Demigod Down (9 page)

“A wedding is a personal event. If it was a
pack event, than the pack would be responsible for paying for every
wedding that had ever occurred within the entire U.S,” I replied,
foolishly thinking the problem was her understanding.

“I am the future alpha’s mate!” Lorraine
demanded. “I am owed an impressive wedding for marrying him.”

My mouth was hanging open. I knew it was, but
my brain couldn’t wrap around that last sentence and so I repeated
it. “You think that because you are marrying Logan, who granted is
a pain in the ass, that the packs, who work hard for their living,
owe you a lavish wedding?”

“Yes,” She hissed at me.

Nodding, I leaned back in my chair,
shocked.

“He sure can pick ‘em,” Grant muttered behind
us.

Running a hand over my face, I groaned.
“Logan, what’s the budget?” I asked, having a terrible feeling.

“Thirty thousand,” he responded flatly.

I almost commented about how stupidly
expensive that was, but I kept my peace. It was not my business.
Wait - I guess actually it was now. Fuck.

“I have a terrible idea. How about I am your
wedding planner?” I finished, muttering under my breath, “Because
obviously I don’t have enough to do or enough aggravation.”

Ali coughed, covering up a laugh.

“Are all parties in agreement to that
decision?” Grams asked, looking pointedly at Lorraine.

Logan crossed his thick arms over his chest,
watching his fiancé with a raised eyebrow. Lorraine opened her
mouth and I was certain it was to contest my idea, when another
idea crossed her face and she smiled instead. “Of course.”

I was so in trouble.

“Wonderful,” Grams said, moving on, “Now for
the final item of the border issue.”

I sighed, leaning back, questioning my
sanity.

Jeff and Kent cleared their throats. “That
would be us.”

I rubbed my temples, so painfully over this
arbitration and looking forward to going back to life as usual when
I could just kill my problems away.

“What appears to be the problem?” Grams said,
still sporting a brilliant smile.

Silence greeted her question and I
groaned.

“What did you do now Logan?” I asked, bashing
my forehead against the table. How many more times do I have to
clean up after him?

“Ask Darren,” He said, spitting poison. “I
wasn’t involved in this decision.”

“Whoa, did Lorraine teach you that?” I asked,
shocked at the hostility and anger coming from him.

Logan adjusted his seat, red creeping up his
neck.

“We went to the pack looking for
clarification on our borders, not because we are angry dogs pissing
on each other’s trees, but because we have a bald eagle rescue
group coming in and we need to figure out whose land is whose so we
can keep an eye on them,” Kent explained, sharing a look with Jeff.
In typical shifter fashion, they were both built like line backers
with tanned golden skin. Kent had a mop of unruly curly dark blond
hair, while Jeff had dark brown hair cut close to his scalp.

“Simple enough,” I answered with a sigh.

“Per pack protocol, I informed them they were
to fight to the death to claim the others property,” Lorraine said,
sitting up adding her two cents.

I made a choking noise as I pointed at her.
“So just to clarify, you have issues with us eliminating an
unbalanced shifter, but you wanted to send two packs into war over
bald eagle mating grounds?” I asked, my voice pitching up in
disbelief.

“You have got to stop engaging her,” Grams
whispered to me.

“Please continue Kent, Jeff,” Grams
continued, smiling kindly.

Jeff leaned forward. He said, “Neither of us
wanted a war, so we called Darren.”

“We discussed where their clans are living,
roaming and divided up the land in question so that both parties
would bear the responsibility of the eagles.” Darren answered
succinctly.

Tapping my fingers against the table, I
waited for them to continue. “Sounds like a far better plan than
war,” I said blandly.

“I didn’t agree to it.” Logan stated. “Darren
is not able to make those decisions under clan law.”

“There has been some confusion regarding pack
leadership since the incident with Steven,” Kass supplied. Steven,
also known as the puppet master had a high ranking position within
the Shifter Nation before he decided to begin eliminating
humans.

“Not my problem,” I answered quickly.

“Unfortunately it is,” Grams said softly.
“What we rule here will be seen as our support of leadership.”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “Fucking
hell.”

“But I have a solution,” Kass said
softly.

“Yes?” I said quickly. Anything to get done
with this shit.

“The clans have been asking if Olivia would
hold an honoree place next to Logan,” Kass finished.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

“We would have to talk about that.” Grams
replied quickly, looking intently at me and warning me into
silence. “In the interim, we find Darren’s solution agreeable if
all parties involved do, but we do ask that the clans have an
exhibition of skill, so that Logan’s need for the packs physical
prowess is also addressed. “

Grams was good. Her ability to not put us in
the middle of the decision of who should rule, while assuaging both
parties and helping Logan not look like a total ass was impressive.
I was certain I couldn’t have done it.

Kent and Jeff nodded. “Lovely, that will
conclude our day,” Grams said, eager to get out of there.

I sat there, shell-shocked and looking at
Logan, Kass, and Grams. Me hold a place at the head of the USA
shifters? Were they out of their fucking minds? Did they not see my
track record of dead bodies? Why would anyone want me leading their
organization?

Rubbing my temples, I hoisted myself out of
the chair and followed the rest as they left the conference
room.

Kass was waiting for me just outside the
doors.

I groaned at her, crossing my arms over my
chest. She looked properly ashamed of springing that on me in front
of them.

“Darren asked me to,” she said softly before
falling in step beside me.

“I don’t want to rule the Shifters,” I
sighed. “I have enough of my own problems.”

Kass was silent before adding, “True, but
don’t you handle many of the shifter’s own issues?”

“I handle many contracts with many different
supernaturals to keep us safe and eliminate threats. That is my job
and what pays the bills. Sitting next to Logan doesn’t offer a pay
check, only a headache,” I said headed towards the parking lot.
“Grams is right we have to talk about this. We have to figure this
out as a unit.” I turned to look at her.

She nodded as Darren and Logan caught up with
us.

“Are you both available to do a tasting
tomorrow?” Darren asked Logan and I.

“Yes,” I answered, “just let me know when and
where.”

Darren turned to Logan. “What she said.”
Logan growled before going to catch up with Lorraine.

I was about to jump in my car when I thought
better of it and hugged Kass. “I’ll figure it out,” I said to her,
“I just need time.”

She nodded, almost about to cry. “Damn
hormones! See you tomorrow,” she said, hustling away.

…

I went back to Blake’s, having nowhere else
to go and nothing better to do.

“What’s for dinner, Alfie?” I called out,
closing the door behind me, hearing noise in the kitchen.

Blake stuck his head in the hallway. “You and
Alfie get close since I’ve been gone?” he asked teasing.

I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his
neck. “I have missed you,” I whispered into his neck.

He nuzzled me gently, “I know.” Pulling back,
he looked at me, “I also know about the biker gang.”

I shrugged, kissing him and asked, “What
biker gang?”

He laughed, shaking his head as I sat at the
kitchen island watching him make dinner. “Mal told me you stopped
by,” he said seriously.

“Yeah, I thought their wallets and cell
phones would give a lead on who had hired them.” I shrugged. “Did
it?”

He turned to me and his smile warmed my
heart. “Yes, that is the only reason I was able to get off the next
two nights.”

“I should take out biker gangs more often.” I
watched him cooking not worried for the first time since I had been
back.

Shaking his head, he grinned at me, his blue
eyes dancing.

We spent that night and into the hours of the
morning slowly relearning each other’s bodies and it was delectable
torture. Sometime after the sun rose, we were sated and slept.

The nightmare didn't wake me, replaying my
memories from days I wish I could forget, but it was Blake’s gentle
pressure on my shoulder, calling out to me that did.

Jerking upright, I swiftly came into full
consciousness, rapidly blinking away the sterling surgery room of
my nightmares as my breathing wracked in my chest.

Gently he touched my shoulder as I jumped
again, turning to see his concern. He pulled his hand back waiting
and watching me closely. “Hey,” he whispered.

Stuffing down a scream, I nodded, holding my
head.

“Another nightmare?” he asked softly,
reaching out to touch my back again.

I nodded, fighting back tears and not
trusting my voice.

“Do you want to tell me about this one?” he
asked gently.

I never realized the impact that my
nightmares would have on him. I could find plenty of faults with
myself and not once had his inability to sleep due to my own
memories cross my mind.

Turning towards him and his cobalt gaze, I
let my shoulders soften in the darkness of his room. He had asked
me this before and I always refused him. While I was comfortable
with the intimacy between our bodies, I was uncertain about my
ability to confide in him. Did I trust him with the damaged parts
of my psyche?

He had never judged me, not for my quick
temper nor my volatile mood swings.

Sucking down a breath, I forced the terror
back along with that nagging voice screaming that I couldn't trust
anyone. I was destined to walk this world alone with the pieces of
my soul still trained by Selena’s wrath. I didn’t want to be that
person anymore, I wanted to be more. I wanted companionship.

“I can't have children,” I whispered
softly.

He raised a well-formed brow. “Neither can
I,” he responded, knowing there was more.

“I- I” I said, my voice faltering. “I had the
ability once.” Where do I begin?

“Do you know anything of my past before the
council?” he shook his head, watching me closely and giving me time
to show him my fears.

“Have you heard of Selena the vampire?” I
asked, turning to watch him.

He nodded, worry clouding his gaze.

“Some say she was a legend, others a
monster.”

“She was.” I wiped away my tear.

“But I owe her life. She always liked
succubus as pets.” I blew out a shaky breath. “So when she came
into enough money and power, she began experimenting to create a
pure blood line for her pleasure. What she didn't plan on was our
ability to fight and kill. In us, she found the perfect
solider.”

Blake’s hand stopped moving reassuringly and
rested on my back instead, as he waited for me to continue.

“I was 14 when I was pregnant.” I whispered
“By my Lord Master, he was my handler.” I explained, unable to look
at Blake as I pulled another breath.

“That’s too young to have a child,” Blake
said softly.

“It wasn’t my choice.” I choked out, shaking
my head pulling myself back to what I needed to say.

“Selena saw it, she knew I would die to
protect the life inside of me, even if it was forced upon me.” I
didn’t brush the tears away as the plopped softly into the sheets
wrapped around me. “She took my child and my ability to ever have
children again.” I finished. I could see the sterile room as if it
was yesterday and feel every cut and stitch again as they tore my
child from my body.

“That is why you save the all the children,”
he whispered, hugging me into his chest.

I nodded, unable to use my voice as sobs
began wracking my body. I held my breath trying to push it back
down. “It’s okay baby. Let it out,” Blake coaxed me, stoking my
back.

I felt something crack inside of me and a
wash of painful emotions burst forth from my chest and trickled
down my face.

“I got you baby, I got you.” Blake soothed
me.

My phone had been beeping at me for awhile
when Blake rolled over me to answer it.

“Hello?” he said gruffly.

I faked sleep, not ready to get out of bed
yet.

“A tasting in 20 minutes?” he asked as I
cracked an eye. Crap! I had forgotten about that.

“She isn’t at the manor. She’s at my place,”
he said, beginning to get irritated.

“Fine,” he finished, hanging up.

“Logan is picking you up in 20 minutes,” he
grunted, throwing the covers off.

“Wonderful,” I muttered, throwing clothes
on.

Logan was early and I made him wait as I
brushed my teeth. Besides Alfie was downstairs and I was certain he
was having fun poking the lion. Or maybe that was a pastime only I
enjoyed?

Blake had left earlier, claiming he needed to
run errands, but we had scheduled a date for later tonight that
made my heart sing. Well, pending I had a heart, that was still
open to debate.

Pounding down the stairs, I grabbed the toast
Alfie handed me and pushed Logan out the door. “Hurry up, we are
late.” I told him, getting into the passenger seat.

“I’m aware. Why are you eating? We are going
to a tasting,” He commented, annoyed.

“Because I am a sex goddess who needs her
calories,” I informed him, enjoying his shocked expression. “Now
drive.”