Prime Obsession(57)

And if that sentiment didn’t get stuck in the old bat’s craw nothing would.

Wulf inclined his head. “Thank you, Aunt.” He gathered Mel even closer, his hand stroking her back. “Lubha, do you wish to remain after being so insulted by my father’s sister?”

The tension in the entry hall came from Beria. She didn’t want them to leave.

 “Wulf? Why did she insult us when she wants us to stay?”

 “Not sure.”

 “There is a trap. I can sense it. She has a sort of sick excitement underlying her other emotions.”

 “I hate you risking yourself this way, lubha .”

 “Maybe it is you who is at risk, gemat? ” Wulf’s growl tickled her mind. “That’s the growl I love. It makes me hot.”

 “Just wait until I get you alone in our bed.”

 “It’s always later with you, Wulf” His male snort vibrated down her spine.

“We can stay, Wulf,” Mel finally answered after the waves of agony off Beria had made an impression even on Ilar and Lorinda, who both frowned at their hostess with distaste.

“It is understandable that my discovery seems improbable. I’m sure your Aunt won’t be the only person to question my turning up at this time in the Prime’s history.” Beria heaved a sigh of relief and inclined her head. “You are too kind, Melina.” She gestured behind her to some doors leading to an outdoor room. “Please, we have finger foods and drinks on the terrace. And there are swim outfits in the pool house if you wish to take a dip. Please make yourselves at home. Dinner will be ready in about an hour.” Ilar, with Lorinda by his side, led the way to the veranda. Huw and Nadia and Iolyn and Lia followed them. Mel, with her hand on Wulf’s arm, brought up the rear.

Wulf leaned down and spoke in a low, harsh tone, “You are not to go anywhere without someone with you. If my dear aunt has planned something, I’d rather she single me out. Also, do not eat or drink anything until Beria or Luka drink it first.”

“If you didn’t want to stay and play this out, then why didn’t you say so!” she hissed back.

Wulf stopped and turned her into his arms, then leaned down for a quick kiss.

Anyone looking would think he was following through on the stimulation of their markings. As his lips took hers, he rasped, “It hit me that I could lose you.” As his tongue thrust deeply into her mouth, she answered on their mind-link. “You won’t lose me. And I won’t lose you. We’ll play this out and trap them if they try something. Our crews surround this property. No one will leave here without someone following.”

Wulf stroked her back, taking gentle nibbles of her lips. “You’re correct, Melina love. But something could always go wrong. Humor me. Stay with one of us and don’t eat or drink unless we can show the food is safe.”

 “Fine.” She stroked his chest, then his tightly clenched jaw. “I promise.” He pulled away and smiled at her, stroking a gentle finger along her cheek . “I love you, Melina.”

“Ditto, Wulf.” She hugged him one last time before joining his brothers and their dates.





* * * *





Since no one trusted the food, most of Ilar’s party stuck with bottled Prime beer chilled in a large tub of ice. If Beria and Luka thought that was strange, they didn’t say or do anything to confirm it.

“I think we need to leave before dinner is served,” Mel said. “It would look really obvious if none of us touched our food. We can’t all be on diets or not hungry.” Mel’s stomach chose that moment to growl. “It’s the meatball thingies. The smell is making me hungry.”

Huw chuckled and tucked Nadia’s hand even more tightly against his body. She hissed and glared at him, but said nothing. “Aunt Beria is putting off vibes even I can read.”

“She’s guilty as sin,” Lorinda said, casting her sister-in-law a glare that could kill.

“The longer I’m around you and Wulf, the more I can read the emotions in the room.”

“Mother, I’m pretty sure Melina and Wulf are amplifiers for strong emotions,” Iolyn said, keeping his tones low so Beria and Luka could not overhear their discussion. “I’d read such in books on the battle-mate connection, but because we haven’t had such a couple in several centuries it could never be proven before now.” Lorinda smiled and nodded. “I, too, have read the same theories.”

“So, when do you think they’ll make their move?” Ilar asked as he pulled Lorinda into his side as if to protect her from his sister’s evil thoughts.

Wulf shrugged, his eyes never leaving his aunt and her husband as they gave directions to their house servants. “It could be today—or it could be later on the way home. Or, they could be planning something for the party you and Mother have planned.

Although that venue would be harder for them to control.”

“Or it could be even later, after we let our guard down,” Mel added. “Let’s push the envelope.”

She turned to Nadia and Lia, who both had stuck like glue to Wulf’s brothers.

“Nadia, would you like to repair with me to the ladies’ room?” She smiled at the men and Lorinda. “We’ll keep up the stereotypes of women going to the bathroom together. Lia and Lorinda can follow in, oh, say a couple of minutes to report on any suspicious movements and to check on us.”

Nadia smiled. “I love action. Don’t get to see much of it as a science officer. It’ll be like the old days when we were training together, Mel.”

“What if they don’t plan on kidnapping?” hissed Huw. “What if they just shoot you both?”

Wulf growled. “Yeah.”

“I’m not easy to kill. I think I’ve proven this many times since you’ve met me. Plus, Nadia has my back.”

She reached for Nadia’s arm. “Besides, they want to make you suffer a while, Wulf.

They’ll taunt you with my capture. If Beria and Luke are fronting for the rebels, they’ll use me as a means of negotiating for concessions on the purity issue.”

“But that isn’t what Beria really wants,” growled Wulf. “Dammit, she practically admitted her real agenda in the hall earlier. The succession in power is what she is more concerned about.”

“But it’ll be the dupes she has convinced of her purist agenda that will be doing the dirty work,” Mel said in a low voice. “They’ll want concessions. And they’re expendable, if they are captured. Beria and Luka care nothing for the pawns they’re using.” Wulf grunted and nodded. “I agree. But if you’re hurt—one little hair—I will strangle my aunt with my own hands.”

“I’ll help,” Ilar said, his face couched in grim lines.

Mel waved their concerns away. “Even if they do manage to whisk us away, we have all sorts of backup plans in place. After all, we knew this could be a trap,” she added before she walked away with Nadia by her side.

They approached Beria. “Aunt, Nadia and I need to use the ladies’ facilities. Could you direct us, please?”

Beria smiled at them, well, if you could call a slight curving of pruny, thin lips a smile. “Yes, of course. It is the third door on the right after you reach the top of the stairs.”

“Thank you.” Mel followed Nadia.

She felt the eyes of Beria boring into her back the whole way up the stairs. The emotions coming off the woman were many. Gloating. Satisfaction. Anticipation. Fear.

With hate and sick envy underlying them all. Yes. The trap would be sprung in the ladies’

room.

 “Wulf? Did you get all that?”

 “Got it. Be careful.”

 “Hey, careful is my middle name—just ask my crew.” Wulf’s snort made her smile.



Mel was eager to move forward. This would be the first step in stopping the rebels and their destructive movement against the future of the Prime people. With Beria and Luka out of the picture, the rebels would have no money to hire costly mercenaries to do their dirty work and no power at the highest levels of Prime government to distort the truth with council members on the edge on the subject.

“Be ready, Nadia,” Mel warned. “Beria is way too happy and excited about us going to the bathroom.”

Nadia leaned over as they counted doors. “What do you think? Someone waiting in the room to attack us?” Her science officer reached for the weapon under the back of her flowing top.

“No.”

Mel paused outside of door number three. “The room is empty.” She swept the hallway with her senses. “They’re in one of the other rooms.” Mel opened the door slightly. “Maybe they plan is to come in after we enter.” Nadia nodded at her. “Go. I will cover you. And I’ll lock the door behind us. That should slow them down if they try to enter later.”

They walked into the room. It was a bedroom with doors onto the terrace that circled the house. The bathroom was off to the side, the door open and a light on the vanity to welcome guests into the room.

Mel looked at Nadia and shrugged, then signaled that she’d check out the closet while Nadia checked the rest of the room. After locking the door into the hall, Nadia went to the doors leading to the terrace and locked them, after looking around outside.