said.”
Thearon nodded, “Yes, the original evidence seemed to point to that, but as information about the Werebeasts’ movements before the murder were unearthed, they acted suspiciously. The Queen of the Loupbrun Tribe is worried about them - I believe she’s seeing the same connections I am. I would like to see them in person to further gauge their threat level.”
Lavinia considered, pacing in front of her desk. She let her hand trail along the fine-grained wood and snuck a look at Thearon. He was standing cool and tall, only a slight tensing of his forearms giving away that he was nervous about her answer. What made her decision was the fact that he was finally being honest with her.
“Alright, because it’s what I wanted in the first place. Also, because I’m intrigued by the mystery, and finally because I care about the security of this Tribe, I will allow you to escort me tomorrow to the Tea.”
“Thank you, my Queen,” Thearon said with a small bow of his head.
“I’m not done yet. My answer comes with stipulations. You must keep me in the loop for the investigation and I want you to free your entire afternoon for me. I want the Tea and I want personal time after. I would like to finally have a conversation with you.”
Thearon eyed her for a long moment. “It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes and I promise to keep you apprised of the investigation. However, in making time for the Tea I had to shift commitments around tomorrow and I do not have the extra time to give. However, I can offer an afternoon three days hence during which we can...talk.”
“It’s a date then,” Lavinia said, settling the matter.
Thearon walked forward and kissed her cheek, “Until tomorrow, my Queen.”
Watching him walk out of the office Lavinia wondered if her relationship with the Omega would ever be a personal affair or if it was always going to be the work of coercion, strategy and threats.
***
As Lavinia glanced around the afternoon Tea, she marveled at the fact that the Omega who showed up at the Tea party was yet another version of the man. It was yet another personality making Lavinia wonder if the man was bi-polar. Thearon had come out of his bedroom that afternoon dressed in a gray suit and crisp white shirt with a coral flower boutonniere. It was a perfect complement to her coral lace dress. He looked tall and dashing, and was networking the sunlit room like it was his job. Which, as far as Lavinia understood it, was not. As he wrapped a free arm around her waist and lifted a lemon garnished sweet tea to his lips, Lavinia felt dizzy with confusion about who this man really was.
Lavinia was in the process of bringing a King Cake cupcake to her mouth when Thearon’s lips brushed her ear. She shivered in anticipation of the deep base of his voice and the warm whisper of his breath.
“Don’t look now, but the pack just arrived. They’re slightly to your right, by the entrance to the patio.”
Lavinia thought that “Don’t look now” was one of the most annoying statements in the English language, but she held her ground for a moment before looking toward the outside. Leaning up to nuzzle Thearon, Lavinia glanced over his shoulder and found the group of Werebeasts. It was just what Thearon had prepared her to expect. There were eight men, two of each beast species: bear, wolf, horse and lion.
They seemed to be paired off in a manner that meant no two of the same species were together. As Lavinia watched them come into the main party area, she saw they spread to the four corners of the room. It was casual, but methodological if you were looking at them as a group.
Time passed and the people attending the Tea moved and swapped conversations, everyone trying to network with as many people as possible. It was one of the major yearly Were events for the city and people used it to gossip and advance political aspirations. In other words, it was a great party.
Lavinia and Thearon tag-teamed the
Thearon nodded, “Yes, the original evidence seemed to point to that, but as information about the Werebeasts’ movements before the murder were unearthed, they acted suspiciously. The Queen of the Loupbrun Tribe is worried about them - I believe she’s seeing the same connections I am. I would like to see them in person to further gauge their threat level.”
Lavinia considered, pacing in front of her desk. She let her hand trail along the fine-grained wood and snuck a look at Thearon. He was standing cool and tall, only a slight tensing of his forearms giving away that he was nervous about her answer. What made her decision was the fact that he was finally being honest with her.
“Alright, because it’s what I wanted in the first place. Also, because I’m intrigued by the mystery, and finally because I care about the security of this Tribe, I will allow you to escort me tomorrow to the Tea.”
“Thank you, my Queen,” Thearon said with a small bow of his head.
“I’m not done yet. My answer comes with stipulations. You must keep me in the loop for the investigation and I want you to free your entire afternoon for me. I want the Tea and I want personal time after. I would like to finally have a conversation with you.”
Thearon eyed her for a long moment. “It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes and I promise to keep you apprised of the investigation. However, in making time for the Tea I had to shift commitments around tomorrow and I do not have the extra time to give. However, I can offer an afternoon three days hence during which we can...talk.”
“It’s a date then,” Lavinia said, settling the matter.
Thearon walked forward and kissed her cheek, “Until tomorrow, my Queen.”
Watching him walk out of the office Lavinia wondered if her relationship with the Omega would ever be a personal affair or if it was always going to be the work of coercion, strategy and threats.
***
As Lavinia glanced around the afternoon Tea, she marveled at the fact that the Omega who showed up at the Tea party was yet another version of the man. It was yet another personality making Lavinia wonder if the man was bi-polar. Thearon had come out of his bedroom that afternoon dressed in a gray suit and crisp white shirt with a coral flower boutonniere. It was a perfect complement to her coral lace dress. He looked tall and dashing, and was networking the sunlit room like it was his job. Which, as far as Lavinia understood it, was not. As he wrapped a free arm around her waist and lifted a lemon garnished sweet tea to his lips, Lavinia felt dizzy with confusion about who this man really was.
Lavinia was in the process of bringing a King Cake cupcake to her mouth when Thearon’s lips brushed her ear. She shivered in anticipation of the deep base of his voice and the warm whisper of his breath.
“Don’t look now, but the pack just arrived. They’re slightly to your right, by the entrance to the patio.”
Lavinia thought that “Don’t look now” was one of the most annoying statements in the English language, but she held her ground for a moment before looking toward the outside. Leaning up to nuzzle Thearon, Lavinia glanced over his shoulder and found the group of Werebeasts. It was just what Thearon had prepared her to expect. There were eight men, two of each beast species: bear, wolf, horse and lion.
They seemed to be paired off in a manner that meant no two of the same species were together. As Lavinia watched them come into the main party area, she saw they spread to the four corners of the room. It was casual, but methodological if you were looking at them as a group.
Time passed and the people attending the Tea moved and swapped conversations, everyone trying to network with as many people as possible. It was one of the major yearly Were events for the city and people used it to gossip and advance political aspirations. In other words, it was a great party.
Lavinia and Thearon tag-teamed the
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