AxidentlGoddess and auroraglider, I thank you for your reviews and really do hope that a few of you so far silent readers out there contribute with a little review too. I like to know whether my work is being enjoyed or not! :)
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Eric's POV
As I watch the king move forward into the centre of the room, just before calling for everyone's attention I see Tyra walking back through the room towards me. Her faces matches exactly what I can feel coming from her emotionally too, which is confusion. Because of the hush that has fallen over the room, I question her with just a facial expression only when she arrives by my side. She then pulls her cell from her purse and begins to type discreetly.
"I just overheard a conversation between the king and Rothman. They were talking about me, you and Fabien. We need to talk about it quickly, but not yet. It didn't sound from what they said like I was in danger from them. That's the confusing bit," I read when she slips her cell into my hand.
"We're leaving as soon as he has delivered this speech." I type back quickly in reply.
"No, we've only been here for an hour and it'll look suspicious. Another hour or two tops and then we can leave. I think that's best," Tyra types back.
"Yes, on reflection I agree." I type, handing her cell back for the last time, turning my attention then to the king. His speech is full of the usual cliché lines, right up until the end where he pays a touching tribute to his late wife. Well, it would be touching to anyone who doesn't believe he's lying through his teeth like I personally do.
"Lastly I would like to pay tribute to the woman who essentially made this possible. I would have ruled this glorious state by her side, if it had not been for the fluke accident my beloved suffered. I would like to all raise your glasses to toast the memory of my late wife, Sophie Anne Leclerq-Matsukata, who I miss most terribly. To you, my darling Sophie," he says, actually even thumbing the corner of his eye before raising his glass. What a showman. He doesn't have me fooled for a second, Pam neither who I share a discreet eye roll with as we lift our glasses to toast the late Mrs Matsukata.
"Here's to you, your majesty. Here's to the promise that if you ever lay a finger on my wife, you'll join yours." I say so quietly only Pam can hear. She laughs behind her hand for a few moments before composing herself.
"What exactly did you overhear?" I then ask Tyra, turning my attentions back to her.
"Something very cryptic and strange, which I will tell you when we are in a place where the walls do not have ears," she replies, taking my hand in hers.
"Then we're going to take a tour of the gardens where there are no walls." I tell her firmly before walking in the direction of the glass doorways to the side of the room. They lead out to the gardens that flank the sides of the property, and as we walk towards the door I make sure we move slowly and naturally, not wanting to attract the king or any of his associates' attention by storming off suddenly.
"Okay, this is enough distance between us and anyone else. What did you hear, and where did you hear it?" I ask Tyra as soon as we're a good distance from the house, walking a gravel path lined with small shrubs and lights built into the bricks edging it.
"I was in the bathroom, and I heard the sound of voices coming from the air vent. I wasn't going to pay attention to them, until I heard Fabien's surname mentioned. So I climbed up onto the toilet in order to get my ear closer to the vent, and I heard the conversation almost perfectly. I even recorded half of it, but to cover the half I didn't the following is what I remember was said.
"It was the king and Rothman conversing, and the king started off by saying that he'd had Fabien look into the details of our marriage and that he'd admitted he'd married us in a vampire ceremony when we arrived back home. The king then said he'd discovered Fabien was too close to you, and wondered if he was 'in the know' about something. I don't know what," she begins, pausing for breath while pulling her cell out of her purse. I then listen to a conversation between the two vampires that comprises of the following details. They are that Fabien is too close to me and being 'in the know' and because of this he is being dropped from an investigation team.
Also, which is the thing that throws me completely, is the fact the king asked if Rothman if he had 'assessed' Tyra. He asked how she seemed; meaning if she looked content if the answer Rothman gave was anything to go by. The king's representative also pondered whether I have Tyra bewitched. For what reason I'd do that for, the reason they think at least, completely escapes me. I do not have a clue. Just as much as I don't understand why this conversation should hint to the fact he knows what Tyra is, but then ask how she seemed. This is very, very strange.
"So do you have any idea as to what the hell all that means?" Tyra then asks me. I pull myself from my thoughts and look back at her before replying.
"I'll start by asking what your intuition tells you. What does it tell you?" I ask her as we proceed along the gravel path.
"To me it sounds like the king thinks I'm in danger of you, but how and why he thinks that I don't know! I couldn't be happier than I am now," she replies, sounding as perplexed as I feel.
"That is the same as what I think too. It also sounds to me that he knows what you are and is investigating it just to be sure. Why he thinks I am a danger to you, I just do not know. I wish you could have heard more, I really do," I reply.
"As you heard on the recording, someone came in and alerted him to the fact it was time to give his speech. I think his office is directly above the bathroom, it must be for the sound to have carried so clearly through the vent. Any further away and it wouldn't have been as easy to overhear. I just wish I'd have walked into that bathroom five minutes previously. I could have heard so much more," Tyra tells me.
"You did brilliantly in your usual quick thinking to record at least part of it. Right now I think our next course of action should be to leave as quickly as possible. Whatever the king has going on involving both me and you, Fabien too, I want you as far away from it as possible," I reply, putting my arm around her.
"I agree, but again not yet. We'll wait a little while first," she replies.
"No darling, I must insist we leave at once. I don't want you to be here a second longer," I vow, moving my arm from around her and taking her hand instead to turn and walk back to the house.
"Then let me handle our exit. I'll fall to my right ten seconds after we enter the room again. If you don't catch me, I'll punch you in the balls as soon as we get home." She tells me sweetly, kissing my cheek and making me chuckle a little. We head back to the doors and exactly ten seconds after we walk through them, Tyra gracefully fakes fainting, and I catch her with ease as soon as she goes down.
"Such a smart wife I have," I whisper into her ear, while pretending to check her over for the benefit of everyone's attention her little stunt just attracted.
"Sweetheart, I think I fainted," she then says after opening her eyes again, her voice whispery and quiet and every inch the distressed damsel. She's so, so clever.
"Yes, you did. So I'm going to get you home at once," I tell her, picking her up easily in my arms as just as the king arrives in front of me.
"I saw Mrs Northman fall, is the dear lady alright, Eric?" The king asks me, looking over Tyra.
"She's fine, she just fainted. I want to take her home though, I think that's best. You will have to excuse us all for the night, my king," I reply, just as Pam comes rushing up. It looks like Tyra's little fainting incident even fooled her, looking at her with concern.
"Of course Eric, I understand totally. Davis, have Eric's vehicle brought around to the front at once." The king orders one of his minions, who scampers away at once. Aiko himself begins to walk back towards the archway entrance to the room, and efficiently clears a path that I follow while still carrying Tyra. Once I've carried her down the steps to the waiting car and place her inside carefully, Pam takes the wheel and I turn back to the king.
"I hope she recovers from her fainting spell soon, for now Eric," the king tells me finally with a nod.
"For now, your majesty." I reply curtly, turning and getting into the back of the car. Pam drives away as soon as the door shuts and once we're out of the sight of the house Tyra sits up properly immediately.
"Well would you look at that for a miraculous recovery," she says lightly and sarcastically.
"Well played, kid," Pam says from the front seat, putting her foot to the floor as we turn out of the long driveway and onto the main road.
"I agree, very well played. He didn't suspect a thing," I tell her, very proud of her actions.
"I'm just pleased to be out of there. I don't trust him," Tyra replies, reaching over and resting her hand on my thigh.
"No, neither do I," I reply, covering her hand with mine and stroking her fingers. "I will say though, what was said makes me feel that you're not in danger from him if he thinks you're in danger from me. It is still striking me all to be very strange though." I then add.
"Are you going to send a few sets of ears in the direction of Quentin?" Tyra asks.
"You must have read my mind." I reply. "Although I do feel now after more thought that I shouldn't be that worried. Neither should you. You're in no danger from me, and if he sends his spies out this is exactly what they will see too. They'll just report back to him that what they see is nothing less than a very happy marriage." I then add, seeing Tyra smile at me.
"Exactly," is all she replies with before leaning over and kissing me. That kiss alone is enough to take my mind off the subject of the king and make it land firmly on her. Even more so when her hand slides across my leg towards my crotch, and even more than that when the car finally pulls up outside Fangtasia.
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Tyra's POV
"I have to confess this has been on my mind since much, much earlier," I tell Eric between passionate, open mouthed kisses as we pant with want for each other. We walk in an entanglement of limbs down the small, dark hallway to Eric's apartment and cast each other's clothes onto the floor as we go.
"I know, and I confess it was another reason for me wanting to leave early. I wanted you so much I couldn't have possibly stayed a second longer," he tells me, his mouth finding mine again and kissing me hungrily as I hear the fabric of my thong snap after one tug from Eric's strong hand. That action is the last he had to carry out to render me totally naked, and subject to his wandering hands.
"I'm so glad of that." I tell him, my final words other than a deep, lust filled groan of 'ohhh!' when I feel him clutch my waist and lift me, biting one of my nipples when my breasts are level with his face. The next thing I know he moves me as quick as a flash and my back is to the wall while his mouth continues to lick, bite and suck every inch of each of my breasts in turn.
Pressing his chest against mine to pin me to the wall, his hands then move to stroke my legs, his mouth now buried against my neck as he groans deeply. He likes the feeling of nails running down his back, which is precisely what I'm doing right now. I move my hands to run through his light blonde hair and slowly down his neck, as one of his moves between my legs. Yes, this is exactly what I need to take my mind off the king and his cryptic conversation with Quentin. Three hours of burning hot sex with my husband will do the job nicely, and as I'm falling asleep in a sexually exhausted tangle with Eric, listening to him telling me how much he loves me while stroking my back, the king couldn't be further from my mind.
As it happens, for the next few days I find it almost impossible to wonder let alone worry about the king and what I overheard between him and Rothman. The reason why is because of something I have come to call hurricane Eric. He's really, really sunk his teeth into this plan to expand my home. The initial frantic days of planning and shoving drawings under my nose, and then me explaining alterations I'd like to him (I cannot draw, he can wonderfully) give way to bigger plans when days turn to weeks. Approximately three weeks to the day we married my father and I meet with a man he recommended for the job.
Eric met with him first two evening's ago, and now he and a few members of his team have come in daylight hours to measure up the property and surrounding area to see if our initial proposed plan will work in the space we have. It is as he is taking a tour of my surrounding property and instructing his team with the measuring up that I receive a text message with a picture attachment.
"8lbs 3oz, born an hour ago and for a baby I must say, she's very beautiful." That is the text accompanying a picture of a very tired looking Nina holding her daughter sent by Agnes. Just as I'm about to reply, I am sent another picture, this time very surprisingly of Agnes cradling the newborn. Agnes and children do not go hand in hand, hence my surprise.
"Oh she's had it at last! Wow, what was she a week late or something like that?" my father asks me as he peers over my shoulder at the picture of Agnes and the baby.
"Eight days late. The last time I spoke to Nina she said they were going to induce her if labour hadn't come on naturally. Oh hold on, it looks like I'm about to have that confirmed to me," I reply before answering my cell.
"My dear, how are you?" Agnes asks brightly on the other end of the line. I like how she always refers to me as her dear.
"I'm well Agnes, are you okay? You sound tired through your usual brightness," I reply, observing that the Norwegian vampire queen does sound weary.
"Nina went into labour here at the castle last night when visiting me, and this is where she ended up giving birth. Thank heavens a vampire friend of mine used to be a doctor before she was turned, or I'd have had no chance to get her medical assistance since we're thirty miles from the nearest hospital up here. I remained at Nina's side throughout her labour, and it was not pleasant. I really felt for the poor child, all that pain and vaginal tearing," Agnes beings, making me wince at the vaginal tearing part.
"It is 8am in the morning here and I require my rest, suffice to say. An ambulance came and collected them both five minutes ago so they are on their way to hospital right now. As I typed in text next to the picture, she is awfully beautiful for a baby. A very lovely little thing, but I am glad her infant cries are no longer filling my home," she continues.
"I can imagine, the thought of the noise alone makes me shudder," I reply with a chuckle Agnes returns.
"If I could drink a brandy, right now I'd have half the bottle," she replies, still chuckling. "So then, my lovely wolf queen, how is married life?" Agnes then asks. She was absolutely shocked to her core when I told her we'd married. She also agreed it was a wonderful idea to keep me safe from the king and anyone else too.
"Married life is wonderful, thank you for asking. I'm currently meeting with the man who is going to extend my house into a bigger home fit for us both, so life is busy as well as very, very lovely," I reply happily.
"It pleases me to hear that, Tyra. Anyway I just wanted to call you to inform you of the news regarding the baby, which she named Milla by the way, after some actress. We shall speak soon." Agnes tells me before hanging up and leaving me to wonder which Milla the baby is named after. Jovovich and Kunis are the only two actresses with that forename that I can think of.
"Well, for the most part what we've measured so far can entirely be done to what your husband has planned, Mrs Northman," Jake Birchlove, the contractor tells me. This rouses me from my thoughts of wondering how many other actresses out there have the first name Milla. I can still only recall two.
"It sounds like you're about to tell me a 'but'," I reply as we come to a stop just past my little archery range clearing that'll be built over. I still haven't found another suitable clearing. To be honest I like this one, but I see it foolish to protest over it. You cannot really choose an archery range over the first home you'll share with your husband now can you? I know I can't.
"Yes, there is a 'but'. Whereas we can build everything you and your husband have envisaged so far, the basement is gonna be a problem because of the lake. It'll weaken the underground perimeters and we'll have water flooding in. If we moved it back a little, out to the road facing side of the new build I know that wouldn't be a problem," Jake explains to me, gesturing between Eric's sketches, his own rough blueprint and the area of land itself.
"To be honest as long as we have one, I don't think Eric will mind exactly where it is positioned.
"Of course, being a vampire he needs a safe place to sleep," Jake agrees.
"Well not exactly, as you've seen from the plans we'd like shadow glass fitted in every window pane possible," I reply, pointing back to the plan.
"You do realise that's going to be about thirty grand alone, just for the glass? I'd have to ship it in from somewhere within Scandinavia, since it isn't available here yet. I do a lot of building for vamps, and this is what they've all been asking for. The price tag and import duties are what put most of them off," Jake replies.
"That's for Eric to realise, not me," I reply politely before we continue to walk around to the side of the lake, following Jake's team of men using tape measures and the like to record their measurements. After another hour they're done, and Jake arranges to meet with both Eric and myself the following evening to go through building material choices for the exterior of the property. Wow, everything is coming together nicely. There's now three Wolverina in the world, my new and improved home is going to be built imminently, and I have the vampire I love most coming to share it with me.
Today has been a day for good news. I think I need as much of that as I can get, since it levels out that confusing pile of crap with the king quite efficiently. When Eric arrives four hours later, the sex he gives me on the kitchen floor really does put the cherry on the top of that too. Nope, I do not think about the king at all, not until about midway through when I see the face of Quentin Rothman quickly move away from the glass pane in my screen door.