~YULIA
“He really wants your seed so bad; he is involving the council?” I asked Issa as he sped down the highway. “This is so ridiculous,” I added in annoyance.
Issa sighed and made no reply. I could see that he was deeply thinking of what to do. “You can not refuse this can you?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, no,” He replied. “There has to be law and order or else everyone will just do whatever they want. That was why the council was made. To keep everyone in line and it will speak badly of me if I do not follow it. Not that I care.”
Clearly, he did care and he was just in denial. I understood that, Issa being who he was, hated being told what to do, especially by those that he knew were beneath him but he had to lead by example.
“I find this suspicious though,” he said. “Petr could have made this move immediately I turned him away but he waited until we both found out about Helena.”
“You think he is part of it?” I asked.
“I know that he is part of it, I just need to make the connection.” Issa replied.
The horizon revealed the Victorian era styled house of The Cravens. We were in their territory now. I was feeling a bit apprehensive as we got closer to the house. “Nothing is going to happen to you on my watch, Yulia, you have no reason to be afraid.” Issa said as he sensed my discomfort.
The gates automatically opened as soon Issa drove nearer to them. “Are they expecting us?” I asked.
“It would seem so,” Issa replied as he kept his eyes on the road. The road to the house was long but we eventually got there. There seemed to be some sort of party going on as we got down from the car.
“Does he always throw parties?” I asked in a bit of disdain as we headed for the entrance. There were numerous exotics looking vehicles parked in the huge compound.
“Deucalion loves to host people so they can invest in his companies,” he revealed.
“So, it is all a business move, typical,” I muttered. “It’s ten in the morning.”
The large mahogany doors slowly parted and we walked in. Classical music was playing and men in suits bunched up together in different groups whispering and having animated conversations about their respective lives and how much they have in their accounts.
The women were dressed elegantly while holding on to glass cups of wine or other liquids of alcohol. It was a mixture of witches, werewolves and humans.
All eyes turned on us mostly because Issa and I were dressed in casual clothes but I did not really care about that. I just came here for answers about why the dead Luna of this house wanted me dead. Most of the ladies glanced seductively at Issa and some even winked at him for his attention but he paid them none.
They were not yet aware that I was his mate. It seemed like Andrea had not revealed the news yet.
“You both seem a bit underdressed for this occasion,” The unmistaken voice of Iris Craven said as she approached us.
She had healed up quite well from our last meeting. She was dressed in a maroon slit thigh dress with matching heels. Her gaze was cold as she looked at me. I knew that she wanted to pay me back for what I did to her.
“Pleasure to see you too, Iris, how have you been?” I replied.
“I have been quite well, thank you for asking, even though it was you who almost killed me,” she replied with thick dripping sarcasm.
“Don’t be such a baby, it was just a little fire, besides you don’t even look like someone who got burnt. Daddy’s money, I guess.” I replied with a wink.
“I will return the favour very soon,” Iris replied.
“It’s a date,” I shot back.
“It has been quite a while, Issa, I have missed you,” Iris said, ignoring me.
“It is good to see you healing up well,” Issa politely replied.
“Tell me something, why do you take your niece everywhere?” Iris asked, clearly annoyed. “I was hoping you ditch her and join me for a drink.”
“That is not why I am here,” Issa said.
“Where is your dad?” I asked, scanning through the crowd.
“You are not my father’s type, little girl,” Iris spat.
“And you are not Issa’s type, old lady,” I replied.
“What is with all the quarrel, ladies?” Deucalion showed up with Leia by his arm. “There is no need to fight over me, I am plenty enough to go around.”
I almost gagged visibly. “It is nice of you to attend my party, Issa,” Deucalion said. “But you do not seem to be dressed for the occasion.”
“We need to talk,” Issa said.
“That we do.” Deucalion smoothly replied.
“Hello, Leia,” I said looking at the youngest daughter of the Craven family.
“I still want my rematch,” Leia said glaring at me.
“Join the queue,” I replied.
“Behave, child,” Deucalion softly cautioned his daughter. “I must apologize, it seems not of my daughters like to lose.”
“Where is Andrea?” I asked.
Deucalion scoffed in disdain and rolled his eyes.
“I have no idea what that one is up to. She is probably somewhere in the house all drunk and doing goddess knows what with one or more of the guests,” he replied.
“What did you come all the way here to talk about?” Iris asked.
“It is not a discussion we can have out here in the open,” Issa replied.
“Come on, Issa, if you are here to talk about work, please do so, everyone here is a businessman or woman. If you want your old job back, just ask.” Deucalion boisterously said.
“I have reasons to believe that Helena Craven wants me dead and I want to know why,” I said. “And according to you, she is supposed to be dead.”
Deucalion went still with shock before he quickly recovered. He looked around checking to see if no one heard me. The smug look on his face had disappeared. Even Iris and Leia looked astounded.
“You are right,” He quietly replied. “This is not something we should discuss in public.”