AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His Majesty gave me the tiniest of bows and met my gaze. “I apologize. He is your guest and deserves to be referred to by his name.”
He didn’t apologize to Ryan, but that was okay. As the invited guest, the slight that mattered was to me.
I didn’t make the rules, but I know how to follow them.
The outdoor seating area behind their home was gorgeous. A waterfall fell into the pool, and we were far enough away, the sound was pleasant rather than overpowering. Four outdoor sofas and loveseats were positioned with a table between them, and the food was artfully arranged. I still enjoy the smell of the foods I can no longer eat, and I breathed in the scent of pig, cow, bison, and chicken.
One of the tables had glowing coals in it, and it radiated heat. Kirsten and Bethany sat closest to it, and I wondered if I should get Ryan near, as well, but he led me to a sofa that wasn’t terribly close, so I assumed he’s as unaffected by the cold as most shifters.
Marco poured the blood-wine mixture into a stemmed wineglass and handed it to me. It was in a thermal carafe, and I noted the digital readout said it was set to ninety-nine degrees.
When I can hunt and I’m looking for blood rather than fear, I choose my meals based on what I have a taste for. If I want sweet, I find a human diabetic who isn’t controlling their blood sugar very well. If I want savory, I find a werewolf who recently ate a half-dozen steaks.
I could only describe the wine-blood mixture as decadent. The vegetarian deer balanced with the wildness of the carnivorous elves, and mixed into the fruity tartness of the wine — it was so good, I wanted to close my eyes and pretend no one else was in the vicinity so I could fully enjoy it.
I swallowed, breathed in, and settled myself so I could adequately thank our hosts.
“Kirsten, Cora, I know we aren’t supposed to be formal, but your refreshment requires that I wax poetic about your hospitality.”
“Mordecai gave us the recipe,” Cora said, “and Kirsten acquired the most difficult ingredient from Alfheim. I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s possible I like it to distraction,” Marco said from Cora’s side. She looked up at him with a grin, and I sensed a quick telepathic conversation. A few words, probably something along the lines of him drinking her later tonight. Marco gave a quick telepathic response back, and she glanced at me. Had he told her I’d know they were telepathing? Not many knew I could so easily pick up on it.
The Amakhosi, Kirsten, and Mordecai sat on a sofa together, and the Lion King leaned forward a little, still holding Kirsten’s hand. “Abbott preferred to keep wolves around him, and he and Randall agreed to just not bring it up. I appreciate that Marco didn’t bring his lions into my territory. We worked out the details of that arrangement privately, but there is much good will between our groups. The lions will back the vampires.”
“It’s harder for the vampires to back the lions in every situation without undermining Nathan,” Marco said, “but we will work with him to provide whatever help we can, should it be necessary.”
“In short,” I said, “we’ll back the lions against other vampires, and we’ll discuss how best to support the lions when the conflict involves other shifter groups.”
“I’m glad the pride and coterie are comfortable with your agreements, because this is a work in progress for me and Marco,” Cora said. “Even if we don’t work out romantically, we will remain political allies.”
Ranger sat on a sofa with his lovers, and he brought focus to himself without moving. He could’ve easily been Alpha of another pack, and if he didn’t already have three people who claimed him, I’d have been considering how to seduce him into letting me have a sip from his neck. Or lower.
“This is where you and I come in, Etta,” Ranger said. “Cora and I have talked about a private agreement, so if they have a lover’s quarrel, you and I make decisions involving our groups.”
“The idea is a thirty-day pause,” Marco said.
We spent three hours talking about mutual aid and how far all sides would go. The final part of the negotiations involved possible punishments when the little vampires, lions, and wolves didn’t toe the line. Marco wanted to bring me in to punish them all in some cases, so everyone involved had the same consequence.
“I need to feel what she can do before I sentence one of my wolves to it,” said Cora.
“I don’t want you drained,” Marco told her.
“She won’t be drained.” Mordecai hadn’t said more than a few dozen words all night. “But anyone who hurts Cora needs to negotiate with Kirsten ahead of time. They are too closely bound for someone to make a careless mistake.”
I looked to Marco, who turned to Cora and touched her cheek. “I’ve felt what she can do. I’d rather not have you go through it.”
“I’ve felt it, too,” said Ryan. “Kirsten will lash out, Cora. I don’t think we want to go there.”
Cora’s eyes flashed and she set her jaw. “I won’t agree to her punishing my people if I can’t feel what she’ll do to them.”
I understood where she was coming from, so I looked to Kirsten and told her, “It’s based on fear. Can you shield yourself from her?”
“Kirsten and I can go to Alfheim for ten minutes,” Mordecai said.
Kirsten shook her head. “I need to make sure Cora’s okay.”
“If we do this, I’ll compartmentalize her energy as I drain her, so I can give it back to her when I finish.”
