If I wasn't a wolf queen myself, a woman like her might make me shy about my body and appearance.
Eden continues. "We're here because Jax is my best friend."
Next to Eden, the vampire Sunny clears her throat expressively.
"Well, one of my best friends anyway," Eden corrected. "We wonder who he brought to our city."
I looked at Sunny, studying her beautiful auburn hair and delicate features. Her entire appearance, including her features, is more refined, more elegant, but no less beautiful than Eden's. In stark contrast to Eden's red sequined jumpsuit, Sunny paired a plum-colored blouse and gray pants, but still somehow looks just as cohesive and eye-catching as her friend.
I have everything not to look at my Costco jeans and my three-year-old sweater.
We were clearly from very different worlds.
"You two are very attractive," I said, dissipating some of my discomfort.
Eden refuses the comment, waving her hand. "Thank you, but it's just an evolutionary function of hunting humans. If we hunted animals like you, we'd be more like you: serious, refreshingly beautiful.
Okay, that was actually a very nice thing to say. Maybe I can get along with these vampires. Eden looks normal, at least.
The other two? The jury is still out on this one.
I looked at Ray and Jon, who were unusually quiet, and immediately knew what had kept them so busy.
Ray leans forward enough that I can see his profile and his entire lip that is a breath away from curling up and grunting. I followed his gaze and looked at the vampire king sitting right in front of me.
Jon is not far behind, stinging the king with a cruel look.
"Looks like your guys are getting regional," Eden said, as if that were a common occurrence.
Sunny took a long sigh. "Try to keep them from peeing on the floor."
"Sunny!" Eden says this after a laugh as he pokes his friend.
I wink at the scary brown haired woman. "Don't worry, I totally broke them."
Sunny's perfectly painted mauve lips curl into a smile and reward me with a single elongated ha;
Because from King Julian's tense posture and blank expression, it seems that Ray and Jon are still glaring at him. "I'm sorry, my friends, Julian. None of us are used to vampires in our mountains."
Using the king's first name without a title creates the desired effect. His gaze landed on mine, and I fought the urge to pull myself closer to Ray.
The vampire king's gaze has a physical weight, as if it were measuring my worth as a wolf. Not that he would know what makes a wolf valuable.
I cataloged everything about her eyes, trying not to squirm under her gaze. Hazel is like mine but hers is closer to brown while mine and Marih's are greener. Dark lashes, average length, really nothing special or remarkable about this king's eyes. It's not like Ray's beautiful forest green or Jon's warm brown.
Hell, even Jax's amber eyes appealed to me more than this king's smoky hazel.
But maybe I'm picky about my hazelnuts.
Yet his gaze is very strong. The air in my throat thickens, and my skin tingles with fear as all my instincts want to look away first, crouch in Ray's arms.
I will not do this.
I am Ray and Jon's omega. Not this guy. And as the consort of the Alpha Swarm, I don't bow to anyone.
Instead, I leaned forward. "We're going to have a problem if you keep looking at me like that."
Jon and Ray's low grunts echo my feelings.
*
Three Maidens, Three Kings and Sigma is a winning hand, right?
Omegas are not supposed to act like this.
We don't have to match the stare of a vampire king.
And yet I am here, relentlessly secure, knowing that I am, even though I shouldn't. And it's okay.
Sunny gently cleared her throat. As a princess can do.
Eden takes the hint and reveals his wife's name. Julian. You are disturbing our guests."
Julian's lip curled into a snarl and my men went into full guard mode. Ray is almost trembling around me, ready to be punched in this limo that isn't all that nervous and big enough to punch. Jon leaned forward in his seat, baring his fangs at the vampire king.
But Julian is not giving up. His gaze fixed mine firmly, just as the sky looks at the moon.
And so...
I become the sky, trapping it in my gaze until it can't look the other way. He cannot go free.
"Uh, maybe it wasn't a great idea for you to pick us up," Jax said from the side of the limo.
"What do you think?" Eden pokes Julian. It's tough considering how far her body went into the limo.
Ray is about to explode. The roar rising in his chest rumbles through me, promising fangs and claws and lots and lots of vampire king blood.
This is not the best way to initiate this weak alliance with our wolf brothers and sisters in America.
I turn and place my palm on Ray's chest without taking my eyes off Julian. calm downit says, Ray I have this
His body tensed, but only for a moment, before Ray allowed some of that spiral, primal, protective energy to drain from him. I know you can handle yourself, Willh. You proved it at the alpha meeting. But that doesn't change the fact that I hate this guy for seeing you like that.
Shhh. I think it's a test. Let me pass it along so we can go to Jax's herd.
Ray disagrees as he didn't smash Julian in his seat.
I pretend to yawn. I don't know how convincing it was, but the boredom in my eyes was definitely real. "Are we done playing this game now?"
Up until that point, Julian had remained statuesque except for his curved lip, which no longer curled into a snarl but a smile.
A smile that lights up the limo. Wide and shiny, Hollywood-perfect teeth and a little too much charisma for my taste. His hazel eyes sparkle with laughter as the king returns to his royal charm.
"Please accept my apology, Willah." His gaze shifted to my back. Rail. And beside me. "Dolphin." Before finally getting back to me. "I had to make sure the wild wolves of the Canadian Rockies were civilized enough to invite into my home."
I don't know whether to rejoice or insult the past, he felt the need to test us.
"Oh my God, Julian," Jax sighed, stroking his forehead. "I told you they were the same as our wolves."
"Actually you didn't. You said they were like your wolves, but they were allowed to evolve naturally, without the effect of Titus' enslavement."
Jax's eyes roll in his shaved head. "That doesn't mean-"
"I have a city to protect. Vampires to look out for. I cannot allow three unknowns to enter my domain without due diligence."
And Ray is shaking again. "You know, I think we better end this little cultural exchange here, while everyone is in their own inner world."
"I think that's a good idea." I actually don't think it's a good idea but I know it's more important to appear common in our decisions even if I want to stay and figure out how to move forward. The word "wild mountain wolf" had gotten on Ray's nerves, and I wouldn't put salt in the wound by publicly defying him. "Make sure your driver returns as soon as it's available."