Werebeasts under suspicion and after an hour of chatting, Lavinia was starting to think that perhaps Thearon was wrong in his assumption that the group was a threat. There seemed to be nothing special about them, besides the fact that they were together. On the bright side, Lavinia now had all of the particulars on the next royal wedding. The Stoneglass Werehorse Tribe had a princess who was going to marry a Werehorse King from Italy. The union was all the women could talk about and Lavinia was more than happy to learn who was wearing what.
Throughout the party, Thearon kept a hand on her at all times. If they switched sides or got new drinks or food, he would only let go in order to figure out a new way to touch her. It was quite nice and Lavinia was enjoying the casual, intimate contact. It was why she was surprised when suddenly Thearon removed all hands from her body and left her alone. It was chilly without him.
Lavinia leaned up, “What’s wrong?”
“Look at the entrance to the hallway.”
Lavinia looked over to the french doors that led into the house proper. It hadn’t been closed off to guests but with the beautiful day, few had chosen to wander further into the house. However, now she watched as one of the pairs of Werebeasts disappeared down its darkened hallway.
Thearon leaned down close to her ear, “Two other pairs have already left the party and the fourth are working their way over.”
“We should follow.”
“I should follow, you should stay here, it’s safer.”
Lavinia was going to argue but Thearon called over Queen Paulette of the Loupbrun Tribe. “Queen Paulette, I don’t know that you’ve had a chance to meet Queen Lavinia, my bride, yet.”
“No, no. It’s nice to meet you, my dear.” The beautiful woman with the feline eyes dropped into a curtsy with all the grace of the wolves she descended from. Straightening up, the black dress she wore skimmed a slender frame and was accented with a large cat-eye necklace. She was, by far, the most intimidating woman Lavinia had met that day.
“Queen Paulette, it’s an honor to meet you as well. Both of my husbands speak highly of you,” Lavinia responded dipping down into her own curtsy.
“Ladies, if you don’t mind I am going to catch an acquaintance who just slipped out of the room.” Kissing their hands, Thearon hurried after the final pair of Werebeasts before he lost where they were headed.
As Thearon walked further into the air-conditioned interior, he could hear that the library was occupied. It was the only occupied room he’d come across on the main level. Luckily, Thearon knew that the library had an adjoining coatroom that was accessible from an office, the next door down. There had been some joint security concerns and the Werelion and Werebear Tribes had jointly used the space for spying.
Slipping into the office, he moved through the walnut wood-clad room to the closet. Once inside the small space, he found the old fashioned peephole with which to spy on the group. Opening the brass hole, he quieted his breathing and concentrated on the voices.
“We were lucky today. I didn’t think it was going to be so easy to gather the information that we needed,” one of the Werelions was saying.
Thearon watched as the Werehorse browsing the leatherbound shelves addressed the group, “Yes, I think it showed us that we were correct in our assumptions. We will move forward as planned. Everyone knows their place?”
The Weres that Thearon could see, nodded in agreement before the original Werelion began talking again. “Alright, then the final countdown has begun. Rest assured that the bride sacrifice will bring harmony to the Tribes.”
Thearon felt his heart beat hard. The only thing people could talk about today was the wedding of the Werehorse Princess. The Princess was getting married the final day of Mardi Gras in a ceremony that promised to rival Thearon’s own wedding. That had to be where the security
Throughout the party, Thearon kept a hand on her at all times. If they switched sides or got new drinks or food, he would only let go in order to figure out a new way to touch her. It was quite nice and Lavinia was enjoying the casual, intimate contact. It was why she was surprised when suddenly Thearon removed all hands from her body and left her alone. It was chilly without him.
Lavinia leaned up, “What’s wrong?”
“Look at the entrance to the hallway.”
Lavinia looked over to the french doors that led into the house proper. It hadn’t been closed off to guests but with the beautiful day, few had chosen to wander further into the house. However, now she watched as one of the pairs of Werebeasts disappeared down its darkened hallway.
Thearon leaned down close to her ear, “Two other pairs have already left the party and the fourth are working their way over.”
“We should follow.”
“I should follow, you should stay here, it’s safer.”
Lavinia was going to argue but Thearon called over Queen Paulette of the Loupbrun Tribe. “Queen Paulette, I don’t know that you’ve had a chance to meet Queen Lavinia, my bride, yet.”
“No, no. It’s nice to meet you, my dear.” The beautiful woman with the feline eyes dropped into a curtsy with all the grace of the wolves she descended from. Straightening up, the black dress she wore skimmed a slender frame and was accented with a large cat-eye necklace. She was, by far, the most intimidating woman Lavinia had met that day.
“Queen Paulette, it’s an honor to meet you as well. Both of my husbands speak highly of you,” Lavinia responded dipping down into her own curtsy.
“Ladies, if you don’t mind I am going to catch an acquaintance who just slipped out of the room.” Kissing their hands, Thearon hurried after the final pair of Werebeasts before he lost where they were headed.
As Thearon walked further into the air-conditioned interior, he could hear that the library was occupied. It was the only occupied room he’d come across on the main level. Luckily, Thearon knew that the library had an adjoining coatroom that was accessible from an office, the next door down. There had been some joint security concerns and the Werelion and Werebear Tribes had jointly used the space for spying.
Slipping into the office, he moved through the walnut wood-clad room to the closet. Once inside the small space, he found the old fashioned peephole with which to spy on the group. Opening the brass hole, he quieted his breathing and concentrated on the voices.
“We were lucky today. I didn’t think it was going to be so easy to gather the information that we needed,” one of the Werelions was saying.
Thearon watched as the Werehorse browsing the leatherbound shelves addressed the group, “Yes, I think it showed us that we were correct in our assumptions. We will move forward as planned. Everyone knows their place?”
The Weres that Thearon could see, nodded in agreement before the original Werelion began talking again. “Alright, then the final countdown has begun. Rest assured that the bride sacrifice will bring harmony to the Tribes.”
Thearon felt his heart beat hard. The only thing people could talk about today was the wedding of the Werehorse Princess. The Princess was getting married the final day of Mardi Gras in a ceremony that promised to rival Thearon’s own wedding. That had to be where the security
Similar Books
