Prophesy 3: His Righteousness by A.E. Via
Adres slept like shit, and he’d woken a lot earlier than he typically did. He peeked out one side of the blackout drapes in his slumbering quarters before he reclosed them, as the sun was just setting behind the mountains. It wouldn’t be long before the pack lands were bustling with activity in preparation for the full moon. He went to the westernmost corner and slowly knelt in a meditation pose. He put his young wolf to the back of his mind and concentrated on his core, using his light to work on unlocking more of his memories.
He came out of his mediation to the sound of wolves howling in the distance. He knew Macauley was up in those freezing mountains, alone. He wondered if he was thinking of him, just as he was. Adres would think of his wolf the rest of the night… and listen for his howl.
Adres dressed and left his cabin a little after 8:00 p.m., wanting to have a conversation with Belleron before he and his mate left with the king to spread the word of his plan. He figured the best place to find him would be in Justice’s home. The air was thick with pheromones when he stepped out of his front door, and the moon was bright enough to light the entire compound. While the parents were off deep in the woods doing gods knew what with each other, the young pups were down here chasing either other around, having tussling matches, and being downright rambunctious. Adres knew the moon brought out the beast in the wolves, but this was lunacy.
A gray wolf and a taller reddish one ran up to him and brushed their flanks across his cloak before darting away. He turned around, but they’d already vanished behind a cabin. Ridiculous. Adres didn’t smile when a tawny wolf yipped in his direction, leaning on its elbows with its hindquarters wagging in the air. Adres waved at it. “Go on now. Join your friends.”
The wolf leapt forward as if it was imitating a kangaroo and grabbed the hem of Adres’s cloak and tugged. He pulled the fabric from the wolf’s slack jaws and pointed sternly at it. “Enough, you.” His so-called reprimand appeared to do nothing but challenge the little runt to try harder.
Adres could not believe what was happening. Why had Macauley not warned him? More young wolves ranging from perhaps five years old to teenager began to join in on the game, and before he knew it, Adres was whirling back and forth and yanking his cape away, just as another would attack him from behind. “Oh, for heaven’s sake. I do not play, you silly things.”
Adres managed to wrestle his cloak into his arms so that they had nothing else to grab. He continued walking, trying to ignore them. At least he knew now that the young pack members were not afraid of him after what he’d done to their alpha.
Though he still was not playing!
Three teenage wolves that could’ve been identical triplets leapt in front of his path, all of them dropping into those ridiculous playful poses and barking at him.
“Have you all nothing better to do? Go and run?” He waved, continuing forward, but they gave him little snarls, challenging him to try to get around them.
Adres turned his head at the sound of an airy chuckle and saw Farica standing in front of a duplex-style cabin with a few other women who he assumed were her betas. “Looks like you’ve made some friends, Lord Adres.”
“A little help, then, please.” Adres gestured to the gathering mob circling him.
“Oh, I don’t think you need any help, my Lord.” A woman with blonde curly hair smiled. “Rumors of your abilities have already begun. The pups are just curious, that’s all.”
Adres gritted his fangs, wondering if it appeared as a smile. He doubted it. Instead of continuing to ask for help that he wasn’t going to receive, he decided he would give these little scoundrels a taste of what they wanted so he could be on his way.
Adres released his cloak and lifted his hand towards the west, pulling on its elements. He gathered an abundance of warm air pressure to create a whirlwind strong enough to lift the three wolves off the ground. They flailed and barked as Adres blew them about twenty feet over his head and set them down near the women who stood shocked with their mouths hanging open.
Once the triplets were placed safely on their feet, there was complete silence for about five seconds as everyone stared as if they were in some kind of daze, before cheers, barks, and yips came from everywhere. What in all the god’s names? He was sure that would’ve sent them all fleeing. Farica and her friends were laughing as Adres prepared to run as though the hounds of Hell were chasing him. Pups were tumbling over themselves to get to him and barking and leaping up almost to his head, wanting a turn next.
“La naiba!”
“Oh, you have done it now, Adres.” Farica’s laugh seemed to have an even worse effect as she released her fun, carefree energy into the atmosphere that the pups seemed to absorb like goddamn candy.
Sugar and young ones were never a good combination.
Adres needed to seek refuge. He untangled himself and used his flash speed to clear the compound and up Justice’s porch steps. He could hear them chasing him, but he didn’t stop until he had closed the door and locked himself inside. Adres leaned against the heavy wood and caught his breath. Damn, those pups were fast, and clever. He peeked through the glass on the side of the door and saw the little buggers were sticking around, knowing he’d have to come out eventually.
You will pay for this, Macauley.
“Is everything all right, my Lord?” Henry asked from the hall that led to the kitchen. He wore a pristine white apron over his black dress shirt and slacks, so Adres knew what he’d been doing. “You look… frightened.”
“I am,” Adres complained. “What in the underworld is wrong with those children? They practically attacked me as soon as I made it to the compound.”
Henry laughed, and it sounded like Belleron’s, full of joy and contentment. “They love to make us their toys, especially on a full moon. They want us to use our speed and play tag and chase. I take it you didn’t enjoy it?” Adres must’ve given Henry the look of death because he wrung his dish towel in his hands and grimaced. “I suppose you did not. Can I get you anything, my Lord?”
“No, thank you. I am fine. I was hoping to see Belleron before they departed.” Adres followed Henry into the eat-in kitchen.
“He will be around shortly, I presume. Wick and Justice are almost set to go in the morning. I was just preparing a few things for him and his enforcers to snack on while on the road.”
“That is very generous of you,” Adres noted, sitting at one of the stools around the large island.
“Well, even though cooking was never in my official duties for the king, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for Justice.” Henry smiled, going back to his big copper pot of sauce. “I never in a million years thought I’d be doing this, but I can honestly say that I love it. Warming blood is a bit redundant and requires little to no thought.” Henry sniffed the spoon but did not lick it. “Now making a béchamel sauce with the absolute perfect amount of nutmeg… that takes skill.”
Adres wasn’t sure what to say to that besides, “If you insist.”
Henry grinned. “Justice loves my sauces. I think he even smears some on Wick when—”
“Ei.” Adres balked, not needing that visual. “I really don’t think those are necessary details.”
“Well, if Macauley ever runs out of here with my gravy boat like Justice did last week… I’ll know why.”
Adres was glad his hood was low enough that Henry couldn’t see the heat radiating in his eyes. He couldn’t imagine Macauley smothering him in that steaming white sauce that Henry stirred methodically and then licking it off of him. Adres used a couple of his shields to block the lust rising in his pants.
“Also, the shifters are usually starving when they finish on a run, so I like to have some food ready for them.” Henry shrugged as if that was no big deal, but it was obvious now why he was so loved and pampered. Those sandwiches on the counter were overflowing with slices of meat.
“It is honorable what you do for them. You cook for Macauley too, yes?”
“I do. Justice’s home is open to not only his siblings but the entire pack.”
“Then I should thank you.” Adres nodded.
Henry stared at Adres a moment as if he was trying to see him through the cover. “I hope you and Mac will be okay. He’s such a great guy. Loyal beyond measure. Funny, and so talented with his hands—”
Adres hissed, his eyes widening in shock before he cut it off quickly. “My apologies. I do not even know why I did that. I do not consider you a threat.”
“No, I am not a threat, my Lord.” Henry chuckled. “I am in love with Macauley’s brother. What I meant was that Mac is so good with his hands and building these cabins and the furniture and things.”
“Of course.” Adres was embarrassed. He should apologize again. The last thing he wanted was to ignore Taleb’s warning he gave when they’d first met. He’d been very clear that Henry was not to be hurt. Ever. “Again. My sincerest apologies.”
“It is fine.” Henry set another sandwich on the platter. “Once you are mated, all that aggression will simmer down.”
Adres doubted it.
“Come on. I’m on my last sandwich, and Justice’s food is already packed.” Henry washed his hands and removed his apron.
“‘Come on’ where?” Adres stared, dumbfounded.
“Outside, of course.”
“It will be snowing in the Underworld before I go back out there with those crazy pups.” Adres stayed where he was sitting. “I think I once saw a movie about those kinds of children. I believe it was done by a man who went by the name of Hitchcock.”
Henry blinked, his long brown lashes brushing his cheek. “Well, I wanna go outside and enjoy the weather and activities, but you won’t go with me. I’ll just wander around by myself. Heavens forbid anything happens to me and Taleb hears that you refused to escort me, Lord of Arms.”
If Adres had been capable of a laugh, Henry could probably have gotten him close to it. How could such a pretty vampire have been so cunning? A small tilt lifted one side of Adres’s mouth as he got off the stool. “Yes. Heavens forbid,” he deadpanned as Henry rushed to put on his thick black parka over his suit.
“It’s cold out there,” Adres muttered.
“Hence the coat.” Henry cocked one smooth brow. “But I hear you can summon the west wind.”
“This place is nothing more than a gossip mill.” Adres shook his head. “I guess I have lived in isolation for too long and forgot what socialization is like.”
“Perhaps you have.” Henry stood in front of him and waved at the tattoos on Adres’s hands and his foreign wardrobe. “All of this should not be kept a secret, my Lord.”