MoonLife (9 page)

“Thank you so much for standing up for us back there
,
” I said to her when we got outside the doors.

“It is my honor. I am Keket
.
M
y sister and I feel privileged to be able to help you
,
Princess.” 

“It was a tight spot in there
. W
ithout you both stepping up
,
I’m sure we couldn’t have gotten out of there as quickly. Really, thank you. If you can, I would like you to be at the
b
inding ceremony tomorrow evening.”

“It would be my honor,
Princess. M
ay I bring my sister as well?”

“Of course, I am looking forward to getting to know you both.” I hugged her as Ludwik pulled us away. I knew we needed to go, but I wasn’t ready to be done with the night quite yet.

I took my
mental metal
ski cap off and caught the end of a thought from Sebastian.

…
if you don’t answer me soon I am going to come down there myself, tradition or not.

I’m here
,
Sebastian. Everything is fine. It was close though, that Talia is a tough one.

Sadie, I was so worried. You’re okay? You’re not hurt?

No I’m fine. Ludwik protected us, Bram and Dante broke the doors down, and Keket threatened the hell out of her.

Keket? Who is Keket?

She is unbelievable. Her and her sister were in the bathroom and stood up to Talia and protected me. I invited them both to the ceremony. They really came through for me.

I will make sure they get invitations and are thanked properly for their loyalty.

Thank you Sebastian, I appreciate that. It was a really tense situation in there. Talia wanted to know when I was going to marry her father. If Lars has a daughter, then he had a wife…what happened to her?

I waited for Sebastian to answer as the long pause grew even longer.

He killed her. When she could no longer have children, he killed her with his own hands.

I was shocked at this. How could someone kill their spouse? Someone that they had spent time with and loved.
How? How could he do that?

It is the Dracco way. The women are not just for companionship
,
but for repopulating the clan. If you are unable to carry a child any longer, than you are no longer needed and death is the only option.

And you? Will you want me to have children as well? Do the Manduragos need the clan repopulated?

Sadie
,
have you seen all the Manduragos?  How many hundreds were in that club when you just left? No, I am not looking for you to repopulate my clan. I am looking for you to be my soulmate, to be my equal, to be with me for all eternity.

I took a deep breath; Ludwik had us almost to the elevator that headed back up to our rooms.

I knew that Sebastian, I was just checking. I think you sometimes forget that I don’t know all the rules and laws that go along with being a Mandurago mate. I just want to be sure that you aren’t forgetting anything important.

Trust me Sadie, I have told you all the necessary things. The most important part is knowing that you’re loved and that I will take care of you forever. You can do and be anything as long as you let me be a part of it.

I love you
,
Sebastian.

I love you too
,
Sadie. Now go back to the room where it’s safe. I want you to make it to our binding tomorrow night.

Chapter Eight

With that I put my mental metal ski cap back on and headed down the hall with Wendy to the room. I was never so ready to be back in a hotel room in my life. Ludwik opened the door and walked through to make sure it was safe. Once he was certain it was all clear
,
he kissed Wendy and told us to stay put while he stood guard at the door.

Wendy sat down and put her head in her hands. “Well
,
that was a bust. Sorry Sadie, I guess it was wrong of me to think we could just go out
like
we used to. Everything is so complicated now.”

I s
a
nk into the chair and took my shoes off.  “Boy
,
that’s an understatement!” I said
,
tossing my shoes under the chair.
“I’m
sorry about our party
.
I know you were looking forward to hanging out tonight. At least we got to go for a little bit, and the club was definitely rocking.”

“Tell me this, how long has Ludwik been following us? I thought he was hanging with the guardians here at the compound
.
”

I felt sorry that I had to tell her. “He’s been with us the whole time. I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted you to have fun and not worry that he was watching us.”

“So he saw me dancing with Bram?”

“
Yuppers
and was not too thrilled about it. Don’t worry though, you didn’t do anything wrong. There are no rules saying you can’t dance with a friend right?”

“I guess not
,
but I wouldn’t have danced so friendly with Bram if I would have known he was there. Next time promise you’ll tell me.”

“Okay, I will. I can pretty much tell you that until I am bound to Sebastian tomorrow night he is going to be right near us.”

“Good to know. Can he sleep in the room with me tonight? Is that allowed when they are on guard?”

“I doubt it. My guess is none of them will be sleeping until this is over.”

“Yes
,
you’re probably right. Man
,
that chick was crazy
! L
ike something out of an evil video game. So you think that was really Lars
’
daughter?”

“Sebastian said it was. I think her outfit was right out of
Xena
, Warrior Princess
. Dear god
,
did you see that spear?
!
It shot lightning
,
Wendy.”

“I know
,
right
?
I think we were lucky those girls stood up for us or you might be on your way to Lars right now.”

“Totally. Scary thought too that she could get into the compound.” With that there was a knock on the door. Dante, Bram, Dario and Ludwik came in the room.  Following them was another man I hadn’t met before.

“This is Xander
.
H
e is going to put wards around the room so Talia can’t pop in here and surprise us
,
” Bram said as he showed Xander around the two adjoining rooms. “He has already warded the hallways and the outer areas
. H
e just needs to finish the interiors.”

I leaned over to
Dario
,
who was standing next to me and asked what warding the rooms meant. He explained to me that Talia had used spells to get in and out of the compound. The wards allowed us to block those spells and keep her and anyone else from popping in.

Xander did a few waves of his arms and chanted a few verses in a language I didn’t recognize. In his hand he had a pouch full of dried herbs. He sprinkled them over the doorways and around the windows. He then drew designs in the air over the windows and on the doors. Finally he took out what looked like salt and place a pile in each corner.  With that he left, telling Bram that we were safe as long as we didn’t leave the rooms or the hallway.

Good to know
,
I thought
. I
t was getting late and sleep was calling. I said goodnight to my protectors. Who
,
I was told, would be to be stationed at both Wendy
’s
and my bedroom doors all night. We were not to close our doors and had to be
visible
to the guards on duty all night. Ugh! I don’t sleep well without Sebastian
,
let alone when a strange guy is standing near the bed watching my every move. Yes, I realize they were guys that we had gotten to know a little, but still. Did they have to be so damn cute? What if I drool in the night? Will I find a picture of that on Facebook in the morning? I instantly saw a status update: Princess Kali drooling…great.

I said goodnight to Wendy and headed to my bathroom. I changed in there for a little privacy and climbed into bed. I took my mental metal ski cap off and looked for Sebastian.

Sebastian…are you there?

I paused
.
N
othing back from him. Wonder if he has his thoughts closed off or maybe he’s sleeping. I decided to try again, this time to get a reaction.

Last time we’ll sleep apart and guaranteed last time I sleep with another man.

WHAT?

Ah, you are there.

Sleeping with another man
,
are you?

Yeah, I have Dante here. Do you mind?

Dante here where?

I’m in bed. He’s here next to me. Is that okay? You wanted me protected right?

Sadie, I have had a horrible night. Not being there to protect you when Talia showed up has been almost unbearable. I cannot dare to think of Dante being in that bed with you.

Settle down, he’s only doing just what you ordered. He is standing guard at my door watching me sleep.

I did not order him to watch you sleep.

He said he was not supposed to let me out of his sight. No bedroom doors closed, and they are to watch Wendy and I sleep.

Dante told you that? Was that before or after the Talia incident?

I thought for a moment.

It was after, when they all got back from fighting Talia. Come to think of it, they never said what happened to Talia, if she got away or not.

Can you see Dante?

Yes, he’s standing right next to the door.

What color are his eyes?

The bed was a little ways from where he was standing guard at the door, so I had to struggle to see his eyes. But after a few seconds of concentrating on them in the dimness they began to shine so brightly I had no trouble seeing their color.

They are bright green
, v
ery vibrant
.
I hadn’t noticed that before.

Dammit
I was afraid of that, Dante has brown eyes. Sadie
,
listen carefully to me now. What are you wearing?

Now
,
really? Now
?
Y
ou want to do that now?

No, I want to know what you’re wearing so we can make a plan.

Oh
,
well then. I have P
J
bottoms on, the Hello Kitty ones and a t-shirt.

Okay, act like you are having second thoughts and need to go in and talk to Wendy. Do you think you could find Ludwik without looking suspicious?

I can try. So I need to go to Wendy and quietly get us both out?

Right, I’m sending in back up right now.

Sebastian
,
I don’t think that’s going to work.

Why?

Because Dante just turned into Talia in front of my eyes and is heading right for me.

Sadie run! Don’t let her get a hold of you. The wards that Xander placed
will hold. S
he will physically have to take you out of there to get you.

I jumped off the bed and lunged around her. She was quick and leaped for me, but I lurched to the right just in time to get by her. I ran for the front door screaming and thankfully Dario and Bram were right there. I noticed quickly that they both had dark eyes so I was hoping I was okay. Ludwik came running out of Wendy’s room. What was he doing in there? Another glance at him and I knew immediately as he zipped up his pants and he ran for Talia.

“You
imbeciles
!
N
othing is going to stop me. If I don’t get Kali
,
one of my other minions will. This wedding will not proceed. You are fools to think it will ever happen.”

In one jump Ludwik took her down. Dario was on top of her tying her hands behind her back quicker than my eyes could register it. Bram came to me, he checked me over to make sure I was okay. A phone rang in his pocket and he answered it. “Yes
,
Boss
. S
he’s fine and Talia is in custody. I will take her down to the holding cells and let them handle her from there. Yes Sir, I will Sir.” With that he hung up and looked back at me. “Sebastian says that he is glad you’re okay
,
but to take your cap off?”

Oh my god, I forgot and put it back on after Talia attacked. I quickly imagined the hat off my head and Sebastian’s thoughts came flooding through.