The smell of betrayal

"Poseidon must have pulled out all the stops for tonight. I'm surprised he's not here to enjoy it." April said, her gaze moving around the large party in awe.

"He had to leave earlier. He said he had 'sea god' business to attend to." Shelly said as she continued rocking Cam as he slept.

"Hum… Thank you for letting me know…" Jaden replied distractedly. Her eyes were trained on the group of men gathered around Russ. She'd never seen him look so happy… so young and free. She thought over their earlier conversation and couldn't help but feel bothered.

"-take him?"

Jaden jerked her attention back to Shelly and April. "Sorry, what was that?"

Shelly had wiggled to the edge of the seat she was in. She smiled warmly at Jaden. "I was asking, could you take him." She lifted Cam away from her. "It's getting harder and harder to lift him, and I swear the twins are taking turns using my bladder as a trampoline right now."

"Oh, yeah of course." Jaden lowered to lift the sleeping child, careful not to wake him.

"Thanks, girl. I swear I no sooner get one to sleep and these two wake up." She held her large belly as she stood. "If he wakes or just becomes too heavy, you can take him to Rin." She bent and placed a kiss on Cam's forehead and whispered. "Be good for your auntie." Then wobbled as fast as she could toward the back of the palace.

April watched as Shelly made her way inside before letting her smile fade and turning her attention to Jaden. "Wanna talk about it?"

Jaden blew out a sigh. "There's nothing to talk about."

April arched a brow. "It's your bridal party and you look as if you're going to a funeral instead." She clasped Jaden's upper arm, concern heavy in her gaze. "Is it because Gwen won't be here by your side for it?"

Jaden sighed again as she stared down into the angelic face of the sleeping toddler. "Perhaps partially…"

April tilted her head in growing concern. "And the other part?"

Jaden's gaze lifted to where Russ stood, happily chattering away. "Do you think I'm making a mistake? Marrying him that is… He's still obviously not over Jos…" Her sad eyes moved back down to Cam. "I can't help but think he's only marrying me because it's what is expected of him… and because he needs an heir." Her brows furrowed. "What happens if he is unable to let go of his feelings for Jos even after we are wed and I'm with child? Do you think he would be done with me and go back to her once I bore him a son?"

April slid her arm around Jaden's back. "No. Not at all! One only has to see the two of you together to know he cares about you."

"Then you should have seen him earlier with her… There is a big difference between caring for someone and wanting to help them… and… loving them…" Jaden shook her head. "I'm not even sure if he realizes the extent of his feeling for her… But it's obvious… it has been obvious for some time now…"

"Since you saw the pictures of them together on his phone?"

Jaden shook her head. "Before that… but I'd not wanted to give it much thought. I'd convinced myself it didn't matter one way or the other anyway… but now…" She blew out a heavy sigh as her attention moved back to Russ. "Is it selfish of me to want him all to myself once we are wed? I know I'm the one with everything to gain, and I have so little to give in return… but… I can only think of wanting more from him…"

April gave her a sad smile. "Not at all… That means you're beginning to love him as well…"

Jaden nodded sadly. "I believe I'm much too far past 'beginning to love him' for my own good. I'm not sure if I can turn it off at this point… And I shall surely be hurt for it later."

April gave her another reassuring squeeze. "No. You can't let yourself think like that. If you do, you'll be too nervous and paranoid to have any kind of happiness."

Jaden frowned as she shifted Cam in her arms. "I know… but isn't that better than letting that happiness consume me so completely that when it's finally pulled away, there is nothing left of me after?"

April's sad eyes studied Jaden. "Oh, girl… no! Don't say things like that! Not tonight! Not the night before your wedding!" She gave Jaden a gentle shake. "Happy thoughts only!" Movement by the Woodline caught her attention. Her frown quickly morphed into a smile as she watched Drake step out onto the lawn. "Speaking of happiness… I'll be right back, okay?"

Jaden nodded. "Go on. I'm going to take this little guy inside and lay him down."

April tilted her head. "You're not taking him to his daddy?"

Jaden shook her head. "They look like they're all enjoying themselves right now. Besides, I'm not ready to face Russ yet…"

April pressed out her bottom lip. "Alright, but don't stay gone for too long."

Jaden forced a smile. "I won't." She nudged her playfully. "Besides, it's not like you'll miss me once you're wrapped in your man's arms."

April's smile brightened. "You're right about that." She giggled as she turned and waved to Drake who was now walking toward them. "I love that man…" She shook her head. "Who would have thought after everything we were forced to go through at the hands of vampires, it would be a vampire I'd fall in love with the second I'd gotten freed of them…"

Jaden laughed ironically. "Life is funny like that, I suppose. I would have never thought I'd see this place as anything other than a well-made prison…"

April gave her arm another reassuring squeeze as she lifted and gave Jaden's cheek a light kiss. "It is funny… funny amazing…" She turned and all but skipped toward Drake, throwing her arms around his neck as soon as she was close enough.

"Miss me?" Drake chuckled as he held her away enough to gaze down into her bright eyes. His brows furrowed as the delight seemed to fade from her gaze. "What's wrong?"

April didn't answer him, instead, she pressed her face against his chest and breathed in deeply. "Joslyn…" She murmured as she leaned away, sending him a puzzled look.

"Ah, yes…" He released April and began brushing at his clothes. "I ran into her out on the trail by the cliffs a few minutes ago." He chuckled awkwardly. "I forget how sensitive your sense of smell is sometimes." He continued brushing at his shirt and jacket. "But you see, I surprised her, and she slipped… She could have fallen over the cliff had I not caught her…"

April forced a tight-lipped smile. "I see… and that was all that happened? She slipped; you caught her… then you left?" Her eyes burned into him.

He shrugged. "Yes, more or less. We exchanged a few words, but other than that, it was a quick chat." He clasped the sides of both her arms. "What do you say, we go say our goodbyes and call it a night?"

April nodded stiffly. "Yes… Um… Jaden just went inside, so if you'd like to say your goodbyes out here, I'll be right back in a few minutes…" She pulled away from him and began to back slowly toward the palace, waiting for him to turn and go his own way.

Drake swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. He knew without asking that April was mad, but he also knew there was no point in trying to hash out her feelings here around so many people. He bit his tongue as he nodded. "Alright. I'll be over there then, whenever you're ready." He turned and headed toward Russ and the rest of the group adjusting his tie and brushing at his clothes one last time. "Last thing I need is Russ getting angry and possessive as well…" He muttered to himself.

The second Drake's back was turned, April's smile faded, and her attention shot to the wooded trail. Her entire body shook with anger the farther down the trail she walked. There was no end to the things she imagined he and Jos could have been doing while in such a secluded area for so long. How long had he been gone… thirty minutes, an hour?"

***

Jos had begun to nod off when approaching footsteps roused her. A smile curved her lips, but she didn't open her eyes. "Did Drake send you after me? I told him I'd go back in a little bit…"

His name on her lips sent raw rage surging through every pore of April's body along with an equally strong wave of guilt. This was the woman who'd helped rescue them… but she was also the same woman who was threatening the fragile happiness that they'd found since escaping. "Yeah… you can say he did send me… in a way."

Surprised by the low, feminine voice, Jos opened her eyes. A warm, welcoming smile spread across her lips. "April? What brings you out here?" When she didn't answer, Jos brushed it off and continued. "It doesn't matter. How are you? I haven't really gotten a chance to talk to you since you were hurt. Drake said the two of you moved in together. How are you settling in? Everything is going well, I hope?"

Angry, confused tears burned April's eyes as she stared at Jos. "No! Shut up. Stop acting like you care for any of us! It's all an act, isn't it?! You don't really care for any of us! If you did you'd stay away! You wouldn't keep coming around and making it harder for everyone! Do you think Drake likes being affected by your weird ass curse?! He doesn't, and I'm guessing neither does Russ or any of the other men in your life! You're a homewrecking monster! You know that! Drake should have let you slip off the cliff earlier! If that's what really happened out here. Your scent was all over him! What did you really do? Did you seduce him, again!"

Jos gasped in shock. She quickly shook her head. "No, you're mistaken. Yes, I slipped, and he caught me, but that was as far as physical contact went. We simply talked for a few minutes after." She held up her hands in surrender. "I'd like to talk to you as well, if that's okay." She patted the ground beside her. "Will you come sit with me and talk?"

April snarled, exposing sharp teeth. The bright, nearly full moon reflected off the long straight canines of a wolf. "I'm sorry… but you give me no other choice… It's the only way to insure Jaden can be happy… that Drake and I can find happiness… The world will be better without you in it."

Jos gasped as the young girl began to shift into a wolf. Each crack of the girl's bones as she shifted caused pain to shoot through Jos's chest. She leaned back against the tree and let her hands fall beside her in complete surrender. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting on the sharp fangs to pierce her throat.

As the sound of paw steps drew closer, the night sky began to shift and change. The bright moon became dimmed and hidden by thick, dark clouds. The air seemed to swirl around the small opening at the top of the cliff. An ominous feeling settled in.

April's steps paused and her ears fell back in concern. A figure began to take shape within the thick, swirling air. Her eyes widened as bewilderment struck. A beautiful man with shoulder-length silver hair and almost glowing pale skin emerged from the darkness. He smiled as he approached her. Lifting an elegant hand, the man spoke in a deep, lulling, sing-song voice. "Now little wolfy, we can't have any of this. Perhaps you should take a nap and sleep off this unwarranted anger."

He blew into his palm causing a cloud of glittering mist to billow toward her. Her mouth dropped in surprised worry as her entire body became heavy, her legs giving out under her own weight. She struggled to stay awake as the man moved to Jos's side and caress her face tenderly, almost as a lover would. She blinked rapidly against the heavy pull of sleep to see what would happen next, but just as the mysterious man was scooping Jos into his arms, April lost her fight and sleep took over.

Jos gripped Hypnos's neck tightly as he carried her across the clouds as if they were floating. "I'm dreaming? It's been a while since you've visited me in my dreams…"

Hypnos smiled down at her. "I can not visit all places, little sparrow, only those without wards and protections."

"Oh… I see… The Embassy has wards and protections?"

He nodded. "Indeed." He glanced around the earth below causing his smile to widen. "We're nearly there."

Jos glanced down, causing her arms to involuntarily tighten around his neck. "We're so high up…" She pursed her lips. "You'd think I'd be used to these heights by now… but nope… not at all."

Hypnos chuckled as he began their descent. "You're incredibly calm right now."

Jos shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be? Either this is all a dream or I'm dead… Either way, it's the most peace I've felt in over a week."

He arched a curious brow. "Being with me is peaceful to you? When did that begin?" He forged worry as he set her feet on the ground. "Perhaps I've lost my touch." He cocked a fist against his hip as he rubbed his chin with his other hand. "That must be it… but when…"

Jos smile. "Around the time I gave in to your advances, and you coward away." She laughed when his hand fell away from his face, and he sent her a harsh glare.

"Brave of you to taunt me so."

She shrugged. "If you were going to hurt me, you would have already by now…" Her eyes moved around the familiar lagoon, and she giggled. She turned a bright smile back to him. "I mean you did bring me here instead of some prison cell or some other dark scary place."

He blew out a defeated sigh. "I'm sure a dark scary place would be nothing to you, Kraken."

Jos's smile fell. "You'd be surprised… I do still have feelings, emotions… fears…"

He nodded as he followed her toward the front door of her old, modest home. "Yes… I'm sure you do… but rather than being fearful of being alone in dark places… I rather believe you find peace in that…"

Jos gave a grunted laugh as she pulled open the door, and it gave a slight protest. "You wouldn't be completely wrong about that… but, funny thing is… I am just as afraid to be alone as I am of being around people and somehow causing them pain and harm…"

He ducked as he followed her inside. "Isn't pain and harm the same thing?"

She shook her head. "Not at all… There are ways of causing people more pain than physical harm could ever inflict." She ran her hand over a statue she'd always loved. "I can only imagine I'm dead or dying to be standing here right now… If this is my afterlife… I'll not be upset about it."

Hypnos stepped beside her, pretending to study the statue as well. "What makes you think you're dead or dying?"

Jos gave a sarcastic laugh. "Because the last thing I remember before you showed up was April promising to kill me…"

He traced the base of the statue. "Perhaps that was all part of the dream."

She gave another huffed laugh as she moved her attention to a stack of matches and some candles. "Maybe… My self-loathing materialized itself into April and said all the things I've been feeling for years…"

He pondered her words for several long seconds before finally replying. "Then if this is simply a dream… use it to your advantage."

She glanced questioningly up at him. "How?"

He sent her a smile as he stepped closer and leaned against the table beside her. "Simple, ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer you."

Jos's troubled eyes met his. "Anything?" When he nodded, she swallowed hard. "Would those I love have been better off if I were never a part of their lives?"