Arthur hired a party planner for the Christmas gala. I took it as offense. I knew how to put together a party.
The pretentious man who had taken my job quickly wore away at my nerves so I tried to stay out of his way as much as possible.
When I held out in the kitchen I saw Emory raiding the fridge.
"Don't you have a house?" I asked and it made him jump hitting his head on the fridge door.
"Shit," he rubbed his head and turned to me. "Your husband is not letting me leave this property."
"Why?"
"For someone who is so nasty to me, you sure do ask a lot of questions and expect honest answers."
"You know why I'm nasty to you," I put my hands on my hips.
"Lil… you are married to Arthur."
"Yes… and?"
"Do you love him?" Emory asked sincerely.
"Yes," I whispered but without hesitation.
"What if you were around Arthur every day, and every day your feelings grew stronger for him but all the while he thought of you as his little sister. But you knew the truth, that Artemis had chosen you as his mate. Yet you could not tell him, you were sworn by your father you would never tell. An alpha's order that must be obeyed even if the alpha was dead."Emory shook his head. "You just hoped he would one day catch on to the truth. And so you watch him go off with other women and he pats you on the head before he leaves. What's worst, hearing others talk about his conquests and who he was screwing. But because of your position you have to smile and joke along. Let's go a step further. Rage and jealousy start to boil up in you because you know that you are rightfully his mate. And then one night you are laying in your sheets and you can hear his thoughts as he's having sex with another woman, every little detail as if you are in the room with them. You are being forced to hear every moan and every touch. All the while…" Emory choked up and his eyes began to glow an odd yellow.
"Okay," I whispered.
"I did kidnap Tally. But my wolf was forcing me. Emory the man would have went to an early grave to keep her safe and happy. But my wolf demanded what was his. And I swear to you, she came to my bed willingly after the first time. That child was conceived in love," he was being honest and I saw a wildness in his eyes.
"You're becoming a lone wolf aren't you?" I realized. "You're becoming feral."
He rubbed his eyes with his tan hand. "It's been only two weeks but without my mate… my wolf is giving up."
Lone wolves were dangerous and often died early if they were not put down. They had no human sense after awhile and they began to go through renal failure once their wolf took over completely. Like they were being poisoned by grief.
"Miss," a posh voice came from the door way. I turned to see the ever quaffed party planner.
"Mr. Allen, I am no miss," I snapped.
"My lady would work," Emory snapped at the pale little man.
"Right…" the planner looked me from head to toe. "Here is the seating arrangement." He handed me a sheet of paper. "No changes." He twirled on his heel and left the room.
I gazed over the sheet and noticed many issues. Emory took the paper from me and studied the list.
He bust out laughing. "This is great."
I jerked the paper back. "He's got to go."
Flying out the room I grasped the paper firmly.
They were going to put my mother beside the priest and across the table from Harry? They were insane.
I stomped my way Arthur's office to have a word with him. I was fuming that he hired caterers and a party planner. A party planner that had no previous experience with my family nor knew the social undertones that would be occurring. He needed to send Mr. Jonathan B. Allen away and on his posh tush.
When I stormed into the office it was deathly quiet and Arthur looked paler than I had ever seen, which was a mighty feat for a Scotsman.
"He's got to go!" I roared shaking party plans in Arthur's direction.
"Lilly," he whispered.
"No, he's a limey, pretentious, good for nothing…" I caught a glance of something move in my peripheral. "Son of a bitch," I whispered as I saw Tally shut the office door wearing a cape that touched the floor.
"Hi," she whispered with a smile.
I looked down at her stomach and it was flat as the day she left, two weeks ago. Obviously in normal terms it was… well normal. But she had been in the Fae world. Time moved differently there.
"You don't look pregnant," I pointed out.
She giggled and it was melodious. She was different. Calmer. More assured. Not… weak.
Tally gazed to the Persian rug where a baby lay on her belly trying to lift her head. She wore an antiquated lacy gown and bonnet.
"Tummy time," Tally explained. "It helps to…"
"Strengthen the neck," I finished. "I read the books too."
"How long have you been gone?" I asked suddenly.
"Ummm…" she tried to count mentally. "I believe two weeks in your terms but obviously a year in mine."
"You look good," I assessed her.
"I feel good," she smirked. "A lot of time to think and meditate."
"Not that I'm not happy, because I am, but why did you come back?" I looked between Arthur and her.
She grew solemn. "There is something coming. I saw it in the well. I saw a great sacrifice to be made and you need my help."
"We have time to discuss our options," Arthur spoke up. "But for now, I think we all need a rest."
"May I see her?" I whispered.
Tally smiled and went to pick up the baby. When I saw the chubby face it was clear who her father was.
She was the copy and paste of Emory.
Suddenly the door banged open and there he stood in the door way staring wide eyed.
"I heard her," Emory hissed looking feverishly around the office.
She rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Over here stupid," she murmured.
His eyes grew wide and he began to sway.
"He's going to faint someone get him," Tally pointed to the large man clearly in shock.
"Nah I'm good," I said crossing my arms and watching him fall flat on his face. "What do you know? You were right."
Arthur hung his head and stared at his desk. "Can nothing be simple in this family?"
"No," Tally and I said in unison.
Arthur called for a few men to come help him move the buffoon to a spare room.
Tally followed behind holding her daughter.
"What's her name?" I asked before she left the room.
"Arti," she said holding something back.
"What is it?" I whispered.
She pursed her lips. "We just need to talk."