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Chapter 121: Aiden
I am nervous. More than I have ever been. It’s not the same as being scared. Being scared was standing at the top of that cliff, trying to make myself jump. This time I can’t point at one thing and say, “that’s what I’m scared of.” There’s too much that could go wrong. There’s too much that could go right, that I’ll be angry at myself about if it doesn’t.
Sarah’s with me. I never really… feel totally comfortable. I know how to behave when I have to be formal because I was taught that way all my life, but it’s still like I’m wearing a mask. It’s something I put on when I need it. Sarah just… is. Even when she’s in jeans and sneakers, it’s like she’s been polished ready for display. Not because she’s vain. Because she’s… naturally classy, I guess.
My Mate is way out of my league, but she’s chosen me anyway. I’m the luckiest guy in the whole world. And now
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Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 122: Sarah
We’re all starting at the Alpha. Partly, I am sure, because there is clearly some sort of mystery concerning Badger’s Den, and he has very abruptly changed the subject.“Alpha Russel, forgive the interruption,” I begin, knowing that I may sour the mood with my next words, “but may we return briefly to the subject of the visit?” I infuse my voice with as much reassurance as I can. “We do understand the need for privacy on some matters, and I am not asking you to betray any confidence or trust. However, this could concern your Pack members’ safety, and our own. Do you have any reason to think that your Pack’s visit to Badger’s Den could cause a problem, or place anyone in danger, as a result of their presence?”R
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 123: Aiden
“Well, that could have gone worse,” Tom remarks from his sprawl in the corner of the cab. The little window into the cab driver’s compartment is shut. I can hear music through the plastic, turned up pretty loud. It’s a pretty safe bet that she can’t hear anything we say unless we shout it.“It could have gone better,” I sigh. “It wasn’t supposed to be a formal visit.”“Aiden, my poor dear, you’re their king,” Sarah tells me, like she’s breaking bad news to me. “If you insist on acting as if you’re just their beer buddy, you’ll worry them. They have expectations. They need you to be someone they can look up to.”I never asked for this. If someone else was doing it, I wouldn’t have to. “I don’t
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 124: Sarah
“So, uh.” My fingers close more tightly around my phone. I take a breath. “I’m, uh. Kind of. Engaged? I mean. I am. Oh g*d, Aiden’s babbling is contagious. I proposed, Aiden said yes.”I don’t know if the dead silence at the other end is a good thing, a bad thing, or a sign that the call has been cut off. “Simon? Katie?”“You’re not p-” Simon’s voice is abruptly muffled, and I hear Katie’s hissed “Don’t you dare!” in the background.“How about you don’t patronise me by assuming I am either unable to remember to take one pill a day, or that I would base my decision on who I want to spend my life with on a poor memory, a
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 125 Part 1: Aiden
The wooden frames of the canvasses click on the polished wooden tabletop. It sounds very loud, even though the room is huge. All dark wooden panels, and a real fancy ceiling. The carpet’s so thick you can’t hear your feet. I can’t hear Cavendish either, but he doesn’t have a pulse or need to breathe so I guess that makes silence easier for him. Makes it easier for hlm not to show a reaction either. No little gasp of breath or increase of heart rate. I put the canvasses down as I planned them. The separate frames make one page. Together, they’re the size he asked for. Bigger, I guess, if he spaces them out. I used paint, but colored it like a printed comic, just dots of three colours and black, so you only see the image when you step back a bit. Comic-book pointilism. They call them Ben-Day Dots after the guy who invented the printing technique, but I’ve taken i
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 125 Part 2: Aiden
That wasn’t what I expected. The guy looks like he’s about to bolt. The woman I was talking to looks shocked. “Mr Hunt!” “It’s okay,” I say, mostly to the woman, but the next part is for the vampire. I don’t know what he thinks he knows about me. Looks like I’ve got a reputation now. “I’m only here about a commission. Nothing else. You have my word.” “I don’t remember a commission,” Hunt stutters. “That’s because we haven’t talked about it yet.” Having people scared of me could get annoying. I take a breath and try to sound calm and reassuring. “It’s a new commission. You’ve been recommended.” I can tell from his expression that it’s one time he’d rather not be quite so well thought of.
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 126: Sarah
In hindsight, it was my fault. I forgot to pass along one vital piece of information. The only good thing is that the Goldhawk werewolves were travelling to Blackmarsh in their own cars. That means they’re not there when the irate giant leafy plants erupt from the driveway in front of the house, envelope Jade and lift her right off her feet, amid an almost overwhelming scent of mint sauce. Everything is noise and movement and confusion. Voices shouting. A thick, sticky rushing sound, like a mudslide arriving. A seven foot tall wolf-man with a bronze sword and a shield to one side of me. On my other side, Mary looks transparent and insubstantial in the sunshine, but she has a meat cleaver clenched in each hand and her teeth are bared. I catch a flash from the corner of my eye. Tala or Reese, I can’t tell which, but the soft chanting from behind me is Shelley, and this could go so very wrong, very, very qui
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 127: Aiden
My Mate is amazing. The best Mate on the whole planet. Stepping up, taking command. Defending Jade against her own brother. Her insanely powerful brother. Only a few weeks ago she was terrified of any vampire. I could hug her. I could drag her off into those trees we passed on the way up the drive, take all our clothes off and show her just how much I love her, but that will have to wait."/Thank you,/" I tell my Pack, because they were all awesome too, trusting Sarah. Trusting me. Our decision. “I was ready to fight, we all were, and we didn’t.”"/Hey, conversation not conflict, right?/" Tom replies."/First proper test of the Pack principles,/" Shelley agrees."/I think we did okay there,/" Reese says, "/and Sarah, your brother is fuckin
Rhapsody for a Wolf Chapter 128: Sarah
I don’t know what I am expecting. After the Pack’s reactions to Anthony’s shouted threats, I was dreading the worst. Anthony really is all bark and no bite, but he is a master at verbal combat and seldom takes prisoners. I could easily see him winding someone up enough that they’d think about lashing out. I don’t know the others as well as Aiden does, although I think they would all keep their temper. If only I could be completely certain. Anthony is in the center of the sand school, propped up on a mounting block with a cane for balance. I am so focussed on him that I only register what the rhythmic thudding sounds are when Crystal rounds the end of the school at a canter, right in front of us. Her poor, sweet bay gelding catches sight of us and goes rigid. Nostrils flared, eyes bugging out, ears stiff as boards. All his forward momentum is suddenly passed to his rider as he skids to a halt with a horrif
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