by Lisa Olsen
“Not even Felix?” I couldn’t imagine what Bridget had told him about the trip. I was willing to bet she hadn’t shared that I’d threatened to kill her if I ever saw her again.
“It’s hard to say. If he does, he’s certainly never let on.”
“Okay, thanks,” I nodded absently, already deep in thought. “In that case, maybe you’d better fill the boys in on the upcoming trip, and I think I’d better touch bases with my Warden.”
“Leave everything to me,” Maggie nodded, and once again I was grateful for her narrow, but capable shoulders by my side.
Felix answered on the second ring, his voice full of good cheer. “Hey, boss, long time no hear. How’s life treating you these days?” He might be in a shiny mood, but I wasn’t about to spend the next five minutes exchanging pleasantries about the weather.
“How could you not tell the council that I quit?” I demanded right out of the gate.
“Well now, you didn’t, see,” he began, unapologetic. “Not to me and not to them. Not formally anyway.”
“But you knew I’d gone and Maggie said you got the ring back.”
“That’s just a piece of jewelry, the real power still resides with you.”
“Okay, but why didn’t you let anyone know I’d gone AWOL? What’s all this stuff about me visiting other Houses in Europe?”
“I had to tell the council something.”
“You couldn’t tell them the truth?”
“To quote one of my favorite movies, they can’t handle the truth,” Felix snickered, and I waited until he got over the thrill of his own wit. “I figured I’d give you some breathing room and we’d talk about it when you got back.”
“I’m not back, not like that.”
“Look, stability’s a pretty big deal for a position like yours. I didn’t want to rock the boat is all.”
“The boat was already severely listing to port by the time I left. I wasn’t happy with the way things were going, and I didn’t make a secret of it. I’m just not cut out for this Elder stuff.”
“The hell you’re not. You’re doing a bang up job, boss. Way better than I could’ve hoped for.”
That didn’t sound too promising for his hopes on how I’d perform, and again, I got the sense that he was handling me rather than speaking from the heart. “Spare me the pep talk, Felix,” I cut him off before he shoveled it any deeper. “You weren’t happy with how I handled Jakob, and you know my philosophies are at direct odds with most of the vampire population. Don’t pretend like you think I’m the best man for the job. I think you’d better tell the council to pick someone else.”
“Don’t be too hasty. Before we involve the council, give it some time. Don’t make any sudden decisions you might come to regret.”
Why was he pushing so hard for this? “Felix, I can’t make you any guarantees. My life is a mess right now. For all I know, I might not make it back to the West for a while. I can’t ask you to put the government on hold indefinitely.”
“No, not indefinitely,” he agreed. “But I can handle the day to day stuff until you figure out where you want to be. Do what you gotta do, we’ll keep the home fires burning.”
Maybe he was right? I’d made a snap decision in the heat of the moment. Maybe there was more good I could accomplish as Elder? I couldn’t devote my energy to figuring it out at the moment, but if he was that willing to give me some breathing room, the least I could do was take it.
“Alright, we’ll talk more about it later.”
“You got it, boss.” I could practically hear the smile on Felix’s face. “Hey, you want I should get Bridget on the phone? I know she’s been wanting to talk to you.”
“No,” I answered too quickly, wincing when I realized how harsh that must’ve sounded. So far Felix hadn’t let on that he knew anything about Bridget’s behavior on the cruise, and as much as I couldn’t stand to be around her, that didn’t mean I wanted to ruin things for her either. “I mean, I don’t have time. I’m on my way to London tonight.”
“Tell me you’re on your way to mend fences with Vetis and I’ll pledge my undying love for you.”
“It wasn’t on my agenda, but send me over his latest proposal and I promise I’ll take a look at it on the flight over.” Damn, had I agreed to negotiate a treaty with Aubrey? So much for staying out of Elder business.
“You got it, I’ll send it right over. Good to have you back, boss.”
“I’m not back,” I protested. “Send over that treaty proposal like I said, and I’ll try to fit it into my London trip. No promises though, I might end up dumping the whole thing back into your lap if Aubrey gets on my last nerve.”
“No, right, of course. Good to hear from you again, Anja. I hope you have a good trip.”
“Thanks, Felix. And I do appreciate everything you’re doing to keep things running, very much. If you wanted to make a pitch for my job, I’d put in a good word for you with the council,” I added, a tinge of hope creeping into my words.
“Nah, I make a better man behind the scenes,” he deflected my suggestion. “Just don’t be such a stranger, huh? We were starting to think you’d fallen off the face of the Earth. Bridge will be glad to hear I talked to ya. Any message you want me to give her?”
“Sure,” I replied, biting back the first retort that leapt to my lips. “Tell her… tell her I want to see her just as much as I did the last time we were together.”
Chapter Four
Have you ever made yourself sick with anticipation? Like, literally, physically ill? Even with my vampire physiology (which made me immune to the flu or the common cold), I still felt nauseated as I stepped onto the jet. By the time we arrived in London, the wrestling hedgehogs in my stomach had grown into MMA fighting porcupines.
The closer I got to Rob, the more panicky I felt, and nothing, not a split of champagne, not Maggie’s soothing chatter, not even an always welcome screening of The Winter Soldier could calm me down. It was minutes past midnight, barely the shank of the evening, and there was no excuse not to go looking for him that same night – except for my own cowardice.
I stepped into the tiny bathroom to wash my face, glad I didn’t have to face Aubrey and those ponces at the Vetis house at least. Despite my agreeing to meet with him at some point, I still didn’t count this as a state visit, and I was looking forward to the privacy of a hotel in the city. Maybe I’d even get some sightseeing in on this trip?
Thanks to that enhanced physiology, my skin was clear and bright, despite my anxiety. My hair silky and shiny, but there was no mistaking that tinge of panic behind my eyes. “You are a strong, confident, vampire,” I addressed my reflection in the mirror, letting out a long breath when it didn’t seem to make one whit of difference.
The guys had all our luggage out on the tarmac by the time I stepped out, but Maggie was waiting for me in the aisle with my carry on bag.
“Thanks,” I smiled, taking it from her. “Hey, what hotel are we staying at, by the way? I hope they have Wi-Fi. I want to call my sister and see how her date with Mason went.” Now that I wasn’t off in hiding with Carter any more, I wanted to be more of a part of her life again.
The color drained from Maggie’s cheeks, her eyes flying wide. “I… didn’t book us a hotel. I called ahead to let the Vetis house know we’d be arriving tonight.”
My mouth opened and closed without saying anything as I tried to process what she’d said. “Why would you do that? You know how I feel about Aubrey.”
“Yes, but you said you were going to meet with him about the treaty. And when I called him to schedule an appointment, he was very excited about hosting you again. I thought…” She blanched at seeing my face. “I’ll call and make other arrangements, give him our apologies.”
“No, wait…” I stopped her as a blast of sudden insight came to mind. “Hey, this is good. We can kill two birds with one stone. I can get the stupid treaty business out of the way and let him grovel for my forgiveness once and for all to get
it out of his system. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone.” More importantly, it’d take up the rest of my evening, which gave me an excuse to put off seeing Rob again for another night. Okay, so I know that made me a coward, but I was a coward who could breathe easier for the moment.
The Vetis house was as imposing as ever, the gloomy rain enhancing rather than dampening its grandeur. My favorite werewolf, Brody (or Mr. Smiley as I liked to call him) sat at the front desk, dressed in his tactical best with a permascowl on his lips. The husky blonde snapped up to his feet the moment he spotted me, his eyes downcast.
I knew in that instant that my compulsion was still in effect – he couldn’t speak to me unless spoken to. For an instant I considered sailing right past him into the house proper, but I was curious about what rooms had been assigned to me and my crew.
“Hello, Brody,” I said with a smug smile. “You may greet me now.”
“Welcome to Vetis, Your Grace,” he said woodenly, his eyes still riveted to the floor.
“There now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“No, Your Grace,” he bowed submissively.
“Which rooms do we get this time?”
“You’ll have the same rooms as last time, the Fox suite, Your Grace,” he replied, unfailingly polite, despite the tightness in his jaw that showed the effort it cost him. “Your men will need to stay in the security wing, of course. But, if you’d prefer that your feeder stay with you, that can be arranged.”
I looked to Maggie, who shook her head. “I don’t mind staying with the other humans if you’d prefer your privacy.”
Though I had no idea what the feeder quarters were like, I had to think she’d be more comfortable sharing the suite with me. “No, why don’t you bunk with me, that way we can catch up better?” I suggested, and from the look of relief on her face I could tell I’d made the right decision. “I guess I’ll leave the luggage to you then, shall I?” I smiled at Brody.
“Yes, Your Grace,” he agreed, his head bobbing again before his eyes settled onto Lee, and a low growl emanated from the back of his throat as he stepped up to block the man’s path. “Name,” he bit out, eyes boring a hole into Lee’s skull.
Not this again. “Lee’s with me,” I protested, letting out a long breath when that didn’t seem to be good enough for Brody.
“No unregistered Weres in the house,” Brody said, still deep into his staring competition. “You’ll have to report to the lodge for identification.”
“Name’s Lee McBride,” he drawled, not ruffled in the least. “Now you know my name, you’d best let me pass, son.”
“Pack rules dictate…”
Jeez Louise, it was like he had to invent things to be ornery about. “Step aside, Brody, I said he’s with me,” I said, throwing in a burst of compulsion to get his attention.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Brody bristled, but stepped aside, his hands clenching so tightly, the knuckles cracked. Despite my compulsion over Brody, his natural inclination toward nastiness obviously felt the need to lash out at someone. Maybe he needed neutering, but I didn’t want to waste any more of my time on him. Besides, just because I could change his personality didn’t give me the right to, even if he was a pain in the caboose.
“Come on, guys. Let’s go get settled in before Aubrey spots us,” I said, waving the short procession forward, eager to avoid the Elder of Vetis. Once we were well away from the front desk, I turned to offer my apology to Lee. “I’m sorry about that guy. I swear, it’s like he has a physical need to be a jerkwad to somebody, it doesn’t matter who.”
“Don’t fret none,” Lee chuckled. “It takes more’n a pup like him to get under my skin. Actually, I found it more amusin’ to watch you put him in his place. I take it you’ve tangled with him before?”
“Yes, he…” I was interrupted by the double doors to our right swinging open with a clatter, Aubrey’s face splitting into a wide grin as he spotted me. He was handsome as ever, dressed in a pair of simple black pants and a cobalt cashmere sweater that turned his stormy gray eyes blue. I pasted on a bright smile, biting back the urge to swear in Chinese.
“Anja, luv. How radiant you are,” he proclaimed, his head tilting to one side as he studied me from head to toe. His close cropped blonde curls glinted under the chandelier, giving him a deceptively haloed effect. “It’s as though a fresh breeze has swept through, invigorating this old house with charm and beauty.”
“Nope, that’s just you, full of hot air,” I said under my breath, but his sharp ears picked it up.
“Charming to the last,” he smiled despite my dig. “I’m so pleased you’ve finally come. Tell me, what was it that finally tipped the scales in your favor? The flowers? The chocolates? The Mercedes?”
I looked to Maggie and she hid a smile behind her hand as she looked away. She’d never mentioned the car. “You actually have Maggie to thank for my visit. I was perfectly happy to stay in town, but she convinced me to come and pay my respects,” I said as diplomatically as I could manage.
Aubrey turned and offered Maggie a formal bow, reaching for her hand. “Then I am forever in your debt, dear lady.” He kissed the air over the back of her wrist. Maggie simply blushed and looked away until he let go of her. “Won’t you all join me for a spot of refreshment?”
“Some other time, perhaps,” I begged off. “It was a long flight, and…”
“Oh, but surely I can offer something to tempt you,” he smiled invitingly. “I’m sure you’ll find my refreshments most invigorating.”
I did actually need to feed sooner than later, but sharing such a thing with Aubrey sounded less than appetizing. “That’s sweet of you to offer, but I honestly am tired from the flight.”
A flicker of disappointment flashed across his features, but to my great relief, he didn’t press it any further. “Of course, of course. If there’s anything I can do to make your stay more enjoyable, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thanks, Aubrey, I will.”
“You did have a chance to go over my proposal though, didn’t you?” His expression turned hopeful.
“I did,” I nodded, glad to be back on political ground again. “And I think we have a lot to discuss. Just… not tonight,” I smiled.
“As you wish,” he smiled, placing his hand over his heart as he bowed with deference. “Until tomorrow night then.”
“That went well,” Maggie commented once we reached the top of the stairs and I gave Aubrey a final wave before we disappeared around the hall corner.
“He didn’t have me thrown in the dungeon this time, so yeah, I’d say it’s an improvement,” I agreed with somewhat less enthusiasm.
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that this visit. He seemed sincere enough in his overtures for your forgiveness.”
I agreed, up to a point. “With Aubrey, you can’t always tell. He’s capable of sincerity, but I won’t make the mistake of showing him my unprotected back any time soon.”
We had the same suite of rooms as last time, and Maggie got settled in to the adjoining room while I took the larger, main bedroom. The first thing I did was call down for some blood, trying not to think about where it came from. It was hard to look at the rooms and not think about Rob, and the last time we’d been there. While he hadn’t been sharing my bed at the time, my memories of the visit were steeped in romantic tension. Stolen kisses in the maze, the brief touch when no one was looking, and there was the couch he’d been laying on when I slipped into his dream.
The memories crowded their way to the surface, overwhelming me in my tired state. If anyone noticed, they made no mention of it. Maggie busied herself with hanging up our clothes, and Lee and Gunnar made themselves comfortable before the fireplace. The knock at the door brought me out of my reverie as Gunnar leapt up to answer it. There was a low exchange I couldn’t quite make out before he stepped aside, a wide grin on his face.
“Who is it?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t Aubrey deciding to bring up my nightcap
himself. But another familiar face stood out in the hall, a blood filled decanter and crystal glass balanced on the tray in his hands.
“Good evening, Your G-Grace,” the young werewolf said, with a timid smile, his blonde head and shoulders stooping low.
“Tucker!” I cried out in pure delight, waving Gunnar to let him pass. “Come in, come in. It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s g-g-g…” The poor boy’s words caught in his throat until Maggie appeared, and like magic, they unstuck. “It’s good to see you too,” he said, a bashful smile transforming his features as he stared at my companion. It was hard to tell at first, he had the worst posture in the world, but he’d grown taller in the months since I’d last seen him. Despite the added height, he looked less likely to blow over in a heavy wind, his neck a tad thicker, shoulders broader. Less like a boy and more like a man – albeit, still a very shy, hesitant man.
“Tucker, how you’ve grown!” Maggie smiled, and his shoulders straightened under her praise. “It’s lovely to see you again.” She laid a gentle hand to his arm and a ripple went through him at the light touch.
“You’re the l-lovely one,” he said in a soft voice, his gaze riveted to her face as though they were completely alone.
“Let me take that from you,” I offered, plucking the tray out of his hands so they could have their reunion, but Tucker looked away at the interruption.
“Will you be s-staying long?” he asked, unable to keep the hope from his voice.
“I don’t know how long my business will keep me here,” I admitted, sad to see the stoop that brought back to his shoulders. “Oh, I almost forgot to introduce Lee, you haven’t met him yet. Lee, this is our friend, Tucker.”
Tucker’s entire posture took on an even more servile slump, his head canting to one side as his gaze trained on Lee’s boots. “Sir,” was all he said, with a nervous lick of his lips.
Lee approached him slowly, hand outstretched. Instead of shaking though, he clapped his hand on Tucker’s shoulder, a friendly smile on his face. “What parts you hail from, son? You don’t sound much like a local yokel.” It was true, he and Brody both had American accents, though I’d never thought to ask what they were doing in England.