Precarious Possessions (Maxwell Investigations) (3 page)

The frown Victor wore continued to deepen as Madison
continued to ramble. He glanced up and frowned at the darkening sky. “Let us go
inside and talk my dear,” he suggested wrapping an arm around her waist.

Deep brown eyes looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m just out
of it tonight.” She allowed him to walk her into the house and leaned her head
on his shoulder. “You shouldn’t see me like this. It ruins my rep.”

Victor mused. Madison’s reputation was the last thing he
ever cared about. “I was there when you used to wet the bed. I do believe we
are past that.” When he guided her into the living room, a single eyebrow
arched. “What is going on here?”

Madison lifted her head and frowned deeply when she saw
Claudia, Victor’s long-lost granddaughter blushing and looking away from Madison’s
own foster son, Alex. “I hope we’re interrupting something,” she said darkly.

Alex smiled as walked over to Madison. She had taken him in
four years ago, and he adored her ever since. “Mom, I was just telling Claudia
that I got accepted into the Ashley Michaels Business Program,” he replied
happily. “We’ll be able to take some classes together.”

Victor held onto Madison’s waist as she turned to glare at
Claudia. “That’s wonderful Alex.” He then looked at Madison with wide eyes when
thoughts Claudia’s bloody and broken body crossed his mind.

Claudia blinked as well. She then swallowed and moved to the
far side of the room. She had always known that Madison had a dangerous temper,
and she had never wanted to test it.

She still didn't.

Alex looked into Madison’s eyes and felt his shoulders fall.
“It’s a full moon tonight, isn’t it?” he asked lowly.

Madison read his expression and closed her eyes tightly. She
never wanted to be
that
person.
Someone everyone would have to walk around on eggshells in fear of a meltdown.
It was especially heart wrenching when Alex would give up all of his plans with
friends to take care of her and/or the twins. “Why don’t you two go to a movie
or something?” she suggested.
“Just to get out and away for a
while.”

Alex put his hands on her shoulders and made her look into
his eyes. “It’s cool Mom,” he said softly. When she started to shake her head
he hugged her. “Don’s hurt, so I’ll just look after the boys.”

“Actually, that is why Casper and I are here,” Victor said
lowly. When Alex and Madison looked at him, he shrugged. “He does not wish to
be around Crispin and Dylan all of the time either.”

Madison slowly nodded as she continued to hold onto Alex.
She adored him, and hated herself for needing him so much. “Go out and have fun.”
Before he could try to argue, she stepped away from him and went to the window.

Victor gave Alex a long look before nodding. “Go and have a
good time,” he said stepping around the young man.

Both Alex and Claudia took note of how Victor placed his own
body between them and Madison. Claudia looked at the window and saw Madison
watching her in the reflection. “If it helps,” she started. “I came over to
tell Alex that I’ve been accepted into the Foreign Exchange program Grandfather
wanted me to try for.” She did not say anything as Madison slowly turned to
her. “I’ll be leaving for Germany on the first of the month.”

Victor lowered his eyes as Claudia walked out of the room.
As he had expected, Alex quickly chased after her. He sighed as he looked at
Madison. “You know that they like each other,” he observed.

Madison rolled her eyes as she turned her attention back to
the window. “I know. And really, I have nothing against her.”

“You should not. She is a lot like you.” He placed his hands
on her shoulders and kissed the back of her head. “I am not sure if that is
necessarily a good thing.”

“Why do you say that?”

“She wants to open her own sex shop.”

A snort left Madison as she looked at Victor’s face. “You’re
kidding me.” When he shook his head she laughed outright. “Oh, that’s good. One
of the Crown Princesses of the Vampires wants to own a sex shop.”

Victor gave into his own humor. Crispin’s marriage to Dylan
caused some ripples in the Noble Court, as well as the governing Council. But
even he had to admit, Claudia's endeavors would cause outrage, chaos, and
upheaval…

And he could not wait for it.

* * *
* *

Dylan closed her cell phone and frowned at Crispin. “I’m
really getting sick of this,” she sighed. When he simply looked at her, she
tossed her phone onto the sofa next to him. “We don’t want to make her
uncomfortable so we stay away during the full moon. What happens as soon as we
back off? The boys break Donald’s ankle.”

Crispin took a slow breath as he tried to think of a way to
calm his wife. “It was an accident, Sweet,” he said in a reasonable tone.

“Baby oil on the floor,” Dylan argued. “Do you know how
dangerous that was? And that they could have hurt themselves? Do you have any
idea what she would do if anything happened to the twins?
Or
Alex?”

The front door to their home opened to reveal the nineteen
year old young man and Claudia. “She’s going to kill me,” Claudia cried walking
over to Crispin. Without a word, she threw her arms around Crispin’s waist.
“The minute she gets a chance, Madison is going to beat me bloody and leave me
for the worms.”

“You don’t know that,” Alex comforted as went to her side.

Claudia snorted. “You didn’t see what was in her head.”

Dylan frowned as she pulled Claudia gently away from
Crispin. “Why don’t you start from the beginning,” she suggested.

Alex reached out to Claudia and took her hand into his.
“She’s just been stressed these past couple of months. Mom doesn’t have
anything against you.”

“Is this why you want to go to Germany?” Crispin asked.

Cat green eyes looked at Alex for a long moment. “Madison
believes that I’m trying to encroach on her pack. Like any female Wolf, she’s
going to react swiftly and with little to no restraint when it comes to
removing said threat, aka me.”

Alex found his own hands balling up into fists. “And what
about me?” he asked. “Is what I think and feel completely mute?”

Claudia pushed her hair away from her face. “You don’t get
it Alex,” she said lowly. “You didn’t see in her mind.” She looked at Crispin
and shook her head. “It makes what I did look like fine art.”

Dylan remembered pictures of a man brutally murdered from
New Jersey. Frank
Scarpelli's
murder was the case
that brought Crispin to her doorstep. Claudia had torn the poor bastard apart
in a fit of uncontrolled blood lust. But that had been before she had been
trained, and before they embraced her into their family.

Crispin looked at Dylan as she went to pick up her cell
phone. “What are you about to do?”

Alex went over to Claudia and took her hand into his. “I’ll
tell her after the moon,” he reasoned. “She would have calmed down by then, and
you don’t have to run to Germany.”

Crispin turned to the pair with disappointed eyes. “I told
you two to tell her when you started dating.”

Dylan snapped her phone shut as she looked at her niece and
nephew. “You’re what?” she asked lowly.

Alex held onto Claudia’s hand and he looked into stunned
eyes. “Claudia and I have been seeing each other for the past year,” he
confessed.

Dylan looked at Crispin as she tried to process what she
just learned. “And you knew?” she asked.

Crispin shrugged. “They asked Father and me not to tell
anyone.”

Dylan shook her head before pointing to Claudia. “You are
going to Germany,” she ordered. She then turned her attention to Alex. “And
you’re going to stay away from Claudia.” Alex opened his mouth to argue, but
Dylan cut him off. “I know you trust Madison, but stop fooling yourself. If you
go home smelling like another woman, she going to come hunting for Claudia.”

Alex snapped his mouth shut. He lowered his eyes as Claudia
moved away from him.

Crispin felt sorry for the boy. He was in love with Claudia.
And after chasing her for a year and a half, she gave in… only to have this
happen. Crispin placed his arms around Dylan’s shoulders. “Dylan and I are
going to leave you both here so you can talk. Alex, you can have your old room
tonight. I’m sure Father would rather you stay away from your mother for now.”

Dylan looked at Crispin before turning to the other couple.
“Stay in your own rooms,” she ordered before leaving the living room.

Claudia took a deep breath as Crispin followed his wife out.
While she loved her family, her uncle could be on the overbearing side. She
jumped when she felt Alex’s hands on her shoulders. “You shouldn’t be touching
me,” she whispered.

“I’m spending the night,” Alex said lowly. “By morning I’ll
change my clothes, and take a shower in that Axe crap that Tony buys. If
anything, Mom can hunt him down.”

Claudia felt a reluctant smile cross her face. “I’m sure
Uncle Cris will like that. Lacey follows Tony around like a groupie.”

Alex chuckled before kissing her neck. “So that settles it,
we’ll frame Tony.”

“And no necking,” Dylan replied storming back into the
living room. When she saw Alex and Claudia jump away from each other, she folded
her arms. “This is a Vampire’s house…
it’s
very
cliché. And both of you know better.”

“Yes Aunt Dylan,” they said in stereo.

Tonight was a full moon. Troy knew that he should have been
running with the other Wolves, but something was bothering him. After talking
with Tara, his thoughts were scattered. He was glad that Michelle and his niece
were doing fine. Her ex-husband, Jack, was finally giving up custody of their
infant and going into rehab to deal with his alcoholism. Troy was going to see
about going to visit his family for Easter.

And while he was there he was going to make his way to
Madison. He inhaled the sea salt air as he thought of the woman that haunted
him for the past few years.

After his training, Dennis convinced him to move to
California. He started a new life but he didn't feel complete. Even falling in
with the local Pack in San Diego Troy couldn’t stop thinking about the small
woman that had captured his attention.

Troy only lasted six months out of training before he found
a private investigator to track down Madison. Ironically, all Troy had to do
was mention her name and the PI, another Werewolf from the East Coast, was able
to give him the rundown on her.

Madison Maxwell was famous in the supernatural world. She
was the second youngest child of the Maxwell family, a family of skilled and
powerful Mages. For some reason, Madison was sent to live in New York while the
rest of her family stayed in the DC area. While she lived a rebellious
adolescence, she came into and embraced her area of magical expertise.

She became the feared Necromancer.

Her magic was focused around death. Madison could make any
wound fatal. If she felt the desire to, she could drain the life out of the very
land around her.

Troy frowned as he heard footfalls approach him. “I wanted
to be alone,” he said. He knew who was behind him. She never failed to always
catch him when his thoughts turned to Madison.

Leigh shrugged as she leaned against the car hood. She could
always count on finding Troy brooding during the full moon. “I know. But the
Pack is starting to get restless. We have to meet up with them.”

Golden eyes rolled. He hated politics when he was in school
and he hated them even more now. As the son of an Alpha it was expected of him
to find his own Pack soon if he didn’t take control of his father’s. While he
was in someone else’s territory, nearly every move he made had to be cleared by
the reigning Alpha.

“Troy?” Leigh questioned.

“What?” He looked at the frown she wore as he stood next to
his car.

She shook her head sadly. “Why are you doing this to
yourself?” When he continued to look at her, she frowned. “Ever since I met
you, all you’ve done is pine away for this woman. You two had one night together.
I understand what the Mating Fever feels like, but I’ve never seen a case this
bad.”

“So I’m a case now?” Troy said with a deep frown.

“No!” Leigh took a breath before continuing. “This is coming
out wrong. And you’re going to take this completely wrong.” She ran her fingers
through her hair and tugged it back. “You’re an Alpha, and I like you.”

Troy cursed under his breath as he looked away from Leigh.
“I thought we had all of this hashed out?”

She wanted to kick him. “We did you, ass. I mean that I like
you like a brother or cousin. But really, Troy! You told your father that you
gave her up.”

“Dennis is not my father.”

Her shrewd violet eyes stayed focused on him for a long
moment. This was an argument that they hadn’t settled in all of the years of
their friendship. She then shook her head. She wasn’t going to let him derail
her this time. “We both know that you gave her up like I gave up Skittles.”