1. Vivianna #2
Once back on their feet, the crowd started clapping and whooping out their joy at my words.
Astrid came up to me and enveloped me in a hug.
“I know this is a lot, but we will teach you and guide you through this.” She pulled back and looked me in the eye.
“Do not be angry with them for not telling you.
We needed to know this was your choice and that you weren't influenced by anyone in your decision to become Dama.”
“That makes sense, I guess,” I said, glancing at the guys over my shoulder.
“Come, let us get you to the castle and settled,” Astrid said, tucking my arm through hers as she led the way to a waiting car.
Astrid had me slide in first, then she followed along with her daughter, Sarma, leaving no room for any of my guys. Juris took the front seat next to the driver, and before I could protest, I was being whisked off.
“Are the guys coming?” I asked, feeling the panic rise, not liking the fact they weren’t by my side when I was in a foreign country with people I didn’t know.
“They are in the car behind us. Worry not, child, they are safe,” Sarma said, leaning over Astrid to pat my leg.
I bristled at the fact she was treating me like I was some petulant child. It reminded me of my father, not to mention she didn’t know me well enough to act so indifferently towards me.
If you don’t like it, do something about it. You’re alpha around here, or that’s what they keep telling us. Let them know you’re not a doormat.
I am not going to treat these people like Vadik would. ‘Alpha’ doesn’t mean beating people into submission.
That’s not what I’m saying. Standing up for yourself is hardly the same as smashing her face in. Figure out where your backbone is, alpha, or give up this job before you fuck it up.
I growled at my wolf, but she was right, which made it harder to argue. The moment had passed for me to address Sarma, but I wouldn’t let it slide next time.
As we left the airport, I was delighted to see the village on the island of Kursar.
It was picturesque with its cobbled roads and quaint homes and shops that lined the streets.
Some of them were made out of brick, while others were whitewashed wood.
Hand painted signs written in English and some other language informed me of the treasures that could be found inside.
A cafe sat on the corner with tables sitting out on the patio bordered by brightly potted flowers.
I could picture myself enjoying a cup of coffee there, watching people wandering through the town, living their lives.
I knew Kursar was an island, but I wasn’t expecting it to feel so intimate. I wasn’t sure if it was because there was only so much space to get away from people or if it was the community they created here.
Once we left the town, we passed through a wooded area that led to a single-lane road.
As the forest broke, I gasped, seeing the castle’s spires ahead, flags waving in the air.
The castle was protected with a mote and a large stone wall.
Before we crossed the bridge, I saw two large Victorian houses on either side of the road.
“The house on the right is mine, and the other is Sarma and Juris’s,” Astrid explained, seeing me looking at them. “We are always close by if you need us.”
The road changed from stone to wood as we crossed the wooden drawbridge. It didn’t look like the bridge lifted anymore, like I pictured it had back in medieval times when it was built. Apparently, being in the twenty-first century kept us from needing that particular form of protection.
Once we exited the short tunnel that passed through the thick stone wall, I laughed.
I couldn’t believe that this is where I was going to be living.
The castle was a large, square stone structure that had three floors, if the windows were any indicator.
There were also two towers, one smaller than the other, but both looked impressive.
“On the castle property, there is a barn where we keep some farm animals, such as cows for milk. There is also an extensive garden, as well as corn and hay fields—we try to keep the castle self-sustaining in case the need to blockade it from the town should ever occur. The other two small buildings are for the security and other staff that tend to the daily needs of the castle,” Juris said, pointing out the buildings as we passed by.
Finally, we pulled up to the front entrance to the castle and parked.
If someone had told me that I would one day end up living in a castle on an island of werewolves, I would’ve laughed in their faces.
That’s because you never had a very good imagination.
I huffed as I stepped out of the car, looking around at my new home.
The guys’ car pulled up a second later, and they all piled out.
It had only been a fifteen-minute drive, but I felt like it had been much longer.
I didn’t like being away from them at all.
The look in Tav’s eyes said he felt the same way.
Koit did not have the same need for decorum as Tav and walked right up to me, sweeping me up in his arms.
“Thanks for getting me a castle, babe. I always wanted one,” Koit proclaimed, kissing me soundly.
I laughed and hugged him back. All too soon, he set me down but took my hand in his. Sarma gave me a look like she didn’t approve of our antics, but I didn’t give a rat’s ass.
“If you’re ready, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Sarma said, turning on her heel.
Koit leaned down and whispered in my ear, “What crawled up her ass and died?”
I shrugged, not wanting to encourage him to say more as we parted from Astrid and Juris. I needed these people to keep me safe, and I didn’t want to piss them off unnecessarily.
Yet, you mean.
Chuckling at her words, I took in the entrance corridor.
It reminded me of pictures I’d seen of old cathedrals with the towering stone arches lining the hallway.
The wide hallway was lined with paintings of women, who I could only assume were previous Damas.
As we walked further, we passed by the entrance to the dining room, which held a table long enough to fit half the village for dinner.
Finally, we came to a grand staircase that was almost three people wide and made our way to the third floor, stopping at the base of the larger of the two towers. Sarma pushed open a large wooden door, allowing us all to file past. As we walked in, Koit let out a low whistle of appreciation.
“Damn, and I was worried there would be no modern feel to this place at all,” Koit said.
A large stone fireplace with a roaring fire was the focal point of the room.
Koit flopped down on the large leather sectional couch, heaving a contented sigh.
The room was welcoming, colored with rich browns and golds that invited you to really live in this living room.
Off to the left was a short staircase leading to another level, where I assumed the bedrooms were.
“These are your personal quarters. There are plenty of rooms for you and your mates… unless you plan on having more than eight?” Sarma asked, her face blank of all emotion.
“Has someone had that many mates before?” I asked, shocked.
“Full mates, no, but some like to keep a rotating group of prospects around.”
The guys looked at me, waiting for my answer. “I won’t need any more room. I don’t plan on filling all eight of them as it is.”
“Oh, so they’ll all be sleeping with you. I believe the bed should fit all five of you easily. Most Damas like to bed more than one mate at a time—must be an instinctual thing.’’
What the fuck did that hag just say?
Now Sarma was pissing me off. I’m pretty sure she was calling me a slut for having so many mates already. “Do we have an issue, Sarma?”
“What do you mean, Dama?”
“I’m not loving this bitchy attitude you have regarding my mates. Either say your piece or shut the hell up about my personal matters,” I snapped, feeling anger and protectiveness about my mates swirling around me.
Damn girl, I couldn’t have said it better.
Sarma looked like I’d slapped her rather than told her to mind her own business. “I apologize, Dama. I meant no disrespect,” she said, bowing.
“What I do in my personal life will never be up for discussion with anyone other than my mates. Is that clear?” I demanded, a slight growl in my voice. I didn’t really believe that she was as apologetic as she seemed.
“It has been too long since the castle housed a Dama. I’ve overstepped my role. It will not happen again,” Sarma acknowledged, her eyes glued to the floor.
“Very well. You are no longer needed here. I’ll send someone for you if that changes.”
I hated sounding like a bitch and treating her like a servant, but with the way she was acting, I knew I needed to remind her I wasn’t Dama just in name.
If she was going to be one of my advisors, I had to trust she would look out for me and mine.
Sarma nodded her head and slipped out of the room without another word.
Someone put their hands on my hips, and the scent of coffee and cinnamon wafted around me. “Can I just say, that was hot as hell,” Koit murmured, kissing my neck.
I let myself rest against him, taking comfort from his presence. “I hate treating people like that though.”
Tav walked up to me, taking my face in his hands and holding my gaze.
“You will have many who challenge your authority in the beginning, but how you handle it will teach them how to deal with you in the future. The way you dealt with this was exactly what needed to happen. You were fair but firm.” He leaned down and kissed me tenderly, letting me feel how proud he was of me.
“What did I do to deserve you guys?” I whispered as I rested my head on Tav’s chest.
Get kidnapped…