309- The Scent That Lingered
POV Seraphine Valerian:
“For now, I’ll stay here.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I felt again the impression that he preferred me far from there. But of course that wasn’t it. Konrad was just worried about me, like my aunt.
“I need to see what I’ll do with his things, the house.”
“Then, after that…”
“I still don’t know. Do you want me to leave right away?”
“No! What an idea!”
“It’s just that everyone seems to want me far from here!”
“Why do you say that?”
“My father made me promise, my aunt insists. He was buried today. I don’t need to run away.”
“Of course not. Then let’s do this: tomorrow you take care of everything you need. The day after tomorrow, I’ll pick you up for an outing. What do you think?”
“I’m so tired… can we see later how it goes?”
“Yes, don’t worry.” I felt his tone grow colder and imagined I was being too bothersome. I regretted disturbing him.
“Thank you.”
“Take care, Seraphine. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
I said goodbye and remained curled up in bed, staring at the windowpane beyond the sheer curtains. I felt no fear, only sadness. And that feeling stayed with me throughout the next day, during the prayers and visits from neighbors, while I was helped to choose my father’s belongings that would go to the fire.
I found little letters of mine, sent when I was a child. Always asking if I could come live with him, filled with drawings. I remembered each one, as well as the hopes nurtured every year.
I felt a deadly hatred toward the real or imagined creature that had kept my father away from me. If I found it, I would end its immortal life! Or at least the centuries it still had left.
I kept the letters with me, as well as a ring he always wore. The rest, I handed over to the people, and in the late afternoon, I took a bath, put on a black dress, and waited for the night to come.
I did not answer Konrad’s new phone call, my mind too full. The next day, when everything was over, I would speak with him.
After the bonfire, I would truly need to make decisions.
(...)
POV Viktor Averwyn:
It was hard to concentrate on work after I got back from that damned meeting, and the same went for the following day.
To make things worse, everything remained stressful, with several matters requiring my direct involvement.
I monitored the shipment outflow for some clients, which was large in volume and full of precious gems. In these cases, I didn't use the road.
I had created a passage on one face of the cliff, with an elevator along the slope. Down below, there was a pier and a building with guards, built against the rock. A large boat and some smaller ones were stationed on the wide, clear river. From there, distribution to the capital was easier and safer.
Everything went through my scrutiny. The high-tech system required a password to move the elevator, and it always returned to the top of the cliff. That way, if anyone came by water and tried to climb up to my territory, they wouldn't find it easy. Not to mention the ever-armed guards and the cameras linked to my office.
It was already late afternoon when I finally disentangled myself from that and returned to the downtown office to handle other issues. My mind worked the whole time, seeking options for the next meeting, two weeks away. I only knew that bastard would never lay a finger on my daughter.
"Alpha Viktor, long time no see! We've been missing you!" I stopped upon seeing the beautiful female in front of the building, smiling at me.
It was Georgeta, one of the three duchesses who owned the village brothel.
"I've been busy."
"I can tell. That furrow between your eyebrows, the expression like you're going to eat someone alive." She licked her lips, her arousal reaching me. "I offer myself as a sacrifice, if you want."
She was the most good-humored of the three and the best at giving head. I certainly needed it. I assessed if I had time.
Katarina, Georgeta, and Anica were beta wolves. They would never find their predestined mates nor get pregnant. They cared little about that, using the fact to their advantage. That's how they created The Duchesses' Nest, since they would never have a chance to be queens in my territory.
They entertained the males and earned many jewels, gifts, luxuries, and pampering. They had fun in the process and became beloved figures in the village. Every now and then there was some stress with a jealous female, but it was rare.
"I know you don't like showing up at the Nest..." Her warm gaze swept over me. "But I can visit the castle. Alone or with the others."
That was the most common arrangement. When I needed to fuck, I'd call all three to my bed. Or I'd take every possible female during the Lust festival. But I didn't go to their brothel, to avoid running into the village wolves.
I appreciated her attributes, her breasts lifted by the tight dress, her curly black hair falling over her shoulders, her smooth, dark brown skin.
Georgeta had a pleasant scent of daisies and grass, but what disturbed me was that other unfamiliar perfume, which kept haunting me everywhere. Worsening my mood.
"Fuck, I'm swamped with things to handle!" I ran my fingers through my hair. "I'll only have time for that at night."
"But you need to de-stress now. I can go in and relieve you while you work. Quick and easy. What do you think?"
"Come."
She followed me through the building. Downstairs was the reception area, with a file room and a small display of the metals and ores we produced. It was where I received certain clients who had permission to enter the fortress. Upstairs was my office.
The receptionist greeted me and perked up when he saw Georgeta, waving at her and earning a smile.
I opened the door with my fingerprint and went straight to my chair behind the desk, warning:
"Can't take too long this time."
"I know. Leave it to me."
My urge was to throw the seductress onto the desk and fuck her hard. I generally liked to take my time licking and biting, but I was pissed off about everything and there was a pile of important documents to dispatch that very day.