My Savior(46)

"Come on, dear, don't leave us in suspense. I'm dying to hear what has been reported this week." Daphne cooed in a sweet voice.

"I-I..." Rosalind stuttered.

"Go ahead, Rosalind, don't keep us waiting," Meryn prompted.

"Well... the main article is very scandalous! Dear Gentle Reader reports that a certain Lady DB was seen in a human plastic surgeon's office to undergo a procedure known as a vaginoplasty. The article goes on to explain that this is a type of surgery to tighten up lady parts that have been overused." Gasps filled the air, but Rosalind wasn't finished. "The article wraps up by saying that Lady DB may be under investigation for"--she swallowed hard--"suspicion of performing indecent acts with farm animals." Her voice seemed to echo throughout the room.

Amelia turned, Beth's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. This was getting interesting.

"This is preposterous!" Daphne screeched, reaching for the paper. She ripped it out of Rosalind's hands and proceeded to shred it into tiny pieces, letting scraps of paper fly everywhere. Around the room, whispers and muffled laughter filled the air.

Daphne looked as though she had swelled in size as her wolf seemed to take over, and her eyes locked on Meryn. Growling, she stalked in their direction. In seconds, Adelaide and Ryuu were standing in front of them to head off Daphne's advance.

"Get out of my way! I know that little bitch is behind this!" Daphne hissed.

Meryn blinked, an innocent look on her face. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But since you're getting so upset, are you confirming you're 'DB'?" she asked innocently.

Daphne shrieked her rage and launched herself toward Meryn. Adelaide raised her hand and simply pushed her back with a shove to the chest. "Stay away from my daughter," she warned with a low growl.

Daphne sneered. "What are you going to do? You can't lay a finger on me or you risk your mate's Elder seat. The degenerate next to you posing as a squire can't touch me or risk being deported from Lycaonia." When she smiled, she revealed a set of fully extended canines.

Amelia felt the room begin to close in. The roaring that she'd heard during breakfast returned. Ice began to form around her heart and started to spread through her body. She stood as a rage so cold it burned expanded across her soul. She shouldered her way between Adelaide and Ryuu. When she smiled at Daphne, she was pleased when the older woman flinched.

Daphne made the mistake of looking in Meryn's direction. That was all it took to trigger Amelia's fury. Moving faster than she ever had in her life, her arm shot out and she gripped Daphne around the throat. Pulling strength from the earth, she easily lifted the woman off the ground keeping her at arm's length.

In the recesses of her mind, she heard Beth usher the other women out of the room. She didn't care who was there. All she wanted to do was destroy the woman in front of her. How dare she threaten her family! The darkness around her heart whispered to her, telling her that if she didn't kill Daphne, the woman would hurt her baby sister-cousin.

"Let me go!" Daphne gasped.

"Why should I? You're going to hurt my family," Amelia said in a monotone voice.

"What family? I don't even know you!" Daphne's lips had started to turn blue.

Amelia smiled. She thought that the color looked pretty.

A warm hand on her arm broke her train of thought. She turned her head slowly to look at Ryuu.

"Itoko-sama, think of how sad Meryn would be if you were exiled from Lycaonia." His voice was calm and even.

"She wants to hurt her," Amelia protested.

Ryuu shook his head. "I would never allow that to happen. You can let go." He squeezed his hand, and warmth ran from her wrist to her shoulder. She turned back to face Daphne.

"Gods! Her eyes are black! Help! Someone help me! She's feral!" Daphne babbled.

Slowly, Amelia lowered Daphne to the ground and released her. Daphne fell backward sobbing and clutching at her throat. "The council will hear of this!" she croaked and ran from the room.

Amelia collapsed back into her seat, appalled at what she had almost done. Ryuu's warmth began to slowly thaw the cold parts of her soul. Reality was catching up to her. She had nearly killed someone. She covered her face with both hands, unable to look at anyone.

"That kicked ass on every single level!" Meryn said excitedly.

"Meryn! Can't you see Amelia is upset?" Beth chastised.

Amelia looked out from behind her hands to see Meryn's confused expression. "Why is she upset?"

"Why?" Amelia's voice cracked. "I was going to kill her, really kill her," she whispered. The truth was almost too much to bear.

"Too bad you didn't. That bitch is going to stir up trouble later; I just know it. Better to kill her now," Meryn said as she rummaged through the cookie basket.