Red Moon (13 page)

Tristan stepped silently into the kitchen.  After his
discussion with his mother, he had walked deep into the forest before stripping
off his clothes and shifting.  He had run for a few hours, not thinking,
just working off the restless energy that had enveloped his body.

Now, he stared quietly at Avery.  She was standing at
the sink with her back to him, scrubbing potatoes while Laura chopped
vegetables and chattered away to her.  Her body stiffened but she did not
turn when he stepped behind them and cleared his throat.

“Leave us.”  He spoke curtly to Laura who nodded and
left the kitchen quickly.

“Hello, girl.”

“Hello, my lord.”  She continued to scrub the potatoes.

“How are you?”

“Very well, thank you.  And you?  I imagine you
are looking forward to having your friends visit.”

“Avery,” he scowled, “will you not turn and look at me?”

She shook her head.  “No, my lord.  Please do not
make me.  I have humiliated myself enough for one day.”

Her hair was in a high ponytail and he rested one warm hand
on the back of her bare neck.  She froze, her hands squeezing tightly on
the potato she was holding, and he sighed.  “There is nothing to be
embarrassed about, girl. “

She barked a short and bitter laugh.  “Aye, of course
there is not.”

“There isn’t.”  He insisted.  He rested his lips
on the warm curve of her neck, breathing deeply of her scent and she shivered
before sighing harshly.

“Please, Tristan.  Do not torment me this way.”

“I’m sorry, girl.” He whispered against her skin.  “It was
never my intention to hurt you.”

She nodded.  “I know.”

He put his arms around her waist and leaned against her,
staring moodily out the window in front of her.  She was shivering against
him, but she continued to scrub the potatoes and made her voice light and
cheerful.

“How many years has it been since you’ve seen your friends?”

“Many.”  He replied shortly. 

He sighed again, his warm breath stirring across her skin,
and then said.  “After our houseguests have left, I will search for a – a
more suitable home for you.  I know of a few Lycan households who would be
willing to take a Red.  They would be no more than a few hours ride from
your sister so you will be able to see her from time to time.”

She dropped the potato she was holding and gripped the sides
of the sink, her fingers turning white.  “Thank you, Tristan.”  She
said softly.

“Aye.”  He grunted.  His hand tightened around her
waist and he cleared his throat roughly.  “Are you that unhappy,
Avery?  I am not married yet.  Is there no part of you that wishes to
stay here with me for a little longer?”

“Tristan, I – “

There was the sound of horses and a large, black carriage
pulled into the yard.  A horse-drawn wagon was behind it, filled with
slaves and three other men were on horseback.  There were shouts of
greetings and laughter, and she patted the arm around his waist timidly.

“Your guests have arrived.  You must go and greet
them.”

He kissed her throat.  “I have agreed to sell you to
another.  Will you agree to share my bed until you leave?”

She hesitated.  “If that is what you want, my lord.”

He shook his head, suddenly angry with her.  “No! I
want you in my bed only because you choose to do so.  Make your decision,
girl.”

“Then my answer is no.”  She replied softly.

His anger disappeared, leaving him feeling tired and
depressed.  He sighed heavily and she gently squeezed his arm around her
waist.

“I’m sorry but it will only make it more difficult.”

“Of course.  I’m sorry.  It was selfish of me to
ask that of you.”

“Go to your guests, Tristan.” She replied softly.  “And
thank you again.”

He kissed her throat once more, resting his mouth against
her skin for nearly half a minute before he left the kitchen.  She watched
out the window as he approached the carriage.  The door opened and a young
man, his hair so blonde it was nearly white, bounded from the carriage. 
He hugged Tristan, clapping him roughly on the back before turning and helping
a young woman climb carefully out of the carriage.

She was as blonde as her brother, her small body lean and
muscular, and even from the kitchen window Avery could see the brilliant blue
of her eyes.  She smiled at Tristan, her eyes traveling down his body and
back to his face before she gave him a warm and inviting hug, pressing her
entire body against his. 

Jealousy flowed through Avery’s body and she gripped the
side of the sink hard as the woman who could only be Victoria, placed a soft
kiss on the corner of Tristan’s mouth.  He smiled at her and said
something that made her laugh and place her hand on his arm. 

“She is very beautiful.”  Laura spoke by her elbow, and
Avery glanced at her before looking back out the window.

“Aye.  She carries herself well.”  She stared at
the woman’s skin. Even in the cold weather, she was tanned and her skin glowed
in the sunlight.  Avery glanced at her own pale arms.  She had always
enjoyed the contrast of her paleness against Tristan’s tanned skin but now,
watching the woman hook her arm familiarly through Tristan’s and walk with him
towards the house, she wished bitterly that her skin was tanned and glowing
like Victoria’s.

As they disappeared from her sight, she sighed and turned
back to her sink of potatoes.  Tristan had promised he would sell her to
another.  She should be happy but she was more miserable now than ever.

* * *

“Gods be damned, Tristan!  I did not know you had a Red
in the house!”  Hendrick stared as Avery entered the room and began to
clear away their dessert dishes.  Tristan, Vivian, Hendrick and Victoria
had retired to the common room after dinner where Maya had brought Sophia and
Nicholas in to meet them.

Victoria, sitting between Vivian and Tristan on the couch
and holding a sleeping Nicholas, looked her up and down.  “I saw a Red
once.  She was older and had her hair cut short so as not to bring
attention to herself.”

She glanced at Avery’s long ponytail and then at
Vivian.  “Why do you not cut her hair short?  I have some skill with
scissors – I will cut it tomorrow.”

Maya gave Avery a look of horror as Sophia, leaning on
Tristan’s knee, frowned, “Papa, I don’t want her to cut Avery’s hair.”

He ran his hand over her dark hair.  “Then she will not
cut it, my love.”

Victoria frowned.  “Tristan, it’s bad enough to have a Red
in the house.  Why would you allow her to flaunt her hair in such a
way?  Do you really think a child, even one as smart as Sophia, should be
allowed to make such demands?”

Tristan gazed at her steadily.  “This is my home and I
am glad to have you here, but I do not take kindly to having my decisions
questioned.  The girl’s hair is not to be touched.  Have I made
myself clear?”

Victoria nodded contritely.  “Of course, Tristan. 
I’m sorry.  I did not mean to offend.”

He grunted in reply and Hendrick stepped in smoothly.
 “Well, I’ve never seen a Red.”  He waved his arm at Avery.
 “Come closer, girl.  I wish to see you.”

Avery hesitated and then set the tray of dishes on the side
table.  She smoothed her skirt nervously and approached Hendrick. 
She stood in front of him, staring at a spot on the wall as he smiled and
patted his knee.

“Have a seat, girl.  I don’t bite.”  He winked at
her and she sat down gingerly on the edge of his knee, staring across the room
at Maya.  He ran his hand over her ponytail and then grasped her chin
gently.  He turned her face towards his and smiled at her.

“For a Red, you’re a pretty little thing.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Avery said quietly.  She perused
his face.  His eyes were as blue as his sister’s, and his teeth were very
white against his tanned skin and blonde beard.

He stared at her for a moment before he cupped her face and
drew her closer to him.  “Touching you is very pleasant.”  His voice
was strained and she watched nervously as his eyes began to turn to a pale
yellow.  “Warm...”  He growled softly.

He shook his head and took a deep breath.  “What did
you say your name was again, girl?”

“Her name is Avery.”  Sophia had appeared next to them,
and she leaned against Hendrick’s other knee and rested her head on Avery’s leg.

“She’s a slave and she belongs to me.  Papa bought her
for me.”  She smiled up at Avery who winked at her as Hendrick released
her chin and rested his hand high on her thigh.  He moved his hand almost
lazily, letting his fingers brush against her tightly closed thighs as he
smiled at Sophia.

“Belongs to you does she now?”  He ruffled Sophia’s
hair with his other hand and she giggled.

“Yes.  She makes my owie’s better.”

As Hendrick and Sophia chatted, Tristan stared angrily at
them.  He was unaware that he was growling deep in his chest until
Victoria gave him an odd look.  “Tristan, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”  He said shortly.

Vivian scowled at him over Victoria’s head but he ignored
her, his attention still on Hendrick and Avery.

“It feels nice to touch her doesn’t it?”  Sophia said
to Hendrick.

“Indeed it does, little one.”  He smiled again at Avery
and squeezed her thigh.

“I want to sit in her lap.”  Sophia said suddenly and
Avery sighed with relief.

“Excuse me, my lord.”  She murmured. 

Before she could get up, he shifted her further on to his
lap and then grinned at Sophia.  “Come up, little one.  The more the
merrier I say!  We’ll build a human tower.”

Sophia laughed and clapped her hands before scaling
Hendrick’s lap and crawling into Avery’s.  Avery squirmed a bit. 
Hendrick had moved his hand from her leg and slipped it around her waist. 
He was resting his hand against her hip and rubbing slow circles, and she gave
him a nervous smile.

Sophia leaned against Avery’s chest and pursed her lips.
 “Give me a kiss, Avery.”

Avery bent and pressed her lips to Sophia’s as Hendrick
stroked her long pony tail.  He smiled and slid his hand around the back
of Avery’s neck as Sophia leaned her head on Avery’s chest and closed her eyes.

“Yes, give us a kiss, Avery.”  He murmured and began to
pull her head down towards his.

“Avery!”  Hendrick let go of Avery’s neck at the sound
of Tristan’s angry shout.  She turned to look at him, her stomach
fluttering nervously at the pure fury in his gaze.

“Our guests require more wine.  Bring it from the
kitchen – now girl.”

She nodded and picked up Sophia, sliding off of Hendrick’s
lap and plopping the little girl down on to his lap.  Sophia leaned
companionably against Hendrick who kissed the top of her head and she smiled up
at him.  “I like touching, Avery.”

“Well, that makes two of us!”  He winked at Avery who
blushed and left the room as Victoria rolled her eyes.

“Gods be damned, Hendrick.  Try and control yourself,
would you?”

* * *

“Hendrick seems quite fond of you.”  Maya said
casually.  She was sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery, rocking
Nicholas who was drinking a bottle.

Avery, who was sitting on Sophia’s bed, stroking the
sleeping girl’s hair, nodded. “Aye.”

“Do you find him good looking?”

“He is handsome enough.”  She tucked the covers around
Sophia, and sat on the floor next to the rocking chair.

Maya grinned at her.  “I have to admit, it was amusing
to see you turn so red when he made you sit on his lap.”

Avery smacked her lightly on the leg.  “Amusing for you
perhaps.”

“Not so amusing for Lord Tristan either.  I thought he
was going to leap from the couch and rip you from Hendrick’s lap himself.”

Avery rubbed her forehead.  “It’s getting late and I’m
tired.  Good night, Maya.”

She kissed Maya’s cheek and walked to the door.  She
opened it and started to leave before she froze and slipped back into the
room.  Her face pale, she closed the door quietly and stared at Maya.

“Avery, what’s wrong?”  Maya frowned at her.

“Tristan and Victoria are in the hallway.  They’re
kissing.”  She whispered.

* * *

“Thank you again for inviting us into your home, Tristan.”
 Victoria smiled up at him and squeezed his arm.

“You’re welcome.  It is nice for my mother and for
Sophia to have visitors.”

“Sophia is a lovely little girl.  It’s a pity she has
had to grow up with a mother who was not there for her.”  Victoria sighed.

“Yes, a pity.”  He said absently.  He stopped in
front of her bedroom door.  “Good night, Victoria.”

“Good night, Tristan.”  She smiled sweetly at him but
did not let go of his arm.  She looked down the hallway.  “Which room
is yours?”

He pointed to the one across the hall.  “This one right
here.”

She smiled.  “I like knowing you are close.”

He cleared his throat nervously.  “Yes well, it is
getting late.”

Before he could pull away she had pushed him back against
her door with surprising force and, standing on her tiptoes, pressed her mouth
against his.  She kissed him slowly and pushed at his closed lips with her
tongue, urging him to open his mouth.

There was a noise to his left and he pushed her back gently,
frowning down the hallway.  He had thought he heard a door shutting but
the hallway was empty.

“Tristan.”  Victoria sighed and wrapped her hands around
his neck.  “Will you not kiss me?”

“It is late Victoria and I’m sure you’re tired from your
travels.  Perhaps it’s best if you retire for the night.”

She cocked her head at him before smiling.  “You think
me too forward do you not, Tristan?”

He shook his head.  “No, I just think – “

She pressed her body against his.  “I have found you
attractive since I was a young girl.  Your mother says you have not been
with a Lycan since your wife left you.”  She ran her hand over his
shirt-covered chest.  “I know of men’s needs.”