Chapter XVII
That's all I ask of you
Selene sat nervously at a small round table; the room was dark, illuminated only by a pair of candles. She played awkwardly with her silver cutlery, unsure of what to say. She took a sip of wine from her cut crystal glass and then proceeded to take another bite of her food.
"How is it?" her companion asked eagerly
"It's lovely Kraven" she said quietly "you shouldn't have gone to so much trouble"
"You're worth it" he smiled "Would you like some more wine?"
"No thank you" she said simply "Kraven… It's like I'm seeing a different side of you this week, you were so brave that night, and now… you've been so sweet, so attentive, I'm confused."
"Don't be" he smiled gently "I know I have made mistakes in my life… Stupid, stupid mistakes. But everything I've done, everything I'll ever do is all for you."
Selene allowed herself to smile, "I think I will have some more wine."
Kraven obliged and took a moment to gaze at her while he topped up her glass "You know Selene… Dimitri will be here in a few weeks, the pre awakening party will be a grand event… Selene it would mean the world to me if you were at my side for the arrival of Amelia's envoy."
Selene titled her head slightly and let out a sigh "Kraven…" she hesitated for a moment "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not ready I don't want the entire Coven gossiping about us. Can we not just take it slowly?"
"Of course" he said immediately "What ever you want. But will you at least think about it?"
Selene rolled her eyes and smiled "Yes I'll think about it." She said in an embarrassed tone.
"That's all I ask of you"
"Okay" Said Selene as she placed her knife and fork back onto the table "Now we have to talk about something serious."
"Do we have to talk about work now?" he asked, rolling his eyes.
"Yes we do" she said sarcastically "Have you noticed anything strange about the number of Lycan attacks recently?"
"What do you mean?" he asked nervously
"They've been increasing" she emphasized "And that Lycan that had me cornered, there hasn't been a Lycan of that strength in this land for centuries."
"It's just a coincidence" Kraven reassured her "A random incursion."
"I'm not so sure" she said coldly, allowing the Death Dealer in her to assert itself "I think it was an alpha, and from what Khan tells me that wasn't the only alpha we've hunted recently."
"So what?" he said impatiently "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you are supposed to be our Regent" she told him "These things should concern you, especially when they happen this close to the Awakening."
"Selene you have to trust me." He said in an almost patronizing tone of voice "If there were a Lycan conspiracy I would know about it."
"Viktor would believe me" she said bitterly
"I do believe you my love" he said soothingly as he stroked her hand "It may well be an alpha, but that is of little concern to us."
"I disagree" she said coldly, withdrawing her hand "Do you know how many Alpha's I've faced in six hundred years?"
"No" replied Kraven
"Only fourteen"
"So what?" asked Kraven
"Six of them were in the last two years Kraven, that's more than a random incursion." Kraven went to speak however she interrupted him. "Let me take the Death Dealers and find out what's happening."
"No" said Kraven shaking his head "I'll send out some teams, I'll even have Ziodec send some of there people, but I know a little about Lycan as well, and I think you're wrong about this. Maybe you're just a little shaken up by what's happened?"
Selene looked at him with a blank expression, "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." She said coldly as she got up to storm out.
"Wait!" yelled Kraven as he moved between Selene and the door, he gently placed a hand on each of her bare arms and gently stroked her silky white skin with his thumbs. "I'm sorry" he whispered "If it makes you happy, I'll use all of our resources to check this out, will that make you happy?"
Selene shrugged her shoulders slightly and looked away, "Come here" he said gently as he pulled her towards him, "You know I value your opinion above all others" he spoke softly as he wrapped his arms around her and began to stroke her hair "Are you still mad at me?"
"Yes" she said softly as she rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso "Very mad."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"What the hell are you doing here?" hissed Lucian, as he rose from his chair and grabbed a shot gun. "I beginning to think you want to get caught!" Lucian stood amongst a group of his men as his unwelcome visitors began to stride towards them.
"I told you to keep your men under control" hissed Kraven as he and Soren walked through the filthy underworld that the Lycan inhabited.
"I am in control of my men" Lucian insisted
"Really?" asked Kraven "Well the Death Dealers are becoming suspicious, if you want Amelia unprotected you will have to tighten the leash."
"Fine" he conceded "I'll have little word with my men"
"That's all I ask of you" smiled Kraven as he turned to leave
Lucian watched as his partners in crime exited the Lycan lair "We should kill them" roared Raze
"All in good time my friend" smiled Lucian "We have more pressing issues to attend to. Dr. Singe has located the last possible candidate for our little experiment, his name is Michael Corvin, I need you and Trix to go and find him for me, there's a good fellow.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
When Kraven got back to the mansion he made his way straight to Selene's room, knocking on the door he revealed a bunch of flowers from around his back.
"Impressive" smiled Selene "You managed to put down the Lycan threat and buy flowers for me."
"There was no Lycan threat" he smiled, as he sat down in one of Selene's chairs "Everything's safe."
"You're sure" she asked raising an eyebrow
"Of course" he smiled
"I'm not so sure" she stated "Malachi always said that the only way to be sure was to find the carcass."
"Who said that?" asked Kraven
"Malachi" she repeated
"Malachi?" asked Kraven "What's he got to do with anything."
"Nothing, it's just something he said."
"Oh and of course, he's always right, isn't he?" said Kraven with a voice full of venom
"What's that supposed to mean?" she smiled "I haven't even heard from Malachi in years."
"So why do you still bring him up?" he demanded
"You're jealous" she laughed still smiling
"Are you still carrying a torch for him?" he hissed
"Oh for God's sake Kraven!" she yelled rolling her eyes
"Did you know he's found someone else?" he laughed at her "He's completely in love with another woman, has been for nearly fifteen years, I bet he didn't even tell you did he?"
"Why would he?" she replied "Why would I care? My God, just when I start to like you, just when I start to have feelings for you, just when I think I might lo… well… you act like this. The same spoiled, arrogant and spiteful man you've always been. Why Kraven? Why do you treat me like a princess one minute, and scorn me like a whore the next?"
Kraven stood with his mouth wide open as he realized what he had said "I'm sorry… I just get… jealous…"
"Save it" she spat "I don't care anymore… just get out."
"Selene…" he pleaded
"Get out" she whispered as her eyes began to well up and a single tear rolled down her face.
"I…"
"Get out!" she screamed as she forced Kraven back towards the door and out into the corridor, slamming the door in his face.
"Damn it" screamed Kraven as he punched at a wall "Fuck!"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
A few weeks passed since their last argument, and Selene and Kraven had completely avoided each other. Selene had thrown herself into her work, going out every night with Rigel and Nathaniel to hunt, she always loved to hunt. Kraven had his men report to him whenever the trio got home, until tonight when Selene returned alone.
Selene's car screeched up the mansion and came to a violent halt. She quickly exited the vehicle and made her way up to the front doors. Throwing the heavy doors open with a strength that would impress Amelia herself she walked through the reception rooms of the mansion with a purpose, receiving glances from the aristocrats that were lounging around. She made her way into the armory and stopped breathlessly in front of Kahn.
Throwing a bulky silver handgun onto his desk, she looked directly and with genuine concern in her cobalt blue eyes said "We have a serious problem."