Page 9 (1/2)

Vivian

The dark sky spans before the windshield,in the huge expanse I don&039;t sense Jon inslowly and carefully dwindled our connection until almost severed He needs the break from me, whether he admits it or not It would be terrific if he found aback and forth in front of hi Jon to worry about me, my safety, and my subsequent approval of a potential partner day in and day out is not healthy to his wolf or hu hiained on his love and devotion clouding natural instinct An alpha wolf needs an alphaa new love with his duties as my servant and loyalty to the seethe may be tricky, but not impossible

I have no doubt who sure the two have their own intimate bond, separate from his bond to me, will be crucial for his happiness A s hiht destroy any daily peace he enjoys

"Why are you shielding so hard right now, Dria?" Rafe&039;s shts "Worried about the evening, or sos, really"

"Hmm That suspiciously sounds like an evasive answer The furball again?"

I look ahile exas on the control panel in front of us "Maybe"

"I haven&039;t felt his pull in ht buy that crap about our distance being the reason, but I know differently What are you planning?"

A sigh escapes aze at my lover "No actual plan this tie a to the inn this su my shoulder and look away

"Did you think I&039;dthree or more unattached females?"

"Hey, it worked, didn&039;t it? You saw soeous woood bitch, Dria I don&039;t care what the others say about you"

"Wiseass," I remark with a smirk "Why don&039;t you read the coordinates and leave me be?"

It&039;s full dark by the time we approach the private airstrip inside the city li back my love of the old city in crystal clarity

Rafe&039;s hand caresses otten "Why do you insist on wearing these things? The zippers drive me to distraction"

A slow smile inches across my face as his hot palm slides closer to "

Rafe shifts in his seat, casually adjusting himself under his slacks "Think we&039;ll have tirin broadens at his atte arousal I smell his interest in the confines of the small plane; it&039;s impossible to hide froe ood, but not the one I a, with the specialty Duff beer?"

I shake my head at his obvious enjoyment Men will be men

"What? Is it my fault Buenos Aires is the Sih and he continues "I need so Homer bottle openers, too Hey, pay attention to the runway, it&039;s co up fast"

In a few rab our wardrobe bags and head to a storage roo quickly, we hustle into our evening attire

My strapless purple gown plunges deep in the back and I shiver when cool air in the unheated building touches atherpins in with a precision gained froant style doesn&039;t look too formal and allows some of the curlier tendrils to cascade aroundsatin gloves, tugging the material up tothe last touches on his black bowtie, pulling the knot tight "How does it look? Crooked?"

I stare at his well-muscled body, encased in the custoht fro on the dia down the pleated white shirt I retrieve the gray silk scarf fro, then lift his collar and slide it around his neck, draping the fine material down the jacket&039;s lapels

"You look divine And the tie is perfect" I run a hand down his chest and below, slipping a war," he says, pulling his hips away "I&039;roup of bloodsuckers with an erection"

"Fair point" I sashay to the door and zip ine outside, must be the hired car"

"Do you want a wrap?"

I shake littery heels "I&039;et on the road"

Rafe unbolts the outer door and a moist breeze pushes my hair from my face The driver stands at the ready and opens the rear car door I slide into the long limousine, across the soft leather seat, while Rafe stows the bags in the trunk and speaks to the driver He&039;s a private hire not associated with the Tribunal The two h the darkened city streets

We cruise past ornate, older structures, skyscrapers, the capitol building and the ton Monument known here as El Obelisco, whichBuenos Aires has changed row over the centuries The area is a gorgeousthe last touches to my makeup, I snap , and check the time Alun I fiddle with a glove and stare out theat the various lights racing by

Worried, dear? Rafe&039;s soothing mental voice fills my head

Concerned would be ht

A soft snort comes from the seat next to me Yeah, you think? I dread these events at the best of times, but after Coraline&039;s Alaskan visit who knohat den of vipers we could be strolling into

I rest a hand on his arht Va of events, especially when dealing with their own kind

After twenty minutes, we pull in front of an opulent townhouse Its stone veneer, intricate railings, and high arched s are re ht spills frouished structure The Tribunal owns the entire, very expensive, block and their underground lair below the street surface far exceeds the footprint of the buildings above A lone door on through the s

Rafe opens the car door and exits, offering a hand to e froain Is that apprehension I&039;e of excite to broadcast, if I don&039;t have to

My rhinestone-encrusted spiked heels flash in the street la up and down the sidewalk A couple walks arures beyond them stroll in our direction I brace myself and plaster on a s, I project to lides downsome of the chill that&039;s settled at the base of ot your back We&039;ll do fine tonight

Fear? I wouldn&039;t call it fear

No, of course you wouldn&039;t How silly ofto draw me out, but that shiver really surprised me Was it intuition?

It&039;s called &039;you should have worn a coat&039;, Rafe quips while er va unsure if he wants to listen to a human or not I turn to face the pony-tailed wall of nize enuine happiness at my arrival

"Alexandria?" He bows deep and takes ers "I had no idea You weren&039;t on the list tonight"

"Surprise, George," I say, pushing fake warmth into my tone "Think they&039;ll have room for two more?"

To his credit, not a reaction is revealed as he smiles "You know they always do"

By this tie nods for them to proceed us up the stairs I keep e anyone here on the street Rafe grabs the bags, and the car pulls away

"Any re or e be forced to one of the other Tribunal hoe from Rafe and climbs the steep stairs to the ornately carved wood double doors "There&039;s always a room for VIPs, Alexandria You should know that"

I sht be in when arriving unannounced"

George&039;s amusement ruht air "If I treated you poorly, I think Rolando would eat me for breakfast"

We enter the main hall, and the interior warht chill fro torches line the walls of the tapestry-covered walls, with reflections of the dancing flahly polished oodwill are depicted on the wall hangings-the Tribunal&039;s only nod of festive adorn downstairs there will be a ala

"Shall I put your things in a room upstairs?"

At , black-carpeted tread "I think the Edwardian roo is fine, thanks We&039;re going down to the party"

Rafe takes my elbow and directs me after the couple, who entered ahead us Closed doors line the long hall, and at the end of the foyer sits a large freight elevator spruced up ood panels and inset with tile, but the size leaves no doubt it&039;s not a regular elevator car

I don&039;t know the couple, so thankfully we&039;re not forced to engage in conversation while descending into the pits of hell-known as the Seat of Darkness a open and the subtle stink of death rolls in to greet us The scent isn&039;t overpowering like decaying flesh or rotting vegetation, but it lingers on the back ofwith fellow vaate, the more the odor builds The others must be used to it, that&039;s all I can think as to why no one is hurling in a corner