Chapter 15 #2
“Come on, you guys knew,” I pressed. “André’s tattoo gives him the power to feel every emotion I go through,” I continued, dragging my fingertips over the beautiful illustration on his bicep.
“It’s how he could tell when Natasha was in distress or needed him.
His gift is to always be there for us when we need him without us having to call for him.
I believe the bond gave each of you a gift through the tattoo. So, what does yours do?”
His silence was the only answer I needed. He had no idea. It was likely I was the only one who had realized this so far.
“Good evening, this is your captain speaking,” the voice came softly through the speakers, calling our attention. “We have arrived home, and I will begin our descent into the ReinheitWolfe Airport. Please return to your seats and secure your seatbelts. We’ll land in only a few minutes.”
“Home…” Star sounded hopeful.
“You have to see this.” Hannes held me against him and rolled us over to the window until I was facing it, his body pressed against my back.
“But the captain said to sit down—”
“Don’t worry about him. I got you,” he whispered in my ear, pulling up the blind.
I mean, I wasn’t going to complain. Even if I’d wanted to, the second the horizon came into view, I lost all will to speak.
The sight stretching before me was the painting of a kingdom filled with golden twinkling lights, peaked red roofs, and snow-covered towns that seemed to glow a purplish-blue hue under the midnight sky. The most impressive structure sat above it all, on the mountain.
“Now, that’s a castle.” Hannes’s breath fanned my ear with a hint of gloating, but I was too mesmerized to mock him.
“It’s your tattoo…” I whispered, taken aback. “The kingdom on your arm.”
I glanced back at him to find him smiling. This time, the emotion that fueled it wasn’t amusement or naughtiness, it was pride and unadulterated love for his home.
Damn, he was beautiful in a rugged kind of way.
The castle disappeared too fast for me to be able to describe it, and we touched down at the airport just as the door of the suite opened.
“Hello, naughty lovebirds.” Dante wiggled his eyebrows knowingly when he saw our position on the bed. “Good choice. I like it from behind too, and I would gladly join you, but we have to go.”
“Shut up.”
Dante’s smirk returned as I reached for his offered hand, stealing a kiss from my lips when he helped me stand. Shadows poked at my mind in that moment, it was his subtle way of asking if I would let him back in, but he groaned when I arched a dubious brow at him.
As if.
I liked my privacy, thank you very much. It was enough to have a very vocal, very horny Wolf Shifter, and a dormant human in my mind, I didn’t need three dominant mates there too.
The ride from the small, private airport to the castle was one I’ll never forget. It wasn’t long by any means, maybe an hour, but the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I’d never seen anything like these Alps, and I was trying my best to take in every detail even in the darkness of midnight.
Once far and fairytale-like, the imposing castle became more intimidating and real the closer we got to it. It was set at the very top of the mountain, so high that a cluster of fluffy clouds surrounded it, making it seem like it floated in the vast sky.
Even as we ascended the mountain, the vintage limousines carrying our group drove through the clouds engulfing it, giving the experience an extra air of fantasy.
From what I could see through the window, the main building was easily twice the size of Anastasia’s home, its towers far taller. It also had two more buildings at either side of it, and a large structure at the front.
The details of its construction were so impressive that I spent the last half of the drive up, trying to decipher whether the figures of royal knights on top of some of the towers were statues or real men.
I still wasn’t certain.
Before I knew it, the driver stopped in front of the large structure at the entrance, its ancient wooden gate overwhelmingly tall as it opened for us, and the limos carefully rode over the old stone road into the structure.
A small smile graced my lips, it was easy to imagine horse-drawn carriages making the same trip long ago.
When we finally parked before the main castle, Hannes exited the limo first, taking my hand to help me out while Dante and André followed—carrying my box. Zelin, Gustav, and the others exited the second limo.
I couldn’t help but offer a parting look to the two perfectly restored vintage cars as they left, I’d never seen anything like them.
Apparently, they were 1937 Mercedes Landaulets, and from the way Hannes had answered the question when I asked, it told me cars were special to his family.
A couple of guards opened the main door for us, and we proceeded inside the castle, my jaw dropping the instant I did.
Now I understood why Zelin and Hannes said Rosu Castle wasn’t exactly a castle. They weren’t throwing shade. Compared to this, it really wasn’t.
“Holy shit...”
“I know.”
“And to think Hannes and Alyce grew up with this place as their little ol’ home…” Star whistled, doubling down, and I just nodded.
To be fair, the hall was only half illuminated by lanterns, given the fact that it was so late past midnight when we made it here, but it gave the place a mysterious quality I appreciated.
“Welcome to Swan Castle, Lady Natasha.”
“It’s Natalia right now,” I gently corrected the man who bowed at the waist, and I almost laughed at the look of horror spreading over his face.
“My most sincere apologies, Lady Natalia.” He bowed again.
“No worries.” I shrugged it off, stepping farther into the captivating space while Hannes placed a calming hand on the guard’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Wylder. No harm done.”
“Thank you, Sir. Welcome back, Prince Gustav, Eisen Ritter, Princess Alyce…” he added, continuing to address the others.
It wasn’t lost on me that he welcomed André, Vanessa, and Dante with familiarity, saying it wasn’t the first time they came here.
“Maybe they’ve lived here too.”
“Maybe,” I agreed with Star.
Though the place was dimly lit, it was enough for my eyes to feast on its architecture—enjoying the frescoes, stained glass windows, and intricate mosaics all around me. I couldn’t wait to see this place tomorrow in the full light of day. Something told me it would take my breath away.
“All the rooms are ready, Prince Hannes,” another person announced, coming from the left hallway.
We turned to see an older man walking toward us while dressed in a very elegant suit. He offered us a pleasant smile as he vowed to everyone.
“Will you be requiring dinner? The chef and his staff are expecting my call…”
Hannes glanced back at us, expectant.
“No, thank you. I ate on the plane.” I offered with a small smile. “I’m just tired from the trip. I’d like to rest if that’s okay.”
“Of course, Lady Natalia.” The man bowed, proving he was better informed than the guard who greeted us.
“We’ll take a sandwich to our room, please, Wylder,” Vanessa answered with familiarity after André and Dante declined.
“Two croque monsieur?” he asked knowingly, and Alyce chuckled.
“You know it. Thank you and please thank Emerie for me. It was sweet of you to wait in case we were hungry.”
Grinning, the man bowed again and headed for the kitchen, I assumed.
The guys exchanged a glance after Alyce and Vanesa took to their room, probably communicating through their shadow bond. Both André and Dante kissed me goodnight, leaving me perplexed.
“Where the hell do you think you are going?” I called after them.
“I’m exhausted and I don’t know where I’m supposed to—” Sighing, I gave up, they were half up the grand staircase and evidently, ignoring me.
“What the hell crawled up their ass?” I asked rhetorically, turning to Hannes.
“Can you please take me to wherever my room is supposed to be?”
A wolfish smile curved his full lips, eyes suddenly glowing blue. “It would be my pleasure. But first… How about it, beautiful? Would you like to go for a late-night run?”
A run? Was he insane?
“Why on earth would I—?”
"He’s not talking to you, Bitch. It’s my turn!"
Before I could even process Star’s words, my body exploded, and everything went dark.