~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
~Livia’s Point of View~After what any girl would consider an absolute dream date, probably the best day of her life, I find myself back at Jasper’s apartment, scared shitless. I'm standing in my gown in front of his huge windows, not knowing what to do with myself. The city is unbelievably breathtaking at night. I can’t imagine getting to see this everyday, it is literally like a movie. “Here you go darling,” he says, handing me a glass of wine. Slightly chilled but not too cold. He probably has a special fridge just for it.I notice right away he doesn’t have a glass and I think that seems a little odd. Does he think I need to be drunk to spend the night with him? I’d already had enough at dinner and since I wasn’t a big drinker I was already past my limit. But then again I never want to be rude. That's Livia ... always wanting to appease everyone.“Thank you,” I say, taking it from him. I can just sip it slowly, though alcohol is the last thing I want. I needed to get this dress of
~River’s Point of View~ I gathered what I felt were the most important things we’d found at Blood Claw for Quinn to review and I drafted an Order for him to sign that would allow for the attorney to read Gunner’s will. I was now seated in Quinn’s office awaiting his arrival and while I told myself not to wonder why Quinn was so interested in Gunner’s affairs, it was bugging me. It had been about three years since our war, and if anyone should have been interested, it should have been my dad since he was the werewolf representative on the council. Then I had to ask myself, why didn’t dad send a team in there to look for Gunner’s financials and other important documents? You’d think that would have been a priority, to find out who else he may have been working with and all that. Not to mention if there was a lot of money, it should probably go to his victims. Some of it may have been theirs to begin with anyhow. I thought of every possible reason that Quinn, of all people ... could