~Quinn’s Point of View~I’d heard my fill from Shane and I decided that I might have to include someone else in my idea, on a need to know basis. I went to find our best investigator and see if he could help and since he was also a wolf who knew Tyson, it was meant to be.I was keeping this one so close to the vest, I wasn’t even going to involve Leonard. This whole tournament had him acting like a giddy little teenager and I had to wonder what his motive was, there was something there but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I mingled through the party and had a bit of small talk, just to show my face, but I came to a stop when I found who I was looking for, and tried to steal him away.“River, could I have a word with you, privately,” I ask, whispering in his ear.He was holding one of his pups and chatting with his brothers about the hunt. I was glad everyone was in good spirits and I hoped they all stayed occupied and no one noticed my absence.“Yeah, no problem,” he says, handing the
~Tyson’s Point of View~I got distracted talking to the guys about my moose and I lost Livia. Axel demanded I find her, and I did look everywhere. She must have teleported. Damn, must be nice. I take in the crowd and also notice that Quinn and Leonard aren’t around. I was too far out of range to mind-link with Susie and I hated not knowing what was up. Something was definitely going on. I climb on the bus with the douchebag brigade and take my seat in the back with Diego. We make small talk about the day, and he is excited with all the fish he’d caught. I tuned it all out. I had to know that Livia was all right and the bus ride was long as hell.Axel begins yelling at me for not marking her, and I don’t know how to get him to understand. If I pissed Quinn off I could get kicked out of the Shadows. Then I’d be a damn rogue and Livia would definitely reject me … reject us. We’d be disgraced. If the Shadows don’t want you, nobody else is going to.*Human bullshit,* Axel spits.I really
~Livia’s Point of View~Yawning, I sit up feeling like I’d barely slept. I’d left Leonard’s room a confused mess. He and my father were up to something, but of course it wasn’t like he would just come right out and tell me. I was laying in bed, dreading my date with Jasper. There was one sort of good thing that came out of our little chat though ... Leonard kept asking me to keep an open mind and give the tournament a chance. He said I might be surprised at what it has to offer. I had no clue what he meant by that, but I did feel a bit guilty. I found myself surprised that our chat was actually nice. He was an understanding ear to listen to me. How very un-Leonard-like.So I should absolutely be suspicious.I mean here were three men, just as equally roped into something as I was … maybe they were actually trying to find love, maybe not. It certainly didn’t seem like Shadrick was at any rate. He wanted arm candy, or business contacts, who knows. Someone else to knock up.I had to do t
~Livia's Point of View~ The dream girl leads us into a comfortable looking room with some low ambient music over the speakers. There are two massage tables next to each other and I have to wonder if Jasper was going to be nude. Hold up. That would mean I’d be nude. Were massages nude?! I’d never had a professional one before, I’d never had the time. “Darling there is a changing room set up for you there, you can change and come back, I’ll meet you in a moment,” he says, winking and walking away. Oh boy so … I’d wear a robe though? Shit. This was like a basic thing right? I mean people got massages all the time, it’s not sexual. Why was I so nervous then?? I go into the changing room, take off my clothes and look for the robe but there is only a towel. Was this right?! I peek out from the curtain and see Jasper, only in a towel. I feel my face turn beet red and shut the curtain before he can see me. I look at myself in the mirror and realize I am far too nervous for Jasper to se
~Livia's Point of View~ I apologized for the awkward way I ended our kiss, but I had no clue what I was apologizing for exactly. I’d wanted to kiss him and he’d certainly wanted to kiss me. He was a perfect gentleman and said he was sorry for rushing me. But really, most fairies would have fucked twice in that balloon in the time it took for the flight. We were now back in his apartment and I was standing in his bathroom, staring at a breathtaking evening gown he wanted me to wear. It was of course … exactly my size. It was something I would see in a store window and dream of, but never have the courage to buy let alone wear. I had a basic signature look I wore in court and around the office, and I had it in several different colors. Yeah, I was a bit predictable with my wardrobe. The gown was pure black, mermaid style so it would hug me like a glove. It shimmered with some movement. It flared out just enough at the bottom and had a tiny train. Were we going dancing? I wouldn’t be a
~River’s Point of View~After the party died down, I had my mom take Lilly and the pups home, and asked Chance to hang back with us. He wasn’t thrilled of course, he wanted to get home to his mate but he knew I wouldn’t waste his time.“All right what’s this sausage fest about,” Chance asks, laughing.“I got asked to lead a team on a mission tomorrow, top secret. I can’t tell you much, just what we’re looking for,” I reply.“I swear to fuck if Godfrey is sending us on some personal bullshit,” Skyler whines, getting annoyed.“It’s not him for once but I think it’s important and I think it’s something we need to look into anyhow,” I say, trying to shut him up. He always flies on the handle right out of the gate.“The four of us are going to get up early and hit Blood Claw’s lands. We need financial documents, bank records, all that. Nobody ever went in after that stuff. Where’s his money? If it’s sitting somewhere it should be accounted for, the council should decide what happens to it.
~Tyson’s Point of View~I conned Diego into playing basketball to kill time, it turned out they had a full size basketball court on the estate. On the estate … yeah that was just weird to say. We’d been going at it for about two hours when we both landed on a bench, exhausted.“Dude you all right? Seems like you’re trying to blow off steam,” he winks, giving me a knowing look.“I haven’t been sleeping well,” I say, hoping he didn’t ask anymore.“Been out all night with your mate,” he questions, elbowing me.I shoot him a look that makes him move back from me. There's no a lot of actual gossip in the Shadow world, a lot of us don't date. There might very well be some sneaking around for sex or fooling around like Susie and I did, but actual relationships were rare.“Dude, you came back smelling like her, and like sex. I’m a fucking bear. I smell things a mile away. And come on? The stunt with the moose? Who does that. I figured it out,” he says.I jump to my feet.“You haven’t said anyt
~Quinn’s Point of View~I was currently looking at Tyson, my daughter’s fated mate. But also, technically my employee, one of my warriors. He was making his move, asking me to put him in the tournament. He had no clue that I knew already … that I already had plans. Leonard knew I was taking Shadrick out, but he never did bother to ask me who was going in his place. “That’s … interesting. What makes you interested in Livia,” I ask, trying to bait him.“She’s an incredible woman, and I’m … unmated. It would be an honor,” he simply says. I knew he was sweating bullets. I never imagined he would have the balls to come to me like this. I was impressed. Tyson was already going to be Shadrick’s replacement, but no one knew that. I would deal with whatever fallout came from taking Shadrick out, I might have to pay off his parents.But, the more I thought about it, I supposed I needed to discuss with Tyson why I was doing it ahead of time. I was a blunt person, I didn’t have time for bullshit