by S. C. Storm
“As old as they are, they should be,” Alexandra hissed as she put weight on her injured leg. She looked at her hand. “Well shit, that’s going to hurt for a while.”
“Unless you shift again, yeah it will,” Jasmyn told her.
“Yeah, not happening until we talk to them,” Alexandra said as they walked over to the twins.
Ryden looked up as the she-wolves approached. “You’re hurt.” He looked at a gash in the taller one’s leg.
“It’s nothing major. I’ll live. Are you two okay?”
“Yes, we are,” Ryder said, staring at them.
Jasmyn shook her head. “She’s standing here hurt, and all you can do is stare?”
Ryder shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, neither of you are wearing any clothes. What am I supposed to do?” he smirked.
“Giving one of us your shirt will do for starters.” Jasmyn growled.
Ryder looked at what was left of his shirt, then looked at his brother’s. “There’s not much left, so I don’t think they’ll do you any good.”
Jasmyn grit her teeth. “Ass.”
Despite the pain in her leg, Alexandra stood up without leaning on Jasmyn. “Will you please let us have what’s left of your shirts so we can get back to our rooms?”
“You could just walk in, since you don’t seem to be shy.” Ryden grinned.
“Oh, I’m not, but that will attract attention I don’t want,” Alexandra told him.
Ryden and Ryder both looked at each other. “I suppose we could, but I doubt either one would cover anything.”
Exasperated, Jasmyn looked at them. “Seriously? It may not cover much, but at least most of me will be covered so I can get to my room.”
“I suppose we can,” Ryder agreed.
A few minutes passed, then Jasmyn said, “Well?”
“Well what?” Ryder said innocently.
Jasmyn glared at him. “Are you going to give me your shirt or not?” she asked, annoyed as hell.
“Well, I would give you mine, but as I’ve just battled reapers, I am a bit tired. If you want my shirt, why don’t you come and get it?” Ryder taunted her. He smiled as she glared at him.
Glancing toward the other vampire, Alexandra saw the same shit-eating grin plastered to his face. “I suppose you’re too tired too?” she asked.
“Why no, little wolf,” Ryden said, looking her over. “I’m merely admiring the view.” He took off his shirt, taking note of the way her eyes ran over him. “Here you go,” Ryden said, holding it out.
“Great,” Alexandra muttered as she limped toward him. “I’m standing here naked and bleeding, and you two are making jokes.” She took the shirt he offered. Her breath caught as she put pressure on her leg to balance herself while putting it on.
“Were you scratched or bitten?” Ryden asked, concerned.
“Neither. I was thrown into a tree, and my leg hit a branch,” Alexandra said looking down at her leg. “It’s almost stopped bleeding, but it hurts like hell.”
Striding forward, Ryder reached down, picking up what was left of one of their shirts. He saw Ryden come up next to her. “Hold onto him. This is going to hurt.” Ryder took the shirt and tied it around her leg. Glancing up, he noticed that she bit her lip but didn’t utter a sound. “You are brave wolf. Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Yes, but screaming out in pain isn’t going to help. Besides, it might attract a human, and I don’t want to have to explain this.”
“Not to mention any reapers that might still be out there,” Ryden told her.
Ryder took off what remained of his shirt and handed it to the other wolf.
“Thanks,” Jasmyn said and put it on.
Alexandra felt herself being lifted. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you, unless you want to hobble into the hotel,” Ryden told her.
“Well no, but my ass is hanging out,” Alexandra said, squirming in his arms. She tried to cover herself as much as she could.
“Yes, it is, and not only your ass.” Ryden smirked as he reached out, covering one of her breasts that was showing. “You know all that squirming is only making it ride up more.” He watched as she struggled to cover herself more.
“Modest much?” Ryder asked.
“No, but if I’m going to parade around half naked, I’d rather it not be like this,” Alexandra said.
Both twins smirked.
Jasmyn rolled her eyes. “Can we find some way to get Lex inside so I can look at her leg?”
Ryden looked at the wolf in his arms. “Lex?”
“Alexandra, but I prefer to be called Lex or Lexi. This is my cousin, Jasmyn,” Alexandra said.
“Pleased to meet you, whichever twin you are,” Jasmyn said.
“I’m Ryden, and this is my brother Ryder,” Ryden explained.
“A pleasure.” Ryder’s eyes took in Jasmyn’s appearance as she positioned her jet-black locks to hide some of her exposed skin. “Are you hurt too? Do you need me to carry you?”
“No, I can walk, but how in the hell are we going to get back up to our rooms? Like Lex said, we don’t want to attract attention.”
“We just walk in and go up. Hell, we’re paying enough for our rooms for them to overlook anything,” Ryder said.
“What you’re saying is they won’t blink an eye if you two walk in shirtless with two women wearing your shredded clothes?” Jasmyn asked.
“Nope, nothing we do fazes them.” Ryder grinned.
“Typical,” she muttered.
Ryden chuckled. “Well if that bothers you, then we’ll have to think of another way to get you to your rooms, won’t we?”
Ryder looked at his twin and grinned. Scooping Jasmyn up, the four of them disappeared.
Reappearing in a room, Alexandra recognized it as hers. “You can put me down now,” she told Ryden.
“Yeah, no kidding,” Jasmyn said, squirming out of Ryder’s arms. “How did you know where our rooms were?”
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t check up on you, did you?” Ryden asked as he set Alexandra on the bed.
“You said you checked what I told you about Arthur.” Alexandra pulled herself to her feet.
“I did both.”
Alexandra shook her head. “I’m not surprised. I would have done the same thing.” She gave both men a pointed look. “Thank you for getting me to my room.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll wait here for you, then go up to our room,” Ryden stated.
“Oh, no you won’t. We’ll be there as soon as we’ve cleaned up and changed,” Alexandra said.
“Yeah, it might take a while. Besides, the two of you need to clean up too,” Jasmyn said, looking at them. Both twins had blood on their hands and arms.
Ryden agreed. “All right, but don’t be long. We’re on the top floor.”
Jasmyn rolled her eyes. “Of course.” She heard laughter as the twins walked out. She called down to get another key card for her and Alexandra’s room. After receiving them and making sure Alexandra was all right, Jasmyn went to her room.
Chapter 8
Quickly cleaning up and changing, Jasmyn left her room and went to Alexandra’s. “I thought you were ready,” she said, walking into the room.
“Almost. I had to cut into it a bit to clean it out. It was healing with all that crap in the wound. That’s what took me so long.”
“Damn, you’re okay though?” Jasmyn asked.
Alexandra stood up. “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s get this over with.” They headed to the elevator and got in when the doors opened. Alexandra pushed the button for the top floor, then looked over at Jasmyn. “What’s with you?”
Jasmyn looked at her. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Ryder. The both of you seem to be, I don’t know, snapping at each other. Actually, he baits you, and you react. That’s not like you, Jaz,” Alexandra told her.
Jasmyn shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s an ass. They both are. They are rich playboy vamps who seem to have gone
through their lives screwing around instead of doing their duty.”
“You don’t think they have a good enough reason for not doing it, do you?” Alexandra asked.
Jasmyn shook her head. “No, I don’t. Do you? I mean, hell Lex, it’s what we’re supposed to do. You know that as well as I do.”
“I do and you’re right. I don’t think they’ve got reason enough.” The elevator dinged as they hit the top floor. “I guess we’ll find out,” Alexandra said, stepping through the open elevator door. The door opposite the elevator opened.
Ryden stood in the doorway. “We were beginning to wonder if you were going to show up.”
“It took longer than I thought,” Alexandra said as she and Jasmyn walked toward him.
Ryden stood aside, holding the door. Walking into the room, Alexandra and Jasmyn looked around.
“Damn,” Alexandra mumbled.
Jasmyn gave her cousin a look as if to say, See what I mean? “We told you we would be here,” Jasmyn said.
“And you are. Have a seat,” Ryden said, then walked to the bar. “Would either of you like a drink?”
Sitting down on the chair closest to her, Alexandra said, “I would, thanks.”
“Sure,” Jasmyn said, sitting down. Being raised at the resort on Tempest, she was used to flashy suites and pampered guests. This, however, was beyond anything she had seen. Everything about the room was pure perfection. The linens were fresh and crisp. The air smelled of lavender and vanilla. The bar was stocked as well as the main bar of the resort. Fresh fruits and welcome baskets still sat on the pristine countertops of the kitchen. It was obvious this was to be considered the absolute best. She shook her head slightly. It was even more clear to her the kind of lifestyle these two were avoiding giving up.
While Ryden made the drinks, Ryder sat down near the girls. “Is your leg all right?” he asked Alexandra.
“Yes, just a little sore,” Alexandra answered. Ryden handed her a drink, and she thanked him. “Earlier, you said you had sent a message to your friend. Have you gotten an answer yet?” she asked.
Taking a seat, Ryden shook his head. “Still nothing yet, but I’m sure I will soon.”
“So why haven’t you two ascended yet?” Jasmyn asked the twins. “I don’t think we have to tell you how bad things are out here. We don’t see it on the islands, but while I’ve been out, I have. I’ve been attacked a few times, and I’m sure you two have too. It’s our duty, what we were born for. Don’t you realize that?”
Ryder shook his head. “Yes, we do, and you’re right, but we have our reasons.”
Ryden turned to Alexandra. “Do you know how many have gathered on the islands so far?”
“There were a few there when we left. My brother has told me that a lot more have shown up since then.”
“How did you find us? We make it a habit not to let anyone know where we go,” Ryder asked her.
“You two weren’t hard to find. We barely missed you a few times, but we were hot on your asses after you left Cali. I was told to follow the groupies who are always around you two. That’s how we picked up your trail so fast when you hit Cancún,” Alexandra said.
“Groupies? Now that’s a new one for us. That’s more Bastian’s style than ours.” Ryden grinned. Seeing the question in the wolves’ eyes, he said, “A friend of ours whom you might have seen around once or twice.” He smirked, then got serious. “How much have you been told of the council’s take on all this?” he asked.
“Nothing. Mileena was the one who hired me, and she didn’t mention the council at all. I just assumed she was acting on her own.” The look one of them gave Alexandra made her feel as if he didn’t believe her. “Look, the last time I checked in, I was told that the council had been asking how many and who had shown up for the ascension. That’s the only time they’ve been mentioned, and before you ask, I wasn’t told who was doing the asking. I’m sure they are hoping others will ascend since you two aren’t willing to,” Alexandra said.
“Oh, there are plenty of others that will, just not the ones you would want to have that kind of power,” Ryder said, seeing Ryden glare at him. He spoke to Ryden silently. They’re going to learn the truth one way or the other. It’s the council’s obligation to the other races to keep them informed on who could, through proxy, hold the guardian’s place.
They don’t have to know that, Ryden said, looking at his brother.
Alexandra looked back and forth between the two, knowing they were arguing in their heads. “Okay, enough with the twin mind crap. My brother and I do that all the time. Now how about you share with the rest of the class. Who are you talking about?”
Ryden sighed. “He means the young ones who haven’t come of age yet. A council member could be appointed keeper of a guardian who has lost their parents. Through them, they have a say in what that guardian can and can’t do. They can even go as far as keeping them from taking their rightful place even after they are of age.”
Jasmyn’s mouth hung open. “No way, how…they can’t do that.”
“Yes, they can, little wolf,” Ryder said, seeing Jasmyn turn to him. “The council appoints the keeper, and only they can rescind the order. If the keeper has enough council members thinking like they do, they won’t let the guardian free.”
Jasmyn’s mouth opened and closed a few times before she spoke. “That’s bullshit. No one can do that, especially not to a guardian.”
“I assure you it can, and in the past, it has,” Ryder said. He turned to Alexandra. “You said you knew we didn’t want to take our places, but on that, you are wrong. My brothers and I know it is our destiny, and while we haven’t embraced it, we will not run from it either.”
“If you’re not running from it, then why did they have to send someone to track you two down?” Jasmyn asked.
“We aren’t running, little wolf, but no one said we wanted this anchored to us either. We had to vanish for a while. Appearances must be kept. We finally begin to live our lives again, and here this is thrust upon us. You tell me if we should be thrilled with all of this,” Ryder snapped.
Exasperated, Jasmyn gave him a look. “Oh brother, do you think you’re the only ones that have felt that way? The idea of having all that responsibility on you isn’t easy on anyone, but in the end, we all do what we’re supposed to, or most of us do.”
“I never thought it was.” He glared in response. With a roll of his eyes, he crossed his arms over his chest. “How about you just tell us when the Gathering is, so we know when to be there.”
“The Gathering is in a few months. The ascension takes place during the blood moon, which is six weeks after. You talked about the council. When I left, there weren’t any council members there. My brother Jason hasn’t mentioned any of them, so maybe they won’t show up,” Alexandra told him.
Knowing the reason behind the council’s lack of attendance, Ryden just shook his head. “Maybe. You do realize I’m not the only vampire able to step into this role?”
“Wrong, handsome, you are. I know your kind’s history, so telling me that won’t get me off your back,” Alexandra said. “It was important to Mileena for you two to ascend. No one knows the whereabouts of the other purebloods. Hell, they could be dead for all we know. So that means only you can save her grandfather.”
Ryder smirked. “Apparently, you are very sought after, Ryden,” he said.
Alexandra looked at them. “I’m glad you think it’s funny. Look, just do me a favor; go to the islands and do what you’re supposed to.”
“A favor? What do I get in return if we do?” Ryden asked.
Alexandra shook her head. “Typical of a man. I’m sure there are plenty of women out there who can ‘repay’ you for doing your duty,” she said, making quotation marks in the air to punctuate her words.
“But what if we want you, both of you, as payment?” Ryden asked them.
“I’m not for sale like that vamp,” Alexandra stated. Looking at the twins, she changed her tact
ics. “But if you do it, I might find some way to say thank you.” She grinned.
“Well I’m not going to reward you for doing what you’re supposed to do, not like that anyway,” Jasmyn snapped.
Ryden chuckled. “Ah, there’s that fire in your eyes again. You said there was more to you than what I see, wolf. Earlier, I saw quite a bit. I’d like to see the rest.”
Jasmyn rolled her eyes. “Like I said earlier, good luck with that.” She smirked.
Ryder moved closer to her. “Are you so sure? I am willing to bet I can change your mind.”
Jasmyn looked up at him. “You think so?” she countered. They stared at each other, neither willing to look away. “I see personal space doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“Personal space is overrated,” Ryder said, moving closer to her.
Jasmyn looked up. Her gaze traveled over him again. Taking note of his toned body, her eyes traveled up to his face. Up close she could see he had long lashes that emphasized the piercing gaze of his brown eyes. “If you say so,” she said a little breathlessly. She stood her ground, not moving away. “If you don’t want to ascend, why doesn’t your other brother do it instead?” Jasmyn asked them.
Ryden looked at her. “He can’t.”
“The eldest has to ascend first,” Alexandra stated.
“The last Atherton to ascend did so centuries ago. Neither Rian nor I can ascend until Ryden does, since he’s the first born,” Ryder explained.
Jasmyn slightly shook her head. “I knew that,” she said, ignoring the smirk on Ryder’s face.
Alexandra looked at Ryden. “Well then, get your fine ass in gear, and do what you’re supposed to.”
“With the ‘thank you’ you promised, I just might.” Ryden grinned.
“So that’s enough to give you reason to ascend?”
Ryden smiled, then shook his head. “It’s a good reason but not the only one. Seeing how many reapers attacked us tonight made me realize the problem is getting worse.”
Ryder broke his gaze away from Jasmyn. “It is. I haven’t seen that many in one place in a very long time. You said you’ve been attacked. Well, we have too.”
