by Jessica Snow
“Last time we talked about it, she said that it would provide a bit more… she called it weight, with some of the other wolf packs in the area. She’s not trying to be pushy about it, but...”
Mike laughed. “She was the alpha female for a long time, and it’s hard for her to give that up so easily. And she knows wolf politics, while the pack might be accepting, it’s not quite respected yet in the traditional sense. Well, if you’re asking, then yeah, we’d like it if you guys made it legal in the eyes of the human law as much as our own laws. But there ain’t no rush. While we’re on the subject of relationships, whatever happened to that loser Kevin, anyway?”
Kat laughed, thinking of the event. “Ashley, McKenzie and I tracked him down with a little help from Violet and Sherry about two weeks ago, on a girls’ night out. Violet brought up the idea, she really took a dislike to him when he was a snitch, points to her. Ash wanted to castrate him, but McKenzie decided on something we thought was more fitting. You ever seen that old Jim Carrey movie, Liar, Liar?”
Mike glanced over, trying not to laugh out loud. “No way. Your sister is devious.”
“You’re telling me. Anyway, McKenzie also wiped his mind of all memories of anything supernatural, so he’s no longer a leak, just a pain in the ass. Eva sent me a message over the cell phone saying she had something to tell me about him, so I’m guessing he’s been getting himself in trouble since then. I don’t care, if he stays out of my life.”
When they got back to the rapidly rebuilding of the Greyson estate, Kat was greeted by her children, who flew across the lawn with speed and strength much greater than their one-year-old bodies should possess, but she was used to it. Behind them was Elizabeth, who wore the patient expression that had become her trademark. “You know Edward, you didn’t put away your blanket!”
“Sowwy!” Edward said from Kat’s arms, his eyes glinting merrily. They were talking more now, their mental and physical development catching up with each other, and Kat knew that she was glad to have the triplets ‘Guardian’ with them all the time. Elizabeth was still undergoing formal training, but what she lacked in skill she made up for in love and affection for the three children who she swore to defend with her life, if necessary.
“Go get your blanket, and I’ll give you a big hug inside,” Kat said, setting Edward down and patting him on the butt. Edward streaked off, his brother and sister just behind him, and she chuckled as she looked at Elizabeth. “They aren’t giving you too much trouble I hope?”
“Nah. They’ve decided they like chocolate pudding, though, so be prepared to get about ten gallons of that when we go shopping this weekend,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest, the .45 at her hip for the first time becoming visible. She was never without it, and she was getting good too, not as good as Ashley but pretty damn good nonetheless. “How was training?”
“Good. Come on, let’s go get ready for the party.”
The party was half familial, half ceremonial, as representatives of each of the major packs in the area were coming to sign the treaty that had been negotiated over a hard three-month period that not only recognized Liam’s strange pack as legitimate, but also to recognize a peace between wolves, bears, witches, and vampires.
There was a little bit of rustle as Theon arrived, Eva on his arm, along with Violet who was not his bride but rather his trusted advisor. The presence of three powerful vampires was unsettling for some, but when Hunter went over and hugged Eva, it broke the ice some. “They’re fine children, Katerina,” Theon said when they had a moment together at the drink bar, Theon, of course, drinking wine. “You should be a proud mother.”
“I am. And how about you and Eva? I’m still getting used to calling her that instead of Daisy, but you two look happy. Any plans for little vampire babies?”
Theon sputtered, half choking on his wine, and Kat giggled, she loved getting one in on the vampire king. When he recovered, he wiped his lips and smiled back. “We’re researching it. It’s trickier for us than it is for you. Much more of a conscious act, since we would not want to bring an eternal infant into the world. We might need the assistance of your mother or sister, I shall approach them when the time is right. Until then… she’s not the Eva that I knew centuries ago, and she’s not the Daisy that I knew for a scant few months. She’s both, she’s her own woman… and I love her very much. I owe your family a lot for that. And for the supply of beef blood to reduce our… hunting in the city. It’s been helpful, even if I’m having to discipline my troops harshly from time to time.”
Kat was about to reply when her phone rang, and she took it out and saw that it was Kevin. She was tempted to throw her phone into the punch bowl, but she decided to answer it instead. “Kevin, you do know that I’m at my children’s birthday party?”
“Kat, I need your help,” Kevin said, ignoring her complaint. “It’s Jerri.”
“Who?” Kat asked, Theon’s mouth twisting in a little smirk before he waved Violet over. The beautiful vampire listened for a moment with supernatural ears before giving Kat a bloodthirsty smile, volunteering her disciplinary services if needed.
“My girlfriend. Well, not really, she was just the girl I was fucking, but she asked me about Rosita, and I don’t know why but I told her about Rosita, and Pauline, and… well, you get the idea. Now I’ve got an estrogen posse gunning for my ass. Literally, since Rosita’s brother is a gang banger,” he said desperately. “I’m dead broke, Mom threw me out, and I gotta get out of town. Please, can you spot me fifty bucks?”
“You cheated on your girlfriend with a girl whose brother is a gangbanger, and then cheated on both of them on top of that?” Kat asked, and Violet’s grin broadened, her fangs extending. Hell, Kat thought, sending the female vampire after him might be a mercy killing, but still not her style. She waved Violet down. “Why in the hell would you do that?”
“Rosita has great tits, and Pauline let me do a three-way with her and her co-worker,” Kevin said before gulping. “What the fuck? Why do I… whatever? Please, Kat. You’re like, the only girlfriend I’ve ever had who was worth a damn. Spot me fifty bucks, that’s all. Please?”
Kat considered it. She knew that he was telling the truth, or at least what he believed to be the truth about her, but still… “You know what Kevin? Go to hell.”
Kat hung up on him in mid-plea, turning her phone the rest of the way off. Violet raised an eyebrow. “Why wave me down? You know I’d enjoy it.”
“Yeah, but he probably would too, knowing that asshole. You deserve better prey than that,” Kat said, chuckling. “Come on, they’re about to bring out the cake, and I’ll let you two in on a little secret. Liam asked the human employees to donate blood to the Red Cross, and we just happened to set aside about ten pints for you guys.”
“What type?” Theon asked, and Kat grinned. “O negative? You’re spoiling us, Katerina.”
“The future is built on the little things like that. Come on, Theon. Let’s go watch my children open presents.”
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