A Dangerous Legacy Pt. 14

"The history books will say it was all clear cut, that on Toussaint Rouge guerillas attacked civilians and military personnel and it was clearly move for independence. But it wasn't so. The Fourth Republic back home was crumbling and everyone knew it but wouldn't say. When the first attacks came they started before Toussaint Rouge and no one had any clue what was happening. Then on that one day it became clear.

"There are only two ways to handle such a situation. Either you wait them out to make a statement and identify themselves while you do a forensic investigation to track down the individuals directly, or you can do what we did."

"What was that?"

He smiled but it was hollow, the smile of a man recalling the folly of youth and trying to tell himself it wasn't as bad as he feared. "We showed up en masse, and the FLN was ready. They basically told the people 'See? We are at war!' and it became a movement we just couldn't win. We forced their hand."

I slid my palm over my thigh to meet his hand with mine and gripped his tight. I understood he didn't want to say more, and as a student of history I knew what would come.

"So we shouldn't force their hand but investigate. Perhaps Malachai will join in the effort if we propose it to be just an investigation, not a mission to change everything."

Pierre raised my hand and kissed my fingers gently. "I know in my heart I am to bow to you but Anna..."

I saw real adult concern in his eyes. "What?"

He blushed slightly. "You are so young. You haven't seen anything of war even as a human."

I glanced out at the night sky and thought on that for a long moment. "You're right," I could only say softly because he was. "However I am a student of history. Did you know that in graduate school I studied military history, particularly from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century?"

He regarded me curiously. "No."

"I've written three books, two on the Golden Horde of Mongol alone. I'm considered a fairly good expert. I have such a reputation in fact people lost touch with the person, and that was part of why I was feeling so isolated when you came along."

"I thought you were writing a book on those awful Borgias," he said with clear distaste.

"Never forget their failures were cited by Machiavelli. The book is a biography, yes, but I believe that was truly the last gasp of militaristic actions for personal power on the world stage. That's why I chose to write it."

He reached up and cupped my cheek. "I know you are smart, Anna, one damn sharp woman, but why are you telling me this?"

"Do you know how many rulers who came to greatness who assumed their throne as young adults, younger than I am now, with only study in their history?"

For a moment he stared at me as if I had suggested we go to Mars, and then a slow smile split is face. "I had begun to worry that you were merely dealing with problems as they came up, but you truly mean to rule, don't you?"

Feeling embarrassed by his sudden regard I ducked my head. "Someone has to," I grumbled. "Pierre, I need to speak to Malachai alone. Will you come with me and wait for me outside the room? You may have to be with Francine and her sister."

He leaned forward and kissed my nose before rising to his feet and tugging me along. "For you, my queen, I would do anything."

Malachai's suite was the same layout as mine in a mirror, but the colors were black, grey, and white, reflecting the night mountains. I guessed mine was the dawn, and the assignment had been deliberate.

Francine and her equally beautiful sister Nadine left with dark, hurt looks, but Pierre tried to give them a reassuring smile and spoke in low tines as he closed the door. I sat on the couch as Malachai frowned at me.

"I suppose you're hear to argue Francine's idiot plan."

He had stripped to a crisp white shirt un buttoned at the collar and his black slacks. Somehow this only made him look more formal and severe as he glowered and downed a large quantity of liquor from his balloon glass in a single elegant sip.

I let the silence hang for a long moment and leaned back, slinging my arm along the top of the couch. He returned my stare not the least bit intimidated. Well, we were both equally stationed regents and he had centuries of rule on me so I guess he was waiting for me to cower or let my gaze fall. The best I could do was stare at him with equal measure.

Minutes ticked by and it must have been ten before he moved, and then only to smile with his eyes glittering. "I have known many witch queens but none quite like you."

I used magic to conjure up y own drink since rudely he hadn't offered me one. I had good whiskey cut with water and ice, preferring not to have my judgment impaired. "I'll take that as a compliment."

He shook his head but over what I didn't know. Malachai took a chair and suddenly he looked tired, all pomp and circumstance bleeding from his frame. "This problem is beyond me. I trust right now we are merely two people with a mutual problem?"

I understood and nodded. What was said would not leave this room unless we both agreed.

"Magic has been bleeding from both sides. Oh," he sat back and cocked an eyebrow. "I see your mentor Valerius hasn't told you. My dear queen, we are weakening you and I directly, and with our lessening of power so too does all magic weaken."

"Great, yet another fuck-up I've inherited," I muttered and sipped gingerly at my whiskey.

"You've inherited an entire mess. The witches I daresay are going through some growing pains, but they're long overdue. Do you know no one among the sorcerer camp has ever gone out to eliminate the wolves? But your people, and I include wolves in that, destroyed vampires, my brethren, and if we hadn't begun selective breeding the dragons would be gone."

"Why?" I asked eagerly, unable to find reasoning in the scant materials I'd been given.

He smiled once but it was empty. For such a severe man it seemed he had a thousand smiles. "Vampires are nothing like what human legends have made them. They were not undead, nor were they naturally soulless killers. They were simply beings purely of the night who needed blood to survive, but animal or human, it did not matter. They didn't need much. Like wolves they were of pure magic, but when they took living blood into them they could call magic. They could teleport, meld with shadows, change form into mist. Some not all, had keener eyesight, sharper hearing, even sense of smell to rival a wolf's."

"So why all the killing?"

"Because though they did not kill humans they often entranced them, to be fed on was a most addictive experience, I can tell you. Witches thought this exposed our world too much. They tried to force us to corral them but we did not enslave our companions as your people did. So when we refused to make them slave the witches had the wolves slaughter them."

I remembered being told by a few witches and wolves it had been a decision of the wolves long before our accord, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was a misunderstanding between sides or if one of our mutual factions was lying to me.

"Could this be the source of the weakening?"

"The vampires died over two millennia ago, Anna. The weakening has only been in the last five centuries or so, so slow only the queens and I have noticed. I trust past queens made the Council aware just as I have made a few trusted advisors aware of the situation."

"Do you suppose that could be the change that this future...person has gone back to make? Weakening us?"

"Anything is possible."

"Malachai, do you also have this niggling sense that you know what s wrong but you can't focus on it?"

He set his empty glass down and crossed his legs, affecting a languorous pose. "That is exactly how Francine and Nadine began our recent distasteful conversation."

"Look, buddy, just answer my question."

"You're pretty insolent for a new queen."

I snorted. "I'm worse than, I'm an American."

He laughed and it was a rich sound, sensuous but not quite right like chocolate flowing down velvet. Beautiful and yet wrong. "Fair enough. All right, yes, I do."

"Well I'll keep this short then. I propose we go into the future to tack down the source of this feeling I think we'll feel something. But we do not let the dragons come, just us and the wolves. We investigate and then decide what to do."

He considered for a long moment, staring into the fire. With a likely unconscious motion he used magic to summon another glass of liquor and I heard a small avian cry. I guess that meant his familiar was likely a raven, very fitting.

"Investigate, be slow to take action. Sounds more like your Council than a queen."

"No, sounds like an intelligent person who doesn't want to fuckup the timeline and unmake existence."

I think the smile I got on that was the first real, true, and genuine of the bunch. "Investigate and form a plan, don't go in with guns blazing. I can only promise this, my gracious queen, I will think on it."

I stood and smoothed my cardigan. "Can the flattery, I ain't your queen and I'm nowhere near gracious. Just call me Anna."

He stood too and I sighed with frustration. Did all magical creatures have t be so bloody tall? I as starting to feel short, and it was not comfortable or familiar feeling.

"You know Anna, I have never particularly liked the old queens. Too many were vain, capricious creatures, or bloodthirsty fools. But I find I am in danger of liking you."

I scoffed and turned to walk to the door. I put my hand on the doorknob and looked over my shoulder at him. "Don't waste your time. When this is over I believe we're likely going back to being enemies."

I closed the door, but I, the dragons, and Pierre all heard his vow, "Or something much more interesting."

"Good night, ladies," I said as politely as I could to the dragons who glared and marched back in.

Hooking my arm in Pierre's I directed hi back to the grand hall that would lead to our wing. "Thank you for your help, Pierre, but now I must speak to Jericho."

"Why?"

"I need an eyewitness to events. I need to find the truth. I have a feeling every problem we face exists solely because we're swimming in a sea of lives."

He had no reply to that.

Jericho and Olivia were making use of their bedroom when Pierre and I arrived. Julian and Andre were on the loveseat and plush chair playing chess. It was early in the game and there was no clear winner, but Julian was all brooding concentration and Andre was his usual stable self.

"Pierre, would you bring them up to speed?"

"And what are you going to do?" Julian asked, turning to face me. He'd left his long hair loose for once and he looked almost angelic.

With a sigh I tore my gaze from him and to the closed door. "I need to speak to Jericho."

Andre cleared his throat. "They are, um, involved."

I smiled thinking I could use a break. "Well, perhaps they will welcome a spectator."

Pierre and Julian laughed and Liv's voice called through the door "Please!"

Smiling I let myself in and did not extend an invitation to my pack. Just before I closed the door I saw Diego come padding out, but Pierre grabbed him and soothed him with a long pet along is silky brown and black fur.

The sheets were tangled in the dim room and both the wolves were naked and sweaty. I seated myself in a chair regarding them as they did me.

"Please, continue as if I were not here," I said.

Jericho's erection swelled once more from his barely softened stance. He leaned over Liv braced on his forearms and I could tell had either been working his way down to or up from her wet pussy.

She smiled at me, her bright eyes barely glazed with pleasure.

Jericho's sun-drenched curls fell to her stomach and I heard him kissing her softly, tenderly, teasing her. Slowly he moved down and I did admire the flex and press of his muscular legs and ass as he moved.

They were both so slim and strong, a truly beautiful pair, and the love that loomed between them was astonishing to behold. At first it had made me uncomfortable to watch and now I discovered it added some sense of legitimacy to the proceedings.

Liv moaned as Jerry's hand wandered over her hip. I guessed she was sensitive there because she squirmed, pert breasts jiggling invitingly. The rosy tips glistened still from Jerry's previous attention and soon her hands covered them once more, likely to echo the sensations of his kiss.

Jerry nicely turned his body, leaning on his right arm so I could better see. Two of his long, darkly tanned fingers speared her slickened cunt. Liv arched up and her hands delved from her breasts to thread through his wild hair.

Jerry growled, sounding like a true wolf, and with impatience scooted down suddenly. His mouth joined his hands, and as those two long fingers glided forcefully in and out, he began to suckle at her clit.

My own arousal shot up through my being and I tried to fight it, but the struggle only made it worse. How could I stay and watch it all and have a coherent conversation with the ancient wolf when all I wanted was instant release, the gift my teasing wolves always dangled before me as they made me wait, made me beg for.

Liv's body bowed and clenched, her panting breaths increasing in volume, tempo, and plaintive desire. My nipples ached, hard as glass, and if I were alone I would jerk up my shirt and stroke them with one hand while the other slid into my pants and eased my own aching cunt.

She cried out Jericho's name, and the o became a howl as orgasm claimed her. A fetching blush settled on her chest as Jericho moaned in delight, his hand pistoning like a mad engine now. I gripped the arms of the plush chair afraid I would snap it in two.

"Jerry, Liv...I am sorry but I can't take any more. Jerry I need to talk to you, and Liv you can stay, but I will have to interrupt."

For a moment four eyes watched me as noses flared and I could ell they noted my arousal. I could see the gleeful sense of power that brought to them, but the passion began to ebb and they nodded. Deftly Liv rolled as Jericho stood and she wrapped the sheet around her like a dress. He found his pants and slung them on, giving his love a lingering longing look.

"I am sorry, but I just can't concentrate if you keep going."

"I understand," Jerry assured me as he sat, "and I am most flattered."

I felt itchy for a thousand reasons and an old bad habit came to mind. "Do either of you smoke?"

"We both do," Liv said.

Thank goodness we were all semi-immortal and impervious to the consequences of our stupidity. I conjured up a lighter, ashtray, and a pack of the not-so-cheap Camels I'd once been so fond of. I passed out cigarettes and Jerry insisted on lighting mine and Lis', and then I put the standing ashtray between us and thought how to ask what I was wondering, but perhaps I should analyze its importance, I mused.

Screw it. "Jericho, tell me what you know about the wolf-vampire war. I take it you witnessed it."

"Oh, yes," Jerry said and closed his eyes, savoring the smoke with as much relish as I had seen on his face the times Liv had taken his cock into her mouth.

I understood the pang and took a long drag as Liv sat and tucked her knees beneath her chin, settling in for the story. That niggling feeling in my mind seemed to roar for a moment but I forced it back. I had to figure out just who I could trust before I began this investigative venture.

"Back then we had only a loose affiliation with witches. Sometimes we would aid one another but we lived apart, much as vampires and dragons did. There were rumblings, however, of a stronger alliance, but we feared, and rightfully so, that we would become slaves.

"Vampires like us are born of magic. To be born of magic means you cannot wield it. The dragons you see today only can because there are no pure dragon-kind left, only those who are the product of unions between sorcerers and dragons, sometimes even a stray witch or two. But vampires found a shortcut."

"When they drink fully living blood they can wield magic," I said with a nod, remembering Malachai's words.

"They could live off any blood, but human blood allowed them to wield small magic. Then one day, they found out they could do grand magic, what a witch or sorcerer can, if they fed on us."

Hmm...now I was hearing a different story.

"So they fed on you and wolves decided on their own to attack and destroy?"

"I was just a small boy then, I had not yet come into my full change, but this is what I remember."

"Do you know of a wolf old enough to remember?"

Jerry blew out a smoke ring with impressive ease, and with a wicked grin Liv blew out a narrow plume that flew through the center. By any God, they fit so well together, and I couldn't help but smile, even though his story confused me and my body yet still burned.

"There are none left, I think. As far as I know I am one of the oldest left, and that is only because I know how to stay quiet and out of sight." For a long moment he looked sad, and then suddenly he reached out and stubbed his cigarette out, looking forlorn.

Liv looked to me as if I knew what to do, and I hated to admit it but I had no clue. Comforting people had never been one of my stronger points, but perhaps as queen I should learn.

"Thank you, Jerry. It is most pleasing to be able to know someone of your wisdom. Perhaps I have detained you long enough."

Liv and I stamped out our cigarettes together and I used magic to remove all traces of the smoke from the air or our mouths. Smoothly she leaned forward, coming to her knees as her hands smoothed up his naked back.

"Would you stay and watch?"

That niggling feeling was screaming at me. My body was still warm, my own pussy wet, my body heated and aching and needy, but I shook my head and rose. "Not tonight I think, but perhaps tomorrow. Tonight I have too much to think on."

I left them and smiled softly when I realized Liv understood how to comfort him. The sounds of their passion rose until I closed the door and found my wolves all watching me expectantly.

I stood still for a moment feeling my pulse jump. Would I ever get used to their beauty? I had lived so much of my life without any love, too often without kindness of any sort, almost all of it completely unconnected with the world around me. Now I had them. Three amazing, beautiful men, and they loved me. They didn't have to, they could have served me with false cheer or forced modesty but they gave me everything they had.

"What is that look?" Julian asked.

I shook my head, feeling too embarrassed to put my thoughts into words. A look at the clock told me it was early yet, and once more I thanked magic for not leaving us jet-lagged.

"Gentlemen, I think I need a distraction. I have a headache, does anyone know the cure?"

It was Andre who walked me into the bedroom, and not for what I was hoping.

"You are pushing yourself too hard, Anna," he said as soon as he closed the door.

"Well, we just have to unscrew the timeline, then I have to go give with the council and learn my job, and then I guess we go palace shopping. Then I can relax."

I'd walked to the bed and gazed out the window once more, trying to still take in the shift from tropical island to ski resort, but he crossed the room in three great strides and turned me around.

Cupping my chin he raised my eyes to his and frowned. "This is too much. They need to give you time. The witches are hurting. The wolves are close to rebelling, and magic is lessening. The council should be handling this, instead the second a queen, a true queen comes along, they dump this in your lap."

I reached up to cup his cheek and tried to smile. "This is what I was born to be. I never fit into my human life, and I never knew why. It was because this was to be my life. I'm just late to the party."