Candy: Book 5 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Saga
folder
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
47
Views:
19,147
Reviews:
551
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
47
Views:
19,147
Reviews:
551
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Comfort
Greetings! I'm not dead, you can quit poking me. Ouch. I am in sunny Florida. I'm feeling alive and hungry. I had purchased half the stock of aloe vera in the state because I can get burnt just running from the house to the car. Damn this pale complexion and reddish hair o mine. Anyways....I have had this chapter with me for about two weeks, thereabouts, but I didn't like it. Something was off. So I didn't post it...but my muse has come back. I had a wonderful dream this morning to fix this up and I am quiet happy with it. So....ENJOY!!
What am I going to do now? I'm going to Disneyland!! Never been. This should be an interesting day. Later.
update: Feb 20/08
How remiss of me. I had so much Mickeyitis that I forgot the kudos. After getting on my soapbox about how much authors like feedback…so do the readers. Gack. Sorry. (blink, blink, attempting to look cute.) lavcea; lone_child; blaze; eiriyukithewriter; laur; Duelriel; Rosemayr; Akemi (x2)[welcome]; steph291; one-love012 (welcome); jewel2656; twitch (welcome – oops, I forgot last time); k; Marin Liliz; mystic 87; SpiritofBeyond; Ana; and maggiepyro101. Whoot, whoot, whoot!!
Akemi: OMG, OMG, OMFG your music that you linked is simply amazing. I appreciate your effort is beautiful…I got misty eyed. I would love to hear from you. Basically, my question to you is..what was in your mind’s eye when you choose this piece? My squishy little inquiring mind wants to know.
O: “kiix” your ass. Hahahahaha. Please bear with me regarding the werewolf issue…I do have a reason. Here it is. A vampire cannot interfere with Lycan affairs. It would be a case of the Lycan nation banning together to fight off the interloper…meaning the brotherhood which in turn means the Vampire nation. In the history of the Cake universe, the Vampire nation is the pinnacle basically because they can kill the rest of the bloods….so you are really not wanting an all and all out war. Why not? No more Lycan in North America.
Chapter 192: Comfort
I called an impromptu family meeting over by the shiny new Indian. I couldn’t stand still. I bounced from one heel to the other. I raised my hand and tried to run it through my hair but I had forgotten I had Ping’s hair cage secured and ended up spearing myself in the side of the head with my nails. When the ‘family’ was assembled I got my freak on.
“Okay, no one is denying that when I was nine, I was attacked by a Lycan.”
“Aunt Eliza.” Haley repeated.
“That Lycan was a relative?” Mom’s voice was incredulous.
“Aunt Eliza was a survivor from Britta’s third litter. None of her pups survived to adulthood. In the end, she was touched by the hand of God.”
I furrowed my brow. “What exactly does that mean?”
“She was like Lanny. She had visions but she was a little unstable. She had turned lone wolf and disappeared. Grandmother has said that Eliza had gotten obsessed with finding her dead favorite son.”
Ping added. “When you were young, Lord Alpha, you had the same coloring as her pup. Britta thinks that Eliza was trying to drag you back to the Den.”
Oh good lord. I had Grandfather fruitcake and now I had Lycan Momma madness. No wonder I’m fractured. “How the hell did I end up on the Lycan roll call?”
Haley looked at me as if I were touched by the hand of God. “You were bitten. It doesn’t matter that the Regency Mages worked a binding on you. You have Lycan blood in you. Eliza might have mistaken you for her dead son, but she did make you a member of the Northern Pack.”
Ping reached out and brushed my hair off my forehead. “Haven’t you ever thought how you can understand Lycan?”
“But Britta hates my guts.”
Haley looked around briefly then leaned in. “That is because you are in line for succession.”
“WHAT!!??”
Claudius raised his hand. “Okay, I think we need to start from the beginning. What is going on?”
“Haley and Ping are trying to give me their puppies.”
“Really?” Claudia’s voice was hopeful. I blinked over at her. There was a longing her in voice as she looked over at the two sleeping puppies in their parents arms. She wanted more children? But...wait…one thing at a time.
Claudius glanced over at the two Lycan Prince and Princess. “I think the important question here is why?”
Haley sighed. “When Grandmother dies, it will be a free for all. She has declared me official heir, however…”
“She is reduced to her bed. Britta cannot last much longer. Factions have already begin to align. There are two others who have come forward.”
“Haley…”
“Some one tried to kill Lia.”
“What!! She can barely walk.”
“Lia and Treska are direct descendents of Britta the Elder. They are a threat to those who want to claim the Den and the Pack. It doesn’t matter how hold they are…what is all important is the bloodline.” Ping explained, her tone even but the gleam in her eyes told another story. She was a warlord’s daughter. She was a loving mother. I pitied the fool who dared harm a hair on her pack of puppies.
“Which you are acknowledged to be a part of, Lord Alpha.”
“But I never changed into a wolf…”
I noticed Mom and Dad glance at each other quickly. Shayne turned her attention to the chrome of the handlebars.
“Uh, Mom, Dad, Shayne, isn’t that your cue to jump in and tell me that I never changed into a wolf.”
“You were the cutest little red fuzz ball.” Dad returned with a weak smile.
Shayne ran her hand down the chrome of the bar. “You kinda of looked like an Ewok. Why did you think I called you Yubyub?”
I was stunned. No, I was more stunned than stunned, I was stupefied. How could they have kept this a secret for forty-five years? “Mom?”
“You were a puppy for three days, Babyboy. Then we called the Regency Mages in and we fixed you.”
“I couldn’t reverse it. I could only hold it at bay. I needed the Regency Council.”
Dad’s voice was low and I caught the regret that lingered there. Oh, Dad, but I’m so freaked right now.
“And you’re only telling me now!!” Armor wrapped his arms around me from behind. I guess I was getting a little animated.
“Keep it down, little one.”
“It didn’t seem like a big thing, Babyboy. You didn’t need to know about it. It was over and done with.” Mom returned but she didn’t look me in the eye. She was staring at my ear. Could this be why she let me turn into a bastard. Why she didn’t stop me.
Armor let me go. I wrapped Mom in my arms. I reached out and wrapped a hand around Dad’s neck. “You tried…but now…I’m in line for the Lycan throne.”
“I can tell you truthfully that you becoming ruler of the Lycan nation was never a thought in my head.” Dad reached around Mom and cupped the back of my neck.
“That’s the truth.” Mom kissed my cheek and let me go. I twisted around as I felt a warm hand on my lower back.
Ping reached up and cupped the side of my face with her dainty little paw. /Ssssh, Lord Alpha. I am honored to be tied to you through blood. That is why you can be Benedek. We know that our puppies will be safe with you./
Haley came around the bike and laid his head on my chest bringing back memories when he was just a an immature Alpha – a calico pup…who now had calico pups, that he was trying to give to me. “You can teach them how to penguin.”
Armor’s hold came back around as he kept me a comforting hug. Haley transferred Treska into my arms. The minute these two little girls came running across the floor, I knew I wanted them back in Von Drachenfeld, even if for a moment. “How long?”
“Benedek is forever, Lord Alpha. You will always keep that title, but you only need to be guardian until the war is decided.”
“War?” Mom’s voice was sharp.
“What else do you call it when Lycan goes against Lycan?” Ping returned touching Treska’s sleeping head. “The Den is a dangerous place at the best of times. I would rather know my puppies are safe. I know that nothing would happen to them in your care.”
Claudia extended her arms and Ping deposited Lia. “We have spoken to the older puppies and they know that we are offering you Benedek. Some of them…”
“Arashi.” Haley grumbled lowly.
“…feel they would be better off in the Den but we all know, they are still babies. Living in the human world, they think nineteen is mature. Alphas would tear them to shreds. I did not bring them into this world to usher them out of it.”
“Xavier…” Claudia hugged the little pup to her.
Like I was going to say no. “Treska…what does that mean?”
“Reaper.”
“You pick that?”
“Grandmother.”
Figures. I gave a soft sigh as I looked down at the cute little button nose. I turned my head and looked at the rest of the pack. Five nineteen year olds; three thirteen year olds; two six year olds and two two months old. It was going to be crowded and noisy.
“I accept your pack, Prince Haley, Princess Ping.”
/Thank you Lord Alpha. PUPPIES!/ Ping’s bark was sharp. Hell, I jumped. /Lord Alpha has agreed to be Benedek. Come and greet him properly./
Ike was like Ping’s father. He was huge and barrel chested. He towered over Haley, ahem, and me. He leaned in and licked my cheek. “Nice to be back, Benedek.” I was licked into a inch of needing a bath towel. Yuri and Kaori were carbon copies of Ping. Yuri had her father’s eyes. They were petite little things only coming up to my upper arm. I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking they were weak. I had less than fond memories of Ping ready to rip into me when she was fighting for her right to mate. The triplets came up to me next. They were taller than moi, all due to the Lycan metabaloism. Puppies aged quickly to about seventeen or nineteen then they stayed there at that physical age until they hit the Age of Change about sixty years down the pipe. Dewey was an Ike. Louis was a Ping and Huey was pure Haley. I got slobbered by all three. Yumi and Yuki were pure Haley, all calico curls and cute hanging onto the beginning edge of puberty. Wolfgang was busy helping set up an impromptu stage. The only one missing was…
“I told you, we don’t need to be here.”
Arashi.
/Bad manners is unacceptable, little girl. Just because you look grown, doesn’t mean you are./ Ping returned quickly and forcefully.
/We belong with you./
/You go where we say you go./
/But…/
/Are you challenging me?/
/No…I can help…/
/You can help by guarding your siblings. You are here because I know you will be safe. I will only have to worry about keeping your father alive./ Ping reached out and caught her black haired daughter by the chin. “Distraction is the enemy’s favorite weapon. Why? Because it usually works. If my attention is divided your Father dies. You will be a strong Alpha one day, Arashi, but that day is forty-five years away. This is not your time. This is not your fight. You can trust me when I say, you will have your own battles when you are of Age.”
Ping transferred her old to a mother’s hug. “I need you to be Den mother to the Imperial pack. That is what you are while you are here – the Von Drachenfeld Imperials. Benedek will protect you. The Empress will love you. They will keep you safe for us, because the Den will get ugly and ugly is something children, be it human, vampire or Lycan, shouldn’t see.”
There was a loud strum of an electric guitar. A few pops of a bass and then a couple of drumbeats. Oh thank God. This was getting too tense.
“Xavier?” Claudia watched as her tall thin boy shake his long white locks and all the mini Pings rushed the stage. Well, Lex had girl appeal. Wolf reached over and caught Lex around the neck and pulled him close for something. Lex grinned and let out a loud laugh. Damn, I’m going to have to ask. Pink or blue, Alexander?
Treska twitched and her paws began to run. I stroked her back lightly. “The boys have got a band. Pack Von D.”
Wolfgang slung a bass guitar low on his hip and turned back to Jax on the drum kit. He nodded and then turned back to the mic. “Mom, Dad, Alpha and Uncles, we’ve changed up our set a bit, but we hope you like it.”
Jax started drumming. Lex winked down at the Lycan groupies and started playing an ode to Bryan Setzer.
ooooh
ooooh
ooooh
ooooh
Black and gray lone wolf sitting on the fence
Ain’t got enough dough to pay the rent
I’m flat broke but I don’t care
I strut right by with my nose in the air
Lone Wolf strut
I’m a ladies wolf
A canine Casanova, yeah, man that’s that
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
I get my dinner from a garbage can
GRRRRRRRWWWWW,
Don’t cross my path
I don’t bother chasing mice around
Oh no, I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singing the blues while the lady wolves cry
Wow, lone wolf you’re a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got wolf class and I got wolf style
I don’t bother chasing mice around
I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singing the blues while the lady wolves cry
Wow, lone wolf you’re a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got wolf class and I got wolf style
HHHHOOOOOWWWWLLLLLLLLL
The whole of Saitou Ten began howling which was the equivalent of whoop whoop whoop. Haley jumped past me and waved his hands in the air. They weren’t bad. This was followed up by a Clash-ish sound of “I fought the law” and Billy Idol’s
Dancing with myself.” They were kind of across the board but then again, they were young. They were searching for their sound. Still, they were damned good.
Ping came up and rubbed my arm. I looked down at her. /I’m glad Wolfgang is happy here. He fought his Daddy so hard to convince him to allow him to come back. He has his father’s voice./ I watched as Haley bounced around with Yuki and Yumi dancing to the punkish beat. A smile crossed my lips. Damn, I missed him. /He misses you, Lord Alpha./
Ping took the puppy from my arms. /This might be the last time he can do this. I know it’s your birthday, Lord Alpha, but can you please take him dancing. He is still so young to bear so much…just like you./
“Dancing?”
/…and more…cousin. You are packmates after all./
I stilled. And More? I frowned. “Dancing?” I tilted my head back up to Armor.
“If that is what you want, Little One. It is your day after all.”
/Hey Pup!/ All of the puppies turned their heads toward me. “Oops, just Haley.”
I gestured with my head to the door. He glanced past me and got the Ping seal of approval. His face broke out into a wide grin. He ended up kissing everyone one of his pups even slapping a wet one on Wolfgang at the end of the song. He ruffled Lex’s hair but Jax lifted his drum sticks up in a cross to ward the Lycan off.
Claudia came up and took Treska from my hold. She kissed my cheek. “Have fun, Xavier. I’ll take care of things here.”
“Are you sure?”
Claudia looked down at the puppies in her arms. “I’m sure….oh, we have been given an official invitation to the coronation of Lane as the next Lady Regent. I have RSVP’d that we will be in attendance for this one.”
“Thanks Chippie.”
Armor had already swung his sweet can out to the hallway. I tapped Claudius on the shoulder as I headed for the exit. Haley caught up to me at the door and almost took me off my feet as he twisted me around my the shoulders. He had a knapsack in his hand. I was going to assume that they had discussed this ahead of time. He spied Armor up ahead and flashed fangs in my face and bolted after tall brown and lovely.
“They are not bad.” Claudius paused at the door and looked back. You could hear the swish of tails as Lex got himself an adoring fan female club.
“Well of course. Look who taught them.” I couldn’t believe it, a flash of pink colored the Black Death’s cheeks. Well, we knew who but the blush there.
“Come on, we’ve got the Imperial and Lycan seal of approval to cut out and make the rest of the night a boy’s night.”
“Hunting?”
“Dancing.”
There was a hesitation. “You know damn well Sex will be out on the dance floor and if you aren’t there he will hunt you down.”
“I will meet you downstairs.”
“Good Father.” I said it in the tone of good boy to a loving loyal pet. I got the evil eyebrow but he turned on his heel and went in search of his street clothes. He knew well enough by now to bring a bag of clothes with him. You never knew what the heck we were going or what we would be getting into.
By the time I got down to our room, Haley had changed out of his suit back into the pup looking youngster I knew. He had on a pair of baggy military pants and an olive green tank. You’d think those damn things would go out of style.
William was passed out in the wingback chair. Haley poked him. William muttered something then turned his face back into a support. I guess it would supposed to be flattering that Liam trusted me and Armor enough to get shitfaced and vunerable in front of year.
“What is he doing here?”
“Hades.”
Haley just nodded. He turned and moved to the bed. He gestured at me and I went and sat has he pulled the elegant hair piece out. “Ping was happy to see you wearing it.”
“What is going on….”
Haley held a hand over my mouth. His face got serious. “Let tomorrow take care of itself. “ I took that to mean that he didn’t want to talk about what was going on out in Lycan country.
Armor had shucked the braided monkey suit and came out of the closet, haha, in red denim jeans and a tight black microfiber tee that clung so lovingly, like me on him.
He tossed a shirt in my face. I peeled it off to get hit with a leather kilt.
“Hey.”
“I would like to unwrap something as well…”
“Me too!” Haley hung over my shoulder and began to unbutton my jacket. He ripped it off my shoulders.
“Haley!”
Haley leaned over and pressed his lips against my ear. /You needed comfort in Tokyo, cousin. I need the same comfort./ A low whine sounded as he nuzzled the side of my head. /Ping has given permission…/
/Haley…/
/Sensei too./
I twisted my upper body and caught Haley around the neck. “What the hell is going on, Pup?”
“Not here, Alpha…little ears have sensitive hearing.”
Haley slipped out of my hold and positioned himself at my feet. He turned around swung a leg over mine and caught the back of my boot heel and pulled. When that boot slipped free, he did the same with the other one. I sort of felt like a prized pet. Armor had settled himself behind me on the bed and finished stripping off my shirt. His finger tips brushed my shoulders and ran down my arms lingering at my sensitive zones. I let a smile cross my face.
My sexual sensei. I had forgotten Haley had called him that. My body shivered as his thumb stroked the inside of my elbow as ne urged my hands up. I got dressed like I was a two year old. Okay…maybe not. Haley’s paws in my waistband and the backs of his knuckles were tapping out a Lycan love beat. My head popped through the neckhole of the shirt and…and….uh…
Armor’s talented tongue slipped between my lips. Nipping. Coaxing. Calling for reciprocity. In a mockery of pulling my shirt down his hand swept across my nipple ring and shield, lingering on my rock hard abs. Armor swallowed my moan. I didn’t know if it was of protest or of desire. I was leaning toward desire. Haley’s hands definitely made me lean towards desire. Schwing!
Armor’s hand moved lower tangling with Haley’s then, my hips were yanked high off the bed so Haley could roll my tight pants down off my thighs. Armor pulled back. I had a hell of a time focusing on his face. Blink. Blink. Holy Toledo, Sensei. I haven’t been so…cherished in a while. Hands shoved my inner thighs open. /Haley?/
I heard a familiar laugh and then Lycan lips kissed my right inner thigh up under the leg of my silk boxer. He shifted to his knees and then planted a sucky lippy kiss just above my waistband then slipped his tongue in my navel. Holy….
“Ahem.”
All three of us turned and looked toward the bedroom door. Claudius leaned against the doorframe with his hands folded across his chest. “Is this what the youngsters call dancing nowadays?”
When the hell did Father start wearing a kilt? Yummy. It was black leather and it called out to be stroked. Or it could be the vampire underneath that made it do that. I fully expected Sex to come roaring up off the beach but aside from that yummy comment…I got nothing from him. What the hell? I couldn’t close my legs because Haley was still between them. I couldn’t sit up because Armor was…doing what my big man did best. Crap. Father hadn’t wanted to come with us. Something was off.
“Okay…what the hell is going on with you two?” I decided to try and brazen this out sprawled out like a love banquet on a bed of Lycan and Vampire.
“Cillian…” All of us looked over at the sleeping progenitor of the species.
“Get dressed Xavier. This really isn’t the place to get into anything.”
Haley slipped out from between my legs and grabbed up my own bronze leather kilt. I had to slap his paw away from the family jewels because he was fondling more than dressing. He gave a slight whine but jumped to his feet and bounced at Father.
“You too. You give good comfort. You give good proxy.”
Armor untangled himself and I stood up making sure everything was covered and packed away as it should be…or close to it. The expression on Father’s face would have made me laugh any other time but…brother’s stillness was disturbing.
“Proxy?” Realization hit Father between the lips and Haley climbed him and pressed an urgent kiss on him. “Haley…”
Sex was really happy to get the motorcycle. As I have said before you always knew were someone stood with him. If those ‘tinks’ hadn’t gotten so embarrassing, I’m sure sweet and Sexy would have thanked Father, ahem, properly. “Father?”
Claudius peeled Haley off of him but rustled a hand in the Lycan’s hair. Haley leaned into him and wrapped his arms around Father’s narrow waist. “I am not the one with the issues, Xavier. I suggest you ask your brother if you want answers. If Sex doesn’t want to share with you…this discussion is closed.”
“I want to dance with my family.” Haley turned and flashed his feral eyes at me. “This may be the last time I can.”
Claudius pressed a kiss to Haley’s forehead. “We will be waiting down in the car.”
Armor nodded. “I’ll finish getting him ready.”
I took that to be a no fly zone in the lower groin area. Armor gave me a slight shove and I bounced my ass off the mattress. He grabbed my foot and massaged it slighty. For the lack of a better word, he rolled knee socks up my calves. He worked diligently on my shoe not looking up at the obvious tent just before his nose. Since when did my version of a horn dog dismiss his treat of a bone?
“You know.” I narrowed my gaze down on his sable locks.
“I know many things, Litte One.” He returned easily. Crap that annoyed the hell out of me. He tied my other shoe on.
“You know what is bothering Claudius.”
“Nothing is bothering Father.” A finger came across my lips as I went to open my mouth again. “Sex confided in me in confidence. I will not betray that. I worked too hard to get back into his good graces. Understood?”
“But…”
“I am not asking you to like it, X. Just accept it.”
Crap. I hate it when he goes all noble on me. He chucked me lightly under my chin and raised my head up to meet his eyes. “Save the last dance for me, Beautiful.”
Well, duh.
“Come. We have a King to comfort.” Armor took my arm and jerked me to my feet.
“He’s my cousin.” My voice was a little tight. I’d lived in terror of that night of the attack for decades. Now it seemed like it had been preordained or something. Involuntarily I shivered.
“Beautiful?”
“I’m a werewolf, Pretty.” I looked up at his hot chocolate brown eyes. I don’t know what I searching for but…
“So bite me.”
“What?”
“I wish to remain at your side forever, Xavier. If you are worried about that, the answer is simple. Bite me. I would gladly turn into your second generation werewolf, my little red Ewok.”
I busted out crying. Damn it.
Armor gathered me in his arms. “There is no place you can go that I will not follow. I cannot fly, but I will be there for you when you land. That is the absolute least that I will do for you, my Little One, my Beautiful…my Xavier. I am going to love you forever.”
His thumb came up and wiped the tears away. He repeated it. “I am going to love you forever.”
I smiled weepily up at him. “Amen.”
A loud snore erupted from the wingback chair. Damn, no rest for the wicked. Armor took me by the hand and towed me out the door. I had puppies to raise. I had a Lycan to comfort. I had a brother I would have to track down and kick some sense into. I had a hunk of burning vampire to tame. Happy birthday to me. Ugh…I took a shoulder to the midsection and ended up ass over Armor. Eh. I let my hands slid down to the crimson covered globes and let my palms play bungos.
Yeah, Happy Birthday to me.
* * *
What am I going to do now? I'm going to Disneyland!! Never been. This should be an interesting day. Later.
update: Feb 20/08
How remiss of me. I had so much Mickeyitis that I forgot the kudos. After getting on my soapbox about how much authors like feedback…so do the readers. Gack. Sorry. (blink, blink, attempting to look cute.) lavcea; lone_child; blaze; eiriyukithewriter; laur; Duelriel; Rosemayr; Akemi (x2)[welcome]; steph291; one-love012 (welcome); jewel2656; twitch (welcome – oops, I forgot last time); k; Marin Liliz; mystic 87; SpiritofBeyond; Ana; and maggiepyro101. Whoot, whoot, whoot!!
Akemi: OMG, OMG, OMFG your music that you linked is simply amazing. I appreciate your effort is beautiful…I got misty eyed. I would love to hear from you. Basically, my question to you is..what was in your mind’s eye when you choose this piece? My squishy little inquiring mind wants to know.
O: “kiix” your ass. Hahahahaha. Please bear with me regarding the werewolf issue…I do have a reason. Here it is. A vampire cannot interfere with Lycan affairs. It would be a case of the Lycan nation banning together to fight off the interloper…meaning the brotherhood which in turn means the Vampire nation. In the history of the Cake universe, the Vampire nation is the pinnacle basically because they can kill the rest of the bloods….so you are really not wanting an all and all out war. Why not? No more Lycan in North America.
Chapter 192: Comfort
I called an impromptu family meeting over by the shiny new Indian. I couldn’t stand still. I bounced from one heel to the other. I raised my hand and tried to run it through my hair but I had forgotten I had Ping’s hair cage secured and ended up spearing myself in the side of the head with my nails. When the ‘family’ was assembled I got my freak on.
“Okay, no one is denying that when I was nine, I was attacked by a Lycan.”
“Aunt Eliza.” Haley repeated.
“That Lycan was a relative?” Mom’s voice was incredulous.
“Aunt Eliza was a survivor from Britta’s third litter. None of her pups survived to adulthood. In the end, she was touched by the hand of God.”
I furrowed my brow. “What exactly does that mean?”
“She was like Lanny. She had visions but she was a little unstable. She had turned lone wolf and disappeared. Grandmother has said that Eliza had gotten obsessed with finding her dead favorite son.”
Ping added. “When you were young, Lord Alpha, you had the same coloring as her pup. Britta thinks that Eliza was trying to drag you back to the Den.”
Oh good lord. I had Grandfather fruitcake and now I had Lycan Momma madness. No wonder I’m fractured. “How the hell did I end up on the Lycan roll call?”
Haley looked at me as if I were touched by the hand of God. “You were bitten. It doesn’t matter that the Regency Mages worked a binding on you. You have Lycan blood in you. Eliza might have mistaken you for her dead son, but she did make you a member of the Northern Pack.”
Ping reached out and brushed my hair off my forehead. “Haven’t you ever thought how you can understand Lycan?”
“But Britta hates my guts.”
Haley looked around briefly then leaned in. “That is because you are in line for succession.”
“WHAT!!??”
Claudius raised his hand. “Okay, I think we need to start from the beginning. What is going on?”
“Haley and Ping are trying to give me their puppies.”
“Really?” Claudia’s voice was hopeful. I blinked over at her. There was a longing her in voice as she looked over at the two sleeping puppies in their parents arms. She wanted more children? But...wait…one thing at a time.
Claudius glanced over at the two Lycan Prince and Princess. “I think the important question here is why?”
Haley sighed. “When Grandmother dies, it will be a free for all. She has declared me official heir, however…”
“She is reduced to her bed. Britta cannot last much longer. Factions have already begin to align. There are two others who have come forward.”
“Haley…”
“Some one tried to kill Lia.”
“What!! She can barely walk.”
“Lia and Treska are direct descendents of Britta the Elder. They are a threat to those who want to claim the Den and the Pack. It doesn’t matter how hold they are…what is all important is the bloodline.” Ping explained, her tone even but the gleam in her eyes told another story. She was a warlord’s daughter. She was a loving mother. I pitied the fool who dared harm a hair on her pack of puppies.
“Which you are acknowledged to be a part of, Lord Alpha.”
“But I never changed into a wolf…”
I noticed Mom and Dad glance at each other quickly. Shayne turned her attention to the chrome of the handlebars.
“Uh, Mom, Dad, Shayne, isn’t that your cue to jump in and tell me that I never changed into a wolf.”
“You were the cutest little red fuzz ball.” Dad returned with a weak smile.
Shayne ran her hand down the chrome of the bar. “You kinda of looked like an Ewok. Why did you think I called you Yubyub?”
I was stunned. No, I was more stunned than stunned, I was stupefied. How could they have kept this a secret for forty-five years? “Mom?”
“You were a puppy for three days, Babyboy. Then we called the Regency Mages in and we fixed you.”
“I couldn’t reverse it. I could only hold it at bay. I needed the Regency Council.”
Dad’s voice was low and I caught the regret that lingered there. Oh, Dad, but I’m so freaked right now.
“And you’re only telling me now!!” Armor wrapped his arms around me from behind. I guess I was getting a little animated.
“Keep it down, little one.”
“It didn’t seem like a big thing, Babyboy. You didn’t need to know about it. It was over and done with.” Mom returned but she didn’t look me in the eye. She was staring at my ear. Could this be why she let me turn into a bastard. Why she didn’t stop me.
Armor let me go. I wrapped Mom in my arms. I reached out and wrapped a hand around Dad’s neck. “You tried…but now…I’m in line for the Lycan throne.”
“I can tell you truthfully that you becoming ruler of the Lycan nation was never a thought in my head.” Dad reached around Mom and cupped the back of my neck.
“That’s the truth.” Mom kissed my cheek and let me go. I twisted around as I felt a warm hand on my lower back.
Ping reached up and cupped the side of my face with her dainty little paw. /Ssssh, Lord Alpha. I am honored to be tied to you through blood. That is why you can be Benedek. We know that our puppies will be safe with you./
Haley came around the bike and laid his head on my chest bringing back memories when he was just a an immature Alpha – a calico pup…who now had calico pups, that he was trying to give to me. “You can teach them how to penguin.”
Armor’s hold came back around as he kept me a comforting hug. Haley transferred Treska into my arms. The minute these two little girls came running across the floor, I knew I wanted them back in Von Drachenfeld, even if for a moment. “How long?”
“Benedek is forever, Lord Alpha. You will always keep that title, but you only need to be guardian until the war is decided.”
“War?” Mom’s voice was sharp.
“What else do you call it when Lycan goes against Lycan?” Ping returned touching Treska’s sleeping head. “The Den is a dangerous place at the best of times. I would rather know my puppies are safe. I know that nothing would happen to them in your care.”
Claudia extended her arms and Ping deposited Lia. “We have spoken to the older puppies and they know that we are offering you Benedek. Some of them…”
“Arashi.” Haley grumbled lowly.
“…feel they would be better off in the Den but we all know, they are still babies. Living in the human world, they think nineteen is mature. Alphas would tear them to shreds. I did not bring them into this world to usher them out of it.”
“Xavier…” Claudia hugged the little pup to her.
Like I was going to say no. “Treska…what does that mean?”
“Reaper.”
“You pick that?”
“Grandmother.”
Figures. I gave a soft sigh as I looked down at the cute little button nose. I turned my head and looked at the rest of the pack. Five nineteen year olds; three thirteen year olds; two six year olds and two two months old. It was going to be crowded and noisy.
“I accept your pack, Prince Haley, Princess Ping.”
/Thank you Lord Alpha. PUPPIES!/ Ping’s bark was sharp. Hell, I jumped. /Lord Alpha has agreed to be Benedek. Come and greet him properly./
Ike was like Ping’s father. He was huge and barrel chested. He towered over Haley, ahem, and me. He leaned in and licked my cheek. “Nice to be back, Benedek.” I was licked into a inch of needing a bath towel. Yuri and Kaori were carbon copies of Ping. Yuri had her father’s eyes. They were petite little things only coming up to my upper arm. I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking they were weak. I had less than fond memories of Ping ready to rip into me when she was fighting for her right to mate. The triplets came up to me next. They were taller than moi, all due to the Lycan metabaloism. Puppies aged quickly to about seventeen or nineteen then they stayed there at that physical age until they hit the Age of Change about sixty years down the pipe. Dewey was an Ike. Louis was a Ping and Huey was pure Haley. I got slobbered by all three. Yumi and Yuki were pure Haley, all calico curls and cute hanging onto the beginning edge of puberty. Wolfgang was busy helping set up an impromptu stage. The only one missing was…
“I told you, we don’t need to be here.”
Arashi.
/Bad manners is unacceptable, little girl. Just because you look grown, doesn’t mean you are./ Ping returned quickly and forcefully.
/We belong with you./
/You go where we say you go./
/But…/
/Are you challenging me?/
/No…I can help…/
/You can help by guarding your siblings. You are here because I know you will be safe. I will only have to worry about keeping your father alive./ Ping reached out and caught her black haired daughter by the chin. “Distraction is the enemy’s favorite weapon. Why? Because it usually works. If my attention is divided your Father dies. You will be a strong Alpha one day, Arashi, but that day is forty-five years away. This is not your time. This is not your fight. You can trust me when I say, you will have your own battles when you are of Age.”
Ping transferred her old to a mother’s hug. “I need you to be Den mother to the Imperial pack. That is what you are while you are here – the Von Drachenfeld Imperials. Benedek will protect you. The Empress will love you. They will keep you safe for us, because the Den will get ugly and ugly is something children, be it human, vampire or Lycan, shouldn’t see.”
There was a loud strum of an electric guitar. A few pops of a bass and then a couple of drumbeats. Oh thank God. This was getting too tense.
“Xavier?” Claudia watched as her tall thin boy shake his long white locks and all the mini Pings rushed the stage. Well, Lex had girl appeal. Wolf reached over and caught Lex around the neck and pulled him close for something. Lex grinned and let out a loud laugh. Damn, I’m going to have to ask. Pink or blue, Alexander?
Treska twitched and her paws began to run. I stroked her back lightly. “The boys have got a band. Pack Von D.”
Wolfgang slung a bass guitar low on his hip and turned back to Jax on the drum kit. He nodded and then turned back to the mic. “Mom, Dad, Alpha and Uncles, we’ve changed up our set a bit, but we hope you like it.”
Jax started drumming. Lex winked down at the Lycan groupies and started playing an ode to Bryan Setzer.
ooooh
ooooh
ooooh
ooooh
Black and gray lone wolf sitting on the fence
Ain’t got enough dough to pay the rent
I’m flat broke but I don’t care
I strut right by with my nose in the air
Lone Wolf strut
I’m a ladies wolf
A canine Casanova, yeah, man that’s that
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
I get my dinner from a garbage can
GRRRRRRRWWWWW,
Don’t cross my path
I don’t bother chasing mice around
Oh no, I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singing the blues while the lady wolves cry
Wow, lone wolf you’re a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got wolf class and I got wolf style
I don’t bother chasing mice around
I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singing the blues while the lady wolves cry
Wow, lone wolf you’re a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got wolf class and I got wolf style
HHHHOOOOOWWWWLLLLLLLLL
The whole of Saitou Ten began howling which was the equivalent of whoop whoop whoop. Haley jumped past me and waved his hands in the air. They weren’t bad. This was followed up by a Clash-ish sound of “I fought the law” and Billy Idol’s
Dancing with myself.” They were kind of across the board but then again, they were young. They were searching for their sound. Still, they were damned good.
Ping came up and rubbed my arm. I looked down at her. /I’m glad Wolfgang is happy here. He fought his Daddy so hard to convince him to allow him to come back. He has his father’s voice./ I watched as Haley bounced around with Yuki and Yumi dancing to the punkish beat. A smile crossed my lips. Damn, I missed him. /He misses you, Lord Alpha./
Ping took the puppy from my arms. /This might be the last time he can do this. I know it’s your birthday, Lord Alpha, but can you please take him dancing. He is still so young to bear so much…just like you./
“Dancing?”
/…and more…cousin. You are packmates after all./
I stilled. And More? I frowned. “Dancing?” I tilted my head back up to Armor.
“If that is what you want, Little One. It is your day after all.”
/Hey Pup!/ All of the puppies turned their heads toward me. “Oops, just Haley.”
I gestured with my head to the door. He glanced past me and got the Ping seal of approval. His face broke out into a wide grin. He ended up kissing everyone one of his pups even slapping a wet one on Wolfgang at the end of the song. He ruffled Lex’s hair but Jax lifted his drum sticks up in a cross to ward the Lycan off.
Claudia came up and took Treska from my hold. She kissed my cheek. “Have fun, Xavier. I’ll take care of things here.”
“Are you sure?”
Claudia looked down at the puppies in her arms. “I’m sure….oh, we have been given an official invitation to the coronation of Lane as the next Lady Regent. I have RSVP’d that we will be in attendance for this one.”
“Thanks Chippie.”
Armor had already swung his sweet can out to the hallway. I tapped Claudius on the shoulder as I headed for the exit. Haley caught up to me at the door and almost took me off my feet as he twisted me around my the shoulders. He had a knapsack in his hand. I was going to assume that they had discussed this ahead of time. He spied Armor up ahead and flashed fangs in my face and bolted after tall brown and lovely.
“They are not bad.” Claudius paused at the door and looked back. You could hear the swish of tails as Lex got himself an adoring fan female club.
“Well of course. Look who taught them.” I couldn’t believe it, a flash of pink colored the Black Death’s cheeks. Well, we knew who but the blush there.
“Come on, we’ve got the Imperial and Lycan seal of approval to cut out and make the rest of the night a boy’s night.”
“Hunting?”
“Dancing.”
There was a hesitation. “You know damn well Sex will be out on the dance floor and if you aren’t there he will hunt you down.”
“I will meet you downstairs.”
“Good Father.” I said it in the tone of good boy to a loving loyal pet. I got the evil eyebrow but he turned on his heel and went in search of his street clothes. He knew well enough by now to bring a bag of clothes with him. You never knew what the heck we were going or what we would be getting into.
By the time I got down to our room, Haley had changed out of his suit back into the pup looking youngster I knew. He had on a pair of baggy military pants and an olive green tank. You’d think those damn things would go out of style.
William was passed out in the wingback chair. Haley poked him. William muttered something then turned his face back into a support. I guess it would supposed to be flattering that Liam trusted me and Armor enough to get shitfaced and vunerable in front of year.
“What is he doing here?”
“Hades.”
Haley just nodded. He turned and moved to the bed. He gestured at me and I went and sat has he pulled the elegant hair piece out. “Ping was happy to see you wearing it.”
“What is going on….”
Haley held a hand over my mouth. His face got serious. “Let tomorrow take care of itself. “ I took that to mean that he didn’t want to talk about what was going on out in Lycan country.
Armor had shucked the braided monkey suit and came out of the closet, haha, in red denim jeans and a tight black microfiber tee that clung so lovingly, like me on him.
He tossed a shirt in my face. I peeled it off to get hit with a leather kilt.
“Hey.”
“I would like to unwrap something as well…”
“Me too!” Haley hung over my shoulder and began to unbutton my jacket. He ripped it off my shoulders.
“Haley!”
Haley leaned over and pressed his lips against my ear. /You needed comfort in Tokyo, cousin. I need the same comfort./ A low whine sounded as he nuzzled the side of my head. /Ping has given permission…/
/Haley…/
/Sensei too./
I twisted my upper body and caught Haley around the neck. “What the hell is going on, Pup?”
“Not here, Alpha…little ears have sensitive hearing.”
Haley slipped out of my hold and positioned himself at my feet. He turned around swung a leg over mine and caught the back of my boot heel and pulled. When that boot slipped free, he did the same with the other one. I sort of felt like a prized pet. Armor had settled himself behind me on the bed and finished stripping off my shirt. His finger tips brushed my shoulders and ran down my arms lingering at my sensitive zones. I let a smile cross my face.
My sexual sensei. I had forgotten Haley had called him that. My body shivered as his thumb stroked the inside of my elbow as ne urged my hands up. I got dressed like I was a two year old. Okay…maybe not. Haley’s paws in my waistband and the backs of his knuckles were tapping out a Lycan love beat. My head popped through the neckhole of the shirt and…and….uh…
Armor’s talented tongue slipped between my lips. Nipping. Coaxing. Calling for reciprocity. In a mockery of pulling my shirt down his hand swept across my nipple ring and shield, lingering on my rock hard abs. Armor swallowed my moan. I didn’t know if it was of protest or of desire. I was leaning toward desire. Haley’s hands definitely made me lean towards desire. Schwing!
Armor’s hand moved lower tangling with Haley’s then, my hips were yanked high off the bed so Haley could roll my tight pants down off my thighs. Armor pulled back. I had a hell of a time focusing on his face. Blink. Blink. Holy Toledo, Sensei. I haven’t been so…cherished in a while. Hands shoved my inner thighs open. /Haley?/
I heard a familiar laugh and then Lycan lips kissed my right inner thigh up under the leg of my silk boxer. He shifted to his knees and then planted a sucky lippy kiss just above my waistband then slipped his tongue in my navel. Holy….
“Ahem.”
All three of us turned and looked toward the bedroom door. Claudius leaned against the doorframe with his hands folded across his chest. “Is this what the youngsters call dancing nowadays?”
When the hell did Father start wearing a kilt? Yummy. It was black leather and it called out to be stroked. Or it could be the vampire underneath that made it do that. I fully expected Sex to come roaring up off the beach but aside from that yummy comment…I got nothing from him. What the hell? I couldn’t close my legs because Haley was still between them. I couldn’t sit up because Armor was…doing what my big man did best. Crap. Father hadn’t wanted to come with us. Something was off.
“Okay…what the hell is going on with you two?” I decided to try and brazen this out sprawled out like a love banquet on a bed of Lycan and Vampire.
“Cillian…” All of us looked over at the sleeping progenitor of the species.
“Get dressed Xavier. This really isn’t the place to get into anything.”
Haley slipped out from between my legs and grabbed up my own bronze leather kilt. I had to slap his paw away from the family jewels because he was fondling more than dressing. He gave a slight whine but jumped to his feet and bounced at Father.
“You too. You give good comfort. You give good proxy.”
Armor untangled himself and I stood up making sure everything was covered and packed away as it should be…or close to it. The expression on Father’s face would have made me laugh any other time but…brother’s stillness was disturbing.
“Proxy?” Realization hit Father between the lips and Haley climbed him and pressed an urgent kiss on him. “Haley…”
Sex was really happy to get the motorcycle. As I have said before you always knew were someone stood with him. If those ‘tinks’ hadn’t gotten so embarrassing, I’m sure sweet and Sexy would have thanked Father, ahem, properly. “Father?”
Claudius peeled Haley off of him but rustled a hand in the Lycan’s hair. Haley leaned into him and wrapped his arms around Father’s narrow waist. “I am not the one with the issues, Xavier. I suggest you ask your brother if you want answers. If Sex doesn’t want to share with you…this discussion is closed.”
“I want to dance with my family.” Haley turned and flashed his feral eyes at me. “This may be the last time I can.”
Claudius pressed a kiss to Haley’s forehead. “We will be waiting down in the car.”
Armor nodded. “I’ll finish getting him ready.”
I took that to be a no fly zone in the lower groin area. Armor gave me a slight shove and I bounced my ass off the mattress. He grabbed my foot and massaged it slighty. For the lack of a better word, he rolled knee socks up my calves. He worked diligently on my shoe not looking up at the obvious tent just before his nose. Since when did my version of a horn dog dismiss his treat of a bone?
“You know.” I narrowed my gaze down on his sable locks.
“I know many things, Litte One.” He returned easily. Crap that annoyed the hell out of me. He tied my other shoe on.
“You know what is bothering Claudius.”
“Nothing is bothering Father.” A finger came across my lips as I went to open my mouth again. “Sex confided in me in confidence. I will not betray that. I worked too hard to get back into his good graces. Understood?”
“But…”
“I am not asking you to like it, X. Just accept it.”
Crap. I hate it when he goes all noble on me. He chucked me lightly under my chin and raised my head up to meet his eyes. “Save the last dance for me, Beautiful.”
Well, duh.
“Come. We have a King to comfort.” Armor took my arm and jerked me to my feet.
“He’s my cousin.” My voice was a little tight. I’d lived in terror of that night of the attack for decades. Now it seemed like it had been preordained or something. Involuntarily I shivered.
“Beautiful?”
“I’m a werewolf, Pretty.” I looked up at his hot chocolate brown eyes. I don’t know what I searching for but…
“So bite me.”
“What?”
“I wish to remain at your side forever, Xavier. If you are worried about that, the answer is simple. Bite me. I would gladly turn into your second generation werewolf, my little red Ewok.”
I busted out crying. Damn it.
Armor gathered me in his arms. “There is no place you can go that I will not follow. I cannot fly, but I will be there for you when you land. That is the absolute least that I will do for you, my Little One, my Beautiful…my Xavier. I am going to love you forever.”
His thumb came up and wiped the tears away. He repeated it. “I am going to love you forever.”
I smiled weepily up at him. “Amen.”
A loud snore erupted from the wingback chair. Damn, no rest for the wicked. Armor took me by the hand and towed me out the door. I had puppies to raise. I had a Lycan to comfort. I had a brother I would have to track down and kick some sense into. I had a hunk of burning vampire to tame. Happy birthday to me. Ugh…I took a shoulder to the midsection and ended up ass over Armor. Eh. I let my hands slid down to the crimson covered globes and let my palms play bungos.
Yeah, Happy Birthday to me.
* * *