Two hours later, Alec was on his fifth glass of wine, and barely standing. Boris was fine, and was not about to allow Alec to back out of their bet.
Boris walked up to Alec, who was holding tightly to Brie, and asked, “How are you holding up brother?”
“I…am…fine,” Alec slurred.
Boris smiled and said, “No, you’re drunk. You look as though you’re going to vomit any moment.”
“No. I’ll…I’ll not lose.”
Brie looked at Boris and said, “Why do you and Alec have to compete all of the time? You’re just trying to make him sick so you can laugh at him.”
Boris smiled and replied, “This is what men do, Brie. Alec will be fine. If, and I do mean if, he makes it to the bottom of the sixth glass without vomiting first, I lose. This will make him happy. However, I seriously doubt he will make it.”
Brie shook her head and simply said, “Men.”
Boris laughed and walked away.
“Alec, are you going to make it?”
Alec held on to her and said, “Yes.”
“Why don’t you just vomit now and get this over with. You’re going to be hung over when you wake.”
Alec managed a smile and said, “It’s the least I can do for my coven.”
“Oh fine. Do what you want. I see one of my friends who I haven’t seen in a few years. You can puke your guts out for all I care.”
“Who is your friend honey?”
“You remember Quint don’t you? He’s Master Cameron’s son.”
Alec thought about it aloud, “Quint, Quint, Qui…he used to have a crush on you when we were kids.”
“That’s right. Enjoy your wine,” Brie said as she angrily walked away.
Without Brie to hold him up, Alec was a stumbling mess. He was determined to win the bet, but he had to try to keep himself composed enough to keep an eye on Quint.
After thirty seconds of the room spinning, Alec decided to sit and watch. Brie went over to speak to the man who held her heart as a teenager. She was angry with Alec and Boris over this silly bet. Brie’s plan was to make Alec vomit before he had another glass of wine, so she intentionally flirted with Quint.
Boris saw this as well, and this didn’t make him happy.
“Brother, what’s he doing?” Boris asked.
“Brie is quite…quite angry with us.”
“So, what. You’re just going to allow him to hang all over her like that?”
“Re…lax Boris. She’s just trying to help you win the bet.”
Boris chuckled and said, “You are pretty drunk. Perhaps we should just call this off.”
“No, I…am…going…to win. I only have one…more…to…go.”
“Brother, this is serious.”
“I’ll kick…his ass if he…puts one hand…on her.”
“In your condition you couldn’t kick the broad side of a barn. How about if I just concede?”
“You said six, and I…I’ll get there…Shhh…I want to watch.”
Brie smiled and laughed. She used all the non-verbal cues she could think of. She then made a terrible mistake. Her hair got into her face, and she allowed Quint to move it out of her face for her. Alec now was on fire.
“Wine,” he demanded. It was as if he’d never taken one sip. Sobriety was in his voice for only a moment, and momentarily, Boris was confused.
“What?” Boris asked.
“Get my last glass of wine for me…now brother.”
Boris grabbed a glass of wine from the passing tray and gave it to Alec. Alec downed the glass in three gulps. As he did this, Boris couldn’t help but cringe. He knew Alec was going to be sick very soon.
“Brother, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“Fuck you…I win…Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?
“To follow…me into the…the fire.”
Boris always was ready for a good fight. He went against his better judgment and said, “Do you need me to help you over there?”
“Please.”
Boris helped Alec across the room where Brie was flirting with Quint.
“Excuse me Master Quint, I do believe…that…that you need to keep your hands…to yourself,” Alec said as he struggled to keep his balance.
“I was only offering assistance, my lord,” Quint replied while trying not to laugh at Alec’s condition.
“No, you’re trying to be in…intimate with my Brie.”
“I would not disrespect you in this way, my lord.”
“Bullshit.” Alec wasted no time in swinging at Quint. Because of his condition, he obviously missed.
Quint smiled and said, “My lord, if you weren’t so drunk, perhaps you would win in a fight against me.”
Boris wasted no time in punching Quint in the face. Quint being the lighter of the two went down.
“How about against me?” Boris said with a smile.
Quint’s friends jumped on Boris, and this started the largest fight in coven history. The junior clan leaders broke up the fight. Darth had the final word.
“Family, stop this! Who started this fight?”
Brie reluctantly raised her hand. Darth was surprised.
“Mistress Brie?”
“Forgive me, my lord. I was only trying to help Master Alec.”
“You do this by starting a fight?”
“I didn’t intend on it getting so out of hand, my lord.”
“Brie you and your mate are confined to your chambers for the remainder of your stay. Master Boris you’ll suffer alone. You’re also confined to guest chambers while your mate continues to enjoy the party and her freedom.”
Alec then vomited on the floor. He looked up at Boris and said, “Six.”
Boris smiled and replied, “Six.” He then escorted Alec and Brie to their chambers.
“Good job, Alec. I expected you to be sick a long time before you were.”
“How many…how many did you have?”
“Two.”
“Two?”
“Yeah, I’m not as young as you are. My body simply can’t handle as much wine as it used to. I’m good to my body now.”
“So, you’re going to announce that I won. You…are going to…to do that right?”
“Of course. I’ll see you later.”
“Whenever.” Alec smiled and said, “Whenever that will be brother. We have been sent to our rooms without supper, remember?”
“Ah yes. Our punishment. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“At home then.”
Brie put Alec to bed, and went to bed herself.
Brie woke up the following evening not long after sunset, and she didn’t feel well. She didn’t feed before the party, and she didn’t consume anything other than wine during the party.
She realized she had a hangover. She thought if she ate she would feel better. She went the kitchen and scrambled some eggs. After she ate, she did feel better. She went back to her bedchamber, and found Alec sitting up rubbing his eyes and moaning.
She looked at him and said, “I told you, you were going to have a hangover.”
“What hangover? I feel fine. I’m just tired. That was quite a party.”
“I don’t get it. You were more intoxicated than you’ve ever been. How is it that you don’t have a hangover?”
“Perhaps it’s because most of the wine I drank ended up on the ballroom floor.”
“That was silly what you did,” Brie said as she crossed her arms in front of her.
Alec gave her a stern look and said, “No more silly than you purposely flirting with another man right in front of my face.”
Brie started to argue with him, and then realized she was wrong. “I’m sorry honey.”
“That’s okay. I know why you did it. Anyway, you were right. Boris only wanted to see me get sick so he could laugh at me.”
“So, how much longer are we going to stay? I’m ready to go home.”
“I suppose just long enough to pose for my statue. Then we can go home.”
Brie smiled and said, “Master Carmine created the statue of your mother from his memory of her. He can do that for you.”
“Brie, why are you smiling like that?”
“Round two?”
Alec returned her smile and said, “Since we have been locked in our room, why not?”
The two of them went at each other again. But only ten minutes into their intimacy, Brie felt sick again. “Alec honey, get up.”
“What’s the matter,” Alec asked as he got off her.
“I don’t feel very well. I must still be suffering from last night.”
“How much wine did you drink?”
“Only four glasses.”
“Perhaps we should go home tonight.”
“I would like that.”
“Fine. We’ll shower, say goodbye to everyone, and we’ll be on our way.”
“What about our things?”
“Your father is going to be moving in here. I’m sure he will have our things sent to us.”
Just then, Brie got sick and vomited up the eggs she just consumed.
“Honey, perhaps we should have the medics take a look at you.”
“No, I’ll be fine when we get home.”
“All right then. Let’s go home.”
The two of them said goodbye to everyone, including Boris and Isabella, who were staying to visit with Bertrand and Jayde. Boris put Alec in charge of the Baby Farm in his absence.
The following evening, Alec and Brie were home. When the carriage pulled into the courtyard, it didn’t take long for the entire clan to come running to greet the liberator of the coven.
Alec took the time to hug and greet every one of them. By the time Emma and Remus made it to the courtyard, Brie fainted.
Alec wasted no time. He picked her up, and carried her to their room with Emma and Remus in tow.
Alec looked at Emma and asked, “Emma what’s wrong with her?”
“Forgive me for asking, my lord, but how should I know?”
“She fainted, women faint all of the time, don’t they?”
“I know you’re worried about her, my lord, but she could have fainted for several reasons.”
Alec turned to Remus and said, “Get the medics.”
Before Remus could leave the room, Brie was conscious and quietly said, “I’m fine.”
Alec gently kissed her forehead and said, “Don’t scare me like that.”
Brie stroked Alec’s cheek and said, “I’m just excited to be home. I’m happy you’re here with me.”
“Are you sure you don’t need a medic?”
“No honey.”
Alec looked at Emma and asked, “Was she well while I was away?”
“Besides the fact she hardly slept, and barely fed, she was fine,” Emma said sarcastically.
“That doesn’t sound like she was doing well to me.”
Brie looked at Alec and said, “Honey, don’t be angry with Emma. They did all they could for me while you were away. I was just having a hard time without you.”
Alec glared at her and said, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to have someone take a look at you nonetheless, and no arguing with me.”
Brie smiled and said, “Yes, my lord.”
Alec turned to Remus and said, “Go get Mistress Leeta.”
Remus left the room and minutes later returned with Leeta.
“It’s good to see you home, my lord.”
“Thank you Leeta. Can you tell me what’s wrong with Lady Brie?”
“I won’t know until I examine her. I’ll ask that all of you leave the room.”
Emma, Remus and Alec left Brie’s room and closed the door behind them. Meanwhile Leeta began her examination.
“How are you feeling, Mistress?”
“Alec is overreacting, Leeta. I feel fine.”
Leeta ignored Brie’s words. She had heard them so many times before. “I hear there was a great party at the castle.”
“Yes, it was lovely.”
“I’m sorry I missed it. Did you feed or eat anything before the party?”
“No.”
“Did you consume lots of wine?”
“I had four glasses over a long period of time.”
“How long?”
“Three hours.”
“When you woke the following morning, how did you feel?”
“Nauseous.”
“What did you do to make it go away?”
“I ate.”
“And you still haven’t had any blood?”
“No.”
“Well everything seems to be normal. You’ll have to get some blood in you, but you’ll be fine afterwards. I see no need for you to come to the infirmary. I’ll order some blood for you. You can stay in the comfort of your own bed as long as you consume all I send to you.”
“Thank you, Leeta.”
“You also have to rest.”
“I promise.”
“Good. I’ll have your blood for you momentarily.”
“Thank you.”
Leeta stepped out of the door, and found Alec waiting impatiently.
“How is she?”
“It’s as she said, my lord, she’s fine. She only needs to feed, and rest. I’m going to have some blood sent to her, and she’s to consume all of it. Honestly, my lord, I do feel she’ll be good as new now that you’re home.”
Alec breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Thank you, Leeta.”
“You’re most welcome. You may see her now if you like.”
Leeta went about her business, and Alec went into their room.
Alec smiled at her and said, “Mistress Leeta said I’m to keep you confined to your bed for at least three days.”
“Liar.”
Alec chuckled and said, “Okay, she didn’t say that, but she did say you’ll be fine.”
“I told you I would. I think my body is just trying to readjust to a bit of normality.”
“An overabundance of intimacy is normal for you. Can you handle that?”
“Alec honey, can you wait until I have a clean bill of health?”
“I suppose I can. It’s just that we were separated for a while, and well us being intimate one time has not satisfied me.”
“You went from second in command, to king, back to second in command all within a few weeks.”
“I know, and you don’t think it took a toll on me?”
“If you have the patience to free the coven, you can wait until I feel better before you violate me.”
Alec smiled. “I suppose you’re right.”
Brie paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. “Honey, I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“Children. Do you think it’s too early for us to have a child?”
“No. Not at all, if that’s what you want.”
“Alec Thorn, can you for one minute stop thinking about me? I want to know what you think.”
“Before I set out to free the coven, I told the top five clan leaders to their faces I had no plans to lead anything or anyone. I only wanted to settle down with you and have a whole brood of children.”
“How many is a brood?”
“My choice? I want five, but whatever number you want will be fine with me. Wait, I take that back. Your number will be fine with me only if it’s more than one.”
“Honey, in order for us to have five children, there will have to be five deaths.”
“I’m aware of this, but the humans don’t matter. You, on the other hand, are different.”
“You’ll also have to lie and be deceptive. Is this what you want?”
“Brie, over the past few weeks I’ve seen and done things that only should be written in books. I have no problem being either of these things.”
“I don’t wish to share you with any other woman, but that’s the only way our coven can produce children. Promise me that you’ll not love any that you’re with.”
“I’ve loved you for eighty years. I only have eyes for you.”
“Five I think is a bit much. Four would be better.”
“I would like the boys to be first.”
Brie smiled and said, “If there were a way for us to orchestrate that, I would choose the same, but we get what we get.”
Alec looked at Brie, and in a serious tone, said, “I’ll be happy with any children we have. I love you, Brie.”
Brie stroked his cheek and said, “I love you, too.”
~~~