A MAZE OF GREED

"Lester?"

Elsie was confused to see him in her chamber at this odd time. He usually spent his evenings with Edwin, but he had stopped since his argument with him.

The guards informed him that after that night, Edwin had isolated himself. He was not letting anyone enter that room. Neither stepped out of it. He was not eating properly and probably not having a good sleep as well.

Lester did not know what to do with him. And after speaking with Rees, he thought he had a way to convince Edwin.

And that way was Elsie.

"What were you doing?" He asked.

"Nothing much. I was just reading a book." She pointed at the open book on her bed.

Lester nodded his head.

A couple of awkward moments passed between them that made both of them realise how much stress their relationship was boring these days.

Looking at her face, he asked, "Elsie..."

"Yes?" She blinked, puzzled.

"Do you trust me?"

She did not understand the reason for vulnerability in his voice.

Stepping ahead, she nodded her head while not breaking her eye contact with him. "Of course, I do! What kind of question is this?"

He took her hands in his and kissed her palms. His hot breath sent the tingles on her skin. His soft touch made her crave for more. Her wolf enjoyed her mate's proximity.

"I am sorry, Elsie!" He said with closed eyes. He did not let go of her hands. His voice vibrated against her white skin.

"I do not understand anything, Lester. Why are you apologising?"

He opened his olive-green eyes to stare into hers. "I want you to give me another chance. I apologise for not trusting your abilities, for underestimating your strengths. As your mate, it should have been me who trusts you the most, but I failed."

Elsie did not know how to react to that. She had not expected those words to come out of his mouth.

"Lester..."

"I want to try again, Elsie. I want to be the mate you always needed and expected. I have realised my mistake. Would you give me a chance to rectify it?"

Elsie did not know what he was talking about. But she could not see that guilt in his beautiful eyes. So she nodded.

"I do not know what happened or what you are saying. But if giving you that chance means we can be just like before-happy and comfortable- then I am willing to give you that chance." She smiled at him.

"Oh, Elsie!"

He gathered her in his arms, burying his face in her loose hair. He had missed touching her. He had missed her gentle words. He had missed every single thing about her.

But now, he had a plan. He had found a way to save both his relationship with Elsie and his best friend. All he needed was convincing others, and that was a tiresome task, but he was ready for it. He had to be!

*

*

*

Barret took the leave of the Garfields after succeeding in his plan. He had hit two birds with a single stone.

He had used the Garfields to strike the O'Dells, again. The rivalry between the two powerhouses is an opportunity for the middlemen. And that was what Barret had done.

He left in his carriage with a satisfactory smile on his face. This trip all the way to Kinsville did not go in vain.

Ambrose stood on a wide terrace gazing at the brown carriage descending the hill. A goblet of blood was ready in his hand to quench his neverending appetite. His face was calm, but his mind was busy with a load of work.

Aurora swayed towards him, and after reaching beside him, she raised her face. And after standing on her tiptoes placed a kiss on his cheek. The mark of her red lipstick got imprinted on his pale skin.

But she smirked proudly, looking at it. He did not care to clean it as he was also proud of it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She asked.

She followed her husband's gaze and knew what might be running in his head.

"I am thinking about what Addington told us." He replied shortly.

Aurora scoffed. "That powerless human thinks that he is playing games with us. He thinks that he is using us for his own benefit. But little did he knows the truth is otherwise."

Ambrose called a man who showed Barret the way inside the Garfield castle.

"Marcus, arrange an urgent meeting with the counsels of the coven."

Marcus nodded his head. "Yes, My Lord!" And within a blink of an eye, he disappeared.

"What are you planning, darling?" Aurora asked.

Looking down at her, Ambrose smirked. "You will see by yourself. Do not worry."

"Hmm... but I must say. Addington's blood smelled so good. I wished to have his wrist for lunch today. Alas!" She sighed dramatically.

Ambrose's eyes twinkled in amusement and pride. "You are a cunning creature, my love!" He snaked his hand around her waist.

She peered in his black eyes with a sinister smile. "And so are you, my mate!"

She took a sip of blood from Ambrose's goblet, purposefully smothering her lips in the dark red liquid. Ambrose's eyes darkened even more as she batted her eyelashes at him seductively.

He dipped his head down and ran his tongue on her lips, licking the sweet human blood. She draped her hands around his neck to pull him closer.

Darting her tongue out, she met with her husband's. And soon, their blood-stained bundle of muscles started dancing on the same beat.

Their kiss deepened in no time. It became harder for Ambrose to control anymore. They did not care if they were exposed to the onlooker's prying eyes.

All they cared about was the ignited passion within them.

The guards who were stationed around the periphery of the castle could see and hear them. But that did not bother them.

For these creatures, sex and blood were the two necessities of life. It was a common practice in their land, and it did not felt awkward to them.

Ambrose threw the goblet away not before breaking from the kiss momentarily to take another sip of the blood. The taste of his cold mouth and the added sweetness of blood was enough to drive Aurora crazy.

She begged for more, fought for more. It was her right after all. And as her mate and wedded husband, it was Ambrose's responsibility to satisfy her in every way she needed, in every way possible.

Now that his both hands were free, Ambrose ran them on the length of her back, trailing on her exposed skin through the backless dress. His hands travelled down further to cup her asscheeks, to squeeze them to his dead heart's content.

If he had his heart alive in his chest, then it would have raced miles per minute. But that privilege was not for them. But it did not matter, for the absence of their heart had given them the blessing of immortality.

What else a person needs other than an endless life to get what they want, to do what they pleased?!

His nails elongated into sharp tips that dug into her skin. A gasp left her mouth, and Ambrose smirked against it.

He slipped his hands under her butt to lift her up. He threw her on his shoulder that made Aurora giggled like a girl when she was more than centuries old.

Her giggles seized when a slap came crashing on her ass that left her mouth open ajar. Her eyes widened at the intensity of that slap.

"Come on, my love! Let's have some fun!" Ambrose said.

He was about to step ahead in the direction of the first room that was near to them. But Aurora stopped him.

"No. I want to enjoy that fun here."

Though he could not see her face while she dangled on his shoulder facing his back, he was aware of that naughty smirk on his vixen's face.

"Your word is my command, my queen." With that said, Ambrose threw her body at a wall with such a force that could have caused a death of a human.

But Aurora had no problem with it as before her body collided with the wall, she placed her feet on the floor and leaning forward a little, was able to stop till she stood on her feet unharmed.

Before she lifted her head to look at Ambrose, he was right in front of her nose. His pitch-black eyes drilled in her black ones.

Both of their sharp nails itched to scratch each other's skin, but the pain in their gums was more dominant.

With lightning speed, Ambrose pushed Aurora into the wall.

"You are a seductress, Aurora. Do you know what things you do to me?"

"I do not know, my darling. Would you like to show them to me?" Her eyes had a sultry look, and her voice sounded the same.

With his supernatural speed, he took her to the railing of the porch which was built hundreds of metres above the deep cliff.

He lifted her to put her on the railings. She came to the height of his waist, and that was where he wanted her. Her golden hair whipped in the wind, some treacherous strands fell on her gorgeous face.

Their passion had touched the heights that they desired, and now it was time to come rolling down the hill.

Ambrose placed himself between her wide open legs and teased her with his mouth. Desperate enough, she clawed at his neck, tearing his pale skin. But he did not care.

"Do it already!" She hissed. Her eyes darkened even more if that was possible.

Ambrose freed his length from the constraints of his trouser and placed it right outside her entrance when Marcus interrupted them.

Unbaffled, he watched his masters in a very intimate position without a hint of any emotion on his face.

"Pardon for the interruption, My Lord. But the coven's counsels are waiting for your presence in the meeting room."

With that said, he again disappeared, not wanting to look at Aurora and Ambrose's fangs and a murderous look in their eyes.