ASH'S POV
The hours had flown by faster than I'd realized. We had three hours before we were due to meet with my father at the hotel and still so much information to go over. Liam and the others were about to step into a world that, until now, had been a mystery to them. They knew that Vampires existed, obviously, but relations between Vampires and Shifters had never been good and in the last few centuries, the Vampires had all but vanished from public eye.
We moved among humans when we had to but the key to our survival had always been secrecy and isolation. We no longer hunted humans and fed on them. That practice had been stopped nearly three hundred years ago. Most of our kind had resorted to drinking blood harvested from live stock that we raised on our own lands. Others used a synthetic blood substitute called SynthoLife. It was disgusting, in my opinion, but came in handy in a pinch. Personally, I preferred deer or cattle.
Hunting humans though was forbidden and punishable by death. We didn't feed on other supernaturals either, including our own kind. Blood letting between Vampires was a kink left for the bedroom and only legal between consenting adults. These were just a few of the rules my people lived by, laws put in place to protect our kind from discovery and persecution. Other laws were made to keep us in line. As we made our way to the library, where Liam was waiting for us, I was going over these laws in my head, wishing now that I'd paid more attention to my lessons.
There were laws for almost everything in Vampire society. Laws regarding siring (changing a human), laws concerning titles, ranks, lands, owning businesses, working or consorting with humans. And of course, there were laws about mating. Particularity where omegas were concerned. In the old days, omegas were viewed as property and either sold or traded like cattle. We had no rights at all. The laws in place were not created us to protect us as much as subjugate us.
Things were a bit different now. We had more rights and were no longer considered property by the council. Unfortunately, there were those--mostly elders--who still held onto more antiquated beliefs regarding omega ownership. When I stood before the council, my rights as an individual--or property-- would come into question. I just hoped the council had enough compassion to see my side of things. Otherwise, my fate could be looking very, very bleak.
Jai opened the door to the library and went in. I followed behind. I had expected to see Liam there but surprised to see not only Carter but another man that I didn't recognize. He looked to be in his early to mid thirties, was around six foot maybe and slender. His hair was brown with flecks of early gray throughout and eyes that were the color of blue-jays. He had an air of sophistication about him that made him seem like be belonged in a university library, hidden behind a stack of old books.
He looked up when I entered the room. His eyes locked on me at once, sharp and assessing and then, his lips curled into the hint of a smile though it seemed more out of amusement than warmth. "So, this is the little Vampire I've been hearing about? He doesn't seem to be as much of a threat as Tomas made him out to be."
"I'm not a threat at all." I told him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Vampire's aren't the blood-thirsty monsters you Shifters seem to think we are."
"Ash, chill." Jai shot me a warning glare and I frowned.
The other man didn't seem offended at my remark at all. In fact, he chuckled then turned to Liam. "Spirited, isn't he?"
"Very." Liam said, shaking his head as he gave me a sideways glance.
"Ash, this is Sloan." Jai introduced the man. "He's kind of like a chancellor. He knows all the Pride laws and traditions and makes sure they're followed properly."
I nodded then turned to Sloan. "It's nice to meet you." I said, giving him a half smile as I still wasn't too sure if he was a friend or not.
"And, you've already met Carter." Jai inclined his head toward the man seated next to Sloan. I had seen him before but he hadn't spoke much and, like Sloan, I had no idea where Carter stood. Liam's Pride were loyal to him and I knew they would follow him no matter what but that didn't mean they had to agree.
"Yes. Carter, nice to see you again." I said, giving him the same smile I had given Sloan.
He nodded, acknowledging me for a brief moment, then turned to Sloan and whispered close to his ear, assuming I couldn't hear what he said.
I did.
'Nice, isn't the word I'd use.'
I cringed then looked to Jai for reassurance. He smiled warmly then took my hand and led me to the love seat where we sat beside each other, Jai still holding my hand while resting it on his knee.
For a moment everyone remained silent. Sloan and Carter glanced through a folder that Sloan had laid out on the coffee table in front of them and Liam stood before the fireplace, his back to us, and one elbow propped on the mantle. I wondered why no one spoke, then the door suddenly opened and, to my surprise, Victor walked in.
I looked up and our eyes met and suddenly it felt as if all the air in the room had just been sucked out. I had to literally force myself to stay in my seat and not run straight into his arms. Again I was confused at this reaction to a man I barely knew but then his scent hit me. Earth, pine, and musk. It smelled amazing, so amazing I imagined myself wrapped around him, his strong arms holding me up as I nuzzled into his neck, taking him in until I was swimming in his scent.
I closed my eyes and thought of the kiss from earlier. That soft, brief kiss on my cheek. Then I imagined what it would feel like to have his lips pressed against mine, his arms holding me tight against his body. I imagined his tongue slipping into my mouth as his hands roamed my body, pushing me down as he lowered himself on top of me...
God, I wanted him. I wanted him in a way I've never wanted any other man or thought I never would. I wanted to open myself up to him, give myself to him, over and over again. A shudder ran down my spine and throughout my entire body, making me shiver. Jai squeezed my hand and I opened my eyes. Everyone was staring at me. Even Victor who was now sitting on the couch beside Carter. Liam had turned around to face us and he too was staring at me, expectantly.
"Ash." Jai said, gently. "Liam asked you a question."
He had? I was so lost in my fantasy that I hadn't even heard him. "Um...I'm sorry. What did you ask?"
Liam looked a bit annoyed as he repeated his question. "I asked, if you wouldn't mind sharing a bit about what happened. Why you came here for help. Sloan, Carter, and Victor only know that you ran from your father but they don't know why."
I froze in alarm and my eyes immediately went to Victor who was listening, intently. There was no way, no way that I could tell him, or the others, but especially him. My hands began to shake and I felt sick to my stomach. Again, Jai squeezed my hand, trying to ease my anxiety.
"You don't have to go into detail." He told me, his voice barely raised above a whisper. "They don't need to know everything, just why you can't go home right now."
I nodded, then blew out a breath to calm my nerves. "Okay."
For the next five minutes or so I explained to them why I had run away and how I ended up in their territory. I told them about being promised to Niklas and I swear I heard a small growl coming from Victor then. I told them how I'd rejected him and then I said he'd forced his way into my room, telling me that I didn't have the right to reject him because he owned me. I didn't tell them the full truth of what happened that night. I only said that he manhandled me, hit me, and I was afraid for my life so I stabbed him.
I told them about fainting in my father's arms and then waking in the infirmary where I learned that Niklas wasn't dead and that I would have to stand before the council. I told them what my punishment for such a crime could possibly be. Either forced into a blood bond with Niklas or buried alive. I told them how I had been remanded to my room under guard until the council arrived and then how I had snuck out through the hidden passage ways that led to the beach, eventually ending up in Jai and Liam's bedroom.
The entire account was hard to tell, even with leaving out the worst of it. I had my eyes cast down, studying the hardwood floor and the intricate patterns of the throw rug, unable to look anyone in the eye as I spoke. I had no idea what their reactions would be. Pity? Anger? Maybe disgust. When I did finally look up though, my eyes went straight to Victor, praying to what ever God would listen that he didn't hate me now. What I saw in his eyes though wasn't hate, or pity. It was rage. His clawed hand had ripped through the leather on the arm of the couch and his jaw was tense, almost snarling. Carter had his hand on Victor's shoulder as though holding him down.
I inched closer to Jai, pressing myself against him and he quickly wrapped an arm around me protectively.
"When I get my hands on that bastard..." Victor sneered.
"You will do nothing." Liam said, sharply.
"The hell I won't!" Victor was on his feet, glaring menacingly at Liam. Everyone else in the room had shocked expressions on their faces. They hadn't expected this reaction from Victor and honestly, neither had I.
"You can't seriously expect me to just stand by and do nothing." Victor shouted. His fists were clenched and his face was turning red with rage.
"I expect you to do your job." Liam told him, his voice calm, soothing, as though he were speaking to a wild animal. And, in a sense, he was.
"I thought my job was to keep him safe."
"Yes, to keep him safe. Not to murder the man Ash is accused of stabbing. Do you think that will help his cause?"
Victor was silent for a moment, obviously considering Liam's words carefully. The outrage was still evident in his expression though. "If he lays one more finger on Ash, if he even tries, proceedings be damned, I will take him out."
"As Ash's Champion that would be your right." It was Sloan who spoke now. "As I understand it, from what Jai has told me."
