Romeo woke in his private quarters, thankful Lilith hadn’t insisted he sleep with her in her chambers. He’d hidden the vials in a small space in the wall, next to the fireplace. Too emotionally worn out to worry about lighting a fire last night, his room felt damp and cold. Much of it still crude stone, it held the damp inside, making it easy to become chilled. Instinctively he built some kindling around the firewood and then lit up the flames that would eventually heat the room. Then, to save himself the trouble, he shifted into his wolf, almost instantly feeling the change within his body. While the wolf would eventually become chilled after too long in the damp, Romeo knew in the long run, the wolf would have survived where the human would falter.
“Cold much?” he heard a soft female voice then some laughing come from the doorway. He turned toward Lilith and whined in response. Today she was decked out in tight, ass hugging jeans and a tank top that, when coupled with her sexual pull, made it impossible for him not to notice her large breasts. Biting his tongue, Romeo thought of Amanda and instantly felt her connect to him.
Hang in there babe. You can do this. You’re an alpha, my alpha. Don’t let that bitch spoon feed you lies. She’s all lies, remember nothing but them. I love you.
Sighing, Romeo looked up into eyes as dark as the abyss. Feeling overwarm, he grabbed a blanket in his teeth and changed back to his human self, using the large blanket to cover himself. When Lilith smiled and stepped further into his room, he groaned. “I forgot to light a fire last night so it was damp when I woke up.”
“I see,” she purred. “Feeling much warmer now though. Tell me, Romeo, has it been that long since a woman’s bedded you right?”
He didn’t need to look down to know that he’d grown hard. What she didn’t know was that it was Amanda’s voice in his head that had turned him on and nothing to do with her. She was full of lies, just as his mate had said. Still, he had a part to play if they wanted to end this before it truly began. Fenris was already up one on them for the women and children he’d murdered the weeks before.
“Amanda and I find ourselves stifled somewhat by our older children. Now with the young twins over so much, our ability to express ourselves is less than desirable.”
“Well,” she said, stepping closer to him. Her hand tugged at the blanket until Romeo let it fall. “There are things I can do to help you remember what it can be like.”
“I appreciate that Lilith,” he stumbled. Before he could elaborate, her lips fused to his, her hand snaking down to cup him. Her hand stroked him so easily, that Romeo had to bite himself to pull away from her. “I’m sorry. I… I’m not sure I’m quite ready for all of that.”
“It’s alright,” she said, obviously irritated. “There’s time. At least I know that you can still perform, and rather nicely if my hands have anything to say about it. Even Damon wasn’t that well-endowed.” Lilith said, making herself comfortable on his bed. It was pointless to ask her to leave. Right now, for all intents and purposes, she was the alpha.
“Is there something, other than sex, that I can do for you Lilith?”
“Actually,” she smiled. “I was hoping we could hunt today. I know we can’t go near your pack, but the vampire in me is dangerously hungry and I’d hate to drain one of my own.”
Romeo just stared at her, shocked. He didn’t know much about vampires but that revealed a lot about his nemesis. “How… how did you start a line of werewolves if you’re a vampire?”
“That story is going to require a lot of wine,” she giggled. “And a wager.”
“A wager?”
“Always,” she said, a glint of hunger in her eyes. “I’ll make do with pig’s blood tonight while I capture your imagination. Then, come morning, if I’m still telling you my story, you have to mate with me. Make me your official queen.”
Romeo needed this information, desperately. But could he risk so much? He needed counsel and fast.
“Why don’t you go get the wine chilling and I’ll take some time to consider your wager. What do I get if you’re not still talking come morning?”
“I’ll give you the best head you’ve ever had,” Lilith said, running her tongue over her lips seductively, before she turned and headed out.
Sitting down, Romeo tried to enter a state of silent meditation. His mind whirled with possibilities so that he had to clamp down on his control to get even close to meditating. Eventually though, he was able to reach out to Amanda.
Amanda, can you hear me, sweetheart? Her answer came sleepily. She’s duped me into wagering sex with her. If she wins she wants me to make her my mate. If I win, she’s promised to give me head, which obviously the potion will work for. I’m just not sure this wager is one I should take. Amanda asked about the wager.
She’s going to tell me how she came to infect Fenris and start the line that became ours. Romeo was met with silence for more than a minute before Amanda answered him.
~Do it.
~You’re sure?
~We can’t afford to forego that information. Do whatever you have to Romeo. Use the potions I gave you wisely. The odor will last an entire day, but too often and she’ll be onto you. We’re working our end as much as possible, but we need to know her beginnings.
A few minutes later Lilith returned with a large wine bottle in an ice bucket and two wine glasses. She was dressed in a creamy camisole that left her shapely legs bare and hugged her incredible body. If it hadn’t been against his better judgement, Romeo would have backed into a corner, as far away from her as possible.
“Shall we?” she asked. Romeo took the wine she offered and after sniffing it, took a considerable gulp. It didn’t go down like whiskey, but the alcohol burned warmly enough in his gut.
“Please,” he said, helping her sit.