by Julia Laque
“Good to see you, Magistrate.”
As Cyrus shook hands with a bald, pale man, Evangeline chanced a look at Adam. He was glaring at the king, but glanced her way. The instant his eyes met hers, she melted. This was complete torture. She was standing on the wrong side. She should be next to him. Adam’s controlled mask broke slightly, and the longing filling his eyes spoke volumes.
“Shall we begin?” Evangeline jumped slightly at the Magistrate’s voice and turned to see him better. He was thin and gaunt with crooked teeth and very little hair on the sides of his head.
Cyrus inclined his head at the Magistrate then turned to her. “Would you like to sit, my love?”
Shaking her head, Evangeline insisted he take the empty chair. Cyrus sat in front of her and refusing to let her go, took her right hand and held it over his left shoulder, reclining and looking as though he’d just entered a dinner party. He played with Evangeline’s fingers and smirked at the werewolves like the cat who caught the canary.
Evangeline took a deep breath. If she took her hand back, it would draw attention to them and the last thing she wanted to do was irritate Cyrus while they questioned the Blacktails, but she hated doing this in front of Adam.
The magistrate spoke just as Maxwell Jones entered. “We have called this summit to discuss the kidnapping of Evangeline Wolcott, member of the King’s Coven and fiancé of the King of North America.”
Maxwell took up position between the King’s Coven and the Blacktails on the main floor, placing his briefcase down on the platform next to him.
The Magistrate addressed Adam. “His Grace has called this summit, which is why I am here, but I see you did not bring your adjudicator. It’s not required, but you are within your rights to do so.”
“It won’t be necessary,” Adam said simply without expression.
The bald vampire turned to Cyrus then. “Will Miss Wolcott be giving testimony tonight, Your Grace?”
Cyrus stared ahead, his eyes now glaring at Adam. “No, she will not.”
The Magistrate hesitated.
What? Why wouldn’t Cyrus let her testify? She was afraid to, of course. There was every chance she’d say something and give away her feelings for Adam, but it seemed odd they would bring her here and not allow her to speak. She wanted to disagree. What if she could save Adam from whatever Cyrus had planned?
Cyrus felt her tense and squeezed her hand, warning her to keep her mouth shut. “Montague, Miss Wolcott has already given me the details of her abduction and therefore, I can testify on her behalf.”
Evangeline saw Adam shift slightly.
“Very well,” Magistrate Montague drawled. “Adam Perez, on the night of August second, you, in full awareness of your actions, abducted Evangeline Wolcott from her home with intent to harm her if the king did not meet your demands. Do you deny these charges?”
Adam’s deep tenor sent chills down her spine and she realized she had missed his gruff voice. “No, but I do deny any intent to harm Miss Wolcott. It was a ruse to get what I wanted.”
“Is this true, Your Grace?”
Cyrus took his time to answer. “Evangeline was fine when she came to me. I examined her myself.” He continued to play with her fingers.
Evangeline groaned in her head and briefly closed her eyes. God, did he have to make it sound like he’d stripped her naked?
Adam’s nostril’s flared and she had a sinking feeling Cyrus caught his little tell tale sign.
As all vampire eyes were on the werewolves Evangeline stared at Adam now. With the tiniest of movements, she shook her head a fraction of a millimeter to indicate to him Cyrus was lying and not to go off the handle.
He stared at Cyrus, but she knew he caught her movement and turned his gaze to Montague.
Too late, Evangeline realized Cyrus’ man, Victor stood behind her.
Damn. She prayed he had not seen, but she felt Cyrus’ hand become still on hers.
“Mr. Perez, were you aware Miss Wolcott was engaged to Cyrus Stewart, on the night of the abduction?”
Adam looked lethal. “Yes.”
“Ah, and are you aware the penalty for kidnapping a member of the King’s Coven is five years in SPONA, and twenty-five to life for kidnapping a member of the realm?”
Evangeline’s heart sunk. SPONA was the supernatural prison. Most did not come out alive, as their security system seriously differed from human prisons.
Before Adam could speak, Maxwell raised his hand. “Magistrate, may I interject? Evangeline is not yet a member of the realm and was not quite affianced to His Grace as the vampire betrothal contract was not completed at the time.”
She could kiss Maxwell Jones.
“Therefore, in my opinion this is a hearing to discuss the kidnapping of a civilian and nothing more.”
Montague turned to Cyrus. “Is this true, Your Grace? Was the betrothal contract not complete?”
Cyrus continued to stare ahead. “We were in the midst of the betrothal when Perez kidnapped Evangeline. I assure you, the contract has been thoroughly, completed.”
This time, all the Blacktail Fighters tensed.
“Right,” Montague said. “However, I’m afraid Mr. Jones is correct. She was a civilian at the time of the kidnapping.”
Cyrus glared at Montague now. “She was under my protection.”
“I understand Your Grace, but it still stands to reason, she was not yet a part of your coven, not yet your fiancé and far from Queen of North America.”
Cyrus’ pale face looked at Montague with murder in his eyes. “I’ll marry her right now then.”
****
Evangeline’s hand flew out of his. Cyrus gave a quick glance at her wide-eyed expression before looking back at Montague.
First order of business when Evangeline and he returned from their honeymoon was to appoint a new magister.
Fucking technicality.
He should have known, but his anger at the mutt in front of him made him call for the summit. He’d actually gone through the appropriate channels and it was blowing up in his face. He needed to keep his nose clean while he negotiated with the Asian king. Otherwise, he would have never gone by the books.
Montague looked momentarily dumbfounded, then, “You have every right to marry her now if you wish. I can perform the ceremony, but I’m afraid it won’t change the circumstances—”
“Cyrus!” Evangeline’s sing song voice unruffled his nerves. He loved when she used his name. Turning to her, he saw pleading in her expression.
She shook her head slowly at him, her green eyes penetrating his. “Don’t do this. Please. Not like this.”
What was it about her that turned him into a sap? He looked her over. It was a sign she hadn’t fought him today. In fact, he believed she was warming up to him. If he showed a little compassion now, he may even get the chance to go a little further.
After the summit, he intended on taking her back to his coven for a late dinner. After which, he hoped to show her just how gentle he could be when he fed from her. Once he showed her how wonderful it could be, she’d be putty in his hands.
Tearing his gaze from her hypnotic eyes, Cyrus addressed the Magistrate. “Alas, my fiancé has been looking forward to a ceremony under more attractive conditions.” He put his hand around her waist and brought her closer to his side. Her lovely tits were now at his eye level.
“Very well,” the Magistrate said. “Does Miss Wolcott want to press charges against Mr. Perez for kidnapping? I can bring her case to the police on her behalf.”
He would love to see the alpha dog sent to SPONA now, but it would take much longer if he went through human channels. Before he could answer, though, Evangeline spoke loudly.
“No.”
Cyrus whipped his head around at Evangeline. All eyes were on her.
She gave Cyrus a nervous smile before addressing the Magistrate. “Mr. Montague, Mr. Perez took me out of desperation to find his sister. I don’t want to press charges against him
for doing something I would have done myself for my own sister.”
Montague looked confused and turned to Cyrus. “What is this?”
Cyrus glowered at Evangeline. “Are you absolutely certain you don’t want to press charges?”
“Yes. I told you,” she spoke softly to him now, “I don’t want any trouble brought upon by me.”
He was curious. Something was up.
Cyrus spoke to Montague, “Mr. Perez was under the impression I took his pup of a sister.”
Maxwell cut in. “Serena Perez, a Blacktail werewolf and sister to the alpha male, Adam Perez, has been missing for several weeks and Mr. Perez had reason to believe the King’s Coven had taken her due to recent events.”
“Because these bloodsuckers killed Tyson Maury!” the werewolf, Ramo shouted at them.
“Yeah? Did Patrick Ford chew off his own head then, motherfucker?” Girard yelled back.
“Your Grace, please,” Montague urged, gesturing at both sides as the tension in the room spiked.
Cyrus would like nothing more than to go head to head with this filthy pack, but unfortunately they needed answers first and his fiancé was present. He gave Girard a look to back off.
Reluctantly, he took his arm from around Evangeline to fold his hands on the table. “We have not brought these matters to your attention, Magistrate, but it seems unavoidable.”
Maxwell stepped closer to him, but remained below. “Your Grace, this is a summit to discuss Evangeline’s abduction. I can’t allow her to stay here if you’re going to debate about other threatening issues. Please, for her safety, let me take her out.”
“She is not leaving my sight, Max.”
On the floor, Jason Linus stepped up, ever his master’s beta and eyeing Victor who had moved around stealthily to the end of the table. He cocked his head at Victor. “Tell your boy to relax.”
“I don’t take orders from dogs,” Cyrus jeered, but in his head he spoke to Victor. Don’t make any move unless I say. Got it?
You’re the boss, Victor replied back.
Maxwell spoke to the Magistrate about the attacks on both the werewolves and vampires as the testosterone level continued to rise. Cyrus glared at the alpha, his coven baring fangs, hissing at the Fighters who’d hunched slightly. All but Adam growled low as they glared back.
Maxwell stood directly between them. “So you see, it has escalated to this.”
“You’re lucky to be a-fucking-live after Tyson,” Ramo uttered fiercely.
“We never touched Tyson Maury, you idiots,” Zach heckled back.
Cyrus felt Evangeline grab his shoulder. It was a mistake to bring her. This was why summits were dreaded. None of the supernatural could keep a level head. He wanted to rip Adam Perez apart, limb from limb.
He was becoming sole vampire now, the urge to attack clouding his judgment. The cool façade was for show, but hell if he could forget Adam had taken his future wife. With a sinking feeling, he realized the alpha felt something for Evangeline. It was written all over his face.
And what had Victor meant when he telepathically told him Evangeline was signaling Perez?
The room resounded with hissing and growls as insults were thrown back and forth.
“Could there be other supernatural forces behind these attacks?” Evangeline raised her voice.
The warehouse went silent.
Evangeline looked from Cyrus to Adam to Montague. “I mean…are there any witches in the area? Aren’t they the sworn enemy of werewolves?”
Cyrus stared at Evangeline, trying to put meaning to her words. He knew if he was thinking logically they would have made sense, but with anger obscuring all reason, she might have asked, “Where is the bathroom?”
Maxwell cleared his throat. “I think it's something to consider, don’t you, Magistrate?”
“Yes, she makes a valid point.”
A goateed werewolf called out, “I can tell you it was no witch that got your little friend in the woods though.”
Perez growled at his man. “Stand the fuck down!”
Too late, Florena had stood up, eyes shining. “You little shit!”
Easy, Flo! They may be lying to start a fight, Cyrus said to her quietly.
Then find out if they are or not, cuz I’m ready!
Cyrus spoke to Adam now, privately, his eyes boring into his. You want this to get messy while she’s standing right here?
He leered as Adam jerked, obviously taken aback by Cyrus’ silent communication. The other Fighters felt it too. They looked from Adam to Cyrus now.
I know you have feelings for her. Call off your dogs and we can continue this another day. We’ll be happy to kill you when Evangeline is out of the vicinity.
He watched Adam’s chest rapidly rise and fall. His pack moved now like the wolves they were, crisscrossing behind their leader, just waiting for an attack. He shouted to Montague, “Are you sentencing me or not?”
Montague had gone quiet, watching both sides nervously. “You will not be held accountable for the kidnapping of Miss. Wolcott, but I’m afraid we will have to reconvene on other matters Mr. Perez.”
“Can’t…Fucking…Wait!” Ramo shouted.
Smart man. Cyrus continued to communicate telepathically with Adam.
Both masters knew they would settle this without the Magistrate or Jones.
Cyrus stared at the dark alpha, hating every fucking part of him. He couldn’t help himself. Did you fuck her?
Cyrus swore Adam’s eyes widened slightly, but he could have imagined it. The man shook his head.
He had believed Evangeline the other day, but he needed to hear it from him. A shake of the head wasn’t going to do it though. Cyrus reached out his senses, trying to hone in on the alpha’s pulse.
Evangeline was standing so close to him though and her weird staccato of a heartbeat caught his attention, then…
What the fuck was that?
Forgetting to listen to Adam’s pulse, Cyrus froze. Coming from his left, he heard a distinct flutter of beats. He turned his head slowly. The entire room disappeared before his eyes and became utterly silent as he listened. Evangeline’s stomach was right in front of his face and the rapid pace of an infant’s pulse beat in his ears.
He felt Evangeline look down at him.
Pain and fury like no other pierced through him and he reacted without even thinking.
Cyrus put his hands on her roughly, one around her back and the other on her stomach. He needed to be sure.
“What are doing?” she yelled.
He heard and felt the infant’s heartbeat more clearly now. Cyrus’ felt his eyes turn and his fangs punch out. In the back of his mind he heard the Fighters growling at him and didn’t care. He got up, hovering over her, their noses, tip to tip. Trembling, he spoke through clenched teeth. “You’re fucking pregnant?”
Evangeline lurched back and stared at him, horrified. “What? No. Of cour—” Before she could finish a glazed expression swept across her face and his black beat-less heart exploded as she grabbed her stomach and turned to look at the fucking werewolf.
He turned as Adam’s face faltered and then pure astonishment washed over him.
It was his. He fucking knew it.
Vaguely he noticed everyone had watched and understood their exchange, but Cyrus had grown cold, shuddering as he became dizzy with grief. He hissed through fangs at Adam, “You bastard!”
Cyrus heard Evangeline’s heart pound in her chest as she trembled in front of him. He grabbed her by the arms, feeling completely drunk with rage, he shook her hard. “FUCKING WHORE!”
The room exploded.
He turned and saw the Fighters phase into seven feet tall wolfmen. Debris of clothing went flying as they changed. Adam’s black form came hurling at him, but Victor got there first, knocking him back. When Adam got his footing, he lurched at Victor, picking him up off the floor with one hand and flinging him at Florena and Gabe. They went down like bowling pins, but jumped back up and leape
d into the fight.
It was chaos all around them. The sound of growls and the pounding of fist and paw echoed in the warehouse. Both sides were putting up a good fight, holding their own.
Montague ran to the nearest exit, while Jones was herded toward the far wall by the onslaught unfolding, shouting at Evangeline to run. Cyrus’ target was Adam. As he was about to leap from the platform, Jason pounced on him, knocking Cyrus onto the table, and cracking it down to the floor.
Cyrus heard a scream. He watched as a chair flew through the air and hit Evangeline, knocking her down.
Cyrus and Jason both scrambled to get to her, as Mary and Anthony fought Alex and Ramo precariously close to where Evangeline lay. Blood splashed as they came forward when Ramo slashed Anthony across the face with his claw.
Evangeline was on the floor, trying to get up, when they got to her. Jason pushed him out of the way, clipping his arm with his muzzle before leaping over her. The werewolf turned, hovering over Evangeline, to snarl at Cyrus. He was protecting her from him like a lion protecting his cub.
He continued to growl at Cyrus as Evangeline got to her feet, clinging to the wolf for support. She turned frantically around at the ensuing chaos and found Adam fighting relentlessly with Girard.
Adam sought her out at the wrong moment and was blasted into the stone wall by Girard’s fist.
Cyrus was about to take over for Girard when Evangeline screamed.
“ADAM!” Evangeline’s earsplitting cry ripped through the warehouse, and she ran out of Jason’s arms and into his.
“Cyrus, please! Stop this!”
He gave her an agonized look, dizzied by hatred for this pack, by her betrayal.
“If you ever cared at all for me, please! Don’t let your coven die for what I did. Please, Cyrus. Stop this!” She held onto his arms with a death grip.
He looked at his would be queen in complete defeat and through gritted teeth, he told her miserably, “You have no idea what you’ve done.”
She looked like she was ready to pass out. Breathing hard, she barely heard him as she looked around to find Adam.
Christ, she fucking loves the bastard. It was too much.
Cyrus sought out the alpha. I’ll call off mine if you call off yours?