Resurrection (5 page)

Grace gave her a soft smile and followed it up with a wink. “Well, at least I know you weren’t eaves dropping. Now, help me fill her in.”

Wendy addressed Barb, going over her duties as a professor. “Obviously, you know how young shifters can be.”

“Pains in the ass. Don’t worry. I got this.”

She scanned the woman’s resume. “If you don’t mind me asking, why the change in employment?”

Barb shook her head. “If you can believe it, I hate being a fucking lawyer with every fiber of my being.” She leaned back. “I didn’t think far enough ahead. I wanted the job, the power and prestige, but honestly, a shifter stuck in an office twelve hours a day, then dinner parties and shit at night. Stupid.”

“Well, Grace you can cover it from here.” She gathered her purse, tossing it over her shoulder.

Grace looked at the clock. “Yes, let’s go down to dinner. It should be served any time now.” She looped her arm around the shoulder of her friend. “Let me show you the mess hall. It’s fantastic.”

Wendy trailed behind, lost in thought. She surveyed her personal situation with the move. She didn’t own much beyond her own clothes and some books. She’d never wanted for anything either. She had a driver’s license but never owned a car. She drove Colin’s car, then Michelle’s after she died. But she rarely drove. Her furniture wasn’t much either. It would be easy, logistically, for her to move.

How hard would it be to adjust without the pack she’d had all of her life? Would she be able to make a pack here at the school? She knew Roman and Grace. Would that be enough?

She froze in her tracks when they reached the dining area. It was as grand as the rest of the grounds with long hand carved banquet tables, silver candelabras adorning the walls and each table, beautiful masonry everywhere and natural marble embedded throughout.

“The Dwarves masonry work is amazing, is it not?” Grace nudged her.

“This whole building is amazing. I feel like I’m in a palace, and horribly underdressed.”

Grace snickered and tucked her brown hair behind her ear. “Well, the workers are dressed pretty casually, so I think we’re fine. Of course, once school starts, it’ll be business casual attire for us. Come. Sit. They’re about to serve soon.” She pulled her to a table where they both took a seat. Once Barb sat next to Grace, they went back to chattering, allowing her mind to wander.

The workers started filling in. From the looks of it, they’d done the best to clean themselves up after a long, hard day. While they looked beat, they were all in clean clothes looking freshly showered.

“Mind if I sit?” Zoltar had his hand on the chair next to her.

“It’s a free world.” She waved him off.

He released the chair and stood stiff. “I don’t want to bother you.” He walked ten paces away and took a seat at another table.

Her shoulders shrunk. He was being polite, and she’d been rude. Her mother would have tanned her backside for such behavior. She should know better. To top it off, he was a King and she treated him like something lower than average by dismissing him.

Roman entered the dining hall and stood at the front. When everyone took their seats, he called for their attention. “Something has been brought to our attention. As many of you know, the Centaurs were aware when they made their presence known to us, that there would be some tension due to the history we all share. They’ve taken great measures to ensure their oath to us and maintain the trust they’re working so hard to build.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, scratching at the back of his head. She knew this to be a sign of stress in Roman, and instantly started to worry.

“What we didn’t know was the physical and psychological pain they would have to endure to maintain their oath. As Zoltar has explained it, they excrete an exceptionally high amount of a certain hormone that attracts females. They’ve learned to control this hormone, but not without consequence to their physical and emotional states.”

There were mumbles among the women, some grousing, some looking hopeful. She turned to look at Zoltar, who kept a firm eye on Roman.
Pain?

“Therefore, during working hours, only males will work on the West wing. This will allow them to release the control they have on themselves throughout most of the day. We don’t want our brothers to suffer and this seems like a logical solution to a complicated problem. Now, for a more complex situation, the Pixies have means of copulating without conception that’s highly effective and Ella has granted permission for her kind to, uh, assist with the needs of some of the Centaurs’ needs. As we move to a more peaceful time, we need to make adjustments as needed. It isn’t our wish to micromanage your lives. It is our position that you all are individuals with needs and desires. Do as you wish. For those of you with concerns please know Zoltar has given his word, his men will not join with any mated female without her partner’s consent. Now that I’ve given you plenty to discuss over dinner, let’s eat.”

He took three giant steps until he was sitting across from Grace. “Well that was uncomfortable.”

“What sort of pain are they in?” Wendy felt her face burn with embarrassment as the question crossed her lips.

He sighed. “A lot of emotional suffering from what I gather. Playing around with hormones doesn’t come without repercussion. From what I understand, they’ve all been keeping a tight wrap on things since approaching us at our wedding. They’re starting to have breakdowns.”

She fidgeted with the napkin in front of her then slowly scooted her chair back, stood and walked over to Zoltar. “Excuse me,” she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Wendy?” He looked up at her, his eyes wide.

“I think I owe you an apology. Would you please join us at our table?” She didn’t care that her face burned red with embarrassment this time. It was small penance for being so rude.

He nodded and followed her. “What made you change your mind?” he asked as he sat.

“I was rude. It was uncalled for. I wanted to say something at the time, but Roman came in and started making the announcement.” She shook her head. “It delayed me for a few.”

Gazing down toward the table, his brows pulled together. “I was beginning to worry I had offended you.”

Her heart sank. Here she was brooding over being lonely and this man…this man was so nice and she had been less than nice.

“So am I forgiven?”

He smiled at her. “Nothing to forgive.”

Trays of food were served, giving her a much needed distraction. When the lid was lifted on her plate, her mouth watered. A porterhouse steak, a baked sweet potato and sautéed green beans glistened on the plate. Now she had to figure out how to devour this meal without looking like a pig. She cut a slice of meat and took a bite. “Wow, this is fantastic.”

From across the table Roman waved his fork in a circle. “We have some of the best cooks we could find. Of course the students won’t be eating like this but with so much work going on, we need our workers strong and healthy. A good hot meal at the end of the day makes a huge difference.” He smiled as he crammed a huge chunk of steak in his mouth. “Plus men like steak.”

“Men? Women like steak!” She cut off a big hunk of her own and shoved it in her mouth. “Pup.”

With a roll of the eyes, he chuckled. She’d always thought of him like a little brother. He and Colin had been so close it was hard to think of him as anything less.

“Z, I know I’ve said it a million times already. But you have really done something special here. The building is fantastic.” She nudged him. “You’re quite the engineer.”

Thick lips curved into a smile that he attempted to hide as he wiped his mouth with the napkin. “I’ll take all of the compliments you can dish out.” He folded his napkin neatly before placing it on his plate. “The meal was fantastic, Roman. Good choice on those cooks! I haven’t had a steak cooked this perfectly in ages.”

There was pride in the smile Roman returned to him.

Zoltar leaned over toward her. “If I can push just a little, I was wondering if you’d honor me with your company. I’d like to share a glass of wine with you and a chat, if that’s okay with you?”

She opened her mouth to object.

He interrupted before she could speak. “I promise to stay as honorable as I have all day.”

Snapping her mouth shut before she could object and offend him again, she let a smile spread across her lips instead before simply replying, “Okay.”

He led her out of the dining hall and down another corridor. “I already have my living space set up. I’ve been staying here for the last few weeks. This way, you get some insight to how your space will look with some furniture.” He glanced at her while they walked.

“I’d very much like to know about this pain Roman discussed.”

He chuckled. “I’m not a colt anymore, Wendy. I’m fine.”

She didn’t buy it. Roman would have specified if it were only the young Centaurs who were suffering. On the other hand, she had suspicions her attraction to him was the gift they have for seduction and she’d very much like to know if he was using it on her now.

Surprise took her as he opened the door to his place. The layout was the same as everyone else’s. No special accommodations for the builder. It did reek of masculinity. Black leather couches, a bear skin rug and minimal decoration, but what was there, was defiantly manly. One lone painting was hung above a faux fireplace. It was of a Centaur.

“Who is that?” she asked, pointing at the portrait.

“My Great-Great Grandfather. He was a great warrior among our people. He was also a kind and gentle ruler. I’ve done everything in my power to live up to his legacy.” Tucking his hands in his pockets, he nodded toward the kitchen. “Now, I’ll go get that wine.”

She watched as he walked over to his kitchen and gathered two stem-less wine glasses. He uncorked a bottle and filled the glasses before carrying them into the living room. “Please. Sit.”

Finding a spot on the couch, she placed her purse on the table beside her. She ran her hands on the leather. “Faux leather?”

His husky chuckle made his large chest bounce. “God, no. We believe you honor the animal you just killed by adorning your home or yourself with clothing, weapons, shoes, décor and the like with anything you do not eat. This way the animal’s sacrifice to feed us is honored by including nearly every part of the animal, instead of letting it rot. To toss away the skin and fur with the trash is just wrong.”

“I agree.” She felt a bit awkward asking such a question, but had little idea of how to strike up an easy conversation with the Centaur who had her so off balance.

He handed her a glass. “To new alliances.”

“New alliances,” she repeated before touching her glass to his. She took a sip and tried to hide her surprise as the sweet delicious flavor in the glass. This man could pick the wine! “Now, speaking of alliances, you do believe that honesty is the best policy among allies. Don’t you?”

“Indeed.” One eyebrow rose toward his blond curls.

“Then I will start with a bit of honesty. You make me uncomfortable.”

His shoulders fell. “Really?”

She nodded. “That kiss, in the woods. I just meant to give you a quick peck and shut you up.”

“But that’s not what happened,” he said as his lips spread into a grin.

“No. It’s not. And I find that troubling. Were you releasing whatever your special hormone is?” She eyed him.

He shook his head. “No. Not at all. I was in full control at the time.”

After another sip of wine she placed her glass on the coffee table. “Your turn. Ask me a question.”

His eyes widened. He took a giant gulp of wine before putting his glass next to hers. “I’m not sure what to ask.”

It made her laugh. “Sure you are. There has to be something you want to know.”

He turned toward her and put his arm on the back of the couch. “I see no bonding mark on you. Have you ever been mated?”

She shook her head, trying to hide how uncomfortable the question made her feel. But she’d asked for it. “I had a few short relationships, but there was never any real chemistry. My father tried to arrange a mating before he passed away, but that was during the last war and the Lycan passed in battle.”

His lips curved downward as his look turned somber. “Did you mourn him?”

“I hadn’t even met him yet.” She leaned in, looking into his chocolate eyes. “Why do you keep flirting with me?”

His face reddened. “I’ve been drawn to you since the moment I laid eyes on you. The more I get to know about you, your personality, the more drawn I feel.”

She’d never considered her own personality before.

As if reading her mind, he continued. “You’re a natural caretaker, caring for your pack’s every need. You mother others as if they were your own. I watched you closely. You never seem annoyed when anyone asks you for anything.”

“That’s your assessment?” The thought of him studying her made her heart leap. Stifling her grin wasn’t working. She could feel her lips tightening as she fought it and assumed she must have looked amused.

“
So
far, yes.” He rested the side of his head against his fist. “But I’d like to know more.”