Louisa's POV
My mind was spinning fast, and suddenly, like a strike of lightning, a sound appeared in my mind.
"It's in the water."
The prophecy of the dream. The hissing sound of that snake.
"I guess I know what happened..." I mumbled.
Lucas looked at me and said, "Shut up, woman. His Excellency and I are talking business here. Put that fucking vampire boy into the guest room and go upstairs."
"Don't talk to my sister like that, Lucas," Zackery frowned and said.
"Technically speaking, she's my woman, Your Excellency. I paid fifty grand for her."
"I'll give you a hundred grand and I'll buy you," Zackery said.
"I'm afraid I'm not for sale, Your Excellency." Lucas held me tightly in his arms.
"Are you defying my order again?" Zackery raised an eyebrow.
"Fuck, no. I wouldn't dare to do that. I'm just declining your offer, Your Excellency," Lucas said.
"Why are you holding my sister like that? You're making her very uncomfortable," Zackery said.
"You call this uncomfortable, Your Excellency? Well, I'll show you right now what makes you really uncomfortable."
Having said that, Lucas was trying to peel my top.
"Don't touch my mom! I'll bite you! Your forearm will be gone and you'll be rolling on the floor and crying!" Will shouted.
"I'm fed up with you, little dead weight. She's not your mother! Stay out of my way right now so I can fuck her," Lucas said.
"Touch her again and I swear I'll chew your face off!" Will snarled.
"Leave that boy alone. Can't you pick someone your own size?" Zackery said.
"Yes, Your Excellency. But apparently, there's only one man in this fucking room," Lucas roared.
"Enough! Everyone! Shut up and listen to me!" I raised my voice.
The room became silent. Everyone was watching me.
"I know who's behind all this," I said. "None of you have anything to do with tonight's event. I've already got a theory and a witness. But I still need proof. And I need you to help me."
"I'm not going to work with this ghastly creature," Zackery said and pointed at Lucas, with disgust on his face.
"What part of me makes you think of that, Your Excellency?" Lucas asked.
"You're too hairy," Zackery said in an intentionally offensive way.
"Your Excellency, I've always wanted to ask you this question from day one. Are you really gay?" Lucas said in an even more offensive tone.
"Do you want to go upstairs and figure out who's on top?" Zackery looked offended and said.
Will looked up at me and asked in confusion, "What are they talking about?"
I covered his ears in a panic.
"Boys," I cleared my throat and said, "First of all, you all look pretty. Second, just shut up and listen to me. Whoever says one more word while I'm talking will be kicked out of the room and sleep with Torrent and Blanco tonight!"
Both Lucas and Zackery were silent.
"Ah, great. Silence. Now we're talking." I took a deep breath and said.
"I need to go back to the camp right now. I have to look for some evidence. Can you help me?"
Both Lucas and Zackery remained silent.
"This is the time that you can say something," I said.
"It's fucking dark," Lucas said.
"And the wolves are crazy," Zackery added.
They are finishing each other's sentences. That's a good sign. I thought to myself.
"We have to go back, guys. If we don't go back right now, I'm afraid someone will want to tamper with the evidence," I said.
"I can ask Lucian to do it for us," Lucas said.
"He's not your servant. And he's got a pregnant wife in his tent and thousands of violent wolves outside. He can't leave his tent, Lucas," I said.
"Alright, alright. So you've made your fucking point, woman. I'll take you back." He said and stood up, holding me in his arms.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up at him.
Will shifted into a little bat and crawled into my hair.
It must be the effect of the full moon. He looked so handsome under the silver moonlight.
I couldn't help myself but kiss him on his chin and lowered my head.
"Did you kiss me, little sloth?" I heard Lucas' voice.
"No," I replied without looking up. "It must be Will. He was flapping his wings."
"I didn't touch him," Will's head popped up from my hair and said next to my ear.
"He can't hear you," I said to Will.
My chin was lifted up by Lucas.
"You can't move now." He stared at me with a big smirk on his face. He looked like a naughty kid.
"I can take you everywhere I want and do whatever I want to do," he gloated.
"Stop looking at me like that," I said and bit my lips.
"I normally don't kiss a girl with a bat in her hair, but I guess there's a first time for everything," he said.
Then, before I could say anything, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against mine.
"Don't... do... that..." I gasped and whispered. But I didn't protest and let him have his way.
The drive of the full moon was so compelling that I couldn't possibly say no to my mate.
I knew he was just doing this to get back at Zackery.
He's like a dog, peeing everywhere to mark his territory.
"OK, stop fooling around with my sister and get on your horse. We need to hurry up," Zackery's voice sounded very impatient.
"Can someone explain why I have to work at this late hour?" Torrent neighed when we got on to his back.
"Shut up, Torrent. You sound like a whinny bitch," Blanco said.
"Language! Skinny ass!" Torrent lifted his front hooves in the hair.
"You look fat and that's why you have to eat my dirt!" Blanco whinnied and shot out of the ground like a spring.
"Are they having a conversation?" Lucas asked me.
"Since when do you start to care about what animals are talking about?" I said.
"Since I met you." He replied and held me tightly in his arms.
OK. He's using the cruelest voice to say the most tempting words. It must be the effect of the full moon. I have to remain calm. I told myself.
"Akela told me that she's going to the town to do the measurement for her wedding dress tomorrow. She's asking me to go with her," I said.
"Yeah. Pick one for yourself and I'll pay for it," Lucas said in a mellow voice without looking at me.
"What do you mean?" I frowned and asked.