Rich Blood

Chapter 12: A Favor

Richard's POV

As I walked out of the basement away from the Feral, my mind was racing.

Demetrius and Selene's betrothal. The High Priestess. Today's attack.

By now the press was having a field day with what had happened.

I go to my study where I find the door ajar from this morning when I first got word of the attack and had raced out the door.

Shit.

I enter, lock myself in, pull out my laptop and bring up the security footage. I need to know if she came in. Everything seemed in place, but I still need to know.

It only took a matter of minutes before I find the moment where she stood at the entrance of the study. I watch her hesitate then walk away. I breath a sigh of relief. One thing went my way today.

Before he even knocks on the door, I can sense Hector approaching. I get up to unlock the door and open it right as his hand is up to knock.

"We need to talk."

"Yes, we most definitely do."

Selene's POV

After I take my bath, I feel much more level headed but I'm still replaying the feeling of Richard's breath on my neck. How the hear of his body encompassed me like a flame I wanted to be consumed in. I blow dry my hair, get dressed, in jeans, a long sleeved v-neck and my flats. Just a touch of make up and I'm ready to head out of my room.

I know we are supposed to talk later, but I'm not sure how that will go down, and I'd like to have a chance to run in the woods first. My wolf is dying to get out.

I go downstairs and head to the living room, where I thought it may be best to wait for him to return from the basement. Much to my surprise, it isn't empty, as usual.

Grecian is there, reading a tabloid, with laid back on the couch. I quietly turn to leave but he calls out.

"Don't leave on my account."

I turn back around and walk up to introduce myself. "Selene-

"Fengari. Yeah, the new maid." He stands up and goes to shake my hand. "Aren't you a cute little thing."

Blushing, I stumble over my words, "Oh, um, thank you."

"I've seen you walking around. Sorry I haven't introduced myself yet, I tend to, uh, stay out."

"Yeah, I noticed." I said weakly. I hate small talk.

"Anyway, I just came in because I wanted to see what the Knights were doing here, gotta be nosey sometimes, ya know?"

I nod and smile. Grecian, while looking like a weaker version of his older brother was so very different in demeanor. Richard was an Alpha and Grecian was barely a Beta. Maybe an Omega.

"Do you know what's going on?" He asked almost causally.

"There was an attack downtown. Ferals."

"f*****g Ferals. Nasty little beasts. I smelled blood walking in, was anyone hurt?"

Before I could answer Hester entered the door.

"Hester!" Grecian said, over enthusiastically.

"Grecian." He greeted him in a cold way that was uncharacteric for him then addressed me, "Ms. Selene, Mr. Blooding was hoping to have a quick word with you in his study."

"Ohhh, the study." Grecian's words were slimy feeling. "Mustn't keep the king waiting. It was such a pleasure meeting you, dear. Let find time to chat again."

And he walked out of doors that led to the veranda and his guest house.

Hester kept his eyes on him the whole time until he was out of sight then gestured me out of the room.

I walked in the study, where I found Richard sitting at his desk, just as I had a week ago when we first met. I heard the door close behind me and saw that he and I were totally alone.

Part of me hoped he would stay seated and the other part wanted him to run towards me, pick me up and let things go from there.

"Mr.-"

"Richard."

"Richard, I wanted to-"

"Before we address what happened earlier," he cleared his throat, could he be nervous talking about it? "I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?"

Richard's POV

I hate what I am about to do. Looking at her standing there, I want to throw her onto this desk and taste every inch of her. But there is not time for that now. Maybe later, but maybe never. I would never force her to do anything. She cannot help who her family is and what they make her do. My mind goes back to the dinner we had on her first night here "No matter what, I'm pretty much dead already."

Is that how she views being here with me? I so badly want to change that. Is that how she views a future with Demetrius? She wouldn't be far off, he has a reputation with disposing his wives once they become obsolete or know too much. I want to keep her safe from that as well.

"What do you know of the Coven of the Eclipse?"

This takes her off guard, of all the things she thought I'd ask, this is probably the last on the list.

"What do you mean? Like who they are?" Her voice is almost a laugh. Every were, lycan and feral knows of the Coven and their High Priestesses. This comes as a relief, she knows nothing of the missing priestess. Even if I can't read her thoughts, her body language is a dead giveaway when she lies.

"What do you know of the missing one?"

"I know she went missing as she was on her annual pilgrimage. About two or three lunar cycles ago."

"And you know what that means?"

"Without the three priestesses there are no lunar eclispes."

"And with no lunar eclipse, our Lycans become weaker."

She looks shocked. Good. Her not being privy to this information means she truly has no idea.

"The counsel is well aware that the missing High Priestess was taken by one of the rebelling packs, or by the Ferals under their command. As a way to not only make me look weak as a ruler but to make me weaker, stunt my powers, my strength."

"Richard, I don't know-"

"I trust, you were kept in the dark about this."

She sighed.

"The favor I have to ask of you is not one I ask lightly. The Feral we brought in for questioning seems to have information on the High Priestess' whereabouts."

"Okay, what does that have to do with me?"

"He wants you to bandage him up. Then he'll talk."