43 Meet the mastermind

The sweet fragrance of various fruits and pastries blinded with hardy aromas numerous breakfast meats filling the vast, glistening dining room.Shelly's mouth had begun to water from halfway down the hall.But the most stunning sight by far was the couple waiting hand in by the end of the table.They both looked to be in their early 30's and held a striking resemblance to Rin.The tiny woman had rich espresso hair that trailed in gentle waves past her waist.She wore a dazzling emerald dress embroidered in a brilliant gold to match the elaborate golden jewelry.Her pale eyes shown brightly against her dark skin. The tall, lean man beside her had equally dark hair cut stylishly short.He wore a traditional suit in a deep navy and trimmed in a beautifully contrasting crimson. His eyes, though not as pale, glowed just as brightly and happily as the woman beside him.No doubt these were Rin's parents, but they didn't look nearly old enough to have a child his age.

Shelly glanced up at Rin. {Come to think about it, I don't know much about him...}She studied the lean curves of his jaws, his twinkling pale eyes, the slight upward curve of his full lips.Her eyes trailed down the column of neck to his gently muscled shoulders and down his long lean torso, where her eyes lingered. A girly giggle brought her attention back to the people in front of her.

The woman was covering her mouth with a dainty hand, doing little to hide a full-toothed smile reaching from ear to ear.Brilliantly twinkling eyes shown back at her.

The tiny lady giggled once more as Shelly glanced back and forth between the three faces staring back at her in anticipation. She glanced up at Rin in question, but before he could respond his mom rushed forward and took Shelly's hands.

"As my dear Rin was saying, I'm his mother and this is my husband. Oh, Shelly, it's so nice to meet you. We've heard so much about you, already." She sent Rin a mischievous grin, "My Rin, here, has been quite taken with you for some time now."

"Mom!" Rin's face was a bright red. He rubbed his neck as he glanced down into Shelly's surprised eyes. "I told mom about you when she was picking out something for you to wear." He looked away as he felt his cheeks heat more.

His mother giggled again, pretending innocence, "I didn't pick it out… Rin did…" She held Shelly at arm's length studying her. "And what a great job he did. The color really suits you, dear." She tilted her head to one side, studying Shelly more intensely. "You look way too beautiful, dear, to stay inside." She furrowed her brow and turned her attention to her son. "I insist you take her into town and show her the sights."

Rin shot his mom an irritated glare, "Mooommm!" He gritted his teeth {Why can she not mind her own business… just this once!}

His mom released Shelly from one of her tiny hands and placed it on her chin in an exaggerated thoughtful expression. "Hum… Quite right son, town isn't suited to such a beautiful princess." Her eyes lit again, "We could throw a ball?!"

Rin threw his hand in the air in irritation, "MOM NO! She's tired. She's been through a lot…"

Shelly could feel Rin's building irritation and pulled her other hand away from his mom. She took Rin's large hand in both of hers. She glanced up in time to see shocked eyes look from their joined hands then met her eyes with an odd look she had never seen on his face before. She nodded her head to him before looking back at his mom and replying. "Rin's right, I'm really tired today." She turned her attention back to him, "He has offered to show me around inside, though." She sent him a kind smile.

He sighed in relief, "That's right, I was going to show her the main halls and maybe the gardens…" Before he could finish his mom interrupted again.

"Oww, you should tell her about our history AND how the bonds work!" His mom was nearly clapping with excitement.

"Bonds?" Shelly tilted her head in question as she gazed up at Rin.

"Oh yes! The bonds between a Gen and his master, it's simply magical!" His mom all but sang as she danced around them, his father merely nodded his head in agreement. She got behind them and began pushing them toward the large buffet. "Here dears, Hurry! Hurry! Eat up and go explore until your hearts are content!Once she had guided them in front of two chairs side by side, she quickly made her way around to the opposite side mumbling happily as she went.

Rin looked sighed as he glanced down at Shelly. "She a little excitable.They don't get many guests here, these days."

"These days?" Shelly asked but before Rin could answer, his mother had already taken a seat directly across from them and answered.

"Oh yes, the palace used to be teaming with people constantly. Visitors from all over…" She signed, "but after the passing of our late master and the horrible war that took your dear sweet parents, I'm afraid many are afraid to venture outside of their own territories anymore." She sent Shelly a sad smile before adding, "You are lucky to have been raised in neutral territories… but unfortunately many are fearful that the US will not be neural for long since the DeMarco brothers moved there.Rumors have it that the youngest is hell-bent on finishing what his father started and getting revenge for his death…" She sighed too caught up in her own gossip to realize the amount of terror the near mention of that name cause Shelly.

Rin cupped her cheek and turned her to face him, "Mother stop! Shell, are you ok?"

Shelly was trembling uncontrollably; panic seized her vocal cords.She could only stare up at him in wide-eyed horror.

Rin pushed his chair back quickly and pulled her to her feet. "Come on let's get you back to my room." He pulled her tightly against him and snapped his fingers. In a shorter time than it takes to blink, they were inside Rin's room.He held onto her trembling body with one hand as he snapped the fingers of the other once again.Their plates materialized on the padded ottoman by the sitting area of the room. He then wrapped his other arm around her tightly and whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry. My mom gets carried away sometimes.She didn't mean to upset you, I promise." He could feel her tiny finger dig into the material at the back of his shirt.

"I… I… know…" Her small voice was muffled as she buried deeper into his chest. "I'm sorry I reacted like that way… I just… I…" She fought against the tears, but they began streaming down her cheeks of their own will.

"Shhh, it's ok." Rin stroked her back in a soothing rhythm. "Shhh, you did nothing wrong…" He continued speaking softly and holding her as they stood in the center of the large room until her sobs finally ended. He gently pulled her away from him.When her tear stained face came up to meet him, he gently wiped the trail away with the pad of his thumb."Come on, let's eat.I know you're hungry." He laughed as if on cue, her stomach growled.

Xavier sat back in his office chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose in hopes of fighting off the building migraine. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter as he leaned farther back in his chair and tried to think through the information he had just been given. "WHAT-THE-FUCK do you mean, you lost her?"

Dante stopped mid-pace and glared down at his brother, "As I've already said, she vanished! Puff! Gone!!!" He yelled.

Xavier shot to his feet and slammed his fists onto the desk, "She's a goddamn werewolf! They don't just…" he waved his fingers in the air to add emphasis, "puff and vanish!"

Dante leaned over the desk until he was face to face with Xavier. "Do you think I don't know that brother?! But I'm telling you I have searched the beaches, around campus, I've had YOUR I.T. guy track her… NOTHING!" He snarled inches from his brother's face as he continued, "If you would set aside this ridiculous diplomacy bullshit of your and help, maybe I could find her sooner."

Xavier pushed himself back and tilted his head, "If I stop being nice is that it? and help… you? Am I hearing you right, brother?"Xavier didn't give Dante time to answer.He grabbed the front of Dante's shirt and drug him across the desk. "Is this what you want, you worthless piece of shit? If you would have listened to me in the first place and let the girl alone this wouldn't have gotten out of such fucking hand! Now clean up your own goddamn mess for once and go bring the bitch back! and erase her fucking mind right this time!" He pulled Dante up closer to his face. "Oh, and little brother…" A hateful snarl contorted his face, "Do remember who the stronger of the two of us are before you come busting into my office in the middle of a meeting again." He released Dante's shit and crossed his arm in front of his chest as he watched the lesser man straighten his clothing. "Now if you don't mind, I have something special waiting for me at home."His grin widened but still maintained a trace of malice.When Dante only stood and glared back at him, he slammed a palm down onto the desk, "Do you no understand? Get the fuck out, NOW!"

With an angry growl, Dante turned and left the office slamming the door hard behind him.

"I had begun to wonder if you somehow lost your touch in your old age." A feminine voice laughed from the laptop sitting open on the desk.

Xavier rolled his eyes as he hooked a long finger into the top of his tie and pulled it lose.He sighed heavily, "Maybe I have…"

"Oh, I somehow doubt that, Darling." The woman's purr caused the speakers to vibrate.

Xavier glanced down into the screen, "How would you know, I not seen you since…" He thought over it for a few minutes. "Rome?... Or was it France?"

She puckered out deep crimson stained lips into a playful pout, "It was Spain two months ago…Would have been sooner if you hadn't taken off early after the last coven meeting."

Xavier turned away from the monitor and pretended to finger through documents on his desk. "There was something that came up."

A husky unladylike huff came out, "Like what, your dick?Is that why you are in such a hurry to get home?You have a new plaything waiting there?"

Xavier sent her an authoritative glare, "It is none of your concern what goes on in my home."

The disappointment was obvious in her voice, "Yes, well maybe not, but it doesn't stop me from being jealous."She let out a heavy sigh, "Maybe I should just come and end her… also…" She set forward and licked her lips into the webcam.

Xavier sent her an angry glare, "That is enough, this conversation is over. Don't call unless you have news on this wolf pup my idiot brother has… misplaced…" He furrowed his brows. "That's the last thing I need getting out while I'm in the middle of the negotiations of this territory." Without saying anything else he gripped the top of the computer screen and closed it. He retrieved his keys and phone off the shelf by the door and locked up the office.He waved at the remaining employees who were still working as he walked out the front doors.