A Werewolf’s Seduction - Chapter 62

Breakfast was a rowdy affair.

Devin and his uncle Van were leading a group of Cedric’s men along with another group of Andre’s men, in the raucous and off-key singing of the Raining Wolf song.

As soon as one set of lyrics was done, someone else would start again and the entire breakfast area would erupt into song once more.

A quick-thinking person began making up new lyrics using the same melody and chorus lines which inspired the better singers to create new harmonies on top of the main melody lines

Someone took out a small lute and began strumming the song, and someone else began playing mouth drums.

A few tongue clicks and clacks and mouth pops later, someone began drumming with two spoons. The two spoons became dishes being clacked and tables being tapped and thighs being whacked.

Some wise fool set up seven water goblets in varying amounts of water and began rubbing the glass mouths to make additional music sounds.

They were all having a tawdry great time when the screechy voice of someone Talia thought had been locked away for good broke into the festive atmosphere.

“For heavens sakes! I hate that song! Shut up all of you!”

The harsh high-pitched female screeching threw the men in the breakfast room into a stunned halt.

It wasn’t that there were no women in the room.

There was Countess Talia, who actually joined in a few times where she knew the lyrics.

There were also other women around who had simply laughed and served the men more food and drinks while everyone sang and ate and drank and, in general, had a good time.

The men were simply stunned that there would be such a sour woman with such poor attitude.

Who in the world was she, this shrew with the shinny copper chin-length red hair, frosty green eyes, long angular face and tall bumpy nose?

It was barely breakfast time but she was dressed in an olive colored evening gown with a face full makeup, perfect red lips, and a beauty mark on her left cheek.

Talia looked up and gave a sigh of resignation. Breakfast wasn’t even over yet and already, she had to deal with Cedric’s fiancée.

Evelyn Larabee marched into the room, her eyes fixated on Talia and her charge, the little boy Devin.

“I should have known it would be you.” She pointed her finger straight into Talia’s face. “You corrupted my nephew with your lewd songs and turn him into a hellion!”

“Aren’t you supposed to be locked up, by orders of the King? Who let you out of the dungeon?” Talia threw back.

But Evelyn, who had been locked up for almost two days was spoiling for a fight. She was no longer interested in throwing verbal darts.

With a howl of rage, she extruded razor sharp nails and ran at Talia.

Seeing danger coming and trapped between the table and the men all around her, Talia grabbed Devin and shoved him under the table, covering his body with her own.

One moment there was a howling female banshee running at her and the next moment, there was a choking sound followed by a crash as chairs went flying.

A pair of hands lifted her up gently and deposited her back onto her chair, with Devin still in her arms.

“Sit and relax.” Vander murmured gently. “I have removed the threat to you and our nephew.”

Talia looked around, seeing the startled faces of the men around her as they looked upon Vander with new-found deference and appreciation.

“Where did she go?” Talia asked, not seeing Evelyn anywhere. Did he send her to another realm?

Vander pointed to the ground. “She’s right there.”

Talia leaned forward to look past the table.

Sure enough, Evelyn had dropped to the floor in front of them.

The red haired woman was lying faced down on the dirty floor, her lips drooling spit and blood from having hit her mouth on the hard cold floor.

“Is she—still alive?”

“Certainly. She’s not worth killing. I simply paralyzed her so she wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Talia sniffed.

The memory of that same paralyzing move that he had placed on Talia not too long ago flashed into her mind, making her seethe with fury.

She hadn’t quite forgiven him for that transgression just yet, but manners were manners. He did save her from Evelyn’s attack so she had to act gracious at the very least.

“Thank you for subduing her. It’s a good skill to have—that one paralyzing trick.”

Vander suddenly guffawed. “You think I’m a one-trick-pony that only knows how to fight by paralyzing people.”

That was not a question. It was a statement.

He had seen the obvious expression on her face as she saw the woman lying on the floor.

Talia shrugged. “Isn’t that the case?”

Vander began laughing. The men around him, seeing him laugh, began to laugh too even though they had no idea what the heck he was laughing at.

Talia rolled her eyes at the men and stood up. Ain’t nobody got time for this.

“Well, if you all will excuse me. I think breakfast is over for me and Devin.”

She hitched little Devin onto her hip, and because there was no other passage out, stepped over the fallen Evelyn.

“Oh, and if you don’t mind, please pick up the trash that you left lying on the floor. It’s a major trip hazard.” She muttered as she made her way out the dining hall entrance.

Devin peered over her shoulder at the men behind them, giving a bright smile and a tiny wave to his Uncle Van.

Vander waved back at the boy with cheerful eyes.

As Devin leaned his blond head and rested on Talia’s shoulder, Vander’s eyes softened.

He watched the small slight body of the woman with long black hair walk out of the dining hall and his cold dark heart warmed and fluttered like a tiny bird.

This woman had tried to protect Devin with her own body, throwing herself over him when danger came charging through.

There was no one more suited to be Devin’s protector than Talia.