108 Carried away (1/2)

The hours of traveling had felt like days. If the fatigue of being so far inland hadn't been enough the awkward silence of the car had been. Shelly, still refusing to leave wolf form hopped out of the car the second the door on her side had opened, but Jos remained planted in the seat. Her legs felt like wet noodles ready to give the second she even considered putting pressure on them. She nearly tumbled from the back seat when her door suddenly opened and Arei towered over her. He held out a hand to stable her.

”Do you need help getting out?” He asked.

She shook her head but took his hand anyways. ”I'm still feeling a bit car sick is all.”

He nodded, ”I'll have a room prepared for you. Will you be able to make it up the steps?” He nodded toward the large Cape built home sitting atop a large cliff over looking the frigid north Atlantic sea and the lovely lighthouse that sat on the very edge of the jagged shores below. there was a steep set of stairs leading up to a massive gate branded with two large tridents.

”Isn't there a closer entrance?” Russ asked as he studied the area seeing no sign of a second road.

Arei laughed, ”Sorry pup, but this is it. You should probably get used to it. Your homelands are very much the same.” He nodded to the massive gates. ”Your castle has similar gates as these, situated on the side of a cliff as well. I believe Jos could probably tell you more about it.” He nodded toward her. ”She and Raven were the ones to save you and your sister,” He glanced down at Jos who was leaning against the car on wobbly legs. ”Were you not?”

She nodded. ”We were, but the vampires who attacked had already broken through the gates.” The memories of that day didn't do her stomach any good. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut against the gut wrenching sadness of that day. She'd tried very hard to shove those memories as deep down as she could and keep them locked away tight, but when she opened her eyes and saw the surprised, questioning eyes of not only Russ but Shelly too, she knew she'd not be able to keep it buried for much longer. She glared up at Arei, ”Thanks, I needed the images of one of my few friends horrible death right now.” She clutched her stomach tight as it rolled beneath her grip. ”I'm going to be-” She barely had time to get fully turned when the meager contents of her stomach came rushing up and splattered across the pavement. Arei rushed to her side and held her steady. ”You need to get in the water as soon as we go inside. Don't worry my brother has a heated salt water pool inside.” He laughed, ”He'll it's about the only thing inside other than beds and the minimal amounts of furniture.” He shrugged when Russ and Shelly both gave him a strange look, ”What do you expect for a man that spends the vast majority of his life in merman form.” He motioned Russ over with a flick of his head. ”Do you think you could help her to the house without being too big of an asshole?”

Russ's shoulders dropped and he looked down at his shoes. ”If she'll allow me.” He gazed longingly up at her from beneath lash hooded eyes.

Jos didn't even bother looking his direction and simply nodded as she struggled to keep down what was left of her stomach's contents. ”I doubt I'm in any shape to refuse help no matter who it's from.” She mumbled under her breath.

Arei snickered at her remark releasing her as Russ came up to her side. ”Alright then, I'll get the bags and met you up there. I've already called ahead, but I'll let them know we are here and better explain the circumstances.” He popped open the trunk and took out all the bags. Nodding toward Shelly, added. ”Come on, you can go on up with me. Though I'm sure it would be amusing to see your brother get puked on, I could do without seeing anymore the rest of the night, how about you?” He winked down at her and she gave him a wolfish grin and nodded her large furry head. Russ braced her hips as she through up once again. He rubbed her back as she continued to dry heave, clutching her stomach in pain. ”Here let me carry you've. Even if you could possibly still have anything left in there, it would only be far if you puked on me for a change.”

She couldn't help a slight laugh, ”You wouldn't be lying there.” She teased as she struggled to straighten. She leaned her body weight against the side of the car still holding her stomach. ”Ugh... At least there could have been some good rum involved in all this...” She whined.

Russ chuckled as he bent to scoop her up. ”Believe me, there's no glory in throwing up alcohol either.”

She arched her brows at him as he lifted her into his arms with ease. ”Oh really? As often as were had there for a while, I figured there must be some fun to be had by it.”

Russ winced, giving her a one eyed crocked smile, ”Not my finest hours.” He frowned, ”And neither was last night. I'm sorry Jos. I shouldn't have said those things. I know you're only concerned for my future; but you have to realize that's what it is, MY future. Shouldn't I get some say in it?”

The last bit of irritation faded away as Jos met his stubborn gaze. She stroked her palm across his stubbled jaw. ”Russ, I know you feel that way, and it would be the fair way of things... but the sad reality of life is things aren't fair. We don't always get to choose what we are and how we live. I can't choose what I am any more than you can. It has been a daily struggle for me, my entire life just to hold bad enough to live some fraction of a normal life. I've killed people, Russ... innocent people. Is that really the type of queen you want by your side? Do you really expect your people to approve?” She shook her head as tears began to build in the back of her eyes. ”I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, but the reality is even if we can get them to see past the fact that I'm not a full-blooded werewolf they will not look past the fact of what I am.”

Russ frowned, ”As their ruler I-”

Jos interrupted him. ”As their ruler, you will be held to a higher standard than the rest. They will expect you to carry the burden of producing a heir of noble blood. I know these things because your mother and I had discussed it all before.” She cupped his cheek and he leaned his face into her palm. ”It's not only the council we'd be going against, but your own parents' wishes for you as well.”

Russ stopped walking and gazed down into her eyes. ”Then fuck them all. Maybe a good son would want to honor his parents' memory by marrying someone he doesn't love and ruling a land he doesn't know...” He shrugged with her still in his arms. ”But I have no loyalty to them or their land. You and Raven were the ones that were always there for me. You are my home, my one true love, the only thing I hold loyalty to.”

Jos frowned. ”And what of your people? They will be looking to you for guidance and hope of some day getting back to the great people they were before the attacks.” He shrugged again, ”They have my uncle. He's brought them this far hasn't he?”She shook her head. ”Trust me, your uncle may have been a great warrior, but he is no leader. They wouldn't be so despite to have you back this soon if that had changed over these years.”

Russ let out a heavy sigh. ”It seems, we have a lot to talk about.” He arched his brows at her. ”Maybe this time you could start from the beginning and not leave anything out?” He said in mild irritation.

She nodded, ”Yes, but it's probably best if Shelly and Raven are both there. Shelly deserves to hear the whole story as well and Raven can fill in bits that I can't.” He smiled down at her. ”Thank you, and maybe afterwards you can let me make up for my bad behavior last night.”

Her brows furrowed, ”Russ, I don't think that's a good idea. Everything else aside, we're not good for each other as lovers.”

It was his turn to look confused and irritated. ”How so?”