Rogues: Rise of The King

Seven

Ash: 

I shoved him as soon as we got into the manor. He turned back to look at me and growled. 

    "What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted. 

    "That dog has no business coming back here. He's not supposed to be here. Elliah is going to be pissed. What is he doing here, Ashton?" he shot back. 

    "If I knew what the hell they were doing here, I would have warned you. I didn't even know they were here," 

    "Why are you two shouting?" we both turned around to see Elliah coming down the stairs in her pajamas and a robe. My mind nearly slipped. I had to look away. 

    "They've brought back the rogue," Tristan informed her. She looked between the two of us. She pulled me away from him. 

    "By the rogue, you mean Titus Emory?" she asked calmly. "You said he was dead," 

    "What's going on?" I asked. 

    "I thought he was dead," Tristian defended.

    "You thought he was dead?" she growled. 

    The sound of her growl sent chills through my body. A fear set in my bones. I fought to keep my body in check. He didn't flinch, he fought the feeling and stepped away from her. His eyes flashed red as she stepped closer to him. Her hand shot forward gripping his throat tightly. He groaned as she brought him down to his knees with what looks like little to no effort. The red in his irises spread over his eyes as he growled out in pain. She's turning the temperature in his body up. She had done it to me when she first turned me and responded with aggression.

    "Elliah stop," I shouted. She flinched letting go of him and turning her anger to me. "I don't know what that rogue means to you but killing him isn't going to change the fact that he's here. Tell me what's going on and I'll see what I can do," 

    "I want him dead," she demanded. 

    "Why?" 

    "Does it matter? One real order and you'd kill him for me," 

    "Just tell me what's going on and I'll help without you having to do that," I hate when she puts her sire commands on me. My instincts stop being my own. They become automatic.

    "That dog killed my dad," she stated. "He killed my father in England. He destroyed an entire coven of my kind and I want him dead," 

    "You can't kill him. Sloane will retaliate," I shook my head crossing my arms over my chest. "I don't know about you princess but I rather not be on the receiving end of her kill streak. She brought back up and it's just as bad as her. Maybe even worse," 

    "What are you talking about?" 

    "Samsin Cutler brought the pup last night. Do you know who Sin Cutler is?" 

    "I know Sin," she sighed looking down at her brother. "The Queen is not going to like this. Bodies are going to start dropping soon. Sin and Sloane are going to rip the states a new one. Your brother and his mate are taking their new position seriously," 

    "You're going to tell her right?" I asked. Going near Amelia gives me the creeps. The woman has this aura around her. It unsettles me down to my bones. 

    "No, you're her lap dog. You tell her," she bit back. She shoved me in the direction of the queen's study. Another creepy aspect of the woman. She never sleeps. I knocked on her door when I stopped in front of it. I really hate talking to her.

    "Come in," her voice sent chills, like a cold slick brush, against my skin. I pushed the door open. She motioned me to sit on the seat across from her. "What do you have?" 

    "Good and Bad news. What would you like first, your majesty?" I asked. 

    "Talk," she didn't look up at me as she continued to write whatever the hell she's writing. "Start with the good news. I love it when people ruin my day," 

    "Okay," I whispered hating that her sarcasm is as good as Sloane's. "The pup is back. She hasn't let him out of her sight," 

    "Good. How did he get here?" 

    "Delivery. Samsin Cutler delivered him," she stopped writing. The pen in her hand fell onto the desk with a loud thud. 

    "A friend of your brother's?" she accused. 

    "Samsin isn't a friend of the Victors. We killed her mate," her eyes met mine sending the disgusting feeling over my body. 

    "Sloane has made some interesting friends," she nodded looking away. "I'm assuming it gets worse," 

    "Titus Emory is..." she growled. 

    "Titus Emory?" she repeated looking back at me, her are eyes glowing red. "Where are Tristan and Elliah?" 

    "Not here," I answered. I don't know why I just lied to this woman. She nodded. 

    "Get the hell out of here. If you happen to see Elliah on your way out tell her I'm expecting her to bring Tristan to me," 

    Titus pissed off a lot more than my brothers. I'm glad Archer joined Lance when he did. He doesn't need to be involved in all this crap. This is going to draw in all kinds of crazy. This city might even need to be evacuated. 

    Once news about Titus got out to the rest of the mansion we were all ordered to stay inside. I had never seen this place as full as it is now. I knew there were a lot of them... us. A lot more born vampires here than turned. Former humans are extremely unstable in big groups such as this one. Elliah is entertaining them as if this was some kind of party. Once in a while, she'll glance at me. I hate that it's all we have for now. Meaningless little glances that mean more than they should.

    "You must be the new addition to the Moon family," I looked over at the group of girls approaching. 

    "Keep walking. I don't play nice kittens," the girl up front laughed. The booming sound of her high pitched voice annoys the hell out of me. I hate chicks who can't outgrow the high school scene.

    "Cute, the former has balls," she mocked. I looked away my eyes meeting my sires. She winked at me letting me know it was okay for me to expose my dominance. 

    "Walk away sweetheart. I'm not in the mood," they all giggled coming closer. The one addressing me walked around the armchair I'm sitting in before leaning into me and sitting on the armrest. I moved my arm. Wishing she'd go away. There is nothing more than Vampire Aristocrats who can't take a f*****g hint.

    "Do you have any idea who I am?" 

    "You're about to tell me," I sighed. 

    "My name is Alice Arson," 

    "I don't care. Move or I'm going to move you," her little friends laughed. She turned to look at me before sliding down to my lap. I growled. "Get off," 

    "I rather like sitting here, handsome. This isn't personal. I'm trying to get under your sire's skin," 

    "Get off, little girl or you're going to be slammed face-first into the floor," 

    "Really?" she smirked putting her hands up. She put them on my chest. I grabbed her wrist and pushed her back picking her up as I stood. She tried to pull away from me.

    "I warned you twice, kitten. I'm not one to warn anyone," I shoved her into the group of girls. When she tried to get back up I pushed the strength in me forward to give her a hard shove. I concentrating hard enough to flip her around. Her face smacked against the floor with a loud echoing slap.

    "You're mastering your telekinesis," Elliah smirked.

    "I've been practicing," I fixed my suit before, sitting back down. 

    "Sorry about that, Alice. Ash has a bit of a temper. The only time he likes being touched is when he invites someone too," 

    "My daddy will cut his f*****g head off," she cried out pushing herself off the ground.

    "I doubt that," we all froze when she walked in. "I didn't gather this coven for you to come here and bother my subordinates," 

    "My queen," the girl grimaced, lowering her head. Tristan walked in catching the queen's attention.

    "Now that we're all here, I want to make an announcement," everyone turned to look in her direction. I hate that she's standing right in front of me. "I'd like for all of you to be on high alert. I want daily reports and a headcount every night," 

    "May we ask why your majesty?" someone asked. 

    "I've received intel of Titus Emory's return," 

    Everyone lost their s**t and started to argue with one another. The smell of panic swirled in the air. Amelia sighed preparing to get their attention again. I let out a growl making everyone jump and turn their attention back to us. She glanced back at me over her shoulder before turning to everyone else. 

    "Thanks," Elliah whispered, sitting on the hand rest to my left.

    "I am ordering all of you not to engage. Emory is currently under an ally's custody and I rather not go to war over trash like him," 

    "What if he comes for us?" Alice asked. I want to laugh. What is the deal with Titus? He's just a d**k.

    "I'll deal with him," I answered when Amelia said nothing. Everyone turned their full attention to me. "I'll keep him contained until you want me to execute him," 

    "Very well," Amelia nodded before dismissing everyone. She motioned Elliah and me to follow her once everyone dispersed. 

    "My queen?" Elliah bowed her head when we Tristan walked in and shut the door behind him. 

    "You have proven yourself incompetent, Tristan," 

    "I followed your orders as given that night. The entire building came down in that fire. Titus surviving wasn't my fault," Tristan scoffed like her accusation is beneath him. 

    "The building burned down," Elliah confirmed. "I was there," 

    "Who came out of the building?" she asked. "You're synced to the heat within an eight-mile radius," 

    "The building was on fire. Heat projections like that take their toll on my abilities if I'm not the one casting it," I can taste the lie in my mouth. Amelia bought it taking a seat at her desk. 

    "Leave Tristan here. Make good to your promise boy and your brother lives," 

    "What the hell does Alex have to do with any of this?" she squinted her eyes.

    "You may not be aware of this yet, Mr. Moon. You are no longer in any relation with any wolf. By blood or bond. Stop acting like a dog and learn your place in the ranks. You are a lot more valuable here than you are with them," 

She was referring to Tristan.

    "That's rich coming from you, Luna," she growled at me. I hate the reaction my body has to her. That slick feeling doubled. 

    "I am no Luna. I never was and I never will be," Jesus, she sounds just like Sloane. "My relationship with the alpha is just that. I have no contact with his children or ask about his life in the pack. You'll soon learn that business and pleasure don't mix. Now get the hell out of here and get to work. Play this any way you wish," 

We all walked out. As soon as the door shut behind me I shook off the anxiety of being in that woman's presence. Tristan and Elliah looked at me expectantly. 

    "What?" I asked when they didn't say a word. 

    "What? You just challenged her. I can't even get full sentences without feeling the need to kneel and profusely apologize," Tristan laughed, shaking his head. 

    "I have experience with intimidation. My dad was a rogue prince. My brothers took after him. As the youngest, I always got the short end of the stick. I may not have been born to be in charge but I'm no one's b***h," I looked down at the Princess. Tristan took the hint and walked away. "What are you doing?" 

    "I don't know what you're talking about," she tried to dismiss me by walking past away. Her long white fashionista skirt followed behind the sound of her heels clicking against the floor. She's so f*****g dramatic. It's what drew me in the night I met her. 

    "You were lying. You're good at it too," I accused suppressing the need to step on the length of her skirt dragging across the floor behind her. 

    "I did it to save my brother," she stated softly. 

    "You don't think the same way he does," I reminded her. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

    "Not all of us take after our sires. It's why Amelia chose me as her successor," 

    "There's another reason. Tell me," 

    "I know what Sloane did to you. I felt it," she admitted, looking up at me. "I had to live with the heaviness of what they did to you until she came along. I don't understand how you forgave him after everything he did to you. I would have killed Tristan for much less," 

    "That's what you vampires don't get. You don't understand the concept of family. It's not just a blood bond or whatever the hell you think keeps us connected. You cast out emotions because it's easier to kill them at the root. It's how you cope with time. I might have eternity but my time with my family is numbered. I don't have the luxury of holding grudges," she sighed with an amused look in her eyes. "Don't," 

    "Don't what?" she challenged.

    "You were going to say the same thing Amelia did in her office. I don't fully agree with that," 

    "You don't consider us your family yet. I understand," I stopped her before she rushed up the stairs. 

    "That's not it, Princess," she looked up at me again. "You became my family the moment I woke up in your arms when I nearly died. All of these people did but it doesn't make them any less important than you," 

    "After all this time, I still don't understand you," she let out a frustrated groan. "I don't understand how you can be as cold as you are and feel as much as you do," 

    "I'm not always cold, Princess. I adapt to the situation," I pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The coolness of her skin against mine makes my skin tingle. She flinched with the contact. "Go up to your room and take a bath. I can smell your last feed on you and it's pissing me off," 

    "I'm not here to make you happy," she pushed me away getting serious. My demands always make her angry but not as angry as I get when I smell other men on her. 

    "No, you're not. I at least change my clothes when I'm involved with others. If I ever come across this scent. I'm killing whoever it belongs to. I hope you're not attached to your pets," the muscles in her jaw flexed. After giving me a hard look, she rushed up the stairs in a flash. "Good night, Princess or Good morning, what ever,"