The entry itself to the house was generally quiet. Save the telltale sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs that was likely not the person Juliette thought to see. Although it might be stranger to witness a sloe crowned man carrying up a basket of laundry rather than Elisa. “Oh,” Bracing the basket against hip as to assist the fallen dip of glasses upon nose, up. “Hello, dear. I didn’t expect you home so soon, would you like a cup of coffee or tea? I believe Hannah is still within her room, haven’t seem much of the young miss since I came home.”
What sort of nonsense had Juliette walked into now! She’d paused in the foyer, blinking owlishly confused for a moment, even slightly turning with a hand reaching out towards the doorknob with the sudden thought to just walk back out the door and perhaps take Myra up on that getaway ride.
After a beat, once the surprise had worn off, curiosity took it’s place. She shuffled the garment bag in her hands, changing her posture a bit as she reguarded him with a head to toe look that wasn’t quite suspicious, but definitely leaning that way.
“My errands took less time than expected. I decided to return home rather than burn the city down,” she explained, still debating drawing her phone from her purse and demanding Myra make an immediate return.
Brows slightly lifted behind those of spectacles. Offering a slight motherly look up and down the younger woman before Elisa seemed to be considering the commentary given by the eventual lady of the house. “Well so long as you don’t get caught doing so?” Elisa questioned the thought of burning the city down.
Was that code for the miss having a terrible day? All the more reason to bring her into the kitchen to sit down. “Come along then, dear. Let’s get you sat down so you may enjoy a bit of time off your feet. No matter how quickly errands may be done, it is always a fair reward to take a load off.” Her attention glimpsed at the notable garment bag. “If you want to hang that on the hook there behind you by the door, I will take it up to your room after. Perhaps we can discuss as well what might be best for a dinner tonight as I believe it may just be you two young ladies in the house. I’ve heard Jordan somewhere but I can’t tell if he is running around room to room to avoid me or if I am just hearing him.” The housekeeper giggled at the thought while she set down the laundry basket at the first stair. To take up after with the intent of folding said laundry to put away in their respective places!
Juliette hesitated a moment, hugging the garment bag to her chest while her eyes drifted upwards towards the second floor… only to drift downwards to consider the secret lair. The very vampire king might indeed be hiding from Elisa’s sights, if he were covered in layers of blood and gore from a very murderous morning!
She herself felt almost like a teenager caught red-handed up to no good, and all she had done was intimidate a few vampires. Would Jordan chose to tell Elisa of the events last night? Blast it, it was one thing to spin half-truths for Hannah in the heat of the moment, but another thing entirely to lie to this gentle older woman!
Finally she nodded, hanging the bag up on the nearby hook, then brushing her hands over her pants to smooth out nonexistent wrinkles. Dutifully, she followed after Elisa to the kitchen, where a cup of something with caffeine did sound good.
“We’ve had an… interesting few days without you. One might think you’re a good luck charm to the manor at this rate. You were missed.” she mentioned genuinely.
With a light pat to the very top of the pile as if to reward it for being so good for her to wait, Elisa hummed a little softly. Leading the two of them to the kitchen where she could promptly take a hold of the sealed canister to prep for a cup of coffee. Or two, deciding she might as well have one as well. Making a pot seeing as she was not sure if Hannah would not appear downstairs as her friend had arrived back home. Giving a suggesting notion of hand to indicate that Juliette was to do as she was told.
To sit down and rest!
“I heard. Mrs. Eden was here earlier for a few minutes grabbing a few things from Jordan’s office when I nearly ran into her entering the house. She expressed there had been some lively action occurring that has been a bit tense. Suggesting that one of the merger deals that Jordan has going on became a bit hostile, so she was playing fill in to help out.” Apparently a cover story was made to be believable to someone that didn’t really much care for the business world. Accepting facts as they were. Only to chuckle at the suggestion of being a good luck charm. “Thank you dear. It is nice to be at home. My granddaughter was quite the handful while her mother was unwell. Spritely thing, it is good to be somewhere that is far less wild.”
As the filter was filled with the grounds, water poured into basin it was now her chance as lid was closed to start grabbing the mugs. “And here I thought the biggest event to happen would be the wedding. But isn’t that things like to go. Belly up on some other end when you are plenty busy planning for something far more personal. I hope all that has happened, hasn’t been too much of a trouble for you, Juliette. We mustn’t have an upset bride before her day, after all.”
With an obedience she’d afford few others, Juliette slid onto one of the counter chairs, setting her purse aside and busying a hand with gently twisting the engagement ring on her finger. Less wild, she’d said! Juliette could have laughed. A shame it was to miss the opportunity to introduce herself to another of Jordan’s people, but Juliette had a feeling she’d be getting quite a few more opportunities in the very near future.
Calling this a hostile business venture seemed such a pale descriptor for someone who made their home in this house. At least her excuses to Hannah were the truth, even if they left out details. …though she had to admit, maybe it was in Elisa’s best interests to not know just how dangerous of a life Jordan led. Perhaps it was the only reason Elisa hadn’t fled the manor as his previous housekeepers.
“Oh, I imagine there will be more in store for me yet. There’s never been a wedding without one disaster or another. As long as we both make it to the alter in one piece, I will be happy. Of course, Jordan may feel he’s taken on far more than he ever bargained for if it keeps up. Decide a wife was one acquisition too far.”
There was a reason Elisa knew nothing of what was really happening. Likely because if she did, she would leave. Making this place a little less homey as it had been. Something even the lord himself would admit having developed a very soft spot for the older housekeeper.
It was a selected choice to just use a business merger as a fiasco. Leaving it to Eden to express while the mystery advisor came and went once more like the wind. So far only spoken about but not seen. To be a ghost at this rate.
As cups were arranged in a line with the little pot of sugar and cream tugged from the fridge with a shake to keep it from settling all on the bottom; Elisa was the astute listener. Lips casted in a fond smile only to slightly dip as the young bride to be mentioned that the groom may feel as though he took on too much. “You’ll both make it there, dear. If this is the worst thing for your marriage to go through even before the marriage part, the rest of the ups and downs you experience will be minor. So long as you both remember that it takes a hundred percent of you both to handle it all. Together. You are a team through thick and thin.” Focus was rested upon daughter of the sea franchise, “I highly doubt Jordan would think of you as anything less than a blessing. Your engagement may have been a bit unorthodox for this modern world, but… I think it was meant to be more than either of you know.”
The woman offered a smile no less, “Sugar today, dear in your coffee?”
“Cream and sugar, thank you.” she confirmed with a slight nod.
Now that Juliette was settled and forced to be still for a moment, no thrown on pretenses to be a walking dragon or have her guard up for some unexpected attack be it words or physical, she found herself surprisingly tired. Having an unknown amount of blood drained from her and the following rushes of panicked adrenaline with a short night of sleep apparently was not enough rest. Rest was just not something she had time for!
“Between you, Myra, and Hannah, I feel I have three fairy godmothers whispering of true loves and meant to bes. I am almost tempted to believe in fairy tales with so much encouragement.”
She smiled wide then, dropping her chin into the palm of her hand and resting her elbow on the counter.
“A dark fairy tale, though. With a cold Sea Witch and a wild Brooding King.”
Easy enough to make, spoon in the sugar so the cream could follow. Stirring it till there were no clumps as to make the blend of coffee nearly finished to offer a smooth taste. Observing the other between breaths and work with a chuckling sound picking up no sooner.
“I would have to work on my bippity boppity boo song, then. And I don’t have a nice blue cape with a wand, but I can do wonders in the kitchen for dinner. Which you still ought to let me know what would do well for you young ladies. And maybe your to be husband if he ever comes out of the walls.” Eyeing the nearest vertical surface for emphasis.
Sure that he was somewhere in the house but he was notorious for disappearing for dinner. All the more reason she could enlist Juliette to the task of getting something into her affianced.
Taking to clucking no sooner. Plucking pot from its cradle to pour into the awaiting two, “Nonsense.” A singular word with a strong emphasis, “I see neither of those things. Merely ambitious young souls that have done well to assure their careers are functioning before they leapt into marriage like some adults newly turned at eighteen. There’s nothing wrong with having yourself as a strong force in the world to obtain what you need and want to do, but I’d never all you a cold Sea Witch or him a wild Brooding King.” One slid over the cup to the other.
Pausing to give her a look over. “You look tired, dear. I would take no offense if you took your cup and toddle upstairs for a lay down or a bath. I’ll fold laundry in my room and bring your garment bag in after. Hmm?”
“It’d be delightful great fun to have the three of you hopping about the house singing songs, to see the looks on Jordan’s face would be worth the effort for certain.”
Happy to accept the mug of coffee, Juliette first took a long swallow, almost sighing with the brief relief it gave of something sweet and hot in her stomach. It was a shame that she couldn’t explain to the elder woman that Jordan was never likely to be a willing seated participant in Elisa’s meals. At least she appreciated the service, and Hannah too never complained about a delightful dinner.
“You’re going to have to give me a list of everything you can possibly make at some point, so I might give you actual requests beyond a simple ‘surprise me’. Though, I think for tonight something warm and cozy is in order for Hannah and myself. A comfort meal would be quite nice.”
Now that she was seated, Juliette found herself reluctant to get up, but she honestly did need to go check on Hannah, or seek out Jordan, or go to her office and be sure things at work were still going smoothly. A nap was tempting, but she could always rest later. Thus Juliette forced herself out of her chair with mug in both hands, abandoning her purse and phone within, as honestly she could do with one less thing to distract her!
“There is much I need to do, regardless. …perhaps don’t mention to Jordan that I seem tired. He has enough to worry about without fretting about me.”
The idea was purely fun sounding. “I am sure he would adore it.” Well probably not from what she knew of the young man, but it would be worth a laugh or two certainly. However in this moment what seemed like there would be a good thing to happen was to shoo the lady to her room. To spend a few minutes in blissful silence so she might rest up less she started to wilt like a spoiled rose.
“Something warm and cozy. I think I have a couple of ideas. I’ll make sure to have something nice and homey for you both in a couple of hours.” It wouldn’t be difficult to do just a pure cottage cooking, seemingly favouring the mental idea of just a cottage pie. It was very simple to throw together and certainly would have some leftovers to boot.
Just if she thought that her wisdom was about to be fabled, this one rose. Relenting somewhat but certainly not in the way she would have preferred. Promptly earning a look that was once more matronly in the form of disapproving. “I’ll allow it for now, but only for an hour. If I must come chase you with a broom up to your room later to rest, don’t think your little bottom will escape. Work is not the answer to everything after all.” Elisa smirked a little more then, “You’ll understand more when you have a little one of your own, I am sure. As for Jordan, well I will do my best. But no promises either. Go on then, one hour.”
There was an immediately wrinkling of her nose at the threat of a broom and the looming order of only a single hour. With such a threat, Juliette may as well take after Jordan and start tip-toeing around the house to different rooms just to avoid Elisa’s ire!
Instead of remarking a refusal, Juliette’s winsome smile was the answer. All cheek and daring for the elder lady to try and enforce such a thing. If she could catch her! Then, before Elisa could show her how swift she could grab a broom, Juliette scooted herself right out of the kitchen just as quickly as her heels could carry her.
It wasn’t until she’d escaped on to her office that the comment of little ones sank in. Leaving Juliette pulling a face and giving a dramatic shiver. Children! She’d never given though to them before, and she certainly wasn’t going to now. A terrible mother she’d be, truly. At least in marrying a vampire, there’d never be a concern.
Dealing with all of these vampires was trouble enough.
Juliette dropped into her chair, nursing the cup of coffee and opening up her laptop with the intent to get something done before she’d check up on her hiding fiancé and resting friend. She’d even checked on the correspondence from a few libraries on some very old collections of vampire lore. Somewhere along the way she’d only meant to rest her eyes for a moment and promptly fell asleep with her head on the desk. This time without a purring feline to blame.
The intention had been to check on a few things in his own office once he was sure that Elisa was no longer going to come down into the tidy appearing basement. Needing time to be out of sight as to try and lessen the means of abuse that had been given back in reply when he had confronted Emery. Having not expected the launch attack of a feral seeming vampire to be the first thing he dealt with that day. A little convinced right now that Emery was more of a cat than vampire! Truly leaning into the means of cat fight on her side of things.
Regardless, he was avoiding Elisa for good measure. Satisfied with at least the scratch marks were less strewn to threaten to tear out his god damn eye! Only that with the means of intending to go to the office was put on temporary halt. Likely due to the fact that glimpsing into Juliette’s office revealed the woman sleeping at her desk. Almost looking around to see whether or not Theix was present as a purring lap ornament with actually no presence at all. If he was picking up the starting smells of food cooking then it was easy to guess the feline was darting around ankles within the kitchen.
All the more reason to use the moments to once more take to picking up the soul from her sleeping position. Less she wanted to develop a lovely crick in her neck from the angle.
It would be better once more for her to make use of the bed at least in the room! So that was his choice, to slide her somewhat around to be enveloped in grasp once more to at least be carried upstairs before he would attempt to do a few bits of work once more. His wonderment on how her adventure had gone at the Iron Dog was naturally at the forefront of his mind but right now, the fact that she needed sleep was a sign that this ought to be first priority.
“…it hasn’t yet been an hour, Elisa.” murmured Juliette softly with a furrow of brow, not quite coming back to the land of awakeness, at least not until she realized the gentle jostling wasn’t the prodding end of a broomstick. Awareness soon followed that she wasn’t securely seated in her office chair, but rather lifted up in the air which came with a sudden panicked stiffness and almost a swinging of limbs to defend herself only to immediately on sight of blue eyes and dark features.
And scratches. Fading red streaks on the face of her fiancé!
She lift a hand to catch his chin and gently tilt his head for a better look, to be sure it was nothing deep or serious. Oh, it was easy to make assumptions of the culprit and it was no surprise to have the sudden welling desire for violence towards that snappy little troll, Emery Hart! Just, she couldn’t very well assume things and then go tearing out of the manor house ready to hunt vampire covens again.
“Are you alright?” she asked, now for the second time that day, and quite mad about it too!
Elisa? What about an hour? Actually never mind, he could guess what mother Hubbard in the kitchen could have had to do with her murmuring nonsense. After all, him and Juliette were similar in the means of getting things done. Spurring the housekeeper to get her mothering pants on in the effects that she would do what she felt necessary if it meant keeping them from over doing their parts. A soft appreciation could certainly be felt for that but much of that wouldn’t be held close to chest when there was a obvious stiffening of Juliette that had her thankfully not flailing around like she trapped animal in a bag!
Presenting chocolate gaze to be taking in for her mental awareness that she wasn’t being thrown overboard by some rogue villain but rather set to the comfort of mattress. Grateful they had at least managed to get into the bedroom before she decided to wriggle free. Rather he was gripped by the chin as to be showing her the means of battle remnants. Brows instinctively furrowing while he had more than a deep want to just to jerk away. Stifling it down as he knew deeply that Juliette wasn’t his enemy and his reactionary reactions had no place in the worry that must had momentarily presented itself.
Merely sighing a bit through nose before sealing gaze shut enough at her question. “I’m fine. Benefit of being immortal, dove.” Retrieving fingers from holding chin hostage to instead peck the inside of wrist with an affectionate linger. “Just wasn’t expecting to be a scratching post so early in the day. It’ll fade.” As if he wanted to assure her to keep her fretting woes down, lips caught across brow. Decorating its middle with a mumble, “And what of you, I was getting a pain in my neck seeing you sleeping at your desk.”
“I was only resting my eyes for a moment,” she insisted, realizing quickly – well – that was clearly untrue! Else he’d not have been able to scoop her up and have her laid in bed before she’d even realized she’d been moved at all! At this rate he was going think he’d nearly killed her and his vampire minions were too much for her to take. Rather than just an unfortunate mix of things to happen in one day.
An internal war raged; that fear of letting someone see potential weakness and the desire to leap out of bed and insist I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine. Or to admit she was simply tired, annoyingly human, and didn’t quite have the stamina to rage across the city the way she wanted. To actually allow him the opportunity to care for her instead of pushing him away.
Juliette was still undecided, but at least she stayed where he put her.
“I should have gone with you,” she focused on instead. If she were going to be surly, at least she could aim it at someone deserving. Choosing to shift her hands to gently grasp his sleeves and tug him down to sit with her. “If she wants to fight so badly, I’ll be happy to give her the chance to have a brawl of claw and teeth until she’s worn herself out.”
It was easy enough to simply raise the two brows at her suggestion of resting one’s eyes for merely a moment. It could have been an intent for just a few seconds but he wasn’t liable to buy that she wasn’t far more spent than she wanted to say. Merely another reason they had similarities when it came to refusing to admit something as small as fatigue. Though for him, it was liable to cause him a sense of stress to think she was pushing herself too far. He was a creature that healed well enough at an increased speed so long as he was fed properly, she was still human.
Unlikely to ever say Juliette was fragile but he still worried.
Rather than even step into that territory, he tried to offer gentle consoling of hopefully allowed affections. Daring not to overstep an unmarked boundary limit. Just that it appeared her attention wanted to rest upon the fading damaged down to him. “What?” Starting on the nonsense train of thought to become delayed as she tugged at him. Insisting to come down to the same level as her. Responding quickly less they awkwardly fumble to become a jumbled mess, head was shortly shaken when she bared her figurative teeth. “As thrilling of an idea that could be, Juliette, I would prefer you didn’t do that. I’d be worried that more than Emery’s pride would be brutalized.” Well if he was honest, he would worry about the obvious differences between human and vampire.
As feisty as she was, Emery was still stronger and faster. He was a testament to the faster part! Having not expected to be assaulted upon entry! “Please don’t make me need to bind you up as if you were Hannibal Lector. To keep you from launching at those beneath your stature.”
The smile she gave him was unapologetic, cheeky, and too reminiscent of the one she’d given Elisa earlier. He could certainly try to tie her up somewhere! Juliette was tempted to say something filthy, but instead moved her hands to gently grasp his head with palms and press soft kiss to cheek.
“Not a Hannibal Lector. I’m sure she would be an awful meal and I have quite refined tastes,” she rejoined with a murmur. Though it didn’t really quell that need to go tearing after Emery for revenge, he did seem to be perfectly fine and in no need of her championing him. At least enough that she could set aside that renewed anger.
For now. Just for the moment, while he was safe and sound with her and the frustrating world was far beyond the walls. The second he left her, Juliette might start amassing a collection of vampire torturing weapons.
“Was a hissing fit the only thing she had to say, then?” she asked curiously. He hadn’t gone there just to be a pin cushion for fun, after all. Regardless of how weary she felt, there were still things that needed to be done!
He might not have said it outloud but the gentle means of feeling her grasp upon him, the low hum was certainly appreciative. Echoed with the decorating of petals to cheek. Practically preferring such things compared to that cheeky little grin seconds ago. And yet, she was so easily able to make him smirk. Listening to her suggest her palate choices were refined. So much so that Emery was of no meal selection she would ever take. “I knew I favoured you for a reason. This is only just an added note to that.” Quipping that she was merely a vampire initiate that had earned favour by such things.
It was they joked a little about what was happening or they’d both go mad. Deciding the former was far better than the latter.
In the deepest corners of his mind, already, he disliked how far Juliette had come into the realm of psychosis.
He’d relish this second. Till she asked a question that was bound to come. “A hissing fit would be putting it lightly.” Eyebrows tensed to another. Scrunched up, tugging invisible strings that were about to pull his jaw into a clench. “She’s generally prickly but the assault and the aftermath of being reminded that whom she attacked is not one of her own… she was not forthcoming.” He wanted to break her. It would have been easy too. Not even required to use his own hands to do so but the idea of doing so gave him a sickening pleasure no less.
One that needed to be cleansed by taking in a breath. “After she stopped her snapping and clawing, she pleaded of innocence. That she was setup, even though I found it impressively odd that I hadn’t expressed why I had come at all. So that was already a strike against her. She panicked, cried and attempted the same nonsense I’ve seen plenty of times before of a meekness that is fit for a playing dead viper.” Shoulders tensed uncomfortably. Sitting back then as to escape the means of hands as if he worried that she’d be the first to abandon them upon him. “She’s in confinement now. It felt… scripted. But not entirely.” Rings fell upon her, thankfully still blue. “The most interesting thing of this drop in I made was… Zephyr being dead on her floor.”
Juliette was not about to let him escape her attention or her hands, not when it was so clear how tensely he held his shoulders and the way she could tell by the rolling muscles in his jaw he was struggling not to bare teeth or clench tight in a snarling grimace. To say the man was stressed would be an understatement! Here she was frustrated with being merely tired, when the man was trying to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Daring to tell her that he was immortal and could heal, but not seeming to realize he needed to heal more than just his physical body but to give his mind the same care!
The little conniving wheels in her head were turning. If she left this room to return to working, naturally he was going to do the same. For his sake she needed to stay here, to force them both to just stop for an afternoon to actually catch their breath.
…and by this new revelation on the unexpected death of Emery’s second, they would need it.
Juliette scooted closer reaching the back of her hand to sooth over his forehead, where if he furrowed his brows anymore he was liable to give himself a migraine.
“…she was caught off guard by you appearing alone. She’d have heard what happened, one way or another, and thought to manage it herself. But I suspect if the King appears without one of his human council, it was easy to assume you were there to finally end her and her coven. I would have attacked first myself just to survive.”
She frowned a bit herself as she turned it over in her head.
“It’s likely she wants as much trouble as possible, but in her owns way. And this wasn’t her way or her plans, as why would she want you immediately on her heels as the consequences.”
It had been certainly not the sort of thing he had expected to see upon Emery’s floor. The view of Zephyr gutted at the throat. Threads of red outlining where flesh still clung and the fact that the means of how it happened still was rested upon his former lady’s hands. It would have been hard for Emery to plead her innocence to that. Not that he was about to start weeping over a being that had seemingly had his names on more mouths than a busy Saturday night prostitute. But it did mean there was an altercation. With now one dead that might have had answers that were needed to be heard.
The passage of tips trying to brush away the knotted furrow did have him at least looking at her. Considering and hearing while Juliette seemed to be taking the route of calculative listener. Even going so far as to express there would have been similar responding on her part if she had been in Emery’s shoes. Earning a huff but little else.
She wasn’t wrong. Maybe why he hadn’t sought to scoff at her indulgence of offering understanding.
Now it was his turn. To reach and rub at his forehead. Like that was going to clear any of this away. Simply he was finding more living question marks than anything with substance. “I don’t know. There is plenty of discord in the split coven’s, but I had not thought it to be so deeply engrossed to this point. Perhaps you were right in the original take, Juliette. That Emery is not the culprit though if Zephyr was or a part of it, the dead don’t speak.” And Emery was not cracking open on that. She had been fuming one moment, groveling the next. It was for the best that she be placed into confinement for a time. To where maybe being obstructed from freedom may open her typically loud mouth.
“If I was to be honest… I don’t know what the hell is happening. It seems disorganized. Which is likely the point. To distract while something else is happening in the background. Regardless I have no suitable answer to give.”
She pulled his hand away from his head, replacing it with both of her own to gently rub her thumbs against his temples to ease away some of that frustration. She understood it well! Someone out there was manipulating the covens and perhaps even dragging in outsiders like David, which was a very dangerous game to be involved in, especially the longer it took too resolve. Just that, no matter how much they wished to, there was no possible way to figure it out in a single morning. Even with their combined shake down of Emery and Augustus.
“I spoke to Augustus about it this morning,” she confessed. Although she hadn’t told him directly that had been her plans, she was sure he’d surmised it quick enough. As where else would she have gone to shake up a den of vampires. No one had yet told her where Emery kept her lair.
“Dominic also met an unfortunate fate last, though thankfully didn’t meet an early demise. Augustus feels his establishment may now have a fox or two hidden in plain sight, and is not sure if all in his own coven can be trusted. I even had the chance to hear the opinions of one of your unsatisfied masses.”
Surprise caught him at the discarding of his own grasp. Blinking curiously at the means of making it shoo away so her own would take replacement. Doing well to leave him easily flabbergasted before clearing his throat that might have suggested a bit of a shy embarrassment. It was not as though he were looking for her coddling or even consideration. Care, he supposed would be a better word for it. Doing well to keep his mouth from getting all verbal in that second. Leaving him to be a silent putty in palms that he was truly starting to regret ever involving in any of this.
That maybe he ought to have played the mortal card a lot longer. To keep her unaware.
Still with his mouth being sealed, it gave her a chance to tell him just what she had done this morning. Developing a slight pucker to the corner of each lid itself as if he were trying to debate if he was annoyed she didn’t tell him or to explain that he already kind of figured it out. Not the depth of it by any means but enough that she went back to the scene of the crime.
It was the mention of Dominic that managed to keep him from making a displeased comment. Rather he hissed and growled at the mention. Stringing plenty of colourful curses together to keep silent. Pressing mouth into a grim line. Thinking expressively till she mentioned she had heard opinions of his unsatisfied masses. An appearance of what could probably be considered contempt arriving, “Should I feel moved by that? Or should I start learning names of those who are so willing to speak in a brazen manner at all.”
So he wasn’t the fan of his own coven, clearly. Had he been, it wouldn’t have been broken as it was. He already knew how dangerous this all would be invoking an old contract for a benefit of a larger scale but he hardly expected to be having actual feelings about it! Debating his thoughts, “Maybe it’s for the better then that they are disgruntled, granted it would just be wiser if they took their vengeance and upset upon myself rather than involving others to try to twist their discord.”
He shook his head, once more retracting from her grasp. Mostly so he might actually stand up. Fidgety with a need to pace at the foot of the bed. Trying to think of the wisest way to ask her questions without getting all fiery about it and without putting a ruling down that she was not to interact with the coven’s at all. “What… did you find out then?” It was best to start small.
He’d escaped her again, leaving the bed to start his menacing pacing of the floor, drawing Juliette to stand herself but not to chase him down and force him to stillness. She herself was one apt to frustrated pacing when she needed to process things, he could shake it out of his system while she provided an air of restful calm. While he gave his contempt towards his fanged beastlies, she slipped off her shoes and nudged them aside. She even pulled off her jewelry to set on the nightstand, though not her engagement ring. That she’d grown too fond of wearing and prefered not to remove it unless she needed to.
“Nothing unexpected for you, I’m sure. They feel my arrival has made things worse for them. More problems, more chaos, and now with your human wife and your human council you’re going to further pull away from those that you’re responsible for. No doubt proven in their minds as you reach out to others across the ocean.”
She left out the colorful insults. Fern for all of his rudeness, had valid points to make and while it hadn’t been the information she’d been originally seeking, it did provide her the avenues on how she could actually be a useful part of Jordan’s life beyond just the connections her business provided.
“Not unrepairable,” she mentioned, with a lit to her voice that suggested strongly she knew he wasn’t going to like what she was about to reveal. In fact, she deliberately dodged it out right, leaving him to his pacing by the bed to escape out towards the bedroom proper. Giving herself the extra moments to try and think quickly on how she was going to help him simmer down so that she could tell him unwanted truths and what he needed to hear without him having a heart attack about it.
Pacing didn’t do a whole lot of anything save getting that needless fidgeting out of his system. Especially when it was starting to truly appear as though there was plenty of things going tits up. Something about it bothered him and something about it made him feel like it was a laughable thing at all! Knowing that those who were displeased with the ruling might not like what he could have said.
Fuck it all.
To take the ruling title and merely leave them all to fend for themselves –not that he was doing a fantastic job of keeping his little grouping of fanged shits corralled either. Just that stupidly they as vampires needed a source of alignment. Someone to follow and in his younger stupidity, he sought it. Chased it and devoured it till it was more of him than he cared to admit.
These were his subjects. Though he had never made one of his own as some might, it wasn’t difficult to look behind the figurative curtain and grasp that he held the omen of hatred for what they were because his choice had been taken. Talk about holding a grudge.
Nose wrinkled with a heated huff at her calm statement. That those in the coven were feeling the effects of him selecting to use Charles own contract. Granted he didn’t think anyone particularly cared about the old king’s little deals until now. What did it matter if he selected a human woman to carry the mantle or not? Suppose that was him being unable to look further than his nose. Still he slowed the pacing to lend her a gaze. Watching with obvious query, “I don’t know if I like it when you are playing the calm business woman while being selective about how much you say.” The selection of control she was using now was not unknown. It was useful when one had to deal with frothing dogs of business sorts. Keep your cool while they lost theirs.
Especially when she was giving him an additional not unrepairable. It was laced with additional information. Details that she was being very selective about revealing. Warranting him to stop and to turn towards the bed. Noticing how she had removed selected items now than previous. Lips parted and begun the means of being a thorny snap but stopped even before it arrived. Instead taking in a breath, “Less I have to start dancing to get you to reveal what you mean to provide you some entertainment at my bristling unappealing nature, what do you wish to say, Juliette.”
“Honestly, I would like you to dance. With me,” she answered in an almost frustrated huff. Not with him, as he had every good reason to be near climbing the walls with fury. With this odd situation itself, where if it were all business she could simply lay it all out on the table, without a single care of how he felt about things or how he was going to react. Instead of this nervousness, where she wanted to soothe him and make things better for him, but was so afraid he’d take it as some sort of womanly wiles trying to seduce him into giving her what she wanted.
What she was stuck with was words, hastily chosen as she stopped in the bedroom to stoop by the coffee table to snatch up a book she’d left there. Something to have in her hands so she wouldn’t go chasing him around the bedroom to pet or cling to him, when he very clearly didn’t need it from her.
“And to be frank, your bristling stomping is only making me want to kiss you and insist you hold me. So you’ll have to forgive me for defaulting into calm business woman to control myself. You’re not going to like my suggestions and I am far too tired to both argue and kiss you at the same time!”
He’d give her absolute credit, she was very good at catching him off guard. Ready to expose that he was annoyed at the idea of her wanting him to dance like some cymbal crashing monkey only for her to cleverly tact on that she would want him to do so with her. Extinguishing any ire that could have risen successfully. Leaving him to just breath out a gentle breath. Raking back hair as she seemed to be equally shifting about with ants in her pants. Not likely from the same reason, he wouldn’t be that silly.
Instead, he waited. Watching and listening to hear just what magical new thing came tumbling from lips that ought to make him sit down or even dare to sway her into speaking up.
Hearing that she was standing in the figurative rock and a hard place. Just he was the source of that. “I’d prefer not to argue, dove. We both know how pigheaded we both are. We’d have better success of rattling our heads upon the wall than going verbally toe to toe again.” He didn’t much care for it the first or second or whatever time they had! Needing her not to take to standing on the bed to be eye level with him as she had on the chaise!
So what could he do?
Well, sitting down seemed like a fair start as she said his stomping was making her pull in two directions. “And if we start the means of kissing another, I’ll be so distracted that I won’t be able to ask what ideas you have cooking that you think should be implemented to try and correct a coven that is nothing more than a bunch of bast—” he stopped. Narrowed his gaze and corrected himself, “Broken.” So he came around to sit once more. Laying grasp to fall idle on one side and other to rest across lap. Watching her quietly then, “You’ve evidently gotten other’s point of views while having had a conversation with I hope Augustus, forgive me then. I am not accustomed yet to having someone entirely on my side and at the same level. What is it you want to tell me. I’ll do you a favour and keep my quips and mouth shut so you can have the free floor.”
It hadn’t been an elegant way to start a conversation, but Juliette was grateful for the accidental success. For if he could still use sweet pet names and agree that kissing would be most distracting, he was calm enough to listen and discuss the next steps in their current problem. Now that he was seated in one place, she’d returned to stand directly in his field of vision… just out of arm’s reach. Hugging that book to her chest like a shield.
The one thing he wanted was for her to stay out of vampire affairs as long as possible, and yet now here she was going to have to declare that she couldn’t. After she’d promised him she’d try. It might as well be another betrayal added to his long list of other disappointments!
“…we are going to have to invite Augustus and Emery or their representatives to our wedding.”
Not exactly the full scope of things, but Juliette felt the need to ease him in to it, one little step at a time.
“They feel disconnected from you,” she continued quickly before he could utter a word. “This marriage is just as much about their future as it is about ours – they should be present for it. Show them they are involved! Trust them with this very vital and important moment and let them rise to the occasion – or prove that they’re unsupportive should they act foul. They’re afraid of the changes my presence signals, so we will show them the changes are for them.”
Juliette clamped her mouth shut, holding her breath to see just how this suggestion landed.
It was a boon that he had no idea which way this was going to go. Granted he wasn’t a fan of how she came before him but seemed to be keeping a sense of distance. Arbitrarily wondering the reason for this but wouldn’t have much time to contemplate some hidden meaning. Before she stated the start of what she was thinking.
Because it sure as hell had him looking at her like she just sprouted a second head! Jaw dropping not to utter anything but to just dumbly gawp. Flickering stare back and forth between the two lenses of brown she possessed. Trying to make sense of what the hell she was thinking or maybe she had suffered a concussion at some point. Did she need medical assistance?!
With his inability to speak, she continued. Sliding in that they felt disconnected from him. Straightening his back in reply. As if that was a suggestion that he preferred that! Having no desire to be close to either one of them regardless of their stature. In all fairness, he hadn’t even wanted the covens to exist after taking control. His want had been to just wipe them all out. Augustus hadn’t been around when the turn of reign happened, only Emery and a few of her others. Just that Augustus had ended up being one of those turned in one of those decades that he had been silent. And separated himself from whomever his maker was –likely killed them from his understanding to achieve that- to create his own coven. To vye for attention that when he returned to the world of the living from his years hiding, he was given the insight that now there was two covens. And hated every second of it. Just he couldn’t do much about it considering his length of absence.
Still he was rightfully dumbfounded. Left to merely stare while she gave a sense of compassion he was slightly envious of. Just how much of an impression had they made that she was so willing to offer an olive branch! Especially after what had happened!
Either he really was a true blue monster or Juliette was far more on par with a saint than he could have ever considered.
She finished and looked like she was waiting to be blasted in some sort. Leaving him a long drawn out moment to think further on this. Truly deciphering his own thoughts that were hissing like a wet cat! Eventually sealing gaze behind lids and face behind hands. Rubbing furiously like that was going to help at all.
He has stated he wanted someone who was not afraid to speak their mind with him. To offer insights he would miss, just he wasn’t sure he wanted it to happen right now!
“Aughh.” A singular noise as he decided the flop over instead. Smoothing touch over brow as he kept his stare closed. Kneading that brain because it was certainly aching now. “Is… this what you want… then.”
It seemed he was going to take the route of flopping angry feline, to which… good! This meant he wasn’t going to stomp his foot down and suddenly declare that King trumps Queen, and he never actually meant to listen to advice given when it was hard to hear.
Emboldened now, she set the book aside to close the distance to the bed, to lean over him and take his kneading hand before he rubbed his own furious eyebrows off.
“Hmm! What I want is a future with you. One where we might have evenings together unfettered by violence on those we care about. This is the first step of a multiple step process,” she warned, trying not to smile about it. The frightening part had passed – as long as he was listening, Juliette was more than willing to deal with his broodiness about it. He wasn’t unreasonable, nor stupid. He’d see the wisdom in it.
At least she hoped so. There was still a possibility that he hated them all far more than he could ever get past.
“You shouldn’t have tumbled over so soon. I’ve not even told you the most wretched and horrible parts!”
Realizing he might attempt an escape of his own out of sheer revulsion, Juliette planted her hands on his shoulders to make sure he wouldn’t flee. Casting down on him an earnest, honest expression – she knew this was a thing of nightmares, but it needed be done!
“Where you and I must give them all of the theatrics and attention they’ve been craving through some grand sort of vampiric party. Call it a reception, or celebration, or coronation. Use it to announce there is not many covens, just one King and one coven. We’ll charm them the way we charm dodgy old business tycoons, get them invested in building an empire more exciting than anything they could have thought of on their own.”
He wasn’t happy about this. In all fairness he could have easily dismissed every thought she had. To proclaim that she had no idea the depth of which she was asking but that would absolutely create a rift between them. Something that felt far worse than being obstinate. If there had been an option, he would have just wiped them all from existence. Then to just live out his days being a recluse in some sort of foreign land that wasn’t likely to realize he was a bloodsucker.
A dream in itself.
The movement approached and he found once more the means of being halted at daring to rub his head raw. Peeling sights open in a languid stare to where she expressed a desire that was a want for a future with him. Worrying brows a little further together that he might not be able to accomplish that without there being a constant threat! Something that she was attempting to alleviate by uniting the damn little cretins.
So he sighed and flopped arms across stomach. “Then its better I flopped over if you are about to detail far worse. Less I leap off the balcony and run stark raving mad into the night.” There was more! Good god, how long had she thought about this! He was sure she was only gone this morning!
Widening eyes when palms came to hold him down to stop the attempt of fleeing as he threatened, to be told further that she wanted to make this a whole theatrical event that was to hit a loathing he had in spades. To have a party with them! Again pulling that look she was sprouting features that belonged to some sort of fantastical beast rather than comely maid! “I— Did… Wha..t… when did—” The struggle was real. Unable to sort a reply through the motion of mouth to be spoken. Dropping itself with splutters of incomplete attempts!
Till finally he narrowed sights upon her. “Are you trying to see if you can kill me without actually doing the deed, because this is surely the way to do so.”
Oh no, for a moment there she was afraid he might have indeed had a heart attack! Concern written all over her face, as she very nearly tried to soothe him with gentle sshh, shh sounds and petting pats. His narrowed eyes and near furious accusation was actually a relief.
Dropping her head to his chest, to burrow her face lest he see her struggling not to laugh and assume this was all some cruel joke at his expense. Juliette was nothing but serious about this. Something drastic needed to be done – something so unexpected that it would send his vampire minions spinning in circles trying to figure it out.
Once she’d got her breath under control, she lifted back up with her hands braced at his sides.
“Fear and violence has failed you, Jordan Harrow. Unless you want to meet the same fate as the former King, where some bold, ballsy upstart finally succeeds in taking you by surprise, you have to try something so wildly different that it’ll take decades for these dramatic minions of yours to realize what you’ve done.”
It was a harsh truth to tell him now, but if he couldn’t hear it from her, he might never hear it. Still, she frowned a bit, reaching to cup his cheek and softly brush her thumb over the fading red scratches.
“They’ve had you hiding and avoiding them all this time. Reacting to whatever nonsense they decide to create to draw you out! So don’t hide anymore? Host a ridiculous vampire ball with your vampire queen. Host court and make them come running to you at your demand. They want recognition, we will make them work for it.”
“Or,” the way she said the single word did not bode well for him. “I will do it on my own. Without you. If you wish to hide in your tower as my trophy husband, I cannot argue with that. As long as you promise to care for me when I return home exhausted after a day of two jobs.”
It went against everything he stood for but when her head dropped and he could feel the slight motions of her giggling at his dramatics, he could offer a faint smirk. Unspooling grasp to favour to find the span of waist to rest palm across it. Waiting for her to recover so he might hear more of her adventurous plots that were liable to make him want to spontaneously combust.
Lending her the soapbox once more to play her cards to expose that his ability to rule with the iron fist was waning. That there would eventually be one of those in the covens that would see to his own end. A thought about it had that ugly notion that he wasn’t particularly bothered by it. Simply because life at this point had seemed to be a tedium that may need an exit of the permanent kind. Thankfully he wasn’t bold enough to say such things while she was telling him that his way of working this was no longer functional.
That they were calling the shots and winning by the means of assuring that whatever attention they got –good or bad- was by their efforts. Much like a child who just wanted attention however means.
Just that she added that dangerous little or on there. Tilting chin as if to challenge her in that second. “Am I that easily replaceable that you’d just toss me into a tower?” His tone was devoid of any telltale emotion but it wouldn’t be difficult to see he didn’t much care for it. Knowing she was prodding at his ego.
Still he had put a lot of effort of being open, being concise and speaking on things that were known to burn his ass. “Give me time to consider this. Right now my kneejerk reaction is to say no. But I value your point of view, I just need to chew on this a bit rather than making an reactionary decision.”
“As long as you are listening, that is all I need,” she admitted. “You can take all the time in the world to think. …well except about inviting your coven leaders to our wedding, that is one decision with a due date, unless you’ve decided not to marry me after all.”
For a brief moment she examined his face, as if needed to be extra sure that he did in fact mean it when he said he needed to think, and wasn’t just brushing her off with an easy answer to get her off his back. Or off him in general with the way she’d been leaning over him.
Finally she’d let out a slow breath, actually plopping onto the bed herself, with no more leaning, pinning or hovering. Collapsing into the crook of his arm and resting her head on his shoulder with a world weary sigh. Jordan was as exhausting as his vampire brethren, but unlike with them she could drop all pretenses of infallible strength.
“…will you stay with me?” she asked, meaning right there in the moment, knowing he was liable to want to go back to tackling things just as she would. Yet there was that soft unspoken fear too, that he was going to realize he could walk away whenever he wanted to. Remove her from his life just as easily as he would walk away from his vampires.
“After tomorrow night I will give you a reply to the two being invited to that of the wedding.” He offered with authenticity, “The latter is not a question Juliette. Between the two of us, I come with far more baggage than anyone ought to ever deal with. So perhaps that is a question for you to contemplate on.” Suggesting if there was anyone who might be wise to evade all of this, it would be her. Even if he came into this with a plan in mind, one would have to be blind to think he could continue that frame of mind to just will her into this marriage.
It would have just been easier to be two angry hissing animals then rather than looking to be amicable… to be looking for a potential comfort and acceptance.
Shifting to where she might easily come to lodge upon the open space of side, sheltering arm to bend around and rest upon opposite hip; affectionately he pecked a press to the top of apex. Lingering when she asked him a new question that was certainly saying more than what it sounded like, “I had no intention of going out. If I was going to work, I have my laptop here. I don’t want to explain to Elisa to why it looks like I lost a fight with Theix. And if I sought to leave the room, it would only to go make use of useless gym equipment as to blow off steam. But as we can see, I am clearly pinned down once more. Utterly unable to move once more.” A follow up peck was made while he sought to rest chin over the spot no sooner. “Besides learning that I am a fantastically terrible person and king alike, did all go well enough at the Iron Dog?”
Juliette knew that her backing out of this marriage was never going to happen. Not even after last night. Not even with knowing things could get worse. She’d meant what she confessed to Hannah, and with time Jordan would realize too she wasn’t easily bullied or frightened off.
Why would she ever want to leave this. This was everything she’d ever wanted.
Grinning into his shoulder at his instance of being trapped, she made extra sure that was the case by throwing a leg over his and an arm over his chest. Effectively making sure if he did attempt to leave, he was going to have to wrestle her off. What a brute he’d truly be to do such a wicked thing to his exhausted fiancé!
“Augustus has offered me sanctuary in his space, should I need it. As well as his aide should problems ever arise. Born of self preservation for sure, but he seems to want the same future of being able to exist without fear of someone stabbing us in the back. We’re yet unknown to each other, but we might have a relationship of respect.”
She paused then, wrinkling her nose.
“…I cannot see how he and Myra ever mixed, however. I suppose one or both must have been very drunk and very lonely.”
Following her upwards to claim straddling victory as to forbay him from even attempting to gather up should he think of going to abuse some poor piece of purchased equipment; he didn’t particularly find a need to even attempt it. Laying palms down upon thighs and looking up to the situated queen holding him down.
Such a terror, now wasn’t she?
Actually she just might as well be for the mention of a casually dropped means that Augustus offered her sanctuary. What the hell did that mean! Only to hint that he was hoping damn well she wasn’t inferring something else than just merely a place to go drink if she felt the need to see how deep her gills were! But rarely than let his imagination run wild, one listened. Thinking next and ultimately not finding what was uttered, unfamiliar.
Just she was full of spritely amusement as nose wrinkled up. Posing outwards confusion to how the two unlikely duo came together. “Myra is a rebellious soul, love. You tell her not to do something, she will do it in spite. Her father has suffered many a headaches with his spirited child and she was a snack that was considered taboo in the vampire circles. A child of the human council? Augustus has his own streak of devilish whims. Sampling blood of various souls to see which once is a delightful vintage.” Sparing palm to reach up to creep upon ivory column. Twining grip to lightly influence the further dipping, “Now that all this fury inducing conversation has come to its peak, I believe someone was busy resting her eyes. A bed makes for better sleep than a desk. Though I am sure you were counter me on that with a sassy retort.”
Well that certainly answered that. It was plenty easy enough to see Myra doing just about anything to irk everyone around her when she was feeling up to it. How lucky they were that she seemed to care for the lot of them, and wasn’t out to do anything malicious. Though now Juliette had a new insight into Augustus, who on previous meetings seemed far too serious and thoughtful to get up to these sorts of things.
“I’ll sleep on our honeymoon,” she answered simply at the suggestion of rest. Imperiously even without verbal apology, although she did lean to plant the briefest of kisses on turn of mouth.
She did need the rest, but the day had been so long already without him. Juliette was now spoiled – codependent! Why would she close her eyes now and risk waking up to him not being there?
“I’d rather have my time with you that was so rudely stolen away. Or at least what moments I can get before Elisa comes fetching me and Hannah for dinner, and I have to stash you away in the wardrobe lest she finds you and insists you join us for dinner as well.”
“Sleep on the honeymoon?” He repeated daring to feel practically ripped off with the barest tease of a whisper that fluttered across mouth, “What makes you think you’ll have time?” Lightly tensing grip upon neck as if he was trying to implore her that she was in fact with someone that did rarely sleep himself. It would be silly for her to avoid the need for sleep because she thought that night would be the prime moment for it.
Still she made a point in which he could only airlessly sigh at. Pressing elbow to make use to prop himself up. Shaming way that spritely passing of barely a kiss to centre one of his own properly in reply. Lingering with an obvious purpose to lightly drip away. Laying a flirting pass across cupid’s bow, “If I wasn’t sporting the fade tears upon my face, I would join you for the meal. I think it may be necessary to show my presence less Hannah come up with new tales that step outside a mafia lord.”
Juliette was going to laugh outright at his suggestion she’d not have time to sleep on her honeymoon, and though she truly did hope they’d be busy with filthy more delightful things, she couldn’t help but think a lot of that time was going to be her trying to tackle her ever growing to-do list while she had the moments to do it without interuption.
Of course, then he’d kissed her, lingering and sweet and Juliette suddenly forgot what that important work was.
All soft smiles now and affectionate touches, she stroked her fingers through dark tendrils of his hair. Leaning just enough to give the ghost of a touch of lips to his, and then on to his cheek. Speaking softly against skin, with only a feather light of grazing.
“I have told her the full truth, save for the vampire aspect. Her curiosity will be sated as long as she doesn’t decide you’re mistreating me. I’d like to take her to your charity event, if she hasn’t decided we’re too dangerous to accompany in public.”
The bare touch was enough to elicit the fluttering of prickled skin, warm and delightfully tantalizing. Knowing that he did in fact intend on showing himself in the housestead save for the fact he was sporting obvious results of being attacked. To most it might seem worthless to hide but unless he was going to explain to those who were unaware of his truth to why they disappeared so quickly; it was best to remain unseen.
To instead suffer right now the mood that was still tense in the background but fantastically saturated with gentle affections in the forefront. Laying wandering grasp to feel at the cloth that bore her frame away from being picked over by greedy stare. “I wouldn’t dare.” Jordan smirked allowing himself to drop back down to the bed so he wasn’t making an awkward tilt. “I’ve seen how you scheme against those who have mistreated you. I’d hate to have a tag-team of the pair of you.” Suggesting that somehow the human women were far worse than any vampires could be.
Although his attention widened curiously at her mention of the event. Thinking momentarily but found no reason to decline it. “If you wish then I don’t see a reason not to. Is this to prove to Hannah that things are not nearly as wild as they had proven to be? Or are you intending on sicking her on those that annoy you?”
The man had effectively surrendered to her mercy, drawing a soft giggle from Juliette as she too adjusted her posture. Contentedly resting herself on his chest, with her elbow by his head to prop herself up. It gave her the opportunity to stroke his cheek with the back of her knuckles, to occasionally tap his mouth with a finger as a gentle tease.
Worst yet, it allowed her to lean in at her leisure to almost kiss, but conveniently halting a breath away when she needed to speak.
“Honestly, I was going to invite her anyway as I think she would enjoy the glamour of it. But with both Felix and Dominic broken and battered, I’m concerned I might have to ask Augustus for favor of escort. Putting Myra at such an event feels like inviting more trouble.”
A wicked waste of a flirtation was being presented. Teasing in ways he both loathed and delighted in a twisted mingle. Favouring the prospect of their closed presence. Quietly melting under the contact that was probably making him as greedy as a moth to the flame. Not even sure when he had started to sway his want to be near towards her.
Just he was finding that phantom tease enough to try to decide how he was going to wrangle this moment. Put on hold while she asked him about inviting Hannah along to the very event. Pondering if this was because she wanted to show that he was not anything like David or if it was to unleash the romance author on unsuspecting victims. “Please do not ask Augustus for that favour, we don’t need her getting mixed up with that flirt.” He sighed then, “Though if it wasn’t my company’s event, I would happily say bring Myra along. So she might frustrate others to the point of tearing hair out!”
He stole close then to take that lingering out of reach tease. “The charity is tomorrow, I suppose that means you’ll have to gussy up your female date. As I will be just staying at the office till the event.”
Juliette still had a difficult time imagining Augustus as a flirt. At the moment it also wouldn’t do to tease her fiance of the earlier giggled ideas with Myra of Hannah infiltrating the vampire covens as a matchmaking demon. The man had enough to be concerned about without having make-believe scenarios giving him nightmares!
Instead she turned her face away out of kissing range, to brush lips against lobe of ear and to continue conversation in quiet tones.
“I’ll see what she wishes to do. If she wants a quick trip out to find something new, or for another quiet day in and simply raid my closet. I must be here tomorrow to recieve a shipment of books, in any case, so I’ll be getting that rest everyone is insisting on.”
Not so restful was the cheeky nip of her teeth at the start of his jawline, quickly soothed away with a press of her mouth.
“Do you wish to pick up your dates and arrive together, or would you prefer me to make a dramatic solo entrance at the event direct for the spectacle?”
He gruffed noisily at her when she turned away. Tensing grip in a slight suggestion that she was successfully teasing him. Struggling between grabbing at her like some unslightly beast or to be patient and respectful as not to overstep boundaries. Still hesitant on being to bold when it came to the woman that had previously had no say in what she felt between the former beau.
Settling to turn huffing into slow sighing. Letting skin respond to the whispered breath. Nodding to agree that whatever they wished to do come tomorrow, it was their decision to have. Be it out in the wild or here at the manor. Just if he was about to form a reply, teeth were grazing noticeably and soothed secondly.
Filling chest heavily with breath, “For you?” slowly breath was moved out of lungs, “For this arranged marriage to be the talk of every bit of town, a good dramatic entrance I think would suit you just fine. Plus, I am sure you would enjoy making many people complete a double take.”
Juliette laughed, enough to have her shoulders shaking and likely ruined the quiet serenity of the moment, yet he wasn’t wrong at all! She did very much enjoy making a statement, though she suspected that was he was hoping for himself. As Jordan had so far shown with his planned events and parties, that he very much liked making people stop, stare, and whisper. Even if he had no interest in talking to them after the fact. This was going to be the first official introduction of his fiance, why not make it a moment.
“As you wish,” she laughed again, burying her face at his neck to lay hard kiss, complete with inappropriate lick of tongue to his neck. Afterall, turnabout was fair game!
“I’ll make sure to arrive fashionably late, so that your partners might think I was made up just for a brief moment. They’ll be wonderfully surprised.”
As much as she was toying with him right now, the sound of her laugh was still enough to soothe down any irritable hackles. Not about to express that it was a delightful sound to hear as he didn’t want it to be suddenly taken away or that she might feel it had no place being heard at all! Instead savouring it silently till she seemed to sparkle at the idea that he was encouraging her to make a bold statement.
Actually, it was better if she did. The office was still buzzing with the idea that the notorious shark that was the CEO was apparently getting married at all. Having only heard tales of her appearance once and that was highly influenced by Yulia being encouraged to spread the gossip. Dropping in truth and lies to see how just how they all spun.
Stilling the effort of lungs when she complied and gave a devilish use to lip and tongue. Pulling a hissing huff through teeth. “You’re toying with me, dove.” Jordan muttered clear enough to express he was easily being tossed about in her little game.
Even if he did like the idea that she would assure those of the gossip mongering souls of the event were momentarily disappointed or feeling haughty about the lack of her appearance only to be promptly ruined by her precisely timed arrival. “I feel as though I ought to assure that I am nothing more than background noise for you tomorrow. Let you steal and keep the show. I am sure you and Hannah would make a lovely couple to keep people talking.”
“Am I toying with you, Jordan?” she asked, voice full of innocence, despite the fact he could directly feel the way her lips curled into a mischievous grin right there against the skin of his neck. Softly nuzzling tip of nose, and now back to those feather light touches of would-she or would-she-not, perfectly content to test the limits of his patience with such things.
At least she took to easing the torment by lazy stroke of thumb along his jawline. Or more torment, depending on the perspective.
“Not a chance, lover. I’ll find Hannah an appropriately safe and dull date to entertain her, so that you and I can be the talk of the night.”
If not Augustus, who would be a safe option at least in the sense of a protector against supernatural assailants, then Juliette would just have to dig up one of the bachelors from her collection of acceptable dating materials. Hannah had ambushed enough poor victims with blind dates, being ambushed herself with a wealthy business man to escort her around the auction would do her some good. There would be no dangerous surprised – at worst, she’d just be bored to death!
Snipping at the soft flesh of inner lip, he refused to vocalize the truth of the matter. Seeing as that grin was spreading upon the surface of skin. Proving she already knew what she was doing. Evidently enjoying it where he was not about to be a fiendish twat to grab and twist at her. Simply settling to let her do as she wanted while willing himself a sense of backbone stubbornness. Truly pulling out the stops of unfamiliarity that didn’t often not get to lead.
Offering a statement that perhaps he was able to be unrecognizable come tomorrow seeing as she would be the belle of the ball. Suited with debutante friend to make sweeps through the corporate nobility with whatever joy they wanted.
“I don’t know, I think it might be fun to see you both become the talk of the night. By all means those stuffy sorts could use a shakeup that has nothing to do with me. While shaking your tail feathers to prove that you are no Byron daughter of a submissive state.” He gave her thigh a light pat, “I hear footsteps approaching, it would seem you are to be summoned.”
Juliette paused all of her sweet attentions to sit up quickly, bracing the palms of her hands against the mattress beside his head and casting down on him the most serious of frowns. He was teasing, of course, but she wouldn’t put it past him to try and find some way to hide in the shadows from his own company, having it seem it was her idea all along. In most cases she would let him – if she weren’t hoping to make the evening something more romantic for the two of them.
Well, having Hannah come along might’ve sent mixed signals about any romantic intentions, but she couldn’t very well leave Hannah cowering at the manor house. She needed to get out again!
If footsteps were indeed approaching, now she was for certain holding him at her mercy, refusing to move and risking him being caught by Elisa and needing to scrambled for quick excuses!
“This dominating – aggressive? …bossy. This whatever word is the opposite of submissive in this context Byron Daughter would much prefer doing the shaking up with her actual fiancé. To paint a picture, Jordan Harrow, it’s not with Hannah that I intend to slide my hands into the pockets of, to steal kisses from behind obnoxiously large floral arrangements, or attempt to seduce in a dark hallway while someone is giving a dull speech.”
“Promise you won’t sneak off without me. That you’ll be with me all night.”
Looking up to her when he announced he could hear the approach of footsteps –already able to note that it was in fact Elisa coming in search of the miss for the means of dinner- he found her staring back. Seemingly about to be stationed there in mulish defiance while she came to declare her thoughts eloquently. “Dominating and a mildly bossy but not aggressive.” He corrected her somewhat. Well she was aggressive but so far he had been lucky that she wasn’t throwing rogue fists to catch him off guard.
Not sure he would much care for it either seeing as he had enough of that today and highly had no desire to be anyone’s punching bag. Similar to her.
Just that she was trying to tell him that she had devious acts planned out at the event that would likely get more than a few tongues waggling. “I don’t know, if it was with Hannah there would be a lot of conversations happening.” He countered with a slight narrowing of gaze. Evidently he was playing back seeing as she had just spent how long being a ghostly tease!
The door was knocked upon twice. Causing him to turn head as if he could see through the half wall of the room. Till there was audible creaking, “Juliette, dinner is ready.” Elisa beckoned and the sound of her steps entered the space to where there was ruffling of fabric. “I’ve just put the garment bag on the side here, I’ll let you hang it up when you are ready, dear.” He gave a soundless sigh before the sound of Elisa retreated with door shutting once more.
“I will be here.” Jordan replied quietly then, “Merely working or contemplating diving off the balcony. Whichever tickles my fancy.”
They were playing a game of Chicken, it seemed, both of them waiting with baited breath to see if Elisa actually wandered further into the room to catch the lord of the manor being held hostage in his own bed by a frustrated lady. It seemed luck was in Jordan’s favor, however, that Elisa deemed an announcement of dinner not worth seeking out the lady directly. Likely, in a mothering sort of politesse to not wake Juliette if she’d been napping.
“I meant, promise that you’ll stay with me tomorrow.” she explained with a huff at his dramatics. He was being wretched and wicked, but she in this case she did deserve it, so there was no ill will or annoyance on her part. She trusted he’d be there. It was a bit of surprising feeling to believe it, too.
Rewarding his patience for all of her torturous teasings, Juliette finally leaned down to gift him with kiss proper. Unhurried and deep, full of sincere affection. When she did pull away, grazing knuckles softly over those fading red scratches on his cheek, she open to say something – an almost slip of the dreaded I love you – but managed to catch herself in time to chew teeth into her bottom lip.
“I’ll come to bed after dinner. Please don’t jump off the balcony.” she said instead, finally pulling away to slid off his form.
He was actually considering himself very lucky that Elisa hadn’t activated mother hen mode to come toddling around the half wall. To catch him in here and then to be embarrassed by the arrangement of themselves that would likely turn into a commentary of a colourful variety. Praising whatever would be God out there for a charm of luck.
Which seemed he was about to play his own mischievous game with grin spreading and eyes narrowing in that way that was similar to the fat cat with a freshly caught mouse. Letting her re-explain what she had meant instead of playing stupid. Shortly humming like this needed a depth of thought at all! If he was debating whether or not he would be a wall flower at the event to leave her to glitter like white gold amongst the various souls trying to look like they gave a damn. Eventually relenting that conspiratorially look. Finally having a reward of this damnable back and forth that was almost worth waiting for.
Leaning into the means of soft grazing to raise gaze up once more. “I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow, Juliette. I am a very jealous man when it comes to those that I wish to covet.” Expressing it openly that he was hardly about to let her be the gleaming relic amongst so many hungry eyes! “And don’t rush to come upstairs. I won’t be going anywhere, even in jest over the railing. If I leave the room, it likely will be to the study to grab a different book should I need one. Enjoy your dinner, love.”
Both satisfied and unsatisfied with their end of conversation and light touchings, Juliette did force herself to exit the room before she abandoned the thought of dinner altogether. She couldn’t be so rude as to request a cozy meal, only to not show up and by now she truly did need to check up on Hannah to make sure the girl wasn’t hiding in a closet writing some new genre of romantic horror.
With a quick knock on Hannah’s door, she opened it up with a peek inside.
How amazing to see so much chaos in a single room after only a few short days. There were clothes and shoes and open suitcases all over the place. For a brief second, Juliette thought that maybe Hannah was trying to pack her things to make her escape away from this awful cursed house and dangerous cartel of Kings and dissenters. Yet, the girl was sitting on the middle of the floor, in one of her oversized t-shirts just typing away on her laptop with this wide-eyed delighted look on her face.
“…What exactly have you been doing all day?” Juliette asked curiously.
“Writing! I am INSPIRED. Like, I knew a good shake up to routine and scary things could kickstart a muse, but I have so many ideas right now.” she explained, type, type, typing, until she finally paused and closed the laptop shut. “…My therapist said I process trauma through my work. So it’s healthy? I guess?” Hannah didn’t quite sound convinced on that front, but she did pause a moment to glance around the tornado that had hit her room.
“Oh. Yeah, this. I thought about going to visit Felix and bring him a healing basket of goodies, so I was trying to find something decent to wear that I guess I could run away in, which is crazy, but THEN I realized I don’t even know which hospital he’s at or if he’s even at a hospital. Then I had ideas and well-” she wiggled her fingers at her head, before pushing herself up off the floor.
“I see.” responded Juliette with mild concern. For certain, she needed to get Hannah away from the house. At the very least just so the girl could feel comfortable in her own skin again while existing in the world. “Elisa has dinner ready if you’d like to join me? Jordan is presently hiding away in his room, but we’re not supposed to tell Elisa.”
This had Hannah blinking a moment, then laughing outright.
“Is he afraid of Elisa, or is he afraid of me? I’m not mad at him, you know. It’s not his fault people want to kill him. …unless it is his fault and you’re not telling me something?”
Juliette gave a blank expression in response.
“He does have this fascination with throwing people off balconies. I imagine it must catch up to him eventually.”
Hannah snorted. Fine with this answer, she dropped on the bed with a pair of socks to quickly put them on. Otherwise didn’t seem to be interested in putting on any further clothes, which was prompting a small frown of disapproval from Juliette and caused Hannah to grin wider, practically daring her to say something about it.
Stubbornly, Juliette refused. She led the way out of the room towards the stairs.
“The charity auction I mentioned before, would you like to attend with Jordan and I tomorrow night? It’s short notice, but if you don’t have something, you could easily borrow one of the gowns in my closet. Or we could go out tomorrow and find something lovely.”
Her redheaded friend was silent for a few moments, her brows furrowed as she thought about it.
“I’m not sure,” she answered honestly, once they reached the bottom of the stairs. “I do want to, but I also feel a little bad going out to a fancy event after what happened.”
Juliette paused in the hall turning to examine the girl thoughtfully.
“…you’re very worried about Felix aren’t you.” she stated, to which the other nodded. “I’ll ask Jordan where he is and see if he can arrange a visit for you. I’m sure Felix will appreciate the thought and company.”
“Perfect!” squeaked Hannah, suddenly pouncing much to Juliette’s displeasure to capture her in a squeezing hug. “Then absolutely, I would love to join you tomorrow! It’ll be great research for my newest novel.”
Escaping Hannah’s grasp, Juliette made a break for the kitchen with Hannah on her heels! Almost afraid to ask what the theme of this new novel was meant to be.
Lightly adjusting the one plate while she could hear the movement of feet coming down the stairwell, it wasn’t too long till her gaze rose up to count the heads present. One and two. A third one missing… as per usual! If she wasn’t sure he was just up to something, she’d think it was her cooking that the man found absolutely detestable! “Dinner girls,” Elisa chimed as she tapped each plate readying for a spooning of the steamy casserole dish of potatoes and more.
Before taking a deliberate look up both of them. As if assessing just what had to be done about their current figures. Or maybe it was the seemingly lack of pants beneath Hannah’s large shirt. One couldn’t say. “I assume the master of the house has slipped away once more to be a ghost of this house, Juliette?” It was asked but her tone suggested this was highly rhetorical. Having already answered the question herself.
So she pulled out the silverware drawer to set down the trio of forks before stepping back and indicting that she would not serve them. Not about to over saturate their plates with more food than they could handle, the elder woman as barely distracted by the swiveling feline doing his paces between feet. Brushing hind-end with tail risen in search of looking pathetic. Even if he had just gotten his own meal, looking to beg a little extra.
“He’s hiding upstairs in his room.”
“Hannah!“
“We weren’t supposed to tell you.”
Hannah didn’t hide her cat-eat-canary grin, immediately snatching up a plate to serve herself up more than a healthy portion of the casserole. After acquiring a spoon and having a taste, she added just a little bit more on top. Before she scurried out of the way of a furious Juliette.
“He’s had a long day and just needs some time to himself,” Juliette explained. Squinting a glare of warning towards Hannah, who still didn’t even seem the slightest bit apologetic.
“Fair enough,” exclaimed the redhead, smiling brightly in Elisa’s direction. “I appreciate your wonderful home cooking, Elisa! Even if his majesty doesn’t!”
Juliette was at least thankful that Hannah seemed to be in better spirits now. A surprise, really as she didn’t expect the bounce back. Maybe she truly had misjudged the strength of her best friend. The one broken inside was herself!
Plating a much more meager portion, more because she didn’t want to head to bed over full no matter how delightful the meal might be, Juliette slid onto one of the counter barstools.
“I think it’s me he’s hiding from, anyway. Which, I’m pretty pleased about, because that means he actually cares about my opinion and he’s worried I’m going to talk you out of marrying him. Super sweet, really!”
It was nearly comical how quick her brows rose up almost threatening to fly off her forehead by Hannah ratting out Jordan’s whereabouts. Causing the housekeeper to tilt her focus out the archway of door. Contemplating chasing the man downstairs where he ought to be eating and playing proper host for his wife to be and friend. Though she wasn’t sure how well he would take that, being someone that was notoriously known for keeping private company to no more than cat and book. At least at the manor, she knew he had kept other company elsewhere prior Juliette.
In seconds the two proved to be very much the dynamic duo. Hannah providing the fact that she was incredibly impish while Juliette was coming up verbally behind to point out a need that Jordan had to be solitary. “It’s just nice being able to cook for those who enjoy a warm meal.” Elisa smiled to the wily little redhead. Proving to be very feisty, enough to compliment the stereotypes of her hair colour. Shortly eying the differences between portion sizes between the two before helping herself as well.
Shortly finding a comical sound erupting from herself at Hannah’s believe that Jordan was hiding from her. Whilst she gave Theix a light tapping of her foot to shoo him from under her feet. Much to his displeasure! “I am sure your vibrant spirit is quite the contrast that he doesn’t know what to do with himself. From as long as I’ve worked here, the manor has been more fitted to a library or a morgue than anything rambunctious. Having new life inside has likely spooked the man into hiding.” She gave Juliette a slight smile as if she knew he was prone to being alone. “Though maybe he is nervous to disappointing the best friend of the woman he wants to marry. Such a weight can drive the curious of actions.”
Morgue! Juliette had to hide that sudden desire to laugh with a quick bite of food. If Elisa had any idea how close to the truth that statement came. Thankfully the only undead beast that lived under this roof was Jordan, and there wasn’t a catacombs of crypts hidden under the house.
“He handles Myra’s nonsense well enough, Hannah is a breeze.” countered Juliette, trying to come to his defense.
The girl nearly cackled.
“I love Myra. I find it funny he’s surrounded by all of these wonderful, friendly people, and everyone paints him as this brooding mcbrooderson. He’s been nothing but an angel so far, and you’re both ridiculously sweet to each other whenever you’re together.” Hannah might’ve given Juliette a side-eye to see how that landed, but instead she was giving the furry feeling a soft spsspspsp trying to lure him over for a few pets and rubs with her socked foot. No doubt already plotting how she was going to sneak Theix a lil snack.
“That said,” Juliette dodged all the silly commentary about herself and Jordan. “There’s been a lot on his shoulders and even I am exhausted. If I weren’t concerned he’d twist himself into a guilty spiral, I might’ve skipped dinner myself.”
“Rude, leaving poor Elisa slaving away and feeding no one but tiny little me,” accused Hannah.
Juliette scoffed.
“Her meals taste even better a second day, I will have you know! It is what I take with me for work lunches. You aught to stop being wicked for a moment, else I’m going to find an especially boring bachelor for your escort tomorrow.”
“Wait, what-“
Juliette didn’t answer, now the one beaming a smile sweet and innocent as could be at no one in particular and very much enjoying her meal.
She smirked. Then thought about how there were those around that had in fact been as Hannah said, friendly people. Myra was just a slice of whimsy that came in the form of so close to a younger sister that if she pointed out that from her knowledge the two of them grew up beside each other, it was unlikely to make any difference. Rather she kept smiling finding this truly humorous. Helping herself to her own meal while appreciating the company by far.
Till cat himself seemed to notice that someone was going to give him attention. Mrowing once before trotting over with the most pathetic of looks that surely expressed how starved he was. Never mind the fact the cat was probably treated better than some people! Spoiled plenty rotten when absent cat father was being overly generous.
“I do like being able to have something hot on the table and good for a work meal. Wouldn’t want anyone to feel like they were starving in this house.” Her tone shifted with gaze venturing to suggest loudly that she was still contemplating driving a plate upstairs to ensure another ate. Doubting he took time to do so previously in the day and it didn’t matter if he had.
Just that there was a mention of a boring bachelor for an escort and tomorrow. Needing an additional moment to think before humming in recollection. “Is tomorrow night the yearly charity event? It slipped my mind till Jordan asked me to assure there was a call put in for someone to bring over his best attire to the office.” Then looked to Hannah, “Seems Juliette may be scheming to find you a date tomorrow now.”
The second Elisa wasn’t looking Hannah dropped the tiniest little morsel down at her feet. Disguising the motion well with the twist of her body towards Juliette, as this conversation had suddenly gotten a thousand times more interesting.
“I don’t want another bodyguard,” warned Hannah. Seriously, she would pitch an absolute fit about it. Not that she didn’t appreciate the care and concern that Juliette and Jordan were giving to her safety while she was under their roof, she just… she didn’t want someone else to get shot trying to shield her from bullets!
Juliette cast Hannah a small examining look, unable to read her mind but perhaps having a pretty good idea of where the girl’s thoughts were leaning. Dropping the air of mischievous teasing, she shook her head.
“No guardian, just a date. Unless you’re no longer interested in meeting every eligible single in the city?” she asked carefully.
Hannah’s nose wrinkled up.
“Yeah, but I wasn’t expected a blind date so fast…” she muttered. Almost immediately, she straightened in her chair, a full sense of determination growing in her features. “No, you know what, I’ll do it! I’m open to the potential of love! I’m saying yes to every opportunity! Tomorrow night could be the night my own amazing romance story starts. The beginning of a love story that-“
As Hannah continued on with her impassioned speech, the sort only a romance writer could spout off at the drop of a hat, Juliette rolled her eyes and resumed her meal. With such dramatics, Juliette was going to have to truly scour her contacts to find someone that could match Hannah’s energy and not find themselves steamrolled all night. Nor bore the energetic girl to tears, as that would be just as dreadful! Poor Hannah standing there in a beautiful ballroom while her date droned on about business mechanics!
“–I’m going to have to wear my good underwear.” chimed Hannah.
Elisa stood there a moment just listening to the girls. Though the whole cat being bent over scarfing something down would have been hard to ignore, giving said little troublemaker a look but nothing to compliment behind. As it to tell Hannah she’d likely be dealing with Jordan in a fit if the cat got sick or something. Doubtful but there was always that vague chance.
Rather she put more of her thought into the means of listening to the girls and how Juliette was attempting to set Hannah up for a blind date for the charity event. Which turned into a speech about love and more. Clearing her throat slightly to direct her line of sight to Juliette, “And just whom will be the lucky fellow that will be the arm candy to that of Hannah?”
“Tell me it’s Augustus Steele!” blurted out Hannah. “Have you seen him, Elisa? The man looks like he walked right out of the Mediterranean sea and straight into my dreams. They’ve apparently all conspired to keep him away from me – actually, it’s because of Myra isn’t it? Do you think she’s still in love with him?”
Juliette found herself nearly choking on mashed potatoes, having to set down her spoon and she half laughed, half coughed into her hand. Myra would not appreciate that being the explained reason for why no one wanted to formally introduce the two. Thus, Juliette was oh-so-tempted to roll with it. Best to not, though, she didn’t want to earn Myra’s ire.
“I’ll be making some calls in the morning to see who is available on such short notice. Unless somehow every man in town has other plans, I doubt I’ll have to call on one of Jordan’s very busy associates. He’s really not that impressive, Hannah, I don’t see how you’re so quickly infatuated.”
Hannah snorted, giving Elisa a world weary expression as she question at Juliette at her absolute audacity to criticize her taste.
“Do you hear her? You’re clearly so dazzled by your Nightmare King with his moody blue eyes, raven black hair, and physique straight off a gentleman’s fashion magazine, that you can’t tell when someone startlingly gorgeous is standing right in front of you.”
It was even her turn to be shocked by the call that she hoped it was Augustus for the one that was to be arranged as said arm candy. Needing to blink rather quickly as if to fan off her own brain trying to logic this one out. Only that the mention of Myra was enough to make her lightly gasp!
Evidently some things weren’t known even to Elisa –likely for some reason- till the woman was setting down her fork. Using her gaze as ping pong balls to volley back and forth between the two women. Eventually frowning unusually deep and almost wincing at the description that seemed to be given to the current owner of said residence. Trying to slowly digest the gossip flinging back and forth till she seemed ready to slide in her own question.
“I thought Augustus was married.” Elisa supplied with an innocent honesty that may have been a story told to her by someone in passing. Or had been arranged that way to keep Augustus out of someone’s books. “Myra and him… Oh my. That little wild child,” Tapping a finger to the counter with an expressive concern, it seemed there might have been quite the wild little soap opera developing inside the woman’s skull. “That might explain all the drama between them. Hmm, this is truly quite the unusual reveal of things!”
“He’s married?!” The cry of dejection came with Hannah visibly wilting and melting away, dramatically draping her body over the back of her chair with despair. “Why didn’t anyone say so! I’m not about to be a homewrecker!”
“I didn’t know,” confessed Juliette with her own wide-eyed look of surprise. Pressing a hand to her chest and plucking the fabric of her shirt with this new reveal of information. This felt like an important thing someone should have mentioned to her at some point, but she had to admit she hadn’t exactly asked any detailed questions about Augustus’ life.
Then again with the amount of lies and tales spun in this household, could it even be true! Flushing red in the face, Juliette realized they were doing quite a bit of loose-lipped talking right here in front of Elisa, who clearly hadn’t known the details about Myra either. How was the household supposed to run effectively, if there were layers upon layers of secrets for every individual!
Hannah bolted straight upright again, seemingly to realize along with Elisa what a relationship with Myra and Augustus could mean if there was a spouse in the picture. But unlike Juliette’s horrified expression, Hannah seemed delighted and thrilled with the gossip. Throwing her hands up to her mouth.
“C’est un scandale!” she gasped in French, laughing on top of it. “Myra is a legend!”
“…I think we all need to retire to bed!” declared Juliette quickly. This little hen session was getting quite out of control!
Truly Juliette may be on to the knowledge that what Elisa knew about Augustus was likely a lie. Something told to her for a reason that may have similar possibilities of someone wanting to take the vampire out for a date as Hannah did. Just that would need to be asked to the king or one of his advisors. Far more likely she would get the truth to why such a tale was spun rather than hearsay.
Yet the elder woman seemed to be thinking hard on this information. A good thing that Myra’s father and her were not friends for it might have opened an unnecessary can of worms. Speaking to the other man about his daughter slipping into bedrooms that were supposed to be marital! Only that she gave Hannah a slight shake of her head, “I do not think you ought to encourage the young lady. But perhaps Juliette is on to something. I think it may be time for this old lady herself to retire. I’ll handle the dishes and clean up here. Why don’t you both go and relax. Tomorrow will be quite the busy day I am sure.”
“I’m going to text her as soon as I get upstairs,” laughed Hannah, quickly taking the moment to polish off the remains of her plate in a few hefty swallows.
Juliette wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The two girls texting each other in some private conversation unsupervised… They were grown women, surely they wouldn’t get up to anything that actually caused problems! Was there not enough for Juliette to be worried over without adding the fear of Hannah and Myra stalking and harassing whomever caught their fancy!
“Goodnight Elisa,” she murmured, instead of giving voice to those fears. Only casting Hannah that quick squinting look of behave, before she excused herself out of the kitchen and off to bed.
She might just curl up with Jordan and sleep ten hours at this rate, and surprisingly it was a pleasant thought instead of a dreaded one.