The Wild, Wild Anybody's Guess: Aloha!

by Jayha Leigh

  “Regardless of what you say, you’ll never receive my blessing for this.”

  “I don’t expect to receive your blessing. I’ve already received God’s and hers and I don’t need anyone else’s.”

  “Then again, why did you come here? To show her what she can’t have or to show her what she’s cost you?”

  “Aloha didn’t cost me anything; she’s given me more than I ever expected to have. I married her before admitting the consequences because I know she would’ve left me had she known. That’s the kind of woman that stands by my side. I brought her here to honor her as the men in this family have always honored their women. I will not offer her anything less because she does not deserve anything less.”

  “But what about you, Ianikut? Do you deserve anything less?”

  “As long as I have her, I will always be a wealthy man, father. Judge me. Take what you will, I only ask for this empire’s bond of noninterference.”

  “For someone who doesn’t need anything from me, you’re asking for a lot.”

  “I only ask because as much as I loathe you in this moment, I still love you and I don’t want you to die by my hand.”

  Andrew Treunmhor stepped forward upon hearing the young vampire’s threats. He couldn’t understand why a man would let a woman push him to this. It was ridiculous, nonsense, unheard of in his time. In his opinion women should be kept in their place: The beautiful ones in his bed, and the others in the kitchens or fields. They shouldn’t be heard unless they were singing his praises or shouting out their pleasure. He inwardly shuddered whenever he considered what the world had come to. Women holding power over their own lives and the lives of men. Regardless of his opinion, he had a duty to fulfill. Unsheathing his sword, he spoke for the first time in centuries.

  “Ianikut Maksim Aleksandrovich, be still or you will die.”

  “It will take more than you, Andrew Treunmhor.”

  “I doubt it, but I do relish the challenge. I’ve had so few over the centuries. None who’ve lived longer than the few seconds it took for me to destroy them.”

  Ianikut kissed Aloha and pushed her back. The men with him quickly closed ranks around her. Shedding his jacket and dress shirt, he called for his own sword and stepped forward.

  King Aleksandrovich loathed this woman his son had chosen. He hated, detested, abhorred, and reviled everything she was: American, human, non-Orthodox, black. It was evident that this woman had a hold over his heir that was unbreakable because Ianikut was willing to concede everything for her, including the lives of his brothers, his own life, his money, his name, and his people. As angry as he was, he did not wish to take the lives of his beloved children but he would take everything else. He was about to call Andrew back when all hell broke loose.

  Aloha loved Ianikut and every time she thought she couldn’t love him more, he did something to prove her wrong. This man was giving up everything and he was about to offer his life not for hers, but because she was insulted. She’d been insulted too many times to count and so the Regent’s insults didn’t hurt her but his callousness toward Ianikut almost brought her to her knees. Girding up her metaphorical loins, she planned her next move. It wasn’t that she wanted to outwardly defy him, she just didn’t want Ianikut to suffer anymore considering the callousness of not only his people but his family. Offering up a prayer, she asked for strength and courage and stepped in front of the man who would do him physical harm.

  “I give my life for Ianikut,” she said in a clear voice. Though tears filled her eyes it wasn’t from the fear of dying but from the pain of being separated from him. She knew Ianikut was furious but she’d rather have him mad than dead. Before she could consider anything else, several things happened at once. Though it seemed to take forever, it played out as if in slow motion.

  Her grandmother stepped in front of her making demands. “Step back, little girl.”

  Jack came out of nowhere and moved in front of her grandmother looking very much the avenging angel in her all black ensemble that looked like she’d just stepped out of the wild, wild west.

  “Giving your life won’t be necessary, Aloha,” Silana said as she too stepped forward with the rest of the Posse.

  “Yes, it won’t be necessary because I’ll take your life and his and then the life of your friends,” Andrew said in a voice devoid of emotion.

  “And you will die before you touch her,” Ianikut said.

  “Take that motherfucker down,” Atlanta cried as she ran forward to take on Andrew.

  The men may have been experts at planning military maneuvers, but they were novices in the face of such utter chaos started by a motley group of women who didn’t know how to go down any other way except for fighting.

  Before Andrew could engage with Ianikut, Aloha’s grandmother made her way to the dais and was in the middle of giving Ianikut’s mother a set down the likes of which she’d probably never witnessed in her long life. “What kind of woman lets her man deny her child? I don’t know how you can call yourself a lady much less a woman. There is no way I’d lay up under a man that has done everything within his power to hurt my child. I hope you burn in hell. If that ignoramus beside you that you call a man and your husband doesn’t want those beautiful boys, I’ll take them. They don’t need your last name. They can have mine. Now since y’all obviously don’t know how to treat children, I’m going to take my children and go home.”

  An angry Andrew appeared before Sojourner to prevent her from getting too close to the King and Queen. Meanwhile, equally angry Ianikut, Steele, Iain, and Hannes were busy trying to keep hold of their armfuls of women without hurting them. Reign was engaging in subterfuge. Jack was keeping an eye on her and Jack was straight kicking ass. Silana was busy trying to protect her grandmother from the wrath of the vampires and her grandmother was just as busy ignoring Silana. In fact, she had her Bible out waving it wildly at the group on the dais. When Andrew dared touch Sojourner, Silana had turned around and gave him a crotch full of size eleven wide before braining him with a goblet that had been nearby.

  Seeing that oaf touch her grandmother went straight to Aloha’s head. Suddenly, she found the strength she needed to break free from Ianikut. Running in the direction looking for a weapon, she was something bad getting ready to happen. Ianikut saw this and used his speed to get there first knowing that if Andrew hit Aloha she’d die and if she died he’d kill every living thing here.

  Andrew didn’t get a chance to do anything because Ianikut came flying across the room. Ianikut slammed Andrew’s head into the marble floor and before Aloha could scream the two men commenced to fighting. Watching the two sweaty, shirtless, heavily-muscled, long-haired alphas fight might’ve been an enjoyable spectacle if it weren’t for the fact that they were literally beating the fucking life out of each other. It was like a no holds barred cage match, street fight, all the greatest movie beat downs rolled into one.

  That’s when the situation went from bad to worse. Candlesticks, goblets, vases all became weapons as the Posse threw whatever they could get their hands on. In the middle of the brawl walked Indy. Miraculously, nothing touched her. Debris landed at her feet, errant punches only touched air. She walked in a blanket of protection and as if guided by the hand of God, the sunlight shown directly on her. Reaching Aloha, Atlanta, and Victorious, she grabbed them up and led them to the one place that was safe She walked them outside corralling the other members of the Posse as she progressed. Before she could shepherd the last one out of the door, a flying candlestick hit Victorious.

  And Iain lost his whole damned mind. Shaking the bottle that he’d been drinking from, he opened his jacket and pulled out a flask. “I will kill everybody in this motherfucker. I might not have any kind of power but I did take chemistry and biochemistry and I’m Southern so I know how to blow shit up. I’m going to need everyone to get the fuck away from those women ‑‑ especially mine. You can use your little preternatural speed and strength but unless you motherfuckers can co
ntrol gravity and inertia and the two other people who have combustible liquids it’s going to be game over.”

  It’s funny how one crazed ass Southern boy with a high-powered explosive commands immediate attention. Everyone stopped mid ass-whipping.

  “Iain,” Indy attempted to negotiate.

  “Indy, I want the girls away from here and by here I mean Russia. I want them on Southern soil. And when they’re there, you call me.”

  Victorious tried to stagger to him but the head injury slowed her down and Jack prevented her from progressing. “Iain, baby, come with us.”

  “I want you home, Victorious.”

  “Iain, please.”

  “There will never be a time when I negotiate with you about your safety, Victorious. You can use that brilliant lawyer mind all you want but like the Negro spiritual says: I shall not be moved.”

  “Iain, what are you going to do? It’s an eleven-hour flight back to Georgia.”

  “I’m probably going to kill a whole bunch of vamps because I figure that they’re going to try something.”

  “I don’t want you to die.”

  “And I want you to live, so go home. Your sisters will take care of you.”

  Indy had had enough. “King and Queen Aleksandrovich, you don’t have to stop this but you should. Look at this once immaculate room. Now, look at the occupants. Open your eyes and really look at the devastation that happened in under three minutes. Your heir and your sentry are almost dead. Your other sons are over there in various states of beat down. You got shifters and berserkers wilding out all over this place. Now you can let this go on but none of you will recover from an hour of this much less years of all out war between you. What kind of empire will be left for you to rule and for the rest of you to live in? If y’all want to kill each other, that’s fine, but these women are going out of here. Even now, they carry life within them and all the rest of you are doing is trying to find ways to end life.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  In spite of Iain holding an explosive. In spite of a slobber-knocker taking place in the home of the Aleksandrovich family. In spite of everything, all anyone heard was that Victorious, Atlanta, and Aloha were pregnant.

  Though Bronislava and Vsevolod argued telepathically, she’d remained silent. Contradicting him in front of others would cause him to lose face. Like many women, she’d been trained to submit to her husband in vampire matters. Smiling, she was sure that Ianikut’s woman didn’t know the meaning of the word submit or care about saving his pride if she thought he was wrong. Though she wasn’t sure how she felt about Aloha just yet, the fact that she loved her son was enough. Regardless of how Vsevolod felt about her, she and two of her sisters were pregnant and pregnant women were never to be harmed for any reason.

  Rising from her throne, she spoke aloud. “All of you, stand down.” Descending, she walked over to the Posse and used her own body as a shield. All of the other powerful women in the room smiled at her and followed her lead. Gracefully, they rose and joined her in offering protection to the human women. None would dare challenge them in this matter ‑‑ not even their husbands.

  “Vampires, Andrew, retract your fangs and surrender your weapons,” she commanded. Waiting until they did so, she addressed Iain.

  “Iain, this morning has been full of violence, please let us do as the pastor suggested and cease. Won’t you give me the bottle?”

  “I’ll come to you. Please remain protecting my woman.”

  “As you wish,” she said as she waited for the young man to set the bottle down.

  “Victorious, you’re going to have my baby?” Iain said in wonder.

  “Angel moya, you’re pregnant?” Ianikut whispered.

  “You carry my child within you, Your Excellency?” Steele inquired.

  “Oh my goodness. I get six new sons and my little girl is going to give me a great-grandbaby,” Sojourner cried.

  “We’re going to be aunts three times over!” Zuri screeched. “We have to go shopping for new wardrobes and baby clothes.”

  “They need to be examined by a physician considering the last few minutes,” Jack said.

  “We need your agreement to the noninterference,” Silana demanded. “We have a family to see to. Victorious, Atlanta, and Aloha, you need a nap.”

  “But we’re not tired,” all three of them whined simultaneously.

  “I don’t recall asking if any of you were tired. I said you need a nap.”

  “You three heard Silana, now hush before I take a switch to you.”

  “Grandmother,” Aloha whined.

  “Fascists” Atlanta pouted.

  “Yeah, what she said,” a suddenly sleepy Victorious rejoined.

  Ianikut dragged his battered body up and walked over to his woman. He wanted to snatch her to him but he was covered in blood. Looking at her tenderly, he spoke. “You’re going to nap as soon as we get on the plane.”

  “No,” his mother said. “They’re going to nap now. Clean yourself up, Ianikut, so that you may see to your lady. I shall remain at her side until you return.”

  Addressing Sojourner, she inquired. “Is that acceptable to you, ma’am?”

  “I’m keeping the boys, but yes, that will do…for now.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Less than an hour later, things had settled down. The bodyguards were housed in adjoining houses on the immense estate. Steele’s and Hannes’ kin were in the dining room with Ianikut’s brothers downing food like it was going out of style. Aloha, Atlanta, and Victorious were ensconced in bed firmly held in the embraces of their men while they napped. Though Zuri wasn’t tired, she laid next to Hannes enjoying the feel of him surrounding her while his magic fingers massaged her hip. Reign walked the castle grounds with Jack doing recon. Indy, Silana, and Sojourner were being treated to a Russian Tea.

  Silana enjoyed the tea, and while Indy and Sojourner engaged their hostesses in debate, she gained permission to take over the kitchen. Cooking is what she did when she was in deep thought. Changing into a short-sleeved, black wrap dress and slipping into some flats, she made her way to the kitchen. Finding an apron, she tied it around her as she pulled out various ingredients. Spotting several bags of chocolate chips, she decided to make cookies and chocolate chip pecan bars. Elbow deep in flour, she was surprised when Andrew walked in. They looked each other over though neither offered a word. He looked at her with contempt, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she’d kicked him in the nuts or for some other imagined slight.

  “This is one of the two places where women belong,” he said.

  “Mr. Treunmhor, is there something that I can do for you?” she asked without ceasing her motions.

  “There are only two things a woman can do for me.”

  “Give you tips on how to catch a good man or hook you up with something snazzy from her wardrobe?”

  “You would not dare speak to me like that if…”

  “I’m trying not to speak to you now, but you won’t shut up.”

  “You would do well to treat me with the respect I deserve.”

  “If I treated you with the respect you deserve, I’d run you through with your own sword.”

  “Despite your great size, I doubt you could lift my sword.”

  Oh no, this motherfucker didn’t call her out about her weight. Sure, at five feet ten, 185 pounds, and a size eighteen she couldn’t be described as petite, but still she cut a fine figure. “Treunmhor, not only could I lift your sword, I could lift you. See us women of great size, we frequently work like men.”

  “Well perhaps if you were smaller and less like a man no one would expect you to work like one.”

  Okay, this motherfucker was getting closer and closer to death with every word that fell from his succulent pussy-eating lips. “Well, if so many men stopped acting like bitches, we women wouldn’t have to do the work most of y’all are too lazy to do or clean up the mess you made in your carelessness.”

  “In my time
‑‑”

  “I don’t know what time you hail from or what country you’re from but it’s obvious that whenever and wherever it is, y’all don’t have good sense because if you did, you’d know not to mess with a Southern woman. Soft boys like you go missing all the time.”

  Leaning over her, he taunted her. “There’s nothing soft on me.”

  Silana had been married to a man who enjoyed intimidating anyone he perceived as weak. She’d learned the hard way how to deal with men like that. Stepping closer to show that she wasn’t intimidated she said her peace, “Be that as it may, there’s nothing on you that I’m afraid of including that monster sword you carry around.”

  “It’s good of you to notice how well-endowed I am.”

  Silana smiled. Andrew knew good and damn well that she spoke of his fifty-one inch broadsword with jewels decorating the cross guard, pommel, handle, and quillons ‑‑ not his personal endowment.

  “Well, I couldn’t help it especially after my foot became intimately acquainted with it.”

  “You are foolish to taunt me.”

  “And you’re a fool.”

  “You should be silent, woman.”

  “Unless you want to be addressed as ‘dead man walking’ you need to address me properly. You may address me as Counselor Toussaint or Ms. Toussaint. Those are your only choices.”

  Andrew had never met a woman of African descent. And he sure as hell had never met a Southern woman. Or a woman who was so unimpressed with him. Then again, he’d never had a woman assault him. His cock still ached from where she’d kicked him, and his head was still sore from where she’d slammed a goblet against his skull. This woman wasn’t afraid of him at all and that disturbed him ‑‑ not because he wanted her to fear him ‑‑ but because he wanted to ride between her thighs in spite of her size, her complete disrespect for him as a man, a highlander, and a force to be reckoned with. That admission rocked him to the core and before he did something he regretted, he snatched two of the cookies she’d placed on a tray and stalked from the kitchen. He might not know what a counselor did or where in the hell the South was, but he knew good food and the kitchen smelled only slightly less erotic than a woman’s nectar.