Chapter 2 #2
“And that’s also what took us so long to wake up.”
“You know it.”
Before she could form another word in her mind, the shrill, shrieking woman was snarling again.
“You are fucking useless. I’ve always known you were useless.
The only reason you’re still alive is because you’re mother’s favorite.
” Then mumbling under her breath, she seethed, “But that old bitch can’t live forever.
One day, not so very long from now, her senses will start to fail just like her legs have.
Then I can put the bitch to sleep forever. ”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Aamon’s roar shook the windows.
“Wow!” Celeste breathes. “Asshole runs deep in the genes of this family.”
“Yeah, just another reason to keep playin’ possum.”
The fighting went on and on with no end in sight.
No matter what Aamon said or how loud he got, his sister- if what Vanessa had heard was correct- was meaner and louder, and it didn’t stop there.
After every screaming retort came the sound of more shattering glass, along with splintering wood and ripping fabric.
Then, just as the raging argument came to a crescendo, the door Vanessa was sure was not far from the foot of the bed opened, and everything fell silent. It was as if all the air had been sucked from the room.
Holding her breath, she hoped and prayed that whoever was entering would believe she was asleep and leave her alone.
Finally, just when she was sure she would have to breathe or pass out, a low, raspy, feminine voice chastised, “Alright, you two, that is quite enough. Both of you made mistakes. Accept your part of the fault and move on. This screaming and tantrum-throwing is no way to welcome Vanessa to the family.”
“Welcome me to the family?” Vanessa gasped.
“No fucking way,” Celeste added. “Over my…”
The sound of stiletto heels hitting ceramic tile moved closer, cutting off the Polar Bear Princess as the smoky voice added, “You need to apologize to your Mate, Aamon.” Clearing her throat, she added with obvious derision, “For everything you’ve done up to this point.”
A shiver shot down Vanessa’s spine as just the tips of thin, cold fingers slid down her arm. “Isn’t that right, sister dear?”
“Let me outta here, Nessy. Just let me out of here,” Celeste seethed. “This bitch needs to be taken down. I need to set the record straight right here and right now. This shit needs to stop.”
“Let me handle it.”
Blowing out the breath she’d been holding, Vanessa slowly rolled onto her side.
Looking nowhere but into the black eyes of the redhead sitting at the side of her bed, she pointedly ignored Aamon’s presence, right along with the other woman with auburn hair, and slowly batted her eyes with as much disgust as she could muster.
At first glance, the woman appeared to be nothing more than a reject from the Housewives of Appalachia.
Fashion had always been something Vanessa appreciated from afar, but never really got into.
Oh, she knew what she liked and didn’t like, and could even identify some of the more famous designers, but as for paying for apparel of that caliber, she was not a fan.
However, there was no denying the perfect cut and fit of the ebony silk suit the woman wore was vintage Dior.
Nor was it any surprise that the princess cut ruby earrings with a matching necklace and bracelet were from Tiffany’s or that the ebony stilettos adorning her feet had the classic red bottoms of none other than Christian Louboutin.
“And the bitch is wearing a Cartier watch,” Celeste hissed. “Please let me out of here.”
“Not yet,” Vanessa breathed. “We need to get the lay of the land before we attack.”
“You’re right.”
Since Celeste had mentioned it, Vanessa quickly looked at the woman’s wrist and caught sight of her well-manicured nails painted blood red.
Eyes back to her captor’s, she also took in the bitch’s perfectly curled, teased, and sprayed hair, but not a bit of it shone brighter than the Power that rolled off of her.
Vanessa wasn’t sure how she knew, just that she did, that the woman she was looking at was not the oldest of the Blackwood children, but she was most definitely the one in charge.
The look in the bitch’s eye said she got everything she wanted whenever she wanted it, and no one was willing to go up against her.
“Well, she hasn’t met us yet,” Celeste growled.
The cunning smile and glint in the bitch’s eyes were anything but comforting as she moved her skinny fingers from Vanessa’s arm to her hand.
Forcing her to shake hands, the woman introduced, “My name is Angeline. I am the Heir Apparent Luna to the Blackwood Pack. I apologize for the ruckus Angelique and Aamon were causing in the hallway.” Chuckling as if she were at the club, playing bridge, and eating cucumber sandwiches instead of hosting a kidnapping, she added, “It would be nice if they acted their age, but then again…” Pulling her fingers from Vanessa’s, she tapped the diamond band of her watch with the tip of her long, red nail.
“Their immaturity is how I jumped the line in the hierarchy of our Pack. So, who am I to complain?” Sighing, she sat back, placed one hand on top of the other on the peak of her knee, and added, “But you’ll learn about all of that very soon.
Family is the most important thing to all of us, and that includes our history. ”
Refusing to respond, Vanessa arched her right eyebrow and stared. She knew the score. Had played the game more times than she wanted to remember. Whoever talked first lost, and there was no way she was going to do anything but get the hell out of there the first chance she got.
Of course, the arrogance of her hostess knew no bounds. She thought she’d already won and had no problem continuing. “How are you feeling, dear?”
“I’m fine,” Vanessa lied, trying to make her tone as noncommittal and nonthreatening as possible, when all she and Celeste wanted to do was get furry and raise seven kinds of hell.
“I do apologize. Aamon was only to use any of Angelique’s Spells or Potions in extreme circumstances.” Stopping to look her up and down, Angeline nodded. “And I can see from your appearance that he took the path of least resistance and went against my explicit orders.”
Shaking her head and tsking, the She-Wolf glared in her brother’s direction while talking, assuring Vanessa, “Please accept my deepest apology and know that he will be dealt with appropriately.”
“Can I take care of his punishment?” Celeste giddily growled.
Ignoring her alter ego, Vanessa focused everything she had on Angeline.
Turning back to her, the She-Wolf turned up her charm and her smile to a full hundred watts, making the Polar Bear Shifter think of a slimy politician, before saying, “I am a Healer, so I can feel that your only worry is with your unborn babe. So, let me assure you that no harm will come to either of you.” Once again touching Vanessa’s arm, she added with a smile that was utterly terrifying, “Suffice it to say, you two are the most important people in the world to our Pack.”
“Well, fuck,” Vanessa huffed. “That is not what I wanted to hear. What do you think she means?”
“I don’t give a shit. Let’s get furry and kick some ass,” Celeste reiterated. “You won’t have to lift a finger. I’ll do all the heavy hitting.”
“Let me get just a little bit more information.”
“But…”
But nothing,” Vanessa countered. “We have no idea where we are or how many Wolves are on the other side of that blasted door.”
“I’m guessing whoever Angelique is knows how to do more than make gris gris bags.”
“Yeah, it sure looks that way.”
“Okay, do what you gotta do. I’ll wait as long as I can, but that’s all I can promise.”
Clearing her throat to hide the smile from the love and protection she felt coming from Celeste, Vanessa used her sweetest Texas drawl and pretended to gush, “Oh, thank you so much. That is so good to hear. I was so worried. Nothing matters more to me than my baby.”
Making a show of pushing herself up into a sitting position, she huffed and puffed as she scooted back against the pillows and pulled the covers over her bare legs. Then, batting her eyes, she crinkled her nose and winked at her hostess.
Keeping her eyes trained on the She-Wolf, Vanessa saw a flash of temper a split second before Angeline pushed at her mental blocks. The bitch was formidable but definitely out of practice and no match for the years of training and raw power Vanessa and Celeste possessed.
“She doesn’t know who she’s messin’ with,” the Polar Bear Princess chuckled.
“Yeah, and she’s outta practice because she’s used to being in control,” Vanessa added. “No one questions her. They just do as she says. Look at the way Aamon bows to her. He wants to snap her neck, but for some reason, he is just standing there and groveling.”
“Well, little miss fashion model ain’t seen nothing like us.”
And Vanessa knew the Polar Bear Princess with whom she shared her soul was correct.
Not only was Celeste the one and only Princess of the Chukchi Sea Bears on her father’s side- the largest subpopulation both in numbers and in size, but her mother carried the blood of the original Polar Bear.
Yes, it was a truth both ladies held close to their vest. Celeste’s great-grandmother, also named Celeste, was the first Polar Bear and sat at the right hand of Artio, the Celtic goddess of Wildlife and Protection on the Celtic Pantheon.
The story passed through the generations said that the original Celeste and her goddess, Artio, fought many campaigns beside King Arthur.
The goddess was there to lend her strength and Magic, and then, in her Polar Bear form, she and the original Celeste kept the King warm and protected him from harm while he slept.