Alek bowed. “As you wish.”
Lanias wondered if they were going to ask her thoughts about having children, if she and her ovaries agreed. One didn’t just pop out a baby on a schedule. But before she could say anything she was once again being swept away, and found herself sitting on her bed.
With a huff, she fell back. “Okay, I’m more than okay with your retirement.”
Alek laughed. “I thought you wished to be Queen?”
“I’d much rather be just plain Lanias, the tension there could be cut with a knife. Is that what your sons will have to deal with?”
“Sadly, yes. Many were happy when our clan was destroyed leaving only my sons and me. The other families of lesser blood built their reputations and numbers during that time. That’s another reason I insisted my sons take control of the red streets. The loose vampires were the only ones who had no official leader, if we took them, we’d increase our numbers and power easily. Not to mention the criminal network between the Veil and Human world is very beneficial. It was to be the foundation for Sorin’s power before he began choosing his loyal guard.”
“Well, let’s hurry up and get our son in that seat so momma can rest.” She groaned as she maneuvered her feet to kick her shoes off. It had only been twenty minutes, but she was already exhausted. She wondered what was happening to her.
“Interesting,” Alek noted.
Hearing this she looked up, and seeing the way he looked at her, she frowned. “What?”
“You just called him ‘Son’.”
She flopped on her stomach. “Well, if you are planning on making me a decent woman, wouldn’t that make him my stepson? Though the age thing makes it weird.”
Alek removed his suit jacket and shoes, leaving on his slacks and loose shirt. Bare foot he came to the edge of the bed.
“Unzip me,” she ordered playfully, giving a small wriggle.
He placed one knee on the bed and reached for her zipper. “Gladly.”
Once the cursed dress had been removed leaving the silky undergarment, she moved so that she was more in the center of the bed. He joined her, curling around her. The two not bothered at all by hiding away from the world.
“I’m starting to think this is my favorite place,” Lanias whispered.
“You want to know a secret?” he asked, playing with the top of her bra.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“I think it’s already my favorite place.”
She laughed as the two of them continued talking about all sorts of things. Lanias felt a sudden clarity that maybe she didn’t hate being normal all that much.
Home
LANIAS
Lanias jumped out of the way of the spinning staff that Fabian had launched at her. Catching the end of it, she overwrote his magic and rolling it easily along the back of her hand she caught it and brought it down by her side. “Are you even trying?” She teased with a side glance.
He panted, wiping sweat from his chin. “I’m trying.”
They were outside in the backyard; he’d found her at breakfast and asked her to teach him how to fight. She’d been surprised, because she was not Oye. Oye was the one who she’d always pushed all the combat fighting upon. What she was good at was using her magic. But with the added caveat of the Surremkeeping an eye out for her using Surrem magic she was limited to using her “black” magic.
She tossed his staff back at him, “Well you’ll have to do better than that because there are plenty of Being’s who can throw things at people.”
“I know,” he said glaring at the staff in his hands. “After meeting you and Alek, I know there are stronger people out there.”
“So how goes you guys’ training?”
They both turned to look up and found Roni standing behind them. Lanias smiled, “And here I thought Alek had you hidden away.”
“The others were taken somewhere but I told him I wanted to stay, if you were planning on dealing with the True Ones.” Roni explained walking toward her. He turned his attention to Fabian, “I take it you are the one Stanthos was going to send to me.”
