Page 14 of Blood and Roses

"Last door on the right. You wouldn't have thought she was sick yesterday with the way she is bustling about."

When Rosa found her, Cecily gave her a masterful frown of motherly disapproval. "Getting drunk on your third day here? Really Rosa?"

"Is there anything I can say that will stop you being pissed off at me?"

"No, but you can find a vacuum cleaner and get working. We're expecting the first of the guests in less than a week."

Balthasar feltthe tension in the room getting heavier with each word that Lord Blackfox was saying. Eli's informants had told him of the mutiny Blackfox and his men were planning at the Gathering, so he had summoned them to Gwaed Lyn. Balthasar always secretly marveled how Eli could manipulate the lords. Blackfox was vain and proud and had thought that Eli wanted to give their clan an important role to play in the upcoming treaty. Balthasar knew Eli was a cat playing with a troublesome mouse before it got torn apart.

"Your clan has some of the greatest fighters in all of Albion," Eli stated. "I'm looking for people I can trust to take control of security on the night of the Solstice. Tension will be high, and I don't want some plucky, overreaching clan members trying to stir trouble with Ryn's people."

"Understandable, my lord. I would be honored to protect the royal family." Blackfox grinned.

One of his bodyguards gave the other one a sideways glance. It was just a flicker of the eyelids, but it was enough. Balthasar looked at Eli who rose to his feet.

"Well then, I think we're about done here, gentleman," Eli said smoothly. "I will send a message to the other clans about my choice regarding this matter. Balthasar, will you escort these gentlemen back to their car?" The Blackfox men bowed, and as they exited, Eli gave Balthasar the slightest of nods.

Lord Blackfox smiled at him as they walked. "Gwaed Lyn hasn't hosted a party in such a long time. The Gathering will be a good opportunity to fill it full of celebrations again."

"Yes, it's been too long."

"I'm glad you have returned here, Balthasar. It's good for family to stay together."

"It was nice to get away for a few decades."

"You are a prince. You'll always be a slave to your responsibilities. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all that. Although, I don't think you will have to worry about that with old Eli still around. You may never get your chance unless the situation is...accelerated."

Balthasar opened his mouth to reply when Rosa appeared at the end of the hall, her headphones in and humming to herself. She paused, giving him an unreadable look before smiling politely and disappearing into another room.

"There she is again," Cain said as he nudged the other bodyguard.

"The boys seem to be taken by your new girl," Blackfox commented. "They saw her on the way in and voiced their approval loudly."

"She's not new," Balthasar said firmly. "She is a Wylt."

"Ah, sorry lads. The king is particular about his favorite human pets. You'll have to admire her from a distance, I'm afraid," Blackfox laughed.

Anger burned hot through Balthasar as they continued to talk about her as if she was a piece of meat.

Their human driver was waiting for them when the small elevator stopped in the underground garage. Eli had it built so his subjects could visit during daylight hours. Technology had provided them with blacked out transport, but they still needed a safe place to get out. Only the royal family could walk about in daylight. No matter how much Blackfox boasted about his long age and his power, he would never be a day walker.

The elevator door shut behind them and Balthasar attacked the bodyguards before Blackfox could react. Their hearts fell in dripping messes from Balthasar's hands to the concrete.

"You're a fool to think you could revolt against Eli," Balthasar said calmly. Blackfox shrieked in challenge before attacking, fang and claws. Balthasar moved, using Blackfox's momentum to flip him over and grip him about the neck. Blackfox's cry was cut off as Balthasar ripped his head from his body, the sounds of wet tearing flesh echoing off the concrete walls. The driver pressed himself against the car in fear as Balthasar walked towards him, head in hand.

"There's something I need you to do for me," Balthasar said as he touched the young man's shoulder. He stilled as the compulsion took over.

"Of course, my lord," he said obediently.

Balthasar passed him the head before taking out his pocket-handkerchief. He wiped the blood off his dripping hands before stuffing the soiled fabric into Blackfox's dead gaping mouth. "Tell the southern clans that if they upset Eli or his celebrations further, I'll come for the rest of them. Take these bodies with you. I'm in no mood to dig graves today."

Balthasar watched the limousine leave before he headed for the stables. The sun wasn't far from setting, and he needed to check the stones by the lake. He felt his anger seeping out of him and into the white gravel under his feet. He hated that Eli still expected him to be his executioner.

Some days Balthasar felt if he stopped moving, the wave of blood he left in his wake would drown him. Blackfox had it coming with his scheming. Balthasar might have spared the guards if they hadn't talked about Rosa the way they had.

Why do you even care? She is nothing to you.

In the meeting, he was sure he had smelled Rosa's perfume coming through the draft of the servant passages. It had distracted him to the point Blackfox had asked if he was listening. Then she had arrived in the hallway as if he had summoned her. That look she gave him bothered him. It was almost as if she thought he was someone else.

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