Chapter 4
Vander pushed open the door that58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfntqrOJpDi
led into a large, spacious office. The walls were blocked by large bookshelves58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjk6zyIKaj
filled to the brim with various books from Eluvia’s history, there were even58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIg89ics5S
some books from their neighboring countries. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCM07V1B6E
When he was younger he had wanted to read them all, but it was a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ8b3vVLbW
daunting task that would take him many lifetimes. Each shelf was painstakingly58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNAVHM0qC0
ordered alphabetically and by subject so you could find anything you wanted58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC8Um9e243
quite easily.
There was a desk in front of the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMhaiTW4lZ
left wall that was kept clean, only a letter or two adorned in. Inside the desk58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtouSpr3fUa
were reports from all the Blades scattered throughout the kingdom and a wax58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4lofvBW17
seal the Commander used on the letters before sending them out on delivery. On58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKycO7ZnlbV
the right side was a massive fireplace with two large chairs set up in front.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcGOa9qhFN
There was a table between them where his grandfather sat drinking after a long day’s58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGW3xJysl1
work before he retired for the night.
“Are you just going to stand there58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPa6DuHSUY
looking around or are you coming inside?” Vander looked towards the window58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo9qSpRajL
where his grandfather was standing.
Charles Pendrake was staring at58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXxlCgGd90
him over his shoulder with a hard look in his eyes. Despite being an adult,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bFlliQjDX
Vander found his grandfather to be quite intimidating. Despite being almost58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvYdbIgPrv
sixty years old, at 6’6 he was still able to run over the younger Blades quite58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgmrjzrEuO
easily. His mind was still sharp, and he commanded an air of respect that few58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1frAjir5B7
could ignore. Despite being family, the two of them look nothing alike. He had58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mWogIDBcv
brown hair with graying edges and brown eyes. While Vander was wiry, Charles58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVePKL0Fsw
was pure muscle. Charles was respected while Vander was feared.
“Apologies58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe7TJe8yti
Commander.” Vander stepped inside then closed the door. “It’s just been a long58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdRJitc31r
time since I’ve been in here.” Shea followed him in and went to sit by his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64BkDryjhv
grandfather’s desk chair.
“I’ve told you58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjlb9shPCs
when it’s the two of us you can call me grandpa.” Charles sighed.
“Sorry58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3rBsCVU7h
Commander.” Vander bowed his head.
“Still just a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimpPsaU267
pain in the ass as always.” Charles stepped away from the window then sat down58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CPlegiWxR
behind his desk. “I thought spending the past six months up in the woods would58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizPnRprMiD
have tempered the attitude of yours.” He rubbed the top of Shea’s head as she58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn0G1Zvcry
placed her mouth on his leg.
“Don’t pretend58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6uae17lXp
that’s why you sent me up there to train.” Vander took the seat opposite him.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ43kJc2E76
“Though it was nice to get away from the city for a change.”
“I did it for58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCwcfeFpI7
your own good, you know it.” Charles sighed. “I don’t know how I wound up with58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEecObkh9wY
such a head strong grandson.”
“And people say58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTJbUb9QGs
we’re nothing alike.” He snorted. “Anyway, I received your letter and came as58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHGwaHPZbV
soon as I could. What’s going?” Charles leaned back in his chair.
“Since you were58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMuhFJDBtT
sent to the woods and Cuvera went to pick up his bride from Bricen, things have58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBAlKwBq85
only gotten worse here.” He rubbed the back of his head. “What I am about to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEuMZtW8hn
tell you, you can tell no one else about. Not even Alex, am I understood?”
“Is that58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZYF3TzeJK
serious I can’t tell another Captain?” Charles nodded grimly. Vander sighed58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsDErXzLlh
before agreeing. “A couple weeks ago, Malcolm had fallen mysteriously ill. We58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllMs0Iejkk
aren’t sure the cause of it, Topal is by his side every day and night, but none58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUalVlH4ro
of his remedies are working.”
“Really?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohO9LNA85H
Vander frowned. “When I passed through the city earlier, nothing seemed amiss.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZnKbAuZbQ
There was no one sick and everyone seemed quite happy.”
“That’s because no one outside of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90g9uBeWzL
the council knows.” Charles explained. “We wanted to keep it quiet to avoid a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZOY7ry0Ne
panic.”
“So why tell me?”
“Because I want you to take over58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdVpXFmxdw
the investigation for me.” Charles explained. “I don’t think the cause of his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP2m2jWJag
sickness is natural causes, I think it was poison. Topal agrees with me, but58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXwI8Ltq2J
the council doesn’t agree. While the King is fighting for his life, the council58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHD6yjAe3f
is trying to undermine him by passing laws that bolster their own power while58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSbYRfVAXa
restricting ours. So now I must fight them off and can’t concentrate on finding58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GzW1uRUJM
out who did this. So, will you do it?”
Vander folded his arms and thought58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRD6IKBgUL
for a moment. It was a lot of information to absorb at once, but he knew his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8AK09SQH8
grandfather was pressed for time. Despite his anger towards the old man, he58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03dIS4S9IR
didn’t really want to see him suffer anymore.
“I will help you.” Vander sighed.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtnMwvRe28
Charles broke out into a large grin.
“Thank you.” He reached into his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iKNxTkYFo
desk and pulled something out. He placed the small item on the desk in front of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D7l5PuNuO
Vander. It was a small blue medallion with the royal family’s crest on one side58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvTmVDJcQg
and the Blade symbol on the other. “This will open all doors for you inside the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iSQhz7PiA
city. Get whatever you need, but you can tell no one about your mission.”
Vander took the medal then slipped58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhuh9yQ7ZT
it into his pocket. “Is it alright if I see the King now?” He got up from the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmv7Sj7PbB
chair and headed towards the door.
“Yes, but there is something I58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUDz2XAmVV
should tell you-“ Vander opened the door while looking at his grandfather.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WFKBQRmGn
Shea’s hackles raised as she started snarling. He turned to see who was58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSkXQbObDA
standing there and upon recognizing him, his blood started to boil.
“What the hell are you doing58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ073JbkDo0A
here?” he snapped. He grabbed the man by his collar and pushed him up against58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgygwFxukm
the hallway wall. “Give me a reason why I should gut you where you stand.”
“Because I’m still a Blade and a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8XEvkhVR0
captain now.” Leon smirked. “You can’t do a damn thing to me.”
“What?” He spun around to see his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZDFk5mEJ5
grandfather standing in the doorway looking at him with a dejected look on his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tMayF5ckM
face.
“I had no choice in the matter.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkBvw3lVbW
Charles looked pained. “That’s part of the reason I wanted to see you; will you58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEr4oC7rTq
sit down? Please?” Vander took one more look at Leon’s smug face before shoving58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nt5ZGIKye
him back against the wall and walking back to his seat. Shea, still growling,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtu1CYLi1l
kept her eyes locked on Leon perhaps daring him to make a move against her58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMMW4WUDO1
master. Vander sat down.
“The council is making moves to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVD72PYF3u
limit the power of the Blades, or to remove us completely.” Charles explained.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlkhFzLpvC
“Since the wars ended, they decided there isn’t a need for us to carry on how58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeASW1VnHdA
we are. With the poisoning of the King, it further reinforced their views. They58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvkuxiOiwF
appointed Leon as Captain to oversee us and to report back.”
“And what qualifications does he58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41z7GRGHiM
have to report on anything?” Vander glared at the other man who was leaning up58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYksGAuR9m
against the wall with a broad grin on his face.
“None whatsoever.” Charles58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wQn6GHdqe
snorted. “His father just promoted him into our ranks to be a pain in the ass.”
“That’s not going to win you any58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDWGdORfV7
points, Commander.” Leon sneered. “I have absolute authority to decide the fate58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsrRiIOM3n
of the Blades. It wouldn’t go well for you to get on my bad side.”
“Shea kindly escort him from the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zRNP0N7Q8
room.” Vander commanded. “I don’t need him overhearing actual Blade business.”
“With pleasure.” She58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpH0rJj6Jt
snarled. She got up from off the ground and with teeth bared, she stalked58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjufRfz31Ss
towards Leon. Leon’s smug smirk disappeared instantly as he slowly started58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92SNElbUKp
backing up towards the door.
“Call off your mutt, Vander.” His58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcNvPLWcYd
face became pale as neither of them moved to help. “Vander.” He quickly ducked58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyUQCQC3Gt
through the door and slammed it shut as Shea lunged at him. She landed nimbly58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId4AXKXoMU
in front of the door.
“Don’t come back.” Vander58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xwSBSPWju
heard Leon’s panicked footsteps echoing down the hall. The thought of the man58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JyFPsXFIT
pissing himself brought a small smile to his face.
“That was unwise, yet very58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vidbsl4Jl
satisfying.” Charles chuckled. “Viggo won’t be happy.”
“I don’t give a shit what makes58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWatwXgYy8V
him happy.” Vander sighed. “He just wants to control us for his own personal58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJxPbSXooo
gain. Man’s a snake and should be removed.”
“We are just protectors Vander,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqllY5t1cWy
not politicians. Leave the removal to those with the mind to do it.”
“Yes sir.” Vander sighed. “When do58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrgxDjcd0q
you want me to go and see the King?”“The investigation can wait until you are58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCJp9ZH4GR
fresh faced and rested.” Charles said. “Everything is how it was; the King has58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOWn0OIdeN
just been moved to a secret location while he recovers. This is our last chance58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMV6VaZRR7
to prove our worth to the council.”
“We shouldn’t have to prove a damn58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQbFaAk57Z
thing, but I’m with you.” Vander got up to stretch, stifling a yawn. “I will do58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNon0gaAbC4
what I can to find out who hurt the King and bring them to justice.”
“Thank you.” Charles smiled. “How58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrVJK6rHM8
are the recruits coming along? I wanted to give a demonstration to the council,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9M1r9WuZn
but only if you think they are ready.”
“Their teamwork could use some58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPub9181K6
help and if they stopped letting their hormones get the better of them they58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqW7tLGu43
would be solid fighters.” Vander explained. “We are meeting at my place for58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqrLp952M6
celebratory drinks and food. They deserve it.”
“I don’t know why you still stay58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8BjocdWIx
in that shit hole.” Charles said. “We have plenty of rooms for you in the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMymv8Wl1d
compound, you should stay there.”
“You know my feelings on its58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtulGMrPRj
gramps.” He said. “I don’t like how the others look at me. At least in the city58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEHSw5mDsA
I can be a little anonymous and keep to myself.”
“I know, I know.” He sighed. “I58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYFNrRzUTq
will see you tomorrow. The price will be arriving in the next couple of days58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR2Hoa6l5h
with his new bride, I would like the investigation to be wrapped up by then,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv1D7rsrRl
then we will have the recruits tested. Will that be alright with you?”
“Yes.” He stared down at his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YIl6WiqPG
grandfather. “And just because I’m being civil with you, doesn’t mean I’m not58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfcm5sK088
angry with you. We will have our talk once this is all over.”
“I understand.” Charles looked58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBw7YO3JeN
down at his desk and began rifling through his papers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBZE3XBm3K
Realizing that was his cue, Vander opened the door for Shea and the two of them58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdekiV8bow
slipped out quietly closing it behind them.
The walk back through the castle58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9TSPP9L35
was uneventful. Most of the servants were too busy to talk to him, as they were58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtIVA6PiLe
preparing for the prince’s return along with his new bride. Vander was hopeful58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMji5utAd5x
with their union because finally the long war that killed thousands of people58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu0COeszey
was finally at its end. Peyton’s words at the front door didn’t surprise Vander58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOtwLPyXD3
in the least. The two countries would finally be allowed to heal but some58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj61echtMpb
people didn’t care about that. They just wanted the war to continue because it58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquG9fb9Tom
just made them richer. It was a disgrace, but greed ruled overall. Part of him58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8HBZac0dS
had hoped that the would be told who was against the treaty and toss them in58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY8VPyX4Lg
jail, but if the King, Charles, and Peyton wanted them to stick around, they58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRKWMo9cmj
must have a good reason for doing so. It was above his paygrade at any rate.
He headed back towards the gate58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1D4u4o0IH
where Jeffery Jilena’s soldiers were guarding the passage through, and to his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5KTgwyrGf
surprise, it seemed as though his advice worked. They were alert and not58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5MijwRMRN
leaning up against the walls. Their weapons were at attention and even though58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDqnsrvprS
they gave him a dirty look as he passed, one snarl from Shea kept them from58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpUrvQ18Os
saying anything they would regret, and they allowed him to pass without any58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGqDnjfONg
issues.
By the time he made it out of the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv3UqpUaDA
middle ring, the sun was beginning to set illuminating the sky with colors of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80IzI4w5eJ
bring pink and yellow. Most of the people he walked past were scurrying to get58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO1n2tK8Et
home before nightfall or closing shops so they could calculate their profits58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9q1LaNXfF
before heading in for the night. Nighttime was always Vander’s favorite time of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8KjSg8eUR
day. The hustle and bustle of city life would disappear into almost nothing58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5bzruIMzC
giving him the peace and quiet he and Shea desperately enjoyed. Being back in58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHGkRbkGwA
the city would be a challenge and he knew it would only be a matter of time58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTWB6BxRG4
before they two of them wanted to go back to the woods where they both felt at58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaFt3FNVPt
home. For now, they would just have to enjoy the place they lived in and make58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNxZF1yIvU
do with that.
One of the only places that would58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2R6wgexbj
have Vander and Shea was a little inn within the eastern district called the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp4HzxFHcD
Warm Hearth. They got hunters coming from the forest to try and sell skin,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTLmj2gDEC
meat, bones, and fur to anyone who wanted them. Often the hunters would bring58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZepBU0PIWp
their dogs with them as an insurance policy against thieves. They were unruly58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6MIYmv8ZQ
to the inn owners and would often feel up many of the servers. One time Vander58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjxFpKzbtd
got into it with a couple of them who felt they were entitled to the servers58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmraPnlWtrE
after hours. The sicced their dogs on him, but once Shea jumped in killing two58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySOtEAEJYH
of them, the hunters knew better than to fuck with them and, by extension, the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VDaA6U4aQ
serving girls. From the day forward, he had a discounted room and a place to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSHEhV5Hmw
relax after work.
Upon arrival, he could hear dozens58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC0iGc9LRA
of patrons talking and demanding foo and drinks. It wasn’t a bad place, a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmbFgjDFzV
little run down, but kempt. The front door was missing a hinge causing it to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDtH7nsWGq
lean slightly. Once you opened it, you had to lift it a little bit to make sure58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhqLWLX45y
it didn’t catch on the stairs. Unknown to all but Vander, the servers and the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHLEFAugzH
owner, the stools were slightly off center. It was a way to make sure people58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiXGcH4Ndt
weren’t drinking too much. If they fall to the floor, they get cut off and58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRSmuezbPU
taken somewhere to sleep it off before going home to their families.
Vander pulled open the door,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsvmuKUm6q
making sure to lift it, and was greeted with even more noise than he was58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwicwClP0IO
expecting. There were thirty people jammed inside all shouting to be heard over58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ctSr64Zsg
the music playing in the corner. A couple of people, men, and women were58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYi2LuWe7Z
dancing on the floor in front of the band twirling their dresses and spinning58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRF5WQXH04
on their feet to the beat. Shea, hating all the noise slunk off behind the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja8o7r3cAA
counter and quickly made her way over to the rear corner to scamper her way up58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobfXDkmfhk
the stairs and out of sight. She knew where she was going, they had installed a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5OqjF5CV2
little door for her to come and go as she pleased so she would have no issues58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnQatpaMTk
getting into his room. He just hoped no one was squatting there or they would58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xPPKYWzK1
be in for a real rude awakening.
“Vander!” Someone shouted at him.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95U9sXhnUq
The voice came from the Inn Keeper, a young woman named Julianne, who had58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURs8lyyoj7
received the bar from her father after his untimely death. She had long black58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL8Z0wr89G
hair, brown eyes, and a figure that drew the eye of every man in the room. She58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58dwTJ06wA
flirted harmlessly with the guests, made sure to top of their drinks whenever58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh61hDMeq9i
she could, but was still responsible in making sure people didn’t drink more58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBpTOEfjhl
than they could handle.
“Julianna,” he waved to her. She58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C2W14RSct
sashayed her way through the crowd to embrace him in a quick hug followed by a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK1AxKSNci
quick peck on the cheek. Today she was wearing a low-cut navy-blue dress and58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBV7b5MbV1
blue boots. Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail to keep any loose58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsXM59Drvc
strands from falling into anyone’s food or drinks.
“I had a feeling you might be here58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYViULQjvYX
today.” She beamed causing dimples to form in her cheeks. “I had your room58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h06nEibAT
dusted then the linen and your clothing cleaned. My maid, Kyra, just finished58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHfRWYDgeE
an hour or so ago.”
“You have a knack for knowing when58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYsgVW0XdS
I get here.” He laughed, hugging her back. “Are you sure you aren’t a seer?”
“Nonsense,” She slapped him58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoKJeIfdK2
lightly on the arm. “Get upstairs and get changed, you smell like stale sweat58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMKvncWk8l
and feet.” Vander lifted his arms then grimaced. She was being polite about it.
“Alexander and the recruits are58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kXI2OJzE3
coming tonight.” Vander said. “If they arrived before I come back down, will58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtjJt72vAt
you get them a table?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “After58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iiTZzpE09
they leave, I’d love to hear how your time away from this place was. We can58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eKYQxsZb5
drink and relax, how does that sound?”
“Sounds great.” He waved goodbye58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86uwhk5Vd4
to her as he tried to make his way though. The servers smiled and waved at him58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJRgilCLCq
while the patrons backed up several steps. He wasn’t sure if it was because58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKrKOCbC5C
they recognized him or because of the way he smelled, but he guessed it didn’t58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUs2CnFnBF
really matter. He was glad to not have to talk to any of them.
His room was on the third floor58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkgc97cdSp
all the way at the back. Julianne had offered a closer room on the lower floor,58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD4l3yzCQG
but he liked his privacy as most of the people who stayed here were either58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVChdviYR5v
travelers who wanted a cheaper room or patrons who were too drunk to walk and58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgp2JJM3vQ
couldn’t walk. She had her own room in the basement where it was warm and where58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCZ5l0hRMG
she didn’t have to worry about anyone trying to get into her room. The basement58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTrbGowGvp
was only open during business hours and was locked during the day. He had never58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAasaxZb6ot
been down there, but he expected there was a second door that was always locked58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxu7ftj3HJ
to keep anyone from sneaking down there when she was busy.
His room wasn’t much to look at.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvUcYHDgXF
It was big enough for a small bed, a desk, and a dresser. There was a closet58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jnQvXsbeE
along the left wall and a door that led into a bathroom complete with both a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPK8thjWOA
shower and a sink. True to her word, the room smelled freshly cleaned the smell58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUeQXOmW9L
of lemon still fragrant in the air. As they were getting closer to fall, his58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsea01SG99r
lighter blankets had been swapped for a warmer one. Shea was in the process of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23fBCXdS8e
rubbing her scent on everything when he walked in.
“I hate it when she cleans in58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgcGfnZSCd
here.” She complained.
“Not everyone likes the smell of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQtsyygwb0
wolf day in and day out.” Vander said. “Maybe we should give you a bath as58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDXvpXL4mR
well?”
“Try it and you’ll be minus a58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zfWZ6SY9U
hand.” She growled. The two of them looked at each other, but eventually58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxhitLUTz7
Vander shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself sinky.” She lunged at him, but he58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf1HBs8cWp
jumped nimbly away. He quickly removed his sword, placing it carefully on the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEFxPa768k
ground. Then he grabbed her, picked her up, then threw her on the bed. Before58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QkafHCYtA
she could right herself, her body slammed her then started rubbing her belly.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAJsZiBgwO
She squirmed under him, but eventually she told him she gave up. Laughing, he58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxLlU3fJw7
shrugged off his jacket and tossed it on top of her.
“I’m going to bathe and change58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm974JKcCR
before I meet the others. I assume you want to stay here?” she nodded her head.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUgXmvxxNO
“Want anything from the kitchen?”
“Beef.” Was the response. She wiggled her way under58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCVHc22iP4
the blanket and moments later, he could hear her snoring gently from58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0taqU55fs0
underneath.
Vander shrugged off his clothing58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ub29xdRcy
and dumped it in a pile by the door. Walking into the bathroom, he turned the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRVLHsobGj
water faucet on. It took awhile for the water to become hot enough where he58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP7hc0hcbn
didn’t freeze. He stepped inside and felt his aches melt away with the hot58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fRc8otCEK
water pounding into his body.
He always enjoyed this part of the58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCesJiWBnq
day. Even if it was day of just sitting in meetings, just washing away your58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIgrqMVj9r
worries for even a little bit was enough to make him happy. He didn’t get to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LkBemx9S9
shower at all while he was in the woods. The closest he got was taking a dip in58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgi0ESfahW
the lake every other day, but that wasn’t the same. He got clean, but it was58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOEXxUH6KO
never truly relaxing for him.
He lost track of how long he was58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtFlUfJSWS
under the water, but he turned it off once it became cold. He grabbed the towel58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvHq6gO76v
hanging up next to the sink to dry off then wrapped it around his waist. When58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl48kQLWqU
we walked into the room, he noticed that Shea was on alert. Her ears were lying58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ7CJngnzz
flat against her head and her teeth were bared. Only one person would make her58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjK1f5WCVe
that upset in the inn, someone he had hoped would take a little bit longer to58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo29S7O4ypW
see him, but it wasn’t an unexpected visit. He could hear her voice coming up58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZgHBspiXI
from downstairs, so he figured he still had some time.
Whistling to himself, he walked58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwcrSQHUmi
over to his closet and removed a brown shirt with strings which would allow him58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpruu7l6ZMl
to pull it tight over his chest or leave it loose. He picked out a pair of58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUcX0tyHfk
casual black pants along with a pair of black boots. He removed two black58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWeoaPTsF2
leather cuffs and carefully tied them to his wrists. He didn’t like wearing58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdKU6Rh0Sb
jewelry while on duty, however he wore a silver ring with an emerald embedded in58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgGAz0R4jf
it when he was off duty. It was the last thing he received from his mother58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISBF3fKTw0
before her death.
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He heard the footsteps coming up58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9NyecKt8L
the stairs then stopped right in front of his door. “Behave Shea.” He said. She58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNKBjp6rIX
didn’t relax, but she did hide her teeth so as not scare his guest. His heart58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO88o8Mzw52
pounded in his chest as he waited for the knock. As soon as he heard it, he got58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWaBiI5lO4
up from his bed and opened the door. “Hello Bree.”
