Chapter |97|~ Reinforcement's ~
A week later
All our luggage and bags have arrived, been unpacked, and our belongings have been neatly placed in the closets before our arrival. Although, I don't see the point of bringing any items along because the closets are already filled with even more belongings that I've never encountered before.
We're back at Cyrus penthouse.
The final resting place of my cousin, Kaya.
My heartache all over again just thinking about her.
With each passing second, my eyes begin to water, and tear drops pours as I continue to dress myself. My furry little friend whines with me and then begins to lick my leg.
For the moment, it's just me and him.
Celine downright refused to enter the building. Instead, she went to join my family and Speck decided to tag along with her. Abigail is with her mate. My guess is that the two of them are somewhere making up.
Upon arrival, I overheard the commander apologizing to her and stating that in his eyes Abigail could do no wrong.
Their love story seems to be promised with an everlasting love. She's so lucky.
I on the other end, seem to have been placed in a never-ending tragic love affair. Cyrus and I still aren't speaking. We haven't even seen each other since our encounter with the media.
Once, I was informed that we were relocating I was so anxious! I didn't know how the travel would go, but I knew for a fact that we would migrate here together.
Imagine my surprise, when King Luscious was the one who escorted me to this hell of a home. If I'm going, to be honest, I must admit that fact alone hurt and I know it sounds pathetic but it did.
I should welcome the space. I should be grateful.
However, after everything we've been through I just thought that he loved me enough to know that returning here. Back to this place where my cousin was brutally murdered that he would be here to help me through this pain.
You would think that despite our differences he would be here to show me that he loves me and would stand beside me regardless.
Obviously, I was wrong and the worst part of it all is that despite his lack of emotional companionship, or concern for my mental well-being I still miss him. Tremendously.
I just wish that he was here.
But you know what they say, be careful what you wish for.
It's like the goddess heard my prayers and delivered me to evil herself.
At least, that's what it feels like as the door opens and he enters the bedroom. Our eyes meet in the mirror and I'm lost. Just like that my heart rate speeds up and I can't peel my eyes away from him.
He looks nice and sharp....flawless..... and regal. I'm dull in comparison that's for sure. He's in way better shape than me. His jaw is clean-shaven, his mahogany brown hair is wild, but yet somehow styled perfectly.
He's wearing all black everything, drenched in darkness. However, he still looks godly.
The way that his expensively black v-neck and biker boy dark-washed designer jeans cling to his muscular frame does something to me.
All of a sudden, all I can think about is undressing him. The random, undying urge to feel his skin against my skin causes my body heat to increase by the second.
Just the sight of him puts fever inside of me.
I'm so pathetic. That thought alone makes me cry harder. Another teardrop falls down the side of my face. I see a look of anguish taunt his flawless features.
"Not even the blood gods himself can stand the sight of an angel crying," Cyrus says as he comes over to me. Another wish is granted as his strong body pressed against my back before he scopes me up into his warm embrace.
Call me a coward because I shiver from his touch.
Even though we're not on the best of term's, I'll always crave to be touched by him sort of like how a caveman craves to be in the security of his cave. Cyrus is my cave. He's my home.
Now, I know that I should be fighting through the urge to be touched by him but I can't.
As of right now, there's not a single ounce of fight in my body and my wolf doesn't protest.
She is completely aware that I need him. We need him.
Cyrus proceeds to plant soft kisses down onto my forehead and I allow my face to rest on his bodybuilder of a chest. He carries me to the bed with my furry little friend running behind us as if he is our pup. He positions my body to lie directly on top of his own before locking his arms around my frame.
It feels warm in his hold. It's safe. I close my eyes and breathe in his marvelous, intoxicating, masculine scent. The familiarity of him is like the antidote to cure my heartache. At the moment, all of our drama ceases to exist.
It's all about me and him, him and me. Ourselves. For now, I'm throwing in a white flag.
I need a second of peace, just a moment of his time and it seems like he not only has accepted my surrender but has also thrown in a white flag as well.
We're at a common ground, a well needed truce. And it's moments like this that remind me just how much I love him. He's my other half.
There's not a soul alive that can provide me with this type of sanctuary. Security.
I guess it's just the blessing and the curse that comes with being the perfect match to him.
"Embry, I," he begins to say but I shhh him.
"It's okay! Let's just enjoy this moment. Let's just enjoy each other," I tell him while lifting my head and placing my lips onto his lips, sealing our next moment with a simple kiss.
"I love you," his cool breath breathes into my lips. "I love you no matter what."
It's around 6:30 am by the time we get to the kitchen. The sun has already started rising.
My eyes feel heavy until I come in contact with the big traditional southern breakfast that is spread out around the table. There is bacon, boiled, poached, and scrambled eggs, warm buttered toast, fresh strawberry, mango, and grape jam, pork, and turkey sausages, juicy tenderloin steaks, buttery biscuits smothered in gravy, fried chicken, and my personal favorite sweet buttermilk waffles right in the center.
There are also assortments of cereal and fresh fruit to the left of me on the kitchen island. Plus, a big pot of freshly brewed coffee, and a pot of tea at the end of the Pyrolave counter, along with milk, cream, and sugar.
"I'm so excited, I just can't hide it," happily chirps my wolf.
Tell me about it! It's taking everything out of me not to do a happy dance as I walk over towards the dining room table.
Everybody is already sitting at the table, stuffing their faces besides King Seneca.
He's just sitting at the table reading a newspaper while drinking some coffee spiked with blood.
Gross.
And if that's not enough my appetite is nearly destroyed for the remainder of eternity when I see King Luscious pour blood over all his waffles right before he bites into his bloody fried chicken.
Commander Vlad and Abigail are also here. She's demolishing her plate filled with fresh fruit and he's destroying his plate of bloody rare steak and eggs as she sits on his lap. Every few seconds he pauses to look in her direction and then places a kiss on the back of her neck.
It's so cute. My furry little friend has also beat us downstairs. He's stuffing his face on the far corner of the room.
Seneca looks up from whatever he's reading and utters a quiet good morning when everyone notices that Cyrus and I are also in the room.
"Allow me to," says Cyrus as he pulls out my chair for me to take a seat. Our eyes lock for just a second before he takes the seat right beside me. Then, he places his hand on top of my hand underneath the table.
Yesterday, we've spent our entire day, lying in one another arms, rekindling our bond, and just being a normal couple for once. It was refreshing and well needed but he knows like I know that all good things must come to an end.
The Queen and King are said to be here by nightfall.
They're almost here and with the other Kings not too far behind them. I know that the real trouble is sure to follow them.
But little do they know, Claire and I have other plans.
"Hot or ice?'" Ask a servant girl with shaky hands and I greet her with a wide eye stare.
"You don't have to do that," I grab her hand.
"But I want to miss," she says to me. "It's an honor to serve such a kind hearted queen.
"Hot, four cubes of sugar with a splash of cream for the queen," Cyrus answers for me with a smile. "And the usual for me."
The girl nods her head and make herself scarce.
"Bon appetite," giggles Abigail as she feeds the commander some grapes.
"Can you two get a room?" growls, Luscious, obviously not a morning person. He then begins to mutter something under his tongue that sounds very violent... extremely.
"He needs more coffee," says Seneca, while briefly looking up from the newspaper as if that explains Luscious terrible table manners.
The servant girl returns just in time, placing a mug in front of me and the other in front of my mate. Cyrus goes to pick his up but Luscious appears out of nowhere and snatches the mug up from the table.
The two of them begin to fight instantly and I'm stunned. It just happened so quickly. It's like when they are together they act more like a pair of annoying brothers more than they act like powerful vampire kings.
"And it shall get worst when the others arrive," Seneca smiles at me as if he can hear what I'm thinking. "There, there, guys. Calm down, it's way too early."
I take the opportunity to dig into my plate stacked with waffles.
Oh, Goddess! That's good.
After the fight, we all parted ways to prepare for the King and Queen. We're meeting them at the airport and then going to one location to prepare to feast with all of the other kings.
Apparently, it's a vampire king tradition to host a feast when discussing important business matters. I swear, the kings just love to eat but I'm not complaining. So do I.
Although, I'm a little nervous about eating dinner in a room full of the deadliest predators in this world. I mean, can you blame me?
Who's to say, that they won't attack my mate and then turn me into their entree or dessert.
"Awe don't tease me with a good time," chuckles Seneca while crossing his hands behind his back.
The two of us are standing in front of the building. There are also many vampires, who are walking around the busy streets of New York City. Every once in a while, someone stops and stares at us. Then, pull out their weird-looking devices to take pictures of us. The paparazzi are here as well, flashing cameras, and shouting questions in hopes of gaining our attention.
An army of toy soldiers is the only thing separating us from the general population.
The others are still in the penthouse lobby, I think commander Vlad is trying to stop Luscious and Cyrus from taking one another's heads. The two of them have been at it all morning. It's so bad that I don' think that Cyrus even noticed that I slipped out of the revolving entrance.
Hold up wait! My mind travels back to Seneca's statement. I didn't say that out loud. So, that means...
"I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out," Seneca murmurs my unspoken realization.
"I can read everyone's thoughts, accept Nicklaus and Xanders, just like the rest of us. To be more specific, Nicklaus and Xander can read anyone thought's, including my own. Although Xander is not the type to typically invade others privacy, but his brother on the other hand is a completely different story," his last statement sounds like a warning.
''Because it is," he smiles, obviously still in my head.
"But why are you telling me this," I ask. I'm confused. Since we've met, Seneca and I barely exchanged words. I mean he's not rude. He always speaks and chimes into conversations from time to time. Other than that, he usually just sits quietly observing, looking like an intimidating warrior type.
Now, I must admit that I'm a little fascinated by him more like starstruck just like the crowd in front of us desperately seeking his attention.
They've been screaming his name every since we've been standing right here, female and male alike. My sensitive ears even locked onto one vampire girl begging him to marry her and I can't blame her.
For argument's sake, among the other kings that I've encountered King Seneca does stick out like a sore thumb. He's more calm, cool, and collective than the rest of them. You would think that's the stand-offish, but he's not.
He's actually the complete opposite, more approachable than the other kings for sure.
Plus, he acts way more mature. He's quiet, an extremely private person that demands respect without uttering a word. He's cool in my book but my wolf is wary about him.
She thinks that it is just strange that he's this chill.
I sigh deeply when I realize that the alleged violent but quick-witted isn't going to respond to my question. He doesn't even look my way after that.
Four black SUVs stop in front of the penthouse and the others walk out just in time. My mate walks, or more like runs over to me with a look of a predator ready to pounce on his prey.
"Why the hell would you come out here by yourself?" Cyrus growls without giving me a chance to respond. Instead, he grabs onto my hand and nearly drags me towards the street.
The driver opens the door to one of the SUVs and Cyrus quickly ushers me to climb in. The entire time, he watching our surroundings, searching around for any sign of a threat. My furry little friend is running right behind him.
The crowd of vampires is going crazy and the toy soldiers look scary as hell with their weapons in their hands, ready for whatever.
My furry little friend jumps in right behind me.
I hear one of the reporters shouting out, "So you are still with the dog then?"
The vehicle door closes, but not before my mates shout back, "Suck my dick! You useless prick!"
Sometime during the drive, I've most have dozed off because as I open my eyes the blazing sun has been replaced with a glowing full moon.
The ride to the airport seems long. In fact, now that my mind is registering I'll think that we traveled to an airport in an entirely different state. I don't even think I'm in the same car.
"You're not," says Seneca. He shared a ride with us. Although the truck is huge enough to fit every last one of us comfortably. Abigal, Vlad, and Luscious are in one of the other vehicles, Seneca orders. My guess is he wanting to keep Cyrus and Luscious away from each other.
"You're correct," he answers my unspoken question again.
"Stay out of my beloved head," Cyrus comes to my defense before pulling me closer to him.
Im laying on his lap as he works on his laptop. My furry little friend is sitting on the other end of us.
"Don't be mad at me because you haven't taught you're believed how to prevent others from listening in."
Cyrus doesn't respond but he gives him a look.
That look! He's pissed. I lift my head. "Wait you can do that?"
"Of course you can. You can do anything if you put your mind to it, the only thing stopping you is yourself and him." He looks at Cyrus as he dips his hand into the can of peanuts without sparing me another glance.
"Of course his is," growls my wolf. He doesn't want us to be able to block him out whenever we see fit!" She's right! We've done it before but it takes a lot of focus and plenty of emotions. I can only block him out when I'm sad or angry but to do it whenever I want. Now, that's a handy skill to acquire but of course my control freak of a mate would never teach me how to do that.
Why would he? Based upon our history, I'll be blocking him out every other day.
On that note, I pull my body up and then shoot Cyrus a look which he avoids looking at. I try to place my body closer to the window putting a little distance in between us but he's not having any of that. His free hand just holds me in place. Then, he tries to peck my cheek but I'm not having any of it either.
How about that? I turn my head around to prevent his lips from touching my face.
He sighs moodily. Then returns to doing whatever he was doing on his laptop. I decide to be noisy and use my wolf's advanced senses to zoom in without causing attention to myself. He appears to be going over the plans that Speck and I learned about a couple of days ago. That alone reminds me that this is just the calm before the storm.
I am the storm. My mate and his brothers are about to be in for a rude awakening.
Oh, my goddess!
I need to watch my thoughts I think to myself as my eyes travel back over towards Seneca.
Too late, he's already watching me with a smug look on his face that ensures that he was in fact listening in. Instead of calling me out, he just winks at me.
I'm saved from my own thoughts as we finally arrive at the airport.
The white SUV that we're now in drives straight to the tarmac where the plane is already waiting. Once we stop, the driver opens the door and we're greeted by another army of toy soldiers.
Before, I could get out of the vehicle Cyrus puts down the laptop and then helps me out of the SUV himself. The remainder of our party is already standing in front of the massive airplane waiting for us by the time that we approach.
My wolf goes on high alert when she comes in contact with the cold-hearted King Xander.
He's watching me like a hawk. Typical.
Instead of focusing on him, my eyes travel to the malicious king Marcellus who's handsomely devilish lips are curved into a devilish smirk.
"So we meet again you sexy little she-wolf," he greets, earning a vicious growl from my mate as a response. "Hey, that's not a way to greet you, baby bro," he says to Cyrus but my mate decides not to entertain him any further.
Directly, beside Marcellus stands a strikingly stunning, but yet super spine-chilling vampire that I've never encountered before. Countless power radiates all around him.
There's a startling sadistic glint inside of his astonishingly impenetrable icy blue eyes as he takes me in. I try not to stare at him for too long.
Instead, I shift my focus to the admirably beautiful tiny human girl who's clinging to him like a second skin. His distinctive scent of sandalwood blends in perfect harmony with her soft unique floral aroma.
Oh, my Goddess! She's his beloved.
From the corner of my eye, I pick up on yet another drop-dead gorgeous human. Her bewitchingly bright fiery crimson hair flows down to her waist. The color is in perfect contrast with her remarkable fair skin tone. Unlike the rest of them, she seems to be focused on anything but me. She's staring in space lost in her very own thoughts.
In the center of them all, stands no one other than the king and queen.
King Nicklaus and Queen Claire.
When she spots me, I'm almost knocked off my feet as she rushes over to me and jumps into my arms. "Embry Destiny Wilde, I missed you so much."
I can feel her smile against my cheek as she wraps her arms around my frame, pulling me into a big bear hug, or should I say a famous Clairebear hug because I'm quickly learning that no one knows how to express affection as well as her!
"I missed you too!" I pull away to fully take her in.
Claire looks godlessly gorgeous as per usual.
To be honest, she appears to be abnormally more angelic than she looked before if that's even possible.
Claire's glowing. Literally! There's a golden hue that radiants pure light throughout her flawless skin.
Even though, this isn't the first time that I've met her I still seem to be completely caught off guard by her remarkable beauty.
Her monstrous of beloved is her equal in every way. He's just as hauntingly handsome as she is breathtakingly beautiful. Even dressed down they are quite the pair, both wearing matching skinny black designer jeans, stylish leather jackets, and a loose-fitted black V-neck t-shirt with black boots.
Claire's combat boots are knee-high with platform soles and Nicklaus boots look just like Cyrus's typical combat boots.
I'm starting to think that black is each king and the queen's favorite color. Although, no one pulls off all black like Claire. She nailed the casual fit down to a tee.
"It's so good to see, you," she says to me. The dimples in her cheek deepens.
"Be careful, Claire!" Xander walks over toward us. "Remember that I said dogs aren't to be trusted!"
Cyrus releases a serious growl in my defense while Claire turns around to put Xander in his place for sure, but before she has a chance to utter a single word Nicklaus is the one to speak up, "Enough with the dog jokes!" He hisses at his brother shocking my soul.
"Before we go any further I'm going to make this loud and clear!" He looks at everyone present.
"No one! And I mean no one will disrespect Embry! She's your brother beloved, our sister and I expect everyone to treat her as such!"
I'm completely lost for words. Nicklaus then walks away without another word.
"I don't have any objections," Marcellus is the one to say. He's so hilariously devious. We're going to get along well. "In fact, I have a grand idea how about I take you out to dinner. You know, on a brother and sister outing. My treat," he suggests, earning a smack in the head from no one other than my mate.
Seneca snickers and I hear him murmur as he walks past us, "This is going to be extremely entertaining, especially when my cousin shows up. I haven't had this much fun in centuries."
I shoot him a look and he just smirks. Who is his cousin?! I think to myself. His smirk widens.
"Awe is that your dog?" asks the redhead human. She then proceeds to scoop Toto up in her arms and then squeals with pure joy when he licks the side of her face.
"Cyrus, can we have a minute?" asks Nicklaus, waving his hand for my mate to join him.
"I'll be right back," Cyrus leans to kiss me on the cheek before he follows Nicklaus back towards the vehicles where they link up with Seneca, Luscious, Marcellus, Xander, and the other Vampire that I've still haven't identified.
"Vlad what are you doing come over here," calls out Nicklaus, which causes the commander to hurry over in their direction.
"Claire I would like you to meet my friend, Abigail," I nod my head over in Abigail's direction. Abigail, meet my friend queen Claire."
"Just Claire,' she smiles and then holds her hand out for Abigail to take. "You must be Mr.meany beloved, I've been dying to meet you."
"Mr. Meany," Abigail questions while shaking her hand just to be interrupted as the brown hair human says, "Don't be rude, Cherry Pop introduce us all!"
Up close and personal I can see that she truly is a gorgeous girl with impeccable style. Her soft but fearless rich brown eyes shine with delight as she greets me. "I'm Butter Cup and you're Sweetie pie!"
Sweetie pie?! Who me? I think she's got me mistaken with someone else. "No, I'm Embry!' I tell her.
"I know!' She laughs. "Who also happens to be just as sweet as pie. So, that's your name. Sweetie Pie and Claire's name is Cherry Pop! Victoria is, Candy apple!" She points at the redhead human. "And you’re Lollipop," she smiles at Abigail silencing us all.
This girl says that she butter cup but her name should be cocoa-cocoa puffs because just one second with her and I can tell that she's cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs crazy just like Speck.
I can't believe that she just really changed everybody's name.
"Don't mind my overly insane best friend, Jadis," Claire says to me, looping her arm around mine. "She doesn't have all of her screws,"
"I've heard that," complains Butter Cup! I mean Jadis before joining Candy Apple, I mean Victoria and Abigail as they play with To-To.
"Duh, that's the point," Claire shoots back. "Come, Embry! We have much to discuss."
Hey, love buys, as promised here is your update if you would like to read a chapter ahead please head over to FindNovel.net. My next update shall be Wednesday. Love you, see you all next week. Have a great weekend.