THE CELEBRATION:
Her soft skin, rose scent and the way that she looked at me when I pulled her close for the first dance of the night, caused the predator in me to awaken. Her heart skips a beat and accelerates, involuntarily the alpha in her comes forth challenging my dominance. "Do I make you nervous?" I ask, trying to force her to rein in her vampiric nature, she's literally vibrating with need. Newly turned vampires experience an overload of sensations to the senses, when the vampire manifests. Only with time will it become bearable and controllable. There's a pregnant pause, as her eyes return to normal, and racing heart slows.
"About as nervous as a lioness in the company of a gazelle." Her reference to me as prey brings out my flirtatious side, and I can't help being baited. "I don't think William would take to kindly to your preying upon me." Her gaze goes to William, watching us from afar. "William's infatuation with me won't last long, and he'll soon tire of me." Pulling away from me abruptly, turning I see William's hasty departure. "His lips never moved, but he spoke to me." She says.
"William's a reader and as your sire, he's passed his gift to you." I say, leading her back into the dance.
"But i've never done it before."
"It happens that way, we all have speed and strength, but some of us are stronger, faster, able to read thoughts, or have a moderate immunity to the sun." She's quiet for a moment, and then the vampiric in her bubbles forth, her eyes glowing. She's an unusual one, moods changing at the drop of a hat. "You can withstand the sun." Her statement catches me off guard, as that is something that I've worked hard to protect. "I want it." She's come to a complete stop, and the dancers continue on around us. What she asks can be given, but it is something that is well guarded. To only a few is it known, how to gain an unnatural complete immunity to the sun.
Taking her arm, I guide her out of the ballroom, and into the library. Scanning the room, I make sure that we're alone. "This isn't something that's to be discussed, and you'll keep what you've learned to yourself." As beautiful as it is, I don't like the way that she's smiling at me. "I'll keep your secret, if you give me what I want." The audacity of this one, does she not know that I can have her executed? Order must be kept and this one, if she's to remain one of us has to know the coven hierarchy and obey our rules.
"You're to remain on the grounds until you've learned your place." I say in parting.
"You can't do this, i'm not one of you. I don't want to be a part of this coven."
"Be that as it may, we have rules and the rule states that in order to be released from the coven, you must not pose a threat or liability to the coven at the time of release. And because of your refusal to keep coven secrets, you're a threat. Calling upon the guards in the hall, I have her taken to her rooms, with orders that she's not to roam freely without a guard at her side.
TIME WELL SPENT:
In the weeks that followed, princess Dhalia refused all invitations to coven affairs, kept to her rooms, and refused to see anyone except her sire. I had to force her hand, by threatening her father's life, if she didn't at least write and let him know that she was safe. I had thought her on the verge of insanity, when she accepted an invitation to a gathering outside of the coven walls.
Her scent capturing my attention, dressed in a silk damask evening gown, her hair flowing freely, she descends the stairs in a regal manner, with William at her side. Watching her i'm unable to keep my thoughts from straying to the improper. She's beautiful, and despite my many attempts to will away my attraction to her, I've failed. William will have to learn to share.
As expected he keeps her to himself all night. What was unexpected, was the werewolf showing up. Quint lane, the renowned alpha werewolf of the London pack, or he used to be. Between us both, we kept our people in check, there were few if any battles and we had a mutual respect for one another.
A few low hisses are tossed his way as he makes his way through the crowd. His destination is clear, and I move to interfere. William's on the alert and ready, but he knows better, and i'm hoping that he abides by the coven rules. We do not engage the wolves openly in public.
"Miss. Grey." He says, offering her his hand, which William's quick to stop her from accepting.
"What do you want?" Asks William, taking her hand in his.
"I thought that It was obvious, who I want."
His eyes glowing blue, my pace increases, and is immediately halted by a woman and a young lady joining their group. "Mr. Lane, I had thought that you had left London, we stopped seeing you at the assemblies." Says, the woman.
"I had business to attend to that has kept me from attending the festivities."
"Yes, well the season is almost over, you must act quickly if you're to find a wife."
"I've already found her." He says, gaze directed at Dhalia.
Oh..., well.. I... I had thought that you were interested in..." The woman makes out, clearly confounded.
"If you would excuse us." He states, dismissively.
The dumbfounded woman, and young lady looks from a smirking Dhalia, to an unconcerned Quint. No one misses the murderous looks given to Dhalia upon their retreat. His next words awakens my jealousy. "Would you honor me with the next dance?" He hasn't come here to fight for the wrong that was done him, he's come here to fight for her love. I had never thought that it would be easy, but this borders on the ridiculous. One's infatuated with her, the other intends to claim her as his mate, and I... I desire to make her mine.