Same old warnings, violence, f/f love/sex, 

Looking for feedback on this one, I really really need it, so email me at kimmi2259@netzero.com
 
 
 
 

The wind pushed past the two large wolves sitting on a small outcropping overlooking a tiny meadow. Tall, ancient trees surrounded the glade, providing cover for the two animals. As different as day and night, the sable and white wolf sat as close as possible to each other, watching the prey they had come to hunt, grazing in the meadow below them.

After spending two weeks doing nothing but learning how to turn from one form to the other, the dark wolf had decided that the white was ready to begin hunting. The training had been hard, and painful, it was more than a little uncomfortable to stop the turning in the middle of the metamorphosis, but necessary. If the newly quickened were was unable to control the wolf, it would take over, completely destroying the human that was meant to direct it. She had learned her lessons well and quickly, which was why they were in the forest now.

They had attempted to hunt twice before this venture, with such a resounding defeat, that the sable had decided to change tactics. The other wolf’s coat was so white that it made her stand out like a beacon in the blackest night, scaring away any prey long before she could get near enough to strike. Now the plan was for the dark one to circle behind the prey, take it by surprise, and drive the prey toward where the white wolf would be hiding.

The snowy coat of the white wolf shimmered as she turned to watch the dark one rise silently to her feet and begin making her way down the knoll, to circle the meadow. The supple form blended almost immediately with the dappled light of the early morning that filtered through the branches. Even the sharp eyes that followed her progress had trouble keeping her in sight, as she moved from one pool of darkness to the next.

Without the dark one’s lithesome form to hold her attention, the white wolf turned her gaze on the prey. Standing in the middle of the small glade, the young doe limped slightly as she grazed on the tender shoots of new grass. The predatory eyes took in all of the animal’s weaknesses and flaws with one quick look. It was obvious that the deer had been injured recently, as she favored her right hind leg as she moved slowly looking for greenery, and she was slow to look up and take in her surroundings, slow to look for the danger that was stalking her.

The pale blue eyes that were locked on the prey narrowed as they caught a slight shift in the shadows directly across from her. The sable wolf was behind the doe, slinking her way closer. The white wolf could feel her heart pounding faster with each new intake of air, and the only sound she could hear was the rush of her own blood through her veins.

As the wind began to shift, the white wolf was convinced that the prey would pick up on the scent of the dark one now stalking it.  The white wolf’s body tensed in anticipation. Raising its head, the doe sniffed the air and looked warily from side to side, at last sensing the imminent danger. As it’s muscles gathered and bunched beneath its slick hide, the sable burst from the old dead grass, nearly on top of the animal.

Silently the doe wheeled and bolted across the small meadow, increadably quick, heading straight for the white wolf waiting on top of the rise. Even though it had been hurt, the deer was still a young, strong animal, and the dark wolf had to keep just out of reach of it’s sharp hooves as she drove it toward the white wolf.

With every instinct screaming at her to dash down the hill and attack the animal, the white wolf struggled to keep the beast under control, to not loose control. As the hunter and the prey neared her hiding place, the white wolf coiled her lean body and lowered it to the ground, ready to leap. Exploding from the underbrush, the smell of the dank earth, the musky smell of the doe, and the sharp scent of the dark wolf assailed her sensitive olfactory nerves.

Although the animal was injured, it wheeled with surprising agility just before the elegant predator could leap onto its back.  Turning with the prey, the white wolf drove her body forward, reveling in its power.  She kept pace with the animal easily, the smell of its fear spurring her to move even faster.  Each twist and turn the doe made in an effort to escape, the pale specter on her heels matched it, quickly overtaking her.

Just as she pulled even with the prey’s front shoulder, the doe stumbled, driving its head into the damp ground.  Her senses singing with blood lust, the white wolf dove at the deer’s throat.  Copper and salt washed over her tongue, as she ripped and tore at the exposed neck of the prey. Tightening her precarious hold on the struggling animal, she was nearly dislodged as it bucked and kicked in an effort to escape its doom.  She could feel the animal in her, taking over, pushing her deeper into herself.  Her struggle only lasted a split second, as the beast that lived within her, wrested away her very thoughts with a single mental lunge.

As time seemed to slow, the world narrowed to the smell and taste of the prey.  Everything around her seemed to fade as the animal’s struggles weakened.   The white wolf could feel the heartbeat, under her fangs slowing, skipping several beats, and then finally stopping.  She knew the prey was dead, but still she didn’t let go, as the exhilaration and adrenaline pulsed through her veins, blocking everything else out.   The feel and taste of the animal’s blood and flesh called out to her, demanding that she complete the task she was trained to do.   Ripping into the soft throat, she pulled a off a large chunk of warm meat and swallowed it whole.   Nothing in her life had ever tasted as good as the fresh meat she was consuming ravenously.

The sable wolf had dropped back as the white wolf took up the chase, staying just close enough that she could see what was happening.  Pride welled in her chest, as the slightly smaller wolf effortlessly took down the prey, only to be replaced by concern as she tore into the soft flesh of the animal’s neck with wild abandon.  Blood turning the snowy fur of the white wolf to crimson, told her that the animal was taking over and the human behind the wolf was fading before her eyes. Fear invaded her mind, making her body shake and her breath seize in her chest, as she watched the human mind slipping farther and farther away from her.

Throwing herself at the other were, the sable knocked her away from the prey. Standing between the white wolf and the doe, hackles raised, tail high, lips pulled back from wickedly sharp fangs, the dark wolf challenged the lighter one.  The smell of fresh meat and blood was enticing, but she struggled to keep the control of herself that the other were had begun to lose.  If she allowed her own base instincts to take control, they would both be lost.

The warm, salty sweet meat tickled the back of her throat as she swallowed large chunks of soft flesh.  Reveling in her meal, the white wolf was startled to find herself suddenly tumbling away from her prey.  Regaining her feet quickly, she whirled to find the sable wolf standing between her and her quarry.  Rage blasted its way through her brain; rage at being denied what was hers, rage at the betrayal she felt.  The rage of an animal defending its territory.

Watching the pale fur on the back of the other wolfs neck standing straight up, and the stiff-legged stance she had adopted, the sable knew the human mind had been buried far beneath the creature of myth that had suddenly made itself into reality for the white wolf.  She knew the white wolf was close to attacking her, and she could feel the beast within herself rising to meet the challenge. Taking a firm hold of her intrinsic reactions, the sable neither backed off, nor attacked. Instead she turned.

She wanted to rip the interloper apart.  The other wolf was trying to steal her kill, to take what was hers; she wasn’t going to allow that without a fight.  Crouching low to the ground and ready to spring with all the fury in her sinewy form, suddenly, the wolf’s anger evaporated and instead confusion reigned.  The animal in front of her was changing.  Its fur had disappeared, legs re-jointed at odd angles, snout pushed back into a larger, rounder head, and it was now standing on its hind legs.

The tall figure in front of her struck a chord in her memory, and the seething fury receded like the tide from her mind. Willing her body back into the form she had know all her life was much easier than it had been two weeks ago. There was very little discomfort, as her bones shifted and ground themselves into the new positions, unlike the blinding agony that had driven her to her knees the first time she had turned.

Taking the few steps that separated them Susan pulled the pale blonde into a crushing embrace, transmitting her fear through the strength of her grip. She held the other woman like that for several long moments, until she felt able to speak past the large lump in her throat. “I thought for a minute there that I was going to lose you.”

Talia shuddered in the enveloping warmth of the embrace, as she realized exactly how close to the truth that statement was. Fear rippled through her mind, at the thought of being nothing more than animal for the rest of her life, but even more frightening was the thought of being without the woman that was holding her. “I couldn’t control it. The beast just took over completely at the first taste of blood. If you hadn’t knocked me away, and turned when you did….”

Tightening her grip on the lithe body, Ivanova knew well what the new were meant. It was a danger all of their people faced, every time they turned. Just the thought of the warm, bright, and beautiful woman she had come to love even more than her own life, living the rest of her life as an unthinking animal, made her blood run cold and the lump in her throat grow to monstrous proportions.

Standing together, in the middle of the woods, they clung to one another for long minutes, trying to chase away the feelings of dread that had stolen over them. Finally the dark Russian pulled away from the blonde and looked down at her with a wan smile. “ Well we can either turn here and finish eating, or drag it back to the cabin and eat there. But we can’t just leave it here and let it go to waste.”

Talia grinned at her lover, as her practical nature reasserted itself. Now that the exhilaration of the hunt and the blood lust of the kill were gone, she felt confident that she could eat without the danger of the beast inside gaining control. After all she had eaten from the kills Susan had brought back for her and not had any trouble, and she didn’t feel up to dragging the heavy carcass the six or seven miles back to the cabin. “Let’s just eat here, I’ll be fine now.”

As they turned and began consuming the feast before them, neither the pale, nor the dark wolf saw the huge brown wolf standing on a fallen log, watching them. He was several hundred feet away, and standing downwind of the pair, so it was not surprising to him that they had not spotted him yet. He had been watching them for several days, but this was the closest he had come to them. As their shapes shifted back into the lupine, his long snout pulled away from his teeth as he lowered his head, growling his fury low in his throat.

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“I still don’t know if I’m comfortable with moving in this soon.”

Susan sighed heavily to herself as she looked up over the box she was packing. It was the same argument that had begun ever since she had told the Assistant District Attorney that it would be best if she came to stay at the lair with her. “You know it’s safest this way. Being around large numbers of prey, is not a good idea for a newly quickened were. Do you realize how little it would actually take for the wolf to assert itself? One human, running, could trigger the hunting instinct, and then it would be all over. No, it’s best for everyone if you come back to the lair with me.”

“What about your family? Three weeks ago they were ready to kill us both.” Talia shivered at the memory of the men knocking in the door of the cabin where they had hidden, intent on killing her in order to protect their secret. When Susan had refused to allow it, they had turned on her as well.

“I told you not to worry about that. Now that they know you’re one of us, there won’t be any problems. Trust me.” Susan grinned rakishly over at her lover. “Or do you just not want to see me twenty-four seven?”

Shaking her head slightly at the ridiculous question, the blonde moved to sit next to the dark Russian. “You know that’s not the case, I just don’t know why you can’t move in here.”

Pulling the lithe body into her arms, Susan buried her face in the sweet smelling pale hair. “I told you, I have to stay in the lair. I’m the heir of our House and Clan, and unless my father or the Council decides to change that, I have to live in the Clan house. It’s my duty.”

Talia sighed at the simple statement. Susan was dedicated to her House and Clan, and was determined to do what was right. She knew the dark woman was willing to go against the prescribed behavior of the Kin, protecting her had shown that, but on this matter she was dead set. Nodding her head against the soft cheek, she gave her silent consent before getting up to finish packing her meager belongings.

They were nearly done when the storage company Ivanova had hired to pick up and store the attorney’s furniture arrived.  Susan directed the large sweaty men to which items they would be taking and which items would need to be delivered to the Ivanov estate.   Susan presided over the affair with such a commanding presence that the men were scrambling to fill out her orders to every detail.  Fearful of what might happen if they were to make an error on their part.  Talia simply stood back and watched the entire act with a weary acceptance, no matter how much her lover reassured her; she still didn’t feel comfortable moving into the lair.

 
                                                                    **********************

As Talia carried her things to the den that she was to share with her lover, she noticed the other weres as she passed by; they all bore a striking resemblance to Susan.  The moving men hadn’t been allowed past the front gate, for security reasons, she had been told. While the men and women of Susan’s Clan looked like her outwardly, none of them had the regal bearing the dark woman had, nor could any of them compare with the stark beauty she held. The ADA noted all this in the back of her mind, even as she shifted nervously under their gazes. She could tell they were curious about her, but that didn’t stop the small hairs on the back of her neck from standing up as she felt their eyes slide over her.

Susan had noticed the looks the others were giving Talia, and she gave a low warning growl to each of them as they passed her with their burdens. She was surprised her father had yet to make an appearance, or to request their presence in his study. Her brother was also conspicuously absent. Throwing her arm protectively around the slight shoulders of her lover, Susan led her down the long hallway toward her private den.

Talia spent the entire short trip gazing in wonder at the riches that surrounded her. Centuries old tapestries hung on the walls, ancient suits of armor lined the hall, and paintings obviously rendered by the masters adorned the empty spaces. She had known that the Ivanov family had wealth, but this was beyond anything she had imagined. Coming to a stop at an ornately carved door, the blonde looked back down the hallway and realized that each door was as lavishly embellished as the one they were in front of now. She hadn’t even noticed that the doors were as much works of art as the rest of the antiquities.

Susan had smiled as she saw the awed look on Talia’s face as they made their way to her den. She had told her that her clan was considered well off, but she had never told her just how well off they really were. Opening the door to her den, she stepped aside to let the blonde enter first, wanting to let her get an unimpeded view.

Stepping through the door, Talia barely spared a glance for her lover, as her attention was draw to the object that dominated the room. A huge four poster bed, swaddled in mid-night blue satin sheets, took up a full third of the enormous room. Spinning slowly, the leggy blonde couldn’t believe the sheer size of everything, Susan’s room was bigger than her apartment. Talia wandered around the room, as Susan directed the others as to where to put the boxes.

Attached to the main room, was a smaller sitting room that looked out over the expansive gardens. It was mostly bare, except for the large oak desk that took up a good half of the room, and two antique rocking chairs. Talia could imagine her lover sitting at the desk for long hours; occasionally glancing up to look out over the brilliant play of colors the plants would present in the spring. Leaving the study, the blonde walked back through the bedroom to the door opposite of the one she had just exited.

Opening the ornate door, Talia gazed into the largest bathroom she had ever seen. In the middle of the room was a huge bathtub the size of which she had never seen. Sparkling white marble surrounded the sunken pool that was bigger than a hot tub and looked big enough to swim in. Four large gargoyles sat on each corner of the tub, one of them serving as the faucet.  The sudden image of her and Susan taking a bubble bath in the behemoth of a tub, was enough to drive all other thoughts from her mind.

The dark were entered the bathroom looking for the blonde, when she noticed she wasn’t in the bedroom. A smirk rose on Susan’s full lips as she saw what her lover was staring at, she could pretty much guess what she was thinking about. Steeling up behind the smaller woman, she wrapped her arms around the lithe frame. “Did you want to take a bath now, or would you rather wait until after dinner.”

Talia jumped as strong limbs encircled her waist. She had been so engrossed in the image her mind was painting for her, that her sharp ears hadn’t even registered the sounds of someone else entering the room. Blinking rapidly, and sputtering for a moment, the tall blonde turned to look at the darker woman. The mischievous grin on the face regarding her spoke volumes about how much the sharp mind had put together concerning her thoughts. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days, sneaking up on me like that.” Talia scolded at her as she ducked out of her arms and walked back into the bedroom, embarrassed at being caught off guard.

Smiling at the others obvious discomfort, Susan followed after her. “Well if you paid more attention to your surroundings, I wouldn’t be able to sneak up on you. You know one of these days it won’t be me walking right up to you, not sneaking at all, then what will you?” Over and over again during the blonde’s training, she had stressed the need for her to keep her senses alert and sharp at all times, after getting the drop on Talia several times.

Seeing the blonde was beginning to fume, Susan decided it was best to back off for now and change the subject. “Why don’t we just get changed for dinner. Everyone will start gathering in the dining room shortly, and we don’t want to be late.” Turning away from her, Susan went to a giant wardrobe and opened it, shifting through the various suits she had collected there.

Seeing the sort of clothes Susan was choosing for dinner, Talia went to her unpacked bags and found one of her own suits to wear to dinner. Taking out a conservative gray pinstripe, she started changing clothes in silence.

Turning to look at the blonde, Susan winced as she saw the stiff back that was turned toward her. She regretted teasing her when she knew it was a sore spot. Pulling a dark blue pantsuit out of her wardrobe, she crossed the room to her lover and pulled her backward into her arms. “I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

Leaning back against the taller stronger were, Talia let out a deep sigh. She knew that Susan hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings or upset her, and she couldn’t stay mad at her when she asked forgiveness in that soft voice. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. Let’s get dressed and go to dinner, I’m starved.” It was the truth, neither of them had eaten since the night before.

Twenty minutes later, Susan led Talia into a dining room that would put any palace to shame. Enormous crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceiling, and more precious artwork and tapestries hung on the walls. Talia wanted to take a closer look at some of the paintings, but the dark were was leading her quickly to a central table that was raised above on a large dais. It was obvious that this was where the leaders of the house sat during meals. The chair in the middle of the long table was larger than any other in the room and more lavishly carved.

The blonde was in awe of the entire house. Susan had told her that the House of Ivanov was considered wealthy and powerful by the other house and clans, but she hadn’t comprehended how wealthy. The Lair, as the members of the House called it, had to be the largest house in the entire state of California. The word compound came to her mind, but musings about how large the grounds might be where cut short by whispered remarks that her keen hearing couldn’t help but pick up.

Talia blushed fiercely as she made out the comments directed at her, and she could only watch helplessly as Susan’s back stiffened as she too caught what was being said. Remarks of ‘the Heirs mate’ ‘the Heirs concubine’ drifted to them as they made their way to the table. Those didn’t bother Talia, neither did the attention, she was used to that, it was the other, harsher words that made her want to run from the room. ‘The Heirs half-breed whore’ ‘the House-less beggar’ and ‘the Heirs slut’ that cut her, and she could see the anger in every line of Susan’s back.

When the dark were came around the end of the table and made her way slowly to the center chairs, the blonde could see the anger burning in her eyes. Talia knew that Susan wanted to retort to the comments being made about her, but she was forcing herself to stay quite and not cause a scene. Sitting in the seat Ivanova pulled out for her, the former attorney sat down. She watched as Susan took the seat next to her, directly to the right of the large central chair, only to stand back up as she caught the next lewd comment of ‘I wonder if the Heir would be willing to share’.

Susan had listened to the remarks being made the members of her house about Talia, and had managed to ignore them for the most part. She knew they were just curious, but the last wisecrack was going too far. Pushing her chair back violently, the Heir of the House Ivanov was about to correct the speaker in a most unpleasant manner, when the entire assembly came to its feet. Looking quickly behind her, Susan saw her father standing beside his chair at the head table, she had been so intent on taking them down a peg or two, she hadn’t heard him come in.

Andrei Ivanov had been watching from the rear door to the dining room, and had heard everything that was said. He had paid close attention to his daughter’s reaction to what the others were saying, and had only stepped forward when she looked like she was going to do something irrational. Although Susan had gone against the dictates of the Clan, running away with the lawyer when she should have killed her, it had been erased when it was reveled that the blonde beauty was a half-breed, and she had remained his heir. Now that was about to be threatened.

Sitting down in the oversized chair, the leader of the House Ivanov signaled the gathered Kin to be seated. He glanced at the tall, proud figure of his daughter as she took her seat at his right hand. “I need to speak to you and Miss Winters after dinner, Suzotchka.” He would have said more, except that his errant son chose that moment to make his late entry.

Andrei scowled at the obviously drunken man, as Ganya stumbled his way toward the table. The look on his face did not soften as his oldest child noisily took his seat at his left hand. He knew the boy was still bitter at having his younger sister replace him as heir, but he had thought the disgrace would have made his son see the need to straighten out his life. Without looking at him, he quietly scolded the drunken man. “You’re late. Don’t let it happen again.”

Ganya smiled lopsidedly at his stern father. He knew damn well he was late, and he didn’t care. He had found out something that was sure to get his little sister dethroned as Heir, and to put him back in his rightful place. He still bore the bruises she had given him when she and the little half-breed had come back from her training by the lake house Susan owned. It was the first thing she had done, come looking for him, to teach him a lesson about loyalty to family. The only thing Ganya was loyal to was himself, and his dear little sister was about to find that out.

Talia watched with interest as Susan refused to even look at her brother. It was clear that something was going on between them, and she had a sinking suspicion that her lover was the one that had put the bruises on the young man’s face. She pulled her attention away from the silent battle of who could ignore the other the most, as men and women began carrying large serving platters around to the tables. As Susan’s father was served first, she was able to get a look at what was on it. Fresh, raw, bloody meat was heaped high on the sliver plates and her stomach growled as she caught the scent of it.

Her mouth watered as several large slabs were placed before her, and Talia realized just how hungry she was. They hadn’t hunted since they had returned, and she was ravenous. They had only come back the previous day, and Susan had rushed to get her moved into the Lair, so even though she was nervous about hunting humans, she was getting hungry enough to try it. Talia didn’t like the idea of hunting people, she had been raised to believe she was one of them her entire life and didn’t really like the idea of them being food, and she wasn’t at all sure if she could do it.

Just as she was about to attack the meat on her plate, Talia felt a hand close over her knee. Looking in the direction of the owner of the hand, she saw Susan subtly shake her head and motion toward her father. Glancing over at the imposing figure of the leader of the Wolf Clan, the blonde could see that he had yet to touch his plate. Raking her eyes around the room, it was plain that no one else had begun eating yet either. They all seemed to be waiting for some signal that she didn’t know about.

Sitting back in her seat, Talia didn’t have very long to wait. As soon as every plate was full and the servers had taken their seats, every eye turned toward Andrei Ivanov. Raising their glasses, the entire room spoke as one. Although they said the words in Russian, their native tongue, the blonde caught the gist of what they were saying. They were re-pledging themselves to their House, Clan and Leader. Once they had all drank form their cups, the House leader took a bite of the meat in front of him. The whole assembly waited until he had chewed and swallowed and reached for another bite before any of them moved to eat.

Talia waited until Susan had begun eating, before she reached for her plate again, not wanting to make another error. When the bite of meat finally made it to her mouth, her taste buds went into overdrive at the taste of it. It wasn’t gamy and wild, like the venison she had eaten; it was softer and much subtler. The smooth texture and rich taste of the meat was better than anything she had eaten since her blood had quickened. She was halfway through her portion when she sensed eyes on her. Turning to look at her neighbor, she saw her lover grinning widely at her. Swallowing the bite she had in her mouth, the new were quietly questioned the dark woman next to her. “What? Did I do something wrong?”

“You’re not hungry are you?” Susan asked her as she shook her head. It completely amazed her at how fast the smaller woman was putting the food away.  She thought it incredibly funny how she was literally wolfing down her food like there was no tomorrow, pun intended.

Grinning sheepishly at her lover Talia deliberately put her silverware down. Carefully she dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and mumbled an apology in Susan’s direction, feeling like some sort of heathen in the midst of nobility.

Susan smiled widely at the blonde next to her as she reached under the table and gave her knee a slight squeeze.  Using the smile and the contact, she wordlessly reassured her lover that everything was fine.  They ate the rest of the meal in silence, Talia concentrating on eating, and Susan watching her. After the meal, the blonde tried to pay attention as her lover’s father and a few others stood ad gave reports on the House’s financial matters, announcements of a few bonding ceremonies and some matters that had been before the council and had since been resolved. After the first few minutes, Talia went back to studying the painting on the wall, the subject matter of the speakers not really concerning her and therefor of no real interest to her.

After what seemed like days, but was in truth only an hour later, the former attorney’s attention was brought sharply back to the here and now, as everyone in the room rose as one and gave a bow toward the head table. Rising as quickly as possible, Talia bowed as well, feeling a little silly at the archaic gesture. She watched as the head of the House started to make his way out of the dining room, and was about to ask Susan what they where going to do now, when a warm hand closed over hers and she found herself being led out of the room.

Susan followed after her father as quickly as she could, practically dragging the smaller woman with her. She didn’t want to stay in the company of the other Kin any longer than necessary, and the fact that her father wanted to talk to them was as good an excuse as any to leave. They could have stayed awhile and joined in the drinking that always followed the formal dinner, but the dark were knew she was likely to lose her temper if she heard many more comments like the ones that had been floating about the room upon their entrance.

Entering her father’s study right on his heels, he motioned them towards the chair facing the fireplace while he went to pour himself a drink. Susan settled Talia into the left-hand chair and she stood beside her before turning to watch her father. Just as he was walking to his own chair, the door opened and Ganya stumbled in. Andrei and Susan both turned to glare at the man as he made his way over to the bar.

Deciding to ignore his oldest child, the Clan leader sat down and turned his attention to the two young women before him. “The reason I wanted to talk to you both, is because I was contacted today be the House of Rowan regarding Miss Winters. It would seem that she is the granddaughter of Michael Rowan, the leader of that house, and his blood Heir. He was demanding that she be turned over to him immediately.”

Talia felt as if a thick fog had rolled directly into her brain, what the man was saying made absolutely no sense to her. “That’s not possible.” She said after a few stunned moments of silence. “I’ve known my grandparents, well on my father’s side, all my life, and my mother’s parents died before I was even born. There’s no way this man can be my grandfather.”

Susan was just as shocked as her lover was, but for other reasons. She knew the House Rowan, and she knew their history with her own House. The Western European House and the House Ivanov had clashed many times in the past, often with bloody results. No one could remember what had first started the trouble between them, but over the years there had been many lives lost on both side to the never-ending feuds. She wanted to echo her lover’s words and tell her father that what he had said wasn’t possible, but she couldn’t. She had seen Michael Rowan on many occasions, and the family resemblance was definitely there.

“It would appear that your mother lied. She ran away from her House when she was only eighteen, after it was discovered that she was seeing a human. Since no one ever saw or heard from her again, it was thought that she was dead. She and your father changed their names, and remained hidden all this time, living as a normal human couple. When your blood did not quicken at the onset of puberty, she must have thought you would be safe. She knew that many half-breeds never quicken, never turn, so she hid the truth from you.” Andrei let what he had said, sink in for a few moments before he continued.

“Now someone has traced your mother through you, and found out who you are. Michael Rowan says that if you are not turned over to him tomorrow, the consequences will be rather unpleasant for us.”  The old man finished, looking at his daughter, knowing that she would understand what the repercussions would be.

Talia tried to grasp what she had just been told.  She had know that for her to be a half-breed, that one of her parents had to be a werewolf, but it hadn’t really hit her until just that moment.  Her mother was one of these people; she had lied to her, her entire life.  She thought that it would be an understatement to say that she felt as if she had been hit by a car.  It was more like she had been hit by a speeding train, a Mack truck, a Boeing 747, and an aircraft carrier all rolled into one huge conglomerate of steel.“  Why would she lie to me for all these years?”

“To protect herself, and you.”  Susan bit out the words, anger seething too strongly through her veins for her to care how she sounded.  Rage whirled through her body like a tornado, threatening to sweep her away.  She knew what her father was alluding to, if they didn’t turn Talia over to them, the House Rowan was going to start another war with them, and she didn’t care.  She had defied her father, her House and Kin law to protect the blonde woman sitting beside her; she wasn’t about to just give her over to their rivals.  “Tell the Rowans they can hold their breaths until their heads explode, Talia stays here.”

A not-so-subtle snort for the back of the room drew Susan’s crystal blue gaze to her elder brother.  In the split second it took to take in the smirk his glass of Vodka didn’t quite hide, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who had traced Talia’s mother, and reported her to the House Rowan.  It seemed as if the last lesson she had given Ganya about loyalty hadn’t quite sunken into his thick skull.  Vowing to make sure that this time she would use more compelling arguments, like a baseball bat, to teach him what it meant to betray her.

Andrei Ivanov shook his head, he had expected no less from his beloved daughter.  Susan had always done her duty to House and Clan, but she was a passionate woman.  He knew that when she feel in love, it would be the one thing that could ever come between her and duty, as she had already shown by disobeying him and protecting the woman once.  He had known this would be her reaction, but there was also something else to consider in the equation.  “Miss Winters, do you want to meet your grandfather, meet the members of your House, before you make a decision?”

Talia looked up at her lover’s father.  She wasn’t sure what she wanted.  On one hand, he was her family, on the other she didn’t like the way he had just demanded that she be given over to him without even asking if she wanted to go.  There was also a question burning in her mind, that she had to know the answer to before she made a decision.  Looking up at Susan, she directed her question to her.  “When you said my mother lied to protect herself and me, what did you mean?”

Susan took several deep breaths, trying to calm her boiling blood just a little before she answered, not wanting to snap at her lover.  “Your mother would have punished.  It could have come in just about any form, including death.  You, on the other hand, when you reached puberty and your blood didn’t quicken,” Pausing, the dark Russian put a comforting hand on the blonde’s slight shoulder.  ”You would have been killed.”  She continued in a soft voice.

Talia shook her head slowly, nothing she had seen or heard about the Kin so far was making her any more inclined to want to be around them, with one notable exception.  Although she understood the need for laws to keep them safe from humans, she would never be able to reconcile killing their own children, no matter what the reason.  One House to her, was just as bad as another, but here at least, she could be with Susan.  “Maybe I could talk to him, here or maybe someplace safe. But I don’t want to be turned over to him I don’t care who he is I still have rights.”

Ganya was happy.  In fact he was ecstatic.  This was what he had known would happen, and it was perfect.  Once his dear little sister started a new feud with House Rowan over her little blonde whore, then he would be put back into his rightful place as Heir.  Susan had thought to teach him a lesson in loyalty, but she was about to find out that the only thing he was loyal to was Ganya Ivanov.

Looking back and forth between his two children, Andrei was once again hit with a wave of disappointment.  Why couldn’t his first born be more like his youngest child?  Susan was a responsible, well mannered, reliable, disciplined young woman, whereas Ganya was the complete opposite.  He was always in trouble, drunk, loud, disorderly slacker.  It amazed him at how very different his two children were.   Putting his musings out of his mind and turned back to the matter at hand.   “I will go to Michael Rowan tomorrow, and see if there isn’t a peaceful way to work this out.”

“No, we’ll both go. I want to talk to him myself.”  Susan told her father resolutely, not taking her eyes off Talia.

“All right, be ready to go at eight in the morning.  I’d like to get this over with as quickly as possible.  Go get some rest, you both look tired.”  Andrei told them, watching his daughter help the blonde to her feet and bow before leaving the room silently.  Turning his attention to his son, who was still drinking in the back of the room, the old Russian glared at him.

“And you, I suggest you tread lightly.  A few bruises will be the least of your worries if you continue to interfere with them.”  Ivanov told him before rising and leaving the room as well.

Ganya watched his father walk out, and had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep form laughing. By the time he was through, they would all be treading lightly around him.  Once his entire plan came together, he might not just be the Heir of House Ivanov; it was a good possibility he would be its leader.

Talia had to practically run to keep up with the Russian’s long strides as she made her way back to her den.  Every line of the tall body in front of her veritably yelled anger, from the stiff straight shoulders, to the clenched jaw, Susan was a ball of fury, the blonde was afraid was about to explode.  As they reached the den, Talia had to nearly dive to catch the door as Susan threw it open and stalked inside.  The slight were sighed, knowing that in this mood, neither of them were likely to get much sleep, because the dark were had a habit of pacing all night when she became this agitated, and she had to act fast to dispel it.

Susan muttered under her breath, trying to think of a fitting punishment for her turncoat brother that would suit her need for reprisal.  She had visions of having him stripped naked and dragged through the Lair, of having him staked outside, covered in honey and left for the ants to devour.  A hundred other pictures of just she wanted to do to him at that moment rushed through her mind, blocking out everything else.  So preoccupied was she, that she didn’t even realize she wasn’t alone in the room, until a strong slender hand gripped her shoulder.

Talia pulled the gaping brunet into the large bathroom, ignoring her stammering protests for an explanation.   Dragging her lover over to the tub, the blonde began to undress the stammering woman, before pushing her backward into the bubble filled hot water.  Without a word, Talia began washing the exquisite body, as she watched her slowly beginning to relax and sink further into the nearly scalding water.

Susan could feel the tension fleeing from her muscles as the heat soaked away the anger, and nimble fingers chased the visions of torture from her mind.   As Talia washed and rinsed her hair, and began rubbing her soapy hands over her back, she felt a heat rising through her body that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water.   It never ceased to amaze her how the tall thin blonde could arouse her without even trying.   All it took was a look, a husked word, a movement or a touch and her body would respond immediately.

A groan from the dark were’s throat, changed to growl as strong digits went from kneading knots of tension, to caressing sensitive areas like the nape of her neck.   A predatory grin spread over her striking features, as Susan snaked her arms around the trim waist beside her and pulled.  The sharp yelp the blonde gave as her body hit the water made the auburn-haired beauty’s smile wide to unbelievable proportions.

Talia resurfaced sputtering and trying to curse the woman she had been bathing all at the same time.  “Susan what are you doing?”

“What’s wrong, I thought this was what you wanted?”  Susan laughed in reply as Talia tried to move the wet hair out of her eyes.

“Not fully clothed I didn’t. You at least could have let me undress first.”  Any romantic visions of taking a bath with her lover had vanished the instant she hit the water.

"And what would be the fun in that.  Besides, you started this. " Susan didn't even try to hide the laughter bubbling up form her throat.  The look pure disgust on the normally serene features made her laugh that much harder.

"Me?  How on earth could you hold me responsible?"  The blonde yelped, not believing her ears.  That Susan would try to turn the situation around and place the blame on her, was completely on the other side of the realm of the absurd.

"If you weren't so damn arousing and those fingers of yours so delightfully efficient, then this would have never happened."  Susan informed her as she smiled rakishly up at her, before pulling her close and possessing her lips to cut any further protests the blonde might wish to utter.

Talia let herself sink into the soft flesh beneath her, she was so preoccupied with the swift tongue dueling with hers, she couldn’t give even the slightest objection as her soaked clothes were skillfully removed.  As Susan’s lips moved slowly away from hers, the blonde couldn’t help but shiver in spite of the waters heat, as sharp, white teeth nipped at her neck.  It never failed to remind her of their first night together when the dark were bit and kissed her neck that way, and it never failed to nearly send her over the edge without ever being touched in her more sensitive areas.

Susan smiled against the long pale neck as she felt her lover quiver in her arms.  She knew exactly how Talia reacted when she nibbled her neck, which was exactly why she did it, her own pleasure at tasting the delicious skin aside.  Every moan, gasp, plea and shudder and tremble heightened Susan’s need to touch and kiss and caress, and drove her to bring Talia to that place where if you’re left hanging for one second longer, your sure your body will explode into flames.  As the blonde shook against her one last time, Susan pulled her close and buried her face in the wet hair and gently kissed her cheek.  It tended to roll her gut up into a tight ball that felt like it was going to implode at times like these, when the intensity of her feelings for this woman threatened to drown her.

It took Talia a minute or two to recover from the sheer power of her release.  Turning slightly to look her love in the eye, she had to smile at the normally bright blue orbs that were at the moment, slightly misty with emotion.  Whenever she looked into her eyes, the fierce love she felt for the dark Russian was always there, reflected back at her.  “You know of course, that you are going to pay for that, don’t you?”

Susan managed to look thoughtful for a moment before breaking into a huge grin.  “I was counting on it actually.”  Before Talia could move to begin her own attack, the dark were reached out to take the slender hands in her own.  “There’s something I want to ask you first, before you make me beg for mercy that is. ”She paused to make sure she had the blondes undivided attention, looking her squarely in the eyes.  “Talia I want us to be bonded.  I want you to be my mate, to stand with me in front of my entire House and yours too, if they’ll show up, and pledge ourselves to each other for the rest of our lives.  I want to share everything with you.  Talia, will you marry me?”

Susan watched as the love of her live, sat in the tub of hot water, her mouth moving but no sounds emerging, and she started to get nervous.  She was nearly ready to take it all back and beg the other woman to just forget about what she said, when Talia threw her arms around her and nearly choked the life out of her.  As the blonde rained kisses down on her face and neck, Susan sighed her relief then mentally chastised herself for doubting that Talia would want to marry her.  “So can I take that as a yes?”  She asked in a serious voice as possible.

Talia stopped what she was doing to glare at her new fiancée.  “Of course it’s a yes you big goof, what else would I say.”

Susan couldn’t wipe the huge silly grin off her face that had seemed to have parked itself there permanently, even if she had wanted to.  She said yes, was all that her bliss soaked mind could focus on, and repeat to itself, over and over and over again.

Talia laughed lightly at the thunder-struck look on the Russian’s face.  Reaching up she grasped the strong, proud chin between her thumb and forefinger, drawing Susan’s face toward her. “I would be honored to be, would I be your wife or your mate or what?  And what about your family, and my family, what are they going to say?”

Susan had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at the way the blonde seemed to already be getting cold feet.  “One, mate or wife, it doesn’t really matter, and two, our families can go to hell, I don’t care what they might say, I love you and I want to marry you.”

Talia’s fears melted like snow in the warm spring sunshine at Susan’s words.  She had implicit faith that Susan would do whatever it took to not only keep her safe, but to make absolutely sure they were together.  Letting herself sink back against the soft, curvaceous body beneath her, Talia rested her head on the generous mounds of flesh.  “I want to marry you too, more than anything I’ve ever wanted before. I’m just worried about what they’re going to do when they find out.”

Stroking the blonde locks, splayed out like a golden waterfall against her chest, Susan spoke with more bravado than she actually felt.  “Well don’t worry about them, don’t even give them second thought.  There is no way the Rowan’s would make a move against us, and my House will support me, I am the Heir after all.”  Pausing to lift the delicate head, Susan grinned down into the blue-gray eyes peering back at her.  “Now that you’ve tried the tub, don’t you want to see how that big, soft, warm, large, four-poster and did I mention huge bed in the room feels?”

                                                                       ********************.

Ganya sneered as he watched his father and sister pull away from the Lair in the limo.  Now that they were out of the way for a few hours, he could get on with the next phase of his plan to take back his place in the House and Clan.  He had been waiting at a window in the rear of the mansion for the last hour, he had been too excited to sleep and had come to his vantage point early, wanting to know the second they left.

Stealing down the halls Ganya made his way to the private dens, his sister’s in particular.  It would only take a few minutes to get to her den and get what he needed, as long as no one stopped him.  Though the sun had been up for some time, a gloom seemed to hang about the hall as the man hurried down it.

Stopping outside his destination, Ganya glanced quickly up and down the hall to make sure no one was watching.  With a monumental effort he managed to wipe the cruel smirk off his face before he knocked on the door.  As the door opened and Talia appeared in the doorway, he forgot any plans he had made and simply shoved his way into the room.

Ganya nearly laughed out loud at the dumbfounded and fearful look on the blonde woman’s face as he knocked her easily to the floor.  Straddling her small frame, he clamped his hand over her mouth before she had a chance to scream and alert anyone to what was happening.  Grinning gleefully at her, the larger man brought his finger slowly to his own mouth and made a shhh noise.  “If you scream or try to turn, I will kill you.  It will make things harder for me but not impossible, so be quite and listen very carefully.  We are going to walk calmly out of this room and then out of this house.  We are going to get into my car and take a little drive, and then you are going to get to meet your family.  Do you understand?”

As Talia had felt herself fly backwards and be pinned to the floor, fear was the first thing to ripple through her mind. As she listened to him speak fury quickly replaced the dread.  She knew her lover’s brother was stronger than she was and she wouldn’t be able to overpower him, so she would have to go along with him and wait for an opening to escape.

Throwing daggers at the Russian with her eyes, Talia nodded slightly under the weight of the hand pressing her into the floor.  The pressure was suddenly removed and she felt herself lifted off the floor to find herself standing in front of Ganya.  Taking several deep breaths the blonde had to fight to control the animal within. The beast that lived inside her wanted nothing more than to come forward and rip the man in front of her into extremely small pieces.  “Susan is not going to let you get away with this.”

Ganya laughed out loud at the implicit trust the woman put into his sister. She was convinced that Susan would ride in on a white charge and save the damsel in distress.  “Susan won’t have a choice in the matter.  Once Rowan has you there’s not a thing she can do short of storming the castle walls, and that would start a war. Now lets go bitch and remember what I said, if you scream or try to turn or run I will kill you and tell everyone that you were a Rowan spy.”

Talia grimaced as he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pushed her out the door.  No matter what he said she knew Susan would come for her, and would do whatever it took to get her back.  As she allowed herself to be led down the hall and out the back door though she couldn’t help the doubts that rose in her mind and tried to crush the faith she had in her lover.

                                                                     **********************
 
Susan crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the door.  They had been waiting in Michael Rowan’s office for the past ten minutes and hadn’t even been offered anything to drink.  She had fumed as she and her father had been led into the room and it had become obvious it was empty.  Each passing moment they were kept waiting the small storm of anger was turning into a full-blown category 5 hurricane.   The force of her anger compelled Susan out of her chair and started her pacing the length of the room, muttering rude expletives of Rowan hospitality.

Andrei was about to tell his youngest child to sit back down, when the door opened and Michael Rowan entered the room.  The leader of the Rowan clan was tall, blonde and as handsome as his granddaughter was beautiful.  It wasn’t hard to see the family resemblance in the deep blue-gray eyes and delicate jaw line that the old man and his daughter’s lover shared.  The patriarch of the House Ivanov rose and held both hands out, palms up, in the old greeting of one of the Kin to another.

Michael Rowan nearly refused to return the greeting but then thought better of giving the man such an insult.  His people had already informed him that is granddaughter was not with the Ivanov’s and he knew that diplomacy was still called for.  Moving to stand behind his oversized mahogany desk, he sized up the leader of his rival house and his youngest child.

He had seen Andrei Ivanov on many occasions, but it had been many years since he had last laid eyes on his daughter.  The young woman had grown from a gangly tomboy to a stunningly beautiful woman.  The aura of self-assurance that hung around the dark-haired were was palpable, almost visible, as she glared at him from where she had stopped her pacing in front of a large bookshelf.  He made a mental note to keep an eye on her, the strength and cunning he saw in her eyes reminded him of himself in his younger days and he would have to remember not to underestimate her.

Susan wanted to kill the man on sight, but the remarkable resemblance he had to her beloved kept her feet riveted to the spot where they had stopped of their own accord.  She seethed with rage as Rowan’s eyes moved appraisingly up and down her body, and it made her want to take a long scalding hot shower.  Susan managed to suppress a shudder as a grin slowly crept across his attractive face as if he was reading her mind and taking some perverse pleasure from how uncomfortable he made her.  Grinding her teeth together and stalking over to her father, she threw herself into the seat she had occupied earlier making sure Rowan, still standing behind his desk, was well aware of the insult.

Michael Rowan’s grin grew at the brash move the young woman made, and in spite of himself he was beginning to like her.  Seating himself slowly and deliberately in his large leather chair, he gestured to Ivanov that he should sit.  “Now would you care to explain to me why you have come here, without my granddaughter?”

Susan spoke before her father could even open his mouth to reply.  “Because she didn’t want to come and I am not about to just turn her over to you.”  She growled at the Kin elder through clenched teeth.

Michael managed to gaze levelly into the cold blue ice chips that stared defiantly back at him even though he found himself struggling not to look away.  The Russian’s eyes seemed to burn with a frozen fire that spoke volumes to him about her relationship to his granddaughter. It seemed as though his source within the House Ivanov was correct on one thing, Susan Ivanova and his granddaughter were involved with each other.  But there was something that the man had left out, that was that Susan was deeply in love with Talia and willing to do anything to keep her. Including going to war.

Rowan shifted slightly in his overstuffed chair under Susan’s glare.  “Miss Ivanova I realize that you feel strongly about this but you have no choice. Talia is my descendent and as such is under the direct authority of this House.  If you do not turn her over to me the consequences will not be pleasant.”

Andrei put a restraining hand on his impetuous daughter when it looked as though she would explode out of her chair and literally jump straight down the man’s throat.  “Michael these threats are completely unnecessary.  Talia has said that she would be willing to meet with you on neutral ground, but if you wish to continue this hostile behavior I will be forced to recommend to her that she not meet with someone so obviously unstable.  She is under the protection of my House and she will remain so for as long as she wishes.” The knife sharp blue eyes bored into the other were.  “Also, it might be advisable if you think very carefully about who it is you are threatening and the repercussions this course of action would carry.”

The older Kin sputtered and stammered at thinly veiled threat. Andrei Ivanov was the head of the Council, and as such he wielded more power than any other single member of the Kin.   Standing abruptly and clearly battling to keep control of his anger, Michael Rowan’s index finger pointed like an arrow at the head of House Ivanov.  “I want you out of my House now.  The next time we see each other, I will have my Heir and your status may be severely diminished.  Now get out.”

Andrei smiled ferally at the patriarch of House Rowan. He had never liked the arrogant were and the entire situation was bringing him immense pleasure, even with the threat of war.  His House now had something that Rowan wanted and he wanted to milk it for all it was worth.  Standing slowly, Ivanov looked the nearly raging older were in the eye.  “I knew that house Rowan was populated by idiots, but I didn’t think they were controlled by a moron.”  As the older Russian and his daughter left the study of their enemy, they could feel the howl of rage vibrating through their bones.
 

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