Chapter 42: Inseparable

Byron

The formal ceremony dissolved into a rocking party. Daphne definitely knew how to throw a party. There was music and food and our signature Valiant Mountain blackberry brandy was flowing freely. Bella was so happy, and her happiness made the whole pack giddy. Even Wyatt couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot.

Bella had never been to a party, so it was all new to her. She was dazzled by the chaos. She claimed that she did not know how to dance, but when we pulled her out into the center to teach her... she didn’t need an instructor. She closed her eyes and started to sway to the music, and before we knew it, she was dancing naturally, as if she’d been doing it all her life. I never thought I would see the day when she was so relaxed, and so care-free. She laughed, she greeted guests, she popped food into her mouth now and then, between dances.

Finally, she threw up her hands, “Ah I need a rest!” and we escorted her back to the table of honor, where Daphne and Louis Levesque were already sitting. Louis was sipping blackberry brandy and watching the festivities with detached interest. Apparently grinding on the dance floor was below the king. Daphne was half-partying, and half managing. Now and then she would dart from her seat when she saw some detail that needed attention, like the little kids that had climbed under the buffet table, or the human waitress from the catering company that was getting drunk on the free brandy.

I picked up Bella’s bare feet and put them on my lap. I didn’t mind that they were a little dirty, as I started to rub at the sore spots. She sighed and slumped back in her chair.

Wyatt cleared his throat and turned to the king. “Eh, Louis. Forgive me, but there is a question I must ask.”

“Of course, ask.” Louis said amiably.

“Your brother?” he shot a worried look at Bella. “Has he been... taken care of?” I knew he was trying to be subtle, so as not to upset our Luna on her special night. But Louis Levesque apparently didn’t have a subtle bone in his body.

“If you are asking me if Avery is dead, the answer is no. But do not worry, he is no longer a threat.”

“We just want to make sure that Bella is safe.” I said firmly.

Louis gave me a hard look, and for a moment, something scary and dangerous flashed in his green eyes. “I have sentenced my brother to fifteen years of LIFE. Fifteen years of life without his mate. He will know the torture of having to face every day without her. Of knowing he caused her death. I will not let him die until he has tasted the insanity of living without his soul.” He swirled the brandy in his glass and took another sip. “I pray you boys will never know the horror of being betrayed by your own brother.”

I sat back, a bit stunned. I shot a look at Wyatt. Remind me never to get on his bad side.

I know, right? He shot back.

Bella just blinked at him, as though she didn’t really know what to make of it.

I wanted to take her mind of the gory idea of Avery Levesque being kept in some dark, forlorn place, probably hooked to an IV and a feeding tube, while he suffered for the next fifteen years. I had a feeling, wherever the king had put the poor bastard, he wasn’t ever going to escape. I leaned forward and set a glass of brandy in front of Bella.

“Try our brandy, sweetheart. It's one of the things we are famous for.”

She started to reach for the glass and then pulled back her hand as if she’d been burned. Her eyes got wide as she tucked the offending hand back in her lap. “No. Thank you.” She said stiffly.

“Why not? Don’t tell me you’ve never tasted alcohol before?” I teased her, pushing the glass closer.

“Well actually, I haven’t.” Her eyes went to her lap, and her hands began to twist together.

“Then tonight is the night!” I said jovially.

“No. I can’t.”

“Sure you can.”

Her mouth thinned into a line and she got a stubborn look on her face. “I can’t,” she growled, pulling her feet out of my lap.

I opened my mouth, but I was interrupted as Louis Levesque slammed his glass down on the table. “Are you stupid?”

I gaped at him. Apparently, I was, very, very stupid.

Wyatt, he was always the smart one. He had a flabbergasted look on his face as he pushed the glass of potent alcohol away from Bella. He scooted his chair closer to her, and lowered his voice. “Bella? Are you...?”

I looked between the two of them, feeling completely clueless and left out. “Is she what?”

She shrugged helplessly, and nodded her head toward Louis. “He thinks so,” she whispered back.

“Of course she is!” Louis boomed with a big grin.

I was getting really irritated. “She is WHAT?” I practically shouted over the music.

“PREGNANT!” Louis shouted back, just as the music ended. The entire crowd fell silent for all of five seconds, and then an excited and congratulatory roar went up. And I fell out of my chair.