Chapter 43

"We will in a moment," said Viktor as he returned to the SUV where I was waiting and opened the door.

The growl that came out when I exited the car was enough that, if I was smarter, would send me back into the SUV with all the doors locked and me, crouched on the floor.

But no one had ever accused me of being smart.

I took Viktor's offered hand, held my head up high, and stared down Lucas as I walked up the steps toward the man.

I would like to say that I could do that because I knew that I was badass and could take on anyone or anything, but in this case, I was using the power of Van Helsing to be able to do whatever I wanted.

We had just made it to the top step when, as one, the pack turned to look at something behind me. Curious, but not willing to give them the power of knowing I was curious, I looked at Van Helsing.

"Vlad is coming," he said, somehow NOT reading my mind. "You have a very expressive face."

Mmmhm, sure...

I gave him an unimpressed look and turned my head away from him, but my hand continued to grip his tightly.

He gave a low chuckle as I finally heard the sound of a sports car coming up the ridiculously long driveway. But wait…

"Do those two actually get along?" I asked, turning back to look at Viktor.

"No," growled Lucas. I could have sworn that if he was in wolf form, his hackles would be standing on end.

Perfect, great, just peachy… I was here to set the wolves off and figured out who was trying to kill me. Viktor was here to keep me safe, and…. Vlad was here to stir the pot?

I was a bit worried I was going to die all over again.

I sighed and hung my head. I could do this, Vlad be damned. Throwing back my shoulders and standing as tall as I could, I pushed past Lucas, dragging Viktor behind me. He was my safety blanket and I was not going anywhere without it. Just call me Linus Van Pelt.

Lucas held his arm out, blocking my way. "Where do you think you are going?" He asked looking down at me. Stupid height difference. With Viktor, I didn't mind it, but with Lucas, I felt like a frigging rodent.

"Inside. Didn't you just invite us in to discuss the matter of my attempted death?" I replied, not willing to step back or admit to actually dying.

"I don't recall inviting you."

"A mere technicality. I was with Van Helsing when the offer was put forth, and as such, proper hosting would require you to extend the invite to the two of us. Or have you forgotten the rules and regulations of Gypsy etiquette? I guess that would make sense… after all, it's not like you have your pride intact anymore."

The growls that came from that statement made me smile. Apparently, it was not just Vlad that knew how to stir pots.

"Awe, you guys didn't have to go all out welcoming me! It would have been completely fine for everyone to stay inside. But the thought is very much apricated," came the loud voice from down the steps.

Vlad had just gotten out of his Aston Martin Vulcan and approached our group, that cocky smile firmly fixed on his face. I would have to compliment him on his choice of car. Although the Vulcan was not the most expensive Aston Martin, I thought it was one of the prettiest.

He didn't stop until he was standing right in front of me looking down into my eyes. This seemed to be contagious, always looking down at me. "Your eyes are the wrong color," he said as he studied my face. I closed the offending orbs and turned my face toward Viktor's chest.

"We are here to discuss the crimes and punishment of the individual who attempted to kill the Gypsy. Nothing more, nothing less. Vlad, if you don't have anything to add to this issue, please leave. You can visit Lucas later," said Viktor as he escorted me into the house and to the right where there was a parlor.

You know, for a bunch of animals, I was quite surprised at the grandeur and elegance that this room gave off. Mind you, a parlor was meant for entertaining… so maybe the rest of the house was in a much worse state.

Viktor led me to a Rococo Revival chair that probably dated back to 1850. Its red velvet cushions and armrests brought back memories. Some were good, some bad but all of them were of my family. I felt the chair's fabric moving to accommodate me, to make me feel more comfortable.

Viktor then took a step to stand behind me, not bothering to take a seat on any of the other furniture. His whole demeanor screamed protection. And as the one being protected; I was loving the whole thing.

I smiled looking at the fabric, enjoying the soft feeling beneath my fingers as the rest of the boys walked in and took their seats.

"Of course, I have a contribution to this meeting… after all, it was a dumb mutt that decided to bury the human on MY land," said Vlad. Although he kept the smile on his face, it was easy to tell by his tone of voice just how ticked he was. He chose a seat to my left and looked at Lucas.

"My wolves have done nothing wrong," maintained Lucas as he sat down on the matching loveseat to my right.

"Your wolves were on my land. MY land," the vampire yelled in a very none Vlad way. His eyes were starting to take on a red hue to them and the tips of his fingers became more pointed, sharper. His monster was trying to break through, and I didn't want to be in the same room as them when it did.

Vlad's words echoed in my head again: 'Your eyes are the wrong color'. It was all I had heard from my mother growing up. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the chair. Viktor placed his hand on my shoulder as if he wanted to remind me that he was there. I took a deep breath and cracked my neck.

The sound alerted the other two monsters in the room that I was also in there and their attention swung to me as if I was a piece of rare meat hanging from the ceiling. It was not comfortable.