Page 50 of Cryptic Dreams
“They were horrible,” Orion says with a smirk. “You are so fucked, my friend.”
I roll my eyes but nod. “We are making progress though. She is less skittish, a little more comfortable in our home, and she has even begun seeking me out. Intentionally putting us in the same vicinity and attempting conversation. It is small, but it is a start. That said, it is the least of my concerns.”
Both males frown at me because apparently they disagree.
Cute.
“Zephyr and I will eventually get to a place of civility that will hopefully lead to trust and much more, but I’m concerned over what this dinner will entail and the true motive behind it.”
Aries nods. “You’re worried Atticus is going to use Z. Either as a pawn in his game or as a way to get to you.”
“Yes, and I’m very concerned he’s going to attempt to do it through manipulation and humiliation.”
“Which would make sense,” Orion grunts. “Most of us don’t indulge the way the elders do, don’t follow that whole upper class, noble blood, pretentious bullshit.” He pushes a hand back through his dark shaggy hair on a huff. “And since Z doesn’t care about that outside of what she learns in school, there’s a better than likely chance Atticus is going to make her feel like shit about where she comes from.”
“He will try, but he will not succeed,” I all but growl. I’ll sooner gut my sire like a fish than have him make my mate feelless than, make her feel like a poor, lower class idiot in front of anyone let alone the Great Counsel simply because her line is not of noble blood. It will not happen because I will kill him first if I have to, and I will gladly present his head to my mate as a token of my love. “That being said, I believe I will need to encourage our gentle breeze to interact with me more often. Not just for preparation purposes or to prove to her that I have accepted our bond as truth, but for another reason entirely.” One I’m afraid her cousins will disapprove of and quite possibly be fearful of.
“Which is what, exactly?” Aries shifts uncomfortably and glances at his mate. “I have a feeling this isn’t going to be good.”
I sigh. “My parents just delivered a summons to a Great Counsel meeting. It is to be held next week and it is for the sole purpose of informing the elders of Hans’s progress in his investigation.”
“Shit,” they say in unison.
“Shite indeed.” I scrub a hand over my face then lean forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “Not only does this mean there is a possibility I will need to reveal my involvement in the Purist movement to her, but I fear I will need to share with Zephyr my… ” I swallow hard, the second bit more concerning to me than the first. “Myproclivitiesand rather deviant nature sooner than intended as well.”
Orion smirks. “Which she’ll learn eventually, but now you’re worried that since you werepreoccupiedduring the events that took place almost a month ago, Z will hear all about the fun you like to have in a way you don’t want her to.” Then he frowns. “Were you going to keep your involvement with the Purists from Z?”
I shake my head. “Of course not. I couldn’t even if I wanted to, but rest assured, I do not want to. Zephyr will need to know because of the way it will put her at risk”—something I hate more than I can stand—“but considering the start my mate and I shared, I had originally intended to ease her into it.”
“Thatandyour kink.”
“Yes.”
“And now you have, what? A week, to not only get Z to understand that you aren’t the total prick she probably thinks you are, but that you actually want her, love her and need to prep her for her first Counsel meeting, and a dinner with your parents that will be the equivalent of fine dining while having your fingernails ripped out with pliers?” Orion almost chuckles. “I do not envy you.”
“Your vote of confidence is touching,” I deadpan. “But I called you here for some…advice.”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Not happening. You made this mess by being a raging bastard to her from the get go. You dug the hole, it’s up to you to get out of it.”
“Then call it recon.” My teeth are clenched so hard I may spit out a few of them. “I simply wanted to know if you think Zephyr would be opposed to a rather unorthodox preparation method.”
“We’re listening… ” Aries leans toward me with a grin.
I give a curt nod. “I don’t doubt our gentle breeze is already quite familiar with proper etiquette and the way the elders run their meetings, or how the supposedupper classdo things since it is such a large part of her studies.”
They nod.
“Then what I intend to prepare her for, aside from how vile and ridiculous my parents can be, is the way she is to dress, the things she will eat, the less important though crucial nonetheless, trivial things she will be exposed to in the High Elders’ presence.”
Orion blinks again. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“It hadn’t occurred to me before this night either and I do not want the possible outcome of a sensory overload to be used as more ammunition against Zephyr or us as a couple.”
Because when a vampire indulges in human food for the first time, the response can be rather, shall we say,euphoric.
Since our kind has heightened senses by nature, and see and feel everything much more intensely than humans do, the taste, the flavor of various food combinations can create a reaction that is quite enjoyable. One that can easily turn into arousal if the recipient has never indulged in such things before. And if Zephyr and I have not yet mated by the time she is to sit down with Atticus, by either time I stupidly agreed to, then the results could be relatively disastrous.
The dinner would be far worse, but since we have to attend the meeting prior to that, it is still a concern. Our meetings typically have an array of hors d’oeuvres and treats to entertain those in attendance, and they have many human donors on hand that the council members can feed from as well. If Zephyr does not partake in the snacks or attempts to feed from any of the naked and typically aroused donors, both will be obvious indicators to all present that we have not mated. And it will be a clear reflection on how I have not introduced my mate to the finer things in life, an expectation from all those of noble blood.