I was invited to Kirigan and Kaz's new estate. The place was a Gothic style mansion basking in the moonlight surrounded by lush gardens all around. It was guarded by high walls that seemed to reach the sky. When we reached the mansion Kirigan and Kaz were waiting by the foot of the front steps to receive me with their respective spouses. The servants were standing on either side of the steps as though they were some sort of bodyguards. When I got out they bowed with respect and I did the same. I was escorted to the main hall. The walls were a mix of black and shades of gray with white marble roses embossed with gold flecks. The floor was a solid pale green marble. Which contrasted the wall. Crystal chandeliers dotted the ceiling every few inches bathing the room with a faint glow. The tables and chairs were pushed to the sides to leave an open space for dancing. My table was surrounded by the other tables near the other exit. It looked like the other tables were protecting it from potential harm.
Oleg laughed out loud and soon the other werewolves attending were snickering too. Apparently he mentally shared my unusual thoughts with the rest of the crowd. The guards whispered to each other and were laughing softly. I sat down gently and waved at the crowd. I prayed that we have a prosperous year and that we have little to no problems. The others concurred and the party commenced. Music played as people happily danced. One man boldly walked towards me asking for a dance and my husband answered on my behalf. He said he should try his luck with someone else or he will find himself strung by his ankle in the back courtyard. I politely said that since I am married my dance card has only my husband's name. The man withdrew with a sour face and I asked if Oleg would join me on the dance floor. He took my hand and the tone changed from lively to slow and romantic. We danced till I got bored. So we moved to the veranda. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach but Oleg chuckled as we continued dancing.
I extended my senses and felt someone in the trees a few hundred yards out. I connected with my Oleg and his demeanor changed from romantic to business-like. He quietly moved me inside and the guards went out to find the perpetrator. He was found as he was about to take a shot. Bolt happily kicked the tree and the sniper fell face first to the grass. His rifle smacked him in the head on its way down. The man was dragged kicking and screaming to the holding area. The man claimed he was part of security but the twins declared that they have never seen him a day in their lives. The man said that the nocturnals sent him. I called the council and had them asked around to see if anyone would claim to have hired a human sniper as extra protection. The ones who answered the inquiry was laughing at the idea till they were told that the sniper almost killed their empress. Then they started yelling profanities. A few dropped their designated assignments to see this man claiming to be assigned by the nocturnals.
One of the vampires bit him to find out what was going on. What she saw made her scream in anger. Link was one to send this man. The others roared in anger as they recalled the disaster he had done after his rehumanization. Oleg flipped the table while Igor threw the chair against the wall. Roland started to swear while the others nod to concur. I caught the chair and put it down and put the table back to where it was. I asked everyone to remain calm as we try to figure out what we were going to do. Oleg carried me to the bedroom and tucked me in bed. He told me to stay here till he figures out a solution.
The council members bragged in and Oleg roared in anger and changed into a werewolf. The head of werewolves ordered him to change back. Oleg reminded him that he is the empress's consort. He has a right that can't be challenged. Regardless I was ordered to come out to the main hall. Oleg snarled that he wanted Link's head on a spike. After the council's promise to grant his wish I was escorted to the main hall where the man in question was being escorted out with the nocturnal's sincerest apologies. He asked for an explanation so I said that he was duped by an ex-nocturnal. A bitter man who has made everyone's life a living hell. He is looking for any sort of excuse to cause a rumble. The man thanked me as I apologized profusely. He accepted my apology so I asked that he be compensated and sent home. He was paid and he promised to investigate before he took a job. For some funny reason he kept staring back at us as he was escorted back to the human district.
Oleg waited till he left before he asked the council to find Link so he could put an end to his miserable existence. The man has been pushing his limits long enough. He was hoping that Link would be dead by the time we came back. But luck had other plans. The werewolves and other vampires were insulted by the security and Kirigan had to investigate how this man had snuck in. Oleg was fuming so finally I ordered the Pretorian guards to go and bring Link here for judgement. If he has any other ideas to make things miserable then Oleg can eat him. Oleg smirked as the guards stormed off to carry out my order. The council members looked like they were force fed poison.
Link was brought before the nocturnal court. I was the presiding judge. The council members were the jury. The sniper was summoned and he happily and willingly blared to the entire court that Oleg was the target. Link said that he was a menace that was plaguing the nocturnals. He believes that if he was killed then the world would be set right. The man said he was paid a quarter of a million and was promised another quarter million after the job was done. Link asked the man to shut up but the man made it clear. Had he done this to humans he would get the firing squad. We apologized profusely for the misunderstanding and sent him home safely with compensation so he chose to side with us. Link was sentenced to death and was taken to the dungeons to await his punishment.
I took Oleg to the dungeons to make it abundantly clear that the only man I wanted was Oleg. I kissed my husband and Link screamed in anger. Oleg liked his reaction. I let him savor this moment before I took my husband with me to my suite. Link kept yelling that I was making a huge mistake. I will be sorry that I didn't choose him. Roland rolled his eyes as he said, "I wouldn't pick him for a billion bucks." I smiled, "If you give me the wealth of the entire world. My answer is a definite no. My future is with Oleg. I wouldn't exchange him even if someone handed me Jasper." Oleg grew a few inches taller. Roland chuckled at my remark as did the Pretorian guards.
The next night I was escorted to Eventide to an estate owned by a werewolf. The mansion was called Underhill. I was escorted to a veranda to observe the punishment. A group of vampires were busy decreeing a group of men either guilty or innocent. The guilty were pushed to a stone table. Where they awaited judgement. The innocent were sent home. When all were sorted the humans who brought these men and women were directed towards the exit. Oleg, Roland and Igor dragged Link to the stone table too. The vampires were told to go indoors and lock the door securely. After I heard the lock click. A stern faced man wearing a duster came branding a shotgun. He gave Oleg a wink and Oleg gave him a nod.
The man fired three rounds into the air to which the werewolves simultaneously changed into beasts and brutes. The feasting began. The werewolves ate till there was only bone. A drone was seen flying above recording the events. I can hear a group of people cheering or booing. These people had mixed feelings. But no one denied that the crime rate had gone down since this was enforced. The law dictates that I get a piece of flesh too. So Oleg brought me a heart to chew on. Thankfully it belonged to someone else. It wasn't Link's. Oleg gave me an 'isn't obvious face' as he sat down to order the sects to start keeping their men and women in order as he has heard on his way here that there will be series of kidnapping attempts and vampires will be recipients of the blame. The humans are bored and they are angry that we are united while they are divided so they are interested in seeing a bit of anarchy. Both sides promised to be vigilant.