~ISSA
I was not really worried about Leia’s threat because I knew that my Yulia could take her.
I knew that Marianna had thoroughly trained her before she was killed. I was watching secretly.
“Is it really your first time attending something like this?” Yulia asked me as we leisurely walked through the grand hall of the house.
“Yes, I find gatherings like this boring,” I said as we passed by another guest who peered at us with awe and curiosity.
I knew that Yulia’s custom made dress was attracting a lot of attention from everyone that we passed by. Hesta had really outdone herself.
“I don’t want to sound paranoid but I think the eldest sister is following us,” Yulia whispered as we walked. I knew that she was talking about Iris.
“She wants to talk to me alone,” I told Yulia. “She is waiting for you to wander off.”
“Should I wander off so you two can talk?” She asked.
“You are not leaving my sight, Yulia, whatever she wants to say, she can do so with you present or she can keep on following us like a lost puppy,” I said firmly.
We were here on a mission and until I was certain that Yulia was safe, I was not letting her out of my sight.
A blonde haired man who had bright blue eyes; dressed in a tuxedo and a startling beautiful woman with the same features accosted us. They bowed low to us both. Behind them were two younger women who I knew as their daughter their twin daughters.
They were a werewolf family from Russia and their daughters were currently schooling at Canis. I saw a look of recognition pass among Yulia and the two young daughters of the couple.
“Petre and Olga,” I said and extended a hand.
“Lycan Frostwood, colour me surprised to see you here,” Petre said and firmly shook my hand.
“That makes two of us,” I said with a smile. “Well met Luna Olga,” I added.
Olga smiled and bowed her head. “Well met Lycan Frostwood,” She replied. Her voice was like thin ice.
“My daughters, Elekra and Nicollette,” Olga said and the blonde twins stepped forward and bowed.
They looked so identical that the only way that I could tell them apart was by their scent.
“And who is the grey-eyed beauty beside you?” Petre asked as he looked at Yulia with curiosity.
“Yulia Moonshadow, my niece,” I said and Yulia curtsied. It was perfect. But she did not say a word.
“The dress, I have never seen one like it before,” Olga said, as she swept her eyes hungrily over it.
“It is the first and only one of its kind,” I said as my chest swelled with pride.
“Your niece is a lucky woman,” Petre said as he eyed Yulia. “I am curious,” Petre suddenly changed the subject. “Why did you come to this one?”
I shrugged. “Boredom and curiosity,” I replied, watching the twins closely. They were uncomfortable and I suspected that it had something to do with Yulia.
“Well, if you do not mind, I would like to keep giving my niece a tour of the place, enjoy the party,” I said and led Yulia away from them and we kept on walking. I did not bother waiting for a reply.
“That was weird,” Yulia said as we slowed down our walk.
“Those were the Rasputin family, they offered both their daughters to me a long time ago,” I told her.
Yulia looked sharply at me. “Offered?”
“Yes, it is part of their culture to offer up their daughters to whomever they deem powerful,” I told her.
“For what purpose?” Yulia asked.
“Power, politics, to strengthen their family ties, to create a new bloodline, so on and so forth,” I said.
“And the daughters are okay with it?” Yulia asked.
“Their feelings do not matter when it comes to things like this, in fact it is a duty,” I told her.
“That was why it was weird,” Yulia said. “They wanted you to reconsider.”
“Yeah, I turned them down so much, I had lost count,” I told her.
“Wait, they have been offering those girls to you since they were babies?!” Yulia asked in shock.
“Yep, and they were relentless too, and it got so uncomfortable for me,” I said with a disgusted frown on my face.
I looked at her. “They seem to know you, though, the twins.”
“Yeah, they are both friends with Leia and they follow her around. They did not like it when I kicked the ass of their queen bee,” She said.
“They will be careful around you, now that they know you are related to me,” I told her.
“That was why they seemed nervous,” Yulia mused.
“The elusive Lycan finally graces us with his presence,” Albus Canis said with Davina clinging to his arm. They suited each other in a way.
“And a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Moonshadow,” He added.
“Chancellor Canis,” I said. “I thought you were too old for things like this?”
“Deucalion was a bit insistent on me coming, so here I am,” Albus said with a shrug.
Albus Canis was a powerful mage and master of magic, if not the most powerful. He and I helped rebuild the academy after it was almost destroyed by the war of the first Black Rose.
“How have you been?” I asked.
He was one of the few people that I respected.
“I am still breathing, and you?” He asked with a shrug.
“Same old, same old,” I said.
“Nice dress,” Davina said without any feeling as she looked Yulia up and down.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Yulia replied with the same emotionless tone.
A smile tugged at my lips.
“You know that our offer still stands, Issa,” Albus said.
“There is no point in wasting your breath, Albus,” Davina spat. “Issa has always felt like he is too good for us.”
“Actually, I have been thinking of paying your club a visit, I think it’s about time.” I spoke.