have thought it would take a human to be the link? I never would have guessed.”
His face lit once more with giddiness as he turned and held his face up for one of the women to kiss. She obediently bent down and tenderly kissed his blubbery lips.
Leo and Julian watched the exchange with expressionless faces. I schooled my own features when I saw theirs, a gentle reminder to not stare or show the revulsion I was sure was plastered on my features.
“Shall we adjourn to dinner?” Leo asked smoothly, after looking quickly at me.
I stood between him and Julian as we walked to the formal dining room. Julian took my elbow, and Leo entwined my fingers of the other hand with his.
Victor stared, but had to stop when Leo gestured for his crew to go first.
Then it was my turn to stare. The blonde entourage consisted of one woman before Victor, one walking with him, and two behind. They were all similar, slender and tall, lean-hipped. Shoulder length, curly golden hair, and cornflower blue eyes. Apparently he had a type.
Victor padded along in the midst of the leggy ladies, short, round and off-putting.
Instead of Leo taking the head of the table, he placed me there. Then he and Julian seated themselves to my right and left.
Victor was seated at the other end of the table, and by his expression I could tell he thought it was a guest of honor position. Instead, he was about as far away as he could get.
Prime rib was served, and the butler brought me the well-cooked end slice. I gave him a half smile, because beef that looked like ham never did flip my trigger.
Julian was brought a glass of Red.
I tried not to stare when we began to eat. Two of the blondes actually sat down to eat, the other two sat on either side of Victor to wait on him. One began to cut the food on his plate.
“So, Leo, how did the weres and vampires learn to get along here in the States?” Victor asked, and then opened his mouth as his fork was brought up to his mouth by the woman on his left.
We couldn’t help it. Julian, Leo and I stared at the image of Victor being spoon-fed like a child, forgetting that Leo was supposed to respond.
Victor chewed with his mouth open, and then swallowed his meat. I squeezed Leo’s knee, reminding him that it was his turn to speak.
“Um, well, we have a safehouse, so to speak. A gathering place where the werewolves and vampires can co-exist in peace.”
“They don’t fight?” Another forkful was brought to his mouth.
I began to eat my own dinner, chewing slowly so I wouldn’t miss anything. And keeping my eyes downcast so I wouldn’t gag at Victor's poor manners.
“They aren’t allowed to fight. It’s magically tempered for peace. Strengths are diluted there, reducing them to human capacity.”
“And still they enjoy attending?” he asked as another blonde dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
“They attend to honor their wolf queen. They see her while she is here at the mansion, but when it’s her turn at the vampire quarters, it’s their chance to see her interact in her other capacity.”
“But to have one’s power stripped, leaving you as helpless as an infant. I can’t imagine.”
“You don’t feel weakened unless your blood pressure rises. At that point you are stripped, so it’s really in your best interests to remain peaceful.”
The same blonde that wiped Victor’s mouth now brought his glass of wine to his lips and tilted it expertly as he sipped.
“Now that they’ve seen Anjelia there, what keeps them coming?”
“They’ve developed relationships with others there. Including humans. Friendships.”
Victor belched loudly, and I pretended to wipe my mouth to cover the twitching of my lips.
Julian took a deep swallow of Red to cover his smile, and Leo looked pointedly down at his plate.
The three of us were a mess.
The blonde who wiped Victor’s mouth and fed him sips of wine tenderly caressed his back, as if to relieve his gas. Then, as if a bell had rung, the blonde women exchanged places so that the two who had not eaten could eat while the other two tended to Victor.
“I don’t know if Father will go for that idea. To force werewolves and vampires into a room with the threat of losing their power should they fight. How is that done, anyway? To strip one’s power?”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. That was a secret we wouldn’t be sharing. “The intricacies of the magic are beyond my understanding. I am just a werewolf.”
Victor would not be denied. He turned curiously to Julian. “You know how?”
“Non, I simply leave it to the witches,” Julian said, and I almost overlooked the French. Perhaps the accent on Victor’s entourage was bringing out Julian’s roots, or perhaps it was stunned distraction at the disgusting manners the werewolf had.
“And how is it that you are able to make witches work for you? They’re so uppity with the whole, come-back-on-you-threefold crap. They never agree to perform spells for us with that stupid logic. And what a silly name, anyway. Witches. They’re better described as bitches.”
Victor laughed heartily, spewing spittle from his thick lips. Once again, he was gently dabbed.
Fact was, I was a practicing white witch. I studied with a witch-turned-vampire who accidentally transferred his useless powers to me. Studying white magic balanced the black magic that fought for control of my body periodically. While Merrick cast the spells, I was actually the vessel for the magic. Using me to fuel the spells at Bang’s kept the magic from boiling over in me.
“They may be bitches, but you wouldn’t want to anger one, would you?” I said lightly, rankled over his careless words.
“Anjelia, my love,” Leo interrupted quickly. “Are you ready for dessert?”
I smiled at my mate. He looked so worried ever since I'd been possessed by the darkness.
“Is it chocolate?” I asked impishly.
He looked relieved. “Of course.”
“I’m ready then.”
Julian drained his glass of Red, setting it on the table. “Get that pudding-cake dessert with the fudge sauce l
adled over it that Leo’s chef always prepares.”
I almost smiled. Chocolate sauce could be enjoyed by us privately, later. For now, I wasn’t going to be distracted from putting Victor in his place.
“I guess during Victor’s visit, he may want to attend Bang’s to see how it works?” I said slyly.
Victor seemed excited, and nearly squealed with delight. His hands came together to clap, and I let him have his excited moment before I took my revenge for the “witches should be bitches” comment.
I leaned toward Julian with an exaggerated whisper. “We’ll have to keep the three hags away for that night, though. They love fresh meat.”
Victor’s clapping froze in midair, and I sat back in my chair, smiling sweetly.
Leo cleared his throat. “Dessert, anyone else?”
Chapter Eleven
As usual, I wore black while at Bang’s. A form-fitting, low cut dress with thin spaghetti straps around the neck that left me bare shouldered. My only jewelry was fang marks. I pinned my hair loosely on top of my head, letting casual ringlets fall where they may.
From the front stage, I saw when Leo entered the bar. Victor and his entourage of Amazons were directly behind him. Handing the microphone to Merrick, I cut my way through the various tables to get there.
Leo bent to kiss my lips. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured. Even though I was several inches taller than usual in strappy high heels, I still had to stretch to wrap my arms around his neck.
“You are kissing your mate on the vampire premises?” Victor asked, astounded. “Won’t they get upset?”
I raised an eyebrow. “The vampires know I am the wolf queen.” I thought we had explained that. Maybe Victor was dumber than he looked.
“And the humans here know also?”
“For tonight they know. When they exit the doors, their supernatural knowledge is...smudged.”
I had issues with memory erasure, since Julian had erased mine to steal me from Leo. It was difficult for me to string the two words together casually.
